--IMA.Boundary.638414519 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Description: cc:Mail note part
Hi I dont know if this technique is the best but it certainly works for us. Depending on what part of the beetle you want to examine, we stick and glue with silver dag, an entomological pin (for the small beetles) or a normal pin (for larger specimens)to an area of the specimen which is not going to be observed. From here we place the specimen and pin in a stub like vice. This allows you to gold coat the beetle and place in the SEM chamber with minimal handling. Ok yes the pin can be seen under the SEM. The idea is the mount the specimen in such away that the pin will not obscure in anyway the views that are wanted. ie if dorsal and front view are wanted then the pin would be placed in the ventral side at an angle less than 90 degrees sloping backwards towards the posterior end. This will give a greater angle to work with when observing the frontal position.
I know this is a brief explanation, however if you want to ask any questions please ring me on 02 9320 6198
Hope this helps
Sue Lindsay
SEM Lab Australian Museum
I would like to know if there is any new technique about SEM and beetles, what is the best way to mount the beetle.
Keep care and be of good cheer.
Regards
Vratislav Richard Eugene Maria John Baptiste of Bejsak (Bayshark)-Collorado-Mansfeld
Coleoptera - Australia, Tenebrionidae of World (incl. Lagriinae, Alleculinae)
Temporally home address: 32 Girrawheen Ave. Kiama NSW 2533 Australia e-mail: vratislav-at-bigfoot.com ricardo-at-ans.com.au (before Ricardo-at-compuserve.com and ricardo-at-login.cz )
Only after the last tree has been cut down, only after the last river has been poisoned, only after the last fish has been caught, only then will you find that money can not be eaten.' CREE INDIAN PROPHECY.
--IMA.Boundary.638414519 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; name="Vratislav Richard Eugene Maria John Baptist Bejsak-Collorado" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Description: cc:Mail note part Content-Disposition: inline; filename="Vratislav Richard Eugene Maria John Baptist Bejsak-Collorado"
BEGIN:VCARD VERSION:2.1 N:Bejsak-Collorado-Mansfeld;Vratislav Richard;Eugene Maria John Baptist FN:Vratislav Richard Eugene Maria John Baptist Bejsak-Collorado-Mansfeld ORG:Bayshark Research Laboratory TITLE:director NOTE;ENCODING=QUOTED-PRINTABLE:Marketing and Coaching=0D=0A=0D=0ATenebrionidae Orbis and higher taxonomy TEL;WORK;VOICE:(+61 2) 9319 6380 TEL;CELL;VOICE:(+61 414) 540 465 ADR;WORK:;;29 Edward Street;Darlington, SYDNEY;;NSW 2008;Australie LABEL;WORK;ENCODING=QUOTED-PRINTABLE:29 Edward Street=0D=0ADarlington, SYDNEY NSW 2008=0D=0AAustralie ADR;HOME;ENCODING=QUOTED-PRINTABLE:;;(temporaly address):=0D=0A32 Girrawheen Ave;KIAMA;;NSW 2533;AUSTRALIA LABEL;HOME;ENCODING=QUOTED-PRINTABLE:(temporaly address):=0D=0A32 Girrawheen Ave=0D=0AKIAMA NSW 2533=0D=0AAUSTRAL= IA URL: URL:http://www.coleoptera.org EMAIL;INTERNET:ricardo-at-login.cz EMAIL;PREF;INTERNET:vratislav-at-bigfoot.com EMAIL;INTERNET:ricardo-at-ans.com.au REV:19981231T063007Z END:VCARD --IMA.Boundary.638414519--
} Hi } I dont know if this technique is the best but it certainly works for us. } Depending on what part of the beetle you want to examine, we stick and glue } with silver dag, an entomological pin (for the small beetles) or a normal } pin (for larger specimens)to an area of the specimen which is not going to } be observed. From here we place the specimen and pin in a stub like vice. } This allows you to gold coat the beetle and place in the SEM chamber with } minimal handling. } Ok yes the pin can be seen under the SEM.
Paint the pin with dag before mounting and if you get your contrast right the pin dissapear into the bagground!!!
Just a usefull hint. 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
Removal from lists, please go to http://www.globalremove.com
This Free News service keeps on-line travellers updated on Fare Wars, Vacation Deals, Airline News, and more. This is a one time message. Need a quote or more info? Call numbers below.
*** This Issue -- Special Preferred AirFares now available *** by phone......Holiday Travel Tips.......Airfare Outlook - 1999
** Our Preferred Fares are now available by phone. These special ** AirFares are lower than Airlines themselves and lower than ** travel agencies. We currently offer Preferred Fares with Delta, ** Northwest, Continental, United, and American. ** Caribbean, Europe, Central and South America, and more !! ** 800-471-3717 (9am-6pm EST) ** Fully Bonded Airline Ticket supplier, serving clients worldwide ** since 1991
(rates are discounts off lowest published fare by above carriers, must be purchased at least 7 days in advance and include a Saturday night stay, subject to availability, and other restrictions)
You'll never pay regular rates again !! 800-471-3717 (9am-6pm EST)
Holiday Travel Tips -
1. Pack lighter than usual - Many carriers have begun enforcing stricter "carry on" procedures, often limiting passengers to only one carry-on bag.
2. More flight delays - We're continuing to see a larger than usual number of flight delays due to the increase in number of people flying. This began in early 1998 and will definitely increase the number of delays for the 1998 Holiday season, which will be the busiest Holiday season in recent years.
3. Call ahead to confirm flight - Be sure to check with the Airline you're travelling with to confirm your reservations, monitor any flight cancellations, and note flight delays. Airline phone numbers will be VERY busy, so try to call early in the morning.
** Did you know that we have lower fares than on-line booking !! ** Most transactions on-line take up to 40 minutes, ours take only 5-10 minutes ** 800-471-3717 (9am-6pm EST)
1999 AirFare Outlook -
1. Business travellers should see fares at the same lever as 1998. Be sure to check with smaller, regional airlines who are aggressively pricing fares to attract business travellers from the major carriers.
2. Leisure travellers (advance purchase, Sat. night stay fares) will most likely see a rise in fares. Airlines continue to report the highest booking levels they've had in years and less seat availability will most likely affect leisure travellers.
Best advice to travellers - Buy Early and use a travel professional who can "shop" all carriers to find you the best deals.
} } Travel News keeps on-line consumers update oin AirFares, } } Fare Wars, travel bargains, and other travel-related news. } } If you would like a subscription to this FREE news service, } } Call 919-383-0388 ext 11 (2-3 brief messages per month, } } no cost, addresses kept confidential, can cancel at anytime).
I highly reccomend MOC (Microscopical Optical Consulting) to service your microtomes. This is a small, independant company in Cottage Valley, NY. They do all of our's every year - Reichart, Leica, Sorvall, etc. Their # is 914-268-6450. Good luck! Lesley S. Bechtold Supervisor, Biological Imaging The Jackson Laboratory 600 Main St. Bar Harbor, ME 04609 207-288-6191
A Research Fellow is required in the Department of Materials, University of Leeds, for a fixed period of two years, to work on an electron microscope study of the mechanism of graphitisation in steels. Applicants should have, or be near completing, a PhD in Metallurgy, Materials Science or a related discipline. Experience in transmission electron microscopy would be advantageous.
Salary: Research IA within the range stlg15,735- stlg19,197 p.a. according to qualifications and relevant experience.
Application forms and further particulars may be obtained from Professor D V Edmonds, Department of Materials, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK. tel: 0113 233 2348, fax: 0113 233 2384.
Job ref: 062-066-004-027.
Closing date: 29 January 1999.
Towards Equal Opportunities
Professor David V Edmonds Department of Materials School of Process, Environmental and Materials Engineering University of Leeds Leeds LS2 9JT United Kingdom
-- Jane M. Woodruff Polysciences Inc Phone: 215-343-6484 400 Valley Rd. 800-523-2575 Warrington, PA 18976 Fax:215-343-0214 E-mail jwoodruf-at-polysciences.com
Project MICRO is MSA's middle school educational outreach program. In his capacity as MSA webmaster Nestor gave MICRO a wonderful Christmas present; a major expansion of its web page. The new URL is http://www.msa.microscopy.com/ProjectMicro/PMHomePage.html There is a LOT of microscopy education info there, including the quotations that listserver readers contributed last year. Please visit the site, and send me your comments.
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/PMHomePage.html Intertidal invertebrates: http://www.fortbragg.k12.ca.us/AG/PCI/pci.html
I am a vendor, and we developed and sell "Entomounts", which are basically specimen mounts with the entomology pins already in them. They are provided as a convenience, and are so reasonably priced that I don't care much one way or the other whether we sell a bunch of them or not {grin} .
Happy New Year! Steven Slap
******************************** Energy Beam Sciences, Inc. The Laboratory Microwave Company http://www.ebsciences.com ********************************
I have a position open for an EM TECHNICIAN, SENIOR, open. The job entails negative staining and thin sectioning of clinical specimens for viral examination. The salary is $26K plus good health benefits. Send resume to me below, or email for questions.
Sara E. Miller, Ph. D. P. O. Box 3020 Duke University Medical Center Durham, NC 27710 Ph: 919 684-3452 FAX: 919 684-8735
We have a researcher who is interested in imaging some molecules (proteins, primarily) in an aqeuous medium in order to determine if any conformational changes are occurring. Originally, this work was being done using x-ray microscopy; however, since there are only a very few such microscopes in the world, I suggested cryo TEM.
We are now looking for central facilities where high resolution cryo-TEM work might be done.
Thank you.
#################################################################### 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 fear that my copy of Microscopy News (I think that is correct) which had a procedure for the preparation of snowflakes my have hit the recycling bin without my knowledge or consent.
Can anyone forward a copy of the procedure to me? I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks.
Alan Stone ASTON Metallurgical Services as-at-mcs.com
Maria Lucia Ribeiro Caldas wrote: ============================================= Does anyone have a protocol for the resin SPI-PON 812 (Sigma). ============================================== This product originally came from our firm, SPI Supplies. It is our SPI-Pon 812 epoxy resin, it is one of the components of our "Epon replacement" kit, and is described on our website given below.
We have not yet put up on our website the "Use Instructions" for this product, but if you send me your FAX number, I will make sure that a complete set is FAXed off to you right away. SPI-Pon 812 resin is "plug in" compatible with all known protocols based on the original Epon 812 protocols , so you could continue using whatever protocol(s) you have found successful 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: www.2spi.com ############################ ==================================================
------------------------------------------------------------------- FOR THOSE PLANNING TO SUBMIT A PAPER TO THE MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS MEETING.
This year information about the authors of Papers submitted to the M&M '99 meeting in Portland, OR should be submitted electronically. Unfortunately, the URL for submission was inadvertently left out of the "Call for Papers" booklet. The URL is:
The abstract itself still should be mailed to Microscopy & Microanalysis "99 Meeting Management (as indicated in the Call for Papers).
Additional information about the meeting and a link to the data entry page are available at:
http://www.msa.microscopy.com/.
If you need a copy of the "Call for Papers" contact M&M '99 meeting management toll free at 877-672-6271 or toll call at 708-361-6045. Fax number: 708-361-6166.
Hello everybody, I would like to get some information on TEM diffraction pattern analysis. Specifically;
1) What software is available for analysis of diffraction patterns (both ring patterns and spot patterns)? What kind of accuracy can be obtained - are we getting close to the accuracy of X-ray diffractometry yet, or are there fundamental reasons such as lens aberrations, smaller Bragg angles, and accuracy of measurement which mean that we'll never get there?
2) What are the typical procedures people use for, say, measuring camera length or identifying unknown phases using diffraction?
I will make a summary of replies and distribute it to anyone who is interested.
Many thanks in advance, and a Happy New Year to all,
Richard Beanland GMMT Ltd., Caswell, Towcester, Northants NN12 8EQ UK e-mail richard.beanland-at-gecm.com
Make a 1% solution of Formvar in methylene chloride (chloroform will work too). Chill the solution and some glass slides (leave them outside with a cover to keep the snow off). Dip a toothpick in the Formvar solution and place drops on a slide, then catch snowflakes on a piece of black velvet or something similar. With a toothpick wetted with the solution, touch a snowflake ever so slightly and it will cling so you can transfer it to a drop on the slide. Cover the slide and let the solvent evaporate (this happens very quickly). Take the slide inside and the snowflake will melt, leaving the Formvar replica. (To preserve the most delicate structure, leave the slide outside longer to let the water sublimate).
This is a great treatment for cabin fever. Happy New Year.
I've been using a variation of the "ento pin" for years that provides a little more flexibility than a rigid pin. Cut a long, thin triangular piece of thick aluminum foil (like that in a weighing dish - in a pinch you can use aluminum or copper tape), bend the base at a 90 degree angle, and stick it to the stub with carbon paint or your favorite conductive adhesive. Mount the insect on the point with conductive adhesive and coat. After coating, re-paint the stub surface and pin with carbon paint to darken the background. The mount is flexible enough to make fine adjustments to the positioning
of the insect (to get an exactly lateral view, or to hide the pin or whatever) and can be bent 90 degrees in any direction to get dorsal, ventral or other views. This works a lot better than trying to tilt the stage, as in most scopes you lose the ability to move in the X or Y direction at high tilts. Plus the background remains darker if you don't have to tilt.
Hope this helps
JME
--
James M. Ehrman Digital Microscopy Facility Mount Allison University Sackville, NB E4L 1G7 CANADA
Lucy, I'm not familiar with that specific mounting media but if it is for permanent slides (similar to Cargill melt mounts), then place the container (if glass) on a hot plate and slowly heat it up until the crystals go back into solution. You may need to repeat this if recrystallization occurs between uses. Hope this is helpful. Mike Bucker Consolidated Labs of Va Feed Microscopy Unit
} } } maria lucia ribeiro caldas {caldasml-at-amcham.com.br} 01/04 6:29 PM } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Dear all
I have an old 100g bottle of Ultramount II (Ladd) which is completely crystallized. I would like to know if there any solution for this.
maria lucia ribeiro caldas wrote: } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------} The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------.} } Dear all } } I have an old } 100g bottle of } Ultramount II } (Ladd) which is } completely } crystallized. I } would like to } know if there } any solution } for this. } } Thanks } } Lucy
Dear Lucy,
It would depend. If there is some solvent left ther might be a chance to save it. If you wish to contact me directly and give me a liittle more detail I can advise you further. On your other post, SPI-812 is a replacement for the old Epon 812 as is our LX-112 and similar products sold be other supply houses. SPI-812 I believe probably is a trademark product from SPI, but I could supply you with the protocols from our product if you wish.
Thanks,
Dr. Charles Duvic Chemist -- LADD RESEARCH 13 Dorset Lane Williston, VT 05495 TEL 1-800-451-3406 (US) or 1-802-878-6711 (anywhere) FAX 1-802-878-8074 e-mail ladres-at-worldnet.att.net web site http://www.ladd.cc
Is anyone using or has anyone used Improvision's OpenLab software? We have had it in for a demo and are curious as to how it performs in "real life", how is the tech support, etc. Any comments (positive or negative) will be appreciated.
I have acquired 2 sets of human blood smears - one stained with Wright's stain and one with cresyl violet to show reticulocytes. I would like to incorporate them into my histology class student slide sets. I have coverslipped the smears but there is still a little stained area outside some of the coverslipped area. Are there any safety issues with stained smears or can one assume that any potential viral material would be killed by the staining step. I am unfamilair with the exact staining procedure but thought that there is ethanol in the stain. any comments from knowledge histotechs. Thanks in advance. Tom Thomas E. Phillips, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Biological Sciences Director, Molecular Cytology Core Facility
3 Tucker Hall Division of Biological Sciences University of Missouri Columbia, MO 65211 (573)-882-4712 (voice) (573)-882-0123 (fax)
Date sent: Tue, 5 Jan 1999 09:55:29 -0500 (EST) } From: Tamara Howard {howard-at-cshl.org} To: Microscopy Listserver {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} We have been using openlab here for about 1 year now. It is being used for both time lapse imaging and low light GFP imaging. We are happy with the software. We have had no real problems. The only problems that we did run into were generally users (my self included) getting a little confused. The whole package is very complex and complete, depending on which modules you have and does require a little time to learn. I did find the automator, a module for automating repetitive or long protracted tasks, could become slightly cluttered, again more dependant on how the user was laying out the tasks. We did run into a couple of problems, or tasks that made us scratch our heads. When we phoned their UK tech support line, there was always someone able to help and they resolved all the problems that we had. When the line was busy they always phoned back. These remarks all relate to the earlier version of open lab, Open lab 2 only arrived with us just before christmas so I have not had long to play with it, but so far it appears to be as good as before. They also appear to be setting up internet user groups and an improved web site.
If you need any more info please give me a call.
Peter
Peter McHardy Technology Services Manager, Beatson Institute, Glasgow University, Garscube Estate, Bearsden, Glasgow G61 1BD Tel 0141 330 4818 Fax 0141 330 4127 http://www.beatson.gla.ac.uk/pmh
I am trying to embed L. dispar spermathecae for TEM, however I'm having = a terrible time dissecting / fixing the organs without losing the sperm = contained within them. Does anyone have any suggestions? ( I have = tried fixing the organs before dissecting them from the insect - this has not worked well )
Thanks,
Laura K. Garvey University of Connecticut Dept. of Molecular and Cell Biology=20 U-131, Beach Hall Storrs, CT 06269=20
DEPARTMENTS OF PHYSICS & ASTRONOMY AND CHEMISTRY=20
POST-DOCTORAL RESEARCH ASSISTANT =20
RA1A =A315,537 - =A323,651=20
A post-doctoral position is available for up to 24 months to work on an EPSRC funded project, "The use of XANES and ELNES for the characterisation of stabilised zirconia". The project is a collaboration between Glasgow University, The Queen's University, Belfast, MEL Chemicals Ltd and Johnson Matthey Ltd. The part of the project associated with this post involves modelling the near edge fine structure present on the edges observed in x-ray absorption spectroscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy. Experience with first principles band structure calculations is essential and a background in the theoretical interpretation of spectroscopic techniques such as ELNES and XANES would be highly desirable, as would a knowledge of many-body physics. The post will be based in Glasgow but will involve extended periods at The Queens University working with Professor Finnis and the Atomic Simulations Group. =20
Further information is available at http://www.ssp.gla.ac.uk/ or from Professor Alan Craven, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ. (Tel 0141 330 5892, FAX 0141 330 4464, a.craven-at-physics.gla.ac.uk) to whom applications, including a CV and the names of two referees, should be sent. Closing date - 12 January 1999.
------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dr Dave McComb Lecturer in Materials Chemistry Department of Chemistry University of Glasgow Glasgow G12 8QQ UK
} } Hello everybody, } I would like to get some information on TEM diffraction pattern } analysis. Specifically; } } 1) What software is available for analysis of diffraction patterns (both ring } patterns and spot patterns)?
One package is Desktop Microscopist. I have some FORTRAN code (written for a UNIX platform) which is helpful for indexing spot patterns to a known structure (If you are interested, you may contact me). I am sure there are others, too. A place to look would be the Sincris site at
http://www.lmcp.jussieu.fr/sincris/logiciel/
} What kind of accuracy can be obtained - are we } getting close to the accuracy of X-ray diffractometry yet, or are there } fundamental reasons such as lens aberrations, smaller Bragg angles, and } accuracy of measurement which mean that we'll never get there?
Because of lens hysteresis, it's not possible on a standard TEM to calibrate the camera constant L*(lambda) to an accuracy of greater than about 2 percent. A way to get more accuracy is to use an internal standard. For a good discussion of the problems, see Hirsch, Howie, Nicholson, Pashley and Whelan, Electron Microscopy of Thin Crystals, end of chapter 1.
In spite of the camera length inaccuracy, the RELATIVE spacings for two spots isn't affected. Therefore, it is potentially limited only by measurement inaccuracies (how precisely can we locate the center of the spot), and by the relrods (see Hirsch et al).
I believe that a spherical-type distortion of the pattern occurs if you use the beam convergence (condenser lens) to compensate for poor focus of the diffraction pattern. I've never read a good discussion of this (anyone know of one?) Also, ring patterns can be distorted from circular by astigmatism effects (in any post-specimen lens). These optical factors would also limit the accuracy of relative d-spacings, though to some extent one may be able to correct for them.
One place where electrons have a significant advantage over x-rays is with respect to noise. The interaction of electrons with matter is strong, so in very short experimental times good statistics can be obtained from miniscule sample volumse. Electron diffraction therefore has potential for structure refinements (e.g. recent work by Jansen and Zandbergen, L. D. Marks et al for surface diffraction). Also, the photographic film or CCD is a 2D detector (rare in XRD), so you can win big time in reducing noise. This can be used in studies of amorphous materials, via circumferential averaging of the patterns. However, strictly speaking, both dynamical and inelastic effects have to be considered in quantitatively interpreting the data.
} } 2) What are the typical procedures people use for, say, measuring camera length } or identifying unknown phases using diffraction?
Again, you can measure camera length as accurately as you want. Turn the scope off and on and it may differ by a couple of percent.
} } I will make a summary of replies and distribute it to anyone who is interested.
Thanks, I would be interested in hearing.
Wharton ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Wharton Sinkler Argonne National Laboratory West P. O. Box 2528 Idaho Falls, ID 83403 Tel: (208) 533-7724 FAX: (208) 533-7863
mailto:wharton.sinkler-at-anlw.anl.gov
} } Many thanks in advance, and a Happy New Year to all, } } Richard Beanland } GMMT Ltd., } Caswell, } Towcester, } Northants NN12 8EQ } UK } e-mail richard.beanland-at-gecm.com } } }
Workshop on Quantitative Image Analysis May 20-22 and May 24-26, 1999, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA June 14-16, 1999, Danish Technological Institute, Taastrup, Denmark
This highly regarded hands-on course taught by Dr. John Russ and other expert faculty has been presented annually for more than 15 years. It deals with all phases of quantitative and computer-assisted imaging from acquisition and processing through measurement and stereological interpretation. Attendees receive The Image Processing Handbook plus a CD-ROM containing images, algorithms (Photoshop-compatible for Mac and Windows) and an extensive tutorial. The course is appropriate for professionals scientists, technicians and administrators using these techniques for research. Attendees typically come from materials science, geology, biological and medical sciences, pharmaceuticals, food science, industrial quality control, remote sensing, and other disciplines.
For detailed information and registration contact Cindy Allen, Dept. of Continuing and Professional Education, N. C. State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7401, 919-515-8171, fax 919-515-7614, email: cindy_allen-at-ncsu.edu
On-line information is available at http://members.aol.com/IPCourse/
Dear listservers,=20 This topic was discussed awhile ago. Hopefully, some new developments = are now here to solve the problem easily. We are looking for a dedicated = software package for scheduling, in this case, instrument use = incorporated into our webpage. We have several microscopes, = workstations, microtomes, etc. and would like to have calenders or = something similar for each, so users could sign up in advance using the = web. It should be possible to assign different levels of privilege to = each user. Once an entry is made it could only be changed by an = administrator other than the original user. We like would like to then = to automatically transfer this information into a billing database, = either Access or FileMaker Pro based. Is something like what I have = described commercially available?
Hank Adams Cell Biology Integrated Microscopy Core Baylor College of Medicine One Baylor Plaza Houston, Tx 77030
I don't have the URL immediately at hand, but you might try the Filemaker website. They have additional templates besides those shipping with Filemaker. there are also links to Filemaker consultants who have free templates or who may be able to advise you regarding feasibility.
Regards, Glen
Glen MacDonald Research Scientist Hearing Research Laboratories of the Virginia Merrill Bloedel Hearing Research Center Box 35-7923 University of Washington Seattle, WA 98195-7923 (206) 616-4156 glenmac-at-u.washington.edu
On Wed, 6 Jan 1999, hank p adams wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Dear listservers, } This topic was discussed awhile ago. Hopefully, some new developments are now here to solve the problem easily. We are looking for a dedicated software package for scheduling, in this case, instrument use incorporated into our webpage. We have several microscopes, workstations, microtomes, etc. and would like to have calenders or something similar for each, so users could sign up in advance using the web. It should be possible to assign different levels of privilege to each user. Once an entry is made it could only be changed by an administrator other than the original user. We like would like to then to automatically transfer this information into a billing database, either Access or FileMaker Pro based. Is something like what I have described commercially available? } } Hank Adams } Cell Biology } Integrated Microscopy Core } Baylor College of Medicine } One Baylor Plaza } Houston, Tx 77030 } } }
} I would like to get some information on TEM diffraction } pattern } analysis. Specifically; } } 1) What software is available for analysis of diffraction patterns (both ring } patterns and spot patterns)?
There is an operation in the SPIDER image processing program which will refine a lattice and determine the background-subtracted intensities. I have written a procedure which subtracts the circu- larly symmetric background, which improves the subsequent linear background subtraction. I have also written a routine (both in SPIDER and as a stand-alone) to determine the center and radius of a ring from up to 20 points. I can send you the source code for the stand-alone version.
} What kind of accuracy can be obtained - are we } getting close to the accuracy of X-ray diffractometry yet, or are there } fundamental reasons such as lens aberrations, smaller Bragg angles, and } accuracy of measurement which mean that we'll never get there? } When I selected 20 points from each of 13 rings on a gold pattern (5 from each quadrant), I got r/d* = 402.79+-0.49 pixels. The range of values was 401.89 to 403.71. The precision was close to 0.1%. Furthermore, there seemed to be no pattern of systematic variation, except that the larger rings, which were less intense and more diffuse, gave somewhat larger errors.
} 2) What are the typical procedures people use for, say, measuring camera } length } The best procedure, if it can be done, is to evaporate gold, or another standard, onto the crystal whose lattice constants are to be measured. This way one gets the lattice points and the standard on the same negative. I scan my negatives on a Perkin-Elmer micro- densitometer using a 10 mu x 10 mu window. For lattice constant measurement, I do not interpolate the file, but for intensity measure- ments, I reduce by a factor of 5 by averaging a 5 x 5 array for each pixel in the reduced image. This reduction does not produce errors in the background-subtracted intensities.
} I will make a summary of replies and distribute it to anyone who is } interested. } Thanx. I am on both listservers, so only those responses to you directly, rather than to a list, would be required.
} Many thanks in advance, and a Happy New Year to all, } And to you. Yours, Bill Tivol
We've had abit of a clean up here at RMIT and have some goodies to give away. We have: Two boxes Tungsten filaments, Item no. A050 purchased from AGAR these were used in an old ETEC. One H.V. supply for the ETEC, I've been told that when the ETEC was decommissioned it still worked!!!
Yes! they are old items, but perhaps someone has a creative use for them. If you want them you can contact me on the details below. Email has the best chance of getting me.
Richard, One major source of inaccuracy in the measurement of electron diffraction patterns lies in the rather large variation of camera length with the specimen height. If you use a double-tilt stage, the specimen height changes with tilt (only one tilt axis is eucentric). It is possible to calibrate the camera length against objective current when the specimen is in focus, but, as pointed out by Wharton Sinkler, switching the microscope off and on will undo your work. The height change with tilt can be obviated by using a rotation-tilt stage instead, but it can drive you nuts, especially if the crystal is not at the centre of the grid.
As was suggested, the best method is to use an internal standard as this compensates for both camera-length changes and projector astigmatism. It also enables the operator to estimate d-spacings on screen in order to decide whether the crystal is in a sensible orientation, and one can very quickly tell whether a pattern is rectangular or oblique.
I hope this helps, 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
} } Hi all. } } We are currently setting up a cryo-vitrification unit for TEM sample } analysis. Research into what is the best } cryogen to use for vitrification of our sample type gave the answer of } liquid ethane. } } Does anybody have any advice as to what materials to use or to NOT use } with liquid ethane (for material } incompatibility reasons - chemically and physically (i.e. extreme } temperatures))? Is copper okay with } liquid ethane? I've vaguely read somewhere that some groups use a copper } coil (in liquid nitrogen) to condense } their ethane. Any other confirmations? } } A small flexible length of tubing will also be needed to join the copper } (?) tubing to the cylinder regulator } (so we can move the coil in and out of the liquid N2 easily). Apparently } natural rubber is NOT good with ethane. } } Any other pearls of wisdom out there? } } Thanks in advance. I'll summarise my replies. } } Terri } } ------------------------------------- } Ms Terri Soar, PhD student, } University of South Australia } Email: terri-at-drage.com.au {mailto:Terri-at-drage.com.au} } ------------------------------------- }
Electron microscopy specialist needed immediately. Prepare ultra thin sections and photograph them using JEOL1200EX. Darkroom, Adobe Illustrator/Photoshop. Salary commensurate with experience.
Mail, e-mail, or FAX resume and two letters of recommendation to:
Dr. Peter Sterling 123 Anatomy-Chemistry BLDG Department of Neuroscience University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA 19104-6058
I have used Formvar for over 50 years now and never known exactly what it is. In the back of my mind I seem to recall hearing that it is polyvinylformal, but I'm not certain that is correct. I have just consulted two polymer scientists in our department, and neither one of them knows what it is, nor could they find a chemical formula for it in their reference books.
If anyone knows what it is, I'd like to know too.
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
Philippe-Andr=E9 Buffat wrote: } =20 } I would be strongly interested in softwares able to handle digital } diffraction patterns. In particular a soft to flatten the background is } needed. From my experience, I can see on negatives faint rings or spots= , } but under the same condition it is impossible to see them on a computer } screen without increasing the contrast but then the range between black= and } white covers only a small part of densities in the whole pattern and th= e } observable area between the white center and the black periphery become= s } unacceptably small. The use of color coding of the intensities improves } only a little bit the visible range. An other soft to determine } automatically the spot position or the ring position by a refinement me= thod } or deconvolution of gaussian/lorentzian (or else) curves would also be } welcome.
Dear Philippe, In my old paper (Ultramicroscopy (1982) 9:117-130) I discuss=20 a technique of subtracting circularly-symmetric background, and give=20 a reference to an even older paper by Fraser et al. (Appl. Cryst.=20 (1977) 10:64- ). I have since written a procedure using the opera- tions in the image-processing program SPIDER (I'm sure the operations are also part of other programs), and I'd be happy to send you a copy. Briefly, the procedure refines a lattice, masks out the spots, replaces them with a local average background, makes a 2-D rotational average image, and subtracts this from the original pattern. The remaining=20 background is linear enough so that the usual form of background sub- traction will work. This process cannot be used for ring patterns, although a modification could work. Not only does this circularly- symmetric subtraction improve the visibility on a screen, it also increases the accuracy with which the intensities can be measured. As one can surmise, SPIDER has an operation to determine intensities and refine a lattice. It can also find the center and radius of a ring, and I have a stand-alone version of this. This program works by one choosing from 3 to 20 points on the ring, using the first 3 to make an initial guess, then least-squares-fitting the points (if there are more than 3). I'd be happy to send you the=20 FORTRAN code for the stand-alone ring program. Yours, Bill Tivol
Wharton, Nice summary, I would like to add a practical hint to those who may be new to ED. You can use an extrinsic standard such as a gold film. The improtant point is maintaining the same conditions for the standard and sample. To accomplish this the lens currents should be duplicated. An easy way to accomplish this is to focus the sample with the Z position while maintaining the lens currents from the standard. When using extrinsic standards the potential for a Z position mismatch and subsequent change in the objective lens current is the most likely error in camera length. Russ
-----Original Message----- } From: Wharton Sinkler [mailto:wharton.sinkler-at-anlw.anl.gov] Sent: Tuesday, January 05, 1999 2:07 PM To: Richard Beanland +44 1327 356363; Microscopy Listserver; lemas Listserver
} } Hello everybody, } I would like to get some information on TEM diffraction pattern } analysis. Specifically; } } 1) What software is available for analysis of diffraction patterns (both ring } patterns and spot patterns)?
One package is Desktop Microscopist. I have some FORTRAN code (written for a UNIX platform) which is helpful for indexing spot patterns to a known structure (If you are interested, you may contact me). I am sure there are others, too. A place to look would be the Sincris site at
http://www.lmcp.jussieu.fr/sincris/logiciel/
} What kind of accuracy can be obtained - are we } getting close to the accuracy of X-ray diffractometry yet, or are there } fundamental reasons such as lens aberrations, smaller Bragg angles, and } accuracy of measurement which mean that we'll never get there?
Because of lens hysteresis, it's not possible on a standard TEM to calibrate the camera constant L*(lambda) to an accuracy of greater than about 2 percent. A way to get more accuracy is to use an internal standard. For a good discussion of the problems, see Hirsch, Howie, Nicholson, Pashley and Whelan, Electron Microscopy of Thin Crystals, end of chapter 1.
In spite of the camera length inaccuracy, the RELATIVE spacings for two spots isn't affected. Therefore, it is potentially limited only by measurement inaccuracies (how precisely can we locate the center of the spot), and by the relrods (see Hirsch et al).
I believe that a spherical-type distortion of the pattern occurs if you use the beam convergence (condenser lens) to compensate for poor focus of the diffraction pattern. I've never read a good discussion of this (anyone know of one?) Also, ring patterns can be distorted from circular by astigmatism effects (in any post-specimen lens). These optical factors would also limit the accuracy of relative d-spacings, though to some extent one may be able to correct for them.
One place where electrons have a significant advantage over x-rays is with respect to noise. The interaction of electrons with matter is strong, so in very short experimental times good statistics can be obtained from miniscule sample volumse. Electron diffraction therefore has potential for structure refinements (e.g. recent work by Jansen and Zandbergen, L. D. Marks et al for surface diffraction). Also, the photographic film or CCD is a 2D detector (rare in XRD), so you can win big time in reducing noise. This can be used in studies of amorphous materials, via circumferential averaging of the patterns. However, strictly speaking, both dynamical and inelastic effects have to be considered in quantitatively interpreting the data.
} } 2) What are the typical procedures people use for, say, measuring camera length } or identifying unknown phases using diffraction?
Again, you can measure camera length as accurately as you want. Turn the scope off and on and it may differ by a couple of percent.
} } I will make a summary of replies and distribute it to anyone who is interested.
Thanks, I would be interested in hearing.
Wharton ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Wharton Sinkler Argonne National Laboratory West P. O. Box 2528 Idaho Falls, ID 83403 Tel: (208) 533-7724 FAX: (208) 533-7863
mailto:wharton.sinkler-at-anlw.anl.gov
} } Many thanks in advance, and a Happy New Year to all, } } Richard Beanland } GMMT Ltd., } Caswell, } Towcester, } Northants NN12 8EQ } UK } e-mail richard.beanland-at-gecm.com } } }
You wrote: } } } Does anybody have any advice as to what materials to use or to NOT use } } with liquid ethane (for material } } incompatibility reasons - chemically and physically (i.e. extreme } } temperatures))? Is copper okay with } } liquid ethane? I've vaguely read somewhere that some groups use a copper } } coil (in liquid nitrogen) to condense } } their ethane. Any other confirmations? } } Both Cu and Al are compatable with LEt. The best scheme might be to pass the N2 vapor at ~80 K through the tube to liquify, but not freeze, the Et. We use an Al cup cooled by LN2, and there are problems with the Et solidifying.
} } A small flexible length of tubing will also be needed to join the copper } } (?) tubing to the cylinder regulator } } (so we can move the coil in and out of the liquid N2 easily). Apparently } } natural rubber is NOT good with ethane.
Tygon is also not good. Teflon tubing retains its strength and flexibility at 77 K, so I reccommend it. Good luck. Yours, Bill Tivol
I have done some more research on the matter of the composition of Formvar. In the book 'Techniques for Electron Microscopy' D. H. Kay, Ed., Blackwell Scientific, 1965 I find a statement indicating that Formvar is Polyvinyl Formal (p. 60) In the book 'Polymer Chemistry' by M. P. Stevens, Oxford Univ. Press, 1990, p.302, I find that the reaction of vinyl alcohol with butyl aldehyde produces a polymer called polyvinyl butyral. By analogy, if vinyl alcohol were reacted with formaldehyde (HCHO) one might assume it would produce polyvinyl formal. If this is so, AND IT IS ONLY A GUESS, then by analogy the chemical formula for the repeating unit in the polymer chain might be:
CH2 / \ -[CH2-CH CH]- | | O O \ / CH2
I hope this formula survives the process of being transmitted across the internet. This word processer is not ideal for writing organic chemical formulas.
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
Wil Bigelow wrote: } } I have used Formvar for over 50 years now and never known exactly what it is. In the back of my mind I seem to recall hearing that it is } polyvinylformal, but I'm not certain that is correct. I have just } consulted two polymer scientists in our department, and neither one of them knows what it is, nor could they find a chemical formula for it in their reference books.
Will et al:
According to the free sample, yes, I said free sample, I got from Monsanto, Formvar is a "polymer from polyvinyl alcohol and formaldehyde as as copolymer with polyvinyl acetate". If that is not enough information you could call Monsanto in St. Louis. I believe that it was originally developed to coat copper wire. Note that are several different types of Formvar. I think the type us EM folks use is 15/95 but I could be wrong.
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 ***************************************************************
Wilbur C. Bigelow wrote: =================================================== I have used Formvar for over 50 years now and never known exactly what it is . In the back of my mind I seem to recall hearing that it is polyvinylformal, but I'm not certain that is correct. I have just consulted two polymer scientists in our department, and neither one of them knows what it is, nor could they find a chemical formula for it in their reference books.
If anyone knows what it is, I'd like to know too. ================================================= You are correct, it is generically, polyvinyl formal, and the term "Formvar" is a trade name, originally registered (if my memory is correct) by Monsanto Chemical Company in St. Louis.
Disclaimer: SPI is a supplier of Formvar resin for use in electron microscopy.
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: www.2spi.com ############################ ==================================================
You will find all the information in my book "low Temperature Microscopy and Analysis" Plenum Press New York 1992
Patrick Echlin University of CambridheOn Wed, 6 Jan 1999, Mail Delivery
Subsystem 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. } } } } We are currently setting up a cryo-vitrification unit for TEM sample } } analysis. Research into what is the best } } cryogen to use for vitrification of our sample type gave the answer of } } liquid ethane. } } } } Does anybody have any advice as to what materials to use or to NOT use } } with liquid ethane (for material } } incompatibility reasons - chemically and physically (i.e. extreme } } temperatures))? Is copper okay with } } liquid ethane? I've vaguely read somewhere that some groups use a copper } } coil (in liquid nitrogen) to condense } } their ethane. Any other confirmations? } } } } A small flexible length of tubing will also be needed to join the copper } } (?) tubing to the cylinder regulator } } (so we can move the coil in and out of the liquid N2 easily). Apparently } } natural rubber is NOT good with ethane. } } } } Any other pearls of wisdom out there? } } } } Thanks in advance. I'll summarise my replies. } } } } Terri } } } } ------------------------------------- } } Ms Terri Soar, PhD student, } } University of South Australia } } Email: terri-at-drage.com.au {mailto:Terri-at-drage.com.au} } } ------------------------------------- } } } } } }
We use Tygon brand tubing connected to a copper coil when liquifying gaseous ethane. The tubing is connected to the ethane tank regulator at one end and the copper coil at the other. The copper coil is placed in a beaker in a styrofoam box in a fume hood. The ethane is turned on and liquid nitrogen is poured around the coil. As the copper and ethane start to get cold, the ethane will start to liquify and collect in the beaker. It should take approximately 2-3 minutes to start to liquify and 5-7 minutes to collect 2-300 ml.
You need to be extremely careful with liquid ethane. Besides the obvious (it's extremely cold and will produce severe burns rather quickly), it is volatile if it comes in contact with liquid nitrogen. So when you have a beaker of liquid ethane immersed in a box of liquid nitrogen, the potential for injury cannot be overstated. Hand (and forearm) as well as eye protection are essential.
We've been using liquid ethane for years and I even have photos of the setup in our lab. If you'd like, I could send you a copy of these. Feel free to write or call.
Hope this helps....
Russ
Russell W. Desnoyer Senior Research Technologist Cleveland Clinic Foundation Department of Molecular Cardiology 9500 Euclid Avenue Cleveland, Ohio 44195 Ph: (216) 444-4673 Fax: (216) 445-6062 E-mail: desnoyr-at-cesmtp.ccf.org
I need some info on binary alloys. Typically Aluminium, Titanium and Carbon Nitrides, Borides, etc. These are typically grown as thin films using cathodic arc deposition. What I need is some general info: What research has been done in the past? What research is currently happening? Where is the research is likely to go? What applications do these materials have as thin films and as bulk samples?
I have come across this several times, and there is no simple solution that I am aware of. I believe the reason has a lot to do with how the eye/brain interprets images. We do a good job of excluding noise, and we can often see patterns when it is very difficult to quantitatively measure them on a computer. In a sense we do a type of Maximum Entropy analysis -- we have a prior model of what is in the image and find features that fit this model, for instance weak spots or rings. (Of course, this also means that sometimes we find things that are not there.)
The best method that I am aware of is to combine a rank filter (good at reducing shot noise), some sort of high-pass filter to remove only the low frequencies (reducing the background) and pasting togethor images at different contrast levels to prevent the high intensity regions from dominating. At least for a picture this often works, although you have to play a lot with the kernel sizes. Quantitation is very hard. You have to set up a model (Maximum Entropy, Maximum Likelihood, Least-Squares) and perform a numerical fit. Sometimes Least-Squares works; I have never tried Maximum Entropy which should do better.
Philippe-Andr=E9 Buffat wrote: } =20 } I would be strongly interested in softwares able to handle digital } diffraction patterns. In particular a soft to flatten the background is } needed. From my experience, I can see on negatives faint rings or spots, } but under the same condition it is impossible to see them on a computer } screen without increasing the contrast but then the range between black a= nd } white covers only a small part of densities in the whole pattern and the } observable area between the white center and the black periphery becomes } unacceptably small. The use of color coding of the intensities improves } only a little bit the visible range. An other soft to determine } automatically the spot position or the ring position by a refinement meth= od } or deconvolution of gaussian/lorentzian (or else) curves would also be } welcome.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Laurence Marks Department of Materials Science and Engineering Northwestern University fax: (847) 491-7820 mailto:l-marks-at-nwu.edu http://www.numis.nwu.edu ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Formvar is indeed used to coat copper wire. My wife works for an overhead transformer manufacturing firm and they buy the stuff by the barrels for coating the wire (not just copper). It is a different grade and formulation, otherwise I would've been tempted to never buy the stuff again after purchasing a 55 gal drum of it...
On Wed, 06 Jan 1999 14:53:02 -0800 Geoff McAuliffe {mcauliff-at-UMDNJ.EDU} wrote: .. I got from } Monsanto, Formvar is a "polymer from polyvinyl alcohol and formaldehyde } as as copolymer with polyvinyl acetate". If that is not enough } information you could call Monsanto in St. Louis. I believe that it was } originally developed to coat copper wire. Note that are several } different types of Formvar.
I have some filters with particles of differing size but fixed density distributed over the surface. I would like to quantify and compare the "uniformity" of the particle mass distribution on each filter by SEM. My software estimates the volume of each particle using the min and max diameters and assuming an oblate spheroid. Is there a statistically sound recipe for using the observed variation in Vf - where Vf is the particle volume per field measured over many randomly selected fields - to quantify the uniformity of the sample's mass distribution and compare one sample to another? If two samples have different particle loadings, does one use different field areas on the two samples to get the same average Vf for both? The recipe should also include some confidence factor related to the fraction of filter area analyzed.
Thanks for your suggestions.
Bob Willis ManTech Environmental Technology, Inc Research Triangle Park, NC
For background and previous research, try "Phase Diagrams of Binary Titanium Alloys", edited by J. L. Murray. There may also be similar books (published by ASM) for aluminium and carbon. If not, the phase diagram compilation by T. B. Massalski would be a place to start, as well as "Journal of Phase Equilibria" (formerly "Bulletin of Alloy Phase Diagrams" ).
Wharton ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Argonne National Laboratory West P. O. Box 2528 Idaho Falls, ID 83403 Tel: (208) 533-7724 FAX: (208) 533-7863
mailto:wharton.sinkler-at-anlw.anl.gov
---------- } From: "George Theodossiou" {GEORGE-at-bunyip.ph.rmit.edu.au} } To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: Binary Alloys } Date: Thu, Jan 7, 1999, 10:43 AM }
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
One of our researchers has mouse embryos that express gfp-linked material. These embryos were preserved and maintained in PBS plus freshly made 4% p formaldehyde and 0.5% Tween 20. Initially, his control samples were pink in color without fluorescence. After 3 months, his control samples have started to turn green under fluorescent light. In so far as these are controls for his gfp expression samples, this fluorescence is not helpful.
Any idea what is causing this change in color? I recommended he should store his samples long-term in PBS plus 0.5% formaldehyde in PBS. Anyone have any better suggestions?
Also, those of you who work with gfp.....Could he treat his embryos, say with ammonium chloride, to try to get rid of his unwanted background fluorescence? Can he do an equivalent treatment of his controls and experimentals without damaging the gfp fluorescence he has previously observed?
thanks in advance
steve
--------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Steven Barlow, Associate Director EM Facility/Biology Department San Diego State University 5500 Campanile Drive San Diego CA 92182-4614 phone: (619)594-4523 fax: (619) 594-8759 email: sbarlow-at-sunstroke.sdsu.edu website: http://www.sci.sdsu.edu/emfacility/
Chairman, Educational Outreach subcommittee promoting remote access to microscopes Microscopy Society of America http://www.msa.microscopy.com/
You should look up the proceedings from the International Conference on Metallurgical Coatings and Thin Films for the past several years. The proceedings are two volumes and the papers are full papers. One volume is printed in Thin Solid Films and the other in Surface and Coatings Technology. You can find out more about this year's conference at the following web site: http://www.vacuum.org/icmctf/icmctf.html
Incidentally, I am a session chair for the "Microstructural, Microanalytical and Imaging Characterization" session in the "Coating and Thin Film Characterization" symposium.
-Scott Walck
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Glass Technology Center 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: George Theodossiou To: microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
Hi all
I need some info on binary alloys. Typically Aluminium, Titanium and Carbon Nitrides, Borides, etc. These are typically grown as thin films using cathodic arc deposition. What I need is some general info: What research has been done in the past? What research is currently happening? Where is the research is likely to go? What applications do these materials have as thin films and as bulk samples?
i've been reading principals of heat treatment of steel by krauss and in the references of chapter 5 reference 4 lists a paper by S.Chattopadhyay and C.M. Sellars titled Quantitative measurements of pearlite spheroidization,Metallography,vol10,1977 pg 89-105
does anyone have this paper? if you do could you please fax it to me at 716-684-9433
or could you tell me what Metallography is ,is it a magizne?
Sounds like you may want to check with John Russ about many of these issues. I thought he was right there in your backyard. But I will offer a couple thoughts.
I think you would be better use the same field size for all of your measurements. Besides, Vf should have the same mean value no matter how large the field. The larger the field you measure, the less variation in field-specific measurements between fields. Supposing I find a standard deviation of 4% for some measurement for a single field (determined by measureing multiple fields). Then, if I measured a field 5 times as wide or measured 25 fields and averaged the results, the standard deviation on that measurement would be sqrt(25) less or 0.8%. Either way, 25 times more area was analyzed. So, you could make some adjustments to match up your measurements even if you did use different areas.
Regarding measuring the variation in Vf and compare samples - our work involves the measuring of void distributions. We are routinely measuring 20 frames per sample and calculating the variation in Af, but that is to have a measure of confidence in our Af measurements. It gives us some insight into the nature of our samples. A lower variability normally translates into a smaller average particle size, but it can also indicate some things about uniformity of distribution for the smae feature size between samples.
As to the statistical test for determining when the variation is significantly different between two populations with identical means, I will leave that to those that are better versed in statistics than I am at this moment. There must be one out there.
Hoping this helps. Warren
At 08:51 AM 1/7/99 -0600, you wrote: } I have some filters with particles of differing size but fixed density } distributed over the surface. I would like to quantify and compare the } "uniformity" of the particle mass distribution on each filter by SEM. My } software estimates the volume of each particle using the min and max } diameters and assuming an oblate spheroid. Is there a statistically } sound recipe for using the observed variation in Vf - where Vf is the } particle volume per field measured over many randomly selected fields - } to quantify the uniformity of the sample's mass distribution and compare } one sample to another? If two samples have different particle loadings, } does one use different field areas on the two samples to get the same } average Vf for both? The recipe should also include some confidence } factor related to the fraction of filter area analyzed. } } Bob Willis } ManTech Environmental Technology, Inc } Research Triangle Park, NC
For some reason, Philippe-Andre Buffat's posting to the listserver = never showed up in my mail. I wonder if this is common--getting partial = conversations.
Seeing faint features on TEM negatives and not on the digitized images = sounds as if it has more to do with limitations of the digitization process used = than it does with visualization. 8 bits probably just isn't enough integers to = preserve the faint image detail and keep the black and white extremes at the = same time. If the data is not preserved in the digital images, no amount of fancy = filtering is going to recover it. I'd suggest a careful look at what's going on = in the digitization process you're using. If your scanner allows spreading = the film density data over 12 or 14 bits instead of the usual 8, you may be able = to extract the fine detail information by postprocessing high-bit images = to level backgrounds, adjust tones, and filter. The unsharp mask filter in = Photoshop sometimes does a good job at enhancing faint details that are otherwise = lost or blurred in the scanning process.
Larry Thomas Mechanical and Materials Engineering Washington State University Pullman, WA=20
---------- From: L. D. Marks Sent: Thursday, January 7, 1999 12:59 PM To: Microscopy List Subject: Re: TEM; diffraction pattern analysis
The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of = America=20 To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to = ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com On-Line Help = http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html = -----------------------------------------------------------------------.=
I have come across this several times, and there is no simple solution that I am aware of. I believe the reason has a lot to do with how the eye/brain interprets images. We do a good job of excluding noise, and we can often see patterns when it is very difficult to quantitatively measure them on a computer. In a sense we do a type of Maximum = Entropy analysis -- we have a prior model of what is in the image and find features that fit this model, for instance weak spots or rings. (Of course, this also means that sometimes we find things that are not there.)
The best method that I am aware of is to combine a rank filter (good at reducing shot noise), some sort of high-pass filter to remove only the low frequencies (reducing the background) and pasting togethor images at different contrast levels to prevent the high intensity regions from dominating. At least for a picture this often works, although you have to play a lot with the kernel sizes. Quantitation is very hard. You have to set up a model (Maximum Entropy, Maximum Likelihood, Least-Squares) and perform a numerical fit. Sometimes Least-Squares works; I have never tried Maximum Entropy which should do better.
Philippe-Andr=E9 Buffat wrote: } =20 } I would be strongly interested in softwares able to handle digital } diffraction patterns. In particular a soft to flatten the background is } needed. From my experience, I can see on negatives faint rings or spots, } but under the same condition it is impossible to see them on a computer } screen without increasing the contrast but then the range between black and } white covers only a small part of densities in the whole pattern and the } observable area between the white center and the black periphery becomes } unacceptably small. The use of color coding of the intensities improves } only a little bit the visible range. An other soft to determine } automatically the spot position or the ring position by a refinement method } or deconvolution of gaussian/lorentzian (or else) curves would also = be } welcome.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Laurence Marks Department of Materials Science and Engineering Northwestern University fax: (847) 491-7820 mailto:l-marks-at-nwu.edu http://www.numis.nwu.edu ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Greetings, I need assistance with flat embedding of rat cerebellum (IEM-DAB), that is 100 um thick and 1.5 x 0.5 cm dimensions. Basically we are worried about tissue curling during the dehydration. My first inclination is argarose embed (before epon), but I would take any expert advise. Thank you,
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS, UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO
A postdoctoral position is available in the Interface Physics Group at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). Research in the Interface Physics Group focuses on the use atomic resolution imaging and analytical techniques in electron microscopy, coupled with theoretical simulations, to determine the structure-property relationships at internal interfaces on the fundamental atomic scale. Current research programs involve ceramics, high-Tc superconductors and optoelectronic/high-power semiconducting materials and devices. The experimental facilities to perform this research are comprehensive: a JEOL 2010 Field-Emission STEM/TEM featuring a 1.4=C5 probe size, "drift free" stage, high-angle annular dark-field detector (Z-contrast), Gatan Imaging Filter, and Noran EDS; a VG HB501A Field-Emission dedicated STEM with EDS, EELS and Auger spectrometers; a JEOL 3010 conventional TEM with digital imaging capabilities and EDS; a JEOL 6320 =46ield-Emission SEM with EDS and Cathodoluminescence; a JEOL JXA733 microprobe; and a Topometrix AFM/STM. In addition to the electron microscopes, specimen preparation facilities include a Gatan Duo-mill, =46ischione precision ion-mill, SouthBay plasma cleaner and Leica Ultramicrotome. The Interface Physics Group has a Silicon Graphics R10000 Power Indigo workstation with a Molecular Simulations' Cerius 2 package incorporating the CASTEP pseudopotential code. The physics department has additional workstations and access to the UIC Convex Exemplar Supercomputer and the National Center for Supercomputing Applications at UIUC. =20
This position is a joint postdoctoral appointment with Professor Susanne Stemmer in the Department of Physics at UIC. Research performed by the successful candidate for this position will involve the investigation of grain boundaries and defect structures in ionic and mixed ionic/electronic conducting oxide ceramics. The aim of the program is to incorporate experimental results into comprehensive atomic scale models for ionic/electronic transport in these materials.=20 It is anticipated that this position will involve a significant amount of industrial collaboration.
Candidates should be recent Ph.D. graduates in physics, metallurgy, or materials science with a background in the relevent materials issues and an ambition to be part of a developing program pushing at the frontiers of interface physics. Please send a resume, names, addresses of three references and a publication list to Professor Nigel D. Browning at the address below. Prior experience in STEM or TEM is essential. However, consideration will be based on the candidates overall potential for success in the field and applicants with prior experience in related fields are encouraged to apply. Positions are for one year initially, normally renewed for a second year with possibilities existing for further years. Salary is commensurate with experience. UIC is an equal opportunity employer.
} Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1999 15:06:29 -0500 (EST) } From: MICHAEL DELANNOY {delannoy-at-welchlink.welch.jhu.edu} } To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: flat embedding of vibratome sections } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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, } I need assistance with flat embedding of rat cerebellum } (IEM-DAB), that is 100 um thick and 1.5 x 0.5 cm dimensions. Basically } we are worried about tissue curling during the dehydration. My first } inclination is argarose embed (before epon), but I would take any expert } advise. } Thank you, } } Mike D } } We do this all the time. Sections don't curl. We originally tried to put them into flat molds standing up on their edges, but they would fall over sometimes. We now cut the pointed end off a BEEM capsule; snap the cap on the other end and wrap the junction with a sliver of Parafilm to prevent leaking; put a drop of resin in the lid (now upside down, with the Beem capsule sticking upwards); and lift the thick section into the lid with a wooden applicator stick broken into a flat wedged end with the tip then bent up into the shape of a hoe then fill the capsule with resin. Do this on a light box and under a dissecting scope.
If you need to keep straight which side is which, you can trim the tiny thick section with a razor blade into a funny shape that you will recognize. We use a trapezoid-like shape/state of Nevada shape: __ | \ |___\
That way you can keep the side of interest outward, e.g., confocal scope-selected areas: Miller SE, Levenson RM, Aldridge C, Hester S, Kenan DJ, Howell DN. 1997. Identification of focal viral infections by confocal microscopy for subsequent ultrastructural analysis. Ultrastruc. Pathol. 21:183-193.
Your sections are wider; thus, you will have to embed in a larger mouthed container if you want sections parallel with the face. But the principle is the same. If the sections have enough room to "swim" in the resin, you can gently stretch them out with the applicator stick, i.e., they won't premanently curl even though they will be flimsy as they float around in the resin.
Good luck.
Sara E. Miller, Ph. D. P. O. Box 3020 Duke University Medical Center Durham, NC 27710 Ph: 919 684-3452 FAX: 919 684-8735
Mike D- we routinely embed flat sections after the immuno proceedures, do any post fixation (OsO4), followed by dehydration, infiltration with resin, then to embed we place the 100 micron section between two glass slides * one of which has been subbed with a gelatin material, the other whioch has been subbed with Trenmittel (we purchase ours from EMS) the trenmittel is something like teflon, it is a release agent. remove all exess resin from around the section, then clamp the two slides together (clothes pins or large paper clips) polymerize as usual, then using a knife blade pry the two glass slides apart, this takes a little practice. finally reembed by filling a gelatin capsule with resin, let it thicken a little, then invert it over thetissue section which remained on the subbed slide, polymerize overnight. to free the section/block; hold slide over an alcohol burner flame (use pliers) then after 6-8 seconds snap off the block with the aid of haemostats or pliers. it really can work quite well. but practice first it is a little tricky -Mike
On Thu, 7 Jan 1999, MICHAEL DELANNOY 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, } I need assistance with flat embedding of rat cerebellum } (IEM-DAB), that is 100 um thick and 1.5 x 0.5 cm dimensions. Basically } we are worried about tissue curling during the dehydration. My first } inclination is argarose embed (before epon), but I would take any expert } advise. } Thank you, } } Mike D } } }
In a message dated 1/7/99 2:07:07 PM, wesaia-at-iastate.edu wrote:
} Sounds like you may want to check with John Russ about many of these } issues. I thought he was right there in your backyard. But I will offer a } couple thoughts. } } I think you would be better use the same field size for all of your } measurements. Besides, Vf should have the same mean value no matter how } large the field.
Guess I'll throw in my $.02 worth since my name has been taken in vain.... ;-)
Field size does matter, alas. He is trying to measure particle size which means he needs to ignore those which touch the edge of the image field, and this creates several problems: a) large particles are more likely to touch the edge than small ones; b) larger fields will have proportionately fewer edge- touching particles. It can get complicated but the idea is to determine the number of edge-touching features and from that and the size distribution of those measured, adjust the effective area of the image so that the number per unit area is corrected for edge effects. Contact me directly via email if I can be of help
I am new to microscopy - and am trying to figure out what is the best general purpose mountant. I read that Euparal is good and stable for many years, but I can't find any except in Australia. I just want to make some basic slides for now, nothing exotic. I would appreciate any advice from anyone. Thanks.
David W. Bass Appalachian State University Boone, North Carolina dwbass-at-appstate.campuscw.net
Hello All, I have had 21 replies to my original request for information. Many thanks to everybody who responded, and apologies to anybody I misrepresent in this summary!
The state of the art in measurement accuracy was claimed to be close to that of X-ray diffraction by several people. [Of course, it depends what kind of X-ray diffraction you're talking about - I don't personally believe it will ever be possible to get accuracies as good as that of double (triple, etc.) crystal X-ray diffraction from spot patterns, although CBED/HOLZ line analysis comes close.] Jouk Jansen mentioned his paper in Acta Cryst of Jan 1998 on analysis of diffraction patterns. 2% was mentioned as the best day-to-day reproducibility one could hope for without taking special precautions such as evaporating gold onto your sample to include a standard pattern on the same negative as the pattern you want to measure. Lens hysteresis, astigmatism and pincushion/barrel distortion due to poor focusing may make it even worse. Eric Lachowski mentioned the huge effect that being away from eucentric height can have [I came across this myself a little while ago - I was horrified to find that a 50% change of diffraction pattern spacing was possible, even though the image size only changed by 5%, when tilting a sample.] An accuracy of 0.1% in measurement was about the limit, using computer-aided measurements of digital images. The distortion of diffraction patterns due to reciprocal lattice spiking was mentioned by quite a few people as potentially being the limiting factor in measurement. Most people seem to use evaporated gold as a standard for measuring camera length. There seems to be quite a wide variety of measurement methods out there, ranging from the good old fashioned way (i.e. lupe and graticule) to quite sophisticated analysis of digitized images. The software people use seems to fall into two categories; packages used to measure the position of spots and/or rings, and packages which simulate diffraction patterns which can be used for comparison with the real thing. Measurement packages included Gatan's Digital micrograph and NIH-Image. A few people have put a lot of work into producing packages which automatically make measurements: EDP, by Jaap Brink (http://ncmi.bioch.bcm.tmc.edu/~brink), which is free. MacLispix by Dave Bright (http://www-sims.nist.gov/MLx/doc/home.nclk), also free but runs only on a power Mac (sob). Bill Tivol has written plug-ins for the SPIDER image processing package that subtracts circular backgrounds, measure the centre and radius of a ring, and obtain background-subtracted intensities for a spot pattern. Corneliu Sarbu mentioned the free package PATTERN, running on PCs, which can be used as an aid to interpretation of spot patterns (see Microscopy Today 98-9 (Nov 1998)). Analysis packages: Carine, Crystal Designer, CRISP, Desktop microscopist and of course EMS were mentioned as packages which are used to simulate diffraction patterns for a particular crystal and zone axis. Wharton Sinkler has written a FORTRAN program to aid indexing of patterns to a known structure (http://www.lmcp.jussieu.fr/sincris/logiciel/).
Many thanks again to all those who replied.
Richard Beanland GMMT Ltd., Caswell, Towcester, Northants NN12 8EQ UK e-mail richard.beanland-at-gecm.com
As far as sectioning, we tend to look for the Tg of the various components. As long as all of the components in your system have Tg well above room temperature, then sectioning at room temperature will result in relatively small deformations. In your case, PVC has a Tg of about 85 C and room temperature sectioning should be OK. In the case of PVB ( I assume B = Butadiene ?) the Tg is bellow RT and therefore it is better to use cryo sectioning for this material. Typically we would section this at about -100C .
As far as staining, osmium should stain the butadiene , but so will RuO4. I am not familiar with a stain for PVC, but you could try etching techniques (e.g. plasma etching). Check Linda Sawyers book on Polymer microscopy .
I hope this helps.
Jordi Marti ---------------------------------- You wrote: What is eveyones favorite stain for enhancing contrast during polymer TEM? OS4 or otherwise? The polymer materials are PVC and PVB.
Also, does anyone out there have some advice on a recommended temperature for ultramicrotomy of the above polymers? We DO have a cryo-ultramicrotome.
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Mike, You shouldn't have much trouble with curling during fixation and dehydration. The problem comes with getting absolutely flat sections for polymerization. Your sections are a bit thicker than I used and we were usually able to cut down the area of interest further but try this procedure. I think it should work fine. I have used it to embed vibratomed x-sections of rat brain which had been subjected to pre-embedding ICC reactions. In this case, since the amount of reaction diminished as you cut further into the section, it was critical to have absolutely flat material for serial sectioning.
Try embedding in droplets of resin on a 22x22mm plastic coverslip (available through most of the EM supply companies). Cover with another coverslip and weight with metal washers or nuts. The weighting is important as it really pressed the sections down insuring that they are very flat and squeezes out extra resin. After 24 hr. polymerization, cut edges of cover slips and they can then easily be separated. Cut the end off of gelatin or beam capsules to give a tube. Place the capsules over areas of interest on the sections, add one small drop of resin and polymerize a number of hours to secure capsules to the sections. Then fill up the capsules and finish polymerization.
When ready to section, blocks are easily broken or cut off of the coverslips. There will be very little extra resin to cut through before getting into the tissue making sectioning fairly easy once you are properly lined up.
An alternative method is to embed between teflon-coated glass slides which are then also weighted. I have found this a bit more cumbersome than using the plastic coverslips but it may work better for thicker specimen 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
--------------------------------------
Greetings, I need assistance with flat embedding of rat cerebellum (IEM-DAB), that is 100 um thick and 1.5 x 0.5 cm dimensions. Basically we are worried about tissue curling during the dehydration. My first inclination is argarose embed (before epon), but I would take any expert advise. Thank you,
Mike D
RFC822 header -----------------------------------
RECEIVED: from SF_Database by POP_Mailbox_-1296378954 ; 07 JAN 99 21:12:22 UT Received: from SPARC5.MICROSCOPY.COM by mailcenter.btny.purdue.edu with SMTP (QuickMail Pro Server for MacOS 1.0.3); 07 JAN 99 21:12:04 UT Received: (from daemon-at-localhost) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) id NAA18072 for dist-Microscopy; Thu, 7 Jan 1999 13:52:56 -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 NAA18064 for "MicroscopyFilteredEmail-at-msa.microscopy.com"; Thu, 7 Jan 1999 13:52:25 -0600 Received: from welchlink.welch.jhu.edu (welchlink.welch.jhu.EDU [128.220.59.78]) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) with ESMTP id NAA18052 for {microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} ; Thu, 7 Jan 1999 13:52:07 -0600 Received: from localhost (delannoy-at-localhost) by welchlink.welch.jhu.edu (8.9.1/8.9.1) with SMTP id PAA22253 for {microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} ; Thu, 7 Jan 1999 15:06:29 -0500 (EST) Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1999 15:06:29 -0500 (EST) From: MICHAEL DELANNOY {delannoy-at-welchlink.welch.jhu.edu} To: microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com Subject: flat embedding of vibratome sections Message-ID: {Pine.SOL.3.96.990107150129.27742A-100000-at-welchlink.welch.jhu .edu} MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Errors-to: Microscopy-request-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
Hi, everybody, I am looking for where I can buy an interference microscopy, which can be used to evaluate the thickness of thin film on a glass substrate by comparing the fringe at the edge of the thin film. I like to know also that if there is any kind of glass binder (adhesive material) which can be used inside a vacuum chamber, can last several hours in vacuum before working and can be used as air-tight sealing. Thanks a lot. Zgliu
Liu Zugang Departamento de Fisica Universidade de Aveiro 3810 Aveiro Portugal Fax:+351-34-24965 Email:zugang-at-fis.ua.pt
I would just like to correct one item in Richard's summary: CRISP and (more relevantly) ELD are programs which extract data from experimental images and diffraction patterns (rings and spots), respectively. They are not used to simulate diffraction patterns.
Disclaimer: Calidris sells CRISP and ELD, and we have a vested interest in making sure that microscopists receive accurate information about the programs.
I will be happy to send details to anyone who is interested.
Best wishes for the New Year,
George Farrants.
Richard wrote: } Analysis packages: Carine, Crystal Designer, CRISP, Desktop microscopist and of } course EMS were mentioned as packages which are used to simulate diffraction } patterns for a particular crystal and zone axis.
Does anyone have an answer to those questions? Working with a Variable Pressure SEM; 1- What can we see with it on polymers? 2- Where can I find pictures of polymers on a VP-SEM? 3- Is it possible to see spherolites in polymers without any pre-treatment (etching...) 4- Is it possible to see the "Skin effect" on injected parts in polymers and measure its thickness ?
We have tried to cleave rock salt (1cm cube, purchased from a microscopy supplier) for use as a substrate. We cleaved it with a razor blade, and had hoped to get a near-atomically smooth surface so we could deposit an aluminum film on it. However, the cleaved surfaces appear to be far rougher this, on the order of tens of microns.
Are there any special procedures that we should follow to get a near-atomically smooth surface?
Thank you all for your suggestions.
Mick Thomas
Mick Thomas UHV-STEM Laboratory E-1 Clark Hall Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14853
} From: "Ursel Bangert" {USCHI-at-fs2.phy.umist.ac.uk} Organization: Umist To: MTLRMDB-at-LUCS-MAC.NOVELL.LEEDS.AC.UK
Good Morning All,
I am looking for suggestions on dispersing agglomerated crystals. Does anyone have a recommendation on what "dispersing agents" are available for dispersing sub-micron ( {100 nm) crystals?
I have only used ultrasonication of particles in acetone/water so far and that works well for micron sized crystals.
Thank you,
Mohan Kalyanaraman
Sr. Staff Material Scientist Mobil Technology Company PO Box 480 Paulsboro, NJ 08066 mohan_kalyanaraman-at-email.mobil.com
Does anyone have an answer to those questions? Working with a Variable Pressure SEM; 1- What can we see with it on polymers? 2- Where can I find pictures of polymers on a VP-SEM? 3- Is it possible to see spherolites in polymers without any pre-treatment (etching...) 4- Is it possible to see the "Skin effect" on injected parts in polymers and measure its thickness ? 5- Does anyone work on polymers for quality issues?
Does anyone have any tips/protocol/adivce for the preparation of human chromosomes for SEM. I'm just starting the project and I could use anything to get started... Thanks!
Rob Reff } From the Lab of: Professor William J. Perreault Lawrence University
} What is everyones favorite stain for enhancing contrast during polymer } TEM? OS04 or otherwise? The polymer materials are PVC and PVB.
} From the literature, ruthenium trioxide seems to be the most popular. We have used chlorosulphonic acid, but this mainly works for polyolefins, and I think it would chew up PVB (is that poly vinyl butyral?).
} Also, does anyone out there have some advice on a recommended temperature } for ultramicrotomy of the above polymers? We DO have a cryo-ultramicrotome.
The following article is superb. However, the author is out of reprints, so it might be better to use some form of library loan, if you don't take the journal.
*} TI: Reflections on the use of microtomy for materials science specimen preparation AU: Plummer_HK NA: FORD MOTOR CO,RES LAB,MAIL DROP 3028,SRL,DEARBORN,MI,48121 JN: MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS, 1997, Vol.3, No.3, pp.239-260 IS: 1431-9276 DT: Review
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 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 | +------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Only after the last tree has been cut down, only after the last river has been poisoned, only after the last fish has been caught, only then will you find that money can not be eaten.' CREE INDIAN PROPHECY.
------=_NextPart_000_012E_01BE3BBB.A789C660 Content-Type: text/x-vcard; name="Vratislav Richard Eugene Maria John Baptist Bejsak-Collorado-Mansfeld.vcf" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="Vratislav Richard Eugene Maria John Baptist Bejsak-Collorado-Mansfeld.vcf"
BEGIN:VCARD VERSION:2.1 N:Bejsak-Collorado-Mansfeld;Vratislav Richard;Eugene Maria John Baptist FN:Vratislav Richard Eugene Maria John Baptist Bejsak-Collorado-Mansfeld ORG:Bayshark Research Laboratory TITLE:director NOTE;ENCODING=3DQUOTED-PRINTABLE:Marketing and = Coaching=3D0D=3D0A=3D0D=3D0ATenebrionidae Orbis and higher taxonomy TEL;WORK;VOICE:(+61 2) 9319 6380 TEL;CELL;VOICE:(+61 414) 540 465 ADR;WORK:;;29 Edward Street;Darlington, SYDNEY;;NSW 2008;Australie LABEL;WORK;ENCODING=3DQUOTED-PRINTABLE:29 Edward = Street=3D0D=3D0ADarlington, SYDNEY NSW 2008=3D0D=3D0AAustralie ADR;HOME;ENCODING=3DQUOTED-PRINTABLE:;;(temporaly address):=3D0D=3D0A32 = Girrawheen Ave;KIAMA;;NSW 2533;AUSTRALIA LABEL;HOME;ENCODING=3DQUOTED-PRINTABLE:(temporaly address):=3D0D=3D0A32 = Girrawheen Ave=3D0D=3D0AKIAMA NSW 2533=3D0D=3D0AAUSTRAL=3D IA URL: URL:http://www.coleoptera.org EMAIL;INTERNET:ricardo-at-login.cz EMAIL;PREF;INTERNET:vratislav-at-bigfoot.com EMAIL;INTERNET:ricardo-at-ans.com.au REV:19990108T233435Z END:VCARD
I am trying to gather information regarding Scanning Transmission = Electron Microscopy. I currently use an Amray 1645 SEM which has the = capacity for STEM work, but I have never used it in this mode. Any = comments or literature citings on this subject would be greatly = appreciated.
{!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 4.72.3509.100"' name=3DGENERATOR} {/HEAD} {BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff} {DIV} {FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2} I am trying to gather information = regarding=20 Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy. I currently use an Amray 1645 = SEM=20 which has the capacity for STEM work, but I have never used it in this = mode. Any=20 comments or literature citings on this subject would be greatly=20 appreciated. {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2} {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2} Thank you for your help, = {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2} {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2} Chris = Holp {/FONT} {/DIV} {/BODY} {/HTML}
A technical difficulty in my lab is coming on the table: How to increase resolution of digitized SEM images, especially for low magnification ( {50X). The pixel size of SEM image (50X)in my machine (LEO-435VP) is 4.5 um. In other word, no matter how good image software performs, the measurement error is at least 4.5 um. We are going to use SEM as a routine measurement tool under 100X, what is the disadvantage? Does any one have excellent idea to solve this problem, in terms of : Increase number of pixels and save as compressed .jpg to reduce file size? Stage mapping? Software solution? What else?
Mick: Maybe the salt could work, but why not use freshly cleaved mica, its not sensitive to humidity, dead easy to cleave and cheaper. I must declare that ProSciTech (and several other EM suppliers) stock mica. 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, January 09, 1999 5:13 AM, Mick Thomas [SMTP:mgt3-at-msc.cornell.edu] wrote: } Fellow microscopists, } } We have tried to cleave rock salt (1cm cube, purchased } from a microscopy } supplier) for use as a substrate. We cleaved it with a } razor blade, and } had hoped to get a near-atomically smooth surface so we } could deposit an } aluminum film on it. However, the cleaved surfaces appear } to be far } rougher this, on the order of tens of microns. } } Are there any special procedures that we should follow to } get a } near-atomically smooth surface? } } Thank you all for your suggestions. } } Mick Thomas } } } } } Mick Thomas } UHV-STEM Laboratory } E-1 Clark Hall } Cornell University } Ithaca, NY 14853 } } Phone: 607-255-0650 } Fax: 607-255-7658 } e-mail: mgt3-at-msc.cornell.edu
Chris: Just a couple of the more obvious differences between SEM and STEM (as an attachment to a TEM), using secondary mode - 1. STEM has generally higher kV - greater soft specimen penetration, charging is worse, but on "hard specimen" better resolution. 2. Working distance is low in STEM, greater resolution, poor depths of field. 3. STEM has small sample access and often limited tilt/ rotate facilities. Suitable specimens can give great images, but with more difficulties.
In STEM mode, which is also possible with some SEMs (including yours). The important differences are: The specimen is a section and this is penetrated by the beam. The detector (photo multiplier) is below the specimen. The penetration envelope is not formed because a relative thin section is used and the beam diameter is the most important determinant of image resolution. So when in a conventional SEM resolution in soft (biological) specimen is limited to say 6nm, you could resolve, say 2nm in STEM because the resolution is largely determined by the beam diameter. Better still, in low contrast specimens contrast can be increased at will - until electronic noise takes over. Maybe the best use of STEM is in image analysis of soft specimens. X-ray scattering from the penetration envelope in an SEM at around 15kV will result in spatial X-ray resolution of about 20 micrometer, which is often pretty near useless. In STEM the spatial X-ray resolution is only a fraction thereof. 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, January 09, 1999 11:56 AM, Chris [SMTP:cholp-at-ncweb.com] wrote: } I am trying to gather information regarding Scanning } Transmission Electron Microscopy. I currently use an } Amray 1645 SEM which has the capacity for STEM work, but } I have never used it in this mode. Any comments or } literature citings on this subject would be greatly } appreciated. } } Thank you for your help, } } Chris Holp } { { File: ATT00001.html } }
Jena (name also of city), was pre WW2 the Zeiss centre. Zeiss Jena and Zeiss Oberkochen run as two separate companies in East and West Germany. Zeiss Oberkochen later took over the Jena works. Its now known simply as Zeiss. Zeiss should know about these optics, but I doubt that they can or would supply these. Your chances are in the secondhand market. 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, January 09, 1999 9:35 AM, ricardo [SMTP:ricardo-at-ans.com.au] wrote: } Dear colleagues } } I am looking for objectives and oculars or other } accessories for microscope } called Technival 2 from old East Germany company JENA.. } } Any help? } } Keep care and be of good cheer. } } Regards } } Vratislav Richard Eugene Maria John Baptiste } of Bejsak (Bayshark)-Collorado-Mansfeld } } Coleoptera - Australia, Tenebrionidae of World } (incl. Lagriinae, Alleculinae) } } Temporally home address: } 32 Girrawheen Ave. } Kiama NSW 2533 } Australia } e-mail: vratislav-at-bigfoot.com } ricardo-at-ans.com.au } (before Ricardo-at-compuserve.com } and ricardo-at-login.cz ) } } http://www.coleoptera.org } phone : 0414 540 465 (Australia) } +61 414 540 465 (International) } } Only after the last tree has been cut down, } only after the last river has been poisoned, } only after the last fish has been caught, } only then will you find that money can not be eaten.' } CREE INDIAN PROPHECY. } } } { { File: Vratislav Richard Eugene Maria John Baptist } Bejsak-Collorado-Mansfeld.vcf } }
Liu: I expect that several of the major microscope manufacturers still make double beam interference microscopes (Certainly Leitz used to). All of these would have scary price tags. Perhaps you can find one second-hand or an alternative method for measuring film thickness.
The properties you seek for sealing air/ glass under vacuum are those of Apiezon T. This item is in our online (page M2) and I must declare an obvious interest. 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 Friday, January 08, 1999 8:17 PM, Liu Zugang [SMTP:zugang-at-ideiafix.fis.ua.pt] wrote: Hi, everybody, } I am looking for where I can buy an interference } microscopy, which } can be used to evaluate the thickness of thin film on a } glass } substrate by comparing the fringe at the edge of the thin } film. } I like to know also that if there is any kind of glass } binder } (adhesive material) which can be used inside a vacuum } chamber, can } last several hours in vacuum before working and can be } used as } air-tight sealing. } Thanks a lot. } Zgliu } } Liu Zugang } Departamento de Fisica } Universidade de Aveiro } 3810 Aveiro } Portugal } Fax:+351-34-24965 } Email:zugang-at-fis.ua.pt
In a message dated 1/9/99 1:47:00 AM, zhiyuw-at-worldnet.att.net wrote:
} A technical difficulty in my lab is coming on the table: How to increase } resolution of digitized SEM images, especially for low magnification } ( {50X). The pixel size of SEM image (50X)in my machine (LEO-435VP) is 4.5 } um. In other word, no matter how good image software performs, the } measurement error is at least 4.5 um. } ... } Does any one have excellent idea to solve this problem, in terms of : } Increase number of pixels and save as compressed .jpg to reduce file size? } Stage mapping? } Software solution? } What else? } If your beam size and actual imaging resolution is sub-micron, then the 4.5 micron limit is arising from the timing of your ADC, in other words how many samples it takes along each scan line, and from the spacing of the lines. If you can alter than then you can acquire images with more pixels. But DON'T compress them with jpeg or any lossy compression scheme or you will lose the benefits - these methods cause brightness and location shifts for features and will not get the accuracy you want.
If you can't fiddle the acquisition, your other choice is to acquire a series of higher magnification images and stitch them together as a mosaic. This isn't always easy to do, since stage mechanisms aren't very precise and if the sample isn't flat and horizontal you will have magnification that varies from side to side and makes fitting impossible.
On the other hand, what is it that you need to measure that can't be sampled at higher magnification - do you really need One Big Picture?
a Happy and prosperous new year to all! I am a new subscriber and I work at a local branch of the Min. of Health as a veterinary hygiene inspector in Italy. I am working on a substitution of malachite green in aquaculture, but I would like to know more about its nature, use and toxity, how dose it act? I've recently learned that it's used as a dye in staining certain cell tissues; surely somebody has posed himself the problem and has even found some explanation. Can somebody please give me some information or wher I can get it (ex. Web Sites)? Excusing me for having drifted you away from your prevalent work I anticipate my thanks to those how will answer and a good luck to evrybody! regards
emidio fazzini
(...up here from downunder!)
______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
Jim Darley wrote: ============================================== Maybe the salt could work, but why not use freshly cleaved mica, its not sensitive to humidity, dead easy to cleave and cheaper. I must declare that ProSciTech (and several other EM suppliers) stock mica. =============================================== Jim is of course correct in that salt is sensitive to moisture, and it is that very characteristic that causes freshly cleaved NaCl to be the substrate of choice for some researchers. When studies of epitaxial effects are being done, especially at elevated temperatures, it can be problematic to remove the thin film coating from the substrate, but in the case of NaCl, it can be readily dissolved in water. And even when mica could be used, in many instances, NaCl is also used in parallel since the unit cell dimensions both in size and symmetry are quite a bit different. And they give effects that can be quite different as well.
The impact of the differences in unit cell geometry and unit cell dimensions can also result in a significant difference in annealing effects of small crystals on the surfaces of these substrates. However, from the standpoint of smoothness, for example, if one was making carbon support films, mica would be better (if not also easier and cheaper) than NaCl.
An "old" reference from the literature that shows some of this can be found at Die Makro. Chemie, 113, 246 (1968), "Polyoxymethylene Single Crystals. II. The Effect of Substrate of Annealing Behavior".
Chuck
Disclaimer: SPI is a supplier of both mica and fine single crystal NaCl as are also some of the other main suppliers of consumables to the microscopy and microanalysis market.
=================================================== 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: www.2spi.com ############################ ==================================================
Hello: Can anyone comment on the difference in the volume or resolution of a point EDS analysis at 1kv or even 200V vs. the more standard 10 or 20kV. If we were to use a FE-SEM at 200V could we expect a significant increase in resolution of our EDS for a bulk sample compared our convention SEMs. Any comments are greatly appreciated. Steve
------------------------------ Stephen McCartney Research Associate Virginia Tech Materials Institute 2108 Hahn Hall Blacksburg, VA 24061-0344 USA
Sure Stephen, lower kV equals better spatial X-ray resolution. But. . . . But what X-rays would you be able to excite with these low voltages? Look at a table of X-ray energies and remember that the very definition of the X-ray energy lines is the minimum voltage required to produce those X-rays. Generally 1.8 x that energy is required to obtain maximum fluorescence. I expect that you would like to analyse light elements (biological samples), and these are in most cases unsatisfactory in SEM because of the poor spatial resolution. For these TEM or STEM with EDS are the answer. (Made a posting on STEM yesterday with more info) 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 *****
} } } Hello: Can anyone comment on the difference in the volume } or resolution of } a point EDS analysis at 1kv or even 200V vs. the more } standard 10 or 20kV. } If we were to use a FE-SEM at 200V could we expect a } significant increase in } resolution of our EDS for a bulk sample compared our } convention SEMs. Any } comments are greatly appreciated. Steve } } } ------------------------------ } Stephen McCartney } Research Associate } Virginia Tech } Materials Institute } 2108 Hahn Hall } Blacksburg, VA 24061-0344 } USA } } TEL: 540-231-9765 } FAX: 540-231-8517 } ------------------------------ }
} Hi Mark, I must be getting real old as I remember my gransfather used to } make chairs out of plant material. Large plants I believe. They wood cut the } larger stems into structural members and glue the parts together into many } different shapes. I sure these were not as functional or beautiful as the } bent steel and plastic used today. Maybe you could find one of these } antiques for your purpose. } Russ
Hi Russ,
your suggestion has stirred some racial memories in my mind. I have a vague recollection of seeing such ancient furniture in scratchy black & white movies (assuming they were not plastic/steel replicas of the cellulose originals).
I will enquire as to the availability of chairs fashioned from our forefather's favourite material, and also purhaps from adobe brick, bamboo, or rock. Cheers,
Mark Blackford TEM Group Materials Division, ANSTO PMB 1, Menai, N.S.W. Australia 2234
Phone 61 2 9717 3027 Fax 61 2 9543 7179
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this E-mail message do not necessarily represent the official views of ANSTO from which this message was conveyed.
Hi everybody who interested in the problem of 3-D biological tissue architectures reconstruction. This problem (especially 3-D epithelia structure) is interesting for me too. So I would greatly appreciate a copy of your papers. Also I am inviting you to visit our homepage on same subject. URL is followed: http://members.tripod.com/~Gensav/index.htm Sincerely yours Gennady A. Savostyanov
Dr. Gennady A. Savostyanov E-mail: savost-at-ief.spb.su savost-at-hotmail.com Sechenov Institute for Evolutional Physiology and Biochemistru Russian Academy of Science 44 M. Thorez, 194223 St. Petersburg, Russia
______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
} } } Hank Adams wrote ........... Dear listservers, We are looking for a dedicated software package for scheduling, in this case, instrument use incorporated into our webpage. We have several microscopes, workstations, microtomes, etc. and would like to have calenders or something similar for each, so users could sign up in advance using the web. It should be possible to assign different levels of privilege to each user. Once an entry is made it could only be changed by an administrator other than the original user. We like would like to then to automatically transfer this information into a billing database, either Access or FileMaker Pro based. Is something like what I have described commercially available
We have just such a system written in house. It has run very smoothly now for 5 years with constant upgrades. You can buy it if you like it.
Just go to the website in my signature.
The introductory material explains how we work.
Click on Booking System, Access to Images and use login {guest} password {guest} to try out the system.
If you are interested get back to me.
Mel Dickson ***************************************************** Mel Dickson, Director. Electron Microscope Unit, University of New South Wales. Sydney NSW 2052 Australia
Hi: I am beginning a project on glass and I will be using a contract microscope. Can you explain with diagrams how the phase contrast scope works. Thank you in advance, dsm
High Steve! As far as I remember, the optimum (in sense of intensity) ratio between energy of electrons and excitation energy of X-ray line is from 2 to 3. At that the spatial X-ray resolution is not very high. It can be improved by diminishing this ratio. But the intensity of the line drops very strongly during decreasing of electrons energy to excitation energy of the line. But I think there are not so many X-ray lines interesting for you on EDS spectrum in the range up to 200 eV :-)). Regards. Victor Sidorenko, ANTRON Co. Ltd., Moscow, Russia.
} Hello: Can anyone comment on the difference in the volume or resolution of } a point EDS analysis at 1kv or even 200V vs. the more standard 10 or 20kV. } If we were to use a FE-SEM at 200V could we expect a significant increase in } resolution of our EDS for a bulk sample compared our convention SEMs. Any } comments are greatly appreciated. Steve } } } ------------------------------ } Stephen McCartney } Research Associate } Virginia Tech } Materials Institute } 2108 Hahn Hall } Blacksburg, VA 24061-0344 } USA } } TEL: 540-231-9765 } FAX: 540-231-8517 } ------------------------------ } } }
Hi Zhiyu Wang - Lets hope its me who is confused: I don't care. If a monitor is 100mm across and is represented by 4um pixel (100 divided by 0.004=) 2500 would be required for a single line. If one pixel was missing I would just forget about that, although the percentage error would be constant, regardless of magnification. What I would worry about is the large variation in magnification readings, which is possible because of the SEM's great depths of field and tilt angles. Calibrated latex spheres have been used for decades in TEM. Now larger calibrated spheres are available and these can be routinely and economically applied to SEM and light microscopy specimen to provide a reliable size comparison. Disclaimer: ProSciTech supplies latex particles (page "S2" online) and thus has a vested interest. 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, January 09, 1999 4:21 PM, Zhiyu Wang [SMTP:zhiyuw-at-worldnet.att.net] wrote:
} Hi, All: } } A technical difficulty in my lab is coming on the table: } How to increase } resolution of digitized SEM images, especially for low } magnification } ( {50X). The pixel size of SEM image (50X)in my machine } (LEO-435VP) is 4.5 } um. In other word, no matter how good image software } performs, the } measurement error is at least 4.5 um. } We are going to use SEM as a routine measurement tool } under 100X, what is } the disadvantage? } Does any one have excellent idea to solve this problem, in } terms of : } Increase number of pixels and save as compressed .jpg to } reduce file size? } Stage mapping? } Software solution? } What else? } } Thank you for help } } Zhiyu Wang } } } }
Conn's Biological Stains, 9th edition edited by r.d. Lillie, page 248. under Diaminotriphenylmethanes. It is used as a vital dye so I woul 'assume' that it is not very toxic but there was no mention of toxicity.
-- Begin original message --
} From: Emidio FAZZINI {emifax-at-hotmail.com} } Date: Sat, 09 Jan 1999 09:56:24 -0600 } Subject: malachite green in aquaculture } To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } Hi everybody, } } a Happy and prosperous new year to all! } I am a new subscriber and I work at a local branch of the Min. of Health } as a veterinary hygiene inspector in Italy. I am working on a } substitution of malachite green in aquaculture, but I would like to know } more about its nature, use and toxity, how dose it act? } I've recently learned that it's used as a dye in staining certain cell } tissues; surely somebody has posed himself the problem and has even } found some explanation. } Can somebody please give me some information or wher I can get it (ex. } Web Sites)? } Excusing me for having drifted you away from your prevalent work I } anticipate my thanks to those how will answer and a good luck to } evrybody! } regards } } } emidio fazzini } } (...up here from downunder!) } } } ______________________________________________________ } Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com } } } }
-- End original message -- best regards, Bob Robert Schoonhoven Laboratory of Molecular Carcinogenesis and Mutagenesis Dept. of Environmental Sciences and Engineering University of North Carolina CB#7400 Chapel Hill, NC 27599 Phone office 919-966-6343 Lab 919-966-6140 Fax 919-966-6123
Depending on the size of the spherulites, you can see them readily with polarized light microscopy, with no sample preparation. Also, by using a first order red plate, you can determine the sign of the spherulite.
If you can cross-section the part, you can readily see the skin effect and measure its thickness, again using light microscopy. While EM certainly has a place in the polymer lab, there is a tremendous amount to be learned from light microscopy, with much less sample prep and investment in equipment. I'd really suggest that you start here first.
There are a number of different alternatives, but first you need to make some choices regarding the level of measurement. For very delicate measurements (1/10th - 1/400th of a wave, or on the order of 10-50 nm), you will need to use a multiple beam interferometer with a monochromatic light source. If you just need more standard thicknesses (70 nm or higher), you can go with a regular dual beam interferometer, using a white light source or even just a good narrow band filter.
For general purposes, there are several add-on interferometers which can be used to replace a typical objective (most commonly, the 10x objective). The one I have used most is a small Michelson which used to be available through Hacker in this country. (I will fax you an information sheet).
Regarding multiple-beam/add ons: talk to Nikon. As I remember, in addition to a Michelson, they also make a Tolanksy. The challenge with the Tolansky is getting a reference mirror which has a reflectivity matched to the reflectivity of your sample. I haven't worked with the Nikon system for some years, but I seem to remember that they had a small turret, providing you with a choice of several different R values.
Re: larger systems:
Your choices in Europe tend to be much greater than ours in the US. If you can get your hands on a Reichert Polyvar Met on the used equipment market, they had a very respectable and easily used interferometer accessory. Reichert is now part of the Leica family, but I don't know if they have picked up this neat little attachment. Other, older microscopes which I have used include the Interphako from Jena (now Zeiss) and the Pluta, from PZO. The Interphako was amazingly inexpensive in comparison with its capabilities: in half shade mode it could readily measure to 10 nm. Finally, Leitz used to make the Linnik, the flagship of interferometers. I understand that these are no longer available, but, again, you can probably find one on the used-equipment market.
I am sure that I have missed someone (my apologies), but these comments should give you a starting point.
One more issue: Thin films are transparent and most of these (exception: Linnik and Interphako) work in reflected light. By mounting your sample on a front surfaced mirror, you can overcome this problem.
Phase contrast microscopes have two components: a ring which is placed in the condenser and a special phase-changing plate which is mounted in the objective. They can be viewed in the back focal plane of the objective either by removing the eyepiece and looking down the tube into the back of the objective or replacing the eyepiece with the centering telescope provided with the phase kit. Make sure that the microscope is set up for phase first. That is, make sure that the right ring is rotated or moved into position in the condenser and that you are using the matching phase objective.
In the back focal plane of the objective (BFPo), you will see the smoky phase ring from the objective's plate overlaying the bright ring in the condenser.
First, the principles:
1. a. The basic underlying concept behind phase contrast comes from Nature's kind provision for a fairly predictable delay in the light passing through biological and similar structures. These structures cause the light passing through them to lag by a quarter of a wavelength behind the light which passes through the surrounding material.
b. The microscope image is formed by the interference between light passing through the specimen and light passing through the background. For improved contrast (brighter brights and darker darks), the ideal situation would be for the light from the specimen to either be completely in step or to lag by half a wavelength. The intensity of the light in the image directly proportional to the SQUARE of the amplitude of the wave which results when the two waves are "added together". This is a bit difficult to explain without a drawing, but here's the gist:
If the waves are perfectly in step, the resulting,additive wave has an amplitude twice that of the original components and the light in the image is 2 squared or 4 times brighter.
If the waves are half a wavelength out of step by half a wavelength, then they meet peak to trough and cancel each other. That part of the image will have "zero intensity" and be dark.
All we need to do is design a microscope which controls the light from specimen and background to meet these conditions.
Now, for the purpose of each:
2. The function of the ring in the condenser is to carefully define what will be known as the "background light" and place it very specifically in the smokey area of the phase plate mounted in the objective. The smokey has a channel cut in it so that the background light has to go through less glass
3. When a portion of that light interacts with the sample it (a) scatters, to fill the whole back focal plane of the objective and (b) undergoes approximately a quarter of a wave shift.
4. When that "specimen light" reaches the phase plate, most of it goes through the thicker, non smokey part of the phase plate. The phase plate is designed so that the thicker section adds another quarter of a wave lag to the specimen light. (quarter wave lag from specimen) + (quarter wave lag from phase plate) = half wave lag required for destructive interference and improved contrast.
5. But why is the phase plate smokey? Because the light from the background is MUCH brighter than the light passing through the specimen. That is, its amplitude is much greater. For the two waves to destructively interfer, their amplitudes must match. The manufacturers coat the cut in the phase plate with neutral density material so that the background intensity is brought into range with the light coming from the specimen. You can see the effect in the phase image: the background is cut to about 15% its original intensity, resulting in a soft, pearly gray.
Finally: how can you fine-tune a phase contrast image?
Since the underlying principle is based on a difference in refractive index between the sample and its mounting, one possibility is to change the mountant. For your glass, for instance, you might find that there are terrible haloes around the glass particles when they are mounted in air. Try this test: mount some test samples (all the same refractive index) in (a) water, ri 1.33 (b) glycerin, ri 1.47 and (c) immersion oil, ri 1.55. You will see the image get crisper and cleaner as you move toward the immersion oil, which is a much better match for glass (typically on the order of ri 1.5152).
Secondly, this whole process is wavelength dependent, yet we never specified WHICH wavelength. Look in your phase kit for a green filter (if it is an interference filter, it will appear yellow and mirrored). Place this filter over the light port. It defines the wavelength for which your phase kit was built, usually 548 nm.
For more background (plus important diagrams), may we suggest "Optimizing Light Microscopy for Biological and Clinical Laboratories"? Even though it is biologically oriented, you will find a great deal of sound, basic information which will help you in your microscopy. Details are available on our website:
{ {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} . Also, a reminder that the ACS course on Applied Microscopy for Chemists is just around the corner. Details are also available on the website.
I have been requested to forward this announcement to this group.
Hank Adams Cell Biology Integrated Microscopy Core Baylor College of Medicine One Baylor Plaza Houston, Tx 77030
-----Original Message----- } From: Mancini [SMTP:mancini-at-bcm.tmc.edu] Sent: Sunday, January 10, 1999 6:24 PM To: CONFOCAL-at-LISTSERV.ACSU.BUFFALO.EDU
Hello !
The female threads , which hold the cone screw that secures the specimen holder in our Ultracut E are partially stripped. One option is for our machine shop to rethread them. This would involve removing the heater and thermocouple wires that are at the top of the bridge. I was wandering if any of you had the same problem and how you went about solving it.
I also checked about replacing the whole bridge, but this option is quite expensive and there is a question about part availability.
I read an interview with a photojournalist who does all digital photography who saves her work on a Jaz drive "in the field"(PhotoMetro interview between ADColeman&Maggie Hallahan). She commented that "...the Jaz only lasts a few months and after that I have to archive everything to CD." Is this true? It's rather alarming as Iomega claims that the storage life of the cartridges(under *ideal* conditions) is 10 years. Someone is planning to supply our microscopy lab with a Jaz drive for image storage, but if it's not archival, I don't think it's worth the investment. Does anyone have experience with long term(at least a year) image storage on Jaz disks?
I am presently looking at the potential purchase of a basic SEM, probably variable pressure for a local museum. Are there any one of you using SEM for public shows? If yes may I have more information on what is exactly done.
The other alternative (more likely) is presentation of a "microzoo" similar to Oceanographic institute of Monaco. Small organisms (plancton, benthos, etc.) are presented via a fully motorized stereoscopic microscope. Any personnal experience to share on the subject? Ciao! -- L.Paul Bedard, ing. Ph.D. DocuScience inc.
Dear Stephen, I have successfully used lower kV electrons to reduce the volume of material excited for x-ray spectroscopy and a good Monte Carlo x-ray program, such as David Joy's, will help you to determine the volume excited. At 5 kV I was able to analyse 0.5 micron layers in a cross-sectioned semi-conductor. However, you must limit your analyses to those elements whose x-rays are excited by this energy of electrons, generally the energy of the x-rays is half or less than the energy of the electrons going in. I don't believe there is much, if any, resolution advantage to lower electron energy. At 200V, there will be very few x-rays excited that an EDX system can detect. You wrote: } Hello: Can anyone comment on the difference in the volume or resolution of } a point EDS analysis at 1kv or even 200V vs. the more standard 10 or 20kV. } If we were to use a FE-SEM at 200V could we expect a significant increase in } resolution of our EDS for a bulk sample compared our convention SEMs. Any } comments are greatly appreciated. Steve } } } ------------------------------ } Stephen McCartney 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
We embed vibratome sections of neural tissue that has been DAB treated between two pieces of Aclar. If a minimum of resin is placed between the sheets, the sections won't move much as a weight is applied to flatten the sections. There are different grades of Aclar, and I had to go directly to Allied Signal to get the one I prefer. The Aclar peels easily away from the polymerized resin, leaving one with a "section" that can be viewed with a LM for subsequent trimming. I super glue it to a blank beem capsule for thin sectioning. Best of luck, Randy -- Randy Nessler rnessler-at-emiris.iaf.uiowa.edu Views expressed are my own. http:\\www.uiowa.edu\~cemrf
Are there any references to descriptors for various morphology of grown crystals? We see several morphologies here, but I feel that I am only coming up with vegetable analogies - cauliflower, cabbage, etc..
While they sometimes capture the spirit of the picture, they seem technically inadequate. Are there technical terms that would be more appropriate to describe crystal clusters? Ideally, is there any reference (website etc.) where the terms are defined along with pictures?
If there is interest, I will post a summary. And thanks to those that offered leads on dispersing methods
Mohan Kalyanaraman
Sr. Staff Material Scientist Mobil Technology Company PO Box 480 Paulsboro, NJ 08066 609-224-3989 609-224-3608 (fax) mohan_kalyanaraman-at-email.mobil.com
I'm looking to see if someone knows anyone that prints cell images on slides--I need some black and white reference images of cellular material on a standard slide that can be used to calibrate some equipment. There are the usual problems with bio material that I really don't want to have to address since this is going to serve as a calibration standard. They will be viewed at 4x magnification, so they don't even need to be especially excellent reproductions. The biggest key (besides looking like cells) is that the printed image is *thin* (microns?), as I am trying to accurately determine the thickness of the coverslip/permount conglomeration that gets mounted on top of it.
Can anyone spit a quick Sudan IV protocol for lipid staining (for en bloc or embedded tissues-plant) to my email (or the net if anyone else is curious)?? Much obliged!! Tracey
Tracey Pepper Bessey Microscopy Facility Iowa State University ph: 515-294-3872 fax: 515.294.1337
{html} Can anyone spit a quick Sudan IV protocol for lipid staining (for {i} en bloc {/i} or embedded tissues-plant) to my email (or the net if anyone else is curious)?? {br} {x-tab} {/x-tab} Much obliged!! {br} {x-tab} {/x-tab} Tracey {br} {br} {br} {br} {div} Tracey Pepper {/div} {div} Bessey Microscopy Facility {/div} {div} Iowa State University {/div} {div} ph: 515-294-3872 {/div} {div} fax: 515.294.1337 {/div} {/html}
I basically agree with what John says below, only stitching may be your only choice, if you really need a large field of view AND a high resolution.
I suppose, the resolution of 4.5 um comes from the fact, that you digitize a large field of view into a given number of pixels (for example, a field of view of about 9 mm digitized into 2Kx2K would give you such a resolution). The problem is, that going to 4K x 4K resolution may give you a better resolution but more likely is not. The reason is this:
For a digital image acquisition (and I believe, the 435 is digital), you divide your normal x and y sweep into the required number of voltage levels. The total sweep is normally of the order of a few Volts. If you divide that by a few thousand pixels, you end up with a few millivolts per pixel. Any noise of that level will essentially prohibit to keep the beam stationary to the level you would require. This is normally true independent of actual magnification as the digitization is done before the scan amplifier, which translates the x and y sweep into the actual voltages required to activate the scan coils.
So, to stay with the example above (9 mm field of view): if you need to digitize that to, let's say 1 um, you would need a resolution of 9000 x 9000 pixels. As I explained above, you probably would not be able to achive that without image stitching. Also, it would give you an 81 MB image (at 8 bits per pixel) or 162 MB (at 16 bits per pixel). I'm not sure you want to deal with that! John is absolutely right regarding lossy compression: Why spend a lot of money and effort to achieve high resolution to throw it all away through compression? Lossless compression may reduce the files by a factor of 2 or so.
We do have software and hardware for image acquisition and processing, especially but not limited to LEO microscopes, and we migh be able to help you with some of your challenges. If you need further info, please contact me through email.
Michael Bode
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 1675 Carr St., #105N Lakewood, CO 80215 phone: (888) FIND SIS (303) 234-9270 fax: (303) 234-9271 email: info-at-soft-imaging.com
******************************************************* Disclaimer: Soft Imaging System produces and sells image acquisition and processing systems. We therefore have a vested interest in some of the items mentioned above. } ******************************************************* } ---------- } From: } "DrJohnRuss-at-aol.com"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com[SMTP:"DrJohnRuss-at-aol.com"-at-sparc5. } microscopy.com] } Sent: Saturday, January 9, 1999 6:23 AM } To: zhiyuw-at-worldnet.att.net; Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: Re: Resolution of digital SEM image } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I did not read the article, but perhaps the author was saying that when the jaz disk fills up, she archives to CD to clear out the jaz disk. This may be true, because the relative cost of a few CD's is nothing when compared to a jaz disk (a few dollars vs. over $100US). In this manner, she would only need to purchase one or two jaz disks. I have been archiving images on jaz disks for well over a year now and have had no problems with the file longevity.
Hope this helps,
David A. Bell Scientist Electron Microscopy Lab Millipore Corporation 80 Ashby Road Bedford, MA 01730 (800) 221-1975x2108
"Pauline C. Yu" {splene-at-pw.usda.gov} on 01/11/99 11:49:06 AM
Please respond to "Pauline C. Yu" {splene-at-pw.usda.gov}
To: Microscopy list {Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com} cc: (bcc: David Bell/NA/Millipore)
I read an interview with a photojournalist who does all digital photography who saves her work on a Jaz drive "in the field"(PhotoMetro interview between ADColeman&Maggie Hallahan). She commented that "...the Jaz only lasts a few months and after that I have to archive everything to CD." Is this true? It's rather alarming as Iomega claims that the storage life of the cartridges(under *ideal* conditions) is 10 years. Someone is planning to supply our microscopy lab with a Jaz drive for image storage, but if it's not archival, I don't think it's worth the investment. Does anyone have experience with long term(at least a year) image storage on Jaz disks?
I have not used a Jaz drive, but if it is like the Zip (basically a floppy disk inside), I would not consider it an "archive" media. On the other hand, unless the enviroment was really poor, I would expect a much greater life than you mentioned. Also, the equipment capable of retreiving the data is limited. Will you have a working Jaz drive in 10 years? Another down side to the Jaz is the cost of storage compared to a CD-R (650 MB for {$1.50). I would suggest a CD-R archive for cost, longevity, and an increased probability that it can be read a few years down the road. It remains to be seen if the manufacturers are correct, but most rate the CD-R for 100 years or more storage.
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I read an interview with a photojournalist who does all digital photography who saves her work on a Jaz drive "in the field"(PhotoMetro interview between ADColeman&Maggie Hallahan). She commented that "...the Jaz only lasts a few months and after that I have to archive everything to CD." Is this true? It's rather alarming as Iomega claims that the storage life of the cartridges(under *ideal* conditions) is 10 years. Someone is planning to supply our microscopy lab with a Jaz drive for image storage, but if it's not archival, I don't think it's worth the investment. Does anyone have experience with long term(at least a year) image storage on Jaz disks?
by post.its.mcw.edu (8.8.8/8.8.8) with ESMTP id OAA25356 for {microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} ; Mon, 11 Jan 1999 14:48:35 -0600 (CST) Message-ID: {369A633B.6E10F13A-at-mcw.edu}
This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --------------7C749C0833D7A3AD8BB1CF73 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Hi, dear all -
I have been required to forward this ad to this group:
Hitachi S-520 SEM For Sale
Make: Hitachi Model: S-520 Price: $20K
Hitachi SEM Model S-520 for sale. In good condition and recently used. Specs include 6nm resolution, 20~200,000xmag. specimen goniometer
stage with 0~40mm continuous movement in X & Y, -20~+90 deg. tilting angle, 5~35mm z-movement, 102mm dia. x 6mm H/15mm dia. x 10mm H specimen
max size, 2 Afterglow type, 150x135mm CRTs, 1 non-afterglow type120x90mm
photographing CRT, and Polaroid camera attachment. This system also includes a TracorNorthern TN-5500 MicroTrace Series X-ray Analyzer System with 1Mb RAM, Microscan Digital Beam Controller and all related system software.
Contact Brett at 414-456-8504, e-mail to schroedb-at-mcw.edu.
Gang Ning, Ph.D.
EM Facility Department of Microbiology Medical College of Wisconsin
--------------7C749C0833D7A3AD8BB1CF73 Content-Type: text/x-vcard; charset=us-ascii; name="vcard.vcf" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Description: Card for Gang Ning Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="vcard.vcf"
begin: vcard fn: Gang Ning n: Ning;Gang org: Medical College of Wisconsin email;internet: gning-at-mcw.edu title: Ph.D. x-mozilla-cpt: ;0 x-mozilla-html: TRUE version: 2.1 end: vcard
I forget the source, but a few months ago I recall a discussion on the web of CD longevity. It had been the conventional wisdom that CDs had a shelf life on the order of 30 years. But people were discovering that CDs 5 years old or so were becoming defective through delamination or other processes, just with age and not necessarily with handling, so there was some skepticism about the 30yr shelf life figure.
Like all media types, there is no question that after 10 years or so you might expect that the ability to read specific disks or cards or whatever would be difficult due to dramatic changes in technology (who has 8-track tapes any longer?) and the natural migration to new technologies that causes older technology to disappear. So any discussion of shelf life for electronic storage is probably a moot point (unlike film, which could be good almost indefinitely with proper handling). I fully expect to have to, sooner or later, transfer all of my archived data over to some new type of storage. Just the way life is...
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
Jim J Darley wrote: } } In STEM mode, which is also possible with some SEMs } (including yours). The important differences are: } The specimen is a section and this is penetrated by the } beam. The detector (photo multiplier) is below the } specimen.
One can also put a parallel EELS detector under the specimen and collect position-tagged spectra. This gives a very high-resolu- tion compositional image.
} Better still, in low contrast specimens contrast can be } increased at will - until electronic noise takes over. } Maybe the best use of STEM is in image analysis of soft } specimens.
Looking at the low-loss region of an EELS spectrum can dif- ferentiate among lipid, protein and nucleic acid, as reported a few years ago by Rich Leapman at MSA. This could be ideal for cryo- specimens or other unstained biological specimens. Yours, Bill Tivol
I am trying to locate Ms. Lisa Hartnell. We were colleagues a few years ago at RMC. After departing from RMC, Lisa worked for a while in Paul Webster's lab at Yale.
If anyone knows of Lisa's whereabouts or has an e-mail address for her, please contact me off-list. Or feel free to forward this message to her.
Thanks for your help!
Bob **************************************** Robert (Bob) Chiovetti, Ph.D. President Microimaging Technologies, Inc. Tucson, Arizona USA Tel. / Fax (520) 546-4986 rchiovetti-at-aol.com Manufacturers' Representatives Systems Integrators Analog & Digital Imaging Systems Research Microscopy Products *****************************************
It might be useful to contact the Royal Microscopical Society. I know that in the past they have displayed material on open access on a SEM with restricted access to controls. I haven't personally seen it, but read about it in the "RMS Proceedings". I think a manual SEM was used with covers over certain controls. A similar effect could be achieved using a simple PC control interface.
Best wishes,
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: "pbedard-at-saglac.qc.ca"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com {"pbedard-at-saglac.qc.ca"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com}
Hello all,
I am presently looking at the potential purchase of a basic SEM, probably variable pressure for a local museum. Are there any one of you using SEM for public shows? If yes may I have more information on what is exactly done.
The other alternative (more likely) is presentation of a "microzoo" similar to Oceanographic institute of Monaco. Small organisms (plancton, benthos, etc.) are presented via a fully motorized stereoscopic microscope. Any personnal experience to share on the subject? Ciao! -- L.Paul Bedard, ing. Ph.D. DocuScience inc.
I agree with Larry. If you want to "Archive" images there is only one stable medium - Conventional Film.
Jaz & Zip disks are fine for temporary storage of images. I have been using Jaz disks for a few years without any failures, but due to cost transfer data to CD-R's. The Jaz is only used for rapid access to the images. As pointed out the Jaz/Zip technology will probably be superseded soon ( 1GB drives are gone already ! ) and in a few years it will be difficult to read data if your drive fails. This was a major factor along with cost ) 5 years ago when we decided on a CD-R storage system, over Magneto-Optical which was the current favourite then.
CD-R's are not in themselves a good long-term archive medium. We have experienced a number of failures of CD-R's given to customers over the five years. These failures are usually attributed to environmental factors since the CD-R's are extremely sensitive to bad handling. Our archive has not experienced any failures in this time and the CD-R's are carefully stored in drawers. We always recommend that customers take their own copy so that a second copy exists. Any images lost over the five years were due to hard disk failures prior to storage. CD-R's are so cheap now that it is probably worth writing two disks at a time and storing them separately. At least five years on all the archive can still be read on any computer.
I suppose DVD ( 5.2 GB ) will be the next way to go as soon as industry settle on a universal standard ?
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: Larry Allard {l2a-at-ornl.gov} To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com}
I confirm that my address is right. Please add it to the mailing list.
Thank you. --------------------------------------------------- Dr. J. Ricote Laboratoire du Physique et l'Etat Condens=E9 (LPEC) Facult=E9 des Sciences Universit=E9 du Maine-Le Mans Avenue Olivier Messiaen BP 535 72085 Le Mans cedex FRANCE
The 5-year life of CDs is for older technology CDs. Current CDs are nominally rated at 70-200 years, depending on the manufacturer. Magnetic media, regardless of how it is packaged (floppy, winchester, Zip, Jaz, SyQuest, whatever), all fall prey to the same problems that all magnetic media fall to -- archival for a decade or two, less than that under "real world" use.
For a good discussion of the CD longevity debate, see http://www.cd-info.com/CDIC/Industry/news/media-chronology.html.
For a good discussion of how these "100 year" lifetime determinations are made, see
I think that one has to remember that the environmental conditions are exquisitely important when discussing longevity. There *is no* single number that one can look to unless one knows how the media is stored and used.
For an example of how this plays for photographic media, look at http://www.kodak.com/cluster/global/en/consumer/education/imageStability.shtml
While the above is for photographic prints, not CDs or magnetic media, the importance of environmental issues are analogous.
billo
On Mon, 11 Jan 1999, Larry Allard 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Woody and all: } } Just a couple of additional cents... } } I forget the source, but a few months ago I recall a discussion on the web } of CD longevity. It had been the conventional wisdom that CDs had a shelf } life on the order of 30 years. But people were discovering that CDs 5 } years old or so were becoming defective through delamination or other } processes, just with age and not necessarily with handling, so there was } some skepticism about the 30yr shelf life figure. } } Like all media types, there is no question that after 10 years or so you } might expect that the ability to read specific disks or cards or whatever } would be difficult due to dramatic changes in technology (who has 8-track } tapes any longer?) and the natural migration to new technologies that } causes older technology to disappear. So any discussion of shelf life for } electronic storage is probably a moot point (unlike film, which could be } good almost indefinitely with proper handling). I fully expect to have to, } sooner or later, transfer all of my archived data over to some new type of } storage. Just the way life is... } } Larry } } } } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } } 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 Pauline, } } } } I have not used a Jaz drive, but if it is like the Zip (basically a floppy } } disk } } inside), I would not consider it an "archive" media. On the other hand, } } unless } } the enviroment was really poor, I would expect a much greater life than you } } mentioned. Also, the equipment capable of retreiving the data is limited. } } Will } } you have a working Jaz drive in 10 years? Another down side to the Jaz is } } the } } cost of storage compared to a CD-R (650 MB for {$1.50). I would suggest a } } CD-R } } archive for cost, longevity, and an increased probability that it can be } } read a } } few years down the road. It remains to be seen if the manufacturers are } } correct, but most rate the CD-R for 100 years or more storage. } } } } Woody } } } } ______________________________ Reply Separator } } _________________________________ } } Subject: Jaz disk archivalness? } } Author: "Pauline C. Yu" [SMTP:splene-at-pw.usda.gov] at CORP } } Date: 1/11/99 10:49 AM } } } } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } } 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 read an interview with a photojournalist who does all digital } } photography who saves her work on a Jaz drive "in the field"(PhotoMetro } } interview between ADColeman&Maggie Hallahan). She commented that "...the } } Jaz only lasts a few months and after that I have to archive everything to } } CD." } } Is this true? It's rather alarming as Iomega claims that the storage } } life of the cartridges(under *ideal* conditions) is 10 years. Someone is } } planning to supply our microscopy lab with a Jaz drive for image storage, } } but if it's not archival, I don't think it's worth the investment. } } Does anyone have experience with long term(at least a year) image storage } } on Jaz disks? } } } } thanx } } Pauline Yu } } Microscopist Technician } } USDA-ARS-WRRC } } - - -- --- ----- -------- ------------- --------------------- } } } 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 } } 423-574-4981 } 423-574-4913 Fax } l2a-at-ornl.gov } } }
They do all sorts of materials printed on glass. We routinely use their image analysis calibration slide and stage micrometers as part of our on-site workshops.
Caveat: MME has no commercial interest in this product.
Suggest you see the Particle Atlas, available from McCrone, now in a very convenient CD Rom format which is quick and easy to search. Try contacting
Dina Mattes at McCrone Associates, Westmont, IL 800-622-8122.
There are also good descriptions of all sorts of crystal families and habits the old reference, Chamot (pronounced Cha-mo) and Mason's Handbook of Chemical Microscopy. I think McCrone Assoc. has also brought this back into print. It's a great reference because it shows you how to control crystal growth of various types under the microscope. Drs. Chamot and Mason reigned over the chemical microscopy facility at Cornell U. for nearly 100 years.... Their book contains lots of good "benchtop wisdom".
Many thanks to all who responded to my question. Below is a summary of the responses to cleaving rock salt:
1) Irradiate the salt (with a Co60 source, for example) to set up point defects in the crystal, making it easier to cleave.
2) Ensure you are using a high quality salt crystal.
3) Use a sharp, brand new razor blade for each cleave.
3) After cleaving, take a piece of lens cleaning paper, place it on a smooth surface, and put a little water on it. Using tweezers, pick up the salt and rub it in a circular motion in the puddle of water.
4) Consider using alternate substrates, depending on their suitability to the particular experiment on hand. Suggestions included mica, Barium sulfate, and Highly Ordered Pyrolytic Graphite (HOPG).
5) Be realistic in your expectations; even a very well cleaved salt crystal will have some cleavage steps.
Thanks again, these suggestions have been very helpful to me.
There was a wonderful microscopy exhibits at both the American Museum of Natural History (NY) and at the Smithsonian in the early-mid 80's. Cecil Fox, then with Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, helped organize both. The Smithsonian exhibit not only had a major display of old and new equipment but a working SEM. I have lost track of Dr. Fox ... last I heard he was still in the Silver Spring area. I have left a message for him and will send you info when available.
The other alternative is to talk to our illustrious listmaster, Nestor. He has a tremendous amount of experience with telemicroscopy which should be easily transferable to this type of situation.
Quoted from "Staining Procedures", 3rd ed. Biological Stain Commission pg 212: Sudan IV to show: suberized walls, cuticle, fat or oil globules
fix: either none or any botanical fixative embedding: paraffin or freehand
Preparation of staining and mounting solutions: Make a saturated solution of Sudan IV in 95% EtOH Add an equal volume of glycerin and filter if stain precipitates out on the sections, dilute further as necessary with a mixture of equal parts glycerine and EtOH Keep in a dropper bottle
Staining schedule: 1) Bring sections into 30% EtOH 2) Mount sections on a slide in a few drops of the staining and mounting solution 3) Seal edges of coverslip with "vas-par"*
Results: Cuticle, cutinized and suberized walls, and fat globules--orange.
*equal parts melted paraffin and vasaline; apply with a metal rod about 1/8th inch in diameter, bent into an L shape with a 6" handle and a 1" leg: warm applicator over a burner/hot plate, etc., then melt and pick up a few drops of vas-par and apply to coverslip edges. pg 239
Reference: Rawlins, T.E. 1933. "Phytopathological and Botanical Research Methods." John Wiley & Sons, NY.
(Pardon me while I go wipe off my keyboard.)
Phil
} Can anyone spit a quick Sudan IV protocol for lipid staining (for en bloc or } embedded tissues-plant) to my email (or the net if anyone else is curious)?? } Much obliged!! } Tracey } } } } Tracey Pepper } Bessey Microscopy Facility } Iowa State University } ph: 515-294-3872 } fax: 515.294.1337
****be famous! send in a tech tip or question*** Philip Oshel Technical Editor, Microscopy Today PO Box 620068 Middleton, WI 53562 (608) 833-2885 oshel-at-terracom.net
Thanks for the informative links. I was not aware of the extensive "debate" that has gone on regarding CD lifetime expectancy.
It is interesting that models suggest a lifetime of CD-R of 217 years. I think it is safe to assert that no one presently alive will be around to test this hypothesis. And if they were, it is probably safer to assert that there would be no device still in existance that could read such an ancient recording...
Larry
The 5-year life of CDs is for older technology CDs. Current } CDs are nominally rated at 70-200 years, depending on the } manufacturer. Magnetic media, regardless of how it is } packaged (floppy, winchester, Zip, Jaz, SyQuest, whatever), } all fall prey to the same problems that all magnetic media } fall to -- archival for a decade or two, less than that } under "real world" use. } } For a good discussion of the CD longevity debate, see } http://www.cd-info.com/CDIC/Industry/news/media-chronology.html. } } For a good discussion of how these "100 year" lifetime } determinations are made, see } } http://www.cd-info.com/CDIC/Technology/CD-R/Media/Kodak.html. } } I think that one has to remember that the environmental } conditions are exquisitely important when discussing } longevity. There *is no* single number that one can } look to unless one knows how the media is stored and used. } } For an example of how this plays for photographic media, } look at } http://www.kodak.com/cluster/global/en/consumer/education/imageStability.shtml } } While the above is for photographic prints, not CDs or magnetic } media, the importance of environmental issues are analogous. } } billo } } } On Mon, 11 Jan 1999, Larry Allard 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 } } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } } } Woody and all: } } } } Just a couple of additional cents... } } } } I forget the source, but a few months ago I recall a discussion on the web } } of CD longevity. It had been the conventional wisdom that CDs had a shelf } } life on the order of 30 years. But people were discovering that CDs 5 } } years old or so were becoming defective through delamination or other } } processes, just with age and not necessarily with handling, so there was } } some skepticism about the 30yr shelf life figure. } } } } Like all media types, there is no question that after 10 years or so you } } might expect that the ability to read specific disks or cards or whatever } } would be difficult due to dramatic changes in technology (who has 8-track } } tapes any longer?) and the natural migration to new technologies that } } causes older technology to disappear. So any discussion of shelf life for } } electronic storage is probably a moot point (unlike film, which could be } } good almost indefinitely with proper handling). I fully expect to have to, } } sooner or later, transfer all of my archived data over to some new type of } } storage. Just the way life is... } } } } Larry } } } } } } } } } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } } } 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 Pauline, } } } } } } I have not used a Jaz drive, but if it is like the Zip (basically a floppy } } } disk } } } inside), I would not consider it an "archive" media. On the other hand, } } } unless } } } the enviroment was really poor, I would expect a much greater life than you } } } mentioned. Also, the equipment capable of retreiving the data is limited. } } } Will } } } you have a working Jaz drive in 10 years? Another down side to the Jaz is } } } the } } } cost of storage compared to a CD-R (650 MB for {$1.50). I would suggest a } } } CD-R } } } archive for cost, longevity, and an increased probability that it can be } } } read a } } } few years down the road. It remains to be seen if the manufacturers are } } } correct, but most rate the CD-R for 100 years or more storage. } } } } } } Woody } } } } } } ______________________________ Reply Separator } } } _________________________________ } } } Subject: Jaz disk archivalness? } } } Author: "Pauline C. Yu" [SMTP:splene-at-pw.usda.gov] at CORP } } } Date: 1/11/99 10:49 AM } } } } } } } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } } } 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 read an interview with a photojournalist who does all digital } } } photography who saves her work on a Jaz drive "in the field"(PhotoMetro } } } interview between ADColeman&Maggie Hallahan). She commented that "...the } } } Jaz only lasts a few months and after that I have to archive everything to } } } CD." } } } Is this true? It's rather alarming as Iomega claims that the storage } } } life of the cartridges(under *ideal* conditions) is 10 years. Someone is } } } planning to supply our microscopy lab with a Jaz drive for image storage, } } } but if it's not archival, I don't think it's worth the investment. } } } Does anyone have experience with long term(at least a year) image storage } } } on Jaz disks? } } } } } } thanx } } } Pauline Yu } } } Microscopist Technician } } } USDA-ARS-WRRC } } } - - -- --- ----- -------- ------------- --------------------- } } } } } } 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 } } } } 423-574-4981 } } 423-574-4913 Fax } } l2a-at-ornl.gov } } } } } }
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
Sorry Zhiyu Wang, I still have trouble with that concept. A single pixel in a line of 2500 pixel represents an error any microscopist could ignore. The pixel size may be 4.5um - on the charge coupled device; on the specimen, depending on how small the area examined (higher power less field) that pixel may represent rather more. What matters is the observed (enlarged) image and here, if the image width is 100mm, that single pixel represents 100 over 2500= 0.04mm or an 0.04% error. If only part of the image is used, like with a photographic negative the error does not change dramatically. One would not calculate a magnification by ignoring that only half of the enlarged image is used.
If you worry about magnification use a build in calibration, like latex spheres as earlier suggested. With care an SEM may be accurate to 5%, though some people have claimed 1%. In either case those pixel will not be your problem - the way I see it. 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 Tuesday, January 12, 1999 5:37 PM, Zhiyu Wang [SMTP:zhiyuw-at-worldnet.att.net] wrote: } Hi, Jim: } } Thank you for responding my message. Your calculation is } right, but the } question is that we do not want to ignore the smallest } unit on large scale } of measurement. Say 1/2500 is a small number in } persentage, but its } absolute value is 4 um, my sample is not covered by total } 2500 pixels, } only part of them instead. If I measure multipal samples, } the error should } be +/- 4 um, ie. 8 um, close to 0.01 mm. This is too } rough for quality } control of machinary (in semoconductor industry) } } Basiclly I do not believe SEM is a good machine for } dimension measurement } as many factors involve on imaging system. Therefore, its } high electron } optical resolution and high depth of view attract me and } my boss to do } something different. I am collect information around the } world. I } appreciate your help and we can share some interest idea } later. } } Thanks, } } Zhiyu Wang } ---------- } } From: Jim J Darley {jim-at-proscitech.com.au} } } To: 'Zhiyu Wang' {zhiyuw-at-worldnet.att.net} ; } 'Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com' } {Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com} } } Subject: RE: Resolution of digital SEM image } } Date: Monday, January 11, 1999 4:28 AM } } } } } } --------------------------------------------------------- } } --------------- } } 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 Zhiyu Wang - } } Lets hope its me who is confused: I don't care. } } If a monitor is 100mm across and is represented by 4um } } pixel } } (100 divided by 0.004=) 2500 would be required for a } } single } } line. If one pixel was missing I would just forget about } } } } that, although the percentage error would be constant, } } regardless of magnification. } } What I would worry about is the large variation in } } magnification readings, which is possible because of the } } } } SEM's great depths of field and tilt angles. } } Calibrated latex spheres have been used for decades in } } TEM. } } Now larger calibrated spheres are available and these } } can } } be routinely and economically applied to SEM and light } } microscopy specimen to provide a reliable size } } comparison. } } Disclaimer: ProSciTech supplies latex particles (page } } "S2" } } online) and thus has a vested interest. } } 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, January 09, 1999 4:21 PM, Zhiyu Wang } } [SMTP:zhiyuw-at-worldnet.att.net] wrote: } } } } } Hi, All: } } } } } } A technical difficulty in my lab is coming on the } } } table: } } } How to increase } } } resolution of digitized SEM images, especially for } } } low } } } magnification } } } ( {50X). The pixel size of SEM image (50X)in my } } } machine } } } (LEO-435VP) is 4.5 } } } um. In other word, no matter how good image } } } software } } } performs, the } } } measurement error is at least 4.5 um. } } } We are going to use SEM as a routine measurement tool } } } under 100X, what is } } } the disadvantage? } } } Does any one have excellent idea to solve this } } } problem, } } in } } } terms of : } } } Increase number of pixels and save as compressed .jpg } } } to } } } reduce file size? } } } Stage mapping? } } } Software solution? } } } What else? } } } } } } Thank you for help } } } } } } Zhiyu Wang } } } } } } } } } } } } } }
} Bill: } } Thanks for the informative links. I was not aware of the extensive } "debate" that has gone on regarding CD lifetime expectancy. } } It is interesting that models suggest a lifetime of CD-R of 217 years. I } think it is safe to assert that no one presently alive will be around to } test this hypothesis. And if they were, it is probably safer to assert } that there would be no device still in existance that could read such an } ancient recording... } } Larry }
I'm not sure how good these models are, though. It's a little like mutagenesis tests on bacteria. Yeah, it's a measure of carcinogenicity, but it's a loose one. I'm much happier using these tests as a relative scale rather than an absolute one.
Hello: I am currently working on mechanical behavior / microstructure correlations in single colony near apha Ti Alloys. I am currently preparing the foils using a dual ion mill (6kV, 12deg, 1mA), but have run into the problem of a very uneven alpha phase morphology, the alpha phase has island formation - we are using a cold stage to minimize the hydride formation at the interface. I am using 3 micron/6micron diamond paste during the dimpling process - the foil itself otherwise is fairly clean in terms of the dislocation content. Could anyone in the microscopy land have some suggestions in terms of what the problem may be?
thanks - if you want you can respond directly to suri.3-at-osu.edu
Pauline Yu wrote: ============================================ I read an interview with a photojournalist who does all digital photography who saves her work on a Jaz drive "in the field"(PhotoMetro interview between ADColeman&Maggie Hallahan). She commented that "...the Jaz only lasts a few months and after that I have to archive everything to CD." Is this true? It's rather alarming as Iomega claims that the storage life of the cartridges(under *ideal* conditions) is 10 years. Someone is planning to supply our microscopy lab with a Jaz drive for image storage, but if it's not archival, I don't think it's worth the investment. Does anyone have experience with long term(at least a year) image storage on Jaz disks? ============================================== When the 1 GIG Iomega drives came out some months ago, I thought then they were the greatest thing since sliced bread. I have used one on my home desktop repeatedly without problems. And ditto for some number of the office desktops (except for one).
But another one that I dedicated for use with my laptop for when I travel has been another story. During the warranty period, when I could get through on the Iomega lines, they did keep replacing the entire drive, which apparently did not survive the bouncing around during travel. The drive itself was packed in my checked luggage but well packed. But the survival rate was about three months. After the warranty period was up, they stopped replacing them.
In any case, my experience seemed to be consistent with that of the photojournalist: If you carry them around, you have problems. But so far as I can tell, after very heavy use of the 1 GIG JAZ drives, if they are permanently installed, we have not had any particular problems. In talking with their customer service people, apparently, something goes wrong with the drive if carried around and when that happens, it does do damage to the replaceable disc when you next try to use it.
Chuck
Disclaimer: In this instance, I have no financial interest in this product, just a satisfied user who wished Iomega had more customer service lines.
=================================================== 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: www.2spi.com ############################ ==================================================
"In Situ Hydride Formation in Zirconium and Titanium during Ion Milling" Graham J.C. Carpenter et al, JMSA Vol.1 No. 4 pp 175-184 1995.
=46rom the paper you will see that a key factor in eliminating hydride formation is having a clean sample free from hydrocarbon contamination. =
This contamination could be remnants from the dimpling process or other pre-thinning steps or it could be caused by the back streaming of diffusi= on pump oil in your ion mill. As titanium has a high chemical affinity for hydrogen, you may want to look over your preparation steps and try to eliminate any areas of possible contamination. If you are still having a=
problem, a quick cleaning of both the specimen and the specimen holder in= a Plasma Cleaner should take care of it.
If you have an interest, I can send you a copy of the above referenced paper. I also have papers on plasma cleaning which may be of interest.
NOTE: South Bay Technology does manufacture the PC150 Plasma Cleaner and therefore I 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 Satyarth Suri } Hello: I am currently working on mechanical behavior / microstructure correlations in single colony near apha Ti Alloys. I am currently preparing the foils using a dual ion mill (6kV, 12deg, 1mA), but have run into the problem of a very uneven alpha phase morphology, the alpha phase has island formation - we are using a cold stage to minimize the hydride formation at the interface. I am using 3 micron/6micron diamond paste during the dimpling process - the foil itself otherwise is fairly clean in terms of the dislocation content. Could anyone in the microscopy land have some suggestions in terms of what the problem may be?
thanks - if you want you can respond directly to suri.3-at-osu.edu
Pauline, We have had a horrible time with the Jaz drives (hooked to an SGI archiving confocal images). Apparently when they get near full capacity they screw up. I've sent three unreadable disks to an image retrieval company, with no luck. The told me that when the disk is near full and you try to add another file it will put data back at the begining of the disk, erasing file allocation tables, basically making the disk unreadable. We have several defective disks and I have been forced to the zip drive.
Hello, My lab is currently looking for a used carbon coater for our TEM lab. Our Emitech has passed away and is in England trying to be repaired, but it looks grim. I also have a Denton coater that will not pump down. So I am looking into other options.
If your are selling such a machine or might know someone who is, please write back or drop a line to our website
I need some advice as to the best protocol for fixing fresh plant leaves for routine TEM. My only experience has been with animal tissue. Thanks, MG Engle
We just got a G3 Mac and an Epson digital projector-I have seen some really nice digital slide shows and am excited by the increase in quality and decrease in effort making slides. I expect, however, to spend some effort finding out the best way to put together a slide show, and am wondering what advice or experience might be out there. I would like to show ~10MB images without any computer stuff showing at the same time, but could consider compression (eg., jpeg) if there is no loss of quality. Wondering whether to get into a slide presentation program or just make a stack and open them sequentially (I have 190+ MB of memory). There is also a neat IR pointer that seems to bounce off the screen and feed into software in the projector that allows you to move the cursor around and click/double click with the IR pointer. Too bad they didn't include a laser pointer in this device!....Many thanks for any help or advice!...Tom Reese
Reply to: RE: Ti Alloys - TEM foil preparation Pure titanium has been jet electropolished here at Argonne National = Laboratory for over 10 years. A South Bay 550-B single jet instrument is = used because it has in-situ viewing of the specimen during the process to = speed up the determination of proper electropolishing conditions.
Conditions: -20 degrees C. 70 volts, 35 mA, (one side of 3 mm disc)
Note: After polishing about half way thru the specimen,=
it is cleaned, dried, and a dot of = Microshield stop- off lacquer is placed on the polished "side = one" dimple. The inverted specimen is then remounted on = the polish- ing instrument and thinned to perforation = using the = sensitive optical termination system. It = should be = possible to make several foils per day in = this manner.
Bernard Kestel Materials Science Division Argonne National Laboratory Argonne, Il, 60439
E-mail: bkestel-at-anl.gov South Bay Technology wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America =
{HTML} {HEAD} {/HEAD} {BODY} {PRE WIDTH=3D"132"} Reply to: RE: Ti Alloys - TEM foil preparation
{/PRE} {FONT = FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D3 COLOR=3D"#000000"} Pure titanium has = been jet electropolished here at Argonne = National Laboratory for over 10 years. = A South Bay 550-B single jet instrument is = used because it has in-situ viewing of the = specimen during the process to speed up = the determination of proper electropolishing = conditions. {BR} {BR} Electrolyte: = 30 ml. perchloric acid {BR} = 295 ml. methanol {BR} = 175 ml. butyl cellosolve {BR} {BR} = Conditions: -20 degrees C. {BR} = 70 volts, = 35 mA, (one side of 3 mm disc) {BR} {BR} = Note: After polishing about = half way thru the specimen, {BR} = it is cleaned, dried, = and a dot of Microshield stop- {BR} = off lacquer is placed = on the polished "side one" dimple. {BR} = The inverted = specimen is then remounted on the polish- {BR} = ing instrument = and thinned to perforation using the {BR} = sensitive optical = termination system. It should be {BR} = possible to make = several foils per day in this manner. {BR} {BR} = Bernard Kestel {BR} Materials = Science Division {BR} Argonne National = Laboratory {BR} Argonne, Il, 60439 {BR} {BR} = E-mail: bkestel-at-anl.gov {BR} South = Bay Technology wrote: {/FONT} {FONT FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#= 000000"} {BR} >-----------------------------------------------------------------------= - {BR} >The = Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy = Society of America {BR} I also have papers on plasma cleaning which = may be of interest. {BR} > {BR} >NOTE: South = Bay Technology does manufacture the PC150 = Plasma Cleaner and {BR} >therefore I have = a vested interest in promoting its use. {BR} > {BR} >Best = regards- {BR} > {BR} >David = {BR} >Writing at 9:38:23 = AM on 1/12/99 {BR} > = {BR} >***************************************************************** {BR} >********** {BR} >************************ {BR} > {BR} >David = Henriks = TEL: {BR} >800-728-2233 (toll = free in the USA) {BR} >South Bay Technology, = Inc. +1-949-492-2600 {BR} >1120 = Via Callejon = FAX: +1-949-492-1499 {BR} >San Clemente, = CA 92673 USA e-mail: {/FONT} {FONT = FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#0000FF"} {U} henriks-at-southbaytech.com {/U} {= /FONT} {FONT = FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#000000"} {BR} > {BR} >***************************************************************** {BR} >********** {BR} >************************ {BR} > {BR} > = >>>>> Please visit us = at {/FONT} {FONT FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#0000FF"} {U} http://www.= southbaytech.com {/U} {/FONT} {FONT = FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#000000"} <<<<< {BR} > {BR} >Manufacturers = of precision sample preparation equipment = and supplies for {BR} >metallography, crystallography = and electron microscopy. {BR} > {BR} >Message = text written by Satyarth Suri {BR} >> {BR} >Hello: {BR} >I = am currently working on mechanical behavior = / microstructure {BR} >correlations in single = colony near apha Ti Alloys. I am currently {BR} >preparing = the foils using a dual ion mill (6kV, 12deg, = 1mA), but {BR} >have run into the problem = of a very uneven alpha phase morphology, {BR} >the = alpha phase has island formation - we are = using a cold stage {BR} >to minimize the = hydride formation at the interface. I am = using {BR} >3 micron/6micron diamond paste = during the dimpling process - the {BR} >foil = itself otherwise is fairly clean in terms = of the dislocation {BR} >content. Could = anyone in the microscopy land have some = suggestions {BR} >in terms of what the problem = may be? {BR} > {BR} >thanks - if you want = you can respond directly to {/FONT} {FONT FACE=3D"Geneva" = SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#0000FF"} {U} suri.3-at-osu.edu {/U} {/FONT} {FONT FACE=3D"= Geneva" = SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#000000"} {BR} > {BR} >-satyarth {BR} > {BR} >< {BR} > {BR} > {BR} > {BR} >RFC822 = header {BR} >----------------------------------- {BR} > {BR} > = Received: from dns2.anl.gov (dns2.anl.gov = [146.139.254.3]) by {BR} >horus.et.anl.gov = (8.6.11/8.6.11) with ESMTP id MAA28629; = Tue, 12 Jan 1999 12:21:30 -0600 {BR} > Received: = from Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (sparc5.microscopy.com = {BR} >[206.69.208.10]) by dns2.anl.gov = (8.9.1a/8.6.11) with SMTP id MAA02315; Tue, = 12 Jan 1999 {BR} >12:22:10 -0600 (CST) {BR} > = Received: (from {/FONT} {FONT FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#0000FF"} {U} = daemon-at-localhost {/U} {/FONT} {FONT = FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#000000"} ) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com = (8.6.11/8.6.11) {BR} >id LAA19027 for dist-Microscopy; = Tue, 12 Jan 1999 11:48:51 -0600 {BR} > Received: = from no_more_spam.com (Sparc5 [206.69.208.10]) = by {BR} >Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) =
Hi Guys, I'm looking for a shareware program for the mac that will allow me to batch process 12 bit images to 8 bit images. Thanks,
--Ciprian ________________________________________________________________ Ciprian A. Almonte Phone: (412) 648-9796 Center for Biologic Imaging FAX: (412) 648-8330 University of Pittsburgh URL:http://sbic6.sbic.pitt.edu Pittsburgh, PA 15261 USA mailto:calmonte-at-pitt.edu ________________________________________________________________
American Chemican Society "Applied Optical Microscopy for Chemists" March 4-5-7 in Beautiful Orlando, Florida Three days of total immersion, hands-on experience with all phases of optical microscopy, including one whole day of Polarized Light (both qualitative and quantitative) Strongly supported with the latest in equipment from the major manufacturers for HANDS-ON labs Special Saturday evening session on video imaging and image analysis
For further details, including registration information, visit the MME website: {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education}
Looking forward to seeing you there!
Barbara Foster, Course Coordinator
Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater productivity. 125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education}
This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --------------6C36AB32CC464C8C85112D45 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-9 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Dear all microscopists;
I am a young electron microscopist who is trying to organise an EM lab in Turkey.
I had a chance to study with a wonderful electron microscopist and also a great teacher, Dr. Robert J.Kayton(the president of PNEMS) in Portland, OR for 1 year. I learned the technical aspects of electron microscopy from him. I have never had much more enjoyable experience than that. Now, I am back and have been asked to organise an EM lab.
All I have in this lab is an old TEM(Carl Zeiss EM 9) and an old ultramicrotome. As you see, I need so many things. I really want to rebuilt a nice EM lab and to apply my experience I have learned in U.S. It will be very hard for me since it is not easy to find financial support for that in my country.
Would you like to help me? I would like to ask you to send me any equipments, appliances, dark room stuffs, books etc. which you don't use anymore in your EM lab. I will prepare a chart for being able to thank all of you on the front door of my lab and write the names of persons, companies, facilities etc. which help me. I also would like to bring small presents from Turkey for you, dear helpfull electron microscopists, when I come to the Microscopy&Microanalysis'1999,in Portland,OR.
I will greatly appreciate any kind of help.
Thanks in advance,
Ranan Gulhan AKTAS, M. D. Trakya University, Faculty of Medicine Pathology Department 22030 Edirne, TURKEY Tel: +90 284 235 44 68 Fax: +90 284 235 76 52 e-mail: ranaoz-at-turk.net
Unless you have a compelling reason to use ion milling for this preparation, I recommend using jet electropolishing, possibly with just a final touch-up in the ion mill. Although both electropolishing and ion milling commonly produce sample preparation artifacts, the artifacts from ion-milling reactive metals such as Ti and Zr are not well understood and can be harder to eliminate. Despite Carpenter et. als work (see D. Henriks posting) implicating hydrocarbon contamination as a source of hydriding during ion milling, my personal experience ion milling Zr samples in 'oil-free' systems indicates that water vapor is the main culprit in the hydridng. Surface irregularities on ion milled Zr/Ti samples (surface terracing, for example) usually have other causes, possibly related to air leaks in the ion mill or oxygen in the feed gas. Another source of irregular surfaces on ion milled samples is embedded polishing compound. Cubic boron nitride (CBN) sometimes gives better results in dimpling metals than diamond, and even the diamond polishing compounds from different suppliers can give different results. Conversely, brief ion milling of electropolished samples--especially at low incidence angles and very low kV--can improve the surface finish and mill away irregularities caused by second-phase particles. Often the 'trick' to eliminating milling artifacts is minimizing time spent in the ion mill.
Larry Thomas Mechanical and Materials Engineering Washington State University Pullman, WA
---------- From: South Bay Technology Sent: Tuesday, January 12, 1999 6:00 PM To: Satyarth Suri; Microscopy ListServer Subject: Ti Alloys - TEM foil preparation
------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 Satyarth:
An excellent paper on the subject is:
"In Situ Hydride Formation in Zirconium and Titanium during Ion Milling" Graham J.C. Carpenter et al, JMSA Vol.1 No. 4 pp 175-184 1995.
From the paper you will see that a key factor in eliminating hydride formation is having a clean sample free from hydrocarbon contamination. This contamination could be remnants from the dimpling process or other pre-thinning steps or it could be caused by the back streaming of diffusion pump oil in your ion mill. As titanium has a high chemical affinity for hydrogen, you may want to look over your preparation steps and try to eliminate any areas of possible contamination. If you are still having a problem, a quick cleaning of both the specimen and the specimen holder in a Plasma Cleaner should take care of it.
If you have an interest, I can send you a copy of the above referenced paper. I also have papers on plasma cleaning which may be of interest.
NOTE: South Bay Technology does manufacture the PC150 Plasma Cleaner and therefore I have a vested interest in promoting its use.
David Henriks TEL: 800-728-2233 (toll free in the USA) South Bay Technology, Inc. +1-949-492-2600 1120 Via Callejon FAX: +1-949-492-1499 San Clemente, CA 92673 USA e-mail: henriks-at-southbaytech.com
} } } } } 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 Satyarth Suri } Hello: I am currently working on mechanical behavior / microstructure correlations in single colony near apha Ti Alloys. I am currently preparing the foils using a dual ion mill (6kV, 12deg, 1mA), but have run into the problem of a very uneven alpha phase morphology, the alpha phase has island formation - we are using a cold stage to minimize the hydride formation at the interface. I am using 3 micron/6micron diamond paste during the dimpling process - the foil itself otherwise is fairly clean in terms of the dislocation content. Could anyone in the microscopy land have some suggestions in terms of what the problem may be?
thanks - if you want you can respond directly to suri.3-at-osu.edu
I am compiling for the MSA Education Committee a listing of laboratories involved in outreach and/or remote access programs with local schools or just across campus. Please contact me with information about your respective programs. This list will be mounted on the MSA webpage.
I will be compiling lists for scanning electron microscopes, light microscopes(standard and confocal), scanning probes, confocal, and transmission microscopes. I'ld like to know what school levels your program is tartgeted to, what instruments you are using, a web site if you have one, and your email so I can follow up on the information.
Please contact me directly at sbarlow-at-sunstroke.sdsu.edu (NOT THE LISTSERVER LIST) and I will see the information is compiled and posted.
thanks in advance
steve
--------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Steven Barlow, Associate Director EM Facility/Biology Department 5500 Campanile Drive San Diego CA 92182-4614 phone: (619)594-4523 fax: (619) 594-5676 email: sbarlow-at-sunstroke.sdsu.edu website: http://www.sci.sdsu.edu/emfacility/
I agree with Chuck. When I took Dr. McKenzie's Digital Microscopy course, he informed us that these things couldn't be banged around. We've had a 1 GB (permanently installed) for over a year and a 2 GB "portable" drive (that never gets moved) for almost a year, and have never had any trouble with either.
I don't know about over filling disks. My fattest one still has 170 MB left and is perfectly fine. For really important files/pictures, I keep 2 backups on separate disks. We have about 20 of these things. We also use Zips as a more portable medium. Go iomega.
No commercial interest; just a satisfied customer.
Sara
Sara E. Miller, Ph. D. P. O. Box 3020 Duke University Medical Center Durham, NC 27710 Ph: 919 684-3452 FAX: 919 684-8735
} Dear All, } } Is anyone aware of an electropolishing solution for Mg alloys that (i) } thins very slowly, and (ii) works at room temperature? } } thanks. } Sincerely yours
D. H. Ping
------------------------------------------------------------------------- D. H. Ping, Dr Materials Physics Division National Research Institute for Metals (NRIM) 1-2-1 Sengen, Tsukuba 305-0047, Japan Phone: +81-298-59-2717 FAX:+81-298-59-2701 E-mail: Ping-at-tamamori.nrim.go.jp WWW: http://inaba.nrim.go.jp/apfim/ Home phone: +81-298-59-0918
Can anyone out there tell me a bit about endpoint detection systems for Reactive Ion Etchers? What different types there are, how they work, what situations they are optimal for, and {shudder} approximate price ranges? I was told to write up a summary within the week regarding the possibility of either attaching one to our existing RIE (PlasmaTherm Batchtop) or getting another. (Wow! They actually came to me and offered to buy stuff, instead of me having to beg!!! Either I'm doing stuff really right, or really wrong!)
Much thanks in advance,
Marisa Ahmad R&D Specialist mahmad-at-semiconductor.com
"It's not how hard you fall, it's how high you bounce."
Much as I hate to say it, Microsoft PowerPoint does a pretty good job with digital slide presentation. You definitely do *not* want to simply make a stack of slides and open them independently...it will seem clumsy and will be distracting. PowerPoint opens slides instantly, and you can do a lot of tricks to presumably enhance the production (although sometimes the tricks are somewhat distracting themselves). The best thing is to have a PowerBook with XGA (1024 x 768) resolution, and a projector with the same XGA resolution, to get the best projection results. We have been using digital projection almost exclusively for over a year now with this setup, and it works extremely well. The best thing is that you can be making slides just about up to the minute of your talk...a great capability for those of us who tend to procrastinate just a teeny bit... ;-).
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
Hi Tom, Firstable congratulation on you new G3, awesome machine. I recommend Graphic converter for slide show. It's pretty easy to set up and it allow you to fade down the images. If you need help seeting it up let me know. } } We just got a G3 Mac and an Epson digital projector-I have seen some really } nice digital slide shows and am excited by the increase in quality and } decrease in effort making slides. I expect, however, to spend some effort } finding out the best way to put together a slide show, and am wondering } what advice or experience might be out there. I would like to show ~10MB } images without any computer stuff showing at the same time, but could } consider compression (eg., jpeg) if there is no loss of quality. Wondering } whether to get into a slide presentation program or just make a stack and } open them sequentially (I have 190+ MB of memory). There is also a neat IR } pointer that seems to bounce off the screen and feed into software in the } projector that allows you to move the cursor around and click/double click } with the IR pointer. Too bad they didn't include a laser pointer in this } device!....Many thanks for any help or advice!...Tom Reese
--Ciprian
_____________________________________________________________ Ciprian A. Almonte Phone: (412) 648-9796 University of Pittsburgh FAX: (412) 648-8330 Center for Biologic Imaging http://sbic6.sbic.pitt.edu Pittsburgh, PA 15261 USA mailto:calmonte-at-pitt.edu _____________________________________________________________
The problem with overfilling Jaz disks sounds like more of a software problem than a problem with the Jaz. I have filled a number of Jaz disks to capacity and simply get a message telling me it's too full. This has worked with both PC's and Unix systems.
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: Sara Miller {saram-at-duke.edu} To: Garber, Charles A. {cgarber-at-2spi.com} Cc: MICROSCOPY BB {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com}
At 10.46 -0500 99-01-12, Satyarth Suri wrote: } } Hello: } I am currently working on mechanical behavior / microstructure } correlations in single colony near apha Ti Alloys. I am currently } preparing the foils using a dual ion mill (6kV, 12deg, 1mA), but } have run into the problem of a very uneven alpha phase morphology, } the alpha phase has island formation - we are using a cold stage } to minimize the hydride formation at the interface. I am using } 3 micron/6micron diamond paste during the dimpling process - the } foil itself otherwise is fairly clean in terms of the dislocation } content. Could anyone in the microscopy land have some suggestions } in terms of what the problem may be?
Why can't you electropolish the specimens? For my PhD work we prepared a lot of (commercial purity alpha) Ti specimens using electropolishing with minimal hydride formation. This has been continued by another PhD student who also did work on Ti at the University of Birmingham (England).
We used a non-acid electrolyte developed by B.J. Kestel of Argonne National Lab. He recommends using it in a South Bay Technology single jet electropolisher but we made it work with a Struers Twin jet Tenupol, I guess you could probably make it work with a variety of other jet electropolishing devices. I can give further details of our procedure if anyone wants.
Hope this helps
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Ian MacLaren PLEASE NOTE NEW CONTACT DETAILS: Department of Experimental Physics Chalmers University of Technology SE-412 96 G=F6teborg Sweden Tel: +46 31 772 36 33 =46AX: +46 31 772 32 24 email: maclaren-at-fy.chalmers.se or: ianmaclaren-at-hotmail.com ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I am polishing a low carbon steel that is coated with zinc. The situation i'm experiencing is when i try to etch the base material with 2%nital for grain size determination i seam to get some effect from the zinc in that the area near the surface does not etch. Is it because of polishing practice dragging that zinc onto the surface?
even if you do use something like 'Powerpoint' for the final slide presentation, it might be worth seeing if you can get hold a program such as 'Thumbsplus'. It's shareware for the PC but I don't know if it's available for the Mac. I have found 'Thumbsplus' is much quicker for simple image management and filing images because of it's use of thumbnail images and it can even produce a basic slide show.
Malcolm
Malcolm Haswell Electron Microscopy School of Sciences Fleming Building University of Sunderland SUNDERLAND SR1 3SD Tyne and Wear UK
Tel (0191) 515 2872 e-mail: malcolm.haswell-at-sunderland.ac.uk ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------- Tom:
Much as I hate to say it, Microsoft PowerPoint does a pretty good job with digital slide presentation. You definitely do *not* want to simply make a stack of slides and open them independently...it will seem clumsy and will be distracting. PowerPoint opens slides instantly, and you can do a lot of tricks to presumably enhance the production (although sometimes the tricks are somewhat distracting themselves). The best thing is to have a PowerBook with XGA (1024 x 768) resolution, and a projector with the same XGA resolution, to get the best projection results. We have been using digital projection almost exclusively for over a year now with this setup, and it works extremely well. The best thing is that you can be making slides just about up to the minute of your talk...a great capability for those of us who tend to procrastinate just a teeny bit... ;-).
Larry } } We just got a G3 Mac and an Epson digital projector-I have seen some really nice digital slide shows and am excited by the } increase in quality and decrease in effort making slides. I expect, however, to spend some effort finding out the best way to } put together a slide show, and am wondering what advice or experience might be out there. I would like to show ~10MB } images without any computer stuff showing at the same time, but could consider compression (eg., jpeg) if there is no loss of } quality. Wondering whether to get into a slide presentation program or just make a stack and open them sequentially (I have 190+ } MB of memory). There is also a neat IR pointer that seems to bounce off the screen and feed into software in the projector that } allows you to move the cursor around and click/double click with the IR pointer. Too bad they didn't include a laser pointer in this } device!....Many thanks for any help or advice!...Tom Reese
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
In message {3306033D.951200C9-at-mauromedia.com} , Michael Draper {quex-at-mauromedia.com} writes } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Reply to: RE: Ti Alloys - TEM foil preparation Re: Electropolishing of Ti alloys = Due to interest in this subject, I will list some additional = electrolytes I have used on Ti alloys. (3mm, jet polishing).
Ti-8 w/% Al 13% HCL -60 degrees C Ti-811 87% methanol 70 to 90 volts Ti-6Al-4V 25-35 mA.
Ti-13 Sn 130 ml HCL -50 degrees C 670 ml methanol 150 volts 100 ml butyl 60 mA.
Ti-3V 60 ml perchloric acid -50 degrees C Ti-20 Zr 590 ml methanol 50 volts Ti-14 Al 350 ml butyl cellosolve 10-15 mA
Ti-8 Al 60 ml perchloric acid -15 t0 -20 C (rolled) 460 ml ethyl alcohol, 95% 180 volts 280 ml butyl alcohol 40 mA. 100 ml butyl cellosolve = Ti 5.3 g. lithium chloride -40 degrees C. nanocrystals, 11.16 g. magnesium 150 volts compacted chloride 30 mA 500 ml. methanol 100 ml. butyl cellosolve (Note: the two salts above must be added to the combined solvents one = "powder" at a time, while stirring. The two dry salts react violently if = mixed together. This electrolyte has nearly as wide an application as = perchloric acid mixtures and is known as B K-2). I suspect that B K-2 will cause the least hydride problem. It was = developed to eliminate hydrides in vanadium TEM foils. The voltages given = would need to be reduced about 20% for a twin jet system due to lower = electrical resistance of that configuration. My work was done on a South = Bay vertical single jet unit. I have no vested interest in the above equipment, but have enjoyed = the ease with which good polishing conditions can be obtained and = reproduced since 1975 or so. Good luck! = Bernard Kestel Materials Science Division Argonne National Laboratory Argonne, Il., 60439
E-mail: {bkestel-at-anl.gov} Thomas, Larry wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America =
by mail.unixg.ubc.ca with esmtp (Exim 1.92 #2) for Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com id 100TFD-0006xh-00; Wed, 13 Jan 1999 08:34:12 -0800 X-Sender: ech-at-pop.unixg.ubc.ca Message-Id: {v0300780000e8124c7823-at-[137.82.136.14]} Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com
Following the discussion about filling Jaz discs:
We collect images from a Bio-Rad MRC 600 confocal to Jaz disc on an IBM computer and transfer to a Jaz drive on a Mac G3 for making projections and plates with NIH Image and Photoshop. We used to transfer by ethernet but it was too slow and taking a disc out of one drive and putting into another drive is by far the quickest approach. Using the Mac G3 to work on the images allows another researcher to collect their images on the confocal and doesn't hold them up while data is being transfered.
We once lost 1GB of data because the user filled up the Jaz disc completely. Now we wouldn't lose that data because as I understand it: When you transfer to a Mac, there is a Mac header put onto the disc. If the disc is full, this header overwrites the PC directory tree. The IBM doesn't recognise the disc and the Mac thinks it is empty. The solution (thanks to Eric Jervis) is to put the Jaz disc back into the IBM. Look for hidden files, delete them, and use Norton Utilities to rebuild the tree directory. We have a rule now which is "Try to leave 10% free on a disc," then this problem never arises.
We use Jaz and Zips regularly as temporary storage and for quick transfers between computers but we always archive to CD. Elaine
Dr. Elaine Humphrey Biosciences Electron Microscopy Facility University of British Columbia 6270 University Blvd, mail-stop Botany Vancouver, BC CANADA, V6T 1Z4 Phone: 604-822-3354 FAX: 604-822-6089 e-mail: ech-at-unixg.ubc.ca
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Hey Ciprian,
I'm not aware of a shareware tool, however, commercially IPLab (http://www.iplab.com/) can do it, and I believe so can ImportAccess (http://www.desacc.com/). Good luck.
Brian C. Tryon MCP-Hahnemann 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 --------------------------------------------------------------
I travel quite a bit with my Jaz, and have not had the same experience mentioned earlier with drive problems. For what it's worth, when traveling I carry 2 carry-ons, one for my laptop, the other (a cool bag from Kensington) carries any drives, media, and accessories. I rarely pack my drives in checked luggage (my paranoia). One reason I carry on all drives (besides brutish bag-manglers, boy, do I have stories) is because I believe this avoids some of the temperature fluctuations that you might experience with checked bags. I've been to some cold regions and noticed luggage items quite cold when upacked. Typically, I'm working on something just prior to catching a flight so going from warm to cold couldn't help drive performance. Likewise, I typically take some dessicant and moisture-proof bags with me, quickly wrap the drive in, throw in a bag of dessicant and I believe this helps avoid condensation on the drive and when I get to my destination, I can get right to work without worry of letting the drive reach room temp or needing a papertowel to drive off the casing.
So, I've had Jaz drives (I currently have 3) since they came out, never a problem with the drive. I do routinely check the disk with disk utility programs, and have occasionally (once every 2 months with routine weekend checks of mission critical data) found some errors but nothing that could not be repaired.
I do store image data (triplicates) on Jaz and CD-ROM, but my main archival tool is CD-ROM, I've had excellent performance from a Pinnacle drive and Toast software and would strongly recommend to others to try CD-ROM storage. Again, I "burn" duplicates of all data stored on Jaz, one copy goes in the safe, the other is kept within easy reach, and the Jaz is used for day to day data working. When not being used, all Jaz are stored in their containers and filed in a clean unit. Most of the computers on my network get a weekend quick cleaning to keep dust and garbage from interrupting the work flow. Hope it helps,
Brian C. Tryon MCP-Hahnemann 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 --------------------------------------------------------------
My colleague here at Polaroid has recently purchased an old microscope. He is interested in finding out as much information about it as possible. The markings on the microscope are the following: Waldemar Straufs Berlin, S.W. 68 N0. 3692 Note that the S and F is written in a strange script and may not be translated correctly. It is a black stand microscope with "brass accents" and a brass optical tube. It has a condenser which slides out, a polarizing stage, a mirror for capturing the light, a pivot arm in the stand. There are three objectives on the nose piece with the following markings: J. Thamm A.G. Berlin N.W. 6, one is an oil immersion. It came with three eye pieces as well. Pls. let us know if you have any information on this microscope. You can contact my colleague directly, Russ Gaudiana Gaudiar-at-Polaroid.com
We have a graduate student who is looking at concrete & the weathering of the steel rebar inside of it. He needs to section the steel rebar. We have never worked with steel, we are kinda biological oriented. So I'm asking for help. What's the best way for him to get thin sections of steel? Any & all suggestions gratefully accepted, I will pass them on to him.
Steeling myself for your replies,
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 am one of those people who moved from the bench to management (in USDA), and just can't seem to give up my roots (mycology/plant pathology) so keep plugging along with my self-funded research. I have been using glass knives for LM sections, and as part of a recent trade picked up a new EdgeCraft Standard Ultrathin 2.7mm diamond knife. Turns out that I am pretty happy with my glass knife sections, and would be better off with something else or some money instead of the diamond knife. The knife sells for about $2000, but I would be open to offers of about half that, or trades (or trade + cash) involving a better sterio microscope(s) - I am pretty happy with my B&L SZ5, but keep dreaming of a Wild - other areas of interest are older Leitz microscopes (170 mm Ortholux, Dialux, etc.), as well as objectives and components. If you want more information on the diamond knife (model, angle, etc.) - I can provide that. My objective is to find a home for something that I don't need, and in the process keep up the support for my own work.
RE: Ti Alloys - TEM foil preparation 1/13/99 3:47 PM
Bernard Kestel wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America = = } electrolytes I have used on Ti alloys. (3mm, jet polishing). } } Ti-8 w/% Al 13% HCL -60 degrees C } Ti-811 87% methanol 70 to 90 volts } Ti-6Al-4V 25-35 mA. } } Ti-13 Sn 130 ml HCL -50 degrees C } 670 ml methanol 150 volts } 100 ml butyl 60 mA. } } Ti-3V 60 ml perchloric acid -50 degrees C } Ti-20 Zr 590 ml methanol 50 volts } Ti-14 Al 350 ml butyl cellosolve 10-15 mA } } Ti-8 Al 60 ml perchloric acid -15 t0 -20 C } (rolled) 460 ml ethyl alcohol, 95% 180 volts } 280 ml butyl alcohol 40 mA. } 100 ml butyl cellosolve } Ti 5.3 g. = lithium = } chloride -40 degrees C. } nanocrystals, 11.16 g. magnesium 150 volts } compacted chloride 30 mA } 500 ml. methanol } 100 ml. butyl cellosolve } (Note: the two salts above must be added to the combined solvents = one = } "powder" at a time, while stirring. The two dry salts react violently if = mixed = } together. This electrolyte has nearly as wide an application as = perchloric acid = } mixtures and is known as B K-2). } I suspect that B K-2 will cause the least hydride problem. It was = } developed to eliminate hydrides in vanadium TEM foils. The voltages = given would = } need to be reduced about 20% for a twin jet system due to lower = electrical = } resistance of that configuration. My work was done on a South Bay = vertical single jet unit. } I have no vested interest in the above equipment, but have enjoyed = the = } ease with which good polishing conditions can be obtained and reproduced = since = } 1975 or so. Good luck! } Bernard Kestel } Materials Science Division } Argonne National Laboratory } Argonne, Il., 60439 } } E-mail: {bkestel-at-anl.gov} } Thomas, Larry 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 } } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } } } Satyrith- } } } } Unless you have a compelling reason to use ion milling for this = preparation, I } } recommend using jet electropolishing, possibly with just a final touch-= up = } in the } } ion mill. Although both electropolishing and ion milling commonly = produce } } sample preparation artifacts, the artifacts from ion-milling reactive = metals } } such as Ti and Zr are not well understood and can be harder to eliminate.=
} } Despite Carpenter et. als work (see D. Henriks posting) implicating = hydrocarbon } } contamination as a source of hydriding during ion milling, my personal } } experience ion milling Zr samples in 'oil-free' systems indicates that = water } } vapor is the main culprit in the hydridng. Surface irregularities on = ion = } milled } } Zr/Ti samples (surface terracing, for example) usually have other causes,=
} } possibly related to air leaks in the ion mill or oxygen in the feed gas. } } Another source of irregular surfaces on ion milled samples is embedded = } polishing } } compound. Cubic boron nitride (CBN) sometimes gives better results in = dimpling } } metals than diamond, and even the diamond polishing compounds from = different } } suppliers can give different results. Conversely, brief ion milling of } } electropolished samples--especially at low incidence angles and very low = } kV--can } } improve the surface finish and mill away irregularities caused by second-= phase } } particles. Often the 'trick' to eliminating milling artifacts is = minimizing } } time spent in the ion mill. } } } } Larry Thomas } } Mechanical and Materials Engineering } } Washington State University } } Pullman, WA } } } } } } ---------- } } From: South Bay Technology } } Sent: Tuesday, January 12, 1999 6:00 PM } } To: Satyarth Suri; Microscopy ListServer } } Subject: Ti Alloys - TEM foil preparation } } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------=
} } 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 Satyarth: } } } } An excellent paper on the subject is: } } } } "In Situ Hydride Formation in Zirconium and Titanium during Ion Milling"=
} } Graham J.C. Carpenter et al, JMSA Vol.1 No. 4 pp 175-184 1995. } } } } From the paper you will see that a key factor in eliminating hydride } } formation is having a clean sample free from hydrocarbon contamination. = } } This contamination could be remnants from the dimpling process or other } } pre-thinning steps or it could be caused by the back streaming of } } diffusion } } pump oil in your ion mill. As titanium has a high chemical affinity = for } } hydrogen, you may want to look over your preparation steps and try to } } eliminate any areas of possible contamination. If you are still having } } a } } problem, a quick cleaning of both the specimen and the specimen holder } } in a } } Plasma Cleaner should take care of it. } } } } If you have an interest, I can send you a copy of the above referenced } } paper. I also have papers on plasma cleaning which may be of interest. } } } } NOTE: South Bay Technology does manufacture the PC150 Plasma Cleaner = and } } therefore I have a vested interest in promoting its use. } } } } Best regards- } } } } David } Writing at 9:38:23 AM on 1/12/99 } } } = } } *************************************************************** } ** } } ********** } } ************************ } } } } David Henriks TEL: = } } 800-728-2233 (toll free in the USA) } } South Bay Technology, Inc. +1-949-492-2600 } } 1120 Via Callejon FAX: } } +1-949-492-1499 } } San Clemente, CA 92673 USA e-mail: } } henriks-at-southbaytech.com } } } } = } } *************************************************************** } ** } } ********** } } ************************ } } } } } } } } } 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 Satyarth Suri } } } } } Hello: } } I am currently working on mechanical behavior / microstructure } } correlations in single colony near apha Ti Alloys. I am currently } } preparing the foils using a dual ion mill (6kV, 12deg, 1mA), but } } have run into the problem of a very uneven alpha phase morphology, } } the alpha phase has island formation - we are using a cold stage } } to minimize the hydride formation at the interface. I am using } } 3 micron/6micron diamond paste during the dimpling process - the } } foil itself otherwise is fairly clean in terms of the dislocation } } content. Could anyone in the microscopy land have some suggestions } } in terms of what the problem may be? } } } } thanks - if you want you can respond directly to suri.3-at-osu.edu } } } } -satyarth } } } } { } } } } } } } } } } RFC822 header } } ----------------------------------- } } } } Received: from dns2.anl.gov (dns2.anl.gov [146.139.254.3]) by = } } horus.et.anl.gov (8.6.11/8.6.11) with ESMTP id SAA02218; Tue, 12 Jan = 1999 18:17:43 -0600 } } Received: from Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (sparc5.microscopy.com = } } [206.69.208.10]) by dns2.anl.gov (8.9.1a/8.6.11) with SMTP id SAA19261; = Tue, 12 Jan 1999 = } } 18:18:22 -0600 (CST) } } Received: (from daemon-at-localhost) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com = } (8.6.11/8.6.11) } id RAA22399 for dist-Microscopy; Tue, 12 Jan 1999 17:41:= 01 -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 RAA22384 for = } } "MicroscopyFilteredEmail-at-msa.microscopy.com"; Tue, 12 Jan 1999 17:40:30 -= 0600 } } Received: from Sparc5AAEM (aaem.amc.anl.gov [146.139.72.3]) by = } } Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) with ESMTP id RAA22377 for = } } {microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} ; Tue, 12 Jan 1999 17:40:17 -0600 } } Received: from pnl.gov (relay.pnl.gov [130.20.128.34]) by Sparc5AAEM = } } (8.6.11/8.6.11) with ESMTP id RAA14848 for {MICROSCOPY-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov} ;= Tue, 12 Jan = } 1999 } 17:52:22 -0600 } } Received: from pnlmse1.pnl.gov by pnl.gov (PMDF V5.1-12 #28154) } } with ESMTP id {01J6GJ2FP8R4970ZC9-at-pnl.gov} for MICROSCOPY-at-aaem.amc.anl.= gov; } } Tue, 12 Jan 1999 15:54:41 PST } } Received: by PNLMSE1.pnl.gov with Internet Mail Service (5.5.2232.9) } } id {CR51M2B5} ; Tue, 12 Jan 1999 15:54:42 -0800 } } Content-return: allowed } } Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1999 15:54:36 -0800 } } From: "Thomas, Larry" {Larry.Thomas-at-pnl.gov} } } Subject: RE: Ti Alloys - TEM foil preparation } } To: Satyarth Suri {suri-at-mse.eng.ohio-state.edu} , } } Microscopy ListServer {MICROSCOPY-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov} , } } "'South Bay Technology'" {Henriks-at-CompuServe.COM} } } Message-id: {7A04D1887189D2118EEB00A024BF29DA41CB17-at-pnlmse2.pnl.gov} } } X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2232.9) } } Errors-to: Microscopy-request-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } } Content-Type: text } } Content-Length: 5172 } } Status: } } } } } RFC822 header } ----------------------------------- } } Received: from dns2.anl.gov (dns2.anl.gov [146.139.254.3]) by = } horus.et.anl.gov (8.6.11/8.6.11) with ESMTP id KAA07881; Wed, 13 Jan 1999 = 10:30:15 -0600 } Received: from Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (sparc5.microscopy.com = } [206.69.208.10]) by dns2.anl.gov (8.9.1a/8.6.11) with SMTP id KAA11490; = Wed, 13 Jan 1999 = } 10:30:55 -0600 (CST) } Received: (from daemon-at-localhost) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.= 11) = } id JAA28860 for dist-Microscopy; Wed, 13 Jan 1999 09:57:58 -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 JAA28855 for = } "MicroscopyFilteredEmail-at-msa.microscopy.com"; Wed, 13 Jan 1999 09:57:27 -= 0600 } Received: from Sparc5AAEM (aaem.amc.anl.gov [146.139.72.3]) by = } Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) with ESMTP id JAA28848 for = } {microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} ; Wed, 13 Jan 1999 09:57:14 -0600 } Received: from horus.et.anl.gov (horus.et.anl.gov [146.139.240.27]) by = } Sparc5AAEM (8.6.11/8.6.11) with ESMTP id KAA15405 for {MICROSCOPY-at-aaem.= amc.anl.gov} ; = } Wed, 13 Jan 1999 10:09:20 -0600 } Received: from 146.139.240.184 (et212mac184.et.anl.gov [146.139.240.184])= by = } horus.et.anl.gov (8.6.11/8.6.11) with SMTP id KAA07653; Wed, 13 Jan 1999 = } 10:11:07 -0600 } Message-Id: {199901131611.KAA07653-at-horus.et.anl.gov} } Date: 13 Jan 99 10:11:49 -0500 } From: Bernard Kestel {kestel-at-anl.gov} } Subject: RE: Ti Alloys - TEM foil preparation } To: "'South Bay Technology'" {Henriks-at-CompuServe.COM} , } "Thomas, Larry" {Larry.Thomas-at-pnl.gov} , } Microscopy ListServer {MICROSCOPY-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov} , } Satyarth Suri {suri-at-mse.eng.ohio-state.edu} } X-Mailer: QuickMail Pro 1.5.4 (Mac) } X-Priority: 3 } MIME-Version: 1.0 } Reply-To: Bernard Kestel {kestel-at-anl.gov} } Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable } Errors-to: Microscopy-request-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Content-Type: text/plain; charset=3D"US-Ascii" } Content-Length: 10127 } Status: = } --====56524855544856555650===1 Content-Type: text/html; charset="US-Ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
{HTML} {HEAD} {/HEAD} {BODY} {PRE WIDTH=3D"132"} RE: Ti Alloys - TEM foil preparation 1/13/99 3:47 PM
{/PRE} {FONT = FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D2 COLOR=3D"#000000"} {BR} Bernard Kestel wrote: {/FONT} {FONT = FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#000000"} {BR} >-----------------------------------------------------------------------= - {BR} >The = Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy = Society of America {BR} Reply to: RE: Ti Alloys - TEM = foil preparation {BR} > Re: Electropolishing = of Ti alloys {BR} > Due to interest = in this subject, I will list some additional = {BR} >electrolytes I have used on = Ti alloys. (3mm, jet polishing). {BR} > {BR} > = Ti-8 w/% Al 13% HCL = -60 degrees C {BR} > Ti-811 = 87% methanol = 70 to 90 volts {BR} > Ti-6Al-4V = 25-35 = mA. {BR} > {BR} > Ti-13 Sn = 130 ml HCL -50 degrees = C {BR} > = 670 ml methanol 150 volts {BR} > = 100 ml butyl = 60 mA. {BR} > {BR} > = Ti-3V 60 ml perchloric = acid -50 degrees C {BR} > Ti-20 = Zr 590 ml methanol = 50 volts {BR} > Ti-14 Al = 350 ml butyl cellosolve 10-15 mA {BR} > {BR} > = Ti-8 Al 60 ml perchloric = acid -15 t0 -20 C {BR} > (rolled) = 460 ml ethyl alcohol, 95% = 180 volts {BR} > = 280 ml butyl alcohol = 40 mA. {BR} > = 100 ml butyl cellosolve {BR} > = Ti = 5.3 g. lithium {BR} >chloride = -40 degrees C. {BR} > nanocrystals, = 11.16 g. magnesium 150 = volts {BR} > compacted = chloride 30 mA {BR} > = 500 ml. methanol {BR} > = 100 ml. butyl = cellosolve {BR} > (Note: the two salts = above must be added to the combined solvents = one {BR} >"powder" at a time, = while stirring. The two dry salts react = violently if mixed {BR} >together. This = electrolyte has nearly as wide an application = as perchloric acid {BR} >mixtures and is = known as B K-2). {BR} > I suspect that = B K-2 will cause the least hydride problem. = It was {BR} >developed to eliminate hydrides = in vanadium TEM foils. The voltages given = would {BR} >need to be reduced about 20% = for a twin jet system due to lower electrical = {BR} >resistance of that configuration. = My work was done on a South Bay vertical = single jet unit. {BR} > I have no vested = interest in the above equipment, but have = enjoyed the {BR} >ease with which good = polishing conditions can be obtained and = reproduced since {BR} >1975 or so. Good = luck! {BR} > Bernard Kestel {BR} > = Materials Science Division {BR} > = Argonne National Laboratory {BR} > = Argonne, Il., 60439 {BR} > {BR} > = E-mail: < {/FONT} {FONT FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#0000FF"} {U} = bkestel-at-anl.gov {/U} {/FONT} {FONT = FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#000000"} > {BR} >Thomas, Larry = wrote: {BR} >>-------------------------------------------------------------------= ----- {BR} >>The = Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy = Society of America >To {BR} >Subscribe/Unsubscribe = -- Send Email to {/FONT} {FONT FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#0000FF"} {= U} ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com {/U} {/FONT} {FONT = FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#000000"} {BR} >>On-Line Help = {/FONT} {FONT FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#0000FF"} {U} http://www.msa.= microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html {/U} {/FONT} {FONT = FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#000000"} {BR} >>-------------------------------------------------------------------= ----. {BR} >> {BR} >> {BR} >>Satyrith- {BR} >> {BR} >>Unless = you have a compelling reason to use ion = milling for this preparation, I {BR} >>recommend = using jet electropolishing, possibly with = just a final touch-up {BR} >in the {BR} >>ion = mill. Although both electropolishing and = ion milling commonly produce {BR} >>sample = preparation artifacts, the artifacts from = ion-milling reactive metals {BR} >>such = as Ti and Zr are not well understood and = can be harder to eliminate. {BR} >>Despite = Carpenter et. als work (see D. Henriks posting) = implicating hydrocarbon {BR} >>contamination = as a source of hydriding during ion milling, = my personal {BR} >>experience ion milling = Zr samples in 'oil-free' systems indicates = that water {BR} >>vapor is the main culprit = in the hydridng. Surface irregularities = on ion {BR} >milled {BR} >>Zr/Ti samples = (surface terracing, for example) usually = have other causes, {BR} >>possibly related = to air leaks in the ion mill or oxygen in = the feed gas. {BR} >>Another source of = irregular surfaces on ion milled samples = is embedded {BR} >polishing {BR} >>compound. = Cubic boron nitride (CBN) sometimes gives = better results in dimpling {BR} >>metals = than diamond, and even the diamond polishing = compounds from different {BR} >>suppliers = can give different results. Conversely, = brief ion milling of {BR} >>electropolished = samples--especially at low incidence angles = and very low {BR} >kV--can {BR} >>improve = the surface finish and mill away irregularities = caused by second-phase {BR} >>particles. = Often the 'trick' to eliminating milling = artifacts is minimizing {BR} >>time spent = in the ion mill. {BR} >> {BR} >>Larry = Thomas {BR} >>Mechanical and Materials = Engineering {BR} >>Washington State University {BR} >>Pullman, = WA {BR} >> {BR} >> {BR} >> ---------- {BR} >> From: = South Bay Technology {BR} >> Sent: Tuesday, = January 12, 1999 6:00 PM {BR} >> To: = Satyarth Suri; Microscopy ListServer {BR} >> Subject: = Ti Alloys - TEM foil preparation {BR} >> {BR} >> ------------------------------------------------------------------= ------ {BR} >> The = Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy = Society of America > To {BR} >Subscribe/Unsubscribe = -- Send Email to {/FONT} {FONT FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#0000FF"} {= U} ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com {/U} {/FONT} {FONT = FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#000000"} {BR} >> On-Line Help = {/FONT} {FONT FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#0000FF"} {U} http://www.msa.= microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html {/U} {/FONT} {FONT = FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#000000"} {BR} >> ------------------------------------------------------------------= -----. {BR} >> {BR} >> {BR} >> Dear = Satyarth: {BR} >> {BR} >> An excellent = paper on the subject is: {BR} >> {BR} >> "In = Situ Hydride Formation in Zirconium and = Titanium during Ion Milling" {BR} >> Graham = J.C. Carpenter et al, JMSA Vol.1 No. 4 pp = 175-184 1995. {BR} >> {BR} >> From = the paper you will see that a key factor = in eliminating hydride {BR} >> formation = is having a clean sample free from hydrocarbon = contamination. {BR} >> This contamination = could be remnants from the dimpling process = or other {BR} >> pre-thinning steps or = it could be caused by the back streaming = of {BR} >>diffusion {BR} >> pump oil = in your ion mill. As titanium has a high = chemical affinity for {BR} >> hydrogen, = you may want to look over your preparation = steps and try to {BR} >> eliminate any = areas of possible contamination. If you = are still having {BR} >>a {BR} >> problem, = a quick cleaning of both the specimen and = the specimen holder {BR} >>in a {BR} >> Plasma = Cleaner should take care of it. {BR} >> {BR} >> If = you have an interest, I can send you a copy = of the above referenced {BR} >> paper. = I also have papers on plasma cleaning which = may be of interest. {BR} >> {BR} >> NOTE: = South Bay Technology does manufacture the = PC150 Plasma Cleaner and {BR} >> therefore = I have a vested interest in promoting its = use. {BR} >> {BR} >> Best regards- {BR} >> {BR} >> David = > Writing = at 9:38:23 AM on 1/12/99 {BR} >> = > {BR} >>*************************************************************** {BR} =
>** {BR} >>********** {BR} >> ************************ {BR} >> {BR} >> David = Henriks = TEL: {BR} >> 800-728-2233 = (toll free in the USA) {BR} >> South = Bay Technology, Inc. = +1-949-492-2600 {BR} >> 1120 Via = Callejon = FAX: {BR} >>+1-949-492-1499 {BR} >> San = Clemente, CA 92673 USA e-mail: {BR} >> {/FONT} {FONT = FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#0000FF"} {U} henriks-at-southbaytech.com {/U} {= /FONT} {FONT = FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#000000"} {BR} >> {BR} >> {BR} >>*************************************************************** {BR} =
>** {BR} >>********** {BR} >> ************************ {BR} >> {BR} >> = >>>>> Please visit us = at {/FONT} {FONT FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#0000FF"} {U} http://www.= southbaytech.com {/U} {/FONT} {FONT = FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#000000"} <<<<< {BR} >> {BR} >> Manufacturers = of precision sample preparation equipment = and supplies for {BR} >> metallography, = crystallography and electron microscopy. {BR} >> {BR} >> Message = text written by Satyarth Suri {BR} >> > {BR} >> Hello: {BR} >> I = am currently working on mechanical behavior = / microstructure {BR} >> correlations = in single colony near apha Ti Alloys. I = am currently {BR} >> preparing the foils = using a dual ion mill (6kV, 12deg, 1mA), = but {BR} >> have run into the problem = of a very uneven alpha phase morphology, {BR} >> the = alpha phase has island formation - we are = using a cold stage {BR} >> to minimize = the hydride formation at the interface. = I am using {BR} >> 3 micron/6micron diamond = paste during the dimpling process - the {BR} >> foil = itself otherwise is fairly clean in terms = of the dislocation {BR} >> content. = Could anyone in the microscopy land have = some suggestions {BR} >> in terms of = what the problem may be? {BR} >> {BR} >> thanks = - if you want you can respond directly to = {/FONT} {FONT FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#0000FF"} {U} suri.3-at-osu.edu {/= U} {/FONT} {FONT = FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#000000"} {BR} >> {BR} >> -satyarth {BR} >> {BR} >> < {BR} >> {BR} >> {BR} >> {BR} >> {BR} >>RFC822 = header {BR} >>----------------------------------- {BR} >> {BR} >> = Received: from dns2.anl.gov (dns2.anl.gov = [146.139.254.3]) by {BR} >>horus.et.anl.gov = (8.6.11/8.6.11) with ESMTP id SAA02218; = Tue, 12 Jan 1999 18:17:43 -0600 {BR} >> = Received: from Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (sparc5.microscopy.com = {BR} >>[206.69.208.10]) by dns2.anl.gov = (8.9.1a/8.6.11) with SMTP id SAA19261; Tue, = 12 Jan 1999 {BR} >>18:18:22 -0600 (CST) {BR} >> = Received: (from {/FONT} {FONT FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#0000FF"} {U} = daemon-at-localhost {/U} {/FONT} {FONT = FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#000000"} ) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com = {BR} >(8.6.11/8.6.11) >id RAA22399 for = dist-Microscopy; Tue, 12 Jan 1999 17:41:01 = -0600 {BR} >> Received: from no_more_spam.com = (Sparc5 [206.69.208.10]) by {BR} >>Sparc5.Microscopy.Com = (8.6.11/8.6.11) with SMTP id RAA22384 for = {BR} >>" {/FONT} {FONT FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#0000FF"} {U} = MicroscopyFilteredEmail-at-msa.microscopy.com {/U} {/FONT} {FONT = FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#000000"} "; Tue, 12 Jan 1999 = 17:40:30 -0600 {BR} >> Received: from = Sparc5AAEM (aaem.amc.anl.gov [146.139.72.3]) = by {BR} >>Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) = with ESMTP id RAA22377 for {BR} >>< {/FONT} {FONT = FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#0000FF"} {U} microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.= com {/U} {/FONT} {FONT = FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#000000"} >; Tue, 12 Jan 1999 = 17:40:17 -0600 {BR} >> Received: from = pnl.gov (relay.pnl.gov [130.20.128.34]) = by Sparc5AAEM {BR} >>(8.6.11/8.6.11) = with ESMTP id RAA14848 for < {/FONT} {FONT FACE=3D"Geneva" = SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#0000FF"} {U} MICROSCOPY-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov {/U} {/FONT} {FONT = FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#000000"} >; Tue, 12 Jan {BR} >1999 = >17:52:22 -0600 {BR} >> Received: = from pnlmse1.pnl.gov by pnl.gov (PMDF V5.1-12 = #28154) {BR} >> with ESMTP id < {/FONT} {FONT = FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#0000FF"} {U} 01J6GJ2FP8R4970ZC9-at-pnl.gov {/= U} {/FONT} {FONT = FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#000000"} > for {/FONT} {FONT FACE=3D"= Geneva" = SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#0000FF"} {U} MICROSCOPY-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov {/U} {/FONT} {FONT = FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#000000"} ; {BR} >> Tue, 12 = Jan 1999 15:54:41 PST {BR} >> Received: = by PNLMSE1.pnl.gov with Internet Mail Service = (5.5.2232.9) {BR} >> id <CR51M2B5>; = Tue, 12 Jan 1999 15:54:42 -0800 {BR} >> = Content-return: allowed {BR} >> Date: = Tue, 12 Jan 1999 15:54:36 -0800 {BR} >> = } From: "Thomas, Larry" < {/FONT} {FONT = FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#0000FF"} {U} Larry.Thomas-at-pnl.gov {/U} {/= FONT} {FONT = FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#000000"} > {BR} >> Subject: = RE: Ti Alloys - TEM foil preparation {BR} >> = To: Satyarth Suri < {/FONT} {FONT FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#= 0000FF"} {U} suri-at-mse.eng.ohio-state.edu {/U} {/FONT} {FONT = FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#000000"} >, {BR} >> = Microscopy ListServer < {/FONT} {FONT FACE=3D"Geneva" = SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#0000FF"} {U} MICROSCOPY-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov {/U} {/FONT} {FONT = FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#000000"} >, {BR} >> = "'South Bay Technology'" < {/FONT} {FONT = FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#0000FF"} {U} Henriks-at-CompuServe.COM {/U} {/= FONT} {FONT = FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#000000"} > {BR} >> Message-id: = < {/FONT} {FONT FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#0000FF"} {U} = 7A04D1887189D2118EEB00A024BF29DA41CB17-at-pnlmse2.pnl.gov {/U} {/FONT} {FONT = FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#000000"} > {BR} >> X-Mailer: = Internet Mail Service (5.5.2232.9) {BR} >> = Errors-to: {/FONT} {FONT FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#0000FF"} {U} = Microscopy-request-at-sparc5.microscopy.com {/U} {/FONT} {FONT = FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#000000"} {BR} >> Content-Type: = text {BR} >> Content-Length: 5172 {BR} >> = Status: > {BR} > {BR} > {BR} > {BR} >RFC822 = header {BR} >----------------------------------- {BR} > {BR} > = Received: from dns2.anl.gov (dns2.anl.gov = [146.139.254.3]) by {BR} >horus.et.anl.gov = (8.6.11/8.6.11) with ESMTP id KAA07881; = Wed, 13 Jan 1999 10:30:15 -0600 {BR} > Received: = from Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (sparc5.microscopy.com = {BR} >[206.69.208.10]) by dns2.anl.gov = (8.9.1a/8.6.11) with SMTP id KAA11490; Wed, = 13 Jan 1999 {BR} >10:30:55 -0600 (CST) {BR} > = Received: (from {/FONT} {FONT FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#0000FF"} {U} = daemon-at-localhost {/U} {/FONT} {FONT = FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#000000"} ) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com = (8.6.11/8.6.11) {BR} >id JAA28860 for dist-Microscopy; = Wed, 13 Jan 1999 09:57:58 -0600 {BR} > Received: = from no_more_spam.com (Sparc5 [206.69.208.10]) = by {BR} >Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) =
by mtiwmhc02.worldnet.att.net (InterMail v03.02.07 118 124) with ESMTP id {19990114001451.EPZL10402-at-worldnet.att.net} ; Thu, 14 Jan 1999 00:14:51 +0000 Message-ID: {369D37CA.56F575DD-at-worldnet.att.net}
Dear Paula,
The success of thin sections will depend on the blade type and size which will then be dictated on the type of saw you have. Slow speed diamond saws have a blade capacity of 5" Diameter which can limit the sample size to be cut and take a long time to cut.. High speed saws can accomodate larger blades and perform cuts much faster (5 minutes or less) with the same accuracy as a slow speed saw. Feed pressure can affect the blade during the cut on either saw. If the blade is too thin, too much feed pressure will cause the blade to wander form the original cut line affecting the thickness of the section. This can be remedied by using a large flange or more rigid, thicker blade.
CBN is the only choice for cutting steels on a low speed saw without destroying the blade or sample, but can also be used on a high speed saw. Aluminum Oxide blades cut the most effieciently on a high speed saw and cost much less. DO NOT attempt cutting with diamond blades, they will only become loaded with steel and this will prohibit the sample from being cut. Even frequent dressing will not enhance the performance. Aluminum Oxide blades are better suited for steels and Allied HighTech has a wide selection of blades for any saw you may have.
I know of two labs at LBL that have a high speed saw and can get you this information should you require it. In additon, if you have any application questions, please feel free to contact me at 800-675-1118 to further discuss your interest.
Good Luck,
Gary Liechty
Paula Sicurello 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Hey there boarders, } } We have a graduate student who is looking at concrete & the } weathering of the steel rebar inside of it. He needs to section the steel } rebar. We have never worked with steel, we are kinda biological oriented. } So I'm asking for help. } What's the best way for him to get thin sections of steel? Any & } all suggestions gratefully accepted, I will pass them on to him. } } Steeling myself for your replies, } } 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
-- Gary Liechty Product Application Specialist
Allied High Tech Products, Inc. 2376 E. Pacifica Place Rancho Dominguez, CA 90220 800-675-1118 310-635-2466 310-762-6808 Fax
Equipment and Consumable Products for Materialographic, SEM and TEM Sample Prepration
Try Graphic converter, it's a shareware that can read and translate almost every format. It can be able to solve your problem. You can find it on every info-mac mirror.
Eric LEROY Dr. Laboratoire de Chimie Metallurgique des Terres Rares UPR 209 - CNRS Groupe des Laboratoires de Thiais 2-8, rue Henri Dunant 94320 THIAIS cedex
A few years ago I got hold of a beta version of a SEM Macintosh simulation program, SuperSEM. It was a Macintosh program that was developed with Supercard software. It was misplaced during the process of upgrading my computers. Does anyone know if it exists?
Thanks in advance, Lou Ross Senior Electron Microscope Specialist Room 101 Department of Geological Sciences University of Missouri Columbia, MO 65211 (573) 882-4777 (573) 882=5458 fax www.missouri.edu/~geosclmr/ebaf.html
Colin raises a good point of media being orphaned that we feel the pinch of already. Our HP 1300T MO drive (~650 MB each side) failed on us a while back. It will no longer accept the cartridges - it keeps kicking them out. We had already offloaded much of the data to CD but we have a few cartridges that I would still like to retrieve. However, we appear to be the only ones on campus that ever purchased the HP drive.
Is there anyone out there with a working HP MO drive (gathering dust or not) that could help us retrieve the last few cartidges?
At 07:10 AM 1/12/99 +0000, you wrote: {snip} } As pointed out the Jaz/Zip technology will probably be superseded } soon ( 1GB drives are gone already ! ) and in a few years it will be } difficult to read data if your drive fails. This was a major factor } along with cost ) 5 years ago when we decided on a CD-R storage system, } over Magneto-Optical which was the current favourite then. {snip} } Colin Reid, } Electron Microscope Unit, } Trinity College Dublin,
---------------------------------------------------- Warren E. Straszheim 23 Town Engineering Iowa State University Ames IA, 50011-3232
Please remember that 3/4ths of your 10 MB image won't be doing you any good during the slide show. If your projector supports true 24-bit color (as opposed to 16-bit or 8-bit) and 1024x768 pixels, you will only be displaying 2.25 MB of image. You might as well match your image size to the projector as you make up your presentation. It would help file size and the speed of transition between slides, but these fast computers are handling that pretty well.
I concur with the others. Most imaging programs have a slide show capability built in. They may not have all the fancy transitional effects, but they should do the show. Even my shareware LViewPro on the PC had that.
At 05:29 PM 1/12/99 -0400, you wrote: } } We just got a G3 Mac and an Epson digital projector-I have seen some really } nice digital slide shows and am excited by the increase in quality and } decrease in effort making slides. I expect, however, to spend some effort } finding out the best way to put together a slide show, and am wondering } what advice or experience might be out there. I would like to show ~10MB } images without any computer stuff showing at the same time, but could } consider compression (eg., jpeg) if there is no loss of quality. Wondering } whether to get into a slide presentation program or just make a stack and } open them sequentially (I have 190+ MB of memory). There is also a neat IR } pointer that seems to bounce off the screen and feed into software in the } projector that allows you to move the cursor around and click/double click } with the IR pointer. Too bad they didn't include a laser pointer in this } device!....Many thanks for any help or advice!...Tom Reese } ---------------------------------------------------- Warren E. Straszheim 23 Town Engineering Iowa State University Ames IA, 50011-3232
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Reply to: RE: Ti Alloys - TEM foil preparation Re: Electropolishing of Ti alloys = Due to interest in this subject, I will list some additional = electrolytes I have used on Ti alloys. (3mm, jet polishing).
Ti-8 w/% Al 13% HCL -60 degrees C Ti-811 87% methanol 70 to 90 volts Ti-6Al-4V 25-35 mA.
Ti-13 Sn 130 ml HCL -50 degrees C 670 ml methanol 150 volts 100 ml butyl 60 mA.
Ti-3V 60 ml perchloric acid -50 degrees C Ti-20 Zr 590 ml methanol 50 volts Ti-14 Al 350 ml butyl cellosolve 10-15 mA
Ti-8 Al 60 ml perchloric acid -15 t0 -20 C (rolled) 460 ml ethyl alcohol, 95% 180 volts 280 ml butyl alcohol 40 mA. 100 ml butyl cellosolve = Ti 5.3 g. lithium chloride -40 degrees C. nanocrystals, 11.16 g. magnesium 150 volts compacted chloride 30 mA 500 ml. methanol 100 ml. butyl cellosolve (Note: the two salts above must be added to the combined solvents one = "powder" at a time, while stirring. The two dry salts react violently if = mixed together. This electrolyte has nearly as wide an application as = perchloric acid mixtures and is known as B K-2). I suspect that B K-2 will cause the least hydride problem. It was = developed to eliminate hydrides in vanadium TEM foils. The voltages given = would need to be reduced about 20% for a twin jet system due to lower = electrical resistance of that configuration. My work was done on a South = Bay vertical single jet unit. I have no vested interest in the above equipment, but have enjoyed = the ease with which good polishing conditions can be obtained and = reproduced since 1975 or so. Good luck! = Bernard Kestel Materials Science Division Argonne National Laboratory Argonne, Il., 60439
E-mail: {bkestel-at-anl.gov} Thomas, Larry wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America =
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Reply to: RE: Ti Alloys - TEM foil preparation Re: Electropolishing of Ti alloys = Due to interest in this subject, I will list some additional = electrolytes I have used on Ti alloys. (3mm, jet polishing).
Ti-8 w/% Al 13% HCL -60 degrees C Ti-811 87% methanol 70 to 90 volts Ti-6Al-4V 25-35 mA.
Ti-13 Sn 130 ml HCL -50 degrees C 670 ml methanol 150 volts 100 ml butyl 60 mA.
Ti-3V 60 ml perchloric acid -50 degrees C Ti-20 Zr 590 ml methanol 50 volts Ti-14 Al 350 ml butyl cellosolve 10-15 mA
Ti-8 Al 60 ml perchloric acid -15 t0 -20 C (rolled) 460 ml ethyl alcohol, 95% 180 volts 280 ml butyl alcohol 40 mA. 100 ml butyl cellosolve = Ti 5.3 g. lithium chloride -40 degrees C. nanocrystals, 11.16 g. magnesium 150 volts compacted chloride 30 mA 500 ml. methanol 100 ml. butyl cellosolve (Note: the two salts above must be added to the combined solvents one = "powder" at a time, while stirring. The two dry salts react violently if = mixed together. This electrolyte has nearly as wide an application as = perchloric acid mixtures and is known as B K-2). I suspect that B K-2 will cause the least hydride problem. It was = developed to eliminate hydrides in vanadium TEM foils. The voltages given = would need to be reduced about 20% for a twin jet system due to lower = electrical resistance of that configuration. My work was done on a South = Bay vertical single jet unit. I have no vested interest in the above equipment, but have enjoyed = the ease with which good polishing conditions can be obtained and = reproduced since 1975 or so. Good luck! = Bernard Kestel Materials Science Division Argonne National Laboratory Argonne, Il., 60439
E-mail: {bkestel-at-anl.gov} Thomas, Larry wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America =
by hawk.csrv.uidaho.edu (8.8.6 (PHNE_14041)/) with ESMTP id IAA24952 for {Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com} ; Thu, 14 Jan 1999 08:45:37 -0800 (PST) Received: from OAK/SpoolDir by oak.csrv.uidaho.edu (Mercury 1.43); 14 Jan 99 08:47:23 -0800 (PST) Received: from SpoolDir by OAK (Mercury 1.43); 14 Jan 99 08:46:51 -0800 (PST)
I am looking for a used, but functional, EDX specimen holder for a JEOL 1200 EX TEM. If anyone has one for sell, please contact me at: jfb-at-uidaho.edu (208)885-6656
Thank you.
Franklin Bailey Holm Research Center University of Idaho Moscow, ID 83844-2204
A pair of postdocs in Plant Pathology came in to the facility to ask about a cold stage for a light microscope, which no one at this university seems to have. They want to look at cryostat sections of wood, and need digital images for image analysis, and the sections must remain frozen. I have here a light microscope fitted with a digital camera hooked to the Mac with NIH Image. I have liquid nitrogen, styrofoam, and a machine shop. I also have high humidity. Can anyone tell me how to kludge together a cold enough stage that we can get images of these frozen sections while preventing frost? I have some general ideas, but I'd appreciate any specific plans or ideas.
The idea is to look at the number of vacuoles filled with gas vs the number filled with water. Up to now they have had images taken with an SEM with a cold stage in Canada, and would prefer to do them locally, at lower mag, and cheaper.
Thanks in advance for any advice!
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* ****************************************************************************
A colleage from an industrial SEM lab contacted me about a problem with contamination on the final aperture on an variable pressure SEM. This SEM was recently purchased by one of their branch plants to examine semiconductor products. Although it is a variable pressure SEM, they have only operated it in the high vac mode like a standard SEM.
The problem they are experiencing is that the final aperture presumably gets so dirty they have to change the aperture every two weeks. Unfortunately the manufacturer has not been able to shed any light on this situation.
If the vacuum system is alright, I suggested that the problem might be with the samples. Supposedly the branch lab operators are following the same sample prep protocol established in the local SEM lab.
Any other ideas out there?
Thanks in advance, Lou Ross Senior Electron Microscope Specialist Room 101 Department of Geological Sciences University of Missouri Columbia, MO 65211 (573) 882-4777 (573) 882=5458 fax www.missouri.edu/~geosclmr/ebaf.html
Products like Dazzle can digitize the video over to MPG files which should be transportable. We bought a unit for about $200 and are still coming up to speed with it. If you have a CD-R, you should be able to cut the movies onto a CD which they could read over there.
Disclaimer: We have no interest in Dazzle other than its the unit we bought. There are many other products on the market which can also accomplish the task.
Warren S.
At 12:15 PM 1/14/99 -0500, you wrote: } I have in-situ results currently stored on VHS tape that I need to present } in Europe. } } Any recipes available? } } Thanks. } David E. Luzzi } Professor } Department of Materials Science } University of Pennsylvania
To all We have a client trying to convert from glass plates to sheet film. Can anyone help us to obtain film adapters for the Siemens 1A camera? Thank you. Peter Stolzenberg
I'm just posting to ask if anyone has developed a fixation protocol for Drosophila embryos suitable for use in TEM studies. Is it necessary to remove the chorion and vitelline membranes as in light microscopy procedures. Also, I'm wondering if the use of methanol is strictly taboo, or can it be tolerated if the exposure time is short?
Does anyone have a good protocol or reference for virus isolation = from food other than shellfish? We are trying to isolate and concentrate = Norwalk virus from some foods implicated in a poisoning outbreak in = Detroit. The foods in question are salami, garbanzo beans and some kind of = cheese (I think provolone). We need to concentrate to at least 1 million = particles/ml in order to use our prep for negative staining and TEM = observation. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Sincerely, Peggy Casey Michigan Dept. of Community Health Lansing, Mich. phone: 517-335-8102 e-mail: caseym-at-state.mi.us
I have been told to search for "M6", an adhesive which was used in the somewhat distant past for bonding samples for cross-sectioning. ..I cannnot find a company which has even heard of this. Any suggestions as to where I can find it?
__ _-==-=_,-. /--`' \_-at---at-.-- { Tim (TJ) LaFave Jr. `--'\ \ {___/. Department of Physics \ \\ " / University of North Carolina, Charlotte } =\\_/` { Charlotte, NC 28223 ____ /= | \_|/ _' `\ _/=== \___/ (704)547-3392 [x4] `___/ //\./=/~\====\ (704)509-6622 [Hm] \ // / | ===: http://www.iit.edu/~lafatim | ._/_,__|_ ==: __ \/ \\ \\`--| / \\ ---------- +*+ ---------- | _ \\: /==:-\ `.__' `-____/ |--|==: Such that the future be theirs \ \ ===\ :==:`-' to shape and direct. _} \ ===\ /==/ -----------------------------------------------------------------
} Hello, } } A colleague is interested in examining rat kidney tubules at the TEM level. } The tubules are approximately 40 um in length. Unfortunately, once they } are placed in fixative in a 1 ml centrifuge tube, the tubules are no longer } visible which creates processing problems. We are going to try placing } the tubules in agar as a way of transporting the tubules through the } processing procedure so as not to lose them in transit. } } Also, the few cells (not tubules) we did see appeared to be washed out. We } used the following solutions: } } 2% glutaraldehyde in sodium cacodylate buffer } 2% osmium tetroxide } alcohol } propylene oxide } polybed } } Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. } } Thank you, } } Ginger Baker } EM Lab Manager } Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine } lizard-at-osu-com.okstate.edu } 918-561-8232
Through the years I have approached, evaluated and re-evaluated "hole sizing" from SEM micrographs for various technologies: biology, electron optics, polymers, chemistry and microelectronics. The paramount objectives are always the same: 1) spatial resolution(of digitizing hardware and software) 2) repeatability 3) SEM background contrast (gray scales) differentiation 4) Maximizing Automation 5) Minimizing user judgement (auto-thresholding, etc.) 6) Manual extraction of artifacts 7) Stereological considerations to mention a few. Also such techniques were attempted to improve the above such as: Image projection, edge detection, pre- and post- image or frame(or pixel) averaging and processing. Well once again this re-evaluation in light of current advances in hard and soft digital technologies is required. I thought I would see if commercial and non-commercial members of this forum would share any current technological information with me. Hopefully after the first 5 or 10 responses, to avoid driving subscribers crazy , you could respond directly to my email. I will gather and redistribute this data in any fashion requested at a later date to avoid congesting the mailservor. Thank you for your interest. Jeff Day/ 'JD' DBA Texas Industrial Mesquite, Texas Email: WA5EKH-at-juno.com
___________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]
} } } I have been told to search for "M6", an adhesive which was used in the } somewhat distant past for bonding samples for cross-sectioning. ..I } cannnot find a company which has even heard of this. Any suggestions as } to where I can find it?
Great stuff! Does work well. M6 is a short abbreviation for M-Bond 610 which was originally desighned for strain gages. Can be purchased from "MM" Micro Measurement Division at Raleigh North Carolina USA. Phone: (919) 365 3800 Fax: (919) 365 3945
Standard disclaimer.
Mr. S H Coetzee Electron Microscope Unit Private bag X3 Wits Johannesburg 2050 Tell: +27 11 716 2419 Fax : +27 11 339 3407 E-mail stephan-at-gecko.biol.wits.ac.za
Tim (TJ) LaFave Jr. wrote: ================================================= I have been told to search for "M6", an adhesive which was used in the somewhat distant past for bonding samples for cross-sectioning. ..I cannnot find a company which has even heard of this. Any suggestions as to where I can find it? ================================================== Could it be that you are looking for M-Bond(TM) 610? It is all described on our website below, if that is what you had in mind. Maybe there was a predecessor called M6 but in any case, M-Bond 610 is perhaps what you had in mind? The product is manufactured by a division of Vishay Technology.
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: www.2spi.com ############################ ==================================================
} I have in-situ results currently stored on VHS tape that I need to present } in Europe. } } Any recipes available? } } Thanks. } David E. Luzzi } Professor } Department of Materials Science } University of Pennsylvania } 3231 Walnut Street } Philadelphia, PA 19104-6272 } } 215-898-8366 } 215-573-2128 - fax } luzzi-at-lrsm.upenn.edu {mailto:luzzi-at-lrsm.upenn.edu} } } Hi David,
Here in Europe we use different standards in different countries, however, we also have multi-standard machines that will play the 3 commonest standards (NTSC, PAL and SECAM). I suggest that before you go to too much trouble check if your hosts can play NTSC. VHS is the commonest format here anyway. Regards, Ron =========================================================================== Mr. Ron Doole e-mail ron.doole-at-materials.ox.ac.uk Department of Materials, phone +44 (0) 1865 273701 University of Oxford, fax +44 (0) 1865 283333 Parks Road. Oxford. OX1 3PH. UK. ============================================================================
I did my first bifringant crystals with Polaroid light to night. My experiment in marginal at best. The swift is not too swift and my polarizing setup was a Grey photo polarize and the resolver was a broken pair of brown sun glasses. Probably the worst choice I could have come up with.
But it was a hoot.
I am trying a little slower drying solution and hope for larger salt crystals.
I have gone through my stock of Siemens spares, and have found 23 cut film inserts to fit the Elmiskop 1a plate holders. They are second-hand, but appear to be in very good condition. If you are interested please Email me directly.
Regards,
Bob ********************************************** Bob Phillips, MicroServiS Electron Microscopy Services, 11 Grafton Close, St. Ives, Huntingdon, Cambs. PE17 6DL United Kingdom. Email: microservis-at-dial.pipex.com ****************************************** -----Original Message----- } From: "PESTOEM-at-aol.com"-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com {"PESTOEM-at-aol.com"-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com} To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com {Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com} Cc: uelzen-at-erols.com {uelzen-at-erols.com}
O.k., all you good microscopists, I'm looking for a source for either a Uranium Glass Block or a suitable replacement for visualizing/teaching the light path on a light microscope. The block is placed in the microscope stage and the illumination path way can be viewed inside the block - particularly as the condensor is focused and as either the stage aperature or field aperature are varied.
I know this can be visualize with a dilute milk solution but I really would prefer something a little more stable (and non-perishable).
Thanks!
Richard E. Edelmann, Ph.D. Electron Microscopy Facility Supervisor 352 Pearson Hall Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056 Ph: 513.529.5712 Fax: 513.529.4243 E-mail: edelmare-at-muohio.edu
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
If you pulse-spiin the tubules in an Eppendorf centrifuge and then osmicate (I would use 1% OSO4 in 0.1M sodium cacodylate, 30 min to 1 hr, room temp), then spin again, you should be able to see them. At that point you can embed them in a small drop of 2% agarose and continue the processing. Good luck.
On Thu, 14 Jan 1999, Ginger R Baker 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, } } } } A colleague is interested in examining rat kidney tubules at the TEM } level. } } The tubules are approximately 40 um in length. Unfortunately, once they } } are placed in fixative in a 1 ml centrifuge tube, the tubules are no } longer } } visible which creates processing problems. We are going to try placing } } the tubules in agar as a way of transporting the tubules through the } } processing procedure so as not to lose them in transit. } } } } Also, the few cells (not tubules) we did see appeared to be washed out. } We } } used the following solutions: } } } } 2% glutaraldehyde in sodium cacodylate buffer } } 2% osmium tetroxide } } alcohol } } propylene oxide } } polybed } } } } Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. } } } } Thank you, } } } } Ginger Baker } } EM Lab Manager } } Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine } } lizard-at-osu-com.okstate.edu } } 918-561-8232 } } } }
I am a new faculty member in a small department of veterinary pathology. I am interested in obtaining the equipment necessary to produce good quality ultrathin sections for TEM examination at our University's central EM facility. I am particularly interested in ultratomes (1 or 2), vacuum oven, embedding molds, and other necessities. Equipment from laboratories that are down-sizing would be considered ideal. Please respond directly to my e-mail address: sfrasca-at-canr1.cag.uconn.edu
Richard: Here is a summary I had saved of a previous uranyl glass thread. Hope it helps. Tom
--------------------------------------
Newport Industrial Glass, Inc. 1631 Monrovia Ave. Costa Mesa, CA 92627 Tel: 714-642-9980 Fax: 714-645-6800 Contact person: Bill Larsen (you can tell him I sent you). Sold as a 6.5x6.5" sheet (you can specify 1 mm height), so you may want to form a "consortium" to have Newport pre-cut a sheet to slide size (nominal extra cost, but your lab only needs one or two slides). If there is a lot of interest, my company may start selling single slides.
As for references and the Shading Correction equation: please see my article in the 11/94 issue of Journal of NIH Research 6(11): 80 (usual Internet disclaimer: yes, that is an ad from my company on the facing page). Also look at Jericevic et al (1989) Methods in Cell Biology 30:47-83.
MutliSpeck beads: The Molecular Probes pre-mounted slide kits should be ideal for DAPI and Fluorescein. I believe they were optimized for Rhodamine, but should still work ok for Texas Red. If your problem is with mounting, Mol. Probes now sells the beads in solution, so you can 'sprinkle' some on your specimens. If you have a different problem with the current MultiSpeck's, Mol. Probes may be able to work something out for you.
Sorry, but I usually buy my reference material from Mol. Probes and don't keep close track of other slide manufacturers.
Sincerely,
Dr. George McNamara Universal Imaging Corporation George_M-at-Image1.com
} Dear confocalers,
} I read through the archives for information on uranyl glass test slides, } but couldn't figure out if there is a definitive answer to the question, } Does anyone still manufacture uranyl glass, and where could I get some?
You can obtain micro slide sized pieces of uranyl glass from:
Newport Industrial Glass, Inc. 1631 Monrovia Avenue Costa Mesa, CA 92627 (714) 645 - 1500 (714) 645 - 6800 [FAX]
They have this glass (glass #3750) in large stock pieces, so it must be cut down to the size of a micro slide. The will grind it down to whatever thickness you desire, as well. We ordered two micro slide sized peices in July of 1993. The cost was $86.
Good luck!
Cheers, Bill Bug
************************* * Bill Bug * * Dept. of Biology * * Swarthmore College * *************************} O.k., all you good microscopists, I'm looking for a source for either a Uranium Glass } Block or a suitable replacement for visualizing/teaching the light path on } a light } microscope. The block is placed in the microscope stage and the } illumination path way } can be viewed inside the block - particularly as the condensor is focused } and as either } the stage aperature or field aperature are varied. } } I know this can be visualize with a dilute milk solution but I } really would prefer } something a little more stable (and non-perishable). } } Thanks! } } } } Richard E. Edelmann, Ph.D. } Electron Microscopy Facility Supervisor } 352 Pearson Hall } Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056 } Ph: 513.529.5712 Fax: 513.529.4243 } E-mail: edelmare-at-muohio.edu } } "RAM disk is NOT an installation procedure." 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) --============_-1295708639==_ma============ Content-Type: text/enriched; charset="us-ascii"
Richard: Here is a summary I had saved of a previous uranyl glass thread. Hope it helps. Tom
--------------------------------------
} From: Not Specified { {Kris_Kavanau-at-dmcmail.ucsf.edu} Attn: George M
Return-Path: Kris_Kavanau-at-dmcmail.ucsf.edu To: Microscopy-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov (M)
Organization: University of California, SF Division of Molecular Cytometry Date: Fri, 03 Feb 1995 10:03:40 PST
OFFICE MEMO Uranyl Glass/FM Stds. Date: 2/3/95
Dear Microscopists,
Does anyone have any uranyl glass, or know where it might be obtained? I have been told that it is no longer manufactured commercially. It might be an excellent "generic" fluorescence microscopy control. Are there any commercially available, pre-mounted fluorescence standards besides "MultiSpeck" from Molecular Probes? They are very convenient, but they are not ideal for our applications as DAPI, fluorescein, and Texas Red specific controls. Unfortunately, Flow Cytometry Standards Co. no longer makes pre-mounted standards.
I have been managing the UCSF core flow and image cytometry facility ("Lab for Cell Analysis") for 2 years, but I had no real QC for our 2 occasionally used fluorescence microscopes. Now I need to establish QC protocols for 6 additional multi-user, computerized fluorescence (one scanning confocal) microscopes in the "National Molecular Cytogenetics Resource." I was surprised that so few standards (and journal references) seem to be available.
Any suggestions or comments would be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much. Kris Kavanau; kavanau-at-dmc.ucsf.edu
To: Microscopy-at-AAEM.amc.anl.gov
} From: George M { {George_M-at-image1.com}
Reply to: RE} Uranyl Glass/FM Stds.
Hi Kris,
Uranium glass slides can be purchased from:
Newport Industrial Glass, Inc.
1631 Monrovia Ave.
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Tel: 714-642-9980
Fax: 714-645-6800
Contact person: Bill Larsen (you can tell him I sent you). Sold as a 6.5x6.5" sheet (you can specify 1 mm height), so you may want to form a "consortium" to have Newport pre-cut a sheet to slide size (nominal extra cost, but your lab only needs one or two slides). If there is a lot of interest, my company may start selling single slides.
As for references and the Shading Correction equation: please see my article in the 11/94 issue of Journal of NIH Research 6(11): 80 (usual Internet disclaimer: yes, that is an ad from my company on the facing page). Also look at Jericevic et al (1989) Methods in Cell Biology 30:47-83.
MutliSpeck beads: The Molecular Probes pre-mounted slide kits should be ideal for DAPI and Fluorescein. I believe they were optimized for Rhodamine, but should still work ok for Texas Red. If your problem is with mounting, Mol. Probes now sells the beads in solution, so you can 'sprinkle' some on your specimens. If you have a different problem with the current MultiSpeck's, Mol. Probes may be able to work something out for you.
Sorry, but I usually buy my reference material from Mol. Probes and don't keep close track of other slide manufacturers.
} I read through the archives for information on uranyl glass test slides, but couldn't figure out if there is a definitive answer to the question, Does anyone still manufacture uranyl glass, and where could I get some?
} Thanks,
} Chi-Bin Chien
} chien-at-jeeves.ucsd.edu
Chi-Bin Chien,
You can obtain micro slide sized pieces of uranyl glass from:
Newport Industrial Glass, Inc.
1631 Monrovia Avenue
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
(714) 645 - 1500
(714) 645 - 6800 [FAX]
They have this glass (glass #3750) in large stock pieces, so it must be cut down to the size of a micro slide. The will grind it down to whatever thickness you
desire, as well. We ordered two micro slide sized peices in July of 1993. The cost was $86.
Good luck!
Cheers,
Bill Bug
*************************
* Bill Bug *
* Dept. of Biology *
* Swarthmore College *
*************************} O.k., all you good microscopists, I'm looking for a source for either a Uranium Glass
} Block or a suitable replacement for visualizing/teaching the light path on a light
} microscope. The block is placed in the microscope stage and the illumination path way
} can be viewed inside the block - particularly as the condensor is focused and as either
} the stage aperature or field aperature are varied.
}
} I know this can be visualize with a dilute milk solution but I really would prefer
} something a little more stable (and non-perishable).
by zahn.acpub.duke.edu (8.8.5/Duke-4.7.0) with ESMTP id KAA20344; Fri, 15 Jan 1999 10:36:52 -0500 (EST) Received: (from saram-at-localhost) by godzilla4.acpub.duke.edu (8.8.5/Duke-4.7.0) id KAA15860; Fri, 15 Jan 1999 10:36:49 -0500 (EST)
On Thu, 14 Jan 1999, Margaret Casey wrote:
} Date: Thu, 14 Jan 1999 16:02:26 -0500 } From: Margaret Casey {CaseyM-at-state.mi.us} } To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: TEM:virus isolation from foods for negative staining } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 Fellow Listers, } } Does anyone have a good protocol or reference for virus isolation from food other than shellfish? We are trying to isolate and concentrate Norwalk virus from some foods implicated in a poisoning outbreak in Detroit. The foods in question are salami, garbanzo beans and some kind of cheese (I think provolone). We need to concentrate to at least 1 million particles/ml in order to use our prep for negative staining and TEM observation. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! } } Sincerely, } Peggy Casey } Michigan Dept. of Community Health } Lansing, Mich. } phone: 517-335-8102 } e-mail: caseym-at-state.mi.us } The best way to detect these kinds of viruses in dilute concentrations is PCR. In this case, viral numbers are likely to be very low, and getting enough to see by negative staining, unless you aggregate them with antiserum, may be difficult. If you want to proceed anyway, see concentration methods in Hayat and Miller, Negative Staining, McGraw-Hill.
Under separate cover, I will send you the name of an expert who does PCR on Norwalk. She is on the faculty at UNC and the CDC.
SM
Sara E. Miller, Ph. D. P. O. Box 3020 Duke University Medical Center Durham, NC 27710 Ph: 919 684-3452 FAX: 919 684-8735
How fast can you work and how long will the sections stay frozen? We l= ooked at frozen samples on a light microscope by covering the scope in a glov= e bag (~$15 from scientific supply houses) and doing all our work inside the = bag. We started by flooding the bag with dry nitrogen for a couple of hours = to drive out all humidity. We were able to freeze our samples in the bag,=
transfer them to the stage and back to the LN2 when we thought they wer= e starting to melt. You might be able to transfer the frozen sections in= to the bag and keep them frozen with some LN2 and quickly transfer them to the= stage of the microscope. This is a very kludgy setup, but it worked for us a= nd was dirt cheap.
Joe Neilly Abbott Laboratories D-45M, AP31 200 Abbott Park Rd. Abbott Park, IL 60064-3537 voice: (847)-938-5024 fax: (847)-938-5027 e-mail: joe.neilly-at-abbott.com =
since a couple of weeks I have to face a problem with our LEO EM912 which I could not solve up to now: I can't correct for the astigmatism in diffraction mode any more. If I use the "Image Stig xy" buttons they influence the appearence but the possible range of this potentiometers is not large enough for the correction. In addition the zero-beam moves very slowly across the screen (approx. 0.5mm/min on the final screen). I did a thorough alignment of all the settings of the microscope and the problem persists. We had service here and were told that it is probably some dirt particle in a part of the column which we can't clean. The only possibility would be to try to "burn" the particle in low-mag mode with high illumination aperture and "playing" with the illumination tilt in diffraction mode or the illumination shift in spot mode. And in fact, this helps for a short time, but the problem reappears latest after half an our again.
We have no problems with astigmatism in the image mode.
Does anybody out there has an idea what we could do, check, exchange ... to help solving the problem?
Greetings,
Petra
-------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Petra Wahlbring Centre de Recherche Public Centre Universitaire (CRP-CU) Laboratoire d'Analyse des Materiaux (LAM) 162a, av. de la Faiencerie L-1511 Luxembourg tel. +352-466644-402 fax +352-466644-400 e-mail: petra.wahlbring-at-crpcu.lu Visit our WWW site! http://www.crpcu.lu/~wahlbrin
Lou - } } A few years ago I got hold of a beta version of a SEM Macintosh simulation } program, SuperSEM. It was a Macintosh program that was developed with } Supercard software. It was misplaced during the process of upgrading my } computers. Does anyone know if it exists?
Might you be thinking of Brian Griffen's "Virtual SEM"? It's a great simulation, and you'll find it listed in the CD-ROM section of the bibliography on Project MICRO's web page (URL below).
Caroline }
Caroline Schooley Educational Outreach Coordinator Microscopy Society of America Box 117, 45301 Caspar Point Road Caspar, CA 95420 Phone/FAX (707)964-9460 Project MICRO: http://www.msa.microscopy.com/ProjectMicro/PMHomePage.html Intertidal invertebrates: http://www.fortbragg.k12.ca.us/AG/PCI/pci.html
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America =
Reply to: RE: Ti Alloys - TEM foil preparation Re: Electropolishing of Ti alloys Due to interest in this subject, I will list some additional = electrolytes I have used on Ti alloys. (3mm, jet polishing).
Ti-8 w/% Al 13% HCL -60 degrees C Ti-811 87% methanol 70 to 90 volts Ti-6Al-4V 25-35 mA.
Ti-13 Sn 130 ml HCL -50 degrees C 670 ml methanol 150 volts 100 ml butyl 60 mA.
Ti-3V 60 ml perchloric acid -50 degrees C Ti-20 Zr 590 ml methanol 50 volts Ti-14 Al 350 ml butyl cellosolve 10-15 mA
Ti-8 Al 60 ml perchloric acid -15 t0 -20 C (rolled) 460 ml ethyl alcohol, 95% 180 volts 280 ml butyl alcohol 40 mA. 100 ml butyl cellosolve Ti 5.3 g. = lithium chloride -40 degrees C. nanocrystals, 11.16 g. magnesium 150 volts compacted chloride 30 mA 500 ml. methanol 100 ml. butyl cellosolve (Note: the two salts above must be added to the combined solvents one = "powder" at a time, while stirring. The two dry salts react violently if = mixed together. This electrolyte has nearly as wide an application as = perchloric acid mixtures and is known as B K-2). I suspect that B K-2 will cause the least hydride problem. It was = developed to eliminate hydrides in vanadium TEM foils. The voltages given = would need to be reduced about 20% for a twin jet system due to lower = electrical resistance of that configuration. My work was done on a South = Bay vertical single jet unit. I have no vested interest in the above equipment, but have enjoyed = the ease with which good polishing conditions can be obtained and = reproduced since 1975 or so. Good luck! Bernard Kestel Materials Science Division Argonne National Laboratory Argonne, Il., 60439
E-mail: {bkestel-at-anl.gov} Thomas, Larry 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 Satyarth: } } An excellent paper on the subject is: } } "In Situ Hydride Formation in Zirconium and Titanium during Ion Milling" } Graham J.C. Carpenter et al, JMSA Vol.1 No. 4 pp 175-184 1995. } } From the paper you will see that a key factor in eliminating hydride } formation is having a clean sample free from hydrocarbon contamination. } = This contamination could be remnants from the dimpling process or other } pre-thinning steps or it could be caused by the back streaming of } diffusion } pump oil in your ion mill. As titanium has a high chemical affinity for } hydrogen, you may want to look over your preparation steps and try to } eliminate any areas of possible contamination. If you are still having } a } problem, a quick cleaning of both the specimen and the specimen holder } in a } Plasma Cleaner should take care of it. } } If you have an interest, I can send you a copy of the above referenced } paper. I also have papers on plasma cleaning which may be of interest. } } NOTE: South Bay Technology does manufacture the PC150 Plasma Cleaner and } therefore I have a vested interest in promoting its use. } } Best regards- } } David } Writing at 9:38:23 AM on 1/12/99 } } } ******************************= *********************************** } ********** } ************************ } } David Henriks TEL: } 800-= 728-2233 (toll free in the USA) } South Bay Technology, Inc. +1-949-492-2600 } 1120 Via Callejon FAX: } +1-949-492-1499 } San Clemente, CA 92673 USA e-mail: } henriks-at-southbaytech.com } } } ***************************************************************** } ********** } ************************ } } } } } } } 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 Satyarth Suri } } } Hello: } I am currently working on mechanical behavior / microstructure } correlations in single colony near apha Ti Alloys. I am currently } preparing the foils using a dual ion mill (6kV, 12deg, 1mA), but } have run into the problem of a very uneven alpha phase morphology, } the alpha phase has island formation - we are using a cold stage } to minimize the hydride formation at the interface. I am using } 3 micron/6micron diamond paste during the dimpling process - the } foil itself otherwise is fairly clean in terms of the dislocation } content. Could anyone in the microscopy land have some suggestions } in terms of what the problem may be? } } thanks - if you want you can respond directly to suri.3-at-osu.edu } } -satyarth } } { } } } } } RFC822 header } ----------------------------------- } } Received: from dns2.anl.gov (dns2.anl.gov [146.139.254.3]) by } horus.et.= anl.gov (8.6.11/8.6.11) with ESMTP id SAA02218; Tue, 12 Jan 1999 18:17:43 -= 0600 } Received: from Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (sparc5.microscopy.com } [206.69.208.= 10]) by dns2.anl.gov (8.9.1a/8.6.11) with SMTP id SAA19261; Tue, 12 Jan = 1999 } 18:18:22 -0600 (CST) } Received: (from daemon-at-localhost) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.= 11) } id RAA22399 for dist-Microscopy; Tue, 12 Jan 1999 17:41:01 -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 RAA22384 for } "= MicroscopyFilteredEmail-at-msa.microscopy.com"; Tue, 12 Jan 1999 17:40:30 -= 0600 } Received: from Sparc5AAEM (aaem.amc.anl.gov [146.139.72.3]) by } Sparc5.= Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) with ESMTP id RAA22377 for } {microscopy-at-= sparc5.microscopy.com} ; Tue, 12 Jan 1999 17:40:17 -0600 } Received: from pnl.gov (relay.pnl.gov [130.20.128.34]) by Sparc5AAEM } (8.= 6.11/8.6.11) with ESMTP id RAA14848 for {MICROSCOPY-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov} ; Tue,= 12 Jan 1999 } 17:52:22 -0600 } Received: from pnlmse1.pnl.gov by pnl.gov (PMDF V5.1-12 #28154) } with ESMTP id {01J6GJ2FP8R4970ZC9-at-pnl.gov} for MICROSCOPY-at-aaem.amc.anl.= gov; } Tue, 12 Jan 1999 15:54:41 PST } Received: by PNLMSE1.pnl.gov with Internet Mail Service (5.5.2232.9) } id {CR51M2B5} ; Tue, 12 Jan 1999 15:54:42 -0800 } Content-return: allowed } Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1999 15:54:36 -0800 } From: "Thomas, Larry" {Larry.Thomas-at-pnl.gov} } Subject: RE: Ti Alloys - TEM foil preparation } To: Satyarth Suri {suri-at-mse.eng.ohio-state.edu} , } Microscopy ListServer {MICROSCOPY-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov} , } "'South Bay Technology'" {Henriks-at-CompuServe.COM} } Message-id: {7A04D1887189D2118EEB00A024BF29DA41CB17-at-pnlmse2.pnl.gov} } X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2232.9) } Errors-to: Microscopy-request-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Content-Type: text } Content-Length: 5172 } Status: }
RFC822 header -----------------------------------
Received: from dns2.anl.gov (dns2.anl.gov [146.139.254.3]) by horus.et.= anl.gov (8.6.11/8.6.11) with ESMTP id KAA16886; Thu, 14 Jan 1999 10:18:46 -= 0600 Received: from Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (sparc5.microscopy.com [206.69.208.= 10]) by dns2.anl.gov (8.9.1a/8.6.11) with SMTP id KAA24301; Thu, 14 Jan = 1999 10:19:27 -0600 (CST) Received: (from daemon-at-localhost) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11)= id JAA05334 for dist-Microscopy; Thu, 14 Jan 1999 09:45:47 -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 JAA05330 for "= MicroscopyFilteredEmail-at-msa.microscopy.com"; Thu, 14 Jan 1999 09:45:16 -= 0600 Received: from Sparc5AAEM (aaem.amc.anl.gov [146.139.72.3]) by Sparc5.= Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) with ESMTP id JAA05323 for {microscopy-at-= sparc5.microscopy.com} ; Thu, 14 Jan 1999 09:45:03 -0600 Received: from horus.et.anl.gov (horus.et.anl.gov [146.139.240.27]) by = Sparc5AAEM (8.6.11/8.6.11) with ESMTP id JAA16340 for {MICROSCOPY-at-aaem.amc.= anl.gov} ; Thu, 14 Jan 1999 09:57:11 -0600 Received: from 146.139.240.184 (et212mac184.et.anl.gov [146.139.240.184]) = by horus.et.anl.gov (8.6.11/8.6.11) with SMTP id JAA16643; Thu, 14 Jan = 1999 09:58:58 -0600 Message-Id: {199901141558.JAA16643-at-horus.et.anl.gov} Date: 14 Jan 99 09:59:42 -0500 From: Bernard Kestel {kestel-at-anl.gov} Subject: RE: Ti Alloys - TEM foil preparation To: "'South Bay Technology'" {Henriks-at-CompuServe.COM} , "Thomas, Larry" {Larry.Thomas-at-pnl.gov} , Microscopy ListServer {MICROSCOPY-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov} , Satyarth Suri {suri-at-mse.eng.ohio-state.edu} X-Mailer: QuickMail Pro 1.5.4 (Mac) X-Priority: 3 MIME-Version: 1.0 Reply-To: Bernard Kestel {kestel-at-anl.gov} Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Errors-to: Microscopy-request-at-sparc5.microscopy.com Content-Type: text/plain; charset=3D"US-Ascii" Content-Length: 10127 Status: = =
by pilsener.ucs.ualberta.ca (8.9.1a/8.9.1) with ESMTP id MAA10247; Fri, 15 Jan 1999 12:46:33 -0700 (MST) Received: from localhost (mingchen-at-localhost) by gpu2.srv.ualberta.ca (8.8.5/8.8.5) with SMTP id MAA67494; Fri, 15 Jan 1999 12:46:33 -0700
Hi Mary,
I have done a lot of fixation for plant material for more than 25 yrs. I think 2% paraformaldehyde-2.5% glutaraldehyde fixative in 0.2 M cacodylate or phosphate buffer (pH 7.2) is the best.
Good luck.
Ming
On Tue, 12 Jan 1999, Mary Gail Engle 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 need some advice as to the best protocol for fixing fresh plant leaves } for routine TEM. My only experience has been with animal tissue. } Thanks, } MG Engle } } }
*********************************************** * 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 * ***********************************************
Lou Ross wrote: } } } } A colleage from an industrial SEM lab contacted me about a problem with } contamination on the final aperture on an variable pressure SEM. This SEM } was recently purchased by one of their branch plants to examine } semiconductor products. Although it is a variable pressure SEM, they have } only operated it in the high vac mode like a standard SEM. } } The problem they are experiencing is that the final aperture presumably } gets so dirty they have to change the aperture every two weeks. } Unfortunately the manufacturer has not been able to shed any light on this } situation. } } If the vacuum system is alright, I suggested that the problem might be with } the samples. Supposedly the branch lab operators are following the same } sample prep protocol established in the local SEM lab. } } Any other ideas out there? } } Thanks in advance, } Lou Ross } Senior Electron Microscope Specialist } Room 101 } Department of Geological Sciences } University of Missouri } Columbia, MO 65211 } (573) 882-4777 } (573) 882=5458 fax } www.missouri.edu/~geosclmr/ebaf.html
Dear Lou Ross,
Based on your message concerning the contaminated aperture, my feeling is that the problem probably rests somewhere other than the aperture itself. But since there is the slightest possibility that there might be a problem with the aperture perhaps we can assist you. Ladd produces the vast majority of apertures/microholes used in the United States and the aperture you have may very will be a Ladd aperture. To make sure there is no residual contamination on an aperture we have a post production protocol that is designed to eliminate any contamination that results during production. In fact we have some apertures/microholes used in fluid and gas control that are required to be absolutely contamination free. We have a protocol to ensure that. It is also important that an aperture be shipped or stored in a glass or non-contaminating vial and that the aperture surface should not touch tissue or even lint free cloth. We would be glad to examine the aperture to see if the contamination was a result of packaging, handling or the production process. Please contact us if you if you wish us to do that.
John Arnott Chairman
-- LADD RESEARCH 13 Dorset Lane Williston, VT 05495 TEL 1-800-451-3406 (US) or 1-802-878-6711 (anywhere) FAX 1-802-878-8074 e-mail ladres-at-worldnet.att.net web site http://www.ladd.cc
My institution needs to purchase a new cryostat in the next several months. I would appreciate any comments from cryostat users about their satisfation/ dissatisfaction with particular makes and models of relatively new cryostats.
We do not anticipate particularly heavy usage of this equipment, but the tissues that will need to be sectioned range from soft tissues such as brain and heart all the way to mouse and rat bone. Some investigators would like to collect sections in excess of 30 microns for confocal microscopy projects, and others would like to serial section whole organs from transgenic mice. Are disposable knives sufficient for this range of usage?
Also, cryostat vendors are welcome to email me directly. Surprisingly, it has been like pulling teeth to get some companies to talk to a ready and willing customer.
Thanks for your help,
Dr. Steve Fields Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation 825 N.E. 13th Street Oklahoma City, OK 73104
Good Morning, Lou! There are several reasons why the final aperture may be getting dirty on a variable pressure SEM, and why this may be more noticeable on semiconductor samples. Several causes contribute to contamination within SEM chambers. If this system has been used for any other analysis other than semiconductor, at low vac modes, residues from prior analysis may be lining the chamber walls - these are difficult to remove even by baking the chamber out. Additionally, this system probably has oil-cooled pumps - the deleterious effect of backstreaming oils into chamber which "gums" onto the final aperture is well established, but can be diminished with a strategically located dry N2 purge port in the sample exchange chamber. Mounting media is also of concern - since most conductive paints outgas, these vapors can also contaminate the F.A. quickly, especially if the material is not exceedingly well dried. Simple cleanliness may also be the culprit - by handling a metal sample fixture with bare hands, oils and sweats are deposited on the fixture. These deposits love to attach to the F.A. (and cold tip of EDS detectors too!) As most semiconductor analysis requires fairly high magnification, and often lower KeV, these problems are exacerbated. I've delt with these and many other problems concerning the optimal performance of SEM's with semiconductor materials, and would be pleased to look over his system for performance improvements. Let me know if I may be of assistance!
In a message dated 1/14/99 8:41:46 PM Mid-Atlantic Standard Time, RossLM-at-missouri.edu writes:
{ { A colleage from an industrial SEM lab contacted me about a problem with contamination on the final aperture on an variable pressure SEM. This SEM was recently purchased by one of their branch plants to examine semiconductor products. Although it is a variable pressure SEM, they have only operated it in the high vac mode like a standard SEM.
The problem they are experiencing is that the final aperture presumably gets so dirty they have to change the aperture every two weeks. Unfortunately the manufacturer has not been able to shed any light on this situation.
If the vacuum system is alright, I suggested that the problem might be with the samples. Supposedly the branch lab operators are following the same sample prep protocol established in the local SEM lab.
Any other ideas out there?
Thanks in advance, Lou Ross Senior Electron Microscope Specialist Room 101 Department of Geological Sciences University of Missouri Columbia, MO 65211 (573) 882-4777 (573) 882=5458 fax www.missouri.edu/~geosclmr/ebaf.html } }
I am asking for help. We bought a JSM 5410 SEM (3.5 nm at 30kv 8mm working distance) and JEOL 2010 microscopes (without FEG) here. Both microscopes has almost finished installation. For JEOL 2010 I checked our quotation written by JEOL that they should provide working pressure of 6x10-6 Pa or better at specimen as read by the ion pump. But now we got best vacuum is 1.5x10-5 Pa. Is there anyone who has JEOL 2010 TEM and can tell me your best working value ASAP? Thank you very much in advance.
As for JSM 5410, is there anybody who has JSM 5000 series SEM and can send me your resoultion shooting photos by JEOL engineer (resolution 3.5nm) to let me have a look. I will pay the Fedex fee and send you back by Fedex express. Thank you very much.
Sincerely yours,
Weilie Zhou (Ph.D)
************************************************ Advanced Materials Research Institute University of New Orleans Science Building 2021 New Orleans, LA 70148 Tel:(504) 280-5570 Fax:(504) 280-3185 ************************************************
I have given the following advice to several users of variable pressure SEMs who have dirty microscopes and contamination, and they all said it cured the problem.
Don't leave it in high Vacuum mode all the time. Some variable pressure SEMs are very dirty due to backstreaming at high vacuum. They are designed for low vacuum not high vacuum. By placing the system into low vacuum mode, the chamber is placed into viscous flow vacuum dynamics which stops backstreaming and purges out contaminants. Try leaving it in low vacuum mode overnight for a month and check the results.
Let me know if this helps.
Ronald Vane XEI Scientific
Disclaimer: XEI is in the anti-contamination business. } } -----Original Message----- } From: Lou Ross {RossLM-at-missouri.edu} } To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com {microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} } Date: Thursday, January 14, 1999 1:48 PM } ----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } } } A colleage from an industrial SEM lab contacted me about a problem with } } contamination on the final aperture on an variable pressure SEM. This SEM } } was recently purchased by one of their branch plants to examine } } semiconductor products. Although it is a variable pressure SEM, they have } } only operated it in the high vac mode like a standard SEM. } } } } The problem they are experiencing is that the final aperture presumably } } gets so dirty they have to change the aperture every two weeks. } } Unfortunately the manufacturer has not been able to shed any light on this } } situation. } } } } If the vacuum system is alright, I suggested that the problem might be with } } the samples. Supposedly the branch lab operators are following the same } } sample prep protocol established in the local SEM lab. } } } } Any other ideas out there? } } } } Thanks in advance, } } Lou Ross } } Senior Electron Microscope Specialist } } Room 101 } } Department of Geological Sciences } } University of Missouri } } Columbia, MO 65211 } } (573) 882-4777 } } (573) 882=5458 fax } } www.missouri.edu/~geosclmr/ebaf.html } } } } }
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Happy New Year all,
A question for the New Year: what are EM laboratories using for pure water = these days? Is it possible to use deionized water, or even the distilled = water from Rite Aid or Arrowhead? In the past I had a still which was fed = from a deionized water supply. We had no problems at all with this.
If the preferred purification process turns out to be deionized water, = which quality is best - Type 1 (HPLC etc.) or will lower quality suffice? = Also has anyone had problems with resin in the water?
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 http://www.hei.org/htm/apw.htm
microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com, tina-at-pbrc.hawaii.edu MMDF-Warning: Parse error in original version of preceding line at rfdata.net
Another quick cheap fix is dress warm and do the work in a walk in freezer. The glove bag would work well to keep your breath from freezing on the scope.
When I was working at Ag Engineering we had and etymology and vet student that spent the summer in a walk in cooler monitor tick behavior from freezing to 55 degrees F.
Gordon
Gordon Couger gcouger-at-couger.com Owner PRAG-L PRactical AGriculture List www.couger.com/prag-l Stillwater, OK 405 624-2855 GMT -6:00
How fast can you work and how long will the sections stay frozen? We looked at frozen samples on a light microscope by covering the scope in a glove bag (~$15 from scientific supply houses) and doing all our work inside the bag. We started by flooding the bag with dry nitrogen for a couple of hours to drive out all humidity. We were able to freeze our samples in the bag, transfer them to the stage and back to the LN2 when we thought they were starting to melt. You might be able to transfer the frozen sections into the bag and keep them frozen with some LN2 and quickly transfer them to the stage of the microscope. This is a very kludgy setup, but it worked for us and was dirt cheap.
Joe Neilly Abbott Laboratories D-45M, AP31 200 Abbott Park Rd. Abbott Park, IL 60064-3537 voice: (847)-938-5024 fax: (847)-938-5027 e-mail: joe.neilly-at-abbott.com
} From Microscopy-request-at-sparc5.microscopy.com Thu Jan 14 14:44:05 1999 } } Date: Thu, 14 Jan 1999 09:11:29 -1000 (HST) } From: Tina Carvalho {tina-at-pbrc.hawaii.edu} } To: Microscopy Listserver {Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com} } Subject: Cold stage for LM } } Happy New Year to you all } } .......... I have liquid nitrogen, styrofoam, and a machine } shop. I also have high humidity. Can anyone tell me how to kludge } together a cold enough stage that we can get images of these } frozen sections while preventing frost? I have some general ideas, but } I'd appreciate any specific plans or ideas.............. } } } Aloha, } Tina } }
Tina, We have done some work with a cold stage for cathodoluminescence (CL) studies of minerals, ceramics, etc. A simple vacuum chamber (mechanical pump - pressures of 30 to 100 millitorr) is used for the CL work and the chamber sits on the stage of the light microscope. For cold stage work we use a simple system consisting of a chillable plate that is cooled in liquid nitrogen outside the chamber and then inserted and pumped down. Temperatures low enough to dramatically change the CL behaviour are achieved for about 10 - 12 minutes and there is minimum condensation. The vacuum helps to provide thermal insulation for the chillable plate and also minimizes the amount of water vapor that can condense. The plate itself is designed to minimize thermal transfer to the other parts of the vacuum chamber.
Don Marshall
(Claimer: RELION is in the business of CL instrumentation for light microscopes and chillable sample plates are one of the items we offer.)
Donald J. Marshall Relion Industries P.O. Box 12 Bedford, MA 01730 Ph: 781-275-4695 FAX: 781-271-0252 email dmrelion-at-world.std.com
"A weed is a flower out of place."
(Please note: Do not send email with attachments to this address. Instead, send it to donbarlen-at-aol.com. Thank you.)
A three month (June, July, and August) position is open for a microscopy oriented technician at the Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA. We would like to attract someone with some knowledge of biological preparative techniques and experience in laser scanning confocal microscopy, TEM, SEM, and/or LM.
The technician will assist in the Central Microscopy Facility. The technician's duties will be to check out incoming investigators in the usage of our equipment and then to supervise its continuing usage and to perform contract work for investigators. This may include fixation, embedding, sectioning, scope use, darkroom work, etc. The technician will also provide routine maintenance.
This is a short term and scientifically rewarding position. Salary will be in the $7 to $10/hour range. Housing may be available to rent through MBL.
For more information, including a more detailed position description, please contact Louis Kerr at: MBL, 7 MBL Street, Woods Hole, MA 02543. Telephone, 508-289-7273; or at Email: lkerr-at-mbl.edu. Please apply to: Human Resources, MBL, 7 MBL Street, Woods Hole, MA 02543. or resume-at-mbl.edu.
An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer/ Non-smoking workplace.
Louie Kerr Research and Education Support Coordinator Marine Biological Laboratory 7 MBL Street Woods Hole, MA 02543 508-289-7273 508-540-6902 (FAX)
} SUMMER MICROSCOPY TECHNICIAN POSITION AVAILABLE } } A three month (June, July, and August) position is open for a microscopy } oriented technician at the Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA....
} ...This is a short term and scientifically rewarding position. Salary will be } in the $7 to $10/hour range. Housing may be available to rent through MBL... } } ...For more information, including a more detailed position description, } please contact Louis Kerr at: MBL, 7 MBL Street, Woods Hole, MA 02543. } Telephone, 508-289-7273; or at Email: lkerr-at-mbl.edu. } Please apply to: Human Resources, MBL, 7 MBL Street, } Woods Hole, MA 02543. or resume-at-mbl.edu.
I once had a senior student (at UC Berkeley) who took this job. He was recruited into a top MD/PhD program and met his wife, all in a summer of hard work at MBL. Apply, folks!
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/PMHomePage.html Intertidal invertebrates: http://www.fortbragg.k12.ca.us/AG/PCI/pci.html
Perhaps a little off-topic, but for those of you who archive microscopy images to recordable CD-ROM, does anyone know of a strategy for placing a "software lock" on the CD-ROM which would require a "key" to access, view, or copy the CD-ROM contents? I'd rather not compress or encrypt images and use a password to access but to have a security option initiated upon mounting of the CD-ROM.
Thanks very much for any info,
Brian C. Tryon MCP-Hahnemann 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 --------------------------------------------------------------
I am a school counselor at the elementary level. Our leadership team is spending some of our grant money on microscopes for a Science lab which we are developing. I would like to know basic information on purchasing microscopes for the elementary student. We hope to purchase five-six scopes depending on the price. Can you help with this information? Please e-mail me at diorado-at-stc.net Thanks! Diane
Tina: I am afraid I will not provide detailed plans, just a couple of hints. I expect that the easiest way would be to built a suitable, insulated enclosure with a minimal opening for the objective lens. On top of that small opening a resistance heater loop may be required. Somewhere you would have an inlet for dry industrial nitrogen gas and with a small sealed chamber and the only opening near the lens, no air and therefore no moisture can enter. Gas flow could be quite low - if the outlet hole is not too large. Gasflow would need to be activated well before freezing. Temperature control and nitrogen flow are other problems, but avoiding frost tends to be the greatest challenge. Cheers Jim Darley
ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Phone +61 7 4774 0370 Fax: +61 7 4789 2313 Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes ********************** www.proscitech.com.au *****
Hi all
Here is a 'WISH' list of bits that we want for our labs, if anyone has these bits that they want to giveaway, trade, sell, we look forward to hearing from you.
Spares for a Gatan model 600 ion beam thinner
Spares for JEOL 35-CF Spares for JEOL 100-CX
EDXS for a JEOL 35-CF with with electronics. It doesn't have to have excellent energy resolution. EELS for a JEOL 2010 or JEOL 100-CX Four quadrant Back Scatter detector (UHV Compatible)
An oven Any specimen preparation gear for physical and biological specimens Microtome and accessories
Enlargers working or broken Timers for enlargers Print dryer
Printers - B&W and color
Dessicators (vacuum)
Chemical storage cupboard
I know some of these are extravagant, but I have to ask. The Gods just might smile upon me today.
Thank you George G. Theodossiou Dept Applied Physics RMIT Email: George-at-bunyip.ph.rmit.edu.au ph:+61 3 9925 3394 fax:+61 3 9925 5290
Hi all Best wishes for the new year to all. We have a small problem that needs fixing and would like to get a few = other ideas on the matter before the user spends money on fixing it. The user has an ISI SEM which has the typical back streaming problems. = This oil is contaminating the ED detector window and therefore causing = absorption of the light x-rays. Other than cleaning the window regularly, which carries the danger of = blowing the window and detector, we were looking at methods to stop this = contamination. We are fitting a foreline trap to the Rotary pump, but = experience shows that you still get oil back streaming. We could try a = Ln2 cold finger but this is a hassle to keep toped up and can only be = fitted above the diff pump which makes engineering a problem. A SEM clean gas leak system would also help but they are very short on = cash. ( surprise surprise) They also need to work at high mag and so = whilst the SEM is in use the SEM clean system could not be effective.=20 The only other idea we have is to fit a peltier cold finger to the SEM = chamber in the hope of attracting most of the oil to the cold finger = and thus not contaminating the detector. This we though could be = controlled to have a fairly low temp whilst the SEM is in use and = frequent sample changes are required, then turn up the power for when = the SEM is not in use to be more efficient.
Has any one fitted a peltier to their EM before ? What experiences have = you had with them and what size and power would work.=20 All ideas welcome.=20 Thanks =20 Luc Harmsen=09 Anaspec, South Africa International technical support on microscopy. Tel: +27 (0) 11 476 3455 Fax:+27 (0) 11 476 7290 anaspec-at-icon.co.za
Hello fellow listservers, I've recently discovered a problem with a batch of a particular type of cold setting epoxy resin. I have been using this batch of resin on an infrequent basis for about 2 years (and is probably about 4 years old). When I analysed some of the cured resin by microanalysis last week appreciable bromine (Br) was detected as well as the usual chlorine content (Br} Cl). The 'introduction' of the Br is a recent thing because I also analysed some resin (from the same batch) prepared approximately one year ago. The analysis of this showed no Br with Cl the only detectable element present (with the Be window of the EDS detector in place that is). Is it possible therefore for the resin to in some way deteriorate with time and for Br compounds to form? If so, what are the chemical reactions going on here. I'm very certain that the Br is not a contaminant. Also, I should point out that if this is a chemical degradation of the resin then the physical characteristics of the cured resin are normal. I would appreciate any thoughts on the matter. Regards
Martin Roe Macaulay Land Use Research Institute Aberdeen AB15 8QH Scotland United Kingdom
Greetings All, } } I have been reading this list for well over a year and am confident that this is the place to come if one has a question regarding microscopy...so here goes. } } The Chemical Hygiene Officer of the company I work for has decided that all laboratory personnel must wear full eye protection when in a lab. } This presents a problem to me, because of my near sightedness, I prefer to look through the optical/IR microscope without glasses and this results in a side splash safety hazard. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to fully protect myself from side impact and satisfy the safety requirements and view my microscopy images? Thank you all in advance and if anyone wants a summary of responses, I will be more than happy to oblige. } } } } } Deborah Hills-Haney } Research Analytical Services/NMR Lab } International Flavors and Fragrances R&D } 1515 US Highway 36 } Union Beach, NJ 07735 } } Phone: (732) 335-2663 } Fax: (732) 335-2591
______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
} Hello fellow listservers, } I've recently discovered a problem with a batch of a particular } type of cold setting epoxy resin. I have been using this batch of } resin on an infrequent basis for about 2 years (and is probably } about 4 years old). When I analysed some of the cured resin by } microanalysis last week appreciable bromine (Br) was detected as well } as the usual chlorine content (Br} Cl). The 'introduction' of the Br } is a recent thing because I also analysed some resin (from the same } batch) prepared approximately one year ago. The analysis of this } showed no Br with Cl the only detectable element present (with the Be } window of the EDS detector in place that is). Is it possible } therefore for the resin to in some way deteriorate with time and for } Br compounds to form? If so, what are the chemical reactions going on } here. I'm very certain that the Br is not a contaminant. Also, I } should point out that if this is a chemical degradation of the resin } then the physical characteristics of the cured resin appear to be normal. I } would appreciate any thoughts on the matter. Regards } } Martin Roe } Macaulay Land Use Research Institute } Aberdeen } AB15 8QH } Scotland } United Kingdom } } }
} I am a school counselor at the elementary level. Our leadership team is } spending some of our grant money on microscopes for a Science lab which } we are developing. I would like to know basic information on purchasing } microscopes for the elementary student. We hope to purchase five-six } scopes depending on the price. Can you help with this information? } Please e-mail me at diorado-at-stc.net Thanks! Diane
I'm happy to help; that's what Project MICRO is all about. You'll find detailed general purchase and evaluation advice on the MICRO web page (URL below), plus a list of possible sources. For elementary science, I strongly favor monocular "dissecting" scopes; you can get good ones for under $80. Plus perhaps one conventional 3-objective (4, 10, 40x) compound scope, for $120. Where are you located? I may be able to get you some advice from a local MSA member.
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/PMHomePage.html Intertidal invertebrates: http://www.fortbragg.k12.ca.us/AG/PCI/pci.html
Martin J. Roe 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 fellow listservers, } I've recently discovered a problem with a batch of a particular } type of cold setting epoxy resin. I have been using this batch of } resin on an infrequent basis for about 2 years (and is probably } about 4 years old). When I analysed some of the cured resin by } microanalysis last week appreciable bromine (Br) was detected as well } as the usual chlorine content (Br} Cl). The 'introduction' of the Br } is a recent thing because I also analysed some resin (from the same } batch) prepared approximately one year ago. The analysis of this } showed no Br with Cl the only detectable element present (with the Be } window of the EDS detector in place that is). Is it possible } therefore for the resin to in some way deteriorate with time and for } Br compounds to form? If so, what are the chemical reactions going on } here. I'm very certain that the Br is not a contaminant. Also, I } should point out that if this is a chemical degradation of the resin } then the physical characteristics of the cured resin are normal. I } would appreciate any thoughts on the matter. Regards } } Martin Roe } Macaulay Land Use Research Institute } Aberdeen } AB15 8QH } Scotland } United Kingdom
Martin, One possibility that comes to mind is the storage cabinet of the resin: if you store bromine in the same cabinet and the resin is packed in a polymer flask, I can think of some diffusion out of the bromine into the resin bottle.
An other possibiliy is that there is a solvent used with a part of the resin, which contains Br. If the resin is growing older, there may be decomposition/degradation of the solvent, leaving a non volatile Br conaining component behind. Check each single component of the resin.
Hope this helps -- Gerhard Frank UNIVERSITAET ERLANGEN-NUERNBERG Phone: +49 9131 85 28606 Institut fuer Werkstoffwissenschaften VII Fax: +49 9131 85 28602 Cauerstr. 6, D-91058 Erlangen, Germany frank-at-ww.uni.erlangen.de
I ordinarily wear bifocals with an astigmatism correction. My company has bought me distance-only safety glasses, which I use irregularly but satisfactorily in place of my bifocals at the LM. The main advantage is the lack of the bifocal line.
If you can't bear the glasses, you might propose writing a "job hazard analysis" in which you analyze the hazards involved in your specific operation and propose specific solutions other than safety glasses, e.g., a splash shield between you and other workers, use of safety glasses for certain operations but not for viewing, after you have assured that risk of splash etc. during viewing is minimal.
Leonard Corwin Research Chemist Fort Dodge Animal Health Princeton, NJ 08543-0400
Our laboratory is in the process of 'remodelling' and have found several items which we would be able to part with at this time. These items include: 1. A Polaron Critical Point Dryer 2. An Arkay CD-80 cabinet dryer 3. A Gatan model 673 mark 2 wide angle TV system with a Data Translation 3851 A/D converter board 4. A Gatan model 622 fiber optically coupled TV system
This equipment was 100% functional the last time it was used. If you are interested in any of this equipment please contact me off line.
Jon Charlesworth, Coordinator Electron Microscopy Core Facility Mayo Clinic 1426 Guggenheim Building Rochester, MN 55905 ph: (507) 284-3148 fax: (507) 284-9349 email: charlesworth.jon-at-mayo.edu
Is anyone familliar with specific fixation- and/or staining techniques for rat and/or chicken eyes. Someone on our laboratory wants to to do some research on eyes. He wants to stain specific membranes like Bowmann and Desmett membrane.
Hi, I am looking for a program to convert weight % to Atomic % and vise versa preferably on a Power Mac.. An old program we have works on pre '90 Mac's but not on the newer ones. Anyone have any ideas? Thanks- Mike
I am looking for a 8cm by 10cm (TEM film format) film holder for a Leafscan 45 negative scanner.
I've been told that the company which makes the Leafscan was bought out. Does anyone know by whom, or who might now deal in parts?
Thanks, Wharton ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Wharton Sinkler Argonne National Laboratory West P. O. Box 2528 Idaho Falls, ID 83403 Tel: (208) 533-7724 FAX: (208) 533-7863
Hope that there is room on this list for a bit of pre-millenial philosophy.
Before I saw John White's prototype laser scanner in 1986, I had spent my time trying to improve instrumentation for high-resolution SEM and TEM. Though capable of "seeing molecules" and even labelling them, these instruments and have one tremendous disadvantage for the biologist: because they form their images using quanta that carry (much) more than 5 electron volts of energy, the act of imaging destroys molecules. Consequently, these instruments can only be used to image dead cells.
So, even when the confocal microscope was seen primarily as a method of making 3D images of biological structures that had been fixed and stained, my own focus was on using it to image living specimens.
Early confocal microscopes were so inefficient in their use of the light from the specimen that one could only image a "living" specimen at high magnification for a very sort time (one frame?) before it was well on the way to death. However, the wide-field/deconvolution contingent under Agard and Sedat showed that 3D imaging of living cells was possible, so we tried harder.
Even though instrumental improvements have now reduced the amount of damage produced per image by about 100x, and even though "the hidden agenda" of the Second edition of the Confocal Handbook was to give researchers the tools needed to view living specimens optimally, it seemed (seems?) to me that the large preponderance of confocal images is still made on dead cells.
There were several important reasons:
* Not clear which biological questions could be best approached in this way. * Hard to keep cells alive on microscope stage. * Results tedious to obtain and outcome uncertain. * Unclear which dyes were most suitable for live-cell operation in terms of cytotoxicity and bleaching * The choice of operational parameters was complicated by interactions between them. If pixel and raster-size, NA, sampling time and, laser power all have to be optimized to produce the best signal-to-noise and signal-to-damage ratios. * Single=photon or multi-photon. * Finally, there seemed to be a geography problem. While individual groups were making great strides, their isolation kept the practical knowledge that they gained by trial and error from reaching many of those who had good biological problems but lacked "a place to start from".
This Email Listserve was a response to the isolation and, I believe, it has been a major factor in the development of the field. Thanks Bob and now Steve!!
However, sometimes one needs a more personal type of interaction than is yet possible over email. In an attempt to fill this perceived gap, 5 years ago I decided to organize a 10-day course devoted to the 3D microscopy of living cells. Although the course would also cover advanced 2D techniques, the bulk of the time would be devoted to hands-on, laboratory sessions with no more than 3-4 students to a 3D Workstation. To focus attention, students were encouraged to design and carry out a 3D Live-cell Microscopy project during 5 evening sessions in the 3D part of the course and them present the results on the last morning.
Since that time, the course has served over 80 students from 18 countries, and will be offered again this year June 16 -27 (with a 3D Image Processing Workshop from June 29 - July 1. More info at http://www.cs.ubc.ca/spider/ladic/course/bulletin.html).
My question is this:
Now that the field has progressed and so many groups are actively publishing in the field (and helping out on the Email Net!), is there still need for such a course?
Although organizing 15 faculty members to come to beautiful Vancouver isn't so difficult, it costs the manufacturers an estimated $200,000 to send the equipment and personnel for the 11, 3D Workstations and you know who pays for that in the end!!
In addition, the controversy about who can, and cannot, do 2-photon excitation and under what conditions becomes ever more strident. Besides making organizing more onerous, this is particularly sad because it is clear that the main advantage that 2-photon imaging has over other methods is in imaging live cells, where conventional anti-bleach agents cannot be used, and where objects thicker than 20 micrometers must sometimes be viewed.
Last year, this controversy was almost certainly a factor in the last minute non-appearance of a multi-photon instrument (we did have 2 others) and this year it may lead to the total absence of one our major sponsors from earlier years (we will have at least 9 others).
I ask whether we have outlived our usefulness because I want to know. And I don't any more knowledgeable group to ask.
Although the student evaluations have been predominantly very positive, and the course itself has definitely improved as we found out what worked best, the trend in student numbers has not been encouraging: the first year we had over 50 applications for 28 places, the second about 35 applications and last year we had only 24 students after 4 dropped out at the last moment. Applications this year are about the same as last year but the March 1 deadline is still far away so this doesn't mean much.
I ask for your thoughts in planning beyond this year, because, given the "informal" nature of the founding of the course, there is no "institutional support" and tuition and expenses are handled through my personal account. So far, we are solvent but I personally can't afford to make good losses, should they occur.
And just to make sure there is no misunderstanding: I am not talking about this year's course (1999). I am asking for the future.
The Emory University Neurology Microscopy Laboratory, the University of Georgia Botany Department EM Laboratory, and Leica Microsystems, Inc.
Present a Cryo Techniques and Immunogold Workshop.
April 18-23, 1999 at the Campus of Emory University in Atlanta, GA.
Objectives
1. To provide researchers the opportunity to learn the theory and practice of cryo techniques for biological sample preparation and immunogold labeling.
2. To permit participants to process their own samples using these techniques under expert guidance.
Scitex America owned Leaf and its products. The address for Scitex was: One O'Hare Center 6250 River Rd. Rosemont, IL 60018 (847) 692-6000
The film holders were negative carriers made by Beseler for the Beseler 45M series and CB7 enlargers. Why not contact Beseler either directly or through a dealer to get a carrier for, say, 35 mm film. Then you can have your shop cut the appropriate opening in the carrier for your film.
Below is the text of a message I received from Joe Peng at Scitex: --------------------------------------------------------
Dear Joost,
Are you doing these eyes for TEM or LM? We do mice eyes for TEM (in plastic) and have gotten some really beautiful shots of Desmett's membrane. We have a whole fixation and embedding protocol worked out. The membranes are perfect. If this is for TEM, let me know and I'll send you our fixation and embedding protocol.
Regards!!
Lesley Lesley S. Bechtold Supervisor, Biological Imaging The Jackson Laboratory 600 Main St. Bar Harbor, ME 04609 207-288-6191
I think Tracy and Jean would be a good start. There are some other TEM labs on campus and in the Vet College and Labs. They should be able to tell you about them, too. IThat's about as much as I know since I am over on the Engineering/Materials side of campus.
Name: PEPPER TRACEY M Phone(w): 515-294-3872 Phone(w): 515-769-2471 Fax: 515-294-3932 Email(w): tpepper-at-iastate.edu Office: Address: 001 BESSEY City/State: AMES, IA 50011-1020
Name: OLSEN JEAN ANN Phone(w): 515-294-1009 Phone(w): 515-233-2696 Fax: 515-294-1401 Email(w): jaolsen-at-iastate.edu Department: VETERINARY MEDICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE Office: Address: VMRI BLDG 2 City/State: AMES, IA 50011-1240
At 03:36 PM 1/19/99 -0600, you wrote: } } Who would be a contact person at Iowa State Univ. for biological TEM ? } Possibly involving Immuno EM. Thanks. } } Rick L. Vaughn }
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Hi,
Does anyone out there have a vacuum evaporator that is taking up space? I = have lots of space but no evaporator. =
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 http://www.hei.org/htm/apw.htm
with Novell_GroupWise; Wed, 20 Jan 1999 11:28:14 +1100 Message-Id: {s6a5bdce.092-at-rsbs.anu.edu.au} X-Mailer: Novell GroupWise 5.2
We are just setting up TEM EDXA in a multidisciplinary unit, and need to = acquire standards covering a wide range of applications. Any recommendatio= ns, pitfalls etc? (Philips 430 TEM up to 300kV, Oxford ISIS ultra-thin = window detector).=20 thanks Sally
Dr Sally Stowe Facility Coordinator Australian National University EM Unit Research School of Biological Sciences Box 475 ACT 2601, Canberra, Australia FAX 06 (0)2 6279 8525
This message is in MIME format. The first part should be readable text, while the remaining parts are likely unreadable without MIME-aware tools. Send mail to mime-at-docserver.cac.washington.edu for more info.
I have a series of se images of a serial sectioned material which I would like to display as a volume rendered image. I have aligned the images, using an nih-image macro, however the brightness and contrast differs between them. As I understand it I need to perform histgram equalisation to correct for these differences.
I've noticed photoshop allows the user to load a transfer function using the "curves" dialog box, but it doesn't give the desired result.
Is this because the function which you specify is not the cumulative transfer function based on the reference histogram area??
Is there anyone who has done this before? I am using nih-image and photoshop for these tasks. As for the reconstruction, well any suggestions there would be apreciated also.
Thanks
---------------------------- Travis Baroni (PhD Student) | tbaroni-at-cyllene.uwa.edu.au | The University of Western | Australia, Nedlands, WA. | 6907. | ----------------------------
As Curriculum & Technology Specialist for the Alliance for Education, I take a Personal Scanning Electron Microscope (manufactured by RJ Lee, Pittsburgh, PA) to schools and museums. It is easily operated by anyone who can use a joystick and a mouse. I generally have students work in teams. Since our major funder is the Air Force, I refer to the responsibilities in flying terms, such as pilot and copilot.
We coordinate with the teacher to select specimens appropriate to their curriculum. Since we are using 17 inch monitors, it's not a particularly flashy activity for a large group. With large screens and appropriate sound systems, it could be. The main thing, though, is to choose a system that can be operated hands-on by young people.
For more information, you can call me at (937) 222-2934 between 9 and 5 EST.
I have a series of se images of a serial sectioned material which I would like to display as a volume rendered image. I have aligned the images, using an nih-image macro, however the brightness and contrast differs between them. As I understand it I need to perform histgram equalisation to correct for these differences.
I've noticed photoshop allows the user to load a transfer function using the "curves" dialog box, but it doesn't give the desired result.
Is this because the function which you specify is not the cumulative transfer function based on the reference histogram area??
Is there anyone who has done this before? I am using nih-image and photoshop for these tasks. As for the reconstruction, well any suggestions there would be apreciated also.
Thanks
Travis Baroni
---------------------------- Travis Baroni (PhD Student) | tbaroni-at-cyllene.uwa.edu.au | The University of Western | Australia, Nedlands, WA. | 6907. | ----------------------------
Is anyone famillair with good fixation and staining techniques for rat and chicken eyes. Is Davidson's fluid THE best fixative? Someone in our lab wants to stain slides in order to examin Desmett's and Bowman's membrane. Is it possible, to stain these kind of membranes?
Try using the excellent piece of Software "Electron Flight Simulator" version 3.1-E. It is marketed by D, Chernoff of Small Woprld somewhere in the US. I am running it on a PC and I am not sure its works on a Mac. Contact David Joy at {djoy-at-utk.edu} as he has written much of the software and will give you an adress for Chernoff.
Patrick Echlin Director, Multi-Imaging Centre University of Cambridge UK
On Tue, 19 Jan 1999, by way of Nestor J. Zaluzec wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } } Hi, I am looking for a program to convert weight % to Atomic % and vise } versa preferably on a Power Mac.. An old program we have works on pre '90 } Mac's but not on the newer ones. Anyone have any ideas? Thanks- Mike } } } }
Is anyone familiar with the re-embedding methods of paraffin embedded tissues in resin? I was asked to re-embed human lung tumor specimens into resin and reclassify them on electron microscope level. I will appreciate if you could send me your reembedding protocol.
Thanks in advance,
Regards,
Ranan
Ranan Gulhan AKTAS, M. D. Trakya University, Faculty of Medicine Pathology Department Edirne 22030 TURKEY
Paul:=20 I have two rather old evaporators which still get 10-6 torr. I will give=20 then to you but you must pay the shipping costs !
Patrick E=A3chlin Multi-Imaging Centre University of Cambridge UK
On 19 Jan 1999, 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } =20 } =20 } Hi, } =20 } Does anyone out there have a vacuum evaporator that is taking up space? = I have lots of space but no evaporator. =20 } 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 } http://www.hei.org/htm/apw.htm } =20 } =20 } =20
Martin Roe discovered some Br in epoxies and asked for the source. I gave him an answer off line. However I see some other answers and I think that I should add my two cents for everybody:
I have a good friend who worked a long time as microscopist for CIBA before it came Novartis=8A
He told me about 5 years ago that bromine is voluntarily added (for some reasons=8A) in certain types of epoxies. So it is not a contamination, nor a new thing! So he (or his supplier) has probably just changed his epoxy source.
We used some compound sample made of A alloysl bits in epoxy to show to our students how dangerous it can be to work only at low kV in EDS. You have a nice superposition of Al Ka and Br L lines. If the uncertainty on sulfur/molybdenum is quite well known, that on Al/Br confuses quite a lot of people because Br is often unexpected!
Yours
Philippe Buffat
__________________________________________________________________ Philippe Buffat Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) Centre Interdepartemental de Microscopie Electronique Address: EPFL-CIME, Batiment MX-C, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland Phone: +41(21)693 29 83 Fax: +41(21)693 44 01 (Central European Time) E-mail: philippe.buffat-at-epfl.ch, WWW URL http://cimewww.epfl.ch/ ______________________________ Eudora F2.1 ___________________________
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 am looking for a program to convert weight % to Atomic % and vise } versa preferably on a Power Mac.. An old program we have works on pre '90 } Mac's but not on the newer ones. Anyone have any ideas? Thanks- Mike
--
James M. Ehrman Digital Microscopy Facility Mount Allison University Sackville, NB E4L 1G7 CANADA
In a message dated 1/19/99 10:19:06 PM, tbaroni-at-cyllene.uwa.edu.au writes:
} As I understand it I need to perform histgram equalisation } to correct for these differences.
In your case what you should really do is apply a transfer function that is the cumulative histogram of ALL of the images in the stack to each image, not equalize them individually.
UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS School of Process, Environmental and Materials Engineering
POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOW
Applications are invited for this post funded by the EPSRC (Waste Minimisation Managed Programme) to join an active research group working with Dr. Mark A. Keane (Department of Chemical Engineering) and Dr. Rik Brydson (Department of Materials) on the development of supported metal catalysts for the "environmentally friendly" treatment of chlorinated aromatics (see, for example Appl. Catal. B: Environmental 18 (1998) 241-250). The project is a fundamental study of catalytic hydrodechlorination and will involve the preparation, testing and characterisation of a range of catalyst systems with an emphasis on developing an understanding of reaction kinetics and mechanism. The successful applicant should have a PhD in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering or Materials with a strong background= in Heterogeneous Catalysis: some experience in catalyst characterisation is a decided advantage. The post is available from 1 April 1999, or as soon as possible thereafter, for a period of three years
Salary Range: RA1A3 =A3 15,462-=A317,226
Informal Enquiries may be made to Dr. Mark A. Keane , Tel: +44 113 233 2428, E-mail: chemaak-at-leeds.ac.uk
Interested candidates should apply in writing with a detailed CV and the names of two referees to Dr. Mark A. Keane, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
Closing Date: 1 March 1999 __________________________________________________________ Dr. Rik Brydson, University Research Fellow, Electron Optical Unit, Department of Materials, School of Process, Environmental and Materials Engineering University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, U.K.
There is a good shareware product named GraphicWorkshop Pro from Alchemy Mindworks in Ontario, Canada. It is a very good batch converter for Windows XXX.XXX based operating systems. They have a friendly web site to down load a copy:www.midworkshop.com. We of course have no financial interest in this product. Consider the Canadian dollar and our American friends can get it for about 65% of cost which I think is $40.00 if you register it. And we all register shareware, don't we? Jon McGovern J. P. McGovern and Associates jon-at-microscopy.net
available immediately in Department of Neuroscience and Neurology, University of Kuopio.
We are seeking suitably qualified persons to join a progressive multidisciplinary group investigating Alzheimer=92s disease. The experimental projects will investigate the efficacy of estrogen replacement therapy in preventing structural and functional impairment in different animal models of Alzheimer=92s disease.
We are looking for applicants who have experience in at least one of the following specialities:
Histopathology/histochemistry, electron microscopy, autoradiography.
Salary and date of commencement are negotiable.
For further information please contact:
Research Director Paavo Riekkinen, Jr. M.D., PhD. Dept. Neuroscience and Neurology Univ. Kuopio FIN-70211 Kuopio Finland Tel. 358-17-162016 Fax. 358-17-162048 E-mail: paavojr.riekkinen-at-uku.fi
Riitta Miettinen, Ph.D. Dept. Neuroscience and Neurology Univ. Kuopio P.O.Box 1627 FIN-70211 Kuopio FINLAND E-mail: Riitta.Miettinen-at-uku.fi Tel. 358-17-162761 Fax: 358-17-162048
I join John Russ in saying that you do NOT want to apply histogram equalization to each image individually, although I am not quite sure that what he suggested is quite what you want.
I suppose that there may be some differences in exposure between the images for whatever reason. The challenge will be to get the same features to the same level of gray. That is, if you have some light features on a dark background, you always want those light features to be at the same light gray level and the background to be at the same darker gray level. Histogram equalization is definitely NOT the tool you want to use since it will move gray levels depending on their population in the image. It normally increases contrast between some pixels and decreases it between others and hardly gives you a uniform transfer function for all images.
I am not very familiar with Photoshop. I thought the tool you would look for was called something like "levels". I think you would want to primarily use the gamma adjustment to bring two reference features (e.g., light features and dark background) to the same gray levels in all images, then maybe use some tweaking of brightness and contrast to finish the match (per John Mackenzie's recipe). I will leave it to you to figure out which tool to use (histogram or a pixel cursor or ...) to determine when the images are matched. In my own work I do not need a quantitative match, but only a qualitative, visually apparent match. Therefore, I just eyeball a match between one reference image and all the others as I adjust them.
WES
At 10:37 AM 1/20/99 +0800, you wrote: } } Hi all, } } I have a series of se images of a serial sectioned material which I would } like to display as a volume rendered image. I have aligned the images, } using an nih-image macro, however the brightness and contrast differs } between them. As I understand it I need to perform histgram equalisation } to correct for these differences. } } I've noticed photoshop allows the user to load a transfer function using } the "curves" dialog box, but it doesn't give the desired result. } } Is this because the function which you specify is not the cumulative } transfer function based on the reference histogram area?? } } Is there anyone who has done this before? I am using nih-image and } photoshop for these tasks. As for the reconstruction, well any suggestions } there would be apreciated also. } } Thanks } ---------------------------- } Travis Baroni (PhD Student) | } tbaroni-at-cyllene.uwa.edu.au | } The University of Western | } Australia, Nedlands, WA. | } 6907. | } ----------------------------
---------------------------------------------------- Warren E. Straszheim 23 Town Engineering Iowa State University Ames IA, 50011-3232
This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --------------846215E1EFF5EB2068C50004 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Hi, Dear all -
I have an AO Reichert Ultracut and a LKB knifemaker. They have been in a storage for a while and need to be cleaned and lubricated. Does anyone has such experience in lubricating them and can give me some suggestions about what kind of lubricator(s) that I should use and how to do that?
Thank you in advance.
Gang Ning EM Facility Medical College of Wisconsin
--------------846215E1EFF5EB2068C50004 Content-Type: text/x-vcard; charset=us-ascii; name="vcard.vcf" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Description: Card for Gang Ning Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="vcard.vcf"
begin: vcard fn: Gang Ning n: Ning;Gang email;internet: gning-at-mcw.edu x-mozilla-cpt: ;0 x-mozilla-html: FALSE version: 2.1 end: vcard
We have two old Reichert-Jung OMu2 microtomes which are in good working order with one exception - we are in need of a "female" allen key part which is used to tighten the block into the chuck. Does anyone have any they no longer need? Or know where to get one? Or has found a substitute which is easily available?
Thanks in advance,
Pat Hales McGill University Dept. of Anatomy & Cell Biology hales-at-med.mcgill.ca
Hi Joost- you could refer to an article published in Cornea 12(3): 255-260, 1993 (Rock et al.,) we used a modified Karnovsky's 2.5% glut, 2.0% paraform, in a 300-momol, in cacodylate bfr., post fixed in OsO4, dehydrated, embedded in epon.
then using a Mallory's Azure II, methylene-blue followed by a basic fuchsin counter stain protocol we developed a fat and effective method for identifying and differentiating various regions of the cornea. Descemet's membrane stains blue, Bowman's layer stains pink, the collagen of the stroma striated pink & blue, scar tissue blue, and keratocytes blue. staining differences in the various regions are presumably attributed to the proteoglycan content and/or the various collagen types
hope this helps -Mike Rock
On Wed, 20 Jan 1999 J.Bruyntjes-at-voeding.tno.nl-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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Hi there } } Is anyone famillair with good fixation and staining techniques for rat and } chicken eyes. Is Davidson's fluid THE best fixative? } Someone in our lab wants to stain slides in order to examin Desmett's and } Bowman's membrane. Is it possible, to stain these kind of membranes? } } Thanks in advance } } Joost Bruyntjes } TNO Zeist } The Netherlands } }
Dear All, I need to obtain some TEM analytical standards for stainless steel (for example, a standard containing just Ni, Cr, and Fe, in a well characterized composition). I was hoping for something along the lines of Cr ~ 28%, Ni ~22% and Fe ~ 50%. It would be great if I could find a sample that was TEM "ready", so that I don't have to make a new sample. If anyone knows of a source for such a sample, I would be grateful for a reference. Thanks in advance, Dorrance
Does anyone have epifluorescence attachments for a Nikon Optiphot that they wish to sell? I'm looking for a complete epi set-up.
Thanks, Glen
Glen MacDonald Research Scientist Hearing Research Laboratories of the Virginia Merrill Bloedel Hearing Research Center Box 35-7923 University of Washington Seattle, WA 98195-7923 (206) 616-4156 glenmac-at-u.washington.edu
The box said "Requires Windows98 or better.", so I bought a Macintosh.
We have a Microm HM 500 0 sold by Zeiss. It has been very reliable for three years and gives excellent sections with minimal adjustment. The only caveat is the refrigeration system. A compressor was replaced under warranty and recently we experienced a leak of refrigerant. Local refrigeration people can do the work (Zeiss is not licensed to do it). I might add that refrigeration problems are common in this building due to various factors. Larry D. Ackerman Lily & Yuh Nung Jan Laboratories Howard Hughes Medical Institute UCSF, Box 0725, Rm U226 533 Parnassus Ave. San Francisco, CA 94143
I will be receiving a sample consisting of a culture grown on a polycarbonate membrane (Transwell permeable). I need to know any pitfalls working with the membrane! Is this membrane compatible with acetone dehydration? Is it compatible with a Spurrs resin? Does anyone have experience in this area?
Thanks - Sally Burns
Sally Burns Center for Electron Optics B5 Pesticide Research Center (517) 355-5004
I have processed many filter membranes for TEM and SEM. I follow standard procedures with the following changes;
-dehydrate in EtOH, not acetone (eats the polycarbonate) -embed in Epon 812 or equivalent (I use Ted Pella's Eponate 12) -times can be shortened conciderably (Fix 20 min, wash and dehydrate steps 5 min, resin changes around 30 min.) -do a couple more resin changes than normal
I carry out the entire process (including embedment) in a 24 well plate and cut the filters out with a jeweler's saw after polymerization.
Thomas Moninger moninger-at-emiris.iaf.uiowa.edu University of Iowa Central Microscopy Research Facility http://www.uiowa.edu/~cemrf Views expressed are mine.
On Wed, 20 Jan 1999, Sally Burns 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 will be receiving a sample consisting of a culture grown on a } polycarbonate membrane (Transwell permeable). I need to know any pitfalls } working with the membrane! } Is this membrane compatible with acetone dehydration? Is it compatible with } a Spurrs resin? Does anyone have experience in this area? } } Thanks - } Sally Burns } } Sally Burns } Center for Electron Optics } B5 Pesticide Research Center } (517) 355-5004 } } burnssal-at-pilot.msu.edu } }
We have recently acquired a LEO 438 and have need, for safety reasons, to provide small particle (1 micron) filtration at the inlet side of both the roughing and turbo pumps. I believe we can use conventional filters in-line on the roughing pump, but probably cannot afford to restrict flow at the turbo pump inlet. Does anyone have advice or ideas on how we might provide small particle filtration, perhaps via a commercial or custom built free-flow filtering device placed just under the perforated screen at the floor of the chamber. Servicing is a consideration. Also, any advice on filtering the roughing pump would also be much appreciated.
Thank you very much for your consideration.
Bruce Cunningham High Explosives Application Facility (HEAF) Lawrence Livermore Laboratory
-------------------------------------- Bruce Cunningham Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory P.O. Box 808, L-282 Livermore, CA 94550 cunningham1-at-llnl.gov TEL: 510-423-0135 FAX: 510-424-3281
I am looking for the company that makes ACLAR. I need to contact them. I don't need vendors I need the manufacturer of this wonder substance. So if anybody out there knows who it is, please let me know.
Tired of changing my fingerprints with borken slides,
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
} With a good camera for initial camera, the results can be better than any } mid range color camera!! Definitely worth it.
What filter sets would people recommend? And for light microscopy I assume the filters are usually placed out of the focal plane, maybe somewhere near the field diaphram?
Gary Radice 804-289-8107 Department of Biology 804-289-8233 (FAX) University of Richmond gradice-at-richmond.edu Richmond VA 23173
HI I am attempting to examine embrylogical samples of a marine bivalve using SEM. But any containers I have used during the processing proceedure have proved indequate. I need containers which will hold samples down to a size of 30um. I have used filters placed in processing capsules but they are very awkward, and the sample has more often than not been lost during the proceedure. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Jean Raleigh, Marine Zoology Dept., Natioal University Galway Ireland
COMPUTER VIRUS NOW INFECTING HUMANS! Trojan Horse Supervirus Could Be Worse Than AIDS, Warn Docs -- And TWICE As Deadly! by Kevin Creed/Weekly World News
CHICAGO, ILL. -- Concerned scientists say the dreaded "Trojan Horse" computer virus has made the jump to humans -- and the brain-eating bug may soon be sweeping through America, claiming even more human lives than the AIDS epidemic! An unidentified 38-year-old man known only as Patient Zero has been diagnosed with the virus that had been heretofore found only in PCs.
"We've been dreading this day," said noted virologist Dr. Frederick Attingale who made the terrifying diagnosis. "We knew it was only a matter of time. That's how these things work. "At some point, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome -- AIDS -- made the jump from monkeys to man. Now, in a similar way, the Trojan Horse virus has worked its way into the human population. Both viral transmissions were bound to happen sooner or later."
Dr. Attingale will not name the Chicago-area hospital where Patient Zero is being held. But the prognosis is not good. "People whose PCs have been infected know the virus eats away the hard disks and 'nervous systems' before anyone is aware that their computers have been infected.
"I'm afraid the same thing is happening in this man's body."
The patient, a junior executive with a large investment firm, is suffering from nerve spasms, hearing and vision loss and severe deterioration of the parts of the brain that govern memory, reasoning, math and language. His brain and nerves are being literally eaten away.
"There's no known cure and the illness continues to worsen," Dr. Attingale said. "He can barely communicate with us now."
The alarming situation came to light early last month when the patient went to his family physician complaining of headaches and memory lapses.
The doctor, suspecting a virus, referred him to Dr. Attingale.
For more information on this deadly virus, including how it enters the body and interviews with other doctors, pick up the current edition of Weekly World News (1/26/99), at your local supermarket or newsstand! Or better yet, why not subscribe and have it mailed to your home or office!
I have no experience with the Ultracut but I am aware that the surface between the cutting head and the main structure of the LKB Knifemaker (LKB 7801A) must NOT be lubricated. The metals are supposed to provide the correct level of friction to allow glass to be clamped at the correct pressure. So perhaps my message is don't lubricate anything until you are certain.
Malcolm Haswell Electron Microscopy School of Sciences Fleming Building University of Sunderland SUNDERLAND SR1 3SD Tyne and Wear UK
Tel (0191) 515 2872 e-mail: malcolm.haswell-at-sunderland.ac.uk ---------- } From: Gang Ning To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.co
Aclar is made by and can be purchased in bulk from :
Pro Plastics Inc 1190 Sylvan Street P.O. Box 1489 Linden NJ 07036
201-925-5555
Area code may have changed At 04:48 PM 01/20/1999 -0800, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
} With a good camera for initial camera, the results can be better than any } mid range color camera!! Definitely worth it.
What filter sets would people recommend? And for light microscopy I assume the filters are usually placed out of the focal plane, maybe somewhere near the field diaphram?
Gary Radice 804-289-8107 Department of Biology 804-289-8233 (FAX) University of Richmond gradice-at-richmond.edu Richmond VA 23173
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I would appreciate hearing from anyone with an ESEM-FEG. Please respond to me personally as I would like to talk to you re: this instrument.
Thanks, 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
by imo29.mx.aol.com (IMOv18.1) id DMMGa01223; Thu, 21 Jan 1999 09:38:42 -0500 (EST) Message-ID: {cb9380fd.36a73bf2-at-aol.com}
Not only should the knifemaker not be lubricated but all sliding surfaces between the clamping head and pedestal should be periodically cleaned with acetone or alcohol. Any lubrication will attract dirt which will affect the gravity drop of the pins onto the glass,it will also cause the clamping head to move up when pressure is applied to make the break. Many times poor knives can be eliminated by this simple cleaning procedure. It will necessitate removing the clamping head from the pedestal Good luck, Norm Woodside former LKB product specialist
Out of curiosity I mentioned this to a chemist colleague. He indicated that bromine is sometimes added to resins as a flame retardant. In some cases antimony is also added to boost the effect of the bromine. Everett Ramer Federal Energy Technology Center
} } } "Martin J. Roe" {mi596-at-mluri.sari.ac.uk} 01/18/99 07:11am } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Hello fellow listservers, I've recently discovered a problem with a batch of a particular type of cold setting epoxy resin. I have been using this batch of resin on an infrequent basis for about 2 years (and is probably about 4 years old). When I analysed some of the cured resin by microanalysis last week appreciable bromine (Br) was detected as well as the usual chlorine content (Br} Cl). The 'introduction' of the Br is a recent thing because I also analysed some resin (from the same batch) prepared approximately one year ago. The analysis of this showed no Br with Cl the only detectable element present (with the Be window of the EDS detector in place that is). Is it possible therefore for the resin to in some way deteriorate with time and for Br compounds to form? If so, what are the chemical reactions going on here. I'm very certain that the Br is not a contaminant. Also, I should point out that if this is a chemical degradation of the resin then the physical characteristics of the cured resin are normal. I would appreciate any thoughts on the matter. Regards
Martin Roe Macaulay Land Use Research Institute Aberdeen AB15 8QH Scotland United Kingdom
I have a question about the KEVEX 7700 XRF system. We have been trying = for some time to get the output of the unit into a PC through the = printer port. Apparently it can be done and we would like to know if = anyone out there has tried this and what sort of parameters and software = have they used to connect to the 7700 unit. Any help would be greatly = appreciated. Currently all we get from the printer output to the PC via = a hyperterminal link is just garbeld. Thanks in advance.
______________________ Roberto Garcia Senior Analyst, Metallography North Carolina State University Analytical Instrumentation Facility Box 7531, Room 303 EGRC Raleigh, NC 27695-7531 rgarcia-at-unity.ncsu.com
{!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD W3 HTML//EN"} {HTML} {HEAD} {META content=3Dtext/html;charset=3Diso-8859-1 = http-equiv=3DContent-Type} {STYLE} {/STYLE}
{META content=3D'"MSHTML 5.00.0910.1309"' name=3DGENERATOR} {/HEAD} {BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff} {DIV} {FONT size=3D2} I have a question about the KEVEX 7700 XRF system. = We have=20 been trying for some time to get the output of the unit into a PC = through the=20 printer port. Apparently it can be done and we would like to know if = anyone out=20 there has tried this and what sort of parameters and software have they = used to=20 connect to the 7700 unit. Any help would be greatly appreciated. = Currently all=20 we get from the printer output to the PC via a hyperterminal link is = just=20 garbeld. Thanks in advance. {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT size=3D2} ______________________ {BR} Roberto Garcia {BR} Senior = Analyst,=20 Metallography {BR} North Carolina State University {BR} Analytical = Instrumentation=20 Facility {BR} Box 7531, Room 303 EGRC {BR} Raleigh, NC 27695-7531 {BR} {A=20 href=3D"mailto:rgarcia-at-unity.ncsu.com"} rgarcia-at-unity.ncsu.com {/A} {/FONT} {= /DIV} {/BODY} {/HTML}
You can get ACLAR from Allied Signal, Inc. Westwood Road. Pottsville, PA. 17901. The phone number that we have appears to no longer be the correct one but I am sure you can find the number using information.
Good Luck.
--------------------------------------- David McKemy Dept. of Pharmacology/318 University of Nevada School of Medicine Howard Bldg. Rm.#214 Reno, Nevada 89557 Phone: (775) 784-4537 Fax: (775) 784-1620 Email: ddmckemy-at-med.unr.edu
On Wed, 20 Jan 1999, Paula Sicurello 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Hey Boarders, } } I am looking for the company that makes ACLAR. I need to contact } them. I don't need vendors I need the manufacturer of this wonder } substance. So if anybody out there knows who it is, please let me know. } } } Tired of changing my fingerprints with borken slides, } } } 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 routinely refer to two articles regarding this type of SEM prep.
Preparation of Microbiological Specimens for Scanning Electron Microscopy, L.P. Watson, A.E. Mckee, and B.R. Merrell. Scanning Electron Microscopy/1980/II, pages 45-56.
Specimen Preparation Techniques for Aquatic Organisms, T.K. Maugel, D.B. Bonar, W.J. Creegan and E.B. Small. Scanning Electron Microscopy/1980/II, pages 57-77.
Hope this helps, Louie
At 11:16 AM +0000 1/21/99, Jean Raleigh wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Louie Kerr Research and Education Support Coordinator Marine Biological Laboratory 7 MBL Street Woods Hole, MA 02543 508-289-7273 508-540-6902 (FAX)
Soon I may need to study an optical fiber with a periodic refractive index (doped). Since I am just beginning TEM studies, I am hoping that someone may be able to suggest the typical method of observing optical fibers with a TEM (these optical fibers are typically 100-125 microns in diameter). I suspect that thinning the fibers lengthwise may be a possible means, however, I would like to see a reference where optical fibers have been studied...or perhaps similar geometries like biological hair samples (though optical fibers are generally much thinner).
cross-sectional thinning (circular samples) is useless since we need to study period structures along the length of the fiber.
Thanks
__ _-==-=_,-. /--`' \_-at---at-.-- { Tim (TJ) LaFave Jr. `--'\ \ {___/. Department of Physics \ \\ " / University of North Carolina, Charlotte } =\\_/` { Charlotte, NC 28223 ____ /= | \_|/ _' `\ _/=== \___/ (704)547-3392 [x4] `___/ //\./=/~\====\ (704)509-6622 [Hm] \ // / | ===: http://www.iit.edu/~lafatim | ._/_,__|_ ==: __ \/ \\ \\`--| / \\ ---------- +*+ ---------- | _ \\: /==:-\ `.__' `-____/ |--|==: Such that the future be theirs \ \ ===\ :==:`-' to shape and direct. _} \ ===\ /==/ -----------------------------------------------------------------
OK, so we should not lube the knifemaker at the clamping head, but what should we do with ours that squeeks so bad it makes your teeth hurt? Our LKB 7800 has some serious squeeking when you increase the upward pressure for the break (and release it). Can we lube the arm that causes the pressing up motion (the one on the front of the machine)? It's driving us all crazier than we already are. So any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
I was thinking of taking the cover off the knifebreaker and see if I could find any lubrication points, is that a bad thing to do?
Squeeking loudly in Berkeley,
Paula :-)
} Not only should the knifemaker not be lubricated but all sliding surfaces } between the clamping head and pedestal should be periodically cleaned with } acetone or alcohol. Any lubrication will attract dirt which will affect the } gravity drop of the pins onto the glass,it will also cause the clamping head } to move up when pressure is applied to make the break. Many times poor knives } can be eliminated by this simple cleaning procedure. It will necessitate } removing the clamping head from the pedestal } Good luck, } Norm Woodside } former LKB product specialist
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
Does anyone knows where can I get high temperature conductive glue for TEM sample preparation? I need to glue a ceramic sample to Cu grid and Ion-mill it then heat treat to 1000 C in air before TEM observation. Thank you in advance.
Maoxu Qian
**************************** * Maoxu Qian, Ph.D. * * Dept of MSE, box 352120 * * University of Washington * * Seattle, WA 98195 * * mxq-at-u.washington.edu * * (206)616-3973(phone) * * (206)543-3100(fax) * ****************************
This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --------------180495243C352E9EA0670C81 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
I would think that it would be a simple enough issue. I have done similar things in the past. In fact you are probably pretty close to the solution.
It sounds like you probably have a mismatch in the baud rate between the two computers - it would give you garbage. The PC side is fairly easy to change for experimentation while the Kevex side is harder to change. I don't think the old DEC serial cards supported more than 19,200 baud. We had some old printers that required the rate set down to 2400. You could check your printer or Kevex manuals to see if there is any info in there. Otherwise, you could just keep setting the baud rate down on the PC side and reprinting until something sensible comes through.
The specs on the port are usually 8-bit, no parity, 1 stop bit. That should be the same as the default PC setting. Most DEC stuff was setup to use XON/XOFF software handshaking as oppsed to DTR or other hardware handshaking.
Good luck, and please let me know how it works.
WS
At 10:48 AM 1/21/99 -0500, you wrote: } } I have a question about the KEVEX 7700 XRF system. We have been trying for } some time to get the output of the unit into a PC through the printer port. } Apparently it can be done and we would like to know if anyone out there has } tried this and what sort of parameters and software have they used to connect } to the 7700 unit. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Currently all we get } from the printer output to the PC via a hyperterminal link is just garbeld. } Thanks in advance. } } ______________________ } Roberto Garcia } Senior Analyst, Metallography } North Carolina State University } Analytical Instrumentation Facility } Box 7531, Room 303 EGRC } Raleigh, NC 27695-7531 } {mailto:rgarcia-at-unity.ncsu.com} rgarcia-at-unity.ncsu.com
Hello, everyone Is there anyone that has "PC-PDF" JCPDS-ICDD PDF-2 DATABASE files of RuO4 and RuO2 or knows from where we can get these files? We have a very old PC-PDF file that has not been upgraded for several years. I would appreciate any information from anyone.
With best regards, Pipat Prayoonthong Graduate student Materials Science & Engineering Department. Stevens Institute of Technology Hoboken, NJ 07030
This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --------------0625152F5E7A2CB151E1C380 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Greetings Everyone, At one time or another, i have recieved an email from you and am just letting you know my email addy has changed from pclypool-at-sgi.net to claypool-at-serve.com
This email might concern the SX-50 Users group, contacts dealing with a Task8verC Microprobe, or you might just be a personal friend (or all the above hehe).
The following procedure may sound a little obvious, but I imagine you may be facing a rather limited access to all those books and journals, and I would feel really happy if this could help. I do wish you all the best in your EM lab-raising mission!
First, you will have to select smaller, "EM-size", portions of your paraffin-embedded specimens, cut them out and thoroughly deparaffinate. I would recommend at least 2 hours in xylene with frequent changes of xylene and some agitation; you should be able to see when it's all gone. Then several changes of 100% (anhydrous) ethanol, at least 1-1.5 h total time, and then gradually down the ethanol concentrations, like 95-85-70-50, 30 min or more at each step. Rinse 3x5 min in your choice of phosphate or cacodylate buffer, and then osmicate for 1-2 h, 1% OsO4 in the same buffer. Then dehydrate and embed for EM as you normally would.
Needless to say, even with the best original fixation the material will look pityful, but most of those diagnostically significant cell-to-cell junctions, filaments, etc. must still be there.
Best of luck! Sincerely, Vlad.
Vladislav V. Speransky Postdoctoral Research Associate School of Marine Sciences University of Maine 5722 Deering Hall Orono ME 04469-5722 Ph: 207 581 2998 FAX: 207 581 2969 Email: vladis-at-maine.maine.edu
I have a slip that was attached to a roll of ACLAR giving specifications and the following company name and address: Engineered Plastics Specialty Plastic Films Pottsville, PA 17901
I have no knowledge of whether this company still exists. I would guess the roll of ACLAR was 5 years old or more.
Missy Josephson
Eleanor Josephson, DVM, PhD University of Connecticut Health Center Department of Anatomy MC-3405 263 Farmington Ave. Farmington, CT 06030-3405 Ph.(860)679-2463 Fax (860)679-1274 ejosephs-at-neuron.uchc.edu
If you're over 18 you'll want to SEE THIS! LIVE CYBERSEX 24 HOURS A DAY RIGHT ON YOUR COMPUTER SCREEN !!!
CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW:
http://3448153922/
You can watch Them do it all LIVE, talk live and get these gorgeous TEEN models to do anything! You tell them what to do, and they do it HOT YOUNG TEEN GIRLS AND GUYS THOUSANDS O=46 PICTURES AND AVI'S TOO
CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW:
http://3448153922/
*************************************************** To remove yourself from the member mailing list. 1. Go to http://3448153916/remove/remove.cgi and follow instructions provided on web page. THIS IS NOT AN UNSOLICITED EMAIL! YOU HAVE RECEIVED THIS BECAUSE YOU ARE A PAST/PRESENT MEMBER, OR ARE A VISITOR WHO HAS REQUESTED ADDITIONAL IN=46ORMATION ABOUT OUR SITES. OR 1. "REPLY" to: mailto: IIllI11-at-mymail.com 2. Type "Remove" in the Subject field and hit send. Submitting as above will delete your e-mail address from our database. OR
Call: (305) 460-3165 to be removed. ****************************************************
I have not seen a reply to your posting so try this.
Astigmatism in an image of a modern TEM is always down to cleanlyness. I= f you have a gross change in astigmatism, if everything is working correctl= y, it has to be dirt. Lets look at typical symptoms for dirt in a system:-
1. An increase in astigmatism levels due to the charge on the dirt affecting the beam.
2. Beam movement, gradual in one direction as the charge grows then rapid in the return direction as the problem is discharged. When the charge reaches a level sufficient to touch earthed components within the system it discharges, the problem starts all over again.
3. The problem will vary depending upon the number of electrons hitting the area that is charging and their energy. The greater the numb= er of electrons you place in the charging area the faster it will charge. T= he higher the kV the more chance you have of the beam penetrating the contamination and finding an earth; less or no charge. The mode of operation in which you are working will also change the charge rate. In the normal imaging mode the setting of the diffraction lens does not plac= e the beam near the problem area of your coulmn - no noticable astigmatism change in this mode. In the diffraction mode the diffraction lens focal length is dramatically changed hence electrons in larger numbers strike t= he problem area and we see what happens; trouble.
There is only one solution as the problem will get worse - strip the column. I am sorry for the engineer because this is a rare move on a modern machine BUT IT MUST BE DONE!
How to make friends with service engineers this is not, but it is THE onl= y solution!
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
Here is the method used by the pathology people around here.
- Remove tissue of interest from parafin embedded specimen, cut in 1-2 mm cubes. - Leave the specimens in fresh 1% OsO4 in XYLENE for 1,5 - 2 hrs. - Wash in xylene 2 times 10 min - One part resin(we use Epon-Araldite) + two parts xylene for 1 hr. - 1 part resin + 1 part xylene for 1 hr. - Resin for 30 min to 1 hour without a lid on the glass
All this steps on a carousel.
Embedd as usual, but keep the specimens in the resin over night before polymerization.
Good luck!
Best regards Randi Olsen
Randi Olsen Department of Electron Microscopy Faculty of Medicine University of Tromso MH-Breivika N-9037 TROMSO NORWAY
HI I am attempting to examine embrylogical samples of a marine bivalve using SEM. But any containers I have used during the processing proceedure have proved indequate. I need containers which will hold samples down to a size of 30um. I have used filters placed in processing capsules but they are very awkward, and the sample has more often than not been lost during the proceedure. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Jean Raleigh, Marine Zoology Dept., Natioal University Galway Ireland
For the SEM preparations of spores and other small samples we put nets made of metal or nylon, meshs 20 =B5m, in our holder for CPD. For very small things, e.g. bacteria, zoospores, we introduce the samples with syringe and needle into LUMitainers. Lumitainers are little balls D=3D2,5-3,5 mm made of a kind of cellulose. They are useful for both SEM and TEM. In Germany you can buy them by Plano W. Planet GmbH, Marburgerstr. 90, 35043 Marburg, Fax 06425-51173. They are not cheap! I do not know where to get it abroad? Good luck! Anne Heller _____________________ Dr. Anne Heller Institut fuer Botanik (210) Universitaet Hohenheim Garbenstr.30 D-70593 Stuttgart Tel.0049-711-459-2180 Fax 0049-711-459-3355
Try folding small (10 x 10 mm) envelopes from lens tissue. Close with a small staple. These envelopes are permeable enough for processing. They work very well for pollen and erythrocyte samples.
Some types of lens tissue have rather large pores - I have seen holes up to 30 microns in some makes of tissue - check yours before using.
} I am attempting to examine embrylogical samples of a marine bivalve } using SEM. But any containers I have used during the processing } proceedure have proved indequate. I need containers which will hold } samples down to a size of 30um. I have used filters placed in processing } capsules but they are very awkward, and the sample has more often than not } been lost during the proceedure. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. } Jean Raleigh, Marine Zoology Dept., Natioal University Galway Ireland
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
I was interested in the use of osmium in xylene that you described. Does the tissue blacken as in a water-solution or does it simply become yellowish/brown? I am curious because the latter is what happens in the absence of water during freeze-substitution using e.g. 1% in acetone at -80 *C, although the colour change probably happens when warming up from low temperature.
Hello. I am looking for a company that is willing to build optical u-scope objectives with wavelength specific AR coatings. All leads will be greatly appreciated.
The Advanced Materials Processing and Analysis Center (AMPAC) at the University of Central Florida will be sponsoring two TEM specimen preparation short courses in conjunction with the FL AVS/FSM conference and vendor participation.
AMPAC's UCF/Cirent Materials Characterization Facility is offering two short courses in March.
"Tripod Polisher" will be offered March 12 and 13 instructor: Ron Anderson, IBM co-sponsored by UCF and South Bay Technology
"Focused Ion Beam Specimen Preparation" will be offered March 18 and 19. Instructors: Fred Stevie, Lucent Technologies and Lucille Giannuzzi, UCF co-sponsored by FEI and Micro Optics
Both courses will be held at the MCF located at 12443 Research Parkway, Suite 305, Orlando in Research Park {1 mile from the UCF campus. The registration fee is $750 per course or $1200 for both courses. Fees include course materials and meals (breakfast/lunch/breaks) all days. Registration deadline is March 1 and space is limited.
Additional information and registration forms for all of these events can be found at the AMPAC website: http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~ampac
Please contact Dr. Giannuzzi below for any additional questions.
We look forward to seeing you in March!
******************************************************************* Lucille A. Giannuzzi, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Dept. of Mechanical, Materials, and Aerospace Eng., University of Central Florida, PO Box 162450, 4000 Central Florida Blvd., Orlando, FL 32816-2450 USA phone (407) 823-5770 fax (407) 823-0208 email lag-at-mail.ucf.edu
Director, UCF/Cirent Materials Characterization Facility, 12443 Research Parkway, Suite 305 Orlando, FL 32826 phone (407) 275-4354,5,6 fax (407) 275-4321 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Good judgement comes from experience.
Experience comes from making bad judgement."
Mark Twain ********************************************************************
The 2nd Annual AMPAC Golf Scholarship Invitational will be held on Sunday, March 14, at the Ekana Golf Club in Oviedo, Florida, in conjunction with the FL AVS/FSM conference. The tournament starts at 8:00 a.m. Entry fee is $135 per player or $500 per foursome. There will be lots of prizes and food! Hole sponsorships (both corporate and individual) are also available. A corporate donation of $1000 will also include 4 golfers. A corporate donation of $500 will include 2 golfers. Individual hole sponsors may donate $100. Deadline for entries is February 26. The tournament is limited to the first 80 golfers so register today! Proceeds will benefit graduate student fellowships in Materials Science and Engineering at UCF.
Additional information and registration forms for all of this event can be found at the AMPAC website: http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~ampac
We look forward to seeing you in March!
******************************************************************* Lucille A. Giannuzzi, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Dept. of Mechanical, Materials, and Aerospace Eng., University of Central Florida, PO Box 162450, 4000 Central Florida Blvd., Orlando, FL 32816-2450 USA phone (407) 823-5770 fax (407) 823-0208 email lag-at-mail.ucf.edu
Director, UCF/Cirent Materials Characterization Facility, 12443 Research Parkway, Suite 305 Orlando, FL 32826 phone (407) 275-4354,5,6 fax (407) 275-4321 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Good judgement comes from experience.
Experience comes from making bad judgement."
Mark Twain ********************************************************************
This is easy and cheap to make: _ /_____\ _ | | | | | | | | {-- BEEM capsule |_|_____ |_| \ / ^ ^ |____|__ plankton netting
(I hope the ascii "art" survives the 'net...)
Cut out the center of the lid of a BEEM capsule, leaving a ring that still snaps onto the body of the capsule as usual. Close the lid, trapping a taut bit of plankton netting under it.
Cut off the lid from a second BEEM capsule and cut out its center as above. Cut of the pyramidal end from the first BEEM capsule, and snap the cut-off end over the new end of this capsule, again trapping a bit of plankton netting.
The netting comes in various sizes, so you can get one small enough for your needs, but use the largest size mesh you can to ease fluid flow.
Problem: when changing solutions before drying, the mesh will trap air. The best way to deal with this is to leave the 2nd end of the capsule open, and place the capsule mesh-end down in a 4mL Wheaton vial or similar. Change solutions by sucking out the old solution from the vial outside the capsule, and pipetting in the new solution into the open end of the capsule. Don't fill the capsule/vial completely, or the specimens might float out into the vial.
When ready to dry, snap on the 2nd lid with netting, suck some of the final fluid change into the capsule so there is no air bubble, then CPD.
I've also dried marine gastropod larvae from HMDS, no CPD with good results. These capsules work well for that also, and don't need the 2nd lid then.
Phil
} I am attempting to examine embrylogical samples of a marine bivalve } using SEM. But any containers I have used during the processing } proceedure have proved indequate. I need containers which will hold } samples down to a size of 30um. I have used filters placed in processing } capsules but they are very awkward, and the sample has more often than } not been lost during the proceedure. } Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. } Jean Raleigh, } Marine Zoology Dept., } Natioal University Galway } Ireland
****be famous! send in a tech tip or question*** Philip Oshel Technical Editor, Microscopy Today PO Box 620068 Middleton, WI 53562 (608) 833-2885 oshel-at-terracom.net
Jean Raleigh wrote: ============================================= I am attempting to examine embrylogical samples of a marine bivalve using SEM. But any containers I have used during the processing proceedure have proved indequate. I need containers which will hold samples down to a size of 30um. I have used filters placed in processing capsules but they are very awkward, and the sample has more often than not been lost during the proceedure. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. ============================================= Have you tried what are called "Microporous Specimen Capsules"? They are available from SPI as well as several other of the main suppliers to the microscopy and histology market. They come in three pore sizes, the smallest being 30 um. They were designed and engineered just for your kind of application.
As the pores get smaller and smaller, the exchange times of fluids during the processing becomes longer. However, in this case patience can be a virtue since at 30 um, we believe these capsules to be far superior to the alternatives. And of course, 30 um entities are contained within the volume of the capsule.
Disclaimer: SPI Supplies is a supplier of these microporous capsules and would like to see their use increased! More information about these particular capsules are available 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: www.2spi.com ############################ ==================================================
I am looking for a cpu-based aid for teaching crystallography at the undergraduate level.
Is anyone in ListLand familiar with CaRIne Crystallography software from France? This is popular in our chemistry dept., but I'm wondering whether other packages exist with comparable (or superior) libraries and algorithms to demonstrate 3D structures, rotate them, make substitutions, correlate structural data with XRD or CBED data, etc, etc.
You can reply to me off-list. If others are interested, I can summarize responses.
Thx, all--
Ann Hein Lehman, EM Facility Mgr Trinity College, Hartford, CT v 860-297-4289 f 860-297-2538 email: ann.lehman-at-exchange.cc.trincoll.edu
Hello to you all! Thanks to everyone for kindly responding to my recent enquiry about the Br in epoxy resins; I apologise for not responding sooner. Your answers were informative and on the basis of most of the suggestions, I favour the idea that the Br is from the resin itself and is not from an external i.e. contaminant source. It appears that Br is added by manufacturers to some types of epoxies. With regard to my particular resin, the company I got it from has still to get back to me. Regards
Hi everybody! I am looking for a used EDS, in good conditions, for installation on Jeol SEM. Any offer? Please inform price and I will estimate the transport & handling costs. Thanks in advance, Sincerely, Nelson Fava/Geosciences Institute/U. Brasilia, Brazil. MIcroprobe CAMECA/SX50#359 and SEM Lab.
3 D imaging of in vitro bio samples is a young technology with many new and exciting facets.
For example: The university of Linz Austria has made great strides in both 1- single molecule fluorescence and in 2- images characterizing the antibody antigen binding forces
Workshop beginning next Week end. See Web: http//:www.molec.com/linz
George
-----Original Message----- } From: James Pawley {jbpawley-at-facstaff.wisc.edu}
Hi Folks,
I was quite surprised that I had the only listing in answer to the call o= f Petra Wahlbring (with an EM912) who had problems of dirt in the TEM imagi= ng system!
Techniques for the identification and positioning of contamination within=
an EM column should be part of the general knowledge of every EM Unit. A= re there people who would like to take on a little more in terms of EM maintenance? Eight years ago we took the Royal Microscopical Society course "Monitoring and Maintaining the Electron Microscope" to Australia and it now runs each October at the University of Sydney, it has also tak= en place in South Africa and Hong Kong.
If there is a demand in the United States, and an organisation who feel they could host such a course, we would be pleased to help.
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
Thought I'd send out the responses to my post regarding aperture contamination in a VPSEM operated in the high vac mode.
I want to thank everyone who responded. Suggestions covered both improper sample preparation and microscope design problems due to using it in the high vac mode. I have passed the suggestions on and encouraged the SEM lab to contact me if they arrive at a solution so I could post it to the listserver.
Also if any one wants to contact an individual listed below, drop me an email and I can provide their address.
Lou
----- Harry Ekstrom wrote:
So, presumably, the signal is attenuated so much that simply by replacing the final apertures...the problem goes away? Is the inside of the chamber clean? ie Any contamination possibly from the diffusion pump? Other possibilities are outgassing samples causing contamination or a vacuum leak. How is the filament life? ---- Charles Garber wrote:
If these are semiconductor products, unless they are looking at photo resist , there should not be anything to really crud up their column or their apertures.
The only time I have seen this happen is when people were not cleaning the aperture holder and insertion rod properly and contamination was migrating down to the apertures and contaminating them.
The discover of this phenomenon was the basis of the Zaluzec patent and the plasma cleaning interest.
If the vacuum system is acceptable, then you might want to suggest an extra special cleaning of the aperture holder and insertion mechanism. I don't want you to think that I am suggesting this in order to sell them a plasma cleaner. Perhaps this might be of sufficient interest to Nestor Zaluzec at Argonne that your friend could pay him some fee to actually test out if doing a plasma cleaning of his insertion mechanism and aperture holder assembly actually would lead to a reduced contamination rate.
I could of course be wrong about this so you might want to ask Nestor what he thinks of my suggestion. But I think that at Argonne they do have some mechanism for helping industrial problems in that kind of a situation.
------ Steve Chapman wrote:
Dirty final apertures must be down to problems with the gas from the specimen or specimen chamber.
1. Could they use a bigger aperture without any problems? Most people do not push the instrument to its limit so the "normal apertures" could be too small for the application. A cure rather than a prevention!
2. If the specimen chamber has become highly contaminated try this. Pump down the microscope and use an industrial hot air (hair) dryer on ALL the metal areas. The vacuum will almost certainly fall back but as long as you are not trying to heat up an area right by an "O" ring this is what you should expect from the outgasing. Get the chamber hot is the secret.
3. Use an inflow of dry nitrogen gas to cut down the filth that may enter from the environment.
4. Check the rotary pump fluid and its efficiency?
5. What is the vacuum level, have all the LV inlet systems closed correctly?
---- Robert Foglia wtote:
I used to work for a company called High Yield Technology and they were selling an InSitu particle monitoring probe sensor, which could be used in high vacuum. I know they had developed an application for a Hitachi SEM which enabled the user to real time monitor the cleanliness of their system. They initially requested this sensor because they were seeing large amounts of contamination within their system, and the probe sensor was used to monitor while they cycled different valves and moved the robotics around (the robotic arm was scraping). The company is located in Silicon Valley and they might be an option to explore. By the way, they usually place the sensor on the exhaust port in order to get as close to the wafer as possible.
------
John Arnott wrote:
Based on your message concerning the contaminated aperture, my feeling is that the problem probably rests somewhere other than the aperture itself. But since there is the slightest possibility that there might be a problem with the aperture perhaps we can assist you. Ladd produces the vast majority of apertures/microholes used in the United States and the aperture you have may very will be a Ladd aperture. To make sure there is no residual contamination on an aperture we have a post production protocol that is designed to eliminate any contamination that results during production. In fact we have some apertures/microholes used in fluid and gas control that are required to be absolutely contamination free. We have a protocol to ensure that. It is also important that an aperture be shipped or stored in a glass or non-contaminating vial and that the aperture surface should not touch tissue or even lint free cloth. We would be glad to examine the aperture to see if the contamination was a result of packaging, handling or the production process. Please contact us if you if you wish us to do that.
----- Thomas C. Isabell wrote
Regarding the cleaning of SEM apertures, have you considered plasma cleaning?? We have had great success in removing the aperture strip from the microscope, plasma cleaning it in our Model 1020 Plasma Cleaner, and replacing it in the scope. Some of our results were published in a recent MRS proceedings - MRS Symp. Proc. Volume 523, pp 31-38. If you are interested in a copy, I could send one your way. Plasma cleaning returns the aperture strips to their "as new" state and eliminates the need to constantly replace them.
To take this one step further, if the apertures are indeed getting dirty because of dirty specimens, our plasma cleaner has also been shown to effectively clean specimens prior to insertion into the microscope. Some of these results are also shown in the aforementioned MRS Proceedings. Our instrument allows not only the cleaning of the specimen, but also the specimen stub, and if needed, the specimen stage.
If you have any further questions about the technique or our instruments, please do not hesitate to contact me. Additional information can be found on our website, at www.fischione.com .
------ Lisa Montanaro wrote:
There are several reasons why the final aperture may be getting dirty on a variable pressure SEM, and why this may be more noticeable on semiconductor samples. Several causes contribute to contamination within SEM chambers. If this system has been used for any other analysis other than semiconductor, at low vac modes, residues from prior analysis may be lining the chamber walls - these are difficult to remove even by baking the chamber out. Additionally, this system probably has oil-cooled pumps - the deleterious effect of backstreaming oils into chamber which "gums" onto the final aperture is well established, but can be diminished with a strategically located dry N2 purge port in the sample exchange chamber. Mounting media is also of concern - since most conductive paints outgas, these vapors can also contaminate the F.A. quickly, especially if the material is not exceedingly well dried. Simple cleanliness may also be the culprit - by handling a metal sample fixture with bare hands, oils and sweats are deposited on the fixture. These deposits love to attach to the F.A. (and cold tip of EDS detectors too!) As most semiconductor analysis requires fairly high magnification, and often lower KeV, these problems are exacerbated. I've delt with these and many other problems concerning the optimal performance of SEM's with semiconductor materials, and would be pleased to look over his system for performance improvements. Let me know if I may be of assistance!
----- Randy Nestor wrote:
I'll take a stab at the problem. Most of these types of SEM's have vacuum gradients from the chamber to the gun, even when run in the "normal" mode. The worst vacuum is in the chamber, the best in the gun. If your friend has any outgassing of the sample, the contaminants are proalby finding their way to the final aperature. It seems these apts are one way of controlling vacuum levels in different parts of the scope. We have seen similar problems with our Hitachi 2460N. What scope does your friend have?
-----
Ronald Vane wrote:
I have given the following advice to several users of variable pressure SEM who dirty microscopes and contamination, and they all said it cured the problem.
Don't leave it in high Vacuum mode all the time. Some variable pressure SEM are very dirty due to backstreaming at high vacuum. They are designed for low vacuum not high vacuum. By placing the system into low vacuum mode, the chamber is placed into viscous flow vacuum dynamics which stops backstreaming and purges out contaminants. Try leaving it in low vacuum mode overnight for a month and check the results. --- Senior Electron Microscope Specialist Room 101 Department of Geological Sciences University of Missouri Columbia, MO 65211 (573) 882-4777 (573) 882=5458 fax www.missouri.edu/~geosclmr/ebaf.html
To : scientist in MSA I'm a graduate student at Electronic Ceramics Lab. Dept. of Ceramic engineering Yonsei University. I've investigated electron diffraction of gas clusters in Korea Institute of Science and Technology. Please let me know electron-atomic scattering factor of In, Zn, and, Ar. Thank you for your effort.
Sung Han p.s. my e-mail address is pibhan-at-kistmail.kist.re.kr
At least for the specimens I happened to deal with so far (vertebrate tissues, cell culture, bacteria, microalgae), the material normally will not really blacken until you wash and start dehydrating it AFTER osmication in traditional aqueous OsO4 solutions. While in aqueous OsO4, it will remain brownish. (Unless, of course, you are using that simultaneous, single solution glutaraldehyde/OsO4 fixation, or a reducing buffer like PIPES, and have passed the time when it all turns black...)
The explanation used to be that, at the stage of osmication, while some of the OsO4, indeed, oxidizes nonsaturated lipids, etc., a lot of it simply dissolves in the lipids of the specimen as nonreduced OsO4. Then, say, the ethanol reduces that specifically accumulated OsO4, to form the so called "osmium black".
As for making FRESH solutions of OsO4 in xylene (or CCl4, etc.), I would just never have a spare OsO4 ampule (and enough paraffine blocks to EM-reevaluate) to try that! :-)
Sincerely, Vlad.
Vladislav V. Speransky Postdoctoral Research Associate School of Marine Sciences University of Maine 5722 Deering Hall Orono, ME 04469-5722 Ph: 207 581 2998 FAX: 207 581 2969 Email: vladis-at-maine.maine.edu
I'm trying to adapt the TUNEL procedure of labeling cleaved DNA in apoptotic cells for TEM level observation. Basically I just want to rework it to utilize colloidal gold and localize the tagged 3'-OH ends of the degraded DNA. TUNEL has been done for several years at the LM level, but I've only come up with a handful of studies that successfuly nailed it with plastic embedded tissues and gold conjugates... and of those few if any seem to be A+ work (sometimes the specificity of the labelling looks a bit sketchy.) Anyone out there have any experience with this? I'm using a line of chronic myelogenous leukemia cells that has a well characterized apoptotic response to etoposide... previous ultrastructural studies show classic apoptotic changes. Any input will be appreciated.
I'm interested in finding out if there are any variable pressure SEMs available for paid use in the NY/NJ area. Specifically, I'm interested in doing some long-term imaging of large, uncoated specimens at very low mags (10X and below).
Many thanks in advance.
Best regards,
Angela
--------------------------------------------- Angela V. Klaus
Manager, Core Microscopy Facility American Museum of Natural History Central Park West at 79th Street New York, NY 10024-5192 USA
www.coleoptera.org is working now, please be so kind and send me your comments. There is also large index of entomologist who worked or working on Tenebrionidae...
I apologise for crossposting.
Keep care and be of good cheer.
Regards
Vratislav Richard Eugene Maria John Baptiste of Bejsak (Bayshark)-Collorado-Mansfeld
Coleoptera - Australia, Tenebrionidae of World (incl. Lagriinae, Alleculinae)
Temporally home address: 32 Girrawheen Ave. Kiama NSW 2533 Australia e-mail: vratislav-at-bigfoot.com ricardo-at-ans.com.au (before Ricardo-at-compuserve.com and ricardo-at-login.cz )
Only after the last tree has been cut down, only after the last river has been poisoned, only after the last fish has been caught, only then will you find that money can not be eaten.' CREE INDIAN PROPHECY.
I have received a letter asking if I knew of anyone who would donate two used light microscopes for use by clinics in northern Burma. The doctors there are currently using instruments with cracked lenses and no light source and have a desperate need for a better instrument.
If you have a microsacope you could donate please contact me privately and I can give you the details.
Probably the microscopes should have an oil objective and a built-in light source though the latter is not absolutely essential.
We are working with stereo microscope. We are more concern about the ope= rator health of fatigue after peeping into the microscope. The color temp= erature is about 3200K to 3950K. Anyone out there can suggest how long ca= n one (normal person) looks into the microscope without causing fatigue ?= We are now proposing for every 2 hours of looking into a stereo microsco= pe, an operator will rest for 10 minutes. Anyone make any research to fin= d out these ? We do not want our operator to experience epilepsy. Please help. Lim Hian Ho Senior Marketing And Application Engineer Wisma QES, No.6 Jalan USJ 9/5P, UEP Subang Jaya, 47620 Selangor, West Malaysia Tel : 603-7241188 ext 207 Fax: 603-7244488 e-mail : hhlim-at-qes.po.my
Hi everybody in microworld! I am looking for a second hand EDS, simple or equiped with an image soft, to attach to a JEOL SEM. Any offer? Thanks in advance, Sincerely, Nelson Fava. EPMA CAMECA SX50 Lab. Geosciences Institute/U. Brasilia/Brazil.
I am interested in using backscatter elelctron imaging to evaluate the distribution of iron in 1 um plastic sections of biological material. My intent is to provide an independent measure of the distribution of iron in my samples and compare this distribution with the distribution of iron as evidenced through use of the ferrocyanide reaction on adjacent sections. Any comments on the likelihood of success of such an endeavor and the pitfalls of using BEI for sectioned material would be appreciated.
Thank you very much,
WB Jaeckle
============================== Will Jaeckle Department of Biology Illinois Wesleyan University P.O. Box 2900 Bloomington, IL 61702-2900 TELE: 309-556-3779 FAX: 309-556-3864 EMAIL: wjaeckle-at-titan.iwu.edu =============================
Hi everybody in microworld! I am looking for a second hand EDS, simple or equiped with an image soft, to attach to a JEOL SEM. Any offer? Thanks in advance, Sincerely, Nelson Fava. EPMA CAMECA SX50 Lab. Geosciences Institute/U. Brasilia/Brazil.
Having been a subscriber to this list for half a year now, I'm convinced that someone can help me with the following problem. I want to use heparin conjugated with gold, without any "bridge" such as albumin in between, but I cannot find any commercial source. Since I'm a beginner in the gold business, is there any good recepy for the preparation of heparin-gold?
In a message dated 99-01-26 05:11:00 EST, hhlim-at-qes.po.my-at-sparc5.microscopy.com writes:
{ { Anyone out there can suggest how long can one (normal person) looks into the microscope without causing fatigue ? We are now proposing for every 2 hours of looking into a stereo microscope, an operator will rest for 10 minutes. } }
Lim,
I do not have any research on the subject, but the two most common causes of fatigue are: (1) eyestrain and (2) the physical strain on the neck, upper back and arms from staying in one position for such a long time. As far as eyestrain, I think your proposal for two hour blocks of time is realistic.
You don't mention the type of microscope, but if it is a fairly modern one you can probably obtain a tilting "ergotube" for viewing, so the operator can find the most comfortable position and adjust the viewing angle as needed. If this is not possible, you can also get an ergonomic table that can be raised and lowered either mechanically or via a motor. You can place the scope on the table and adjust the height to suit the operators.
You might also consider putting a video system on the microscope so the operator can choose to either look through the eyepieces or at a high resolution monitor. There are also video inspection stations that can take the place of the microscope entirely.
Good luck to you.
Best regards,
Bob ****************************** Robert (Bob) Chiovetti, Ph.D. President Microimaging Technologies, Inc. Tucson, Arizona USA Tel./Fax (520) 546-4986 rchiovetti-at-aol.com Manufacturers' Representatives Systems Integrators Analog & Digital Imaging Systems Clinical, Research & Industrial Microscopy Cytology/Histology/Pathology/EM *******************************
I thought the "gold standard" for apoptosis is the ultrastructural changes that can be seen by TEM and that the DNA labeling was developed in order to view apoptosis/vs necrosis at the light level-over a larger area of tissue? At least that is the idea I've gotten from articles that I have read. Could someone please clarify this? Thanks in advance.
Karen Pawlowski Sr. Research. Assoc. UT Southwestern Med. Ctr. PhD candidate, UT Dallas
On Mon, 25 Jan 1999, Doug 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 trying to adapt the TUNEL procedure of labeling cleaved DNA in } apoptotic cells for TEM level observation. Basically I just want to rework } it to utilize colloidal gold and localize the tagged 3'-OH ends of the } degraded DNA. TUNEL has been done for several years at the LM level, but } I've only come up with a handful of studies that successfuly nailed it with } plastic embedded tissues and gold conjugates... and of those few if any seem } to be A+ work (sometimes the specificity of the labelling looks a bit } sketchy.) } Anyone out there have any experience with this? I'm using a line of } chronic myelogenous leukemia cells that has a well characterized apoptotic } response to etoposide... previous ultrastructural studies show classic } apoptotic changes. Any input will be appreciated. } } Doug Matthews } } }
We offer the 1.4 nm Nanogold=AE gold cluster label with several reactivities for covalently labeling biomolecules. If you can selectively oxidise the terminal reducing sugar of heparin to give an aldehyde residue, it should react with Mono-amino-Nanogold=AE (you then reduce the resulting Schiff base and purify the conjugate by gel filtration). Alternatively, if you can selectively expose an amino- group, you can conjugate this with Mono-Sulfo-NHS-Nanogold=AE.
Protocols for using these reagents are posted on our web site (http://www.nanoprobes.com/Inf2021.html and http://www.nanoprobes.com/Inf2025.html). I hope this helps,
Rick Powell Nanoprobes, Incorporated
} } Dear all, } } Having been a subscriber to this list for half a year now, I'm convinced } that someone can help me with the following problem. } I want to use heparin conjugated with gold, without any "bridge" such as } albumin in between, but I cannot find any commercial source. Since I'm a } beginner in the gold business, is there any good recepy for the preparation } of heparin-gold? } } Thanks in advance! } } Anne
****************************************************************** * NANOPROBES, Incorporated | US Toll-free: (877) 808-2101 * * 25 East Loop Road, Suite 113 | Tel: (516) 444-8815 * * Stony Brook, NY 11790-3350, | Fax: (516) 444-8816 * * USA | rpowell-at-mail.lihti.org * * * * NOW EASY TO FIND ON THE WEB: http://www.nanoprobes.com * ******************************************************************
Hi everybody in microworld! I am looking for a second hand EDS, simple or equiped with an image soft, to attach to a JEOL SEM. Any offer? Thanks in advance, Sincerely, Nelson Fava. EPMA CAMECA SX50 Lab. Geosciences Institute/U. Brasilia/Brazil.
Hi everybody in microworld! I am looking for a second hand EDS, simple or equiped with an image soft, to attach to a JEOL SEM. Any offer? Thanks in advance, Sincerely, Nelson Fava. EPMA CAMECA SX50 Lab. Geosciences Institute/U. Brasilia/Brazil.
The Science of Biological Specimen Preparation for Microscopy
Edited by Marek Malecki and Godfried M. Roomans
Proceedings of the 14th Pfefferkorn Conference, Belleville, IL
Hardbound book with 31 papers; 466 + xii pages. Table of Contents available on request.
Published by and available from: Scanning Microscopy Intl., Box 66507, AMF O'Hare (Chicago), IL 60666-0507= , USA FAX: (847) 985-6698 / E.mail: 73211.647-at-compuserve.com
----
BOOK REVIEW (published in January 1999 issue of the Journal of Biomedical=
Optics; vol 4 pages 191-192):
Advance in our knowledge of the molecular organization of living material=
rests on two kinds of technological development: (1) Microscope instrumentation (2) Specimen preparation. This includes new techniques=
appropriate for a specific mode of microscopy, and information on any structural alterations produced during such specimen preparation.
The present volume contains the proceedings of the 14th Pfefferkorn Conference organized by Scanning Microscopy International and dedicated t= o the late Prof. G.E. Pfefferkorn.
The organizors and editors of this conference brought together 31 leading=
scientists in this field from the USA, Europe and Japan, to present and discuss new techniques to prepare biological specimens for microscopy. =
Discussions with a panel of reviewers are added to each paper. There is not space for a detailed discussion of each paper. I shall try to indica= te the general substance of the contributions.
In general, three unique features of this book are worth stressing.
The first, it reflects current trends in science towards interdisciplinar= y approaches in solving important biological questions. An essential part = of incorporating microscopy into these interdisciplinary approaches is development of reporter molecules which will have features precisely determined in biochemistry and molecular biology labs and which will rema= in stable in changing environment of living cells being labeled for various modes of microscopy. Chapters by Heinfeld - nanogold, Kessels - boronate= d antibodies, Malecki - organo-metallic ligands, and Swartz - fluorescent derivatives of proteins are concerned with the development of such new probes which are based upon covalent bonds, therefore they can serve as reliable markers for structures of interest. Moreover, chemically define= d features can be translated into their functional architecture e.g., as shown for atomic force microscopy in the chapter by Woodward and Zasadzinski or for life time imaging by Lakowicz. The detailed protocols=
will allow an investigator to have them easily modified for a particular new application. This book also demonstrates how fruitful this interdisciplinary approach can be e.g., as demonstrated in chapters by DeBault and Gu, Malecki, and Nuovo, polymerase chain reaction developed f= or DNA amplification in molecular biology labs can be modified to determine morphological localization of selected sequences. The book clearly demonstrates, that in order to solve a biological question, it is nearly impossible to categorize approaches and restrain an investigator to traditional research techniques. To the contrary, the interdisciplinary approaches create backgrounds and precedents for breaking the boundaries = of traditional and specialized areas of science and opening new possibilitie= s.
The second, this book is also an attempt toward integrated microscopy. =
While many already published books were dedicated to very specialized are= as of one kind of microscopy, this one stands out as an eclectic (in a positive sense), but comprehensive review of the most recent developments=
in various areas of microscopy. This is particularly close to my scientific preferences, since I promoted this approach for many years. =
Integrated microscopy, allows us to overcome technical limitations of one=
kind of microscopy alone e.g., light microscopy of a living cell is limit= ed by resolution ~250 nm, while electron microscopy having atomic level of resolution can be pursued only on frozen or fixed cells, therefore studyi= ng the same cells with both types of microscopy creates an opportunity to study living cell phenomena at the molecular level. This approach is elegantly exemplified in the chapters by Malecki, Peachey et al., Ralston=
and Ploug. It also demonstrates how beneficial and cross-fertilizing thi= s integrating approach can be e.g., in the chapters by Lyubchenko where a technique of functional modifications of substrate surface used in TEM an= d SEM, now finds new applications in AFM. These chapters create not only a= n excellent starting point for a reader, but also collecting many other techniques in one book, opens for an investigator a compendium of choices= . =
The newest developments in specimen preparation for two-photon excitation=
fluorescence microscopy, atomic force microscopy, life-time imaging, ener= gy filtering transmission electron microscopy, etc. are all covered in this one volume. Therefore, scientists attempting to solve a life sciences problem with tools of modern microscopy can make a choice from the vast variety of techniques and examples presented in this book. The detailed hands-on specimen preparation protocols will guide them through. The discussions with the reviewers will provide them with the critical evaluation of choices.
The third, the book paves the road for future developments in microscopy.= =
The chapters and discussions with the reviewers, fairly define current technical limitations of various modes of microscopy and suggest possible=
ways towards overcoming these difficulties. In many cases, authors clear= ly state the directions of their future research. Therefore, not only it is=
updated information concerned with the status-quo, but also a proposal fo= r future research.
Specifically, the first group of papers deals with methods to study chromatin and nucleic acids. In the first paper M. Malecki describes new=
methods of gene transfer, which were developed based upon incorporation o= f reporter molecules allowing us imaging of cellular pathways in living cells, and in cryo-immobilized cells by energy filtered TEM from the cell=
surface to the chromatin. G.V. Childs describes methods to identify mRNA=
and proteins in the same cell, in tissue sections. L.E. De Bault and J. = Gu present detailed protocols for in situ hybridization, in situ transcripti= on and in situ polymerase chain reaction. M. Thiry developed the in situ terminal transferase - immunogold technique to pinpoint specific nucleic acid regions in thin sections. Scanning probe microscopy is represented = by five contributions. Hydration Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (Heim et al.= ) is based on conductivity of surface adsorbed water molecules and can imag= e hydrophilic insulators and biological specimens such as collagen IV molecules, TMV, and cryo-sectioned bovine tendon.
For atomic force microscopy imaging of macromolecules, a strong attachmen= t to the substrate is essential. Lyubchenko et al. show that treatment of mica with aminopropyltriethoxy- silane will hold DNA in place for imaging=
even in water. They also introduced other chemically reactive mica surfaces, hydrophobic or charged. Mueller-Reichert and Gross discuss DNA=
and DNA-protein assembly analyzed by TEM, Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). An interesting new application = of STM is imaging of freeze-fracture replicas (Woodward and Zasadzinski). I= t also can examine interior interfaces and provides quantitative informatio= n about the vertical dimension of interior structures.
Four contributions discuss light microscope techniques for the imaging of=
living cells. The first of these by N.S. Allen and M.N. Bennet use Alfal= fa root hairs before and after treatment with Nod factors (produced by Rhizobia) to study in live and fixed cells the role of actin and endoplasmic reticulum in growth form change. Imaging was with a confocal=
laser scanning microscope. The paper by Peachey et al. describes techniques to image cultured cells by phase, epifluorescence and confocal=
microscopy, and after fixation and critical point drying image the same cell as whole mount with the Jeol 400kV-EX intermediate voltage TEM, correlating structures seen in the living cell with the EM image. The paper by D.R. Swartz on covalent labeling of proteins with fluorescent compounds for imaging applications beautifully illustrates with alpha-actinin how a protein can be covalently linked to a fluorophor without interfering with its normal chemical interactions in the living cell. This paper is important for all who need fluorescently labeled cel= l proteins for imaging applications. L. Edelman and A. Ruf describe a simp= le treatment to stabilize freeze-dried cells during or after low temperature=
embedding in Lowicryl, to prevent loss of material from thin sections during wet cutting.
J.F. Hainfeld describes the techniques for labeling with Nanogold, Undecagold and FluoroNanogold. This paper is essential for anybody who requires gold labeling. The increasing availability of energy filtered TEMs will facilitate immuno-cytochemistry by providing electron spectroscopic imaging. Kessels et al. describe the development of organo-boron compounds which can be incorporated into organic molecules such as Fab'-boronated peptide conjugates for immunochemistry.
The last paper by H. Sitte contains a masterful critical review of cryofixation and the blueprints on how to build a cryomicrotome that can provide useful cryosections. I think that these seventy pages contain th= e most valuable part of this volume.
Finally, this volume obviously contains a wealth of stimulating and usefu= l information. It bears testimony that microscopy is alive and well.
Hans Ris, Zoology and Integrated Microscopy Resource, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
----
Copies of several other reviews are available on request.
----
Price: $95 (US delivery by uninsured mail) or $105 (elsewhere by uninsure= d mail); insured delivery, air mail, etc., are available for additional cos= t, please inquire.
REPRINTS or photo-copies of papers are available for (rates for delivery = by cheapest mail method); EACH: $5 (up to 8 pages); $10 (9-16 pages); $15 (17-24 pages) and $20 (25+ pages).
Recently we have been having problems with a resin mixture that we have been using for two years, until recently with good results. I am wondering if anyone else has any ideas about what might be the problem.
The resin is a mixture of Araldite 6005 (about 23% by wt.) SPIpon 812(about 23%) and DDSA (about 54%). We store the unopened resin bottles in the refrigerator, but warm them fully before opening. The opened, capped bottles are stored in a vented cabinet at room temperature. We typically make about 55 ml of resin at a time and store it without the accelerator (DMP-30) in the freezer. Again, we always make sure the bottle is completely warmed to room temp before opening it to use. To embed, we dehydrate through propylene oxide and then 50:50 PO:resin overnight. The next day the blocks are rolled for 4 hours or so in 100% resin + 1.5% DMP-30, then polymerized in fresh resin with accelerator for 24-48 hours at 60=B0.
Several months ago we began getting blocks which are difficult to trim smoothly; they seem to chip and crack. Although the resin sections well, when sections are picked up they tended to disintegrate, or at best, showed rifts and cracks throughout the resin. Increasing the curing time helps a bit, but does not eliminate the problem. We have tried new bottles of all the resins and the accelerator, without improvement. However, in some cases the new bottles may be from the same lots as the old (we haven't kept records of resin lot numbers).
Does this sound familiar? Specifically, we are wondering about storage and shelf life of the resins. Are we inviting problems by storing unopened bottles in the fridge (we have done so for years, but with the old Epon 812)? What about shelf life? The unopened bottles are not more than a year old. Do you store your opened resin bottles in desiccators? At what temperatures? How do you store resin mixtures? Finally, should DMP-30 be added at the 50:50 stage? We had not done this in the past, did for a year or so, then stopped doing it again and thought this wasn't a problem, but perhaps it is. Any ideas would be welcome. Thanks
Marie
Dr. Marie E. Cantino Dept. of Physiology and Neurobiology University of Connecticut Storrs, CT 06269-2131 Phone: 860-486-3588 =46ax: 860-4861936=20
Colleagues, can anyone help this person? Reply directly to him ...
Nestor Your Friendly Neighborhood SysOp -------------------------
Email: micnaut-at-aol.com Name: julius simon School: retired chemist school volunteer
State: florida
Question: i would like a description of a procedure for smear preparations of onion root tips to demonstrate the varios stages of mitosis-that could be quickly mastered by ahigh school bio student. I have a good scope with an automatic ca mera
Hello Doug, I have tried the TUNEL technique for EM. I got a very clean and specific labelling of heterochromatin in ALL nuclei, normal and apoptotic. My explanation is that colloidal gold labels only on the surface of the section. And there will be a lot DNA breaks at the surface due to sectioning and that is where the reaction will occur. As far as I can remeber, I could find only two references for EM. One of them (Thiery?) used this technique as a staining for all DNA. If you want more info, please contact me and I will dig deeper to find the references and the protocol I used (it worked beautifully on paraffin sections). Yours sincerely,
Sarka Lhotak
Hamilton Regional Cancer Centre Hamilton, Ontario, Canada lhotaks-at-mcmaster.ca
One of the most common causes of brittle tissue is exposure to propylene oxide (or a mixture containing it) in the presence of air, i.e. allowing the tissue to become exposed when in a propylene oxide (or PO:resin mixture) stage.
One or more of your ingredients going "off" could also be the cause of your problem, as you suggest. However, in over 30 years of TEM embedding with a whole variety of raw materials, many of which have stood on the shelf for years, we have very seldom experienced this sort of problem.
For a reliable protocol and resin mixture how about trying the one described in a paper I published several years ago? The reference is: Cross, R.H.M. (1989) A reliable epoxy resin mixture and its application in routine biological transmission electron microscopy. Micron & Microscopica Acta, 20(1), 1 - 7.
Good luck!
Robin
Robin H Cross Director : EM Unit, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa R.Cross-at-ru.ac.za (or 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
This is similar to a situation I was in many years ago. In my case it was self-induced because I was experimenting to find a mixture which would cut very large ultrathin sections. In that instance (as far as I can remember - it was late 1970's) I used a high anhydride:epoxy ratio combined with a partially hydrated anhydride. The latter was obtained by exposure to air over a long period, like the bottle was 10 years old before I got to it and it was pretty viscous.
Maybe your mixture already has the high A:E ratio and the anhydride has aged. Although I would not have thought that brittlenss would be the problem, DDSA is the long chain component whereas I was using both DDSA and MNA in my recipe and the MNA was the component which really gave hardness.
Brittleness was a sign of good cutability but it could be overdone! Then the sections would break up on cutting. One block would cut 3 mm square sections, and if you went down to grey in colour, they would simply dissolve on the water! They left bits of fixed tissue which were sort of de-embedded (I never loooked at these).
Brittleness was also induced by a long infiltration time - 48 hours at 35 Centigrade, then 24 hours at 45, followed by 24 hours at 60 C. This procedure induces sterical hindrance which catches the big molecules in certain configurations whereby they cannot form complete cross-linkage. A sign of this is that the blocks are thermoplastic - if you heat them in an oven, they get soft, you can impress the surface with tweezer tips etc. IS THIS TRUE OF YOURS?
Possibly you have aged components, or they have taken up water.
Alternatively, maybe your dehydration isn't complete. Water in the alcohol or acetone, or maybe propylene oxide (? don't know about this possibility, we haven't used it for 20 years or more because of the health aspect). Try adding molcular sieve to a sample of your dehydrating agent?
First of all it would be useful to clarify whether we are talking about a true stereo microscope or a binocular microscope. I personally find stereo microscopes a little more comfortable to work with - perhaps because you are looking at something with a more natural perspective and light than when examining a slide in transmitted light.
I would certainly think that a two hour working period may be possible but I would suspect that there might be problems with general fatigue, attention span, and even RSI (repetitive strain injury) if stage controls are being rotated very regularly. It would probably be necessary during that time to encourage 'micro-breaks' (meaning breaks of a few seconds every 10 or 15 minutes - rather than 'microscope breaks') as you should for display screen equipment/computers. The general rule of thumb with computer rest periods is little and often rather than saving time up over a couple of hours and I suspect that the problems are similar with microscopes.
Other considerations should include ergonomics (Microscope, work area, seating and the people using it - which of course is part of the ergonomics equation).
I hope this helps.
Malcolm Haswell Electron Microscopy School of Sciences Fleming Building University of Sunderland SUNDERLAND SR1 3SD Tyne and Wear UK
Tel (0191) 515 2872 e-mail: malcolm.haswell-at-sunderland.ac.uk ---------- } From: "RCHIOVETTI-at-aol.com" To: hhlim; microscopy
Dear Marie,
Firstly, I 'm not quite sure how to store SPIPON-812, you should ask the manufacturer, but with my knowlege, all epoxy resins are stored at room temperature in a cool and away from direct sun light. Low temperature storage is not recommended for epoxy resins, especially araldites and anhydrides, such as Araldite 502, 6005, DDSA, NMA, NSA. DER... Meantime, DMP-30, DMAE, BDMA, they are contained amino group (-NH-), storing them in the refrigerator will increase its shelf life. Storing epoxy resins in the desiccator is the best. Secondly, you can store the resin mixture (without the addition of DMP-30) in the refrigerator for later use, but only 3 to 4 weeks is maximum, with well protected from contamination with moisture. After all, I think your sections problem is associated with the storage condition of your resins. For more general tips for embedding media, please refer to Electron Microscopy Sciences catalog XIII, page 48.
Sally Stowe wrote: } } We are just setting up TEM EDXA in a multidisciplinary unit, and need to acquire standards covering a wide range of applications. Any recommendations, pitfalls etc? (Philips 430 TEM up to 300kV, Oxford ISIS ultra-thin window detector). } thanks
Dear Sally, Chuck Fiori published an article about using lithium borate glass standards for biological work--the matrix is about the same as that for resin/organic material. There may be someone who sells these or similar standards. For frozen-hydrated work, one can dissolve a known amount of an appropriate compound in a sucrose solution which approximates the composition of tissue and cut cryo-sections. For materials work, there are some commercially available standards. It is important that the matrix of the standard match that of the unknown, so one type does not fit all. Good luck. Yours, Bill Tivol
Dear Anyone: I'm interested in finding out programs to simulate and to index electron diffraction patterns. If it is possible, for windows. Thaks in advance
Patricia Bozzano Comision Nacional de Energia Atomica Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Cytotechnologists who screen Pap smears, among other things, sit at a microscope up to 8 hours daily. Comfort is obviously important. Among the usual recommendations: sit upright, eyes forward (no bending of the neck), use elbow or forearm rest pads (e.g., "Wedgies"), feet flat on the floor (though some use a foot rest), break for 10 minutes hourly to stimulate circulation and minimize the vigilance decrement, maintain room light at a level comparable to the illumination intensity to minimize contrast differences and eyestrain, and look "through the eyepieces" (i.e., at infinity, relaxed accommodation), rather than "in the microscope".
I've coined a term to describe the collective response to the various ills (e.g., varicose veins, hemorrhoids, panorama butt, elbow calluses, repetitive strain injury, self-inflicted stab wounds from the dotting pens, eyepiece grooves under the eyes, and bruised orbits) that can beset a long sitting cytotechnologist: hyperchronokathistophobia, which translates to "fear of sitting for extended periods of time." Think we can claim workman's compensation and take early retirement?
Gary Gill
-----Original Message----- } From: "RCHIOVETTI-at-aol.com"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com [mailto:"RCHIOVETTI-at-aol.com"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com] Sent: Tuesday, January 26, 1999 11:32 AM To: hhlim-at-qes.po.mysparc5.microscopy.com; microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
In a message dated 99-01-26 05:11:00 EST, hhlim-at-qes.po.my-at-sparc5.microscopy.com writes:
{ { Anyone out there can suggest how long can one (normal person) looks into the microscope without causing fatigue ? We are now proposing for every 2 hours of looking into a stereo microscope, an operator will rest for 10 minutes. } }
Lim,
I do not have any research on the subject, but the two most common causes of fatigue are: (1) eyestrain and (2) the physical strain on the neck, upper back and arms from staying in one position for such a long time. As far as eyestrain, I think your proposal for two hour blocks of time is realistic.
You don't mention the type of microscope, but if it is a fairly modern one you can probably obtain a tilting "ergotube" for viewing, so the operator can find the most comfortable position and adjust the viewing angle as needed. If this is not possible, you can also get an ergonomic table that can be raised and lowered either mechanically or via a motor. You can place the scope on the table and adjust the height to suit the operators.
You might also consider putting a video system on the microscope so the operator can choose to either look through the eyepieces or at a high resolution monitor. There are also video inspection stations that can take the place of the microscope entirely.
Good luck to you.
Best regards,
Bob ****************************** Robert (Bob) Chiovetti, Ph.D. President Microimaging Technologies, Inc. Tucson, Arizona USA Tel./Fax (520) 546-4986 rchiovetti-at-aol.com Manufacturers' Representatives Systems Integrators Analog & Digital Imaging Systems Clinical, Research & Industrial Microscopy Cytology/Histology/Pathology/EM *******************************
Marie, Our lab uses a variety of resins, ie, Spurrs, EMbed 812, Eponate 12, araldite, some very old Epon 812, and we store all of it at room temp. away from any water. We've had no problems with any of it. We also mix all ingredients including accelerator, for at least 15-20 min. on a stir plate. The more viscous resins need to be mixed first with a tongue depressor or applicator stick first for a minute or so. We do add the accelerator (BDMA, DMP-30, or DMAE)to the resin for the overnight 50:50 PO:resin step. The next morning we add 2 changes of fresh resin (again, with accelerator) for an hour each to make sure all the PO is gone and then embed at 60 degrees for 48 hrs. The only problem I've ever encountered similar to yours was from using PO that had been opened alot and was nearly empty. It evidently had gotten moisture in it. You might also check your absolute alcohol for moisture.
Mary Gail Engle Electron Microscopy & Imaging Facility] University of Kentucky
This may have nothing to do with your problem but we used to have seasonal changes in our block/resin quality before we got a proper air conditioning/heating system. Every summer when it was humid the resultant blocks would be soft and sticky, every winter hard and brittle. To help alleviate this problem our last step before actually embedding was to place the tissues in pure resin and let them sit in a vacuum for an hour or so. This might help if for some reason your humidity level in the lab has changed lately.
Pat Hales Dept. of Anatomy & Cell Biology McGill University hales-at-med.mcgill.ca
Institute of Physics EMAG '99 Conference - 25-27th August 1999, Sheffield= U.K. (Co-sponsored by RMS and IOM)
Electron and scanning probe microscopy and related techniques.
Scientific Content This biannual, three-day conference aims to bring together international S= cientists and Engineers both in Industry and Academia who employ electron and scanning p= robe microscopies, together with associated techniques such as surface science,= in both imaging and analytical applications. All aspects of Electron and Scanning Probe Micros= copy/ Spectroscopy will be discussed including:
o New Instrumentation (particularly Field Emission systems), Imaging and A= nalytical Techniques o High resolution Electron Microscopy and Electron Crystallography o Advanced SEM, Scanning Probe and Surface Science o Advances in Microanalysis and Elemental/Chemical Imaging o Microscopy of Catalysts, Sensors and Environmental Materials o Ferrous/ Non-ferrous metals and Intermetallics o Carbons, Ceramics, Electroceramics and Composites. o Semiconductors, Superconductors and Magnetic Materials. o Polymers o Microscopy of Interfaces and Surfaces
Sessions will be arranged by topic and through international keynote plena= ry lectures, invited and contributed papers, both oral and poster, current state-of-the-art iss= ues in the field will be highlighted and discussed. Papers from postgraduate students are particula= rly encouraged; correspondingly registration fees will be kept low and student bursaries w= ill be available through the Institute of Physics EMAG group.
o On Tuesday 24 August, prior to the conference, there will also be an Adv= anced School on HIGH RESOLUTION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY. Contact: c.j.hetherington-at-sheffield.ac.uk for further details
o A major trade exhibiton will be mounted in the purpose built Octagon Cen= tre which will run in parallel with the conference. Contact: i.m.reaney-at-sheffield.ac.uk for further details
SUBMISSION OF ABSTRACTS - DEADLINE MARCH 19 1999 Both oral and poster contributions are invited. Abstracts should be approx= . 300 words in length and may include figures and diagrams.
Please submit abstracts either by:
o WWW see http://www.iop.org/Confs/EMAG
o Email send blank email to confs-at-ioppublishing.com with "EMAG instructions" as th= e subject
o FTP download the files "readme.txt" and "EMAG.tem" from ftp.ioppublishing.com/outgoing/conferences/submisssions/EMAG/
In all cases please indicate whether you would prefer either ORAL or POSTE= R presentation and also which sessions you would prefer your contribution to be included = within.
Nominal Sessions o Interfaces and Surfaces (INT) o Electron Crystallography (ECR) o Catalysts/Sensors/Env. Materials (CAT) o High Resolution Electron Microscopy (HRM) o Semiconductors and Superconductors (SSC) o SEM/EBIC/CL (SEM) o Analytical Electron Microscopy (AEM) o Advanced Scanning Probe Techniques (SPT) o Ceramics/Carbons/Composites (CCC) o Metals/Intermetallics (MET) o Plenary (PLE)
STUDENT BURSARIES Students and young scholars are encouraged to apply for an EMAG bursary wh= ich will help meet costs incurred in attending the conference. Applications should = be sent to Dr R. Brydson, Department of Materials, School of Process, Environmental a= nd Materials Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT. email: mtlrmdb-at-leeds.ac.uk
GENERAL ENQUIRIES Contact: conferences-at-iop.org
_____________________________ Dr. Rik Brydson, University Research Fellow, Electron Optical Unit, Department of Materials, School of Process, Environmental and Materials Engineering University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, U.K.
The methods that I mention have been used for several years with undergraduate students and can produce quite good results. Success seems to depend, in part, on choosing the right sort of onion tips at the right time.
GROWING ROOT TIPS We have tried both seeds and bulbs and have only really had good results using root tips from onion bulbs which have been left to sprout over suitable beakers of water (the bulb should rest on the neck of the beaker and almost touch the water and after 1 to 2 weeks you should have a lot of tips - CAUTION supermarket onions may be incapable of sprouting roots you may have to try fresh ones). It is also possible that mitosis may vary at different times of day so you may have to experiment with 'harvesting times'.
STAINING METHODS These are not my methods but have been handed down since the dawn of time - the results are temporary mounts which should be examined soon after preparation. Caution the stains are harmful and acids are used to hydrolyse the cell walls/tissue. Also both methods use acetic acid solutions so the smell can be overpowering in an open lab. DO YOUR RISK ASSESSMENT FIRST. FEULGEN STAIN TECHNIQUE 1 Cut 1cm of root tip off onion, 2. fix in acetic alcohol (3:1) for at least 30 min 3. Hydrolyse in 1 molar/normal HCl at 60 deg C 10 - 15 min 4 Stain in Feulgen reagent for minimum of 60 min (IN THE DARK) - root tip will become purple in meristem 5. Without letting specimen dry out = place the end 2-3mm of root tip on a clean slide with a drop of 45% acetic acid 6. Cut root tip into 4 longitudinally then gently and carefully squash under a coverslip - protecting your thumb several layers of paper towel. 7. Examine for mitosis ACETIC ORCEIN TECHNIQUE 1, Cut 1cm of root tip off onion, 2. put into watch glass with concentrated HCl and absolute ethanol (1:1) for 10 min - NB take care when mixing this reagent 3. transfer root tips to watch glass with 45% acetic acid for 5 min 4. Without letting specimen dry out = place the end 2-3mm of root tip on a clean slide with a drop of ACETIC ORCEIN 5. Cut root tip into 4 longitudinally then gently and carefully squash under a coverslip - protecting your thumb several layers of paper towel. 6. Examine for mitosis
Good luck and take care.
Malcolm Haswell Electron Microscopy School of Sciences Fleming Building University of Sunderland SUNDERLAND SR1 3SD Tyne and Wear UK
Tel (0191) 515 2872 e-mail: malcolm.haswell-at-sunderland.ac.uk
---------- } From: micnaut To: Microscopy
Colleagues, can anyone help this person? Reply directly to him ...
Nestor Your Friendly Neighborhood SysOp -------------------------
Email: micnaut-at-aol.com Name: julius simon School: retired chemist school volunteer
State: florida
Question: i would like a description of a procedure for smear preparations of onion root tips to demonstrate the varios stages of mitosis-that could be quickly mastered by ahigh school bio student. I have a good scope with an automatic ca mera
by smtp.uky.edu (8.8.8/8.8.8) with ESMTP id OAA12519 for {Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com} ; Wed, 27 Jan 1999 14:52:35 -0500 (EST) Received: from mdc.novel.uky.edu ([128.163.67.41]) by pop.uky.edu (8.8.8/8.8.8) with SMTP id OAA13421 for {Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com} ; Wed, 27 Jan 1999 14:52:35 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: {3.0.5.32.19990127145132.007f1700-at-pop.uky.edu} X-Sender: mgengle-at-pop.uky.edu X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Pro Version 3.0.5 (32)
Marie, Our lab uses a variety of resins, ie, Spurrs, EMbed 812, Eponate 12, araldite, some very old Epon 812, and we store all of it at room temp. away from any water. We've had no problems with any of it. We also mix all ingredients including accelerator, for at least 15-20 min. on a stir plate. The more viscous resins need to be mixed first with a tongue depressor or applicator stick first for a minute or so. We do add the accelerator (BDMA, DMP-30, or DMAE)to the resin for the overnight 50:50 PO:resin step. The next morning we add 2 changes of fresh resin (again, with accelerator) for an hour each to make sure all the PO is gone and then embed at 60 degrees for 48 hrs. The only problem I've ever encountered similar to yours was from using PO that had been opened alot and was nearly empty. It evidently had gotten moisture in it. You might also check your absolute alcohol for moisture. Good luck!
Mary Gail Engle Electron Microscopy & Imaging Facility] University of Kentucky mgengle-at-pop.uky.edu
Marie, Our lab uses a variety of resins, ie, Spurrs, EMbed 812, Eponate 12, araldite, some very old Epon 812, and we store all of it at room temp. away from any water. We've had no problems with any of it. We also mix all ingredients including accelerator, for at least 15-20 min. on a stir plate. The more viscous resins need to be mixed first with a tongue depressor or applicator stick first for a minute or so. We do add the accelerator (BDMA, DMP-30, or DMAE)to the resin for the overnight 50:50 PO:resin step. The next morning we add 2 changes of fresh resin (again, with accelerator) for an hour each to make sure all the PO is gone and then embed at 60 degrees for 48 hrs. The only problem I've ever encountered similar to yours was from using PO that had been opened alot and was nearly empty. It evidently had gotten moisture in it. You might also check your absolute alcohol for moisture. Good luck!
Mary Gail Engle Electron Microscopy & Imaging Facility] University of Kentucky mgengle-at-pop.uky.edu
1. I suggest that you not store your resins in the refrigerator. Room temp is best, tightly closed
2. Make sure that your propylene oxide is dry. Keep it strictly closed. Do not use small amounts which have been sitting in bottles.
3. Look up the dehydration schedule for your tissue in a textbook, or a paper. For instance, liver and tongue (same size blocks) need vastly differing dehydration and infiltration schedules.
4. Crucially important: Where did you get your formulation for your resin mixture? Does it meet the requirements of WPE weights of the components for a good TEM block? Have you contacted the manufacturer about any changes they might have made recently? Are you dealing with companies that are specialists for TEM supplies and carefully redistill all components once they get them from the manufacturer? (Resins bought after manufacture may contain many impurities at totally random times). Why are you using 6005? It is possible that your formulation is only marginally good, and is easily "derailed" by minor differences in environments.
5. Also crucially important: All resin coming into contact with tissue either during infiltration or during the final steps must be accelerated. Accelerating only part of the resin coming into contact with tissue used to be popular in the 60s. It is no longer considered good practice, because it yields uneven infiltration.
6. Is your accelerator dry? Your accelerator should not be older than 6 months. It should be kept strictly closed and at room temp.
We have 5 direct drive vacuum pumps (Hitachi CuteVac) that are in need of repair. They are leaking oil (suspect the oil seal is shot) but otherwise pump fine. Does anyone know where we could have them repaired? - Hitachi does not do this type of work and I hate to throw them away at $3,000 each.
Thanks,
John
#################################################################### 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 am hoping that somebody knows the answer to this;
I have been asked to look at some chromosomes in the TEM, and am wondering if someone knows of a good reference on stains that can be used for this work.
If you know of a guide or papers on the preparation tasks involved that would be of great help.
Many thanks
David
Dr. David C. Bell Room 13-1818 E-mail: dcb-at-MIT.EDU Center for Mat. Sci. and Eng. PH: (617) 253-3317 Massachusetts Institute of Technology FAX: (617) 258-6478 77 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139
Postdoctoral positions at Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm
Membrane protein structure/Electron crystallography
Two postdoctoral positions are immediately available for work on structure determinations of membrane-bound enzymes using cryo electron microscopy. Two-dimensional crystals are available of proteins both in their native states and in the form of reaction intermediates. The work will initially be concentrated on data collection and processing. Previous experience in the field of electron crystallography is advantageous.
The Center for Structural Biochemistry (CSB) is a unit at the Department of Biosciences, Karolinska Institutet and comprises research groups with facilities for X-ray crystallography, NMR spectroscopy, electron microscopy and molecular modelling. CSB is located at the South Campus of Karolinska Institutet close to Stockholm, encompassing the Novum Research Center and Huddinge University Hospital. Excellent resources will be provided.
The postdoctoral positions/research associates are initially for two years with possibilities for extensions for up to four years.
Applications should be sent to Dr. Hans Hebert, Karolinska Institutet, Department of Biosciences at Novum, S-141 57 Huddinge, Sweden together with a CV and the names of two referees. Inquiries: Hans.Hebert-at-csb.ki.se or Philip.Koeck-at-csb.ki.se.
Qualifications (education, certification, language, etc.) and Experience required: A candidate with a BS or MS degree in polymer science, material science or chemistry is preferred with some prior experience in electron microscopy. Good written and oral communication skills and the ability to work both independently and in a team environment are extremely important.
Job Overview:
The Surface/Microscopy/X-ray (SMX) Group in Dow's Corporate R&D Analytical Science Laboratory has two professional level full time openings for Polymer Microscopists, one position at each of the Dow's facilities in Midland, MI and Freeport, TX. The primary responsibilities include working with partners to support research projects involving new and existing products in Dow's polymer businesses.
Key responsibilities will include:
1. Extensive problem solving. 2. Microscopy preparation technique experience including ultramicrotomy and cryo-ultramicrotomy. 3. Operation of transmission electron microscope. 4. Interpretation of images. 5. Documentation of work. 6. Compliance with safety and quality programs. 7. Active member of project and SMX work teams.
Interested: Please e-mail or send your resume and cover letter, with reference to this ad to: Email: R&D-at-Dow.com or The Dow Chemical Company, Workforce Planning 98-289, P. O. Box 150, Plaquemine, LA 70765. E-mail respondents must list Job 98-289 and their last name as the first and second items on the Subject line. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Only U.S. citizens or aliens who are authorized to work in the United States will be considered for employment.
We are an equal opportunity employer and offer a competitive compensation and benefits package including 401k, stock purchase, tuition reimbursement and performance incentives. The Dow Chemical Company is the fifth largest chemical company in the world with annual sales of US$20billion. Dow manufactures and supplies chemicals, plastics and agricultural products for customers in 164 countries and employs approx. 43,000 people worldwide. For more news and information about Dow, please visit our web site at www.dow.com.
Bob Cieslinski Microscopy & Microanalysis 1897 E Bldg. (517) 636-6875
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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Hi Vacuum-folks, } } We have 5 direct drive vacuum pumps (Hitachi CuteVac) that are in need of } repair. They are leaking oil (suspect the oil seal is shot) but otherwise } pump fine. Does anyone know where we could have them repaired? - Hitachi } does not do this type of work and I hate to throw them away at $3,000 each. } } Thanks, } } John } } #################################################################### } 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 } #################################################################### Dear John,
I have never had any luck with anyone rebuilding these pumps at an economical price. The companies that rebuild these pumps complain about the parts availability. Moreover, the rebuild doesn't last more than one year. At $600.00 to $1000.00 a rebuild it is cheaper in the long run to buy a replacement. I have used Alcatel Model 2010 with sucess.
There are several companies that offer rebuilding of vacuum pumps. One that I know of that is very reputable is Torr International in New Windsor, NY. You can reach them at ph: 914-565-4027 or visit their web sight at www.torr.com. I am sure they can help bring your pumps back up to spec. The contacts at Torr Int'l are Dr. Masud Naraghi and Mr. Jeff Terranova.
Good luck,
Steve Collins South Bay Technology East 4019 S. 16th St. Arlington, VA 22204
} } } } } Please visit us at http://www.southbaytech.com} } } } }
Celebrating our 35th year of Manufacturing Precision Sample Preparation Equipment and Supplies for Metallography, Crystallography and Electron Microscopy
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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Hi Vacuum-folks, } } We have 5 direct drive vacuum pumps (Hitachi CuteVac) that are in need of } repair. They are leaking oil (suspect the oil seal is shot) but otherwise } pump fine. Does anyone know where we could have them repaired? - Hitachi } does not do this type of work and I hate to throw them away at $3,000 each. } } Thanks, } } John } } #################################################################### } 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 } ####################################################################
Hi !! One of my collagues is interested to found out a reprit of the paper: Identification of a new Zr-Nb- Fe Phase O.T.Woo and G.J.C.Carpenter. Proc. of the 12th Int. Congress for Electron Micoscopy. San Fransisco Press, 132(1990) Thank in advance
} } I was interested in the use of osmium in xylene that you described. Does the tissue blacken as } in a water-solution or does it simply become yellowish/brown? I am curious because the latter is } what happens in the absence of water during freeze-substitution using e.g. 1% in acetone at -80 } *C, although the colour change probably happens when warming up from low temperature.
Hello Keith.
According to the people here that most often works with this (Irene Lund) the blocks are not as dark as with standard methods, but light brown. We haven't done freeze-substitution with osmium, so it's not easy to compare directly. For this purpose we buy ampoulas with 0,1 gram OsO4.
Best regards Randi Olsen Randi Olsen Department of Electron Microscopy Faculty of Medicine University of Tromso MH-Breivika N-9037 TROMSO NORWAY
Just made a trip to our Physics machine shop. They have sent pumps to Kurt J. Lesker in PA for repair. The cost to rebuild a 25 liter pump in 1997 was ~$600.
Kurt J. Lesker 1515 Worthington Ave. Clairton, PA 15025 1-800-245-1656
Hope this helps, Lou Senior Electron Microscope Specialist Room 101 Department of Geological Sciences University of Missouri Columbia, MO 65211 (573) 882-4777 (573) 882=5458 fax www.missouri.edu/~geosclmr/ebaf.html
Duniway Stockroom (http://www.duniway.com) lists a rebuild for a Hitachi VP-160 at $480. I assume that would come with shaft seals. Or you could order the shaft seals from Hitachi and rebuild the pumps yourself. The part number(s) ought to be in the CuteVac manual that came with the pump/microscope. I did this several years ago on a pump from a Hitachi S-570.
However, parts availability from Hitachi, in my experience, is not quick or easy (even with part numbers).
Carl
Earl Weltmer wrote: } } John J. Bozzola wrote: } } Hi Vacuum-folks, } } } } We have 5 direct drive vacuum pumps (Hitachi CuteVac) that are in need of } } repair. They are leaking oil (suspect the oil seal is shot) but otherwise } } pump fine. Does anyone know where we could have them repaired? - Hitachi } } does not do this type of work and I hate to throw them away at $3,000 each. } } } } Thanks, } } } } John } Dear John, } } I have never had any luck with anyone rebuilding these pumps at an } economical price. The companies that rebuild these pumps complain about } the parts availability. Moreover, the rebuild doesn't last more than one } year. At $600.00 to $1000.00 a rebuild it is cheaper in the long run to } buy a replacement. I have used Alcatel Model 2010 with sucess. } } Good Luck } } Earl Weltmer
====================================== Carl Henderson Electron Microbeam Analysis Laboratory University of Michigan 2501 C.C. Little Bldg. Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1063 USA (734) 936-1550 FAX (734) 763-4690 ======================================
Potential lead: Capital Equipment Co. (or Capital Vacuum) in the northern Virgina area offered repair for many brands of equipment. I cannot locate the address and do not know if they are still in business. A quick search did turn up a company in Herndon, VA (named Capital...), but I don't know if that is the correct one.
If the leak is not too fast, a tray under the pump is a cheap solution.
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Hi Vacuum-folks,
We have 5 direct drive vacuum pumps (Hitachi CuteVac) that are in need of repair. They are leaking oil (suspect the oil seal is shot) but otherwise pump fine. Does anyone know where we could have them repaired? - Hitachi does not do this type of work and I hate to throw them away at $3,000 each.
Thanks,
John
#################################################################### 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 ####################################################################
Internet Mail Server 2.1); Thu, 28 Jan 1999 12:59:39 -0500 Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="============_-1294576389==_ma============" Message-Id: {v04011727b2d654a02b0d-at-[128.206.162.35]}
Assistant or Associate Director Molecular Cytology Core Facility
The Molecular Biology Program at the University of Missouri is seeking an individual with experience in some or all of the following areas:
* confocal scanning laser microscopy * bright field microscopy * wide field fluorescence microscopy * low light video microscopy * image processing/analysis * deconvolution * all types of microtomy * immunocytochemistry * in situ hybridization * Adobe Photoshop
The Assistant/Associate Director will be responsible for training users, maintaining instruments and developing protocols for a campus-wide multi-user light micrscopy facility. Electron Microscopy is not a part of this facility. PhD desirable but not required for individuals with extensive experience. Although an ideal candidate would have experience in all of the areas listed above, candidates with extensive experience in selected areas and who have the desire and capacity to learn the additional areas will be considered. Excellent oral and written communication skills are essential. Experience in a multi-user core facility would be viewed positively. Women and minority candidates are especially encouraged to apply. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until an appropriate candidate is hired.
Address applications (CV and 3 letters of reference) or inquires to:
Thomas E. Phillips, Ph.D. Division of Biological Sciences 3 Tucker Hall, University of Missouri Columbia, MO 65211-7400. 573-882-4712 PhillipsT-at-missouri.edu.
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) --============_-1294576389==_ma============ Content-Type: text/enriched; charset="us-ascii"
{bold} {bigger} {bigger} {bigger} Assistant or Associate Director
Molecular Cytology Core Facility
{/bigger} {/bigger} {/bigger} {/bold} The Molecular Biology Program at the University of Missouri is seeking an individual with experience in some or all of the following areas:
* confocal scanning laser microscopy
* bright field microscopy
* wide field fluorescence microscopy
* low light video microscopy
* image processing/analysis
* deconvolution
* all types of microtomy
* immunocytochemistry
* in situ hybridization
* Adobe Photoshop
The Assistant/Associate Director will be responsible for training users, maintaining instruments and developing protocols for a campus-wide multi-user light micrscopy facility. Electron Microscopy is not a part of this facility. PhD desirable but not required for individuals with extensive experience. Although an ideal candidate would have experience in all of the areas listed above, candidates with extensive experience in selected areas and who have the desire and capacity to learn the additional areas will be considered. Excellent oral and written communication skills are essential. Experience in a multi-user core facility would be viewed positively. Women and minority candidates are especially encouraged to apply. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until an appropriate candidate is hired.
Address applications (CV and 3 letters of reference) or inquires to:
Folks: I am trying to get hold of a dual replica device for a Cressington freeze fracture machine. An alternate possibility would be a dual replica device from a Balzers 400 If anyone, anywhere, has one tucked in a drawer gathering dust etc. etc. and would like to part with it (for the purchase price, or whatever they feel is appropriate) please let me know as soon as possible Thanks Simon
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------- Simon C. Watkins Ph.D. MRC Path Associate Professor Cell Biology and Physiology Director, Center for Biologic Imaging BSTS 225 University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh PA 15261 Tel: 412-648-3051 Fax: 412-648-8330 Mobile: 412-607-3534 URL: http://sbic6.sbic.pitt.edu ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----
---------- } Van: HASWELL Malcolm {malcolm.haswell-at-sunderland.ac.uk} } Aan: Microscopy {microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} } Onderwerp: RE: retired chemist school volunteer ne
} GROWING ROOT TIPS ..CAUTION supermarket onions may be incapable of sprouting roots you } may have to try fresh ones).
This seems to become more and more a problem as onions are frequently treated with growth inhibitors. Instead of onions, garlic (Alium sativum) can be used! There was an article in MIKROKOSMOS some years ago, stating that garlic isn't treated that way, at least not in Germany (Europe?).
} STAINING METHODS
Some of my modifications:
} FEULGEN STAIN TECHNIQUE } 1 Cut 1cm of root tip off onion, } 2. fix in acetic alcohol (3:1) for at least 30 min
fix in ethylalcohol 95%-acetic acid 3/1 (v/v) for about 30 min
} 3. Hydrolyse in 1 molar/normal HCl at 60 deg C 10 - 15 min
when an incubator or a water bath isn't available: use HCl, 5N, 40 min at RT
} 4 Stain in Feulgen reagent for minimum of 60 min (IN THE DARK) - root tip
} will become purple in meristem } 5. Without letting specimen dry out = place the end 2-3mm of root tip on a } clean slide with a drop of 45% acetic acid } 6. Cut root tip into 4 longitudinally then gently and carefully squash under } a coverslip - protecting your thumb several layers of paper towel. } 7. Examine for mitosis
} ACETIC ORCEIN TECHNIQUE } 1, Cut 1cm of root tip off onion
fix in ethylalcohol 95%-acetic acid 3/1 (v/v) for about 30 min
} 2. put into watch glass with concentrated HCl and absolute ethanol (1:1) for } 10 min - NB take care when mixing this reagent
Wash in running water for at least 10 min
} 3. transfer root tips to watch glass with 45% acetic acid for 5 min
} 4. Without letting specimen dry out = place the end 2-3mm of root tip on a } clean slide with a drop of ACETIC ORCEIN
Slightly heat the slide untill steam apears, let cool, repeat this several times until the meristem comes dark red-brown.apply new staining solution when necesary. Don't let dry!
} 5. Cut root tip into 4 longitudinally then gently and carefully squash under } a coverslip - protecting your thumb several layers of paper towel. } 6. Examine for mitosis
Slides can be made permanent. There are lots of methods, I use these: For ACETIC ORCEIN-stained slides: use slides treated with Haupt's adhesive. Put the slides after examination in a jar of water, the cover slip down. Wait until the coverslip comes of. Wash slides and coverslips careful but toroughly in distilled water, dehydrate in ethylalcohol, 2-propanol. Treat with xylene and mount in DPX (or another resin). Most of the cells remain on the slide (coverslip).
For cells stained with Feulgen: Use slides treated with Haupt's adhesive. Put the slides after examination in a jar of water, the cover slip down. Wait until the coverslip comes of. Wash slides and coverslips careful but toroughly in distilled water, dehydrate in ethylalcohol 70%, stain in Light Green or Fast Green FCF in ethylalcohol 70% (concentration not critical, about .5% will do), dehydrate in ethylalcohol 90% and differentiate the green in it, 2-propanol. Treat with xylene and mount in DPX (or another resin). Most of the cells remain on the slide (coverslip). DNA: violet, RNA (nucleoli): green (Light Green) or blue-green (Fast Green FCF).
} Malcolm Haswell } Electron Microscopy } School of Sciences } Fleming Building } University of Sunderland } SUNDERLAND SR1 3SD } Tyne and Wear } UK } } Tel (0191) 515 2872 } e-mail: malcolm.haswell-at-sunderland.ac.uk
I am surprised that Hitachi will not repair the pumps for you. We had three pumps repaired ( Oil seals ) by Hitachi 1.5 years ago at minimal cost during our TEM move. The pumps are still working perfectly & have no leaks. It is not a major job to replace these seals yourself and in the past we have replaced a couple, with no difficulty getting parts from Hitachi (UK). The problem with replacement is seating the seals in evenly. It requires patience which is probably why Martin ( Hitachi, UK ) did a better job than us.
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: Carl Henderson {chender-at-umich.edu} To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com {microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com}
I am still using Eric Shelden's Presentit {shelden-at-umich.edu} to do my digital presentations. It takes a folder full of PICT's and Quicktime's and place them in name order. No fancy transitions or anything, but I find that overkill. The main advantage is that it plays quicktimes cleanly and at maximum frame rate with easy access to the quicktime controls for frame by frame play. I keep a copy on my desktop so I can drag and drop a movie or image on it anytime I need to look at something. Doing quicktime in Powerpoint is tricky at best and requires a session with tech support to find out how to make it work correctly. For making text slides, and playing simple images Powerpoint is great although I still liked Persuasion better since you could apply multiple formats to a single presentation. The best of that lot may be Astound which is the only quicktime application that implements a speed control for quicktime movie playback rate. Dave
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Dr. David Knecht Department of Molecular and Cell Biology University of Connecticut 75 N. Eagleville Rd. U-125 Storrs, CT 06269 Knecht-at-uconnvm.uconn.edu 860-486-2200 860-486-4331 (fax)
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
REGARDING post-doc at EMAT, Belgium
Dear colleagues,
as of April 1, 1999, a 2-year TEM post-doc position will be available at = the EMAT group in Antwerp. The research will consist of using advanced = TEM techniques (HREM, EDX, EELS, low-dose, ...) for the study of new = photographic materials in close colaboration with the Agfa-Gevaert = company, one of the leading manufacturers of photographic material. The = position is open to EC citizens or equalized persons.
I look forward to your applications,
Nick Schryvers e-mail: schryver-at-ruca.ua.ac.be fax: 32-3-2180257
by upei.ca (PMDF V5.1-9 #20757) with ESMTP id {01J741DZDB3WA8CEC4-at-upei.ca} for microscopy-at-msa.microscopy.com; Fri, 29 Jan 1999 11:47:40 AST Received: from AVCN1/SpoolDir by acad1.cs.upei.ca (Mercury 1.43); Fri, 29 Jan 1999 11:51:38 -0400 Received: from SpoolDir by AVCN1 (Mercury 1.43); Fri, 29 Jan 1999 11:51:07 -0400
Hi! I have a question regarding the limits of Reichter-Jung Ultracut E ultramicrotome. One of the students wants to cut 1 micrometer sections of the blocks almost 5x5mm in diameter. So the sections would be 1 micrometer thick, 5 mm wide, 5 mm high. My questions is is what is the maximum size of the block face that can be safely (not destroying the machine) cut on that type of the microtome. I need to know numbers to back up my argument. Thanks in advance Dorota
Dr. Bozzola, I am not sure that my reply to your posting went through as I unknowingly did not follow protocol for this list server. I can rebuild these inexpensively, return them quickly, test ultimate vacuum, and provide a guarantee. I have rebuilt these pumps a couple hundred times. You are right the seals harden over time due to heat from the pump. Your also right in that it is silly to replace a perfectly good pump for $3K that can be rebuilt for a couple hundred. Give me a call. J. McClintock (606)257-1242 (606)277-6507 jcmcclin-at-pop.uky.edu
Dear John and all, In the USA the Hitachi service company Hitachi Instruments, Inc. (HII) used to have its Hitachi vacuum pumps rebuilt by Dunniway Stockroom (800) 446-8811 in Mountain View, CA. They (HII) found it uneconomic to do so and stopped. Now for warranty and service repairs of Hitachi pumps they replace them with Edwards pumps. The Hitachi pumps are thrown away! More of the new EMs from Japan are showing up with the Edwards pumps new. Dunniway has told me that the Hitachi pumps are hard to repair, and that there is no secondary market for them. You can buy used/rebuilt pump from Dunniway for a reasonable price. The Edwards replacement model for most Hitachi SEMs is E2M12 with a rebuilt price of $1400.
Disclaimer: I am a only a Customer of Dunniway with no financial interest.
Ron Vane XEI Scientific. -----Original Message----- } From: John J. Bozzola {bozzola-at-siu.edu} To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com}
Dear fellow microscopists,
We are considering the purchase of a new semi-in-lens FESEM. Quality of service is of paramount importance to me in terms of the selection process. I would like to hear from others in the Pittsburgh area (say 500 mile radius) about the quality of their SEM service (not necessarily FESEM instruments) from the following vendors: LEO, JEOL, Hitachi, and Philips. I'm interested in the good, the bad, and the ugly kind of stories.
The types of things that I'm interested in is time it took for installation, timeliness (i.e. response time from the initial call), downtime, satisfaction with their work, your confidence in the service engineers, helpfulness in diagnosing problems and solving them over the phone without a service call, etc.
Please respond directly to me. I will keep your responses confidential.
Thanks in advance.
-Scott Walck
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Glass Technology Center Guys Run Rd. (packages) P.O. Box 11472 (letters) Pittsburgh, PA 15238-0472
Hello All, Does anyone out there have any suggestions for getting good SEM cross= sectional images from dried wood? I have a student who would like to image= the microstructure of several types of wood. All the references I have= found so far suggest cutting fresh or moist wood with a new razor blade to= achieve good cross-sections. The student is studying the effects of two= different drying techniques, and therefore soaking the wood in water is out= of the question. Cutting the dried wood with razor blades has resulted in= crushed, damaged cross sections.=20
Thanks, Scott F. Scott Miller Electron Microscopy Lab smiller-at-umr.edu University of Missouri-Rolla =20 223 McNutt Hall voice: 573 341 4727 Rolla, MO 65409 USA fax: 573 341 6934
I am looking for a mounting medium with a high optical index (around 1.7). Once I used something called piperin (n=1.68). Could you please let me know where can one obtain such products?
Fellow Microscopists, I am soliciting your comments on what you consider the best approach to damp vibrations when using a light microscope. We are in the process of redesigning our light microscopy/image analysis work area and have a choice between a conventional marble table and a Newport BenchTop vibration isolation system (pneumatic). Which should it be? Are there other possibilities to consider?
Thanks for a moment of your time. Paul
Paul J. Gerroir Microscopy Materials Characterization Xerox Research Centre of Canada 2660 Speakman Drive Mississauga, Ontario L5K 2L1
I would like to draw your attention to the materials science symposium being held as part of the Scanning 99 meeting in April this year. The abstract deadline is February 15th (the same as MSA) and the abstract format is the same as the MSA format. It is intended that there will be contributed presentations as part of the program, and depending on the number of submissions, the symposium may be extended for another day. Please forward this e-mail to anyone you think may be interested in attending the symposium.
{bold}
"Analyzing Materials Interfaces at Atomic Resolution" {/bold}
There will be a Materials Science symposium at Scanning 99 entitled "Analyzing Materials Interfaces at Atomic Resolution". Scanning 99 is being held at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare in Rosemont, IL from April 11-14 1999. The "Analyzing Materials Interfaces at Atomic Resolution" symposium is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday April 13th and will consist of invited and contributed presentations. The details of the conference and deadlines/forms for abstract submissions can be found at http://www.scanning.org or details can be requested from Mary Sullivan (e-mail: scanning-at-fams.org, tel:201-818-1010). Registration for members of the Midwest Microscopy and Microanalysis Society are at the reduced rates of $150 for the whole conference or $50 for a single day (all attendees of the MMMS symposium held at UIC last May are members of MMMS).
A preliminary list of invited speakers and the titles for their presentations is shown below.
{bold} Prof Ondrej Krivanek-University of Washington {/bold}
Title "Towards sub-Angstrom electron probes by Cs-corrected STEM."
{bold} Dr Max Haider-CEOS GmbH {/bold}
Title "Towards sub-Angstrom resolution by correction of spherical aberration"
{bold} Dr J. Murray Gibson -Argonne National Lab {/bold}
Title "Statistical Measurement of Electron Scattering Fluctuations in Amorphous
Materials - A new Structural Tool"
{bold} Prof Laurie Marks-Northwestern University {/bold}
Title "Picometer structure determination using Electron Diffraction"
{bold} Prof Marija Gajdardziska-Josifovska-University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee {/bold}
Title "Quantitative surface microscopy and diffraction over the length scales:
Morphology and crystallography of polar oxide surfaces. "
{bold} Dr David Muller-Lucent Technologies {/bold}
Title "The end of the Roadmap for Silicon Dioxide: Atomic resolution EELS of
of Hyper-Thin Gate Oxides"
{bold} Prof David Williams-Lehigh University {/bold}
Title "Atomic-Resolution X-ray Microanalysis in the TEM"
{bold} Dr Ed James-University of Illinois at Chicago {/bold}
Title "Atomic resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy on the 200kV
FEGTEM"
{bold} Dr Stephen Pennycook-Oak Ridge National Lab {/bold}
Title "Atomic scale analysis of interfaces by Z-contrast STEM, EELS and
If the wood is very dry, you might try simply fracturing a piece. A surface so prepared will have an extreme amount of relief, but it may provid you with a less deformed microstructure.
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Hello All, Does anyone out there have any suggestions for getting good SEM cross sectional images from dried wood? I have a student who would like to image the microstructure of several types of wood. All the references I have found so far suggest cutting fresh or moist wood with a new razor blade to achieve good cross-sections. The student is studying the effects of two different drying
techniques, and therefore soaking the wood in water is out of the question. Cutting the dried wood with razor blades has resulted in crushed, damaged cross sections.
Thanks, Scott F. Scott Miller Electron Microscopy Lab smiller-at-umr.edu University of Missouri-Rolla 223 McNutt Hall voice: 573 341 4727 Rolla, MO 65409 USA fax: 573 341 6934
It may well depend on the type of wood. Years ago I had some luck with Quercus blocks by cleaning up the top surface with a sliding microtome (e.g. AO 860) with a properly sharpened (and long) microtome knife set to a high shear angle and using a small advance. There were still some crumbs in the vessels but you could find good areas too.
I've never had much but frustration using razor blades on woody plants of any kind and lately it seems most brands of single edge blades we use around here for trimming blocks are softer and duller then they used to be.
cheers, John Heckman
} Hello All, } Does anyone out there have any suggestions for getting good SEM cross } sectional images from dried wood? I have a student who would like to image } the microstructure of several types of wood. All the references I have } found so far suggest cutting fresh or moist wood with a new razor blade to } achieve good cross-sections. The student is studying the effects of two } different drying techniques, and therefore soaking the wood in water is } out of the question. Cutting the dried wood with razor blades has } resulted in crushed, damaged cross sections. } } Thanks, } Scott } F. Scott Miller } Electron Microscopy Lab smiller-at-umr.edu } University of Missouri-Rolla } 223 McNutt Hall voice: 573 341 4727 } Rolla, MO 65409 USA fax: 573 341 6934
I am studying about Hf-Ta-V alloy. So, I want to make a TEM sample for that alloy(Hf and Ta of 1/3, V of 2/3) by jet-electropolishing technique using the apparatus made by Struers. I would like to know the experimental condition including solution, temperature and cathode. Please tell me about it who have experienced in that alloy.
won
Won-yong Kim Department of Materials Science and Engineering University of Pennsylvania, LRSM building 3231 Walnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19104
} redesigning our light microscopy/image analysis work area and have a choice } between a conventional marble table and a Newport BenchTop vibration } isolation system (pneumatic). Which should it be? Are there other } possibilities to consider? You are going to get lots of responses for cheap solutions using tennis balls or spaldeen balls or inner tubes from bicyles or wheelbarrows or layers of felt and sheets of concrete. Having no experience with these, I can't comment on their efficacy. However, the Newport or TMC table floating on air or N2 is going to be far superior to the marble table. Guarranteed. ******************************************************* * Michael Cammer Analytical Imaging Facility * * Albert Einstein College of Medicine * * Bronx, NY 10461 (718) 430-2890 * * work URL: http://www.ca.aecom.yu.edu/aif/ * * personal URL: http://cammer.home.mindspring.com/ * *******************************************************
Years ago, upon recommendation by folks out at Sharon Vacuum Company in Brockton MA, I bought a two component epoxy kit called A-12 Epoxy Adhesisve from the Armstrong Products Company on Argonne Road in Warsaw, Indiana, for repairing leaks in vacuum systems. It also proved useful for sealing cracked plastic parts and metal fittings on cryogenic systems, and for many other repairs. Great stuff, and it cured to a beautiful milk chocolate brown tone.
I'm just about out now, and I've written to Armstrong Products and they are no longer in existence,letter was not forwardable, etc.
Anybody out there know of their whereabouts? Or could you recommend any other suitable replacement product?
Thanks,
Gib Ahlstrand Electron Optical Facility, University of Minnesota, Dept. Plant Pathology 495 Borlaug Hall, St. Paul, MN. USA. 55108 (612)625-8249 612-625-9728 FAX, giba-at-puccini.crl.umn.edu
I'm interested in doing some immuno work with the SEM. Basically tagging colloidal gold onto a surface antigen on cultured cells. I've got some old information and papers but as for up-to-date methodologies, I'm a little sketchy. Does anyone have any good review papers on the use of immuno surface markers w/ SEM (preferably colloidal gold?) Nothing too fancy. In case it helps, I'm specifically looking at phosphotidylserine exposed on the outer membrane leaflet during apoptosis in a cultured line of CML cells. Thanks in advance.
Gib Ahlstrand wrote: =============================================== Years ago, upon recommendation by folks out at Sharon Vacuum Company in Brockton MA, I bought a two component epoxy kit called A-12 Epoxy Adhesisve from the Armstrong Products Company on Argonne Road in Warsaw, Indiana, for repairing leaks in vacuum systems. It also proved useful for sealing cracked plastic parts and metal fittings on cryogenic systems, and for many other repairs. Great stuff, and it cured to a beautiful milk chocolate brown tone.
I'm just about out now, and I've written to Armstrong Products and they are no longer in existence,letter was not forwardable, etc.
Anybody out there know of their whereabouts? Or could you recommend any other suitable replacement product? ================================================= It is definitely not the same thing, but we (and a number of our customers) have had excellent results with VACSEAL® High Vacuum Leak Sealant. The product can withstand repeated temperature cycling from liquid helium temperatures to 450° C over long intervals of time.
It is described on URL http://www.2spi.com/catalog/vac/vacleak.html
Disclaimer: SPI Supplies offers this product for this kind of application so we would have a vested interest in seeing it used more widely.
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: www.2spi.com ############################ ==================================================
Hello Paul. Believe it or not 4 small inner tubes, inflated so that they have no real tension before having a table top put on them work very well. I have used this trick for Atomic force microscopy (AFM) & holography (on a wooden table). Check out how pneumatic legs are made, aside from the automatic leveling (option) they are not much different. An improvement is to build a base consisting of layered, carpet, plywood, 8x8x16" bricks (commonly called cinder blocks around here) up to the height needed. There are a lot of optical tables on this planet set up this way. You can get small tubes (6-8" dia) from cart & dolly vendors. Another trick is to to build a sand box. Check books on do it yourself holography Yea, I know these ideas don't look great but they do work & save lots of money.
HI Gib. Varian Vacuum Products has been selling "Torr Seal" for years. Don't know about it's cryo properties.
Bruce Brinson Rice U.
Gib Ahlstrand 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 Microscopy Listers, } } Years ago, upon recommendation by folks out at Sharon Vacuum Company in Brockton } MA, I bought a two component epoxy kit called A-12 Epoxy Adhesisve from the } Armstrong Products Company on Argonne Road in Warsaw, Indiana, for repairing } leaks in vacuum systems. It also proved useful for sealing cracked plastic parts } and metal fittings on cryogenic systems, and for many other repairs. Great } stuff, and it cured to a beautiful milk chocolate brown tone. } } I'm just about out now, and I've written to Armstrong Products and they are no } longer in existence,letter was not forwardable, etc. } } Anybody out there know of their whereabouts? Or could you recommend any other } suitable replacement product? } } Thanks, } } Gib Ahlstrand } Electron Optical Facility, University of Minnesota, Dept. Plant Pathology } 495 Borlaug Hall, St. Paul, MN. USA. 55108 (612)625-8249 } 612-625-9728 FAX, giba-at-puccini.crl.umn.edu
Scott - I never found razor blades satisfactory on fresh wood and rather suggest using a microtome with a permanent knife (not a disposable). I have not tried myself using a tungsten carbide knife but expect that this would give still better results. Small triangular TC knives which fit ultramicrotome chucks are an obvious and cheaper solution than the big TC knives.
Diamond knife sections would be too thin for SEM purposes but diamond knives can be used for facing a block. However, those knives are expensive and the operation is risky.
Another alternative is the use of a series of wet and dry papers on a lap. Use the paper wetted with kerosene or another slowly evaporating solvent and when finished use absolute alcohol to rinse. These papers are available to about 2000 gird, which is still not fine enough for SEM. For the final finish I suggest diamond lapping film. This material is expensive but the diamond particles are embedded with the plastic. The particles will rarely contaminate the specimen, the particle size is available down to 0.1 micrometre and the film is long lasting.
Using the grinding powder that is normally used for cutting of rock, makes a mess of a specimen like wood. Disclaimer PST is a supplier of some mentioned products.
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, January 30, 1999 3:18 AM, Scott Miller [SMTP:smiller-at-umr.edu] wrote: } } Hello All, } Does anyone out there have any suggestions for getting } good SEM cross sectional images from dried wood? I have a } student who would like to image the microstructure of } several types of wood. All the references I have found } so far suggest cutting fresh or moist wood with a new } razor blade to achieve good cross-sections. The student } is studying the effects of two different drying } techniques, and therefore soaking the wood in water is } out of the question. Cutting the dried wood with razor } blades has resulted in crushed, damaged cross sections. } } Thanks, } Scott } F. Scott Miller } Electron Microscopy Lab smiller-at-umr.edu } University of Missouri-Rolla } 223 McNutt Hall voice: 573 341 4727 } Rolla, MO 65409 USA fax: 573 341 6934
These were once very popular, especialy for preparations of diatoms, but they seem very hard to find these days! (I have posted a question regarding mounting media with high RI on Histonet a few weeks ago: received only one answer...) The only source I know of is a Dutch company called Euromex Microscopes. They sell Naphrax (RI = 1.710) in 25 ml bottles. Catalog nr = PB0267. You can contact them trough email: info-at-euromex.nl Yvan Lindekens.
---------- } Van: SROUBEK {pasroube-at-mtu.edu} } Aan: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Onderwerp: help on mounting medium } Datum: vrijdag 29 januari 1999 20:24 I am looking for a mounting medium with a high } optical index (around 1.7). Once I used something } called piperin (n=1.68). Could you please let me know } where can one obtain such products? } } Thanks } } Pavel Sroubek } } pasroube-at-mtu.edu }
Could the sample be planed at low temperature? Such as in a cryostat or cryoultramicrotome? The problem is that it would have to be returned to room temperature without condensation forming, maybe in a "sealed" container with dry nitrogen or air+dessicant.
Maybe it could be impregnated with a non-aqueus medium. I am wondering if 1-hexadecene (from Sigma) could be used. It is used as a mdium for filling gas spaces etc in leaves before high pressure freezing is carried out. It is a non-aquous, non-toxic, non-osmotically active type of paraffin. I am not sure about its removal afterwards.
Something that would sublime would be favoured! Maybe one of the media used instead of critical point drying? Hexamethyldisilazane? Combined with low temperature sectioning?
Another primitive approach would be to put it in liquid nitrogen in a styrofoam contained with a metal "plate" on the bottom and fracture the sample across with a cooled razor blade (held in tweezers) whacked with a hammer. Then it needs rewarming as above, in a container with dessicant (fresh phosphorus pentoxide, in fine powder form, is my favourite - this is a vicious chemical so beware of inhalation of the dust), preferably with dried nitrogen gas leaking through to prevent air plus atmosheric moisture ingressing.
At the recent resin cutting workshop in Seefeld (Austria), Prof. Sitte (who has had a lot to do with the design of Reichert/Leica ultramicrotomes) said that it is possible on modern instruments to cut 5 or 6 mm across by 12 mm in length. For TEM examination, ther grid size is the limiting factor! I have cut 2.5 x 2.5. mm ultrathinns for TEM. Someone else here has cut roughly the same size 0.5-1.0 micrometers thick, without a "boat"/water bath, of freeze-dried tissue, dry mounted, for x-ray microanalysis.
I would say that 5 x 5 mm, 1 micron thick should not be a problem for the instrument providing that the approach and trimming is done carefully and that the specimen is not very hard. The specimen should section easily, if it "sticks" on the knife and doesn't pass to cut a section then I would think again.
Hi Pavel: I don't know about Piperine, maybe somebody else can help with that. However, Meltmounts are available in a range of several refractive indices, including 1.68 and 1.704. The Meltmount quickstick is applied to a slide on a hotplate and after mounting the coverslip, the medium instantly solidifies at room temperature. The coverslip may be removed at anytime by re-heating the slide. Disclaimer: Meltmount-Quickstick are available from PST and other microscopy suppliers. 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, January 30, 1999 5:24 AM, SROUBEK [SMTP:pasroube-at-mtu.edu] wrote: } } I am looking for a mounting medium with a high } optical index (around 1.7). Once I used something } called piperin (n=1.68). Could you please let me know } where can one obtain such products? } } Thanks } } Pavel Sroubek } } pasroube-at-mtu.edu
Dorota, I also have a Reichert ultracut and it does fine with very large thick sections. Knives tend to suffer however. Depending on your sample, you may find that you'll need a diamond histo knife. Glass however will also work . MG Engle Electron Microscopy & Imaging Facility University of Kentucky
Have you been experiencing trouble with vibration before now?
I'm on the 4th floor of my building, which has a lot of activity during the day. In my lab there are 4 sectioning stations with ultramicrotomes lined up in the same room, sited against the same wall. Three are on marble tables, one is on a 'floating' table.
Hands down, the N2-damped table beats out the marble tables.
For any critical work, the microtome on the floating table is usable at any hour of the day, while those on marble tables usually must be used after-hours, after traffic in the building has eased. The vibration in the floor is easily visible in the water's surface on any of the 3 marble tables; it is damped out in the N2-table. Well worth the investment.
Good luck! Ann Lehman EM Facility Mgr Trinity College Hartford, CT v 860-297-4289 f 860-297-2538 e ann.lehman-at-exchange.cc.trincoll.edu
-----Original Message----- } From: Gerroir, Paul J [mailto:Paul.Gerroir-at-crt.xerox.com] Sent: Friday, January 29, 1999 2:44 PM To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com
January 29, 1999
Fellow Microscopists, I am soliciting your comments on what you consider the best approach to damp vibrations when using a light microscope. We are in the process of redesigning our light microscopy/image analysis work area and have a choice between a conventional marble table and a Newport BenchTop vibration isolation system (pneumatic). Which should it be? Are there other possibilities to consider?
Thanks for a moment of your time. Paul
Paul J. Gerroir Microscopy Materials Characterization Xerox Research Centre of Canada 2660 Speakman Drive Mississauga, Ontario L5K 2L1
We do a lot of extremely sensitive micromanipulation work here with the LM and have a few very effective anti-vibration systems.
We placed a heavy slab (approx. 400lb) 2' x 3' of Boiler Plate Steel on top of about 150 tennis balls on a well supported bench. The steel is well-protected and finished to make a clean, safe work area. Total cost was about $250. Cdn.
If you'd like more details, you can contact me off-line.
Karen Rethoret Microscopy Lab York University Toronto, Ont. 416-736-2100 x33289
On Fri, 29 Jan 1999, Gerroir, Paul J 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } January 29, 1999 } } Fellow Microscopists, } I am soliciting your comments on what you consider the best approach to damp } vibrations when using a light microscope. We are in the process of } redesigning our light microscopy/image analysis work area and have a choice } between a conventional marble table and a Newport BenchTop vibration } isolation system (pneumatic). Which should it be? Are there other } possibilities to consider? } } Thanks for a moment of your time. } Paul } } Paul J. Gerroir } Microscopy } Materials Characterization } Xerox Research Centre of Canada } 2660 Speakman Drive } Mississauga, Ontario L5K 2L1 } } Phone: (905) 823-7091, ext. 216 } FAX: (905) 822-7022 } e-mail: paul.gerroir-at-crt.xerox.com } }
Research Opportunities Mount Sinai School of Medicine is a leader in medical research and education. The establishment of our new Microscopy Center has created opportunities for experienced Microscopists with a BS/BA or MS in Biology or Life Sciences. All applicants should have excellent organizational and communication skills, an understanding of basic laboratory procedures, and the ability to manage a large and varied workload.
Electron Microscopist The successful candidate will participate in ultrastructural studies of various biological systems. Qualifications include at least 2 years of experience in routine electron microscopy procedures (TEM, SEM), ultramicrotomy, immunogold labelling, specimen preparation, photographic darkroom work, and routine maintenance of equipment. Individuals with immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy experience are desirable. Code: EM
Light Microscopist The successful candidate will participate in biomedical studies that use a variety of advanced light microscopic techniques. Duties will include maintaining equipment, instructing users in equipment operation, and sample preparation. Qualifications include at least 2 years of experience in fluorescence and confocal microscopy, immunofluorescence labelling, in situ hybridization, digital imaging and analysis, cell culture, and histological techniques. Strong computer skills are essential. Code: LM
We offer a salary commensurate with experience and excellent benefits. For consideration, please mail your resume, which must indicate code for position of interest, to:
Scott Henderson, Ph.D., Director, Microscopy Center, Box 1007, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029-6574
http://www.careermosaic.com/mountsinai
We are an equal opportunity employer fostering diversity in the workplace.
______________________________
Scott Henderson, Ph.D. Director of Microscopy, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Dept. of Cell Biology & Anatomy, Box 1007, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029-6574
Paul, we use a combination of marble tables and pneumatic shock absorbers on our microscopes. We have been very happy with the results. One of our microscopes has the bench top vibration table which is also very good.
At 02:44 PM 1/29/99 -0500, Gerroir, Paul J wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Hi Doug: Try this paper. You will have to adapt the protocol to fit your needs. If you have any questions please feel free to call.
Coller, Barry S., Kutok, J.L., Scudder, L.E., Galanakis, D.K., West, S.M., Rudomen, G.S., Springer, K.T. . Studies of Activated GPIIb/IIIa Receptors on the Luminal Surface of Adherent Platelets: Paradoxical Loss of Luminal Receptors When Platelets Adhere to High Density Fibrinogen. J. Clin. Invest. (1993) Vol. 92, pp. 2796-2806.
Doug Matthews wrote:
} Hi everyone, } } I'm interested in doing some immuno work with the SEM. Basically } tagging colloidal gold onto a surface antigen on cultured cells. I've got } some old information and papers but as for up-to-date methodologies, I'm a } little sketchy. Does anyone have any good review papers on the use of immuno } surface markers w/ SEM (preferably colloidal gold?) Nothing too fancy. In } case it helps, I'm specifically looking at phosphotidylserine exposed on the } outer membrane leaflet during apoptosis in a cultured line of CML cells. } Thanks in advance. } } Doug Matthews } Providence College } }
-- 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. ***************************************
Hi! Thanks to all of you who responded to my posting. All suggestions are very helpful. I forgot to add that the tissue (lung from rat) is embedded in Epon/Araldite. It is not cryosectioning. Thanks again Dorota
I am submitting a request for a faculty member who is not a member of the list. The researcher wishes to locate, for sale, antibodies and/or conjugated antibodies for Salmonella, Clostridium and Campylobacter.
Any replies may be directed to my e-mail address and not to the list.
With Best Wishes,
Bill Monroe
Bill Monroe EM Center Mississippi State University (601)-325-3019 Lab Fax 325-0246
Greetings, I'm looking for a conductive epoxy (for materials science use) in which I can embed metal samples, sand and polish, and then look at them in a field emission SEM. I have seen this used at other facilities, so I know it exists. I found something at Electron Microscopy Sciences that I thought might work, but the product has been discontinued. Does anyone know of an epoxy that can be used for the above application?
Any replies can be directed to me personally.
Thank you, Kevin Croat tkc-at-howdy.wustl.edu Dept. of Physics Washington University in St. Louis
Thanks to all those who responded to my question about resin problems. I got a number of good suggestions, mostly related to storage (most people thought storing resins in the fridge was unnecessary and probably a bad idea), use of accelerator (several people suggested that I switch to BDMA or add DMP-30 to all infiltrating steps) or water contamination in any of the components (several people suggested replacing all resins). We will definitely be following up. Many thanks for taking the time to reply.
Marie
Dr. Marie E. Cantino Dept. of Physiology and Neurobiology University of Connecticut Storrs, CT 06269-2131 Phone: 860-486-3588 Fax: 860-4861936
The Microscopy Society of America (MSA) and the MSA Technologists' Forum are the sponsors of the Professional Technical Staff Awards (PTSA) to provide assistance on a competitive basis to full-time professional staff who submit papers for presentation at Microscopy and Microanalysis '99 (M&M '99). The deadline (15 February 1999) is fast approaching! Eligible applicants: you are encouraged to submit an abstract and supporting documentation. Managers: you are encouraged to support eligible staff members in this effort. Please read the following, taken from the M&M '99 Registration Bulletin, for more information.
It is the intent of this award to stimulate attendance at M&M '99 for professional technical staff who ordinarily might not participate in the meeting, and to encourage employers to support their staff in professional activities. Awardees will be selected based on the quality of an abstract submitted for presentation at M&M '99. The applicant must be the first author of the submitted abstract. Applicants must be full paid-up members of MSA at the time of application. The awards consist of free full registration for the meeting, a copy of the Proceedings and the Sunday evening social event. MSA will reimburse awardees up to $600 for travel, lodging and other expenses. There will be a maximum of four awards given. Successful applicants must present their abstracts personally at M&M '99 in order to receive the award. They are expected to attend and participate in the entire meeting. Former winners will not be eligible for another award. Applications shall consist of: (1) a supporting letter from the applicant's employer, manager or supervisor, attesting to the applicant's status as a full-time professional staff member; (2) a scientific abstract (original and 4 photocopies) for presentation, as described in the Registration Bulletin, accompanied by a completed Data Form (available on-line at http://resolution.umn.edu:591/MandM/DataEntry.html, or if inaccessible, by calling the Meeting Manager at 708/361-6045; electronic submission of the Data Form is encouraged); (3) a copy of the abstract to be sent by 15 February 1999 to the Chair of the Technologists' Forum: Ms. Beverly E. Maleeff, SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals, Safety Assessment-US, UE0462, 709 Swedeland Road, King of Prussia, PA 19406. Phone: 610/270-7987; Fax: 610/270-7202; e-mail: Beverly_E_Maleeff-at-sbphrd.com. In order to be considered, completed applications must be received by 15 February 1999. Abstracts will be judged by the MSA Technologists' Forum. All applicants will be notified of the outcome in early March. Applicants not receiving the award will have the opportunity to withdraw their abstract if necessary.
Regards, Bev Maleeff Chair, MSA Technologists' Forum
I'd like to thank all those who responsed to my question. It is clear now that we should use double glid (Ni) instead glue to hold the sammple. Attached are messages I've received.
} From zrdai-at-u.washington.edu Mon Feb 1 16:06:29 1999
You might consider the following, (a thick, rather crude adhesive). It is: Sauereisen Insa-Lute adhesive, No. 1 paste. We used it to hold U-Si slices for polishing mechanically. The as mounted slices were then ion irradiated in a UHV vacuum chamber at 350 C approximately. The glue held pretty well, but can't be dissolved-unless the company has a special solvent. It outperformed several "high temp" glues that I tried on hotplate tests. Source: Sauereisen 160 Gamma Drive Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, 15238-2989
Phone: (412) 963-0303 FAX: (412) 963-7620
Bernard Kestel Materials Science Div. 9700 So. Cass Ave. Argonne, Ill., 60439
} From stephan-at-gecko.biol.wits.ac.za Mon Feb 1 16:06:29 1999
I was wondering if anyone in the microscopic community could recommend an outfit that can polish petrographic thin sections for EMP work. I need to can the samples processed within a month timeframe and I am willing to pay some for this. Many thanks
The Emory University Neurology Microscopy Laboratory, the University of Georgia Botany Department EM Laboratory, and Leica Microsystems, Inc.
Present a Cryo Techniques and Immunogold Workshop.
April 18-23, 1999 at the Campus of Emory University in Atlanta, GA.
Objectives
1. To provide researchers the opportunity to learn the theory and practice of cryo techniques for biological sample preparation and immunogold labeling.
2. To permit participants to process their own samples using these techniques under expert guidance.
I was requested to identify a crystal phase of small (5-7 micron) alumina particles embedded into copper. There are only a few particles, and all of them are on the surface. Any ideas how it can be done?
Thanks,
Alexander Titkov Millennium Inorganic Chemicals PO Box 245 Bunbury WA 6231 Australia Ph 61 8 9780 8505 W FAX 61 8 9780 8500 E-mail: atitkov-at-micl.com.au
Do any of you probers out there have a spare TAP crystal for a JEOL 8600/733 probe that they may be willing to sell? ..we've had something of an accident..
Thanks,
Stu -------------------------------------------- Stuart Kearns Electron Microbeam Laboratories Department of Earth Sciences University of Bristol Queens Road Bristol BS8 1RJ UK tel: (0)117 954 5435 fax: (0)117 925 3385 e-mail: Stuart.Kearns-at-bristol.ac.uk http://eugf.gly.bris.ac.uk --------------------------------------------
When I was an undergraduate research assistant at Wash U, I worked in the McDonnell Center for the Space Sciences. They were using an epoxy called E-7 which I have been using ever since. It comes in two parts (A & B) which you mix in a 2 to 1 ratio. Curing time is 2 hours at 150 degrees F. If cured right, there is really no outgassing or beam damage, even at higher micrprobe currents. Contact Pat Swan on the 4th floor, he might still use it. You can buy it from:
Techkits PO Box 105 Demerest, NJ 07627 201-768-7334
The latest price was $17.25/set for {10 sets. Hope this helps, Lou Ross Senior Electron Microscope Specialist Room 101 Department of Geological Sciences University of Missouri Columbia, MO 65211 (573) 882-4777 (573) 882=5458 fax www.missouri.edu/~geosclmr/ebaf.html
American Lab will be running an extensive review of new equipment being displayed at the upcoming PITTCON meeting (March 7-11, Orlando). For the first time, microscopy and related imaging will have its own section, as part of the on-going FOCUS ON MICROSCOPY column. If you are: (1) showing products which have not been exhibited or presented at a prior PITTCON and/or (2) introducing new products at this PITTCON please send copies of press kits, press releases, slides/product shots, and any other information to me at the address below. Indicate on the envelope that this is for the PITTCON Microscopy/Imaging review.
This article will need to go to press shortly after the meeting, so if I can get a head start on your materials, I would greatly appreciate it. Also, I will be on the show floor, following through on any materials received, so please enclose your booth number, name of a pertinent contact, and, if possible, a selection of times when they might be in your booth.
This article will appear in the May issue of American Lab.
Please call/email if you have any questions. Thanks in advance for your assistance.
Best regards, Barbara Foster Microscopy/Marketing & Education 125 Paridon Street, Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com
Contributing editor to American Lab ("Focus on Microscopy" column)
"Jeff" wrote: ============================================== Good Day,
Does anyone know of a dry etch that has a high selectivity to etch SiO2 preferentially to Si? We need to image these samples in a SEM. ================================================= This is usually done in a plasma etcher, using CF4 or some other reactive F gas of the more expensive types. You can get more information about this on our website given below. Typically, in a 100 watt barrel etcher, you can remove 1 um of SiO2 in about 30 minutes. The process is completely dry and is used in failure analysis laboratories.
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: www.2spi.com ############################ ==================================================
We are beginning to use the Historesin plus embedding medium supplied by Leica for immunocytochemistry of the retina by light microscopy. We will be using the images to count photoreceptor and retinal pigment epithelial cells of animals fed special diets to examine the effects of nutrition on the retina. I would like to communicate with others who have used this product to learn the best ways of storing material to preserve immunoreactivity for long periods of time and to share information on other technical issues.
You can respond to me directly at the address below.
Max Snodderly, Ph.D. Schepens Eye Research Institute 20 Staniford Street Boston, MA 02114, USA
In a message dated 2/1/99 9:03:47 PM Eastern Standard Time, kjtobin-at-uic.edu writes:
{ { I was wondering if anyone in the microscopic community could recommend an outfit that can polish petrographic thin sections for EMP work. I need to can the samples processed within a month timeframe and I am willing to pay some for this. } }
We recommend:
Mineral Optics Laboratory 29 "A" Street, P. O. Box 828 Wilder, Vermont 05088 USA 802-295-9373 802-295-7540 (FAX)
Yours truly, Steve Stokowski Stone Products Consultants Concrete Petrographers 10 Clark Street, Suite A Ashland, Massachusetts, 01721 USA 508-881-6364 http://members.aol.com/CrushStone/petro.htm
This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --------------4E22A9E6F82BC6E885E5F83D Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Hello to all!
I am looking for a set of negative cassettes (30 plates), a cassette magazine box, and a cassette receiver box for Hitachi-600 TEM. Please let me know if any of you or your friends have a Hitachi TEM being taken down apart and wants to give away or trade these things.
Thanks in advance.
Gang Ning EM Facility Medical College of Wisconsin 414-456-8344
--------------4E22A9E6F82BC6E885E5F83D Content-Type: text/x-vcard; charset=us-ascii; name="vcard.vcf" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Description: Card for Gang Ning Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="vcard.vcf"
begin: vcard fn: Gang Ning n: Ning;Gang org: Medical College of Wisconsin email;internet: gning-at-mcw.edu title: Ph.D. x-mozilla-cpt: ;0 x-mozilla-html: FALSE version: 2.1 end: vcard
This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --------------270C3E9348A24106DB53A0D9 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Hello to all!
I am looking for a set of negative cassettes (30 plates), a cassette magazine box, and a cassette receiver box for Hitachi-600 TEM. Please let me know if any of you or your friends has a Hitachi TEM being taken down apart and wants to give away or trade these things.
Thanks in advance.
Gang Ning EM Facility Medical College of Wisconsin 414-456-8344
--------------270C3E9348A24106DB53A0D9 Content-Type: text/x-vcard; charset=us-ascii; name="vcard.vcf" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Description: Card for Gang Ning Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="vcard.vcf"
begin: vcard fn: Gang Ning n: Ning;Gang org: Medical College of Wisconsin email;internet: gning-at-mcw.edu title: Ph.D. x-mozilla-cpt: ;0 x-mozilla-html: FALSE version: 2.1 end: vcard
Colleagues will be growing Vero cells (Green Monkey Kidney Cells) and intestinal epithelial cells on cover slips for subsequent ultrathin sectioning and TEM examination. I am interested to know which cover slips are best to use for this purpose. Can they be purchased sterile? I have checked the Ted Pella and EMS catalogs, they both sell non sterile cellulose acetate cover slips. Are there compatibility issues with resins and solvents? I am interested in any tips or tricks to smooth the way. Thanks, Sally Burns
Sally Burns Center for Electron Optics B5 Pesticide Research Center Michigan State University East Lansing, MI 48823 (517) 355-5004 Phone (517) 353-5598 FAX
I need some microneedles to dislodge some very fine particles (micron size) on my sample but still flexible enough to bend. Any information is appreciated.
As an electron microscopist who has come from a neurophysiology background, I have used various fine needles for "dusting" off debris. You need to find the one that feels right.
Cat whiskers are long, pointy, strong, and flexible. They are particularly good for chasing tiny bubbles out of microelectrodes or capillary tubes.
Finely drawn glass. Heat a pipet or rod over a Bunsen burner and draw it out until it breaks. Find somewhere along the long string that has the right size and flexibility, but won't break and leave more debris!
Cactus spines. They come in many shapes and sizes. Also useful for pinning down things for dissection that can't come into contact with metal.
Find someone in neurobiology who does microelectrode recording and get them to make some electrodes, which are capillary tubes drawn to a very fine point. You can probably get some in the micron range. Beveled, even!
Insect Minutin pins mounted on a stick are very strong, but may scratch your substrate. They can be ground down for a finer point.
Eyelashes, beard hair, and other body hairs each have different properties. Have fun experimenting.
Good luck!
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* ****************************************************************************
We have used tungsten needles of about that dimension with our high- voltage electron microscope.. what we were looking for was a rather rigid "needle point" on which to mount micron sized objects. It was found that when we attempted to move these small specimens around and to get them to stick to the needles, the needles would bent very easily when they contacted the glass slides our specimens were prepared on. So you might try tungsten. We made them by electrolytically etching 5 mil. tungsten wires in NaNo3 solution, connecting the tungsten wire and a small graphite rod (1/8 inch dia.) to each of the terminals of a 6 volt AC transformer ( yes AC! ) and dipping both into the solution.The graphite rod was dipped well into the solution but the wtungsten would be dipped only an 1/8 inch or less below the surface. After a number minutes the wire would etch to a very small point, which could be examined under a light microscope until it was small enough for the application. Good luck.
For TEM of cultured cells, we grow the cultures on "Thermanox" tissue culture coverslips. From Nalge Nunc INternational, 50 sterile coverslips, 13 mm in diameter is catalog 174950. EMS also sells these thermanox cover slips in a variety of sizes (see page 143 of their cat XIII). The coverslips can be treated with all the same chemistry as tissue including propylene oxide and Spurrs epoxy, which are two components which solubilize polystyrene. These thermanox coverslips can be sunk cell side up in freshly made Spurrs, then following polymerization the coverslips can be removed by first sawing a small area of the epoxy/cell/substrate, then immersing in liquid nitrogen for a few seconds, then prying away the substrate. Now the embedded cells are immediate on the epoxy. Re-embed two fragments of the culture face to face for cross-sections, or cut the block parallel to the face for tangential sections. We particularly like the round 13 mm thermanox coverslips for immunocytochemistry of cultured cells since they can be floated cell side down in a drop of 100 microlitters antibody - gold conjugate, conserving reagents.
If you would like to grow a larger culture, you could also use "permanox" culture dishes, which are equally resistant to chemicals common in TEM processing. These are also available through EMS and other suppliers.
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
Orlando in March!!!! To Register follow the local meetings in www.vacuum.org or http://www.msa.microscopy.com
Over 30 Invited Talks, 40 vendors, and over 40 student posters!
Golf Tourny on Sunday March 14 - www.pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~ampac
AVS short courses and UCF/Vendor Sponsored Short Courses in Tripod Polisher and FIB TEM Specimen Preparation see www.pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~ampac -----------------------------
Monday March 15, 1999
Opening and Keynote Address
8:00-8:15 am Welcome and Introduction, Lucille Giannuzzi, 1999 FL AVS/FSM Program Chair
8:15-9:00 am Keynote Address, Sam Durrance, Astronaut, Professor, University of Central Florida
Monday, March 15, 1999
Session I: Thin Films
Session Moderator: Maggie Puga-Lambers, University of Florida
9:00-9:25 am Tim Anderson, Chemical Eng. Dept., University of Florida
9:25-9:50 am CONCENTRATION DEPTH PROFILING OF IMPURITIES AND DOPANTS IN FLAT PANEL DISPLAYS AND GLASSES BY SIMS, Temel Buyuklimanli, Evans East
9:50-10:15 am MODIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF DEFECT STATES IN ZnO FILMS, Gregory J. Exarhos and Charles F. Windisch, Jr., Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
10:15-10:45 am Coffee Break
10:45-11:10 am FUNDAMENTALS OF TUNGSTEN CMP DURING CMOS DEVICE FABRICATION, Rajiv Singh, Engineering Research Center for Particle Science and Technology, University of Florida
11:10-11:35 am SURFACE ANALYSIS APPLICATIONS IN SEMICONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGY, Bridget Rogers, Vanderbilt University
11:35-12:00 pm THE INFLUENCE OF AIR ON THE PROPERTIES OF THIN FILMS DEPOSITED FROM BEAMS OF NANOPARTICLES USING A COPPER SOURCE, F. K. Urban, III, A. Khabari, A. Housseini-Tehrani, P. Griffiths, and G. Fernandez
12:00-1:00 pm Lunch Monday, March 15, 1999
Session II: Microscopy of Biological Samples
Session Moderator: Karl Muffly, University of South Florida Jo Ann Moore, University of South Florida
9:00-9:25 am DIGITAL MANIPULATION OF ACQUIRED IMAGES, WHAT IS POSSIBLE VS. WHAT IS ETHICAL, John Kinnamon, University of Denver and The Rocky Mountain Taste and Smell Center
9:25-9:50 am THE USE OF CORRELATIVE MICROSCOPY IN BIOLOGICAL PROBLEM SOLVING, Ralph Albrecht, University of Wisconsin
9:50-10:15 am APPLICATIONS OF A 300 KV, FIELD EMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPE IN STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY, Kenneth A. Taylor, Florida State University Institute for Molecular Biophysics
10:15-10:45 am Coffee Break
10:45-11:10 am DECONVOLUTION VS STANDARD FLUORESCENCE MICROSCOPY, Karl Muffly, University of South Florida College of Medicine
11:10-11:35 am SURFACE AND MICROSCOPIC ANALYSIS OF BIOMATERIALS AS THEY CHANGE IN VIVO: HOW FAR ARE WE FROM NEEDED DATA?, Chris Batich and Anthony Brennan, University of Florida
11:35-12:00 pm CARBOHYDRATE DEPOSITION PATTERNS IN ETIOLATED SOYBEAN SEEDLINGS GROWN IN MICROGRAVITY, E.C. Stryjewski, NASA Gravitational Biology Laboratory, Dynamac Corp., K.M. Johnson, National Research Council, NASA/KSC, W.C. Piastuch1, H.G. Levine1, and L.H. Levine, NASA Gravitational Biology Laboratory, Dynamac Corp., O. Martynenko3, and V. Prima,, Institute for Molecular Biology and Genetics, National Academy Of Sciences, Ukraine
12:00-1:00 pm Lunch
1:30-3:30 pm WORKSHOP ON MANIPULATING DIGITAL IMAGES, John Kinnamon, University of Denver and The Rocky Mountain Taste and Smell Center
3:30-4:00 pm Florida Society for Microscopy Annual Business Meeting
3:30-6:00 pm Competition Session and Student Competition (Session IV) Monday, March 15, 1999
Session III: Surface Science and Analysis
Session Moderators: Sudipta Seal, University of Central Florida
1:00-1:25 pm WETTABILITY AND INTERFACES IN METAL/NITRIDE SYSTEMS, Natalia Sobczak, Foundry Research Institute, Cracow, POLAND
1:25-1:50 pm SOFT X-RAY FLUORESCENCE SPECTROSCOPY IN MATERIALS SCIENCE, E. Joseph Nordgren, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
1:50-2:15 pm MAGNETIC PHASE DIAGRAMS OF ULTRA-THIN FILM BINARY ALLOYS FOR SPIN-VALVE APPLICATIONS, Brian Tonner, University of Central Florida
2:15-2:40 pm PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF HIGH RESOLUTION XPS WITH MONOCHROMATIC AlKA X-RAYS, A.C. Miller, Lehigh University
2:40-3:05 pm STUDIES OF OXIDATION AND CORROSION USING AN ANAEROBIC CELL APPROACH, Peter M.A. Sherwood, Kansas State University
3:05-3:30 pm MICRO-ESCA/NEXAFS AT A THIRD GENERATION SYNCHROTRON LIGHT SOURCE, J. H. Underwood, U. Kleineberg, S. Mrowka, P. J. Batson, S. B. Rekawa, M. S. Jones, R. C. C. Perera, P. N. Ross, University of California, Berkeley
3:30-4:00 pm Coffee Break
3:30-6:00 pm Competition Session and Student Competition (Session IV)
Monday, March 15, 1999
Session IV: Poster Session
Session Moderators: Larry Plew, Cirent Semiconductor
CHARACTERIZATION AND SURFACE ANALYSIS OF HYDROXOCARBONATE COMPOUNDS, B. B. Adhyaru, K. R. Williams, and V.Y. Young, University of Florida
INTERFACIAL REACTIONS BETWEEN METAL/P-GaN FOR FORMATION OF OHMIC CONTACTS, M. Ahonen, B. Liu, P.H. Holloway, University of Florida
SURFACE METASTABLE STRUCTURE OF KTa03 (001) BY HELIUM ATOM SCATTERING, E. A. Akhadov, T. W. Trelenberg, J. A. Li, J. G. Skofronick, S. A. Safron, Florida State University and L. A. Boatner, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
SIMS STUDY OF DIFFUSION PHENOMENA OF METAL ELEMENTS IMPLANTED INTO SILICON, Elvira V. Anoshkina,a,b) Hughes Francois-Saint-Cyr,a,b,c) Ashfaq Hussain,a,b) , Isaiah Oladeji,d) Fred A. Stevie,e) Lee Chow,b,d) Dan Zhou a-dUniversity of Central Florida, eCirent Semiconductor
FAILURE ANALYSIS : AN AES-SEM STUDY, K. R. Beaulieu, (UNDERGRADUATE) A. S. Kale, S. Seal, V. Desai, University of Central Florida
IDENTIFICATION OF SURFACE CHEMICAL FUNCTIONAL GROUPS IN POLYMER MEMBRANES: AN X-RAY PHOTOELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY STUDY, Sharon D. Beverly 1,2, Satyajit V. Shukla, 3,4 Seungkwan Hong, 2 and Sudipta Seal3, 4, 1NASA, 2-4University of Central Florida
STUDY OF CORROSION FAILURES UNDER ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS, L.A. Bracho, V. H. Desai, S. Seal, University of Central Florida
ANISOTROPIC PATTERN TRANSFER IN GaN BY PHOTO-ENHANCED WET ETCHING, Hyun Cho(1), S.M. Donovan(1), C.R. Abernathy(1), J. Han(2), R.J. Shul(2), F. Ren(3) and S.J. Pearton(1), (1) & (3) University of Florida (2) Sandia National Laboratories
NOVEL EMITTER BASE SELF-ALIGNED PROCESS FOR AlGaN/GaN HETEROJUCTION BIPOLAR TRANSISTORS, X. A. Cao1, H. Cho1, S. J. Pearton1, C. R. Abernathy1, F. Ren1, J. Han2, R. J. Shul2, and A. G. Baca2, 1 University of Florida, 2 Sandia National Laboratories
HELIUM ISOLATION IMPLANT FOR GALLIUM NITRIDE BASED FIELD EFFECT TRANSISTORS, G. Dang1, X. Cao1, F. Ren1, S.J. Pearton1, J. Hang2, and R. J. Shul2, 1University of Florida, 2Sandia National Labs
CAPILLARIZATION OF SKELETAL MUSCLE IN RATS UNDERGOING HEART FAILURE, Hans Degens, Rebecca K. Anderson, Karl E. Muffly and Stephen E. Always, University of South Florida
UN-ANNEALED AND ANNEALED PD ULTRA-THIN FILM ON SIC CHARACTERIZED BY ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPY, SCANNING TUNNELING MICROSCOPY, AND X-RAY PHOTOELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY, K. Elshot, Mechanical Materials and Aerospace Engineering, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32826, W. Lu, D.T. Shi,E. Bryant, K. Lafate, H. Chen, A. Burger, W. E. Collins, Department of Physics, Fisk University, Nashville, TN 37208
FUNDAMENTAL PROPERTIES ON E-BEAM EVAPORATED ZnS:Mn AND Zn1-xMgxS:Mn ELECTROLUMINESCENT THIN FILMS, Tao Feng, Mark Davidson, Paul Holloway, University of Florida
DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING OF A COMPUTERIZED DATA ACQUISITION AND CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A NANOPARTICLE DEPOSITION SYSTEM, Frank K. Urban and G Fernandez, Florida International University, Miami, Florida
CHARACTERIZATION OF THE DIFFUSION PROPERTIES OF Mg, Cl, K, Ge, AND Mo IN SILICON BY SIMS, Hughes Francois-Saint-Cyr,a,b,c) Elvira V. Anoshkina,a,b) Ashfaq Hussain,a,b) ,Fred A. Stevie,e) Lee Chow,c,d) Kathleen Richardson, a,b,c) and Dan Zhou a,b), a-dUniversity of Central Florida, eCirent Semiconductor
A STUDY OF THE SURFACE COMPOSITION OF KTAO3 DOPED WITH CA, BA, SR, AND NB, P.W. Gresser Florida State University
NOZZLE DESIGN IN A DIFFERENTIALLY PUMPED NANO-PARTICLE INSTRUMENT, Peter D. Griffiths and Frank K. Urban, Florida International University
INTERFACIAL CHRACTERISTICS OF AlN TO Si, SiC AND GaN, K. Harris, B. P. Gila, F. Ren, J. Deroaches, K. N. Lee, J. D. MacKenzie, C. M. Zitterling+, M. Ostling+, S. N. G. Chu**, C. R. Abernathy, and S. J. Pearton, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, +KTH, Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, **Bell Laboratories, Lucent Technologies
SELECTIVE DRY ETCHING USING INDUCTIVELY COUPLED PLASMAS: GaAs/AlGaAs AND GaAs/InGaP, D.C. Hays, H. Cho, K.B. Jung, Y.B. Hahn*, C.R. Abernathy, S.J. Pearton, and F. Ren, University of Florida, W.S. Hobson, Bell Laboratories, Lucent Technologies
HOT FILAMENT CVD OF DIAMOND THIN FILMS, Ashfaq Hussain, Lee Chow, and Dan Zhou, University of Central Florida
QUANTITATIVE COMPARISON OF VON WILLBRAND FACTOR (VWF) EXPRESSION IN HUMAN NON-MALIGNANT AND MALIGNANT TISSUE USING CONFOCAL LASER SCANNING MICROSCOPY (Undergraduate), D Janarious, J Biggerstaff, JL Francis, Walt Disney Memorial Cancer Institute
DIETARY MODIFICATION AND THE ALZHEIMER'S-LIKE PHENOTYPE IN mAPP/mPS1 TRANSGENIC MICE, P.T. Jantzen, M.N. Gordon and D.G. Morgan, University of South Florida
COMPARISON OF CHARACTERISTICS DRY ETCHING OF LaCaMnO3, NiMnSb AND NiFe THIN FILMS, K. B .Jung(1), Hyun Cho(1), J. J. Wang(1), J. Caballero(1), Tao Feng(1), J. R. Childress(2), K. H. Dahmen(3) and S. J. Pearton(1), (1)University of Florida, (2)IBM Almaden Research Center (3)Florida State University
FABRICATION OF DC-MAGNETRON SPUTTERED 70Ti-30Al THIN FILMS, A. S. Kale, K. R. Beaulieu, K. B. Sundaram, V. H. Desai, S. Seal, University of Central Florida
THE ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPY INVETIGATION OF THIN FILM DEPOSITED FROM NANOPARTICLE SOURSE, F.K. Urban, A. Khabari, Florida International University
COMPARISON OF ZnS:TbOF THIN FILMS DEPOSITED BY R.F MAGNETRON SPUTTERING USING ZnS, TbOF MIXED TARGET AND SEPERATED ZnS,TbOF TARGETS, Jongpyo Kim, Mark Davidson, Barbara Speck, David Moorehead, Qing Zhai, and Paul Holloway, University of Florida
ELECTRON BEAM DEGRADATION OF OXIDE AND SULFIDE THIN FILM PHOSPHORS FOR FIELD EMMISION DISPLAYS, Caroline A. Kondoleon, Billie Abrams, Philip Rack* and Paul Holloway, University of Florida, Rochester Institute of Technology
ELECTRON CYCLOTRON RESONANCE CHEMICAL VAPOR DEPOSITED SILICON NITRIDE FOR T-GATE PASSIVATION, J. LaRoche1, F. Ren1, S.J. Pearton1, J. R. Lothian2, J.W. Lee3, and D. Johnson3, 1University of Florida, 2Multiplex Inc, 3Plasma-Therm, Incorporated
DRY ETCHING OF BaSrTiO3 AND LaNiO3 THIN FILMS IN INDUCTIVELY COUPLED PLASMAS, K. P. Lee, K. B. Jung, A.Srivastava, D. Kumar, R. K. Singh and S. J. Pearton, University of Florida
EFFECTS OF Ni THICKNESS ON Ni/Ti/Ag OHMIC CONTACT TO p-GaN, B. Liu, M. H. Ahonen and P. H. Holloway, University of Florida
TITANIUM MAGNESIUM NICKEL ALLOY AND HYDROGEN STORAGE, Janice K. Lomness, Sudipta Seal, Michael D. Hampton, and Meredith Stowell (Undergraduate), University of Central Florida
(Undergradutate) CHARACTERIZATION OF BEAM PRODUCED BY PULSED ARC CLUSTER ION SOURCE, Samantha A. Moore and Anne J. Cox, Eckerd College
COMPARISON OF THE MICROSTRUCTURE AND ELECTROLUMINESCENT PROPERTIES OF ZnS:Mn DEPOSITED BY SPUTTERING AND ATOMIC LAYER EPITAXY, David J. Moorehead Karen E. Waldrip, M.R. Davidson*, J.H. Lee, B. Pathangey*, M.Puga-Lambers*, K.S. Jones, P.H. Holloway, University of Florida, and S.S. Sun and C.N. King, Planar Systems
TRI-LAYER ELECTRON BEAM RESIST FOR SUBMICRON T-GATE GaN BASED FIELD EFFECT TRANSISTORS, M. Mshewa, H. Hudspeth, F. Sharifi, S. J. Pearton, and F. Ren, University of Florida
A MODIFICATION OF THE VARIABLY DAMPED LEAST SQUARE ALGORITHM ASSISTED BY MEASUERED DATA POINTS AND DERIVATIVE PRESELECTION FOR IMPROVEMENT OF SOLUTIONS, J. Pontillo, F.K. Urban, Florida International University
PULSED CURRENT ELECTROMIGRATION, Cross Reardon and Rolf Hummel, University of Florida
ILLUSTRATION OF CAPILLARY PERFUSION IN HYPERTROPHIED CARDIAC MUSCLE USING THE FLUORESCENT DYE, THIOFLAVIN-S, Corey A. Schoder, Hans Degens, Don R. Hilbelink, Karl E. Muffly University of South Florida
FORMATION OF SILVER SULFIDE NANO-PARTICLES BY NOVEL SOL-GEL METHOD FOR INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS, S. Shukla and S. Seal, University of Central Florida
CO-LOCALIZATION OF GLIAL FIBRILLARY ACIDIC PROTEIN (GFAP), OX-42 AND OX-6 IN SPINAL CORD FOLLOWING SCIATIC NERVE DAMAGE, Stacy Sinibaldi, Edward Haller, and Samuel Saporta University of South Florida
CHARACTERIZATION OF THE CONSORTIUM BETWEEN THE RED TIDE CAUSING DINOFLAGELLATE GYMNODINIUM BREVE, AN UNIDENTIFIED BACTERIUM AND A PHAGE, Theresa R. Slifko, Lee Houchin, Anthony Greco, and John H. Paul, University of South Florida
INVESTIGATIONS INTO CHEMICAL MECHANICAL POLISHING OF TUNGSTEN USING VARIOUS ELECTROCHEMICAL AND SURFACE SCIENCE TECHNIQUES, Dnyanesh Tamboli, Sudipta Seal, Vimal Desai University of Central Florida
THE MINERAL CONTENT AND CELLULAR STRUCTURE OF HETEROTOPIC BONE, Gregory S. Taylor University of Florida College of Medicine, and Melinda K. Harman and W. Andrew Hodge, Orthopaedic Research Laboratory
EFFECTS OF FIB OPERATING CONDITIONS ON BEAM DAMAGE OCCURRING IN SILICON TEM SAMPLES, C.A. Urbanik, B.I. Prenitzer, L.A. Giannuzzi, S.R. Brown1, R.B. Irwin1, B. Rossi2 , T.L. Shofner2, and F.A. Stevie1, University of Central Florida, 1Cirent Semiconductor, 2The Bartech Group
IMPROVED PERFORMANCE IN THIN FILM ELECTROLUMINESCENT PHOSPHORS BY DONOR DOPING, K.E. Waldrip, J.S. Lewis, III, Q. Zhai, D. Moorehead, M.R. Davidson*, and P.H. Holloway, University of Florida, and S.S. Sun, Planar Systems, Inc.
EFFECTS OF FLUX AGENTS ON THE MICROSTRUCTURE AND ELECTROLUMINESCENCE OF SPUTTERED ZnS:Mn THIN FILM PHOSPHORS, Qing Zhai, Karen Waldrip, Jay Lewis, Jungpyo Kim, David Moorhead, Jinghong Li, Kevin Jones, and Paul Holloway, Maggie Puga-Lambers, Barbara Speck, and Mark Davidson, Microfebritech, University of Florida
ICP Cl/Ar PLASMA DAMAGE ON GaN SCHOTTKY, A. Zhang1, H. Cho, F. Ren1, S.J. Pearton1, J. M. Van Hove2, P. P. Chow2, R. Hickmand2, J. J. Klaasen2 and R. J. Shul3, 1University of Florida, 2SVT Associates, 3Sandia National Labs
MICROSTRUCTURE EVALUATION OF STRESS CORROSION CRACKING USING FIB TECHNIQUES, Hanlin Zhang, Brian Kempshall, Carrie Urbanik and Lucille A. Giannuzzi, University of Central Florida
Tuesday, March 16, 1999
Session V: Microscopy of Physical Samples
Session Moderator: Lucille A. Giannuzzi, University of Central Florida
8:30-8:55 am ANALYTICAL MICROSCOPY IN THE REAL SEMICONDUCTOR PROCESSING WORLD, Ron Anderson, IBM Analytical Services
8:55-9:20 am FIB APPLICATIONS IN MATERIAL SCIENCE PROBLEMS, M.W. Phaneuf, J. Li, G.A. Botton*, L. Weaver, Fibics Incorporated, *Materials Technology Laboratory
9:20-9:45 am FOCUSED ION BEAM IMAGING OF MICROELECTRONIC STRUCTURES, Ann N. Campbell, Sandia National Laboratories
9:45-10:10 am DETERMINATION OF THE COMPOSITION OF GRAIN BOUNDARIES AND INTERFACES BY X-RAY MICROANALYSIS, David B. Williams, Lehigh University
10:10-10:40 am Coffee Break
10:40-11:05 am MATERIALS APPLICATIONS OF ELECTRON HOLOGRAPHY, Altaf Carim, The Pennsylvania State Univeristy
11:05-11:30 am PHASE MAPPING AND PHASE IDENTIFICATION USING ELECTRON BACKSCATTER DIFFRACTION, David J Dingley and Stuart I Wright, TexSEM Laboratories
11:30-11:55 pm AFM, Phil Russell, North Carolina State University
12:00-1:00 pm Lunch and Vendor Talks (Session VI)
Tuesday, March 16, 1999
Session VI: Vendor Presentations
Session Moderators: Fred Stevie, Cirent Semiconductor
12:10-12:20 pm LOW ENERGY ION MILLING FOR TEM, David Henriks, South Bay Technologies
12:20-12:30 pm INNOVATIONS IN MASS FLOW CONTROLLERS FROM UNIT, Greg Vaughan, Schoonover, Inc.
12:30-12:40 pm RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPY, Matt Thompson, Digital Instruments
12:40-12:50 pm NEW PRODUCTS FROM SPECS: Er-LEED, ULTRA HIGH RESOLUTION EEES: DELTA0.5, AND PLASMA UV SOURCE UV300, Dietrich von Diemar, SPECS U.S.A.
Tuesday, March 16, 1999
Session VII: Electronic Materials
Session Moderator: Drew Hoff, University of South Florida
1:00-1:25 pm LOW FIELD ELECTRON EMISSION FROM UNDOPED NANO-STRUCTURED DIAMOND, W. Zhu, G. P. Kochanski and S. Jin, Bell Laboratories, Lucent Technologies
1:25-1:50 pm SYNTHESIS AND APPLICATIONS OF NANOCRYSTALLINE DIAMOND FILMS, Dieter M. Gruen, Argonne National Laboratory
1:50-2:15 pm CHARACTERIZATION OF SHALLOW JUNCTIONS USING SECONDARY ION MASS SPECTROMETRY, Charles W. Magee, I.M. Abdelrehim, T.H. Buyuklimanli, J.T. Marino and W. Ou, Evans East
2:15-2:40 pm NOVEL PROCESSING OF ELECTRONIC MATERIALS, W. V. Lampert, Air Force Research Laboratory, WPAFB, OH
2:40-3:05 pm GaN BASED ELECTRONICS FOR HIGH TMEPERATURE APPLICATION, F. Ren1, S. J. Pearton1, C. R. Abernathy1, J. M. Van Hove2, P. P. Chow2, R. Hickmand2, J. J. Klaasen2, J. Han3, A. G. Baca3, and R. J. Shul3, 1University of Florida, 2SVT Associates, 3Sandia National Labs
3:05-3:30 pm LOW ENERGY IMPLANTATION AND SHALLOW JUNCTIONS IN Si, Kevin Jones, University of Florida
3:30-4:00 pm Coffee Break, Student Awards and Door Prizes
Tripod Polisher, instructor: Ron Anderson March 12-13 FIB, instructors: Lucille Giannuzzi and Fred Stevie March 18-19
in conjunction with the FL AVS/FSM meeting week of March
for information see www.pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~ampac or contact lag-at-mail.ucf.edu
******************************************************************* Lucille A. Giannuzzi, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Dept. of Mechanical, Materials, and Aerospace Eng., University of Central Florida, PO Box 162450, 4000 Central Florida Blvd., Orlando, FL 32816-2450 USA phone (407) 823-5770 fax (407) 823-0208 email lag-at-mail.ucf.edu
Director, UCF/Cirent Materials Characterization Facility, 12443 Research Parkway, Suite 305 Orlando, FL 32826 phone (407) 275-4354,5,6 fax (407) 275-4321 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Good judgement comes from experience.
Experience comes from making bad judgement."
Mark Twain ********************************************************************
Tong - You might find that a glass needle will work for your purpose and you can easily make them yourself to almost any desired thinness. Simply take a thin 8 or 10 inch long glass rod (can be hollow too) and heat near the center with a bunsen burner or other source. After glowing pull the ends apart and you will draw the glass down to a suitable thickness. At the micron level glass is relatively strong for moving particles and as you will find quite flexible.
Dave Joswiak Dept. of Astronomy Univ. of Washington Seattle, WA 98195 (206)543-7702
On Tue, 2 Feb 1999, Tong Wang wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Hi, } } I need some microneedles to dislodge some very fine particles (micron size) } on my sample but still flexible enough to bend. } Any information is appreciated. } } Tong } } } } }
Postdoctoral Positions in Nuclear Materials Science - PD994571
The Materials Science and Processing Group (NMT-11) at Los Alamos National Laboratory is seeking qualified applicants to fill two postdoctoral positions in the science of nuclear materials. Successful candidates will work with technical staff members in the Materials Science and Technology (MST) and Nuclear Materials and Technology (NMT) Divisions. Both positions require the willingness to work on radioactive materials and the ability to obtain a DOE Q clearance (which usually requires US citizenship).
Position One: Electron Microscopy of Plutonium and Ceramic Actinide Waste Forms. The individual will have access to (a) the Electron Microscope Facility in MST for microstructural studies of unirradiated and surrogate materials and (b) the Materials Characterization Facility in NMT for analysis of radioactive materials. Techniques available for this research include SEM, OIM, TEM, HRTEM and STEM. This work will support research efforts in radiation effects in ceramics and plutonium characterization for weapons programs. Candidates must have prior experience in electron microscopy and microanalysis. Contact Jeremy Mitchell (505-665-3934, jeremy-at-lanl.gov) or Kurt Sickafus (505-665-3457 kurt-at-lanl.gov) for further technical information.
Position Two: Radiation Damage in Metals, Self-radiation Damage in Plutonium Metal, Alloys and Compounds. This work is basic research in support of plutonium metallurgy and chemistry for the weapons programs. Candidates must have prior experience in x-ray and/or neutron diffraction and the associated data analysis with GSAS, knowledge of mechanisms of radiation damage in metals and some knowledge of condensed matter physics. The individual will also have access to calorimeters, SEM, OIM, and TEM. Contact Luis Morales (505-665-7703 lmorales-at-lanl.gov) for additional technical information.
A Ph.D. in Materials Science, Metallurgical Engineering, Geosciences, or a related field completed within the last three years or soon to be completed is required. Candidates may compete for a Director's Fellowship and outstanding candidates may be considered for the prestigious J. Robert Oppenheimer, Richard P. Feynman or Frederick Reines Fellowships. Further details about the Postdoctoral Program may be found at: http://www.hr.lanl.gov/postdoc/ For consideration, submit a resume and publications list along with a cover letter outlining current research interests to postdoc-jobs-at-lanl.gov (no attachments, please!)
OR SUBMIT TWO COPIES to:
Postdoc Program Office, PD994571 MS P290 Los Alamos National Laboratory Los Alamos, NM 87545
NOTE: Advertisement #PD994571 must be referenced in the e-mail Subject line (or the address) and cover letter.
Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. Individuals with disabilities needing reasonable accommodation should call (505) 667-8622. A Teletype Device for the Deaf (TDD) is available by calling (505) 665-5357. Los Alamos National Laboratory is operated by the University of California for the US Department of Energy. ============================ Jeremy N. Mitchell MS G730, NMT-11 Los Alamos National Laboratory Los Alamos, NM 87545 Phone: 505-665-3934 Fax: 505-665-4013
Dear Sally, The coverslips that everyone uses is my Thermanox plastic coverslps which are sterile and come in many different sizes depending on your need. They may be found wither in our hard copy catalog or on our website at www.emsdiasum.com. Go to our online catalog and click chapter 7. They are listed under Thermanox. In our hard copy catalog XIII they may be found on page 143. Please let me know if I may be of further assistance to you.
Sincerely, Electron Microscopy Sciences 215-646-1566
The best way I know of preparing pigments for TEM analysis is by blowing an aerosol of the sample dispersed in alcohol/water solution over a hot plate and collecting the sample on a grid placed at the far end of the hot plate. The company I work for is concerned about the safety issues surrounding this so does anybody know of any less hazardous sample preps. or a simple containment facility for the aerosol spray? I thought about building a glass box for containment but are there any commercially available containment/sample prep. units?
Thanks
Brian Manzor e-mail: brian.manzor-at-grmouth.zeneca.com
The best way I know of preparing pigments for TEM analysis is by blowing an aerosol of the sample dispersed in alcohol/water solution over a hot plate and collecting the sample on a grid placed at the far end of the hot plate. The company I work for is concerned about the safety issues surrounding this so does anybody know of any less hazardous sample preps. or a simple containment facility for the aerosol spray? I thought about building a glass box for containment but are there any commercially available containment/sample prep. units?
Thanks
Brian Manzor e-mail: brian.manzor-at-grmouth.zeneca.com
Hi Michael! To avoid tissue curling try 50% or 30% ETOH in the first dehydrating step. You can do dyhradation in cell-culture multiwells. You=B4ll have to remove the specimens if you=B4d like to use Propylene ox= ide because this interacts with the multi-well plastic. If you like to embed the sections flat, do it on silicated glass slides(o= r try a slide, coverd with slightly fatted aluminium foil) , put a drop of Epon/araldite on it, leave it at 45=B0C in the oven (12-24h) and then put= BEEM Capsules filled with Epon/araldit on the top(take care of bubbles!) , polymerize 2 days at 60=B0C. If you can=B4t remove the glass slide easily= , try it with fluid nitrogen. Good luck, Michael
MICHAEL DELANNOY schrieb:
} -----------------------------------------------------------------------= - } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Greetings, } I need assistance with flat embedding of rat cerebellum } (IEM-DAB), that is 100 um thick and 1.5 x 0.5 cm dimensions. Basically } we are worried about tissue curling during the dehydration. My first } inclination is argarose embed (before epon), but I would take any exper= t } advise. } Thank you, } } Mike D
Sprays can be contained to some extent within a box for spraying thin-layer chromatographic plates, 20 x 20 cm or a little larger. This has to be placed in a hood, since it won't catch and retain the smallest droplets. They come in cardboard and plastic versions. I can't find one in VWR, but any big Web catalog with a search capability should lead you to one.
Leonard Corwin Research Chemist Fort Dodge Animal Health Princeton, NJ 08543-0400
Hi all. We have identified a need for some hands on WDS training here in South = Africa. A number of our clients have either changed operators or = upgraded to new integrated systems. So we would like to know if there is = any one who would be able to help with presenting a WDS course here in = South Africa. No need to panic, South Africans do have money and are = willing to pay, not too much mind you.=20
We are open to the course content, however would like to cover a bit of = customer care operations, calibration and set up and then theory and = hands on operation.=20 We will have a Jeol 733 with an Advanced Microbeam / Edax integrated = system available by about June onwards.=20
If any one is interested please let us know so we can discuss details. Thanks
Luc Harmsen=09 Anaspec, South Africa International technical support on microscopy. Tel: +27 (0) 11 476 3455 Fax:+27 (0) 11 476 7290 anaspec-at-icon.co.za
Hello All, Thanks to all those who offered suggestions for the damping of vibrations sometimes experienced when using a light microscope. Once again you have proven to be an ingenious lot! Users have their microscope sitting on platforms supported by any of the following; tennis balls, "sandwiches" of bubble pack and aluminum plates or inner tubes all of which indicates that the pneumatic tables or benchtop isolation systems are preferable to the marble tables. An alternative approach is to support the microscope on a platform beneath which are sandwiched layers of Sorbothane (elastomer) and aluminum plates. One simple suggestion was to "plant" each leg of a conventional table; supporting your microscope, into its own little box of sand. I'm a little wary of this last suggestion as some of the laboratory wildlife might find the sand an attractive litter box!
Regards, Paul
Paul J. Gerroir Microscopy Materials Characterization Xerox Research Centre of Canada 2660 Speakman Drive Mississauga, Ontario L5K 2L1
To Dr. Naseem: TEM results on paraffin processed tissue will only be as good as the processing procedure used by the histology lab. In my experience, most histology labs use a very aggressive protocol, which causes extraction of cellular components to the point where only nuclei and possibly cell membranes might be recognizable. Laboratories that handle large volumes and are concerned with quick turnaround generally dehydrate and clear the heck out of specimens so they don't have to go back and reprocess if something was too big, not well fixed, etc. Our laboratory provides good fixation, gentle dehydration, clearing and infiltration of routine histology specimens so that when I have to do EM on one of these, there is usually enough cellular matrix left to make the effort worthwhile. I have been able to resolve Birbeck bodies, tonofilaments, junctions, microvilli and immune complex deposits (in glomeruli) in paraffin processed specimens. Good luck! Bob Santoianni Emory University Hospital Atlanta, Georgia robert_santoianni-at-emory.org
To process cell cultures for grown on round, 13 mm Thermanox tissue culture cover slips for TEM, we use the following hardware:
For fixation, we use porcelain multi-well dishes. These are what most people refer as "staining dishes". They are white, measure about 3.5 x 4.5" and have 12 depressions. We use these for glutaraldehyde, buffer rinses and OsO4. OsO4 can be completely rinsed from the dishes. Once in the last buffer after OsO4 and prior to ethanols and propylene oxide, we transfer the disks to 50 ml polypropylene culture tubes, such as Fisher 05-539-7 (these are sterile, but certainly it is not necessary to pay for sterile containers). There is plenty of room to enter a pipette for fluid exchange without touching the culture disks, and the culture surface will not touch the walls of the cylindrical tube so there is no worry that the cells will be rubbed off. Given the depth of the tube, we do not worry too much that the culture will dry out as fluids are exchanged, since the atmosphere within the tubes is fairly saturated with solvent vapor. Still, fluid exchange is done quickly. The polypropylene tubes are resistant to P.O. and Spurrs. Do not use tubes made from polystyrene as they will dissolve. Once infiltrated with the last change of epoxy, we fill a resin-resistant container with epoxy to a minimum depth of 5 mm, sink the disk so that the cells face up, then polymerize the epoxy. We steal the polypropylene lids from wheaten snap-cap vials (Fisher #0333520E) which are of the appropriate diameter for embedding 13 mm coverslips. Wearing a dust mask, We use a jewelers saw to free small blocks of embedded culture, loosen the cover slip with liquid nitrogen, then remove the disk which exposes the culture to the surface of the block. We then either re-embedded (in some of the same batch of media which was used to infiltrate the culture) face to face for cross sections, or cut the blocks parallel to the culture surface for tangential sections.
Good luck,
Doug Keene EM Facility Shriners Hospital for Children DRK-at-shcc.org
} } Hello All, } Does anyone out there have any suggestions for getting good SEM } cross sectional images from dried wood? I have a student who would } like to image the microstructure of several types of wood. All the
} } Thanks, } Scott
Hi Scott,
I think the classic paper you want is Exley et al. (1973 ?) J. Microscopy, vol 101, 21-30 "Preparation of wood specimens for the scanning microscope".
I don't have a copy handy to check, but I think this paper emanated from good ol' New Zealand! As I recall, the authors were able to cut fresh lignified wood satisfactorily using a fresh razor blade for each cut, and then cleaned the surfaces with hypochlorite solution before drying and coating. Most specimens were OK with just air drying but delicate features needed CPD. The authors often cut the one specimen in two planes to good effect, e.g. transverse and radial longitudinal.
If you want to look at long-dead wood it might be too hard to cut cleanly. You might need to soak it in something first. Exley et al. might have suggestions.
Regards
Stephen Edgar
Electron Microscope Unit, Pathology Department Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences University of Auckland Private Bag 92019 Auckland New Zealand
-----Original Message----- } From: Gerroir, Paul J {Paul.Gerroir-at-crt.xerox.com}
} One simple suggestion was to "plant" each leg of a } conventional table; supporting your microscope, into its own little box of } sand. I'm a little wary of this last suggestion as some of the laboratory } wildlife might find the sand an attractive litter box!
Mix red pepper with the sand that will keep the kitty out of the sand.
Gordon
Gordon Couger gcouger-at-couger.com Owner PRAG-L PRactical AGriculture List www.couger.com/prag-l Stillwater, OK 405 624-2855 GMT -6:00
I posted a notice several months back about a Siemens 101 Transmission Electron Microscope that was up for grabs. Although we had some interest, no one decided to take it. At this point, we have a major space crunch and need to dismantle and get rid of it. I've been told it contains 25 gms of liquid mercury which should be removed before disposal. Can anyone refer me to a technician familiar with this equiment in the NY area who could assist us in this project. Thanks in advance for your help. Please reply directly to me. I am also posting this notice on the safety list. ---------------------------------------- Gerry Griffin Environmental Services NYU Medical Center Email: Gerry.Griffin-at-med.nyu.edu
I'm studying the transport and localization of some proteins in the cytoplasm of cultured cells. The cells are fixed in paraformaldehyde and stained with a avidin-biotin-fluorescein system. I need to do double staining for this protein and the Golgi, so I intend to use the Bodipy-tr-ceramide probe, as suggested by Molecular Probes .
I would like to know if someone has experience or worked with this specific probe. Particularly I need to know if this probe may be used with fixed cells, that is, after the cells are fixed.
I will be very grateful for any information
Thanks in advance
Francisco Javier Hernandez-Blazquez IARC-WHO Unit of Multistage Carcinogenesis 150 Cours Albert Thomas Lyon - France
We are interested in buying a variety of used AFM and STM equipment. To see our wish list, go to our web page (or contact us directly) http://a1.com/asm/wantused.htm
thanks Don Chernoff
Advanced Surface Microscopy, Inc. E-Mail: asm-at-indy.net 6009 KNYGHTON RD. Voice: 317-251-1364 INDIANAPOLIS IN 46220 Toll free: 800-374-8557 (in USA) web: http://www.a1.com/asm Fax: 317-254-8690 (note: "a1"= letter "a", numeral "1")
I am looking for a postdoc/visiting scientist who will do developmental work on Direct Methods for structure determination using dynamical electron diffraction data. If you know of anyone who has: a) A good diffraction background b) A good crystallography background c) Good computer skills Please ask them to contact me. The position is available now.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Laurence Marks Department of Materials Science and Engineering Northwestern University fax: (847) 491-7820 mailto:l-marks-at-nwu.edu http://www.numis.nwu.edu ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I just got an Amray 1600 with turbo and would like to correspond with others who are using this instrument. If there are any quirks about it, I would like to know what they are. If anyone has brought one up after several years of storage, I'd REALLY like to hear from you.
I'm hoping to be able to take 4x5" sheet film pix and 120 roll film pix.
Any info on the care and feeding of the turbo pump, roughing pump and inevitable column cleaning would be appreciated. I'm told that this SEM can take good pictures. I'm hoping to find out if this is true.
Having serviced Siemens microscopes I can tell you that the source of th= e mercury is a mercury diffusion pump. This pump is situated between the rotary pump and the "oil" diffusion pump in the vacuum circuit.
So that is where the mercury is now to dispose of it is another problem?
Stay safe.
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 am currently in the process of acquiring a TEM with accessory equipment. We are starting a new TEM-lab here at the Swedish Museum of Natural History.
One of the instruments I am considering is the LEO 912 AB. Anyone on the list with experience of that microscope? We will primarily be doing morphology including ESI imaging of thick sections, but not analytical work or cryo.
Also: any recommendations on which ultramicrotome to choose.
TIA
Ulf Jondelius
Ulf Jondelius, Invertebrate Zoology Swedish Museum of Natural History P.O.B. 50007, 104 05 Stockholm, Sweden phone: Int + 46 (0)8 666 5160 fax: Int + 46 (0)8 666 4125 e-mail: ulfj-at-nrm.se
Here's a few comments to follow from Doug Keene's reply to you celss on coverslips question.
You can process and section Thermanox quite easily with cells grown on them.
Orientation problems can be overcome if you cut the coverslip to fit a BEEM capsule before you innoculate with cells. I have seen good results with various cell types, and if you taper the cut coverslip to fit into the BEEM pot, trimming the block is pretty quick too. If you need, you can also bend up the coverslip at the non-tapered end to indicate which side the cells are growing.
Spurrs resin seems pretty good, but there can be some delamination between the coverslip and resin, but not always!
Hope this helps.
Plymouth Electron Microscopy Unit University of Plymouth Drake Circus Plymouth Devon UK PL4 8AA Tel: 01752 233092 Fax: 01752 233092 email: pbond-at-plymouth.ac.uk
I need to colorize some SEM pictures but I do not know which programm to use. If someone can help me, I use PC or Macintosh computer. Thanks a lot for your help Best regards
Didier
-------------------------------------------- Didier Le Thiec I.N.R.A. Centre de Recherches Forestieres Unite d'Ecophysiologie Forestiere Laboratoire de Pollution Atmospherique 54280 Champenoux - France
To save a long search can anyone remember which months archive of the listserver the discussion about preparing cd-roms for sem is in??
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://www.empgu.man.ac.uk
I am now running a clinical path, diagnostic EM lab. but must reduce my storage. What are the clia and cap regs on how long to keep transmission em blocks, thick section slides, grids and phot mic's? I am being reduced from a 3 room lab to a room and a closet. thanks for you help. S. Drew
I would like to draw your attention to the materials science symposium being held as part of the Scanning 99 meeting in April this year. The abstract deadline is February 15th (the same as MSA) and the abstract format is the same as the MSA format. It is intended that there will be contributed presentations as part of the program, and depending on the number of submissions, the symposium may be extended for another day. Please forward this e-mail to anyone you think may be interested in attending the symposium.
{bold}
"Analyzing Materials Interfaces at Atomic Resolution" {/bold}
There will be a Materials Science symposium at Scanning 99 entitled "Analyzing Materials Interfaces at Atomic Resolution". Scanning 99 is being held at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare in Rosemont, IL from April 11-14 1999. The "Analyzing Materials Interfaces at Atomic Resolution" symposium is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday April 13th and will consist of invited and contributed presentations. The details of the conference and deadlines/forms for abstract submissions can be found at http://www.scanning.org or details can be requested from Mary Sullivan (e-mail: scanning-at-fams.org, tel:201-818-1010). Registration for members of the Midwest Microscopy and Microanalysis Society are at the reduced rates of $150 for the whole conference or $50 for a single day
The discussion was last September, maybe on into October. I will send you a copy of the summary that I have on hand.
Warren S.
At 02:18 PM 2/5/99 +0000, you wrote: } } Hi all } } To save a long search can anyone remember which months archive of the } listserver the discussion about preparing cd-roms for sem is in?? } } 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://www.empgu.man.ac.uk }
Just a reminder:ACS's Applied Optical Microscopy will be held in conjunction with PITTCON, March 5-7, in Orlando, Florida.
This is a three-day, hands-on total immersion workshop. Although this workshop is offered under the American Chemical Society Short Course programming, it is not just for chemists. The curriculum focuses on key techniques to help you be more effective in the lab. Topics range from alignment, care and cleaning to contrast techniques and basic measurement. There is also a special Saturday evening program on video and digital imaging and a full day on qualitative and quantitative Polarized Light Microscopy. Participants are encouraged to bring samples.
For details and registration information, visit the MME website {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} or call the course coordinator, Barbara Foster
Barbara Foster Course Coordinator ACS Applied Optical Microscopy Course c/o Microscopy/Microscopy Education 125 Paridon Street, Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 (413)746-6931 Fax: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com
According to some of the messages I saved, the dates are mid-August and September '98. Hope this helps.
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 } } To save a long search can anyone remember which months archive of the } listserver the discussion about preparing cd-roms for sem is in?? } } 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://www.empgu.man.ac.uk
I was just asked to provide the equation for gamma adjustment to image contrast. I had always assumed that it was just
Output = (Input)^gamma i.e. a simple power law.
Thus for gamma = 0.5 you get a square root curve and for gamma = 2.0 you have a parabola. However, the contrast curves in various books I've checked do not appear to be a power law, but look more like circular arcs. Unfortunately these books only describe gamma but do not provide the equation. Are the curves just artist's license or is my understanding of the gamma correction wrong?
If you include Contrast and Brightness, I would expect the general equation to be
Output = B + C*(Input)^gamma
Where B = Brightness and C = Contrast.
Thanks, Henk Colijn Hendrik O. Colijn colijn.1-at-osu.edu Campus Electron Optics Facility Ohio State University (614) 292-0674 http://web.ceof.ohio-state.edu An optimist believes that we live in the best of all possible worlds. A pessimist fears that this is true.
Following a very successful year, NORAN Instruments is pleased to announce employment opportunities within its Confocal Sales Division.
The position of District Sales Manager will be responsible for all confocal sales activities within a predefined region of the United States.
Functions will include: * Evaluation and qualification of customer needs * Demonstration of confocal systems, including configuration and setup * Coordination of installation and initial user training
Necessary qualifications include: * B.A. or B.S. degree in Natural Sciences. Advanced degree desirable. * One year's hands on experience with light microscopy techniques. * Experience and practical knowledge of Confocal microscopy applications. * Experience with computer image analysis and processing preferred. * Sales experience is highly desirable.
The position requires travel of up to 50% within designated sales region.
For consideration, please fax or e-mail your resume in confidence to:
Could some kind, knowledgable person explain why the addition of calcium = to fixatives (buffered aldehydes, biological material, resin embedding and = TEM) is important? =
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
I am looking for any written materials concerning Reichert MeF = microscope. I have one in mint condition (probably never used), but = without any instructions. The microscope was made after 1954. It is now = disassembled and, although I know more or less how to put it together, I = would rather like to do it according to producer's advices.
I am not sure if my question fits to this mailing list, but I think that = history of microscopy would be of interest for some of us.
{!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD W3 HTML//EN"} {HTML} {HEAD}
{META content=3Dtext/html;charset=3Diso-8859-2 = http-equiv=3DContent-Type} {META content=3D'"MSHTML 4.71.2016.0"' name=3DGENERATOR} {/HEAD} {BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff} {DIV} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial size=3D2} I am looking for any = written=20 materials concerning Reichert MeF microscope. I have one in mint = condition=20 (probably never used), but without any instructions. The microscope was = made=20 after 1954. It is now disassembled and, although I know more or less how = to put=20 it together, I would rather like to do it according to producer's=20 advices. {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial size=3D2} {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT face=3DArial size=3D2} I am not sure if my question fits to = this mailing=20 list, but I think that history of microscopy would be of interest = for some=20 of us. {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial size=3D2} {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial size=3D2} Thank you {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial size=3D2} {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial size=3D2} Pawel = Karaszkiewicz {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial size=3D2} {A=20 href=3D"mailto:zekarasz-at-cyf-kr.edu.pl"} zekarasz-at-cyf-kr.edu.pl {/A} {/FONT} {= /DIV} {DIV} {FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial = size=3D2} =20 {/FONT} {/DIV} {/BODY} {/HTML}
There is a Win95/WinNT program called EIKONA3D for volumetric image processing, analysis and visualization, which provides special features and tools for working with image sequences originated from microscopy (e.g. 3D image processing, image alignment, 3D reconstruction, 3D visualization, volume rendering, surface rendering, 3D registration, etc.). One of the tools it provides is 3D segmentation of a 3D data set (image sequence) and labeling/colorization of 3D regions. See the site: http://www.alphatecltd.com/eikona3d.html
Best regards, Nikos Nikopoulos
At 11:10 AM 2/6/99 +0100, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I have used Adobe PhotoDeluxe which is available (and pretty cheap) for both the Mac and PCs. The program is deceptively simple, but quite usefull if you look into it a bit.
By adding a transparent layer, you can colorize the image without actually modifying it. Once a colored layer is created the colors can be rapidly changed to fit your tastes.
Photoshop will do the same....but for a much higher price, and learning curve.
} } Dear all, } } } } I need to colorize some SEM pictures but I do not know which } } programm to use. If someone can help me, I use PC or Macintosh computer. } } Thanks a lot for your help } } Best regards } } } } Didier } }
-- _______________________________________________ / Michael J. Herron / / U of MN,Medicine/Infectious Diseases / / herro001-at-maroon.tc.umn.edu / / http://128.101.243.213 / /__________________________________________/
I have some samples of muscle tissue in which I would like to determine the distribution of mitochondria within each myocyte.
My life would be made easier, and the sample size bigger, if I could do this at the LM level rather than in the TEM. I figure that the mitochondria will be visible in the LM because they occur in large groups in this tissue, rather than singly. Also, I don't need to see every mitochondrion, just the general pattern.
The question is: does anyone know of a suitable specific stain? I am after a bright-field permanent stain that will work on semi-thin resin sections, not a fluorescent or antibody method. A nice old-fashioned stain!
So far the tissue has been fixed in glutaraldehyde but not processed further. Regards
Stephen Edgar
Electron Microscope Unit, Pathology Department Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences University of Auckland Private Bag 92019 Auckland New Zealand
I'm studying the transport and localization of some proteins in the cytoplasm of cultured cells. The cells are fixed in paraformaldehyde and stained with a avidin-biotin-fluorescein system. I need to do double staining for this protein and the Golgi, so I intend to use the Bodipy-tr-ceramide probe, as suggested by Molecular Probes .
I would like to know if someone has experience or worked with this specific probe. Particularly I need to know if this probe may be used with fixed cells, that is, after the cells are fixed.
I will be very grateful for any information
Thanks in advance
Francisco Javier Hernandez-Blazquez IARC-WHO Unit of Multistage Carcinogenesis 150 Cours Albert Thomas Lyon - France
I have copies of the operations manuals for both the MeF3 and for its camera system and would be happy to provide you with copies. There would be a slight fee for copying and postage. Please let me know if you are interested.
Best regards,
Barbara Foster
Consortium President
Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater productivity.
125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118
MME is America's first national consortium providing
customized on-site workshops in all areas of
microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis.
} } } }
{excerpt}
{fontfamily} {param} Arial {/param} {smaller} I am looking for any written materials concerning Reichert MeF microscope. I have one in mint condition (probably never used), but without any instructions. The microscope was made after 1954. It is now disassembled and, although I know more or less how to put it together, I would rather like to do it according to producer's advices.
{/smaller} {/fontfamily}
{fontfamily} {param} Arial {/param} {smaller} I am not sure if my question fits to this mailing list, but I think that history of microscopy would be of interest for some of us.
{/smaller} {/fontfamily}
{fontfamily} {param} Arial {/param} {smaller} Thank you
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I'm studying the transport and localization of some proteins in the cytoplasm of cultured cells. The cells are fixed in paraformaldehyde and stained with a avidin-biotin-fluorescein system. I need to do double staining for this protein and the Golgi, so I intend to use the Bodipy-tr-ceramide probe, as suggested by Molecular Probes .
I would like to know if someone has experience or worked with this specific probe. Particularly I need to know if this probe may be used with fixed cells, that is, after the cells are fixed.
I will be very grateful for any information
Thanks in advance
Francisco Javier Hernandez-Blazquez IARC-WHO Unit of Multistage Carcinogenesis 150 Cours Albert Thomas Lyon - France
How can you run a lab with the space you are getting? Everytime we are = CAP inspected we are cited (non binding) for lack of space. We have 5 = large rooms that are used for clinical purposes. Fight with the powers = that be on this CAP requirement as opposed to throwing out clinical = specimens.(ie blocks, slides, etc.)
If more room is not posible, how about off site storage? If I had to, I = could store blocks, prints, negs, thicks, etc in a 10 x 10 foot room. = (not much room to move in ) that we have collected in the lab since 1974. = =20
I do not actually now the real requirements that you are asking about, but = check with the histology lab and use those rules as guidelines.
Best of Luck,
Ed
} } } Sharon Drew {drewsh-at-smtpgw2.musc.edu} 02/05 9:45 AM } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America=20
On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html=20=
I am now running a clinical path, diagnostic EM lab. but must reduce my storage. What are the clia and cap regs on how long to keep transmission em blocks, thick section slides, grids and phot mic's? I am being reduced from a 3 room lab to a room and a closet. thanks for you help. S. Drew = = = = = = = = = = =20
I have some samples of muscle tissue in which I would like to=20 determine the distribution of mitochondria within each myocyte.=20
My life would be made easier, and the sample size bigger, if I could=20 do this at the LM level rather than in the TEM. I figure that the=20 mitochondria will be visible in the LM because they occur in large=20 groups in this tissue, rather than singly. Also, I don't need to=20 see every mitochondrion, just the general pattern.
The question is: does anyone know of a suitable specific stain? I am=20 after a bright-field permanent stain that will work on semi-thin resin=20 sections, not a fluorescent or antibody method. A nice old-fashioned=20 stain!
So far the tissue has been fixed in glutaraldehyde but not processed=20 further. Regards
Stephen Edgar
Electron Microscope Unit, Pathology Department Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences University of Auckland Private Bag 92019 Auckland New Zealand
Hi Paul, During aldehyde fixation the calcium ions tend to leach out, thus the addition of CaCl2 to the buffer solution. Of course there are other important factors to consider such as pH, osmolality, and choice of buffer (PIPES, MOPES, or Cacodylate instead of Phosphate which may result in some percipitation). MgCl2,and KCl are are also sometimes added; depending on what is important to preserve. (Gronblad,M., (1983) Cell Tissue Res. 229,627 and Glauert, A.M., 1975. Fixation, dehydration, and embedding of Biological specimens. Practical Methods in Electron Microscopy. Amer. Elsevier Pub. Co.,Inc., New York 207pp.
At 10:41 PM 2/5/99 -0800, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --------------52E001D5E7420FECEBB67733 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Hi all I am wondering if there is any source for SEM images that can be downloaded as "pdf" files. The images are for corroded metals. Regards Mayouf
--------------52E001D5E7420FECEBB67733 Content-Type: text/x-vcard; charset=us-ascii; name="vcard.vcf" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Description: Card for Dr. Abdullah .M. Al-Mayouf Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="vcard.vcf"
begin: vcard fn: Dr. Abdullah .M. Al-Mayouf n: Al-Mayouf;Dr. Abdullah .M. org: KSU adr;dom: King Saud University, College of Science;;Dept. of Chemistry, P.O. Box 2455;Riyadh-11451;Saudi Arabia;; email;internet: amayouf-at-ksu.edu.sa tel;work: +966 1 467-5959 tel;fax: +966 1 467-5992 x-mozilla-cpt: ;0 x-mozilla-html: FALSE version: 2.1 end: vcard
This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --------------A1285E1B1FD5E92FAE2ED561 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-9 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Hello all,
I would like to demonstrate the juxtaglomerular cells(=myoepitheloid cells) of kidney on semi-thin sections by using different staining methods. I remember reading a very nice method to show these cells. However, I can not find it now.
I will greatly appreciate if you could send me the suitable staining methods which you used before and also your suggestions about that.
Thanks in advance.
Best regards,
Ranan Gulhan AKTAS, M.D. Trakya University, Faculty of Medicine Pathology Department Edirne 22030 Turkey
Henk, I think that your equation is wrong. The gamma correction is Out = (In) ^(1/gamma). This gives a parabola (upwards turning) for gamma=1/2 which will expand the contrast in the bright region at the expense of the dark regions of the image. For gamma=2, it is a square root function (also a parabola on its side) that will expand the contrast in the dark regions at the expense of the light region. I assume that you would normalize the output range so that it was 0 to 255 with a suitable coefficient in the equation. The curves should go through 0 and 255, so there is no offset constant in the equation. -Scott
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Glass Technology Center 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: Hendrik O. Colijn To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
Hi all,
I was just asked to provide the equation for gamma adjustment to image contrast. I had always assumed that it was just
Output = (Input)^gamma i.e. a simple power law.
Thus for gamma = 0.5 you get a square root curve and for gamma = 2.0 you have a parabola. However, the contrast curves in various books I've checked do not appear to be a power law, but look more like circular arcs. Unfortunately these books only describe gamma but do not provide the equation. Are the curves just artist's license or is my understanding of the gamma correction wrong?
If you include Contrast and Brightness, I would expect the general equation to be
Output = B + C*(Input)^gamma
Where B = Brightness and C = Contrast.
Thanks, Henk Colijn Hendrik O. Colijn colijn.1-at-osu.edu Campus Electron Optics Facility Ohio State University (614) 292-0674 http://web.ceof.ohio-state.edu An optimist believes that we live in the best of all possible worlds. A pessimist fears that this is true.
I am looking for public domain images from electron microscopes or anyone in the New York area that might be interested in collaborating with a design firm to produce a high profile television spot. Any help would be appreciated..
Jeff Linnell Liquid Design Group jeff-at-liquidesign.com
My laboratory is equipped with a LEO 912 Omega, the model before the AB if I'm not mistaken, which was purchased 4 years ago. This is an excellent instrument, powerful, versatile and dependable. I use it mostly for conventional and cryo-EM with excellent results. I would reccomend it without hesitation.
For microtome, I have been a satisfied Reichert Ultracut user for years, which is why I bought an Ultracut S for my lab 4 years ago. The fully motorized controls needed getting used to in the beginning but have proven remarkably reliable.
Usual disclaimer: I have no interest or relation to either company other than being a very satisfied customer.
If you have specific questions, don't hesitate to contact me.
Regards, Michel **************************************************** Michel Deschuyteneer, Ph.D. deschuyt-at-sbbio.be Scientist Electron Microscopy Laboratory
SmithKline Beecham Biologicals Rue de l'Institut, 89 B1330 Rixensart, BELGIUM Tel: +32-2-656 9290 Fax: +32-2-656 8164 **************************************************** Standard disclaimer: the opinions expressed in this communication are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of SmithKline Beecham. ****************************************************
Never used one of those, so I don't know if these are possible after fixation in glut_de. At least some are possible, acc. to the text, after fixation in "formaldehyde-based fixatives" and "postfixation" in potasium dichromate...
These are all described in Langeron, M: "Precis de microscopie", Masson, Paris, 1934...
Can send you a copy of the protocols if you want (*.tif, *.jpg, whatever...it's in French).
Yvan Lindekens.
---------- } Van: Stephen Edgar {s.edgar-at-auckland.ac.nz} } Aan: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Onderwerp: LM: A stain for mitochondria? } Datum: maandag 8 februari 1999 5:13
} I have some samples of muscle tissue in which I would like to } determine the distribution of mitochondria within each myocyte. } } The question is: does anyone know of a suitable specific stain? I am } after a bright-field permanent stain that will work on semi-thin resin } sections, not a fluorescent or antibody method. A nice old-fashioned } stain! } } So far the tissue has been fixed in glutaraldehyde but not processed } further. } Regards } } Stephen Edgar
Our group has inherited a Boston-Bradley Adjustable Blade manufactured by Gardener Laboratory of Bethesda, MD. During an on-line search we were able to determine that the company existed in 1952, but no other information was available.
We believe this to be a crude microtome. It has a stainless steel "clamp" and brass inserts that are labeled with exact thickness from 0.001 to 0.101mil. The clamp is a rectangular block with 3/4" on each end 5mm higher than the center section
Profile ____ ____ ____________
Along one side of this center section is an adjustable stainless steel slab with an arrow pointing to the center of one edge. The knurled knobs are on the other side of the center section. This slab may be adjusted such that it is above or below the center height. It may also be loosened from the center area so that it is a distance from the center.
It seems that the only way to cut would be to raise the slab, place a specimen on the center area (top down), hold the specimen in place and cut it off with a razor blade. This seems upside-down to every other microtome I have dealt with.
Has anyone ever used one of these? We need a crude sledge microtome and this may fit our needs if we could just figure out how to use it.
I had always been told that it helped to preserve the membranes. I've never tested that information, however.
Bob Underwood Derm Research Center U of Washington
On 5 Feb 1999, 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Hi, } } Could some kind, knowledgable person explain why the addition of calcium to fixatives (buffered aldehydes, biological material, resin embedding and TEM) is important? } 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 } } }
} I am looking for public domain images from electron microscopes or } anyone in the New York area that might be interested in collaborating } with a design firm to produce a high profile television spot. Any help } would be appreciated.. } } Jeff Linnell
Jeff -
You'll find a wide variety of images hotlinked at the end of the "Microscopy for Children" bibliography on the Project MICRO web page (URL below). Don't miss the secondary set of links available at "K-12 microscopy resources". Some may be public domain, some are not; you need to check after you've found what you want. There's a stock photo CD-ROM (colorized SEM) available from Corel; it's also in the bibliography .
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/PMHomePage.html Intertidal invertebrates: http://www.fortbragg.k12.ca.us/AG/PCI/pci.html
MSA List Recipients, If anyone in possession of a spare Philips CM or EM400 series specimen holder (rod), either regular, low-background, or double-tilt, is willing for a nominal fee or goods and services to part company with said device, please contact me immediately at any of the numbers below. I will be more than appreciative and most remunerative. Thanks. Winston
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Winston W Wiggins, Supervisor 2/9/99 11:25:46 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
} Polymer Microscopist - Freeport, Texas and Midland, } Michigan } } Company: The Dow Chemical Company } } Location: Freeport, Texas and Midland, Michigan } } Qualifications (education, certification, language, etc.) and } Experience required: } A candidate with a BS or MS degree in polymer science, material } science or chemistry is preferred with some prior experience in } electron microscopy. } Good written and oral communication skills and the ability to work } both independently and in a team environment are extremely important. } } Job Overview: } } The Surface/Microscopy/X-ray (SMX) Group in Dow's Corporate R&D } Analytical Science Laboratory has two professional level full time } openings for Polymer Microscopists, one position at each of the Dow's } facilities in Midland, MI and Freeport, TX. The primary } responsibilities include working with partners to support research } projects involving new and existing products in Dow's polymer } businesses. } } Key responsibilities will include: } } 1. Extensive problem solving. } 2. Microscopy preparation technique experience including } ultramicrotomy and cryo-ultramicrotomy. } 3. Operation of transmission electron microscope. } 4. Interpretation of images. } 5. Documentation of work. } 6. Compliance with safety and quality programs. } 7. Active member of project and SMX work teams. } } Interested: } Please e-mail or send your resume and cover letter, with reference to } this ad to: } Email: R&D-at-Dow.com or The Dow Chemical Company, Workforce } Planning 98-289, P. O. Box 150, Plaquemine, LA 70765. E-mail } respondents must list Job 98-289 and their last name as the first and } second items on the Subject line. Only those selected for an } interview will be contacted. Only U.S. citizens or aliens who are } authorized to work in the United States will be considered for } employment. } } We are an equal opportunity employer and offer a competitive } compensation and benefits package including 401k, stock purchase, } tuition reimbursement and performance incentives. The Dow Chemical } Company is the fifth largest chemical company in the world with annual } sales of US$20billion. Dow manufactures and supplies chemicals, } plastics and agricultural products for customers in 164 countries and } employs approx. 43,000 people worldwide. For more news and } information about Dow, please visit our web site at www.dow.com. } } Bob Cieslinski } Microscopy & Microanalysis } 1897 E Bldg. } (517) 636-6875 }
} } MSA List Recipients, } If anyone in possession of a spare Philips CM or EM400 series } specimen holder (rod), either regular, low-background, or } double-tilt, is willing for a nominal fee or goods and services } to part company with said device, please contact me immediately } at any of the numbers below. I will be more than appreciative } and most remunerative. Thanks. } Winston } } ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ } Winston W Wiggins, Supervisor 2/9/99 11:25:46 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 } ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ }
-----------------End of Original Message-----------------
can anyone tell me if people still use BSA or bacitracin as 'wetting agents' when negative staining? I cannot find reference to them in any of my texts but I have used them since the dawn of time, so I think I have just lost the references and/or they've gone out of fashion.
If anyone has advice on use, advantages of particular chemicals or references I would be grateful.
thanks
Malcolm
PS our glow discharge unit doesn't work - so I can't use that.
Malcolm Haswell Electron Microscopy School of Sciences Fleming Building University of Sunderland SUNDERLAND SR1 3SD Tyne and Wear UK
Tel (0191) 515 2872 e-mail: malcolm.haswell-at-sunderland.ac.uk
} } MSA List Recipients, } If anyone in possession of a spare Philips CM or EM400 series } specimen holder (rod), either regular, low-background, or } double-tilt, is willing for a nominal fee or goods and services } to part company with said device, please contact me immediately } at any of the numbers below. I will be more than appreciative } and most remunerative. Thanks. } Winston } } ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ } Winston W Wiggins, Supervisor 2/9/99 11:25:46 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 } ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ }
-----------------End of Original Message-----------------
We have an "Image Galleries" page on the WWW-Virtual Library for microscopy site where you may be able to find something suitable. http://www.ou.edu/research/electron/www-vl/image.shtml
-- ================================================================== Greg Strout Electron Microscopist, University of Oklahoma WWW Virtual Library for Microscopy: http://www.ou.edu/research/electron/www-vl/ e-mail: gstrout-at-ou.edu Opinions expressed herein are mine and not necessarily those of the University of Oklahoma ==================================================================
Jeff wrote:
} I am looking for public domain images from electron microscopes or } anyone in the New York area that might be interested in collaborating } with a design firm to produce a high profile television spot. Any help } would be appreciated.. } } Jeff Linnell
Jeff -
You'll find a wide variety of images hotlinked at the end of the "Microscopy for Children" bibliography on the Project MICRO web page (URL below). Don't miss the secondary set of links available at "K-12 microscopy resources". Some may be public domain, some are not; you need to check after you've found what you want. There's a stock photo CD-ROM
(colorized SEM) available from Corel; it's also in the bibliography .
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/PMHomePage.html Intertidal invertebrates: http://www.fortbragg.k12.ca.us/AG/PCI/pci.html
-- ================================================================== Greg Strout Electron Microscopist, University of Oklahoma WWW Virtual Library for Microscopy: http://www.ou.edu/research/electron/www-vl/ e-mail: gstrout-at-ou.edu Opinions expressed herein are mine and not necessarily those of the University of Oklahoma ==================================================================
Hi folks, it has been a while but I am back and of course I need help.
I should submit a proposal to my Dean and Chancellor on a potential centralized morphology core (CMC). They want to see numbers for outlay-cost-income, and I am having trouble coming up with any cost about structure, maintenance.
I will very much appreciate either a brief response to the points below or someone pointing pointing me to a source for this information on the web (phone numbers or email addresses of members with such information will be appreciated). I am envisioning a CMC to provide under one roof: TEM, SEM, Digital Imaging, Confocal, Atomic Force Microscopy and ancillary services such as frozen, histo, immuno-histo and photography. I realize that information for all these may come from different places. Overall, what I need is just an approximate idea for:
1) Cost to operate existing facilities in academic centers?
2) What is the cost for maintaining equipment present at those facilities and to upgrade components?
3) What is the cost to internal and outside users? -Do you charge per case, number of blocks, number of samples, number of cuts?
-How many prints do you provide and at what magnifications for each case?
-Do you retain negatives and when you do not, do you charge extra?
-Charges for embedding cutting and staining frozens, paraffin?
-Charges for plastic processing (JB-4, historesin, etc), sectioning and staining?
-Charges for dupplicating slides, making slides, prints,
-Charges for preparing PhotoShop publication quality composites on color sublimation paper?
-Charges for using microscopy equipment
-Light without and with phase, Normaski, fluorescence, etc.
-Digital confocal optical sectioning, reconstruction, etc.
4) Exceptions.
a) Do junior faculty get service for less than senior and funded faculty?
b) Are there internal mechanisms for covering the costs of promising-emerging faculty, but without active support?
c) How many places have internal mechanisms such as the now extinct NIH BSRG to cover costs?
d) Are any of those costs derived directly or indirectly from grant overheads?
5) Space now housing the facility you describe?
6) How many of the facilities started with external funds?
7) How many of the facilities started with Dean or Chancellor funds?
8) Any other information I miss, but you consider important when considering a CMC?
9) In particular I want to show that most CMC DO NOT make a profit, because of the huge costs for maintenance contract on equipment???
10) Is there anyone out there getting internal support from grant's overhead, and is the money used for CMC considered an incentive-kick-back to funded invetigators?
11) How many of the existing CMC out there offer Cell Sorting (flow) as part of the morphology services?
-Arrangements?
-Maintenance?
-Support?
-Internal and external charges?
Thanks a lot. I will collate and post the results.
*Disclaimer: Whatever... is not Tulane opinion! Cesar D. Fermin, Ph.D. Professor of Pathology & Otolaryngology web:[ http://www.tmc.tulane.edu/ferminlab/] or [http://www.tmc.tulane.edu/imaging/] Internet: [cfermin-at-mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu] 1430 Tulane Ave/SL79 New Orleans, La 70112-2699 Fax 504 587-7389, Voice 584-2521, Main Office 588-5224
The Michigan Microscopy and Microanalysis (MMM) Society will hold its Spring Meeting on May 7, 1999 at the Genoa Woods Conference Center, 7707 Conference Center Drive, Brighton, MI. The program chair is still soliciting additional student papers for the meeting. If interest or you would like more details on the meeting contact the local affiliate president, Rob Eversole email at eversole-at-wmich.edu.
MSA (the Microscopy Society of America) is making a concerted effort to provide a forum for multiphoton imagers to gather for candid discussions concerning the new technique.
This year's event is condensed to a one day symposium,
#31 Multi-Photon Excitation Microscopy: the Next Generation 2 or 3 AUG 99 in Portland, OR
This year there will be far less time available; however, there are several important goals for this symposium: 1) invite all new speakers for the various applications presentations 2) presentations describing the commercial systems currently available 3) provide a question and answer session forum for technique education
Poster and abstract submissions are welcome, but please hurry since the deadline for abstract inclusion is 15 FEB 99. See http://www.msa.microscopy.com/
The morning session covers a variety of strong applications of (currently quite expensive) ultra-short pulse laser based fluorescence microscopy...
Karel Svoboda, Ph.D Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory "2PELSM for High-Resolution Imaging in Scattering Biological Tissues: Applications to Neuroscience"
Jayne Squirrell University of Wisconsin "2PEFM of Cytoplasmic Organization in Living Mammalian Embryos"
Mary Dickinson, Ph.D. Caltech "Biological Applications of Chromophores With Large Two-Photon Cross-Sections"
Christopher Navara, Ph.D Wayne Hughes Institute "Dynamic Drug Effects Monitoring"
Paul M W French, Ph.D Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine "Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging of Biological Tissue"
Afternoon question/answer session panel: to include the morning speakers, plus
Dave Piston, Ph.D Vanderbilt University Warren Zipfel, Ph.D Cornell University Rebbeca Williams Cornell University Vickie Centonze-Frohlich, Ph.D University of Wisconsin John White, Ph.D University of Wisconsin
In addition, we plan to have vendor presentations and handouts for the commercially available two (multi) photon systems.
==============================================
David L. Wokosin Instrumentation Development Engineer Integrated Microscopy Resource University of Wisconsin-Madison 1675 Observatory Drive Madison, WI 53706-1205
******************************************************************************** Victoria Centonze Frohlich, Ph.D. Deputy Director, IMR University of Wisconsin, Madison P(608) 263-6288 F(608) 265-4076 http://www.bocklabs.wisc.edu/imr/home.htm ******************************************************************************** --============_-1293529032==_ma============ Content-Type: text/enriched; charset="us-ascii"
MSA (the Microscopy Society of America)
is making a concerted effort to provide a forum for multiphoton
imagers to gather for candid discussions concerning the new technique.
This year's event is condensed to a one day symposium,
{bold} #31 Multi-Photon Excitation Microscopy: the Next Generation
{/bold} 2 or 3 AUG 99 in Portland, OR
This year there will be far less time available; however, there are several important goals for this symposium:
1) invite all new speakers for the various applications presentations
2) presentations describing the commercial systems currently available
3) provide a question and answer session forum for technique education
Poster and abstract submissions are welcome, but please hurry since the deadline for abstract inclusion is 15 FEB 99. See http://www.msa.microscopy.com/
The morning session covers a variety of strong applications of (currently quite expensive) ultra-short pulse laser based fluorescence microscopy...
Karel Svoboda, Ph.D Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
"2PELSM for High-Resolution Imaging in Scattering Biological Tissues:
Applications to Neuroscience"
Jayne Squirrell University of Wisconsin
"2PEFM of Cytoplasmic Organization in Living Mammalian Embryos"
Mary Dickinson, Ph.D. Caltech
"Biological Applications of Chromophores With Large Two-Photon Cross-Sections"
Christopher Navara, Ph.D Wayne Hughes Institute
"Dynamic Drug Effects Monitoring"
Paul M W French, Ph.D Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine
"Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging of Biological Tissue"
Afternoon question/answer session panel:
to include the morning speakers, plus
Dave Piston, Ph.D Vanderbilt University
Warren Zipfel, Ph.D Cornell University
Rebbeca Williams Cornell University
Vickie Centonze-Frohlich, Ph.D University of Wisconsin
John White, Ph.D University of Wisconsin
In addition, we plan to have vendor presentations and handouts for
the commercially available two (multi) photon systems.
Cesar- you mention what you envision in a CMC what equipment do you currently have? what equipment will you be purchasing? I have used NIH microscopy centers, and I have managed institutional microscopy facilities. The more money you have for staff the better your facility will operate. It is best if you have one staff member per microscope. It gets crazy if your staff is over worked. You will find maintenance costs will be lower, the quality of results will improve, and overall costs will decrease. Maintenace contracts are a killer, we were once paying over $95,000 per year on service contracts for 4 EM scopes. It was driving prices through the roof, try to negotiate with the manfacturers. If you buy all new scopes, maybe buy from one vendor, and see if they will throw in a service engineer as part of the package, or hire a maintenance person yourself. Try to set costs in a per protocol fashion avoid itemizing. If you need any more specifics please feel free to contact me directly. -Mike
On Tue, 9 Feb 1999, Cesar D. Fermin Ph.D. 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 folks, it has been a while but I am back and of course I need help. } } I should submit a proposal to my Dean and Chancellor on a potential } centralized morphology core (CMC). They want to see numbers for } outlay-cost-income, and I am having trouble coming up with any cost about } structure, maintenance. } } I will very much appreciate either a brief response to the points below } or someone pointing pointing me to a source for this information on the } web (phone numbers or email addresses of members with such information } will be appreciated). I am envisioning a CMC to provide under one roof: } TEM, SEM, Digital Imaging, Confocal, Atomic Force Microscopy and } ancillary services such as frozen, histo, immuno-histo and photography. } I realize that information for all these may come from different places. } Overall, what I need is just an approximate idea for: } } 1) Cost to operate existing facilities in academic centers? } } 2) What is the cost for maintaining equipment present at those facilities } and to upgrade components? } } 3) What is the cost to internal and outside users? } -Do you charge per case, number of blocks, number of samples, number of } cuts? } } -How many prints do you provide and at what magnifications for each } case? } } -Do you retain negatives and when you do not, do you charge extra? } } -Charges for embedding cutting and staining frozens, paraffin? } } -Charges for plastic processing (JB-4, historesin, etc), sectioning and } staining? } } -Charges for dupplicating slides, making slides, prints, } } -Charges for preparing PhotoShop publication quality composites on } color sublimation paper? } } -Charges for using microscopy equipment } } -Light without and with phase, Normaski, fluorescence, etc. } } -Digital confocal optical sectioning, reconstruction, etc. } } 4) Exceptions. } } a) Do junior faculty get service for less than senior and funded } faculty? } } b) Are there internal mechanisms for covering the costs of } promising-emerging faculty, but } without active support? } } } c) How many places have internal mechanisms such as the now extinct NIH } BSRG to cover } costs? } } d) Are any of those costs derived directly or indirectly from grant } overheads? } } 5) Space now housing the facility you describe? } } } 6) How many of the facilities started with external funds? } } } 7) How many of the facilities started with Dean or Chancellor funds? } } } 8) Any other information I miss, but you consider important when } considering a CMC? } } } 9) In particular I want to show that most CMC DO NOT make a profit, } because of the huge costs for maintenance contract on equipment??? } } 10) Is there anyone out there getting internal support from grant's } overhead, and is the money used for CMC considered an incentive-kick-back } to funded invetigators? } } } 11) How many of the existing CMC out there offer Cell Sorting (flow) as } part of the morphology services? } } -Arrangements? } } -Maintenance? } } -Support? } } -Internal and external charges? } } } Thanks a lot. I will collate and post the results. } } *Disclaimer: Whatever... is not Tulane opinion! } Cesar D. Fermin, Ph.D. Professor of Pathology & Otolaryngology } web:[ http://www.tmc.tulane.edu/ferminlab/] or } [http://www.tmc.tulane.edu/imaging/] Internet: } [cfermin-at-mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu] } 1430 Tulane Ave/SL79 New Orleans, La 70112-2699 } Fax 504 587-7389, Voice 584-2521, Main Office 588-5224 } } }
Received: from [209.156.13.156] by web507.yahoomail.com; Tue, 09 Feb 1999 16:26:02 PST
Our group has inherited a Boston-Bradley Adjustable Blade manufactured by Gardener Laboratory of Bethesda, MD. During an on-line search we were able to determine that the company existed in 1952, but no other information was available. We believe this to be a crude microtome.
It has a stainless steel "clamp" and brass inserts that are labeled with exact thickness from 0.001 to 0.101mil. The clamp is a rectangular block with 3/4" on each end 5mm higher than the center section
Along one side of this center section is an adjustable stainless steel slab with an arrow pointing to the center of one edge. The knurled knobs are on the other side of the center section. This slab maybe adjusted such that it is above or below the center height. It may also be loosened from the center area so that it is a distance from the center. It seems that the only way to cut would be to raise the slab,place a specimen on the center area (top down), hold the specimen in place and cut it off with a razor blade. This seems upside-down to everyother microtome I have dealt with.
Has anyone ever used one of these? We need a crude sledge microtome and this may fit our needs if we could just figure out how to useit.
Thank-you for your help.
Maureen Hunt BP-Amoco p.l.c.
_________________________________________________________ DO YOU YAHOO!? Get your free -at-yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com
We just replaced the filament in our Jeol 2010, with a Denka filament can anyone tell me who the supplier is in australia, or elsewhere, I'd like to buy another. The filament is a Denka LaB6 Cathode LKSH M3 104051
Thanks George
George Theodossiou Dept Applied Physics RMIT GPO Box 2476V Melbourne 3001 Victoria Australia Ph: +61 3 9925 3394 Fax: +61 3 9925 5290
We just replaced the filament in our Jeol 2010, with a Denka filament can anyone tell me who the supplier is in australia, or elsewhere, I'd like to buy another. The filament is a Denka LaB6 Cathode LKSH M3 104051
Thanks George
George Theodossiou Dept Applied Physics RMIT GPO Box 2476V Melbourne 3001 Victoria Australia Ph: +61 3 9925 3394 Fax: +61 3 9925 5290
Leica Microsystems, Diatome US, and Electron Microscopy Sciences, announce another in a series of TEM Specimen Preparation workshops. This seminar will focus on the hands on participation of the following techniques:
Embedding of industrial samples Specimen trimming
Ultramicrotomy of hard materials Ultramicrotomy of polymers
Collection & handling of sections Staining of polymer sections
Low temperature ultramicrotomy
The format of our workshop is half day lecture and half day bench work in small working groups. Video attachments will be used on the ultramicrotomes in order to maximize the teaching experience for all involved. Samples will be supplied by the course instructors. Participants are encouraged to bring their own samples to work with as time allows.
Course Speakers & Instructors
Dr. Tom Malis Mr. Bob Vastenhout CANMET DOW Chemical Characterization Group Leader Polymer Microscopist Materials Technology Laboratory Analytical Science Department Ottawa, Ontario Terneuzen, The Netherlands
Mr. Helmut Gnagi Product Manager Microtomist Extaordinaire Diatome, Ltd., Switzerland
Hosted by: JoAn Hudson Clemson University Microscopy Facility Clemson, SC
When: June 9-11, 1999
Tuition: $1,400.00
Includes three nights lodging at the lakefront Conference Center & Inn at Clemson University, continental breakfast and lunch daily, one group dinner, course supplies, and lab charges.
Contact: Mike Boykin, Leica Microsystems, Inc. 800-248-0665 X5092
If you are or were using Accu-Scope (3001, 3002, 3018PH etc.) or Wang Biomed (3002, 3004) microscopes - please share your opinion about them and your experience with me.
What did you use it for? Did it prove suitable for the task? Did you have any problems with it? Was its optical/mechanical quality OK for you and for the job?
If you had to use technical support, how helpful/quick were they?
If you used other microscopes too - how do they compare?
Depending on how interesting the answers would be to the other list members, you may either post the replies to the list, or e-mail me directly.
Thank you! -- Regards, Uri uri-at-watson.ibm.com -=-=-=-=-=-=- {Disclaimer}
Dear Listmembers, Does anybody use or have used ruthenium tetroxide as a fixative for biological material? Any references? Thanks in advance. Chris vd Merwe.
I wonder if anyone knows a good textbook for EDS of minerals? I used to have one in the lab, but it's gone missing, and I don't remember the title or author(s). It had the mineralogical characteristics of most or all of the common minerals, and included typical EDS spectra for each one. A very valuable book for a lab that does a lot of geological work, and I'd really like to replace it (and maybe chain it to the wall this time!)
F.C. Thomas MicroAnalysis Facility Geological Survey of Canada (Atlantic) Bedford Institute of Oceanography Dartmouth, Nova Scotia Canada B2Y 4A2
Can anyone recommend a good text on EDS of minerals? We used to have a good one in the lab, which described the characteristics of various common minerals, and showed typical EDS spectra for them. Unfortunately, it's disappeared and I cannot remember the title or author, so I guess it's time for a new one.
F.C. Thomas MicroAnalysis Facility Geological Survey of Canada (Atlantic) Bedford Institute of Oceanography Dartmouth, Nova Scotia Canada B2Y 4A2
Dear microscopists, Our facility needs to replace our print processor. I have looked at several models and wanted some feedback about what models work well. We are limited on the amount of space we can use. The processor can not be any larger then 40" X 38", needs to be easy to clean and durable. We are considering purchasing the ILFORD 2150, but heard it may have lots of problems.
Cheers Malcolm, Yes, the bacitracin wetting technique is still valid as ever. The reference you want is: D.W. Gregory and B.J.S. Pirie, Wetting agents for electron microscopy of biological specimens. Proc. Fifth European Congress on Electron Microscopy, (1972). 234-235. David Gregory recommended using a minimum concentration of 7.5 ug/cm3 for formvar coated grids and 10 ug/cm3 on carbon coated formvar or carbon grids as a wetting agent. All the best, Henry
----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Malcolm wrote: } } Dear all } } can anyone tell me if people still use BSA or bacitracin as 'wetting agents' } when negative staining? I cannot find reference to them in any of my texts } but I have used them since the dawn of time, so I think I have just lost the } references and/or they've gone out of fashion. } } If anyone has advice on use, advantages of particular chemicals or } references I would be grateful. } } thanks } } Malcolm } } PS our glow discharge unit doesn't work - so I can't use that. } } Malcolm Haswell } Electron Microscopy } School of Sciences } Fleming Building } University of Sunderland } SUNDERLAND SR1 3SD } Tyne and Wear } UK } } Tel (0191) 515 2872 } e-mail: malcolm.haswell-at-sunderland.ac.uk } } } Henry Eichelberger, EM Facility Manager Department of Biological Sciences Binghamton, University
I am working with the Zeiss LSM 510 Confocal microscope, and am having trouble achieving 3D image reconstruction using the 3D for LSM program. Do you have any recommendations, or know of the resources available through which I can learn this technique? I'd appreciate any information you have on the topic!
----------------------------------------- Laurie Wallin Technician UCSD Department of Anesthesiology and Neuropathology 9500 Gilman Drive 0629 La Jolla, CA 92093 (619)534-1339 or 822-3271
} Are there any grants available to purchase microscopes for an elementary } school in California?
On a national level, no; but there may be an announcement from a major corporation soon that could help you. Your best current possibility is a local corporation that supports education. You'll need about $1000; you'll find the rationale for that figure and advice on what to buy on the Project MICRO web page (URL below). Although I can't supply the funding, I CAN help you write a proposal, and I can write a supporting letter (but I'll be on vacation 2/18-3/28). Where are you located? California is a big state!
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/PMHomePage.html Intertidal invertebrates: http://www.fortbragg.k12.ca.us/AG/PCI/pci.html
Dear Chris, Ruthenium tetroxide is slow penetrating, but some structures are better preserved by its use. Examples: Madison, K. C., et. al. J. Invest. Dermatology 88 (1987) 714. and Eichelberger, et. al., Proc. Microscopy & Microanalysis 1994, 270. Best regards, Henry ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chris vd Merwe wrote:
} From: "Elektronmikroskopie EM 2075 Lab1-5 NW11" {lab1-at-ccnet.up.ac.za} } Organization: University of Pretoria } To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } Date: Thu, 10 Feb 1999 12:59:24 CAT-2 } Subject: Ruthenium O4 in biology } Priority: normal } X-mailer: Pegasus Mail for Windows (v2.42a) } } Dear Listmembers, } Does anybody use or have used ruthenium tetroxide as a fixative for } biological material? Any references? } Thanks in advance. } Chris vd Merwe. } } Henry Eichelberger, EM Facility Manager Department of Biological Sciences Binghamton, University
} I wonder if anyone knows a good textbook for EDS of minerals? I used to } have one in the lab, but it's gone missing, and I don't remember the title } or author(s). It had the mineralogical characteristics of most or all of } the common minerals, and included typical EDS spectra for each one. A very } valuable book for a lab that does a lot of geological work, and I'd really } like to replace it (and maybe chain it to the wall this time!)
} F.C. Thomas } MicroAnalysis Facility } Geological Survey of Canada (Atlantic) } Bedford Institute of Oceanography } Dartmouth, Nova Scotia } Canada B2Y 4A2
Perhaps you're thinking of "SEM Petrology Atlas" by Joann E. Welton, Chevron Oil Field Research Company, published by the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, 1984. And no, you can't have my copy! Don't know if it's still in print, but amazon.com will hunt around for a used copy for you (for a small fee, of course).
Cheers, eh?
Jim
--
James M. Ehrman Digital Microscopy Facility Mount Allison University Sackville, NB E4L 1G7 CANADA
Patricia, Of the many print processors I've used, I'd choose the Ilford above them all. The older versions have a problem blowing fuses but that is supposed to have been corrected with the new models. The only difficulty I had was that with heavy usage, it must be cleaned more often which, for me, was more of a nuisance than a problem. It's easy to use and durable, not to mention relatively inexpensive. Go for it. Winston
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Winston W Wiggins, Supervisor 2/10/99 2:53:24 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Today I was realesed online free Metallographic Etch's Database. This database is designed to allow you to quick find etchant via powerfull keyword search engine written in Perl. Here are some key features:
1763 records in the database 75 etchants for macro etching 1359 etchants for micro etching 1103 etchants for chemical etching 218 electrolytes for electrolytic etching 75 etchants for physical etching 329 electrolytes for electropolishing
Keyword search engine Browse database by macroetching Browse database by microetching Browse database by chemical etching Browse database by electrolytic etching Browse database by physical etching Browse database by electropolishing Powerfull online help
For more information please see link at microscopy vendors database: http://www.kaker.com/mvd/vendors.html
Henrik Kaker -- SEM-EDS Laboratory Metal Ravne Slovenia http://www2.arnes.si/guest/sgszmera1/index.html
} Can anyone recommend a good text on EDS of minerals? We used to have a good } one in the lab, which described the characteristics of various common } minerals, and showed typical EDS spectra for them. Unfortunately, it's } disappeared and I cannot remember the title or author, so I guess it's time } for a new one. } } F.C. Thomas
Frank,
I think the book you are referring to is SEM Petrology Atlas by Joann E. Welton. It was published in 1984 by The American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Tulsa, OK 74101. ISBN 0-89181-653-4.
Hope this helps. Lou Ross Senior Electron Microscope Specialist Room 101 Department of Geological Sciences University of Missouri Columbia, MO 65211 (573) 882-4777 (573) 882=5458 fax www.missouri.edu/~geosclmr/ebaf.html
Patricia, Our facility has had an Ilford 2150 for 8 years. Though it has had breakdowns, repairs are fairly simple. I feel that the service contract is too expensive for what you get, which is someone walking you through a repair over the phone. I'm no mechanic but I've been able to deal with most of the problems myself and Iford will sell parts if you need to replace something. The one thing that has made the biggest difference in the trouble free operation of the machine is the addition of a dirt/rust filter on the water supply line. After we did that we really have had no problems except for an occassional plumbing leak (also fixable if you can operate a wrench). You'll also find that you don't need to change the chemicals as often as the manufacturer suggests, as they can be expensive. If you need any more information don't hesitate to contact me.
Mary Gail Engle Electron Microscopy & Imaging Facility University of Kentucky Medical Center
--IMA.Boundary.2444868190 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Description: cc:Mail note part
A colleague and I built a device for doing something similar when I was in graduate school. It consisted of an ultrasonic nebulizer to produce the aerosol at one end of a column, N2 carrier gas (low velocity) to move the aerosol and external heaters to heat the column (along with a few other bells and whistles). Samples were collected on grids at the exit end and the whole thing sat in a hood. The path length was about 2m.
What I'd like to know is if you take any care to get a more uniform aerosol size? Do you work at low enough concentrations to have mostly one (or fewer) particles per drop?
|---------------------------------------------------------------| | Opinions expressed are mine an not those of Rohm and Haas Co. | |---------------------------------------------------------------| | Dr. John R. Reffner | rsrj2r-at-rohmhaas.com | | Rohm and Haas Co. | | | 727 Norristown Road | voice:215-619-5283 | | Spring House, PA 19477 | Fax: 215-619-1607 | |---------------------------------------------------------------|
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Hi
The best way I know of preparing pigments for TEM analysis is by blowing an aerosol of the sample dispersed in alcohol/water solution over a hot plate and collecting the sample on a grid placed at the far end of the hot plate. The company I work for is concerned about the safety issues surrounding this so does anybody know of any less hazardous sample preps. or a simple containment facility for the aerosol spray? I thought about building a glass box for containment but are there any commercially available containment/sample prep. units?
Thanks
Brian Manzor e-mail: brian.manzor-at-grmouth.zeneca.com
Received: from nmho05u.rohmhaas.com ([136.141.252.23]) by ima1.rohmhaas.com with SMTP (IMA Internet Exchange 3.11) id 000E8E24; Wed, 3 Feb 1999 08:41:25 -0500 Received: by nmho05u.rohmhaas.com; id IAA09730; Wed, 3 Feb 1999 08:42:12 -0500 (EST) Received: from sparc5.microscopy.com(206.69.208.10) by nmho05u.rohmhaas.com via smap (3.2) id xma009705; Wed, 3 Feb 99 08:42:01 -0500 Received: (from daemon-at-localhost) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) id FAA06651 for dist-Microscopy; Wed, 3 Feb 1999 05:19:30 -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 FAA06644 for "MicroscopyFilteredEmail-at-msa.microscopy.com"; Wed, 3 Feb 1999 05:18:59 -0600 Received: from apsn05.zeneca.com (apsn05.zeneca.com [193.132.159.6]) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) with ESMTP id FAA06637 for {microscopy-at-msa.microscopy.com} ; Wed, 3 Feb 1999 05:18:45 -0600 Received: from apsn15.ukap.zeneca.com by apsn05.zeneca.com (SMI-8.6/SMI-SVR4) id LAA01931; Wed, 3 Feb 1999 11:33:45 GMT Received: by apsn15.ukap.zeneca.com; id LAA29776; Wed, 3 Feb 1999 11:31:39 GMT Received: from ukapzcmsxhub01.ukap.zeneca.com by gbzhp02.ukap.zeneca.com with ESMTP (1.40.112.8/16.2) id AA200221316; Wed, 3 Feb 1999 11:28:36 GMT Received: by ukapzcmsxhub01.ukap.zeneca.com with Internet Mail Service (5.5.2232.9) id {1F6WTK3F} ; Wed, 3 Feb 1999 11:27:36 -0000 Message-Id: {21E55FE938B6D0119A7100805FFEAEC4D0177B-at-UKGR07} } From: Manzor Brian BP {brian.manzor-at-grmouth.zeneca.com} To: "'microscopy-at-msa.microscopy.com'" {microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com}
I'm looking for a gold or graphite/carbon sputter coater for bio specimen preparation.
If you have one to sell, pls let me know details and price.
I'm considering using digital video (DV) for time-lapse/real-time LM. Broadcast/domestic DVcam magazines suggest that DV gives improved resolution over analogue video (S-VHS etc). Added to this, it also seems to give better quality frame by frame editing (+ stills output) when recorded on DV tape (mini or standard) and managed with software like Adobe Premier using Firewire ( aka i.link/IEEE1394) fast serial links.
If anyone has used this technology I'd be interested to hear more about the pros and cons.
TIA
Kevin Jennings -.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-. SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals Analytical Sciences -Microscopy Group New Frontiers Science Park Harlow Essex UK -.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
I am working on the light reflection of mainly squid iridophores. Are there any groups, preferably in the UK, working with polarising and/or interference microscopes who could give me some advice with this matter?
Thank you very much,
Lydia
PS. Hello Daniele ... back to work !!!
Keith Ryan Marine Biological Association of the UK Citadel Hill Plymouth Devon PL1 2PB England
Gary Gaugler, Ph.D. wrote: =============================================== I'm looking for a gold or graphite/carbon sputter coater for bio specimen preparation.
If you have one to sell, pls let me know details and price. ================================================ There are several very excellent data bases of information of who manufactures what in the microscopy and microanalysis market. You might want to consult some of those listings. Two that I myself make frequent use of are the following:
Microscopy Vendors Data Base http://207.137.96.185/mvd/vendors.html
Microworld Resources and New http://www.mwrn.com/
SPI Supplies is one of the several leading manufacturers of this equipment and all the information you would need our units can be found on our website 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: www.2spi.com ############################ ==================================================
I can recommend looking at www.bookfinder.com and www.bibliophile.com if you are looking for a used copy of the text (assuming it isn't available new or you are too poor/cheap to pay for it). These are services where you do your own search over a number of used booksellers - I found a couple of technical books I wanted this way and for quite reasonable prices.
Janet Rice MCC Senior Member Technical Staff rice-at-mcc.com 512-338-3266
Yet another lab in search of microtome parts. We have four Leica Ultrotome III ultramicrotomes in very serviceable condition, but a couple need new belts. A supply of spare tubes would also be handy. Is anyone aware of a source for new or used parts for these venerable instruments?
Thanks in advance!
Randy Tindall Electron Microscope Core College of Veterinary Medicine University of Missouri - Columbia Phone: 573-882-8304
Gary: I have a sputter coater for sale. Trouble is I am in Cambridge UK
Patrick Echlin Director, Multi-Imaging Centre School of Biological Sciences Cambridge University
On Wed, 10 Feb 1999, Dr. Gary Gaugler 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'm looking for a gold or graphite/carbon sputter coater for } bio specimen preparation. } } If you have one to sell, pls let me know details and price. } } } } } } Cheers, } Gary Gaugler, Ph.D. } } PGP Public key: } BDC9 8860 AA83 1FB2 66D3 01BB 9EB8 8E6D 671F BEB3 } }
Steve, We actually have an old LKB Microtome we are getting rid of--you are welcome to it, but we are in Boston. If you want to make arrangements to have it shipped to you--it's yours! Peggy Sherwood MGH-Wellman Labs of Photomedicine 224 50 Blossom Street Boston, MA 02114 617-724-4839 (voice mail) 617-726-3192 (fax)
Patricia, I didn't see your original e-mail request, but saw the responses! We have a Rapidoprint DD3700 Agfa-Gevaert in our lab for processing EM prints. It's very simple, but like some other processors, it has to be cleaned frequently, especially the water stations, depending upon it's use. Peggy Sherwood MGH-Wellman Labs of Photomedicine
Having worked with minerals of many types, I find that a freeware program for the Mac has been extremely useful in predicting spectra of any mineral. DTSA for either 68K or PPC can be obtained from NIST or possibly from the MSA web site (maybe someone else can confirm this). The program can generate synthetic spectra for just about any detector and will simulate thin or thick specimens. It's a wonderful teaching and research tool that I recommend highly.
Ciao for now, Ken
Kenneth JT Livi Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences 34th and Charles Streets Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, Maryland 21218 USA Phone: (410) 516-8342 Fax: (410) 516-7933 e-mail: klivi-at-jhu.edu
} Having worked with minerals of many types, I find that a freeware program } for the Mac has been extremely useful in predicting spectra of any mineral. } DTSA for either 68K or PPC can be obtained from NIST or possibly from the } MSA web site (maybe someone else can confirm this). The program can } generate synthetic spectra for just about any detector and will simulate } thin or thick specimens. It's a wonderful teaching and research tool that I } recommend highly. }
DTSA can be downloaded at http://micro.nist.gov/DTSA/dtsa.html .
----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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
Summary and compilation: Tissue cultures and coverslips: Thanks to everyone for the tremendous response to my query. The majority of responses suggested the use of Thermonox coverslips. These may be purchased sterile. One side is prepared for cell adhesion, and is labeled. They are compatible with alcohol, acetone and propylene oxide as solvents, and with Epon, Spurr's and araldite mixtures for resin. These coverslips come in sizes which fit well into tissue culture plates. Other investigators have successfully used glass coverslips, membrane inserts and plastic petri plates. Permanox plates were also recommended, cells may be grown, fixed and embedded in the chambers. Most people use a dip into liquid nitrogen to facilitate removal of the coverslip after embedding. Other simply pull the coverslip off while still warm from the embedding oven. If the coverslip is not removed, it may still be sectioned with a diamond knife, however, the coverslip may separate from the resin under the electron beam. If the coverslip if removed, various methods are suggested to position the cells parallel or perpendicular to the bloc face. A compilation of the responses follows, MANY helpful tricks will be found on these pages. -----------------------------------------------------------------------
I use standard glass coverslips - round ones that fit in 24 and 12 well culture dishes. I sterilize them sitting on a clean filter paper in glass petri dishes then transfer them to culture dishes and seed with cells. I fix and process in 20 ml glass scintillation vials, embed in epon (put coverslip cell side up on a slide with a drop of epon, heat 4-8 hrs at 58 C (timing is important), cross-hatch with a razor blade, slowly lower into liquid nitrogen, and little squares of epon pop off with cells attached. re-embed squares in flat molds and section as usual. Thomas E. Phillips, Ph.D. tphillips-at-biosci.mbp.missouri.edu.
We have had good results with thermonox coverslips and even better with aclar provided the cells will grow on it. Process as usual for TEM and IEM. Heat can curl the aclar sometimes. Scott D. Whittaker sdw-at-biotech.ufl.edu http://www.biotech.ufl.edu/~emcl/ The home of " Tips & Tricks " Dear Sally, I too have used Thermanox coverslips for TEM of tissue culture cells, but I found they often pulled out from or wrinkled-up my sections. I had much better luck using filter-membrane inserts. The insert fits into the wells (I used 24-well plates but they come in many sizes). You can even polarize the cell line if necessary by placing media with serum in the well under the insert and without serum in the filter-membrane cup. The membrane then can be fixed and processed in the holder and just before embedding, separate the filter, cut it into pieces, and embed. No wrinkles, no pulling out of the resin (I've used both Spurrs and LR White). Granted, they are more expensive, but. . .
"Tina Schwach" tschwach-at-tc.umn.edu
----------------------------------------------------------- I have used Thermanox coverslips extensively for this purpose. (Check your supplier of Lux tissue culture products, as well as your EM suppliers.) They are resistant to acetone (not sure about propylene oxide) and I've used them with Epon, spurr's and an araldite/epon mixture. They are supplied sterile, and peel off easily from a warm polymerised block, leaving the cells embedded in the resin block. I used to UV sterilise them in a laminar flow hood overnight before use. A word of warning though, they are not suitable for light microscopy, and some cells don't adhere very well to them. As I recall, I have used vero cells and other kidney derived epithelial cell lines on them successfully. You can section thermanox, but I think a better result is obtained by peeling it off, and polymerising some fresh resin over the cells. Contact me with problems if you wish. I have no commercial interest in this product. I've just processed heaps of cultured cells. Good luck, Rosey van Driel {Rosemary.van.driel-at-baker.edu.au}
--------------------- We use the Thermanox coverslips that you can buy from EMS. They work really well you just have to be careful to keep the correct side up (Thermanox has a sidedness to it and the cells only grow right on it). ACLAR works well too, though lately the stuff we buy from Ted Pella seems to be thinner than it used to be & has a tendency to curl up when polymerizing. I you have any questions, please feel free to ask. Paula :-) Paula Sicurello UC Berkeley psic-at-uclink4.berkeley.edu http://biology.berkeley.edu/EML --------------------------------------------------------- Besides the Lux coverslips you can also use membrane inserts made by Falcon or Costar. If you would like have the exact protocol let me know and I can send it to you. I have used them both for number of years now without any problems though I prefer costar inserts. Neelima Shah.............. From: Neelima Shah shahn-at-mail.med.upenn.edu http://www.MED.upenn.edu/morphlab/
---------------------------------------------------------- Visit the lab manual on //con-sgi.microbio.emory.edu/eyes-of-the-eagle/index.html For over ten years our lab has floated monolayers of epithelial celllines from the surface of common plastic culture ware with propylene oxide. This is far easier than trying to use coverslips. Call me at 404 727 3508 if you need some coaching on the technology. Regards, Skip } From: L R MELSEN lmelsen-at-emory.edu http://www.MED.upenn.edu/morphlab/
----------------------------------------------------------------- We routinely attach cells to thermanox coverslips (available from EMS). These coverslips can be sterilized, are compatible with conventional embedding methods and can be thin sectioned with a diamond knife. We fix in GA/FA, osmium, dehydrate and embedd in Spurr's with no problem.
If you must section the coverslip itself, try to arrange it diagonally in the block and pick up the sections on formvar, because the coverslip and the resin tend to separate under the beam.
If you are sectioning parallel to the coverslip, embedd this way. Fill a beam capsule with resin and lay the coverslip, cell side down on top. Polymerize; them immediately upon removing the blocks from the oven, pull the coverslip off. If you do this quickly while the blocks are still warm, the cells will remain on the block and you don't have to worry about sectioning the coverslip. Good Luck, Michelle Peiffer 814-865-212 email:mlk101-at-psu.edu
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- For TEM of cultured cells, we grow the cultures on "Thermanox" tissue culture coverslips. From Nalge Nunc INternational, 50 sterile coverslips, 13 mm in diameter is catalog 174950. EMS also sells these thermanox cover slips in a variety of sizes (see page 143 of their cat XIII). The coverslips can be treated with all the same chemistry as tissue including propylene oxide and Spurrs epoxy, which are two components which solubilize polystyrene. These thermanox coverslips can be sunk cell side up in freshly made Spurrs, then following polymerization the coverslips can be removed by first sawing a small area of the epoxy/cell/substrate, then immersing in liquid nitrogen for a few seconds, then prying away the substrate. Now the embedded cells are immediate on the epoxy. Re-embed two fragments of the culture face to face for cross-sections, or cut the block parallel to the face for tangential sections. We particularly like the round 13 mm thermanox coverslips for immunocytochemistry of cultured cells since they can be floated cell side down in a drop of 100 microlitters antibody - gold conjugate, conserving reagents.
If you would like to grow a larger culture, you could also use "permanox" culture dishes, which are equally resistant to chemicals common in TEM processing. These are also available through EMS and other suppliers.
Douglas R. Keene DRK-at-shcc.org
To process cell cultures for grown on round, 13 mm Thermanox tissue culture cover slips for TEM, we use the following hardware:
For fixation, we use porcelain multi-well dishes. These are what most people refer as "staining dishes". They are white, measure about 3.5 x 4.5" and have 12 depressions. We use these for glutaraldehyde, buffer rinses and OsO4. OsO4 can be completely rinsed from the dishes. Once in the last buffer after OsO4 and prior to ethanols and propylene oxide, we transfer the disks to 50 ml polypropylene culture tubes, such as Fisher 05-539-7 (these are sterile, but certainly it is not necessary to pay for sterile containers). There is plenty of room to enter a pipette for fluid exchange without touching the culture disks, and the culture surface will not touch the walls of the cylindrical tube so there is no worry that the cells will be rubbed off. Given the depth of the tube, we do not worry too much that the culture will dry out as fluids are exchanged, since the atmosphere within the tubes is fairly saturated with solvent vapor. Still, fluid exchange is done quickly. The polypropylene tubes are resistant to P.O. and Spurrs. Do not use tubes made from polystyrene as they will dissolve. Once infiltrated with the last change of epoxy, we fill a resin-resistant container with epoxy to a minimum depth of 5 mm, sink the disk so that the cells face up, then polymerize the epoxy. We steal the polypropylene lids from wheaten snap-cap vials (Fisher #0333520E) which are of the appropriate diameter for embedding 13 mm coverslips. Wearing a dust mask, We use a jewelers saw to free small blocks of embedded culture, loosen the cover slip with liquid nitrogen, then remove the disk which exposes the culture to the surface of the block. We then either re-embedded (in some of the same batch of media which was used to infiltrate the culture) face to face for cross sections, or cut the blocks parallel to the culture surface for tangential sections.
Good luck,
Doug Keene EM Facility Shriners Hospital for Children DRK-at-shcc.org
---------------------------------- Here's a few comments to follow from Doug Keene's reply to you celss on coverslips question.
You can process and section Thermanox quite easily with cells grown on them.
Orientation problems can be overcome if you cut the coverslip to fit a BEEM capsule before you innoculate with cells. I have seen good results with various cell types, and if you taper the cut coverslip to fit into the BEEM pot, trimming the block is pretty quick too. If you need, you can also bend up the coverslip at the non-tapered end to indicate which side the cells are growing.
Spurrs resin seems pretty good, but there can be some delamination between the coverslip and resin, but not always! Hope this helps. P.Bond-at-plymouth.ac.uk
--------------------------------------------
Dear Sally, The coverslips that everyone uses is my Thermanox plastic coverslips which are sterile and come in many different sizes depending on your need. They may be found wither in our hard copy catalog or on our website at http://www.emsdiasum.com. Go to our online catalog and click chapter 7. They are listed under Thermanox. In our hard copy catalog XIII they may be found on page 143. Please let me know if I may be of further assistance to you.
Sincerely, Electron Microscopy Sciences 215-646-1566 } From: "SGKCCK-at-aol.com"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
I used to grow Vero Cells on thermanox cover slips. In Europe we buy such cover slips through our local distributor " Bioblock", but I am quite sure that you can find the same in the EMS catalog ( Nalg Nunc ref.174950 = tissue coverslip, sterile, thermanox size 13 mm in diameter). In fact the thermanox cover slips are sold sterile and the surface treated for cell culture is on the top (where the label is). I grow Vero cells (or others), infect them, fix them before labelling with gold-coupled antibodies. I forgot to say that I put the cover slip on 24 wells (or 4 wells) adapted plates (from Nunc or Falcon ...). Leaving the coverslip on the well, I do all the dehydration and epon embedding in the same plate. Before polymerization I cut the /\ shape off the beem capsule (and put three of these capsules per well (the uncutted side directly over the specimen) over a thin layer of epon. I polymerize for a night and the next day I fill the beem capsules with epon and polymerize further on. When the samples are polymerized you can just remove the capsules and the cells will be adherent on the epon. As usual you trim your block and cut the sections ( the first one will almost be good). We published this method in EmboJournal 1998, 17, 3899-3908.
I hope that this helps, Daniele Spehner From: "Daniele Spehner" {daniele.spehner-at-etss.u-strasbg.fr}
----------------------------------------------------------- Thermonox cover slips (sold by Fisher Scientific, pg. 1793 of the 98/99 catalog) are great for TEM and SEM applications. They are manufactured by Nunc, come in many different shapes and sizes, have one side textured for cell adhesion, and arrive sterile in packs of 50. They are resistant to acetone, alcohol and can be sectioned using diamond knives (I've heard this, but never tried it) without harming the knife.
I've used them with cultured monkey kidney cells, and the cells stayed attached through critical point drying. We've also coated them with poly-L-lysine and settled fish lymphocytes onto them for SEM (critical point drying didn't remove the cells).
Another neat product is the Nunc SonicSeal Slide System (their number 138121, Fisher Cat. No. 12-565-9, Fisher catalog pg. 1792). Because the wells are made of Permanox, we were able to grow cells, then fix, dehydrate, infiltrate and polymerize right in the chambers. After polymerization we separated the slide from the cells by inserting a razor blade into the interface between the slide and resin and twisting it a little. Good luck, Heather Owen, Director Electron Microscope Laboratory University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee (414)229-681 Owenha-at-csd.uwm.edu
--------------------------------------------------- We are working with Caco-2 cells grown in transwell cultures. We use a protocol similar to the one Tom Moninger describes but we embed in Embed 812 (SOLD BY ems AS A REPLACEMENT FOR Epon 812). We encounter severe wrinkling in both thin and semi-thin sections caused by the cells expanding on the surface of the knife boat while the polycarbonate membrane does not expand. We do not yet have aa remedy for this, but I have asked Tom M. to share his experiences with me. Call if you want more detail. Electron Microscopy Laboratories Email: jcoleman-at-bi-pharm.com {jcoleman-at-bi-pharm.com} ------------------------------------------
Hello Sally, you have some experience with TEM polycarbonate filters and cell culture; and you can use acetone and spurr resin with them, there is no problem at all. Good luck Nuria } From: Nuria Cortadellas {nuriac-at-giga.sct.ub.es} ----------------------------------------------- I have processed many filter membranes for TEM and SEM. I follow standard procedures with the following changes;
-dehydrate in EtOH, not acetone (eats the polycarbonate) -embed in Epon 812 or equivalent (I use Ted Pella's Eponate 12) -times can be shortened conciderably (Fix 20 min, wash and dehydrate steps 5 min, resin changes around 30 min.) -do a couple more resin changes than normal
I carry out the entire process (including embedment) in a 24 well plate and cut the filters out with a jeweler's saw after polymerization.
Thomas Moninger moninger-at-emiris.iaf.uiowa.edu http://www.uiowa.edu/~cemrf -------------------------------------------------- Tom } Hi Tom } Thanks for the quick reply!. Part of my sample may be difficult to fix and } embed, I will probably need longer times for this. Did you recommend } shorter times because of the tissue culture, or is this a requirement for } the filter? } Interesting, someone responded that they use Acetone, however I will play } it safe with alcohol. } And do you have trouble with curling of the sections? } Thanks.........SALLY Exactlly right, I use the short times because I am ususally working on monolayers. You might want to test your filters and plates with the acetone but I would bet you will see some immediate hazing and disolving. Feel free to drop me a note if you have any other questions. ----------------- ----------------- ---------------------------- I am fairly new to microscopy so I'm curious why a researcher needs the cells on coverslips to begin with. In the past when I plated cells for a TEM study I would grow them right in the dish or flask with no coverslip and process the cells right in the dish. You can then embed the cells on the dish and remove the dish after it's cured in liquid nitrogen. Unless I was doing a LM study at the same time and I would then split them right before harvesting. I sterilized the cover slips under the hood with a bunson burner and be very quick. All it takes is a fast wave through the flame, any longer and the coverslips warp. After a few seconds they cooled and then you can put them in the dish. If you don't wait they weld to the dish. You might find sterile coverslips at Fisher, Daeger, VWR or Costar. Good luck and drop me a line if you need more info. Steve D'Angelo From: sdangelo-at-batnet.com (steve d'angelo)
______________________________________________--- MSA QUERY: Original Cover slip embedding Colleagues will be growing Vero cells (Green Monkey Kidney Cells) and intestinal epithelial cells on cover slips for subsequent ultrathin sectioning and TEM examination. I am interested to know which cover slips are best to use for this purpose. Can they be purchased sterile? I have checked the Ted Pella and EMS catalogs, they both sell non sterile cellulose acetate cover slips. Are there compatibility issues with resins and solvents? I am interested in any tips or tricks to smooth the way. Thanks, Sally Burns
Sally Burns Center for Electron Optics burnssal-at-pilot.msu.edu
Try Jan Hinsch at the Leica Allendale office: 201-236-5905
Best regards, Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater productivity.
125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} ****************************************************** MME is America's first national consortium providing customized on-site workshops in all areas of microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis.
At 11:53 AM 2/11/99 -0500, Joseph Passero wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
If you are or were using Accu-Scope (3001, 3002, 3018PH etc.) or Wang Biomed (3002, 3004) microscopes - please share your opinion about them and your experience with me.
What did you use it for? Did it prove suitable for the task? Did you have any problems with it? Was its optical/mechanical quality OK for you and for the job?
If you had to use technical support, how helpful/quick were they?
If you used other microscopes too - how do they compare?
[In case it matters, I plan to use it for histology, microbiology and hobby, sometimes pushing resolution to the limit, doing mostly visual, once in a while photomicrography. But please share _your_ experience, regardless whether it's in the areas I mentioned, or not.]
Depending on how interesting in your opinion the answers would be to the other list members, feel free to either post the replies to the list, or e-mail me directly.
Thank you! -- Regards, Uri uri-at-watson.ibm.com -=-=-=-=-=-=- {Disclaimer}
Vendor Sponsored Short Courses at the UCF/Cirent Materials Characterization Facility
1) Specimen Preparation using the Tripod Polisher (3/12-3/13): sponsored by South Bay Technology, instructor: Ron Anderson, IBM.
2) Specimen Preparation using Focused Ion Beam Milling (3/18-3/19): sponsored by FEI/Philips, instructors: Lucille Giannuzzi, UCF and Fred Stevie, Cirent Semiconductor.
COST $750/person for each course or $1200 for both courses
Registration Fee covers all Program Materials and breakfast and lunch on both days
to register see: http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~ampac
or contact:
******************************************************************* Lucille A. Giannuzzi, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Dept. of Mechanical, Materials, and Aerospace Eng., University of Central Florida, PO Box 162450, 4000 Central Florida Blvd., Orlando, FL 32816-2450 USA phone (407) 823-5770 fax (407) 823-0208 email lag-at-mail.ucf.edu
Director, UCF/Cirent Materials Characterization Facility, 12443 Research Parkway, Suite 305 Orlando, FL 32826 phone (407) 275-4354,5,6 fax (407) 275-4321 -------------------------------------------------------------------- "Good judgement comes from experience.
Experience comes from making bad judgement."
Mark Twain ********************************************************************
If someone is going to make photocopies, please put me down for a set too, especially for the otholux but any of them would be welcome for the archive. Ed Sharpe
} } } } Dose anybody know where to purchase and/or have, a Service Manual and } Operator Manual for a Leitz Ortholux and a Labolux? } } Originals and or photo copies? } } Thank You } Joseph Passero } jp-at-spacelab.net }
To Randy Tindall: I assume you meant LKB Ultratome III...Try "NJWS-at-aol.com". Norm Woodside deals with used LKB equipment. Bob Santoianni Emory University Hospital Atlanta, GA robert_santoianni-at-emory.org
Topcon/Akashi 002B High-Res TEM for sale. Complete working machine, includes two holders, a double tilt and multi. Air table and Gatan image intensifier system, two complete wehnelts.
Has been under maintainence contract and fully serviced.
Price Negotiable
Contact Mr. Mike Frongillo (617) 253-5092 frong-at-mit.edu
Dr. David C. Bell Room 13-1818 E-mail: dcb-at-MIT.EDU Center for Mat. Sci. and Eng. PH: (617) 253-3317 Massachusetts Institute of Technology FAX: (617) 258-6478 77 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139
This request comes from a co-worker, who is looking for a software program to plot the scatter of experimental orientation relationship data on a stereographic projection. Please respond to him directly (he is not on the listserver) at mangan-at-anvil.nrl.navy.mil. Thank you. - Richard Fonda
We have generated a considerable amount of data on orientation relationships between two phases using the EBSD/OIM technique on an SEM. I was hoping to plot this up on a stereographic projection, but I have up to 100 data points. I'd like to be able to choose one phase as the reference lattice and then plot three directions in the other phase that correspond to a given orientation relationship between the two. And I'd like to see how far off my experimental data is from the ideal orientation relationship as I define it. Is anyone aware of any software package that could do this for this many data points?
Thanks for your help-
Mike
_____________________________________________________________ Michael A. Mangan Naval Research Laboratory Code 6324 Washington, DC 20375 phone: (202)767-2318 fax: (202)767-2623 _____________________________________________________________
The common American device, originally used for mixing Ag and Hg for dentists, is called a Wig-L-Bug, and is available from many suppliers of infrared sampling devices, e.g.,
Pike Technologies Madison, WI 608-274-2721
There are other devices as well. If the first doesn't work out, mail me directly.
Leonard Corwin Research Chemist Fort Dodge Animal Health Princeton, NJ 08543-0400
Dear Henrik, I have only had success grinding and polishing diamond drill bits with diamond-embedded, brass polishing wheels of various grit sizes. I usually use 45 micron, 20 micron and 6 micron wheels to make a surface suitable for SEM and EDX. You wrote: } Dear All, } } In our lab we need procedure (cutting, grinding and polishing) of } SEM sample with diamond particles in metal matrix. Any suggestions?. } } Henrik } } -- } SEM-EDS Laboratory } Metal Ravne } Slovenia } http://www2.arnes.si/guest/sgszmera1/index.html } 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 all } } can anyone tell me if people still use BSA
ref...........
Valentine, R.C. (1961) Adv. Virus Res. 8, 287
or bacitracin
ref..............
Gregory. DW and Pirie, BJS, "Wetting Agents for electron microscopy of biological specimens" Proc. 5th European Congress on EM, 1972 (Manchester) p 234
as 'wetting agents'
yes. we still use bacitracin!
***************************************************** Mel Dickson, Director. Electron Microscope Unit, University of New South Wales. Sydney NSW 2052 Australia
------------------------------------------------------. } } } Dear Listmembers, } Does anybody use or have used ruthenium tetroxide as a fixative for } biological material? Any references? } Thanks in advance.
Original reference.... Luft JH, 1971 Ruthenium red & violet II ..... Anatomical Record 171 p 369
one of ours.....
CD Garland et al The preservation of surface-associated micro-organisms prepared for SEM...
J. Microscopy 116 pp 227-242
***************************************************** Mel Dickson, Director. Electron Microscope Unit, University of New South Wales. Sydney NSW 2052 Australia
Can anyone point me to a source of 3mm diameter carbon rods which are likely to be identical with those from my old (} 12 years) box. They were "National" Spectroscopic electrodes, made by Union Carbide Corp Carbon Products Division, 270 Park Av, NY, NY, and were "Carbon 0.12 x 12" L113SP". I have some bought recently from an independent supplier, which are noticeably softer, but they seem to have to get hotter in order to vaporise, so I would like to obtain some as above.
thanks
Ritchie
Ritchie Sims Phone : 64 9 3737599 ext 7713 Department of Geology Fax : 64 9 3737435 The University of Auckland email : r.sims-at-auckland.ac.nz Private Bag 92019 Auckland New Zealand
Ritchie Sims 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 } } Can anyone point me to a source of 3mm diameter carbon rods which are } likely to be identical with those from my old (} 12 years) box. } They were "National" Spectroscopic electrodes, made by Union Carbide } Corp Carbon Products Division, 270 Park Av, NY, NY, and were "Carbon } 0.12 x 12" L113SP". } I have some bought recently from an independent supplier, which are } noticeably softer, but they seem to have to get hotter in order to } vaporise, so I would like to obtain some as above. } } thanks } } Ritchie } } Ritchie Sims Phone : 64 9 3737599 ext 7713 } Department of Geology Fax : 64 9 3737435 } The University of Auckland email : r.sims-at-auckland.ac.nz } Private Bag 92019 } Auckland } New Zealand
Mr Sims,
Most of the EM supply houses (in the United States at least) sell graphite rods as carbon rods. From your description, we believe that you got graphite this time. We at Ladd sell pure carbon rods. If you are interested we could quote you direct.
Deb Sicard Sales Mgr.
Disclaimer: Ladd Research is a vendor that sells carbon rods. -- LADD RESEARCH 13 Dorset Lane Williston, VT 05495 TEL 1-800-451-3406 (US) or 1-802-878-6711 (anywhere) FAX 1-802-878-8074 e-mail ladres-at-worldnet.att.net web site http://www.ladd.cc
How do TEM users store spare (i.e. not in use) specimen holders? We have four holders and only one in use at any one time - how to keep the other three 'clean' but readily accessible? The manufacturers' (JEOL) boxes are good but not air-tight and are too large (about 48cm long) for any dessicator I can find in the usual catalogues - Fisher, Jencons, Agar etc.
TIA
Alan Walker
***************************************************************************** Alan Walker Dept of Electronic and Electrical Engineering University of Sheffield Mappin Street Sheffield S1 3JD United Kingdom Phone: +44-(0)114-2225365 (direct) +44-(0)114-2222000 (switchboard)
What is the best way to store spare (as in, not in use right now) specimen holders? We have four holders, so three are left 'gathering dust' at any one time. The manufacturers' (JEOL) boxes are good but not air-tight, and too long for any dessicator cabinet I can find in UK catalogues.
TIA
Alan Walker
***************************************************************************** Alan Walker Dept of Electronic and Electrical Engineering University of Sheffield Mappin Street Sheffield S1 3JD United Kingdom Phone: +44-(0)114-2225365 (direct) +44-(0)114-2222000 (switchboard)
We have a Polaron E5100 sputter coater that recently started blowing the high voltage fuse. When I switch to "Set HT" and slowly increase the sputtering current, the current reading doesn't get above ~1 or 2 mA before the Buss GDC, 400 mA, 250 V fuse blows. Has anyone witnessed this before? Any ideas? A web search for Polaron revealed nothing. Does anyone know if they are still in business?
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
Tim Wakefield ----- / 101 Cary Hall / | \ / Auburn University, AL / --|-- \/ 36849 \ | /\ 334-844-3908 \ | / \ ----- \
On Sun, 14 Feb 1999 katie2468-at-netscape.net-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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } } LIVE HOT PHONE SEX! } NO CREDIT CARD NEEDED! } NO 1-900 FEES! } Just a regular long distance call! } CALL NOW!!! 1-473-473-4917 } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } -To be removed please reply with "remove" in the subject line and } you will not receive any more messages from this email address. } } } } } } } } }
The Department of Anatomy and Physiology at Kansas State University has a 1977 Phillips Electron Microscope, Model EM400 for sale. This scope was purchased in 1977 by Oral Roberts University for $142,404.00. It was sold to Kansas State University in 1990 for $25,000.00. While here at Kansas State, this microscope has been well cared for and has been under a constant maintenance agreement with FEI. The faculty member who has been using this scope is retiring and no other faculty member has use for it. It is in excellent working condition. Please contact: Dani Goodband 785-532-4538 goodband-at-vet.ksu.edu
I don't know how many microscopists use Photoshop, but the following is text I submitted to the "photoshop list". If you believe in maintaining the integrity of image files, I think you ought to be made aware of Photoshop 5 defaults: (1) to enable ICC profiles and (2) the default color space (sRGB) gamma of 2.2.
~~~~~~~~
I've just installed PS 5 for Windows and have everything calibrated. But I think I'm going to object to the gamma for sRGB and bruceRGB being set to 2.2. I'm objecting for the sake of all my legacy files which were created with monitor compensation near gamma=1.6 which is approximately where 50%blackpoint and 50% whitepoint equals 50% gray ... which I believe (correct me if I'm wrong) is the basis for monitor compensation if you use "Adobe Gamma". A gamma = 2.2 has not been arbitrarily selected for sRGB and bruceRGB, reasons being "most displays", wwweb graphics, and the shadow tonal range. As a test I created with PS4 a RGB image with a flat histogram for all channels, and imported it into PS5 "from" a profile in accordance with my previous compensation and "into" bruceRGB color space. Upon viewing the bruceRGB profiled image it is accurate, HOWEVER if I now examine the histogram it is obvious the translation had done a major number on the pixel values.
I only mention this for the sake of legacy files ... that is, I can understand the profile reasoning from creation to final product. However, I don't know what to suggest. I understand the choice of gamma=2.2, but I believe it assumes most displays will never be compensated and that wwweb graphics will never display in accordance with ICC profiles. If that proves untrue, then the pros will in the future probably suggest a smaller gamma (1.8) and in the mean time we'll have created a lot of fine work profiled for a 2.2 display ... and from what I saw happen to my histogram, I suggest we put out work thru as few profiles as possible.
Can I ask how many of you really do work with sRGB=2.2??
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/
Maggy Piranian wrote: } } Deb, I saw your response to Ritchie. What is the difference between carbon } and graphite? What are their different virtues and vices? } Maggy Piranian } ***************************************************************** } } Maggy Piranian } Electron Microprobe & X-Ray Diffraction Labs } Dept. of Earth Sciences } Memorial University of Newfoundland } St. John's, Newfoundland Phone (709) 737 8244 } A1B 3X5 Fax (709) 737 2589 } maggy-at-sparky2.esd.mun.ca } *****************************************************************Ladd offers both carbon and graphite but the majority of our customers ask for pure carbon, so that is our standard. Our own lab people feel that carbon provides a superior coating for our substrates.
Both our carbon and graphite are spectroscopic grades (extremely low impurity level). Pros/cons of both are:
Carbon - Harder to cut Needs less amps to heat Preferred by most of our users
Graphite - Softer, easier to cut Needs more amps (heat) to evaporate.
Disclaimer: Ladd Research is a vendor of microscopy supplies.
John Arnott -- LADD RESEARCH 13 Dorset Lane Williston, VT 05495 TEL 1-800-451-3406 (US) or 1-802-878-6711 (anywhere) FAX 1-802-878-8074 e-mail ladres-at-worldnet.att.net web site http://www.ladd.cc
In a message dated 99-02-15 12:45:15 EST, wise-at-vaxa.cis.uwosh.edu writes:
{ { We have a Polaron E5100 sputter coater that recently started blowing the high voltage fuse. When I switch to "Set HT" and slowly increase the sputtering current, the current reading doesn't get above ~1 or 2 mA before the Buss GDC, 400 mA, 250 V fuse blows. Has anyone witnessed this before? Any ideas? A web search for Polaron revealed nothing. Does anyone know if they are still in business?
TIA
Bob } }
Hi Bob,
Polaron vacuum and coating devices are sold by Energy Beam Sciences in Agawam, MA. You can reach them as follows:
Energy Beam Sciences, Inc. P.O. Box 468 11 Bowles Road Agawam, MA 01001 Tel. (800) 992-9037 Fax (413) 789-2786 www.ebsciences.com
I'm certain they can help you solve your problem.
Cheers,
Bob ****************************** Robert (Bob) Chiovetti, Ph.D. President Microimaging Technologies, Inc. Tucson, Arizona USA Tel./Fax (520) 546-4986 rchiovetti-at-aol.com Manufacturers' Representatives Systems Integrators Analog & Digital Imaging Systems Clinical & Research Microscopy Cytology/Histology/Pathology/EM *******************************
Maggy Piranian wrote: } } Deb, I saw your response to Ritchie. What is the difference between carbon } and graphite? What are their different virtues and vices? } Maggy Piranian}
Sorry, a few lines were missing from our first response:
Ladd offers both carbon and graphite, but the majority of our customers ask for pure carbon so that is our standard. Our own lab people feel that carbon provides a superior coating for our substrates.
Both our carbon and graphite are spectroscopic (extremely low impurity level). Pros/cons:
Carbon - harder to cut needs less amps to heat preferred by most customers
Graphite - softer, easier to cut needs more amps (heat) to evaporate.
disclaimer: Ladd Research is a vendor of microscopy supplies
John Arnott -- LADD RESEARCH 13 Dorset Lane Williston, VT 05495 TEL 1-800-451-3406 (US) or 1-802-878-6711 (anywhere) FAX 1-802-878-8074 e-mail ladres-at-worldnet.att.net web site http://www.ladd.cc
We have used a 5100 here for many years. I think it has acted up similarly. After having problems reaching vacuum, I pulled it apart and gave it a good cleaning. There was plenty of gold all over the place. I think some of it was even in places where it may have caused a short to the frame. I got over 15 g of gold scraping off what had built up over the years.
Warren
At 11:15 AM 2/15/99 -0600, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Just a short heads up. I'll be off-line for a day or so.While I don't expect problems, Murphy says something will go wrong on the List. To minimize problems. I will put Subscriptions and Unscriptions on hold until I reconnect. Please be patient until I get back on the Net.
BTW, yes I did see the XXX mail, and I have added that address to the SPAM filter. However, please remember this is a public posting site and junk mail will occassional get through. The filter, theoretically, permits this only once from a given address, but SPAMer's generally post from different (and faked) addresses all the time. Most of the junk mail is caught, but there will be some that gets through.
Union Carbide sold its line of spectroscopic electrodes to Ultra Carbon in Bay City, Michigan about 15-20 years ago. Shortly thereafter, Union Carbide was fragmented, and UCAR Carbon Company is the remnants of the Union Carbide Carbon Products Division.
The research laboratories at UCAR have probably the only remaining stock of genuine Union Carbide spectroscopic electrodes. We do have a few of the grade and size you want remaining. If you are interested, please contact me.
Helen Mayer UCAR Carbon Company 12900 Snow Road Parma, OH 44130 216-676-2373 FAX 216-676-2276 helen.mayer-at-ucar.com
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Hi
Can anyone point me to a source of 3mm diameter carbon rods which are likely to be identical with those from my old (} 12 years) box. They were "National" Spectroscopic electrodes, made by Union Carbide Corp Carbon Products Division, 270 Park Av, NY, NY, and were "Carbon 0.12 x 12" L113SP". I have some bought recently from an independent supplier, which are noticeably softer, but they seem to have to get hotter in order to vaporise, so I would like to obtain some as above.
thanks
Ritchie
Ritchie Sims Phone : 64 9 3737599 ext 7713 Department of Geology Fax : 64 9 3737435 The University of Auckland email : r.sims-at-auckland.ac.nz Private Bag 92019 Auckland New Zealand
A student in our lab would like to do TEM on Drosophila eggs to look specifically at the micropyle. Our initial fixation was based on a paper on amphibian eggs. We fixed in 3% glutaraldehyde, 2% formaldehyde, 1% acrolein and 2.5% DMSO in 0.1 M cacodylate buffer overnight at room temperature, followed by 2% osmium, 0.2 M sucrose in 0.1M cacodylate buffer, overnight at room temperature. Eggs were then dehydrated in acetone and embedded in EPON.
We observed significant seperation (complete detachment actually) of the chorion from the egg. In fact the chorion appeared to be almost twice the size of the egg. Any advice on why this happened or a better way to fix would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance, Michelle
#################################################### 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 ####################################################
As an accessory to our plasma cleaner we also offer Vacuum Storage Containers. Typically, these are used for short term storage when transferring from the plasma cleaner to the microscope. However, these same storage containers can be fitted with the appropriate valves to evacuate the container, remove water vapor, back fill with dry N2, and store over longer periods of time and be used separate from the plasma cleaner.
We can customize these storage stations to enable you to store multiple holders - even from different manufacturers - in one manifold with individual valves etc. I would be pleased to discuss this system with yo= u further. Please contact me off-line for additional information.
DISCLAIMER: South Bay Technology manufacturers systems for specimen cleaning and storage and therefore I have a vested interest in promoting their 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 "A.Walker" } ------------------------------------------------------------------------=
The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America =
Hi,
How do TEM users store spare (i.e. not in use) specimen holders? We have four holders and only one in use at any one time - how to keep the other three 'clean' but readily accessible? The manufacturers' (JEOL) boxes are good but not air-tight and are too large (about 48cm long) for any dessicator I can find in the usual catalogues - Fisher, Jencons, Agar etc.
I am looking for a commercial source of a good GABA-A beta chain subunit antibody. The one we are using is giving non-specific labeling. Thanking you in advance, 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
There was an excellent article on selecting an RGB working space in the Adobe Photoshop magazine they send free to register users. It was the autumn 1998 issue on p.51- 56. it is probably on their web site in an archive or they will fax it to you. The author concluded that sRGB was the worst possible choice of many. The author thought ColorMatch RGB was a better gamut space to work with. I just read the article this weekend (it is very dense - or maybe i am the dense one but once you get it, it seems very useful. Tom
Thomas E. Phillips, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Biological Sciences Director, Molecular Cytology Core Facility
3 Tucker Hall Division of Biological Sciences University of Missouri Columbia, MO 65211 (573)-882-4712 (voice) (573)-882-0123 (fax)
Can anyone advise a fax number, an e-mail address, or a website for Agar Aids, UK? Their clocks are 13 hours out of synch with mine, difficult to phone them.
thanks and thanks also to the responders re carbon rods, very interesting to realise the difference between "carbon" rods and "graphite" ones.
cheers
rtch
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
Your comment re: "how many microscopists use Photoshop" is interesting and has a major impact on the scientific quality of microscopy. MME just conducted research at the Cell Biology meeting in December and asked that question. Fifty-four percent of our sample of nearly 500 participants answered this question and 86 % (46% of the total survey population) indicated that they use Photoshop! (And you can quote us on that).
A reminder that this software package was initially designed for a graphics audience which does not need to be concerned with the validity of data carried by each pixel. Clearly, it is important that any issues which affect the scientific content of these images be carefully calibrated and controlled.
Hope this insight is helpful.
Best regards, Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater productivity.
125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} ****************************************************** MME is America's first national consortium providing customized on-site workshops in all areas of microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis.
At 09:48 AM 2/15/99 -0800, shAf wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Subject: SEM "hole and pit" Analysis Trying to update my current software with crrent "automatic or semi-automatic" software and a manual "digitizing Pen" techniques. Because of the edge contrast in SEM, I've use edge detection techniques such as watershed and an old commercial software called "WICS" (which I can't find). Any suggestions? To avoid tieing up the server please respond directly after the first few responses. Thank you. Jeff Day/ "CD" WA5EKH-at-JUNO.COM
___________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]
In a message dated 2/16/99 12:07:58 PM, mme-at-map.com writes:
} Your comment re: "how many microscopists use Photoshop" is interesting } and has a major impact on the scientific quality of microscopy. MME just } conducted research at the Cell Biology meeting in December and asked that } question. Fifty-four percent of our sample of nearly 500 participants } answered this question and 86 % (46% of the total survey population) } indicated that they use Photoshop! (And you can quote us on that).
Thanks, Barbara. Although the original point of this thread was the choice of an appropriate color space for imaging, the more general point about Photoshop is one that I believe in as well. That is why we wrote The Image Processing Tool Kit to run with it. This provides the functionality of dedicated image analysis packages costing many thousands of dollars for a few hundred (sorry about the commercial plug on this list, but I think my point here is relevant) by taking advantage of Photoshop as the host. This program supports acquisition with just about every device out there, offers a uniform user interface on Macs and PCs, takes care of storage, printing, virtual memory, etc. etc. (all the system stuff), and (with rev 5) offers a modest amount of automation. It is easily learned and relatively inexpensive. It is also a wonderfully straightforward package for learning about scientific image analysis, with an extensive on-disk tutorial and examples (mostly images from The Image Processing Handbook). Apparently the users agree, because we've sold several thousand copies of the tool kit so far. (http://members.aol.com/ImagProcTK)
Hi Christopher; I have had very good luck staining starch with PAS, followed by counterstain with light green. the starch stains a bright fuschia, and the protein varying intensities of green (depending on type of protein and relative amounts). This was done on GMA sections, btw. If you need more information, feel free to contact me.k cheers shea
Dr. S. Shea Miller Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Eastern Cereal and Oilseed Research Centre 2068 K.W. Neatby Bldg Central Experimental Farm Ottawa, Ontario Canada K1A 0C6 email: millers-at-em.agr.ca phone: 613-759-1760 fax: 613-759-1701 ! !
Dear Ritchie, I found there was a difference between carbon rods and graphite rods. I prefer the carbon. You may have been supplied the graphite, which, as you say, needs to be heated higher to vaporize. I went back to Carbone of America, Ultra Carbon Div. for spectrographic grade pressed carbon rods. The latest address I have is: ultra carbon 900 Harrison St. Bay City, MI 48708-8244 USA
Good luck, Regards, Mary
At 04:13 PM 15/02/99 GMT+1200, you wrote: } } } Hi } } } } Can anyone point me to a source of 3mm diameter carbon rods which are } } likely to be identical with those from my old (} 12 years) box. } } They were "National" Spectroscopic electrodes, made by Union Carbide } } Corp Carbon Products Division, 270 Park Av, NY, NY, and were "Carbon } } 0.12 x 12" L113SP". } } I have some bought recently from an independent supplier, which are } } noticeably softer, but they seem to have to get hotter in order to } } vaporise, so I would like to obtain some as above. } } } } thanks } } } } Ritchie } } 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 Ritchie, The listing in the Kaker.com vendor database shows: Agar Scientific Ltd. 66a Cambridge Road CM24 8DA Stansted UK Tel: +44 1279 81 35 19 Fax: +44 1279 81 51 06 Grids, calibration specimen, tweezers, small tools, light microscope accessories, optical aids, steroscopy, specimen preparation equipment, biological specimen preparation, chemicals, materials science specimen preparation, image storage and analys is, photo materials and equipment, cleaninig materials, safety equipment, publications, starters kits. I was unable to find a Web site listing. At leaast fax will help with the time difference. You wrote:
} Can anyone advise a fax number, an e-mail address, or a website for } Agar Aids, UK? } Their clocks are 13 hours out of synch with mine, difficult to phone } them. } } thanks and thanks also to the responders re carbon rods, very interesting } to realise the difference between "carbon" rods and "graphite" ones. } } cheers } } rtch } 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
Tom writes ... } } } There was an excellent article on selecting an RGB working } space in the Adobe Photoshop magazine ... The author concluded } that sRGB was the worst possible choice of many. ...
That article was written by Bruce Fraser. I haven't read the article, but I'm reading his and Blatner's "Real World Photoshop 5" which I highly reccommend for unsderstanding the underpinnings of PS's handling of color management. Bruce has created "bruceRGB" which he describes as "social-democratic alternative ..." where sRGB and Color match RGB" are the two ends of a common spectrum. However, where Bruce deviates radically from Color Match is his choice of gamma=2.2 for the working space gamma (cmRGB gamma=1.8). I understand his point of view if your display gamma is indeed 2.2 .. but if you read (for example) a spacial distribution of an elemental composition into this color space (where the gamma is considered unity), the PS conversion (bruceRGB or sRGB) will indeed do a number on the image map's histogram. I do understand Photoshop is used within our community primarily for presentation and not really as a data tool ... I only mention this to those who may be considering the PS5 upgrade and as a word of caution.
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 agree. I purchased a copy of the toolkit and have found it a very handy addition to Photoshop. You get boolean math, background adjustment, fft stuff, thresholding, auto-counting capabilities and much more. It appears to me to do just about everything that my (orders of magnitude) more expensive image processing software does with the exception of macro writing capabilities. I've been using it lots for semi-automatic counting. I add a grid to my acquired image and then use the mouse to mark intersections with the grid. The program will count the number of marks you put on with your mouse. If you are using Photoshop it is a worthwhile addition to your lab software even if you have a full blown image processing package. If you don't have a full-blown image processing program (and can't afford one) then it would be EXTREMELY helpful. John also has several useful books about image processing. All very practical, knowledgable and useful in my opinion.....
Robin Griffin - who has no financial interest in John's stuff!
-----Original Message----- } From: "DrJohnRuss-at-aol.com"-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com [mailto:"DrJohnRuss-at-aol.com"-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com] Sent: Tuesday, February 16, 1999 7:50 AM To: mme-at-map.com; Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com
In a message dated 2/16/99 12:07:58 PM, mme-at-map.com writes:
} Your comment re: "how many microscopists use Photoshop" is interesting } and has a major impact on the scientific quality of microscopy. MME just } conducted research at the Cell Biology meeting in December and asked that } question. Fifty-four percent of our sample of nearly 500 participants } answered this question and 86 % (46% of the total survey population) } indicated that they use Photoshop! (And you can quote us on that).
Thanks, Barbara. Although the original point of this thread was the choice of an appropriate color space for imaging, the more general point about Photoshop is one that I believe in as well. That is why we wrote The Image Processing Tool Kit to run with it. This provides the functionality of dedicated image analysis packages costing many thousands of dollars for a few hundred (sorry about the commercial plug on this list, but I think my point here is relevant) by taking advantage of Photoshop as the host. This program supports acquisition with just about every device out there, offers a uniform user interface on Macs and PCs, takes care of storage, printing, virtual memory, etc. etc. (all the system stuff), and (with rev 5) offers a modest amount of automation. It is easily learned and relatively inexpensive. It is also a wonderfully straightforward package for learning about scientific image analysis, with an extensive on-disk tutorial and examples (mostly images from The Image Processing Handbook). Apparently the users agree, because we've sold several thousand copies of the tool kit so far. (http://members.aol.com/ImagProcTK)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Laurence Marks Department of Materials Science and Engineering Northwestern University fax: (847) 491-7820 mailto:l-marks-at-nwu.edu http://www.numis.nwu.edu ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Tuesday, February 16, 1999
InvestingNow.com Wrote
http://www.InvestingNow.com
At 8 AM stocks appear to be set for a big move this morning. The S&P 500 futures were up 7.2, more than 11 above fair value and cueing the market for a good jump upward at the open. At 8:10 a.m. EST, the 30-year Treasury bond was up 28/32 to 98 10/32, dropping the yield to 5.36%.
Japan's Nikkei added 177.92 to 14,232.64. Hong Kong's stock market was closed for the Chinese New Year holiday. Europe's major averages were all higher. In Frankfurt, the Dax was up 15.24 to 4894.79. In Paris, the CAC was up 10.33 to 4075.52. In London, the FTSE was up 93.2, or 1.5%, to 6116.4.
Dell (DELL:NYSE) and Hewlett-Packard (HWP:NYSE) will report earnings after the close. American Airlines expects nearly all its flight schedule to be back to normal today. American is a unit of AMR (AMR:NYSE).
Volvo (VOLVY:Nasdaq ADR) of Sweden is considering a takeover of Navistar (NAV:NYSE), the U.S. truck and engine manufacturer, in a move that could more than double Volvo's share of the North American truck market, the Financial Times reported. Earlier this month, Volvo agreed to sell its car division to Ford (F:NYSE). Chicago-based Navistar has a market capitalization of $2.3 billion, meaning that a buyer would probably have to pay at least $3 billion to take full control of the company, the newspaper said. If Volvo, however, were only to buy Navistar's heavy truck operations, the price could be substantially lower, the newspaper said.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) should maintain its trading range of 9,000 to 9,100 on the bottom end and 9,375 to 9,500 on the top end. These markets have been fantastic for trading the last week. As can be seen from our calls, for short-term calls they have been predictable. The wild card continues to be the technology sector. The nervousness Friday concerning DELL will continue today as we await the earning announcement this afternoon. Overall we are positive on the DJIA and broad market, and continue to dislike technology stocks. For the long term we remain BULLISH.
Did you receive our e-mail execution to cover our short in Microsoft on Friday? We covered this short in MSFT at $158 at the close on Friday afternoon. This short was established on February 3, 1999 at $168. Be sure to check out our trading suggestions and portfolio recommendations regularly. And get on our mailing list!
At 8 AM stocks appear to be set for a big move this morning. The S&P 500 futures were up 7.2, more than 11 above fair value and cueing the market for a good jump upward at the open. At 8:10 a.m. EST, the 30-year Treasury bond was up 28/32 to 98 10/32, dropping the yield to 5.36%.
Japan's Nikkei added 177.92 to 14,232.64. Hong Kong's stock market was closed for the Chinese New Year holiday. Europe's major averages were all higher. In Frankfurt, the Dax was up 15.24 to 4894.79. In Paris, the CAC was up 10.33 to 4075.52. In London, the FTSE was up 93.2, or 1.5%, to 6116.4.
Dell (DELL:NYSE) and Hewlett-Packard (HWP:NYSE) will report earnings after the close. American Airlines expects nearly all its flight schedule to be back to normal today. American is a unit of AMR (AMR:NYSE).
Volvo (VOLVY:Nasdaq ADR) of Sweden is considering a takeover of Navistar (NAV:NYSE), the U.S. truck and engine manufacturer, in a move that could more than double Volvo's share of the North American truck market, the Financial Times reported. Earlier this month, Volvo agreed to sell its car division to Ford (F:NYSE). Chicago-based Navistar has a market capitalization of $2.3 billion, meaning that a buyer would probably have to pay at least $3 billion to take full control of the company, the newspaper said. If Volvo, however, were only to buy Navistar's heavy truck operations, the price could be substantially lower, the newspaper said.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) should maintain its trading range of 9,000 to 9,100 on the bottom end and 9,375 to 9,500 on the top end. These markets have been fantastic for trading the last week. As can be seen from our calls, for short-term calls they have been predictable. The wild card continues to be the technology sector. The nervousness Friday concerning DELL will continue today as we await the earning announcement this afternoon. Overall we are positive on the DJIA and broad market, and continue to dislike technology stocks. For the long term we remain BULLISH.
Did you receive our e-mail execution to cover our short in Microsoft on Friday? We covered this short in MSFT at $158 at the close on Friday afternoon. This short was established on February 3, 1999 at $168. Be sure to check out our trading suggestions and portfolio recommendations regularly. And get on our mailing list!
I have an instruction booklet(no service manual) for the Ortholux, as well as booklets for attachments called Ultropak and Interference Contrast Device T. Someone give me an address to send copies to.
Julie Gross UCONN Health Center jgross-at-neuron.uchc.edu
Another plus with respect to using Image Processing Toolkit Version 2.5 is that John has included his text on Stereology on the CD-ROM. -Scott Walck
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Glass Technology Center 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)
---------- } From: "DrJohnRuss-at-aol.com"-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com To: mme-at-map.com; Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
In a message dated 2/16/99 12:07:58 PM, mme-at-map.com writes:
} Your comment re: "how many microscopists use Photoshop" is interesting } and has a major impact on the scientific quality of microscopy. MME just } conducted research at the Cell Biology meeting in December and asked that } question. Fifty-four percent of our sample of nearly 500 participants } answered this question and 86 % (46% of the total survey population) } indicated that they use Photoshop! (And you can quote us on that).
Thanks, Barbara. Although the original point of this thread was the choice of an appropriate color space for imaging, the more general point about Photoshop is one that I believe in as well. That is why we wrote The Image Processing Tool Kit to run with it. This provides the functionality of dedicated image analysis packages costing many thousands of dollars for a few hundred (sorry about the commercial plug on this list, but I think my point here is relevant) by taking advantage of Photoshop as the host. This program supports acquisition with just about every device out there, offers a uniform user interface on Macs and PCs, takes care of storage, printing, virtual memory, etc. etc. (all the system stuff), and (with rev 5) offers a modest amount of automation. It is easily learned and relatively inexpensive. It is also a wonderfully straightforward package for learning about scientific image analysis, with an extensive on-disk tutorial and examples (mostly images from The Image Processing Handbook). Apparently the users agree, because we've sold several thousand copies of the tool kit so far. (http://members.aol.com/ImagProcTK)
At 8 AM stocks appear to be set for a big move this morning. The S&P 500 futures were up 7.2, more than 11 above fair value and cueing the market for a good jump upward at the open. At 8:10 a.m. EST, the 30-year Treasury bond was up 28/32 to 98 10/32, dropping the yield to 5.36%.
Japan's Nikkei added 177.92 to 14,232.64. Hong Kong's stock market was closed for the Chinese New Year holiday. Europe's major averages were all higher. In Frankfurt, the Dax was up 15.24 to 4894.79. In Paris, the CAC was up 10.33 to 4075.52. In London, the FTSE was up 93.2, or 1.5%, to 6116.4.
Dell (DELL:NYSE) and Hewlett-Packard (HWP:NYSE) will report earnings after the close. American Airlines expects nearly all its flight schedule to be back to normal today. American is a unit of AMR (AMR:NYSE).
Volvo (VOLVY:Nasdaq ADR) of Sweden is considering a takeover of Navistar (NAV:NYSE), the U.S. truck and engine manufacturer, in a move that could more than double Volvo's share of the North American truck market, the Financial Times reported. Earlier this month, Volvo agreed to sell its car division to Ford (F:NYSE). Chicago-based Navistar has a market capitalization of $2.3 billion, meaning that a buyer would probably have to pay at least $3 billion to take full control of the company, the newspaper said. If Volvo, however, were only to buy Navistar's heavy truck operations, the price could be substantially lower, the newspaper said.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) should maintain its trading range of 9,000 to 9,100 on the bottom end and 9,375 to 9,500 on the top end. These markets have been fantastic for trading the last week. As can be seen from our calls, for short-term calls they have been predictable. The wild card continues to be the technology sector. The nervousness Friday concerning DELL will continue today as we await the earning announcement this afternoon. Overall we are positive on the DJIA and broad market, and continue to dislike technology stocks. For the long term we remain BULLISH.
Did you receive our e-mail execution to cover our short in Microsoft on Friday? We covered this short in MSFT at $158 at the close on Friday afternoon. This short was established on February 3, 1999 at $168. Be sure to check out our trading suggestions and portfolio recommendations regularly. And get on our mailing list!
} What are operating temperatures of the two Diffusion pumps in a JEOL } 100-CX, and can I replace the oil with Santovac 5. } I do not know ofhand what the operating temperature is but it is using a 200V 600W heater. We have been running the 100S TEM and 100C TEM as well as JSM 840 Scanner on Santovac 5 without anny problems.
Hope this is some help.
Mr. S H Coetzee Electron Microscope Unit Private bag X3 Wits Johannesburg 2050 Tell: +27 11 716 2419 Fax : +27 11 339 3407 E-mail stephan-at-gecko.biol.wits.ac.za
To Laurence Marks and Amy Yarbrough, There is an excellent history of the Electron Microscope, "EMSA and Its People--the First Fifty Years" by Sterling P. Newberry. It was published in 1992 by EMSA (new MSA).
A group here in the medical school needs to do some immunoEM and will require cryoultramicrotomy. Are there any labs in the Boston area which have this capability and would make it available perhaps on a fee for service basis? Thanks. Don Gantz Boston Univ Med School gantz-at-med-biophd.bu.edu 617-638-4017
A colleague here asked me whether I knew a simple stain for bacteria that would selectively demonstrate the presence or absence of lipid. The idea would be to stain E. coli before or after lipid extraction, and see in a light microscope whether the lipid had been removed.
I know nothing about microbial stains. Any thoughts on whether this is possible or how to go about this experiment?
Gary Radice 804-289-8107 Department of Biology 804-289-8233 (FAX) University of Richmond gradice-at-richmond.edu Richmond VA 23173
As a supplier of items for microscopy we may be able to help you with your storage problem. If our standard desiccator cabinet is too small we can, (at extra cost sadly), probably provide a custom unit. I will send details of our stock item.
All commercial disclaimers apply
Terry Cooper TAAB Laboratories Equipment Ltd 3 Minerva House, Calleva Park Aldermaston, Berks, RG7 8NA, UK
Dr. E. McCain at Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA, is looking for an aperture drive for a Carl Zeiss Transmission Microscope EM109. If anyone out there can help her, please contact her directly at mccain-at-muhlenberg.edu. Thanks in advance. Pete Dondl
I recently attended a two day course on adhesion. The topic of the different types of cleaning came up and one that was mentioned was UV/ozone. I am familiar with that and I thought that someone had told me that they stored their TEM holders in a UV light box. The problem is that it takes two wavelengths of UV for this type of cleaning to work (One that creates the ozone and one that dissociates it to form nascent oxygen). Are there any systems out there that have ports for holders could be inserted in order for them to maintain their cleanliness while not being used? You would not want a system that the whole holder gets into because the UV might degrade the plastic parts and O-ring seals.
Just curious.
-Scott
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Glass Technology Center Guys Run Rd. (packages) P.O. Box 11472 (letters) Pittsburgh, PA 15238-0472
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
This is about the Image Processing Tool Kit available from Dr. John Russ = and Chris Russ, which are plug ins for Photoshop and NIH Image.
Just wanted to add that not only is it a great addition for Photoshop and = NIH Image as everyone has already mentioned, it also includes a nice = tutorial that students can use to learn how to use the filters. It = further helps them develop their skills in using Photoshop. We use it = for part of our Digital Imaging Course. It really makes Photoshop a much = more powerful program than it already is.
I have no financial interest in the product, but I do love it.
Judy M.
Judy Murphy Microscopy Technology Center San Joaquin Delta College 5151 Pacific Ave Stockton, CA 95207 209/954-5284 FAX 209/954-5600 e-mail; jmurphy-at-sjdccd.cc.ca.us
__________________________________________________________________________= _____ } From: Walck. Scott D. on Tue, Feb 16, 1999 6:14 PM
Another plus with respect to using Image Processing Toolkit Version 2.5 = is that John has included his text on Stereology on the CD-ROM. -Scott Walck
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Glass Technology Center 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)
---------- } From: "DrJohnRuss-at-aol.com"-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com To: mme-at-map.com; Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
In a message dated 2/16/99 12:07:58 PM, mme-at-map.com writes:
} Your comment re: "how many microscopists use Photoshop" is interesting } and has a major impact on the scientific quality of microscopy. MME = just } conducted research at the Cell Biology meeting in December and asked = that } question. Fifty-four percent of our sample of nearly 500 participants } answered this question and 86 % (46% of the total survey population) } indicated that they use Photoshop! (And you can quote us on that).
Thanks, Barbara. Although the original point of this thread was the = choice of an appropriate color space for imaging, the more general point about Photoshop is one that I believe in as well. That is why we wrote The Image = Processing Tool Kit to run with it. This provides the functionality of dedicated = image analysis packages costing many thousands of dollars for a few hundred = (sorry about the commercial plug on this list, but I think my point here is relevant) by taking advantage of Photoshop as the host. This program supports acquisition with just about every device out there, offers a uniform user interface on Macs and PCs, takes care of storage, printing, virtual = memory, etc. etc. (all the system stuff), and (with rev 5) offers a modest amount = of automation. It is easily learned and relatively inexpensive. It is also a wonderfully straightforward package for learning about scientific image analysis, with an extensive on-disk tutorial and examples (mostly images from The Image Processing Handbook). Apparently the users agree, because we've sold several thousand copies of the tool kit so far. (http://members.aol.com/ImagProcTK)
John Russ
------------------ RFC822 Header Follows ------------------ Received: by sjdccd.cc.ca.us with ADMIN;16 Feb 1999 18:14:18 -0800 Received: from Sparc5.Microscopy.Com ([206.69.208.10]) by ent2.sjdccd.cc.ca.us (Netscape Messaging Server 3.6) with SMTP id 296 for {jmurphy-at-sjdccd.cc.ca.us} ; Tue, 16 Feb 1999 18:13:57 -0800 Received: (from daemon-at-localhost) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com = (8.6.11/8.6.11) id PAA22384 for dist-Microscopy; Tue, 16 Feb 1999 = 15:18:10 -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 PAA22370 for = "MicroscopyFilteredEmail-at-msa.microscopy.com"; Tue, 16 Feb 1999 15:17:39 = -0600 Received: from gateway.ppg.com (gateway.ppg.com [199.221.65.2]) by = Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) with SMTP id PAA22358 for = {microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} ; Tue, 16 Feb 1999 15:17:25 -0600 Received: by gateway.ppg.com id QAA25744 (SMTP Gateway for microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com); Tue, 16 Feb 1999 16:33:07 -0500 Message-Id: {199902162133.QAA25744-at-gateway.ppg.com} Received: by gateway.ppg.com (Protected-side Proxy Mail Agent-1); Tue, 16 Feb 1999 16:33:07 -0500 } From: "Walck. Scott D." {walck-at-ppg.com} To: Micro {microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com}
I'm looking for a used unit in working condition. This 1600T has the "universal" stage....small round model. Need the detector and amplifier with BNC connector interface to signal selector switch.
I'm looking for a used unit in working condition. This 1600T has the "universal" stage....small round model. Need the detector and amplifier with BNC connector interface to signal selector switch.
This is about the Image Processing Tool Kit available from Dr. John Russ and Chris Russ, which are plug ins for Photoshop and NIH Image.
Just wanted to add that not only is it a great addition for Photoshop and NIH Image as everyone has already mentioned, it also includes a nice tutorial that students can use to learn how to use the filters. It further helps them develop their skills in using Photoshop. We use it for part of our Digital Imaging Course. It really makes Photoshop a much more powerful program than it already is.
I have no financial interest in the product, but I do love it.
Judy M.
Judy Murphy Microscopy Technology Center San Joaquin Delta College 5151 Pacific Ave Stockton, CA 95207 209/954-5284 FAX 209/954-5600 e-mail; jmurphy-at-sjdccd.cc.ca.us
_______________________________________________________________________________ } From: Walck. Scott D. on Tue, Feb 16, 1999 6:14 PM
Another plus with respect to using Image Processing Toolkit Version 2.5 is that John has included his text on Stereology on the CD-ROM. -Scott Walck
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Glass Technology Center 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)
---------- } From: "DrJohnRuss-at-aol.com"-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com To: mme-at-map.com; Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
In a message dated 2/16/99 12:07:58 PM, mme-at-map.com writes:
} Your comment re: "how many microscopists use Photoshop" is interesting } and has a major impact on the scientific quality of microscopy. MME just } conducted research at the Cell Biology meeting in December and asked that } question. Fifty-four percent of our sample of nearly 500 participants } answered this question and 86 % (46% of the total survey population) } indicated that they use Photoshop! (And you can quote us on that).
Thanks, Barbara. Although the original point of this thread was the choice of an appropriate color space for imaging, the more general point about Photoshop is one that I believe in as well. That is why we wrote The Image Processing Tool Kit to run with it. This provides the functionality of dedicated image analysis packages costing many thousands of dollars for a few hundred (sorry about the commercial plug on this list, but I think my point here is relevant) by taking advantage of Photoshop as the host. This program supports acquisition with just about every device out there, offers a uniform user interface on Macs and PCs, takes care of storage, printing, virtual memory, etc. etc. (all the system stuff), and (with rev 5) offers a modest amount of automation. It is easily learned and relatively inexpensive. It is also a wonderfully straightforward package for learning about scientific image analysis, with an extensive on-disk tutorial and examples (mostly images from The Image Processing Handbook). Apparently the users agree, because we've sold several thousand copies of the tool kit so far. (http://members.aol.com/ImagProcTK)
John Russ
------------------ RFC822 Header Follows ------------------ Received: by sjdccd.cc.ca.us with ADMIN;16 Feb 1999 18:14:18 -0800 Received: from Sparc5.Microscopy.Com ([206.69.208.10]) by ent2.sjdccd.cc.ca.us (Netscape Messaging Server 3.6) with SMTP id 296 for {jmurphy-at-sjdccd.cc.ca.us} ; Tue, 16 Feb 1999 18:13:57 -0800 Received: (from daemon-at-localhost) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) id PAA22384 for dist-Microscopy; Tue, 16 Feb 1999 15:18:10 -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 PAA22370 for "MicroscopyFilteredEmail-at-msa.microscopy.com"; Tue, 16 Feb 1999 15:17:39 -0600 Received: from gateway.ppg.com (gateway.ppg.com [199.221.65.2]) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) with SMTP id PAA22358 for {microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} ; Tue, 16 Feb 1999 15:17:25 -0600 Received: by gateway.ppg.com id QAA25744 (SMTP Gateway for microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com); Tue, 16 Feb 1999 16:33:07 -0500 Message-Id: {199902162133.QAA25744-at-gateway.ppg.com} Received: by gateway.ppg.com (Protected-side Proxy Mail Agent-1); Tue, 16 Feb 1999 16:33:07 -0500 } From: "Walck. Scott D." {walck-at-ppg.com} To: Micro {microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com}
} From: Administrator_at_RLT013-at-ccmailgw.mcgawpark.baxter.com } X-SMTP: helo gaugler.com from administrator_at_rlt013-at-ccmailgw.mcgawpark.baxter.com server -at-server14.aitcom.net ip 208.234.0.15 } Date: Wed, 17 Feb 1999 20:41:46 -0600 } To: "Dr. Gary Gaugler" {gary-at-gaugler.com} } Subject: Message not deliverable } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Chih-Hung, You could put them in a grid box and hand carry them to avoid any rough handling. Another option is to use membrane boxes which are boxes with PE membranes stretched across the openings. When sandwiched together they hold the grid in place suspended between the two membranes. They are commercially available. Russ
-----Original Message----- } From: "chanch-at-ufl.edu"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com [mailto:"chanch-at-ufl.edu"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com] Sent: Wednesday, February 17, 1999 6:50 PM To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
Dear Professional friends,
I have to use a distant microscope. What's the best way to transport (from FL to CO) fragile TEM samples?
best regards,
chih-hung chang Dept. of Chemical Engineering University of Florida Gainesville,FL 32611
I use membrane boxes, one sample per box. I've used them with III-V, II-VI, and now glass samples. You can buy them from a variety of EM supply houses. I use the one inch wide white Post-it tape to label the samples. When I'm done with the sample, I reuse the box and tear off the label. They stack nicely and you can pack a bunch into small boxes that are easily transportable. They also make great pill boxes. -Scott Walck
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Glass Technology Center 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: "chanch-at-ufl.edu"-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com To: microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
Dear Professional friends,
I have to use a distant microscope. What's the best way to transport (from FL to CO) fragile TEM samples?
best regards,
chih-hung chang Dept. of Chemical Engineering University of Florida Gainesville,FL 32611
Chih-Hung, Transporting specimens is routinely undertaken by many people, the best method depends on your specimens and what you are going to do with them. Are they very fragile, air sensitive, contaminate easily or do they change with time? They can be transported by hand or mail. They can be sealed in an inert, dry, gas in a grid box, stored in alcohol filled tubes or packed in velin tissue and filter paper in a small box. Undoubtably there are many other ways as well. If you have particular requirements for your specimens then let us know and we will see if we can help with your specific problem,
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. ============================================================================
I'm hoping that someone will be able to help me out with this as I am primarily a biological science person.
1- Is there someone in the RTP area that has an SEM with an environmental chamber?
2- Any suggestions on a plastic polymer that could poured onto a bunch of particals (eg: sand) which after polymerization could be fractured and the fractured surface examined by an SEM so that partical size and intrastitial space measurments could be made using image analysis?
3- To complicate matters, it would be nice to seperate (again via SEM) the organics from the minerals vissually. We need to see if the organic is chemically attached to the mineral or if it forms aggregates between them.
best regards, Bob Robert Schoonhoven Laboratory of Molecular Carcinogenesis and Mutagenesis Dept. of Environmental Sciences and Engineering University of North Carolina CB#7400 Chapel Hill, NC 27599 Phone office 919-966-6343 Lab 919-966-6140 Fax 919-966-6123
**Suppose you were an idiot... And suppose you were a member of Congress .. But I repeat myself.-Mark Twain**
I'm hoping that someone will be able to help me out with this as I am a biological science person (give me a cell any time).
1- Is there someone in the RTP area that has an SEM with an environmental chamber?
2- Any suggestions on a plastic polymer that could poured onto a bunch of particals (eg: sand) which after polymerization could be fractured and the fractured surface examined by an SEM so that partical size and intrastitial space measurments could be made using image analysis?
3- To complicate matters, it would be nice to seperate (again via SEM) the organics from the minerals vissually. We need to see if the organic is chemically attached to the mineral or if it forms aggregates between them.
best regards, Bob Robert Schoonhoven Laboratory of Molecular Carcinogenesis and Mutagenesis Dept. of Environmental Sciences and Engineering University of North Carolina CB#7400 Chapel Hill, NC 27599 Phone office 919-966-6343 Lab 919-966-6140 Fax 919-966-6123
I'm hoping that someone will be able to help me out with this as I am a biological science person (give me a cell any time).
1- Is there someone in the RTP area that has an SEM with an environmental chamber?
2- Any suggestions on a plastic polymer that could poured onto a bunch of particals (eg: sand) which after polymerization could be fractured and the fractured surface examined by an SEM so that partical size and intrastitial space measurments could be made using image analysis?
3- To complicate matters, it would be nice to seperate (again via SEM) the organics from the minerals vissually. We need to see if the organic is chemically attached to the mineral or if it forms aggregates between them.
best regards, Bob Robert Schoonhoven Laboratory of Molecular Carcinogenesis and Mutagenesis Dept. of Environmental Sciences and Engineering University of North Carolina CB#7400 Chapel Hill, NC 27599 Phone office 919-966-6343 Lab 919-966-6140 Fax 919-966-6123
**Suppose you were an idiot... And suppose you were a member of Congress .. But I repeat myself.-Mark Twain**
One nice carrier I used in the past consisted of a two-part plastic container, where a plastic foil was suspended over the opening of both halves. You would place the sample on the foil in the lower half of the container and close it with the upper half of the container. The sample is then fixed between the two foils which hang suspended in the center of the box.
I don't know who manufacturs this box, but I can find out if you want to. Perhaps somebody else here has a source for this?
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 1675 Carr St., #105N Lakewood, CO 80215 phone: (888) FIND SIS (303) 234-9270 fax: (303) 234-9271 email: info-at-soft-imaging.com
} ---------- } From: } "chanch-at-ufl.edu"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com[SMTP:"chanch-at-ufl.edu"-at-sparc5.mi } croscopy.com] } Sent: Wednesday, February 17, 1999 4:50 PM } To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: TEM sample transport } } ---------------------------------------------------------------------- } -- } 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 Professional friends, } } I have to use a distant microscope. } What's the best way to transport (from FL to CO) fragile TEM samples? } } best regards, } } chih-hung chang } Dept. of Chemical Engineering } University of Florida } Gainesville,FL 32611 } } }
} Phil, } } I'm having a major problem posting to the Microscopy ListServ would you } post the following for me please. The MSA filter seems to think that I } shouldnt be allowed to post. } } I'm hoping that someone will be able to help me out with this as I am } a biological science person (give me a cell any time). } } 1- Is there someone in the RTP area that has an SEM with an } environmental chamber? } } 2- Any suggestions on a plastic polymer that could poured onto a bunch } of particals (eg: sand) which after polymerization could be fractured } and the fractured surface examined by an SEM so that partical size and } intrastitial space measurments could be made using image analysis? } } 3- To complicate matters, it would be nice to seperate (again via SEM) } the organics from the minerals vissually. We need to see if the organic } is chemically attached to the mineral or if it forms aggregates between } them. } Bob Schoonhoven } rschoonh-at-imap.sph.unc.edu
I am a graduate student at the university of Toronto in the department = of Laboratory medicine . My thesis is a comparative study of the anterior and posterior = cingulate gyrus in Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia . I will = have to count plaques (accumulation of amyloid) and tangles and Lewy = bodies(intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies ) in both the anterior and = posterior portion of the cingulate gyrus which is part of the cortex . = I use immunohistochemisty techniques to stain plaques tangles and Lewy = bodies . I need information (softwares, books,papers, Web sites) to learn about = stereology avoid bias in my count, and take into consideration all the = tissue factors that could affect my count. Thank you for your help. My E.Mail address is mervat.kahil-at-utoronto.ca
{!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 size=3D2} I am a graduate student at the university of Toronto = in the=20 department of Laboratory medicine . {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT size=3D2} My thesis is a comparative study of the = anterior and=20 posterior cingulate gyrus in Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia = . I will=20 have to count plaques (accumulation of amyloid) and tangles and Lewy=20 bodies(intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies ) in both the anterior and = posterior=20 portion of the cingulate gyrus which is part of the cortex . I use =
immunohistochemisty techniques to stain plaques tangles and Lewy bodies=20 . {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT size=3D2} I need information (softwares, books,papers, Web = sites) to=20 learn about stereology avoid bias in my count, and take into = consideration all=20 the tissue factors that could affect my count. {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT size=3D2} Thank you for your help. {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT size=3D2} My E.Mail address is {A=20 href=3D"mailto:mervat.kahil-at-utoronto.ca"} mervat.kahil-at-utoronto.ca {/A} {/FO= NT} {/DIV} {/BODY} {/HTML}
I wish to examine the morphology of Desmids (single celled freshwater algae) using SEM. Can anyone give me suitable references for their preparation. Please send them to michaeld-at-amsg.austmus.gov.au
I wish to examine the morphology of Desmids (single celled freshwater algae) using SEM. Can anyone give me suitable references for their preparation. Please send them to michaeld-at-amsg.austmus.gov.au
There have been several recent postings on the use of membrane boxes for the transport and storage of prepared grids. We too are advocates of these boxes, however, with one caveat: You want to be careful that there is nothing on your sample that could react with the thin polyethylene stretched film (membrane).
When even the slightest reaction occurs, the grids are effectively destroyed in terms of their usefulness. Or that is what was described to us by an unhappy customer.
There has been at least one instance where the specimen wanted to stick better to the membrane than to the grid, with the end result that the specimen was lost (stuck) on the membrane and the user was left with a pristine grid sans sample.
We recommend a "test" before storing important samples this way. Some might call it "over kill" but to us it seems like good advice: Take a typical sample and heat age it at 40 deg. C. What ever might happen at room temperature, this test should speed it up about 100 times faster. If a test time about equal to the expected storage or transport time is done, and if on examination, there are no signs of any reaction with the membrane, then you can be reasonably certain that the grid and sample are going to be inert and not changed because of the close proximity to the membrane.
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: www.2spi.com ############################ ==================================================
Dear all, We are imaging pumice sections on glass slides, using BSE detector at 25kv, condenser lens 4, using a Robinson BSE detector on a Hitachi FE4000 The idea is to obtain highly contrasted images to transform into black and white binary images. The problem is we are getting horizontal banding which looks like a charging problem, although the samples are well coated and earthed. Could it be due to anything else? The problem has recently developed and was also apparent on a more conducting sample of some TEM grids. Attached are some images. Any comments would be helpful.
Thank { {horiz_bd.tif} } { {18299_29.tif} } s David Wild
Hi! Does anyone know where I can get grid freezing device for cryo-EM? I am looking for commercially available apparatus that can plunge EM grid into liquid ethane and prepare biological samples in vitrified ice. Thank you very much for your help!
Best regards, Sam Li ******************************************************************************* 213 Wintrobe Building Biochemistry Department University of Utah Salt Lake City, UT 84132 phone: 801-585-5490, fax: 801-581-7959 sam.li-at-m.cc.utah.edu *******************************************************************************
Pardon this belated contribution to the carbon discussion. After returning from the excellent New Zealand Microscopy Conference I found an email were the correspondent wants to exchange graphite for carbon rods. I think that the discussion on those rods was a little incomplete and would like to add this:
Pure (amorphous) carbon rods without graphite (crystalline carbon) would not work; they are essentially non-conductors. If carbon was to volatilise at a much lower temperature than graphite, graphite would be deposited as particulate matter. Clearly that is not so - both carbon and graphite give smooth films under the right conditions. Graphite rods simply have a higher graphite content than carbon rods and purity of analysis is quite another topic.
Higher graphite content rods are more easily shaped or sharpened and since they conduct better than "carbon" rods, they require more current to heat to sublimation point. Of course the diameter of the rods at contact point is another important variable.
I have found that most carbon rod evaporation difficulties are due to wrong voltage selection. Graphite, let alone carbon rods are near impossible to deal with at 10 volts. I used 30 volts and about 60 amps to evaporate from graphite rods. A slightly higher voltage may be preferable for carbon rods. Incidentally 10 volts gives better control for metal evaporation. Clearly maximum amps and an easily selectable range of voltages are a major consideration when purchasing an evaporator.
I am of the persuasion that a strong preference for carbon versus graphite rods is largely a matter of belief. It's too easy to mistake technique and equipment parameters as proving that one or the other rod is "better". I rather state my belief that: Graphite rods are less brittle and carbon cord, because of a larger source area, gives greater uniformity in thickness.
Disclaimer: ProSciTech like all EM suppliers supplies carbon and graphite rods and we have no preference which are purchased. 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 *****
Are the images you posted digitally acquired, or from photographs? The bands in your images look just like banding we have had in the past on our Hitachi S-800 FESEM. It drove us nuts for many long months! It appeared in both SE and BSE images, and in all our photographed images. Service personnel could not find the problem. Finally I realized that it really *only* appeared on the recording CRT, and not on the visual CRTs. I hauled out a really old SEM manual from the late 1960s that dealt with all kinds of weirdness. It showed banding on a CRT that was a result of dirty or deficient high voltage to the CRT. I gingerly cleaned the HV contacts to the CRT and the problem disappeared. It reappears every few years, and I imagine it's our humid and somewhat volcanic air that corrodes these contacts. Cleaning them up works. Hitachi remains dubious about this, by the way.
If the bands appear on digital images, I guess you still need to track down where your signal is coming from and see if you have weak contacts.
Good luck! I know how frustrated we were.
Aloha, Tina
On Fri, 19 Feb 1999, D.Wild wrote:
} Dear all, } We are imaging pumice sections on glass slides, using BSE detector at 25kv, } condenser lens 4, using a Robinson BSE detector on a Hitachi FE4000 The } idea is to obtain highly contrasted images to transform into black and } white binary images. The problem is we are getting horizontal banding which } looks like a charging problem, although the samples are well coated and } earthed. Could it be due to anything else? The problem has recently } developed and was also apparent on a more conducting sample of some TEM } grids. Attached are some images. } Any comments would be helpful.
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* ****************************************************************************
It sure does look like charging (dark) and discharging (bright), but ther= e are other problems which show up in a similar fashion to this when you us= e backscatter.
All this assumes that you do have a good earth on your specimen stage? =
Although BSE see charge far less than SE remember you tend to use much larger currents for BSE observation and you may be trying to cope with th= e large current when you have a very poor earth?
If it is charging one would expect the problem to change in character if you changed the beam current, or more dramatic, change the kV. Lower the=
beam current or the kV and the problem should decrease. Still not convinced then take the sample out and look at a clean stub. No problems then your problem is specimen oriented. If you prove it is charge and t= he stage earth is good -
1. try a faster scan speed for your photography 2. try to work with smaller specimens. 3. try to work at a lower kV (10 or 15) and increase the emission curre= nt (I think a 4000 will go up to 20uA via one of the F keys)
If the above do not markedly change the image form then the problem is probably due to the processing within the backscattered detector system. =
Some BSE detectors allow you to change the response of the amplifier, the= y have viewing and photographic processing options. If you do not have the= se options try taking a photograph at a totally different scan speed?
Good luck
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
======================================================== FOCUS ON MICROSCOPY 1999
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
We wish to announce an important change in the abstract submission and modification deadline. Because of an improved schedule for the printing services of the abstract booklet, we are able to extend the deadline. However, we encourage you to submit and finalise your abstract as quickly as possible since we are starting to arrange the talks into the different sessions.
The new abstract submission and modification deadline is now:
!!! Monday, 8 March 1999 --- 15.00 hours Heidelberg Time !!!
The "abstract submission part" of the database will definitely be closed at 15.00 hours, so that it is not possible to submit further abstracts or make any further modifications to the abstracts after this date.
The "registration only part" of the database will remain open until 9 April 1999!!!
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
We have a Hitachi model S-570 that may be available for sale (80 % sure we will sell, 20 % chance it will be relocated at another Rodel location.). This dual detector tungsten system is in good shape and accepts a 6 in diameter sample. The system will be sold as is. If interested, please e-mail me for more details. Michael Ingram Rodel, Inc Polishing Lab 451 Bellevue Rd Newark, DE 19713 (302) 366-0500, ext.: 2545
I have a question that is not directly related to microscopy but maybe someone out there can help me. One of our customers has asked our company to source and supply a resin used for injection into the vascular system to display the blood vessels (after removing organic material) for teaching, research and museum work.
I have a vague memory of a Japanese resin fulfilling these requirements but can find no immediate reference. Any help gratefully received,
Regards
Terry Cooper TAAB Laboratories Equipment Ltd 3 Minerva House, Calleva Park Aldermaston, Berks, RG7 8NA, UK
Rodel, Inc. had a Hitachi model S-570 that may be available for sale (80 % sure we will sell, 20 % chance it will be relocated at another Rodel location.). This dual detector tungsten system is in good shape and accepts a 6 in diameter sample. The system will be sold as is. If interested, please e-mail me for more details.
Michael Ingram Rodel, Inc Polishing Lab 451 Bellevue Rd Newark, DE 19713 (302) 366-0500, ext.: 2545
"Microwave Techniques for Clinical Histopathology"
There will be a microwave session at Scanning 99 entitled "Microwave Techniques for Clinical Histopathology". Scanning 99 is being held at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare in Rosemont, IL from April 11-14, 1999. The "Microwave Techniques for Clinical Histopathology" session is set for Tuesday, April 13, 1999, in the morning and will consist of invited and contributed presentations. The details of the conference and deadlines/forms for abstract submissions can be found at http://www.scanning.org {http://www.scanning.org} or details can be requested from Mary Sullivan (e-mail: scanning-at-fams.org {mailto:scanning-at-fams.org} , tel: 201-818-1010).
A preliminary list of invited speakers and the titles for the presentation is shown below.
Co-Chairs:
Beverly Giammara - Virtek Vision Inc.
Title "Simple Microwave Methods for Electron Microscopy"
Steven E. Slap - Energy Beam Sciences, Inc.
Title "Introduction to Laboratory Histoprocessing Techniques"
Speakers:
Richard W. Dapson, Ph.D - Anatech Ltd
Title "Microwave Fixation for Histopathology"
D. Denise Hardy - ARUP
Title "Routine Microwave Processing in the Clinical Laboratory"
Linda M. Chicoine - Cognetix/Viatech Imaging, Inc.
Title "Microwave Techniques for Immuno Labeling in Electron Microscopy"
Nathan T. Brinn - Leica Microsystems
Title "Microwave Staining Techniques in Histopathology"
Dear Bob, } } I'm hoping that someone will be able to help me out with this as I am } primarily a biological science person. } } 3- To complicate matters, it would be nice to seperate (again via SEM) } the organics from the minerals vissually. We need to see if the organic } is chemically attached to the mineral or if it forms aggregates between } them. } There are many possibilities for how the organic material could be attached along the continuum from physically adjacent to covalently bonded; however, that said, suspending the specimen in water and applying varying amounts of agitation should distinguish among some of the possi- bilities. If there is only the loosest association between the minerals and the organics, I would expect the former to sink while the latter should float (perhaps you may need to add CsCl to the water if the organ- ics have a specific gravity slightly } 1). If the organics remain attached when the specimen is sonicated, that would signify a tight association. This assumes that neither the minerals nor the organics are water-soluble. Good luck. Yours, Bill Tivol
Our Denton Vaccum Evaporator EV502 won't sputter. We can glow discharge and carbon coat without any trouble but no gold sputtering.
All leads and wiring on the cathode have been changed. We have a new gold target. The cathode was cleaned. =20 The magnets were hopefully put back in the right order. Bioengineering says the electrical system is OK. The vacuum appears OK.
Any suggestions or ideas to get the sputter to sputter=20 would be appreciated.
George Lawton Chief Electron Microscopist Microscopy and Imaging Service Center UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas Phone: 214-648-7291 eMail: George.Lawton-at-email.swmed.edu
Terry Cooper wrote: ============================================ I have a question that is not directly related to microscopy but maybe someone out there can help me. One of our customers has asked our company to source and supply a resin used for injection into the vascular system to display the blood vessels (after removing organic material) for teaching, research and museum work.
I have a vague memory of a Japanese resin fulfilling these requirements but can find no immediate reference. Any help gratefully received, ================================================== I am 99% certain that you thinking about the Mercox Resin System which is used pretty universally for corrosion casting studies. It is available from SPI Supplies and some of the other main suppliers of consumables for light and electron microscopy.
You can find out more about the Mercox system from our website URL http: //www.2spi.com/catalog/chem/embed1.html
If you have kept your previous issues of MICROSCOPY TODAY ( Issue 98-7, Sept . 1998), there was an excellent publication by Fred E. Hossler. If you did not save your old issues, there is a link to the electronic version of that publication from the above mentioned URL.
Disclaimer: SPI Supplies distributes the Mercox resin system and therefore we are interested in promoting its use.
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: www.2spi.com ############################ ==================================================
Our Denton Vacuum Evaporator DV502 won't sputter. We can glow discharge and carbon coat without any=20 trouble but no gold sputtering. All the leads and wiring on the cathode have been changed. We have a new gold target. The cathode was cleaned. Magnets were put back in the right order. Bioengineering says the electrical system is OK. The vacuum appears OK. =20
Any suggestions or ideas to get the sputter to sputter would be appreciated.
George Lawton Chief Electron Microscopist Microscopy and Imaging Service Center UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas Phone: 214-648-7291 eMail: George.Lawton-at-email.swmed.edu
I can tell you from painful experience to avoid acetone. If you do an acetone rinse on your sample prior to putting it in the box, make sure that all of the acetone has evaporated. If not the sample will stick or you will get a nice hole in the membrane. -Scott
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Glass Technology Center 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: Garber, Charles A. To: MICROSCOPY BB -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
-- [ From: Garber, Charles A. * EMC.Ver #3.1 ] --
There have been several recent postings on the use of membrane boxes for the transport and storage of prepared grids. We too are advocates of these boxes, however, with one caveat: You want to be careful that there is nothing on your sample that could react with the thin polyethylene stretched film (membrane).
When even the slightest reaction occurs, the grids are effectively destroyed in terms of their usefulness. Or that is what was described to us by an unhappy customer.
There has been at least one instance where the specimen wanted to stick better to the membrane than to the grid, with the end result that the specimen was lost (stuck) on the membrane and the user was left with a pristine grid sans sample.
We recommend a "test" before storing important samples this way. Some might call it "over kill" but to us it seems like good advice: Take a typical sample and heat age it at 40 deg. C. What ever might happen at room temperature, this test should speed it up about 100 times faster. If a test time about equal to the expected storage or transport time is done, and if on examination, there are no signs of any reaction with the membrane, then you can be reasonably certain that the grid and sample are going to be inert and not changed because of the close proximity to the membrane.
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: www.2spi.com ############################ ==================================================
The latest edition of the Testing Buyers Guide, compiled by the editors of ASM Internationals Advanced Materials & Processes magazine, is now available online at http://www.asm-intl.org/testing
If you are looking for a SEM supplier, or for a firm to conduct some failure analysis for you, then the place to look is the Equipment/Supplies/Services Listing. Click on the category of interest, and you'll be taken to a listing of companies providing that service. To find the contact details for a particular company, simply click on its name. If you already know the name of a company, then you can proceed directly to the Company Directory. Here you will find an alphabetical listing of the more than 400 companies listed in this directory.
I hope you find this a useful resource.
Leslie H. Chom LChom-at-po.asm-intl.org Manager, Online Services ASM International ph. 440.338.5151 Ext. 5510 fx. 440.338.4634
Need property, composition, and processing data? Alloy Digest Webfaxx --- http://www.asm-intl.org
At 16:23 17/02/99 -0400, you wrote: } Content-Type: text/plain; } charset=3D"utf-8" } X-MIME-Autoconverted: from 8bit to quoted-printable by electra.ciens.ucv.ve id EAA17539 } } Estimados colegas: Para facilitar la difusi=C3=B3n de la informaci=C3=B3n= acerca del } V Congreso Interamericano de Microscop=C3=ADa Electr=C3=B3nica , se la = estamos } enviando bajo tres distintas modalidades (direcci=C3=B3n de la p=C3=A1gina= web, texto } en este correo y un documento anexo en formato Word). Agradecer=C3=ADamos= su } valiosa colaboraci=C3=B3n en ayudarnos a distribuirla. Con un saludo= cordial. } Miren Gonz=C3=A1lez-Elorriaga } } Dear colleagues: In order to facilitate the spreading of the information } relative to the Vth Interamerican Electron Microscopy Congress we are } sending it under three different formats ( web site address, text in this } e-mail, and as an attachment document in Word). We will appreciate very= much } your collaboration in delivering it to other colleagues that could be } interested in attending the Congress. Sincerely yours. Miren } Gonz=C3=A1lez-Elorriaga. } } http://electra.ciens.ucv.ve/~svme/ } } } } SOCIEDAD VENEZOLANA DE MICROSCOPIA ELECTRONICA } UNIVERSIDAD CENTRAL DE VENEZUELA } FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS } CENTRO DE MICROSCOPIA ELECTR=C3=93NICA } } } V INTERAMERICAN } ELECTRON MICROSCOPY } CONGRESS } } VIII VENEZUELAN ELECTRON } MICROSCOPY CONGRESS } } ISLA DE MARGARITA } VENEZUELA } OCTOBER 24 - 28, 1999 } } } } GENERAL INFORMATION } } The forthcoming Interamerican Electron Microscopy Congress is the fifth of= a } series which had its origin in M=C3=A9rida, Venezuela, in 1986. } The scientific program will begin on sunday October the 24th, running } through Thursday October the 28th. The program will feature Simposia, } Invited Talks, Oral Presentations and Posters Sessions related to Electron } Microscopy and its applications to Medicine, Biology and Materials. } We look forward to the participation of colleagues from Latin-America, } North America, Europe and Asia. Given the quality of the participants we } want this event to be very fruitful for both undergraduate and postgraduate } students from the specialities mentioned above. } As usual, we also count with the participation of important Commercial } Companies. } From now we give all participants a warm welcome, wishing them a } nice stay in our beautiful Venezuela. } } } INSTRUCTIONS FOR AUTHORS } } All papers must have a two-page extent. The first page must include only } text; the first 19 lines of the second page must contain the rest of the } text and could also be used to write the References. The remaining area= must } be dedicated to the Figures: graphs, tables and photographs. } } } } We request very specially to follow the format mentioned above. } } Papers must be submitted according to the following guidelines: } Title (Times New Roman, capitals, boldface, 12 points, centered). Leave one } blank line and in the following line write the names of authors,= underlining } the name of the author in charge of the presentation. On the following line } write the institutional affiliation of the authors. Leave two blank lines } and then start writing the text. The text must contain a brief= introduction, } objectives, experimental methods, results, discussion and conclusions.= These } points will be taken into account for the selection of the submitted= works. } Languages: Spanish, English or Portuguese. } Paper size: Letter or A4. } Type font: Times New Roman, 10 points, 1.5 spacing. } Margins: Top (2 cm), Bottom (3.5 cm), Left (3 cm), Right (2 cm). } Please, mail one original and two copies of each paper, together with the } registration form and fee. } Reception of papers will be acknowledged promptly. } } Please, do not send your payment separated from the paper and the } registration form. } } } } } } } } } } REGISTRATION FEES } } SVME / IFSM Members } Until On site } 04/30/99 } } Professionals US$ 200 US$ 230 } Students* US$ 100 US$ 130 } } Non Members of SVME / IFSM } } Until On site } 04/30/99 } } Professionals US$ 250 US$ 280 } Students* US$ 125 US$ 155 } } * Students must include a certificate from their institution stating their } status. } } The registration fee entitles the participant the submission of one paper. } Additional papers will pay a fee of US$ 30. } The registration fee includes a copy of the } proceedings and the participation in all } cultural and social events. } } The registration form, paper and payment must be sent to the following } address: } } V INTERAMERICAN ELECTRON } MICROSCOPY CONGRESS. } Universidad Central de Venezuela } Facultad de Ciencias } Centro de Microscop=C3=ADa Electr=C3=B3nica } Avenida Los Ilustres, Los Chaguaramos, } Caracas, VENEZUELA } } Additional information : } } Tel: 58-2-6052174 } Tel-Fax: 58-2-6930694 } e-mail: } svme-at-electra.ciens.ucv.ve } curbina-at-electra.ciens.ucv.ve } alcastel-at-telcel.net.ve } } PAPERS DATA FORM } This completed form must accompany all papers } } Title: } } } } } } } } } Author (s): } } } } } } Three Keywords: } } } } Poster : } } Space recerved for the poster is } 150 cm.-high by 90cm.-wide. } } } Please return this form with your paper (original and two copies) and the } payment. } } } If the paper is not accepted the author will be refunded a 70% of the } cancelled fee. } } } } } } REGISTRATION FORM } Please fill in Capital letters } } Name: } } Institution: } } Complete Address: } } Phone: FAX: } } e-mail: } } Member of SVME/IFSM: } YES =EF=81=AF NO =EF=81=AF } } Student* =EF=81=AF Professional =EF=81=AF } } } REGISTRATION FEES } } SVME/IFSM Members } Until On Site } 04/30/99 } } Professional US$ 200 US$ 230 } Student* US$ 100 US$ 130 } } SVME/IFSM Non-Members } } Until On Site } 04/30/99 } } Professional US$ 250 US$ 280 } Student* US$ 125 US$ 155 } } * Students must include a copy of their official student I.D. } } } PAPERS DATA FORM } This completed form must accompany all papers } } } } } } } } ORGANIZING COMMITTEE } } President: Dr. Alan Castellano } General Secretary: Dr. Caribay Urbina } Scientific Secretary: Dr. Gema Gonz=C3=A1lez } M.Sc. Sonia Camero. } Dr. Carlos Rojas. } Dr. H=C3=A9ctor Finol. } Dr. Miren Gonz=C3=A1lez } M.Sc. Fredy S=C3=A1nchez } Secretary of Special } Events: Dr. Blanca M=C3=BCller } Treasurer: Dr. Humberto Rojas } Technical Support: Dr. Pedro Rodr=C3=ADguez } } } NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE } } } } INTEVEP M.Sc.Margarita Navas } IVIC Dr. Ra=C3=BAl Padr=C3=B3n } UCV Dr. Fracehuli Dagger } UCV Dr. Mariana Staia } ULA Dr. Mauro Brice=C3=B1o } LUZ Dr. Orlando Castej=C3=B3n } UNEFM Dr. Auristela de Mirt } IDEA Dr. Gloria Villegas } UDO Dr. Oscar Gonz=C3=A1lez } UDO Dr. Benjam=C3=ADn Hidalgo } USB Dr. Augusto Ruiz } USR Dr. Antonio Breta=C3=B1a } IUT M.Sc. Freddy Arenas } } } } } } } } } } } } COURSES } During October the 24th and the 28th a variety of courses related to } techniques of sample preparation, observation and } microanalysis will be offered. } } Further details about these courses will be in our web site: } http://electra.ciens.ucv.ve/~svme } } COMMERCIAL EXHIBITION } } The Congress will include an exhibition presented by companies that } trade products related to Electron Microscopy. The exhibition area will be } located at the entrance to the halls of conference and close to the posters } area. } } HOTELS } Margarita Hilton International Hotel (Congress Headquarters), use } e- mail or Fax to reserve. 58-95-620810 } http://www.hilton.com } } Details about accomodation will be } informed in our website: } http://electra.ciens.ucv.ve/~svme } } } CALL FOR PAPERS } Deadline: May the 15th 1999 } Notification of acceptance: } from July the 31st 1999 } } } } } } } } Attachment Converted: "C:\FREDDY\Attach\V Interamerican Electron Microscopy Congress.url" } } Attachment Converted: "C:\FREDDY\Attach\VCngIME.doc" }
The latest edition of the Testing Buyers Guide, compiled by the editors of ASM Internationals Advanced Materials & Processes magazine, is now available online at http://www.asm-intl.org/testing
If you are looking for a SEM supplier, or for a firm to conduct some failure analysis for you, then the place to look is the Equipment/Supplies/Services Listing. Click on the category of interest, and you'll be taken to a listing of companies providing that service. To find the contact details for a particular company, simply click on its name. If you already know the name of a company, then you can proceed directly to the Company Directory. Here you will find an alphabetical listing of the more than 400 companies listed in this directory.
I hope you find this a useful resource.
Leslie H. Chom LChom-at-po.asm-intl.org Manager, Online Services ASM International ph. 440.338.5151 Ext. 5510 fx. 440.338.4634
Need property, composition, and processing data? Alloy Digest Webfaxx --- http://www.asm-intl.org
Leslie H. Chom LChom-at-po.asm-intl.org Manager, Online Services ASM International ph. 440.338.5151 Ext. 5510 fx. 440.338.4634
Need property, composition, and processing data? Alloy Digest Webfaxx --- http://www.asm-intl.org
does anybody know the correct setup of the two RS232 remote interfaces on a LEO982. the manual is pretty sketchy on how to actually send and receive data (or i'm just doing something terribly wrong).
i've configured a comm port on a PC to meet the stated specifications of either or both of the RS232 ports on the scope, and i can send data (as seen on a cable monitor) but i don't get any response from the scope. i've used both null modem and standard cable configurations. it seems the ports just are not listening.....
also, does the 982 data screen do anything in response to the remote interface being activated?
any ideas?
thx! brian
____________________________________________________________________ Brian McIntyre mailto:mcintyre-at-optics.rochester.edu Univ. of Rochester-EM Lab 716-275-3058 voice The Institute of Optics 716-244-4936 fax Rochester, NY 14627 http://www.optics.rochester.edu
For some reason I did not see your original message and attachment images that you posted. Therefore I have only seen the responses. I'll throw in my two cents anyway. You mentioned that you have seen the problem using a TEM grid. I would use something like this that is very conductive with strong contrast if you can readily reproduce the problem. If you can reproduce the banding or flashing only with the samples on glass. It is probably your sample. Unless in increasing the contrast(gain in the Robinson BSE), you inadvertently create some "crosstalk" from the voltage for the preamp to a video line.
First of all to eliminate some things a few questions need to be answered (Assuming you have reproduced the banding with a conductive sample). Make sure the grounding plug on the stage near the X Y controls is plugged in correctly. Think back to when the banding started. WAs anybody inside the instrument? Was anything added? Has the BSE detector been adjusted, moved? A wise old service engineer once told me that 80% of all problems are created by someone fiddling with something. After years of service myself he was absolutely right. Do you see the same banding in normal SE mode as well as BSE? If so the Robinson BSE detector is probably not the culprit. Do you see the problem on the view CRT? If so start at a fast raster then step down to slower and slower raster speeds. Take note if the amounts of banding or flashing increases. If so it is probably charging. Photo speeds will show the most charging. If you only see the problem on your photos in SE and BSE then I would suspect the High Voltage to the photo CRT as someone has already suggested. Make sure you know what your doing before messing with this. The anode on the CRT has 8 to 10KV on it. Even after turning the power off it'll hold a considerable shock. If both view and photo CRT's show banding, the problem is visible in SE and BSE, and you have eliminated charging; the high voltage circuit in the high voltage tank has been known to have problems. This is rare however.
} From what little I know I strongly suspect the Robinson has developed a problem. Usually a ground has developoed a poor connection. It has been awhile but I recall a little gold or silver tab that makes contact with the main shaft on the main housing. I don't remember whether you can get to it without taking the housing apart. Make sure this and any other grounds you find have good connections. If you go into the housing make sure the voltage or power cables are seperate from the video cables. I've rambled and can think of nothing else right now. Good luck.
Joel McClintock EM Specialist U of Kentucky (606)257-1242
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Our Denton Vacuum Evaporator DV502 won't sputter. We can glow discharge and carbon coat without any trouble but no gold sputtering. All the leads and wiring on the cathode have been changed. We have a new gold target. The cathode was cleaned. Magnets were put back in the right order. Bioengineering says the electrical system is OK. The vacuum appears OK.
Any suggestions or ideas to get the sputter to sputter would be appreciated.
George Lawton Chief Electron Microscopist Microscopy and Imaging Service Center UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas Phone: 214-648-7291 eMail: George.Lawton-at-email.swmed.edu
(InterMail v03.02.07 118 124) with SMTP id {19990219212714.GINO7957-at-oldserver} for {Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com} ; Fri, 19 Feb 1999 21:27:14 +0000 Message-ID: {36CDD78A.C0C-at-worldnet.att.net}
Terry Cooper 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 fellow Microscopists, } } I have a question that is not directly related to microscopy but maybe } someone out there can help me. One of our customers has asked our company } to source and supply a resin used for injection into the vascular system to } display the blood vessels (after removing organic material) for teaching, } research and museum work. } } I have a vague memory of a Japanese resin fulfilling these requirements but } can find no immediate reference. Any help gratefully received, } } Regards } } Terry Cooper } TAAB Laboratories Equipment Ltd } 3 Minerva House, Calleva Park } Aldermaston, Berks, RG7 8NA, UK
Dear Terry Cooper,
The product I believe you are referring to is Mercox. It is available from Ladd in Red (#21245), Blue (#21246), and Clear (#21247).
John Arnott Chairman
-- LADD RESEARCH 13 Dorset Lane Williston, VT 05495 TEL 1-800-451-3406 (US) or 1-802-878-6711 (anywhere) FAX 1-802-878-8074 e-mail ladres-at-worldnet.att.net web site http://www.ladd.cc
I would like to reiterate what Joel McClintock mentioned in his post, and which I neglected to point out. The high voltage supply to your CRT is 10 kV! Be careful! The cleaning I have done has so far not involved actually polishing contacts, but merely blowing compressed clean, dry air over the contacts, making sure they are seated, cleaning the surrounding areas, and carefully closing everything up again.
There are a number of circuits in most instruments that are still energized or retain a charge when the instrument is OFF or even DISCONNECTED.
I hate having a perfectly good, sunny, warm, Hawaiian winter day with great surf ruined by getting thrown up against the wall and electrocuted.
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* ****************************************************************************
Dear Bob, I cannot help you with the location of the variable-pressure SEM, but the sample prep I can. 2. The usual practice is to mount the sample in a quick-setting epoxy resin, with most of the sample in the bottom. I use silicon rubber cups one inch in diameter, about 1/2 inch deep. The set resin is then ground on a graded series of sandpaper disks, then polished on diamond suspension to cross-section the particles. The sample is then gold or carbon coated. 3. organic and minerals are easily separated by backscattered imaging (BSE). The organics, being composed of light elements, will show darker than the mineral, which is composed of heavier elements. A photo of SEM and BSE of the same area is often helpful. Particle size measurements may be better done on a sample of grains sprinkled on a sticky tab and iamged by BSE. Hope this helps. You wrote: } I'm hoping that someone will be able to help me out with this as I am } primarily a biological science person. } } 1- Is there someone in the RTP area that has an SEM with an } environmental chamber? } } 2- Any suggestions on a plastic polymer that could poured onto a bunch } of particals (eg: sand) which after polymerization could be fractured } and the fractured surface examined by an SEM so that partical size and } intrastitial space measurments could be made using image analysis? } } 3- To complicate matters, it would be nice to seperate (again via SEM) } the organics from the minerals vissually. We need to see if the organic } is chemically attached to the mineral or if it forms aggregates between } them. } } best regards, } Bob } Robert Schoonhoven } Laboratory of Molecular Carcinogenesis and Mutagenesis } Dept. of Environmental Sciences and Engineering } University of North Carolina } CB#7400 } Chapel Hill, NC 27599 } Phone } office 919-966-6343 } Lab 919-966-6140 } Fax 919-966-6123 } } **Suppose you were an idiot... And suppose you were a member of Congress } .. } But I repeat myself.-Mark Twain** } 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
} Date: Fri, 19 Feb 1999 15:48:43 -0800 } To: "rschoonh-at-sph.unc.edu"-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com, Microscopy } From: Mary Mager {mager-at-interchange.ubc.ca} } Subject: Re: material sciences question } } Dear Bob, } I cannot help you with the location of the variable-pressure SEM, but the sample prep I can. } 2. The usual practice is to mount the sample in a quick-setting epoxy resin, with most of the sample in the bottom. I use silicon rubber cups one inch in diameter, about 1/2 inch deep. The set resin is then ground on a graded series of sandpaper disks, then polished on diamond suspension to cross-section the particles. The sample is then gold or carbon coated. } 3. organic and minerals are easily separated by backscattered imaging (BSE). The organics, being composed of light elements, will show darker than the mineral, which is composed of heavier elements. A photo of SEM and BSE of the same area is often helpful. } Particle size measurements may be better done on a sample of grains sprinkled on a sticky tab and iamged by BSE. } Hope this helps. } You wrote: } } I'm hoping that someone will be able to help me out with this as I am } } primarily a biological science person. } } } } 1- Is there someone in the RTP area that has an SEM with an } } environmental chamber? } } } } 2- Any suggestions on a plastic polymer that could poured onto a bunch } } of particals (eg: sand) which after polymerization could be fractured } } and the fractured surface examined by an SEM so that partical size and } } intrastitial space measurments could be made using image analysis? } } } } 3- To complicate matters, it would be nice to seperate (again via SEM) } } the organics from the minerals vissually. We need to see if the organic } } is chemically attached to the mineral or if it forms aggregates between } } them. } } } } best regards, } } Bob } } Robert Schoonhoven } } Laboratory of Molecular Carcinogenesis and Mutagenesis } } Dept. of Environmental Sciences and Engineering } } University of North Carolina } } CB#7400 } } Chapel Hill, NC 27599 } } Phone } } office 919-966-6343 } } Lab 919-966-6140 } } Fax 919-966-6123 } } } } **Suppose you were an idiot... And suppose you were a member of Congress } } .. } } But I repeat myself.-Mark Twain** } } } 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
With a little more time I have re read your mail and the difficulty of coating your specimen suddenly hits me in the eye!
At the kV you are using (25) with the complicated surface of your specime= n you would have to go to some pretty complex sputtering techniques to remo= ve the possibilities of charging.
If it was me I would conduct the empty stub test I mentioned in an earlie= r =
mail and if this was OK I would then look at the size and shape of the specimen and the coating method.
Sputter coaters are not as good as people like to think they get beaten b= y complex surfaces when a conducting path to earth is very very difficult t= o achieve.
Try this
1. Coat the specimen for a minute or so at 45 degrees 2. Repeat with it tilted 45 degrees in exactly the opposite directi= on 3. Get the best vacuum that you can, by turning off the sputter gas,=
and try to sputter again.
See if this works as it is my standard method for very difficult specimen= s. I find this is the only way to bury the metal deep into the specimen por= es but you should also lower the kV!
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 would also add my two cents to Mary Mager response to adding epoxy to sand/organic mixture. To eliminate voids, we would evacuate the powder sample and then add the liquid via a tube from the outside. The liquid had been previously degassed by either heating or evacuation. The apparatus is simple to construct. Our high resolution density measurements indicated almost complete filling of all voids limited only by the molecular size of the liquid.
Another technique is to simply put the powder and epoxy together in a vaccuum oven and then very slowly evacuate. Make sure there is plenty of room for the bubbles in the sample holder.
J. Roy Nelson, PhD Material Testing Laboratory Pennington, NJ (609) 730-0575 jrnelson-at-nj1.aae.com
-----Original Message----- } From: Tina Carvalho [SMTP:tina-at-pbrc.hawaii.edu] Sent: Saturday, February 20, 1999 12:22 AM To: Joel McClintock Cc: microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com
Hi, all-
A researcher has approached me with confocal images of part of an insect's nervous system that has cells that particularly light up with FITC. They don't know what these cells are, and they want to be able to locate these cells in the TEM. They are looking for something in particular, but I am not allowed to be more specific.
Their idea is to have HRP-conjugated anti-FITC, hoping for a dark reaction product that I will be able to find in the TEM.
I haven't done any HRP staining in (yikes!) decades, and so do not have a protocol handy. Could someone suggest one or, perhaps better, an alternative plan? I am very open to suggestions! Since all they know about these cells is that they fluoresce with FITC, I haven't come up with any other labelling ideas. When I asked if they could microinject the cells, I got blank and then fearful stares.
Thanks in advance!
Mahalo, 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* ****************************************************************************
Before taking my new position as an educator who uses the SEM to improve high school curriculum, the SEM affected my life in incidental ways. For example, the SEM allowed scientists to study and improve their understanding of biology, medicine. Material manufacturing and the aerospace industry used scanning electron microscopes to improve manufacturing processes and to maintain the global superiority of the United States Air Force. I was aware of its use and power, but did not have much contact with the technology.
I was privileged, as a teacher, to take classes on field trips to local industry to use their SEM. Once, a class engaged in a project to determine the damage done by painting the ceiling tiles in our high school's cafeteria. We did sound spectrum studies and painted acoustical tile with unaltered tile under the scanning electron microscope. As you can imagine, the paint had filled in most of the sound-absorbing gaps, reducing the effectiveness of the tiles.
More recently, I have been using a "Personal Scanning Electron Microscope" to improve the curriculum in Dayton area schools. We have used the SEM to examine the adaptations of stream invertebrates to various functions in their ecosystem, to compare the structure of red blood cells (eukaryotes) to blue- green algae (prokaryotes), to examine the pollen comb, brush, and pocket on the hind legs of honeybees, and to measure microscopically.
We have also described the crystalline forms of rocks and minerals and studied microfossils found in diatomaceous earth. I am currently at the Museum of Discovery in Dayton, Ohio, where we are photographing tiny ants and snails that have never been seen under an SEM before. Some of these images will be published in scientific journals to advance our understanding of the diversity of our environment while others will be archived along with the actual specimens for the benefit of future generations.
Even if I had never had the opportunity to use an SEM, it would have been improving my life indirectly through the contributions of scientists who do use one. Having the opportunity to use one several days a month is enriching my life as I am able to work and contribute on the border between science and art, using both sides of my brain!
Good luck with your report, Amy!
Sincerely,
Carlton Bowers Alliance for Education TECH TREK Mobile Research Laboratory Curriculum & Technology Specialist (937) 222-2934
George Lawton 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Our Denton Vaccum Evaporator EV502 won't sputter. } We can glow discharge and carbon coat without any } trouble but no gold sputtering. } } All leads and wiring on the cathode have been changed. } We have a new gold target. The cathode was cleaned. } The magnets were hopefully put back in the right order. } Bioengineering says the electrical system is OK. The } vacuum appears OK. } } Any suggestions or ideas to get the sputter to sputter } would be appreciated. } } George Lawton } Chief Electron Microscopist } Microscopy and Imaging Service Center } UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas } Phone: 214-648-7291 } eMail: George.Lawton-at-email.swmed.edu
George, I had this happen on my Polaron 5100. Try going to full voltage at a very poor vacuum and see if you can make it start. It may have something to do with contamination.
Ken Converse owner Quality Images third party SEM service Delta, PA
Bob, At the risk of running on- I'd just like to add my two cents worth to the good advise that you have received from Mary Mager.
Particle Size We have had the best results determining particles size by the "keep it simple" rule for SEM preparations. We usually use the sticky tab method. One of the commercially available, double sided carbon adhesives such as SPI Carbon Tape or Ted Pella Carbon Conductive Tabs work well. SEM secondary electron imaging (SEI) usually does great, but you will probably have great backscattered electron contrast as well (BEI). This simple prep works best (for us) for the particle size aspect of the problem, because you needn't worry yourself with the problem of recognizing small particle fragments due to the fracturing or grinding/polishing.
Composition/ Organic and inorganic As Mary recommends, you will want to embed and cross-section (by grinding /polishing) to expose a topography free surface. SEM-BEI will show the spatial correlation between the mineral and carbonaceous components. Also don't overlook PLM. If you have access to a good optical microscope, you may learn much about the structure here.
Intrastitial and interstitial spaces Again the cross-section prep is your best shot. I use Buehler's EPO-COLOR fast cure epoxy for these application. It is a nice bright red color that will likely be different in color fron any other components in your sample. Use a vacuum infiltration before curing. This allows examination by optical techniques with differentiation between the epoxy embedding material and the other organics in the specimen - works great for identifying porosity. Then on to the SEM for a closer look and identification of compositions.
Hopefully SEM has the resolution to examine the intrastitial space that your interested in. Otherwise its on to the TEM. isn't it fun?! Regards, Brad Huggins
Mary Mager Wrote: Dear Bob, I cannot help you with the location of the variable-pressure SEM, but the sample prep I can. 2. The usual practice is to mount the sample in a quick-setting epoxy resin, with most of the sample in the bottom. I use silicon rubber cups one inch in diameter, about 1/2 inch deep. The set resin is then ground on a graded series of sandpaper disks, then polished on diamond suspension to cross-section the particles. The sample is then gold or carbon coated. 3. organic and minerals are easily separated by backscattered imaging (BSE). The organics, being composed of light elements, will show darker than the mineral, which is composed of heavier elements. A photo of SEM and BSE of the same area is often helpful. Particle size measurements may be better done on a sample of grains sprinkled on a sticky tab and iamged by BSE.
You wrote: } I'm hoping that someone will be able to help me out with this as I am } primarily a biological science person. } } 1- Is there someone in the RTP area that has an SEM with an } environmental chamber? } } 2- Any suggestions on a plastic polymer that could poured onto a bunch } of particals (eg: sand) which after polymerization could be fractured } and the fractured surface examined by an SEM so that partical size and } intrastitial space measurments could be made using image analysis? } } 3- To complicate matters, it would be nice to seperate (again via SEM) } the organics from the minerals vissually. We need to see if the organic } is chemically attached to the mineral or if it forms aggregates between } them. } } best regards, } Bob } Robert Schoonhoven
Hi all, I have recently finished my third year project in electron microscopic observations of the entry and exit of influenza virus. In it I used Thermanox coverslips to culture the cells on, one of the problems that I had was delamination of the coverslip from the resin (Spurrs) and wondered if this had any thing to do with the different densities of the Thermanox and resin. If anyone knows their densities I would be most grateful.
I'm back on-line, albeit remotely. I have noticed several recent postings this week (of course) in which users have appended images to their mailings.
Please remember this is not accepted practice on this listserver. Too many people have low bandwidth or expensive or slow connections. Fortunately for me, my software is set to ignore large downloads while I'm on the road and operating via a modem. Many users do not have this luxury. This is, of course, detailed in the rules of listserver usage which you all have received when you subscribed.
If you wish to share images with list users place them on a WWW site and just provide a URL in the body of your message..
I am putting the final touches on a presentation on the state of microscopy education for a presentation this coming Thursday (New York Microscopical Society) and would love to include some good "up-to-date" stats about what's going on in the field. While I have a lot of material on courses at Delta San Joaquin, Woods Hole, Lehigh, and through MSA, I could use some info "from the field". If you are teaching a course at your company/university, could you please send (email or snail mail) a quick synopsis? Also of interest: if you are including a microscopy unit as part of another course.
Many thanks! Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater productivity.
125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} ****************************************************** MME is America's first national consortium providing customized on-site workshops in all areas of microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis.
Michael: I worked with Desmids more than a quarter of a century ago. Cannot lay may hands on those reference now but the important things learned about their preparation for SEM would not have changed!
These cells are very sensitive to osmotic shock. We used the buffer quite dilute - 0.01M at the most and dehydration has to be slower than normal, have more gradual steps and begin with about 20% ethanol, when most other specimens can tolerate dehydration from 70%. Since these are large cells you can observe osmotic effects under a light microscope.
I think that we used our improvised freeze drying method back then, but solvent drying or critical point drying too, if you can retain the cells should give good results. Call me if you have further questions. 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 Friday, February 19, 1999 1:24 PM, MichaelD [SMTP:michaeld-at-amsg.austmus.gov.au] 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 wish to examine the morphology of Desmids (single } celled freshwater } algae) using SEM. Can anyone give me suitable } references for their } preparation. } Please send them to michaeld-at-amsg.austmus.gov.au } } Thanking you in anticipation } } } Mike Dingley.
Does anyone have a reference or recipe for post-fixing with acetate-veronal (AV)-buffered OsO4, and/or en bloc staining with AV-buffered UA?? I believe Palade authored the technique, probably others have modified it.
Thanks, Ann Lehman Trinity College Hartford, CT v. 860-297-4289 f. 860-297-2538 e. ann.lehman-at-exchange.cc.trincoll.edu
We have a new semester course in EM. It covers theory and application of both SEEM and TEM. It is an undergraduate course, at the 5000 level (senior, graduate school acceptable). Students prepare and view their own samples on the Hitachi S4000 SEEM and on the Zeus 902 TEM. Digital images are generated as TIFF files and the students produce portfolios with PhotoShop. Final prints are made with an Alps color printer. We are establishing a web site, and student work will be posted on this site.
William McManus, MS Lab Supervisor Electron Microscope Facility Department of Biology Utah State University Logan UT 854322-5305
435-797-1920
-----Original Message----- } From: Barbara Foster [mailto:mme-at-map.com] Sent: Sunday, February 21, 1999 5:42 PM To: Confocal Microscopy List; microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com
Dear list-listeners,
I am putting the final touches on a presentation on the state of microscopy education for a presentation this coming Thursday (New York Microscopical Society) and would love to include some good "up-to-date" stats about what's going on in the field. While I have a lot of material on courses at Delta San Joaquin, Woods Hole, Lehigh, and through MSA, I could use some info "from the field". If you are teaching a course at your company/university, could you please send (email or snail mail) a quick synopsis? Also of interest: if you are including a microscopy unit as part of another course.
Many thanks! Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater productivity.
125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} ****************************************************** MME is America's first national consortium providing customized on-site workshops in all areas of microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis.
Tina Carvalho wrote: } } A researcher has approached me with confocal images of part of an insect's } nervous system that has cells that particularly light up with FITC. } They don't know what these cells are, and they want to be able to locate } these cells in the TEM. They are looking for something in particular, but } I am not allowed to be more specific. } } Their idea is to have HRP-conjugated anti-FITC, hoping for a dark reaction } product that I will be able to find in the TEM. } } I haven't done any HRP staining in (yikes!) decades, and so do not have a } protocol handy. Could someone suggest one or, perhaps better, an } alternative plan? I am very open to suggestions! Since all they know } about these cells is that they fluoresce with FITC, I haven't come up with } any other labelling ideas. When I asked if they could microinject the } cells, I got blank and then fearful stares. } Dear Tina, Jim Turner has done a lot of corellative confocal LM and EM. Try some of his publications for a protocol. 10 kV would ruin one of your wonderful Hawaiian days; we just use the shock to recover from Albany winter :-). Yours, Bill Tivol
This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --------------3B1287CCAA802B61D5BACA63 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Dear Dr. Carvalho
An alternative tehcnique to anti-FITC antibodies in electron microcopy may be the photoconversion of DAB by the irradiation of the FITC-marked cells using a laser or a fluorescent microscope. I never used this technique but it appears to be relatively easy. This technique is described by Pagano and Martin (1997) in Cell Biology: A Laboratory Handbook, 2nd ed., Julio E Celis, Ed: 505-510, Academic Press, San Diego.
I hope it works Good Luck!
Francisco Javier Hernandez-Blazquez IARC-WHO Unit of Multistage Carcinogenesis 150 Cours Albert Thomas Lyon - France
fhernandez-at-iarc.fr
Tina Carvalho 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 researcher has approached me with confocal images of part of an insect's } nervous system that has cells that particularly light up with FITC. } They don't know what these cells are, and they want to be able to locate } these cells in the TEM. They are looking for something in particular, but } I am not allowed to be more specific. } } Their idea is to have HRP-conjugated anti-FITC, hoping for a dark reaction } product that I will be able to find in the TEM. } } I haven't done any HRP staining in (yikes!) decades, and so do not have a } protocol handy. Could someone suggest one or, perhaps better, an } alternative plan? I am very open to suggestions! Since all they know } about these cells is that they fluoresce with FITC, I haven't come up with } any other labelling ideas. When I asked if they could microinject the } cells, I got blank and then fearful stares. } } Thanks in advance! } } Mahalo, } 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* } ****************************************************************************
--------------3B1287CCAA802B61D5BACA63 Content-Type: text/x-vcard; charset=us-ascii; name="fhernandez.vcf" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Description: Card for Francisco Hernandez Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="fhernandez.vcf"
begin:vcard n:Hernandez-Blazquez;Francisco Javier x-mozilla-html:FALSE url:www.iarc.fr org:IARC-WHO;Unit of Multistage Carcinogenesis version:2.1 email;internet:fhernandez-at-iarc.fr adr;quoted-printable:;;150 Cours Albert Thomas=0D=0A;Lyon;;69372;France fn:Francisco J. Hernandez-Blazquez end:vcard
Hi Barbara, In brief: We teach TEM, SEM, and Electron Diffraction courses open to gradurates and undergraduates. The TEM course is a 6 hr. credit course (2hrs/lecture, 4hrs/lab) that involves producing a report which is 50% of their grade. The main challenge is producing good sections with a tempermental 21 year old ultramicrotome. The SEM course is for 2 hrs. credit again is with 50% of the grade on their report. Here we are at mercy of our 25 year old ETEC behaving well. The EM Diffraction course is taught only every few years. But every year we offer a one afternoon EM Diffraction Lab as part of a Solid State Chemistry Techniques course. In addition we conduct highschool tours, and have involved high school students in special summerschool projects here on the University campus. On occasion we have trained researchers from industry in EM instrumentation techniques. The microscopy courses serve important functions in that some of my former students have gone on to direct EM or microscopy imaging facilities in industry and Universities, and others in their capacity as teachers or researchers will be able to share and expand the microscopy knowledge with others. Our concerns: 1.) Because of the small class size (6-10 students on average) there is pressure to drop the courses. Yet it is usually the students who end up doing the research for faculty. 2.) Departments faced with budget concerns want to cut service contracts. This is especially determental to TEM performance and the production of quality results. 3.) Lack of interest in replacing, repairing and/or upgrading equipment, and support for training courses for staff in new microscopy techniques. Suggestion: For MSA or local Microscopy Societies to produce a brochure, or better, a series of brochures on different microscopy and imaging techniques and their relevance and applications to research and commerce aimed at high school level science students. If these were available to hand out for high school tours or accessable to high school teachers, it would do much in furthering the interest and understanding of microscopy.
Barbara Foster wrote: } Dear list-listeners, } I am putting the final touches on a presentation on the state of microscopy } education for a presentation this coming Thursday (New York Microscopical } Society) and would love to include some good "up-to-date" stats about } what's going on in the field. While I have a lot of material on courses at } Delta San Joaquin, Woods Hole, Lehigh, and through MSA, I could use some } info "from the field". If you are teaching a course at your } company/university, could you please send (email or snail mail) a quick } synopsis? Also of interest: if you are including a microscopy unit as part } of another course. } } Many thanks! } Barbara Foster } Consortium President } Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater } productivity. } } 125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 } PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com } Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} } ****************************************************** } MME is America's first national consortium providing } customized on-site workshops in all areas of } microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis.
Henry Eichelberger, EM Facility Manager Department of Biological Sciences Binghamton, University
I have been giving a course since 1993 to biomedical graduate students here at the University of Michigan entitled "Morphology for Molecular Biologists." You can get an idea of the course and see a schedule in this URL:
http://www.umich.edu/~mmb533/
Unfortunately, you won't be able to view the lectures, which have to be restricted to the University of Michigan, because they contain some copyrighted material.
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.umich.edu/~akc/
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 list-listeners, } } I am putting the final touches on a presentation on the state of microscopy } education for a presentation this coming Thursday (New York Microscopical } Society) and would love to include some good "up-to-date" stats about } what's going on in the field. While I have a lot of material on courses at } Delta San Joaquin, Woods Hole, Lehigh, and through MSA, I could use some } info "from the field". If you are teaching a course at your } company/university, could you please send (email or snail mail) a quick } synopsis? Also of interest: if you are including a microscopy unit as part } of another course. } } Many thanks! } Barbara Foster } Consortium President } Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater } productivity. } } 125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 } PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com } Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} } ****************************************************** } MME is America's first national consortium providing } customized on-site workshops in all areas of } microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis. } }
Since I am the person who, I think, started this discussion, I'd like to explain why I am developing a preference (purely personal) for "carbon" over "graphite". It may help others.
My coater, an old Edwards 306, uses a 3mm sharpened rod which is caused, by a spring, to bear on to a flat-ended 0.25" carbon rod (which I call the anvil). The 3mm (consumable) rod is held in a hole, about 8mm long, drilled into the end of another piece of 0.25" rod (pity about the ban on images).
When I was using my previous supply of "National" spectroscopic carbon rods, the anvil and the holder used to last for about a year. When I switched (somewhat unwittingly) to "graphite" rods, the higher temperature (or maybe it was the higher current) caused both the holder and the anvil to get so hot that the former lasted for three coatings and the latter for five.
I could, of course, modify my holder and anvil set-up, but it seems to me that it would be easier just to try to obtain some rods similar to those which I had before.
I'm sure there must be other coaters can cope with the graphite rods better than mine can.
It's not just "belief", Jim, but rather, as you also say, different operating and instrument parameters.
Disclaimer: As a hard-pressed University employee, I just want things which work satisfactorily to continue to do so with the minimum hassle factor.
cheers
Ritchie
} From: Jim J Darley {jim-at-proscitech.com.au} } Reply-to: "jim-at-proscitech.com.au" {jim-at-proscitech.com.au} } To: "Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com" {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} } Subject: Carbon versus graphite rods } Date: Fri, 19 Feb 1999 14:52:38 +1100 } Organization: proscitech
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } Pardon this belated contribution to the carbon discussion. } After returning from the excellent New Zealand Microscopy } Conference I found an email were the correspondent wants to } exchange graphite for carbon rods. I think that the } discussion on those rods was a little incomplete and would } like to add this: } } Pure (amorphous) carbon rods without graphite (crystalline } carbon) would not work; they are essentially } non-conductors. If carbon was to volatilise at a much lower } temperature than graphite, graphite would be deposited as } particulate matter. Clearly that is not so - both carbon } and graphite give smooth films under the right conditions. } Graphite rods simply have a higher graphite content than } carbon rods and purity of analysis is quite another topic. } } Higher graphite content rods are more easily shaped or } sharpened and since they conduct better than "carbon" rods, } they require more current to heat to sublimation point. Of } course the diameter of the rods at contact point is another } important variable. } } I have found that most carbon rod evaporation difficulties } are due to wrong voltage selection. Graphite, let alone } carbon rods are near impossible to deal with at 10 volts. I } used 30 volts and about 60 amps to evaporate from graphite } rods. A slightly higher voltage may be preferable for } carbon rods. Incidentally 10 volts gives better control for } metal evaporation. Clearly maximum amps and an easily } selectable range of voltages are a major consideration when } purchasing an evaporator. } } I am of the persuasion that a strong preference for carbon } versus graphite rods is largely a matter of belief. It's } too easy to mistake technique and equipment parameters as } proving that one or the other rod is "better". I rather } state my belief that: Graphite rods are less brittle and } carbon cord, because of a larger source area, gives greater } uniformity in thickness. } } Disclaimer: ProSciTech like all EM suppliers supplies } carbon and graphite rods and we have no preference which } are purchased. } 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 ***** }
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
With regard to your quest for information on training organisations.
Protrain, based in Oxford England, and its sister company SSEM, based in California, have been running "in house" electron microscopy training courses around the world for the past eighteen years.
Our staff are made up of professional electron microscopists who have bee= n in the business for at least 33 years. We all started out as service engineers in the days when you literally built the instruments on the customers site. Our paths then moved toward those of application specialists, combining instrument demonstration and customer training, these roles with a number of the most well known manufacturers. Since we=
moved into running our own training organisations we have run courses in university and industrial organisations covering all the natural English speaking countries in the world and some where English was not their firs= t language.
Our training courses are run on customer demand in the clients laboratory= , but we are often employed by universities to run specific courses for the= m within their own E.M. Units. Many of our courses will be similar to othe= rs that you may hear about in your survey, but I believe that we are the onl= y organisation in the world than run courses for technical staff on the maintenance of electron microscopes. Our latest move has been to make th= e courses available with sound on CD ROM, taking information to those that are unable to afford the hands on training.
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
If it is not a violation of state laws or institutional policy to provide the information, I am interested in determining the extent to which laboratories in U. S. academic institutions regulate their chemical waste and provide radiation safety protection and laser safety protection policies and procedures for their employees. Are appropriate OSHA and other regulatory agency rules mandated by your institutions? Have some been granted extensions in order to set up appropriate procedures?
I would specifically like to know if anyone has direct knowledge of laboratory safety inspections by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) or OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) or any other state or federal safety regulating agency. If so, what has been the outcome of the inspections? Have fines have been levied against institutions for improper chemical storage or waste disposal procedure violations? Have any fines been imposed for radiation or laser safety violations? Obviously, this listserver is primarily microscopy lab directed, however, it would be useful to know if laboratories other than electron microscope labs have been inspected as well.
The purpose of my request is to gather data for a talk I will be giving. I would like to know how rigorously regulatory agency rules are inforced for academic institutions compared to industry enforcement.
Our institution has a strict waste disposal policy. No chemical is flushed down the sink. All waste is put in appropriate containers and is removed by university Risk Management people as needed. State inspectors have inspected laser labs. This resulted in a request for better beam stop protection. I am not aware of any fines. To date, there have been no OSHA or EPA inspections. Our Radiation Protection Office oversees radiation and laser safety on campus and provides excellent protection resources.
All answers will be reported generically. If any information is collected and if a summary is requested, no institution will be listed in my talk or in a summary to this listserver. Respondents may wish to reply to me directly.
John C. Wheatley Lab Manager Arizona State University Center for Solid State Science PSA-213 BOX 871704 Tempe, AZ 85287-1704
We offer a two year Associate's Degree in Electron Microscopy at Madison Area Technical College in Madison, Wisconsin. The four semester program deals with SEM, FESEM, TEM, AFM, sample prep for materials and biologic, and basic EM maintenance. Check out our web site for more info: http:// Electron-Microscopy.madison.tec.wi.us
Bill Carmichael EM Program MATC 3550 Anderson St. Madison, WI 53704 billc-at-jvlnet.com
Barbara Foster 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 list-listeners, } } I am putting the final touches on a presentation on the state of microscopy } education for a presentation this coming Thursday (New York Microscopical } Society) and would love to include some good "up-to-date" stats about } what's going on in the field. While I have a lot of material on courses at } Delta San Joaquin, Woods Hole, Lehigh, and through MSA, I could use some } info "from the field". If you are teaching a course at your } company/university, could you please send (email or snail mail) a quick } synopsis? Also of interest: if you are including a microscopy unit as part } of another course. } } Many thanks! } Barbara Foster } Consortium President } Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater } productivity. } } 125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 } PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com } Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} } ****************************************************** } MME is America's first national consortium providing } customized on-site workshops in all areas of } microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis.
We offer a two year Associate's Degree in Electron Microscopy at Madison Area Technical College in Madison, Wisconsin. The four semester program deals with SEM, FESEM, TEM, AFM, sample prep for materials and biologic, and basic EM maintenance. Check out our web site for more info:
http://Electron-Microscopy.madison.tec.wi.us
Bill Carmichael EM Program MATC 3550 Anderson St. Madison, WI 53704 billc-at-jvlnet.com
Barbara Foster 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 list-listeners, } } I am putting the final touches on a presentation on the state of microscopy } education for a presentation this coming Thursday (New York Microscopical } Society) and would love to include some good "up-to-date" stats about } what's going on in the field. While I have a lot of material on courses at } Delta San Joaquin, Woods Hole, Lehigh, and through MSA, I could use some } info "from the field". If you are teaching a course at your } company/university, could you please send (email or snail mail) a quick } synopsis? Also of interest: if you are including a microscopy unit as part } of another course. } } Many thanks! } Barbara Foster } Consortium President } Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater } productivity. } } 125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 } PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com } Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} } ****************************************************** } MME is America's first national consortium providing } customized on-site workshops in all areas of } microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis.
A very big hello to everyone that I haven't spoken to since leaving the Microscopy List some 2 years ago. My new vocation leads me to re-subscribing to ask you all a very big favour.
***Have you done any EM work (imaging or analytical) for archaeologists? If so, would you be so kind as to drop me a line to let me know the aim and nature of the work? Reasons follow;
I left the Microscopy Labs of the Australian Museum to follow my wife's work in Brussels, Belgium, where I'm doing a Ph.D. in Archaeology (in 3D modelling). The undergraduate courses in our faculty do not cover many scientific techniques, so my fellow students have badgered me into giving a seminar on EM's and their applications in archaeology, and a demo on the uni's SEM. I have plenty of examples from my work in zoology, but obviously I need examples from archaeology. I have some references to work with but I figure that the BEST references are the people on this List.
Please understand that my motivations are honest. My only use of your information will be this once-off seminar for my fellow students. They are undergrads who are not in a position to poach any research for their own advantage. All contributors will be acknowledged. And I will be personally very grateful for your help.
We recently purchased Pixera Professional digital camera (for optical microscopy). Nice little thing, but:
We want to have the camera on PC (Pentium II, 333MHz, 128MB RAM) with Win NT 4.0 operating system. We successfully installed the NT driver Pixdrv.drv and Pixera Visual Communication Suite (from a CD). After starting Studio Viewfinder (a software for picture acquisition), there was just fine b/w raster (noise) instead of picture. Using other software and Twain interface led us to the same disappointment. We repeated experiments with both service packs for NT 4.0, namely 3 and 4.
We also tried to install the same camera on another computer (Pentium MMX 200MHz, 64MB RAM ), running on Win 98. New hardware was installed without a problem, but when opening the Pixera VC Suite and running Viewfinder program a message "Can not initialize the camera" appeared.
I would be very grateful for any suggestion.
Best regards,
Goran Drazic
------------------------------
Dr. Goran Drazic J. Stefan Institute Jamova 39 SI-1001 Ljubljana Slovenia
{!doctype html public "-//w3c//dtd html 4.0 transitional//en"} {html} I have a surplus 3.5 mm {b} never been used {/b} Diatome diamond knife old style boat for sale. {/html}
In a message dated 99-02-23 08:57:29 EST, Goran.Drazic-at-ijs.si writes:
{ { We also tried to install the same camera on another computer (Pentium MMX 200MHz, 64MB RAM ), running on Win 98. New hardware was installed without a problem, but when opening the Pixera VC Suite and running Viewfinder program a message "Can not initialize the camera" appeared.
} }
Dr. Drazic,
I had the same problem just yesterday on a new Pixera installation. Pixera told me this is a problem with some high-speed computers.
We switched out the interface card to a "Cirrus Logic PCIC compatible PCI to PCMCIA Bridge," and I had to load a new set of drivers from a floppy disk that was included with the PCI card from Pixera. I also found out that I did not have "32 bit support" enabled on the computer. With the new card and 32 bit support enabled, the camera now works beautifully.
If your local representing agency can not help, I suggest you contact Pixera directly at:
www.pixera.com
} From there you can contact Technical Support. The new set of drivers are two fairly small files. If you can get the correct PCI board, I am sure Pixera could send them to you via e-mail.
Good luck, I hope this helps!
Best regards,
Bob ****************************** Robert (Bob) Chiovetti, Ph.D. President Microimaging Technologies, Inc. Tucson, Arizona USA Tel./Fax (520) 546-4986 rchiovetti-at-aol.com Manufacturers' Representatives Systems Integrators Analog & Digital Imaging Systems Clinical & Research Microscopy Cytology/Histology/Pathology/EM *******************************
Any suggestion on proper etchant procedure to use in order to do NiTi and NiTiCu Memory Shape Alloys SEM images? We have tried several polishing procedure (cutting speed, different clothes and a chemical etch with 50:50 mixture of HF acid and HNO3 acid) but no grain borders can be seen (but some pinning if you use acid for too long!) Thank You in advance, Edoardo
{!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 3.2//EN"} {HTML} {HEAD} {META HTTP-EQUIV=3D"Content-Type" CONTENT=3D"text/html; = charset=3Dus-ascii"} {META NAME=3D"Generator" CONTENT=3D"MS Exchange Server version = 5.5.1960.3"} {TITLE} SEM preparation of SMA {/TITLE} {/HEAD} {BODY}
{P} {FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Courier New"} Any suggestion on proper etchant = procedure to use in order to do NiTi and NiTiCu Memory Shape Alloys SEM = images? {/FONT} {BR} {FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Courier New"} We have tried several polishing = procedure (cutting speed, different clothes and a chemical etch with = 50:50 mixture of HF acid and {/FONT} {/P}
{P} {FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Courier New"} HNO3 acid) but no grain borders = can be seen (but some pinning if you use acid for too long!) {/FONT} {BR} {FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Courier New"} Thank You in advance, = Edoardo {/FONT} {/P}
I am looking for software/hardware that will help me count the number amount , as well as note the area of the particle, off a negative (print) image that I have produced using a TEM. I could do it by hand, but the time neccessary is not available. I know that there has to be something out there that will help me, and any help would be greatly appreiciated.
Joseph Montoya Physics Department New Mexico State University
I am unsure about your imaging goals, but can you use BSE channeling contrast instead of an agressive etch? I haven't consulted the phase diagrams, but it is often possible to see grains (orientation related contrast) if the Z differences don't produce a poor "signal to noise ratio". Noise in this case being any undesired image signal.
Any suggestion on proper etchant procedure to use in order to do NiTi and NiTiCu Memory Shape Alloys SEM images? We have tried several polishing procedure (cutting speed, different clothes and a chemical etch with 50:50 mixture of HF acid and
HNO3 acid) but no grain borders can be seen (but some pinning if you use acid for too long!) Thank You in advance, Edoardo
Does anyone out there know of a source of single crystal LiF substrates or other similar single crystal fluorides, chlorides, etc? If not, would you perhaps know of an entrepreneurial crystal grower who might be tempted? Thanks in advance.
Cheers John
John P. McCaffrey Institute for Microstructural Sciences National Research Council of Canada M-50 Montreal Rd. Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0R6 Canada
As a result of a recent trade, I have a nice clean LKB-Huxley Ultra Microtome - seems to be in good working condition and has the original accessory box with a variety of chucks and adapters. And a new - unused - EdgeCraft 2.6mm diamond knife. All of my work is LM, so I need to get this stuff sold or traded (hopefully in the greater Baltimore-DC area for the Huxley, since I don't want to crate it). Money would be nice (my wife thinks my self-supported research costs way too much), but also open to interesting trades for useful LM equipment - I am Leitz 170mm based, but open to other possibilities. Also would consider selling/trading the Huxley and the diamond knife as seperate items. Mainly, I need to get the Huxley out of my wife's laundry room and don't have room for it in my lab - OK, I know ultra microtomes in the laundry room is not a common problem, but we are a little strange. And, this is clearly not a commercial enterprise.
Geoff Avern wrote: } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } A very big hello to everyone that I haven't spoken to since leaving the } Microscopy List some 2 years ago. My new vocation leads me to } re-subscribing to ask you all a very big favour. } } ***Have you done any EM work (imaging or analytical) for archaeologists? } If so, would you be so kind as to drop me a line to let me know the aim } and nature of the work? Reasons follow; } } I left the Microscopy Labs of the Australian Museum to follow my wife's } work in Brussels, Belgium, where I'm doing a Ph.D. in Archaeology (in 3D } modelling). The undergraduate courses in our faculty do not cover many } scientific techniques, so my fellow students have badgered me into giving } a seminar on EM's and their applications in archaeology, and a demo on the } uni's SEM. I have plenty of examples from my work in zoology, but } obviously I need examples from archaeology. I have some references to } work with but I figure that the BEST references are the people on this } List. } } Please understand that my motivations are honest. My only use of your } information will be this once-off seminar for my fellow students. They } are undergrads who are not in a position to poach any research for their } own advantage. All contributors will be acknowledged. And I will be } personally very grateful for your help. } } Hoping to hear from you, } } Geoff Avern } Brussels, Belgium
Geoff One person you might want to try and chase down is Dr. Alan Walker. He used to operate an SEM at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD, but I don't believe he is there at the present time. I beleive it was the Lucy find in Africa that he was associated with and he might be able to give a lot of input into the archeological uses of the SEM. Hope this helps.
Ken Converse owner Quality Images third party SEM service
What you want to do is relatively straightforward. You do have to be careful that the area fraction that you measure for the particle will not be the volume fraction because you have to take account for the thickness of the sample in transmission. For relatively inexpensive solutions, you can use NIH image on a MAC or Photoshop with John Russ' Image Processing Toolkit Plug-ins for both Mac and PC. IPTK is about $250 and comes with a very good tutorial and a primer on stereology measurements. It will also work with other programs. The latest version has digital darkroom on it. I also think that his plug-ins work with NIH image, but I have never tried them with it. IPTK also goes very well with his book, The Image Processing handbook. Visit their web site: http://members.aol.com/ImagProcTK/index.htm
John Russ monitors the Listserver and he is very helpful to people with quantitative microscopy problems as he was with me just over the past couple of days. Thanks again, John!
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Glass Technology Center 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: Rudy To: microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
I am looking for software/hardware that will help me count the number amount , as well as note the area of the particle, off a negative (print) image that I have produced using a TEM. I could do it by hand, but the time neccessary is not available. I know that there has to be something out there that will help me, and any help would be greatly appreiciated.
Joseph Montoya Physics Department New Mexico State University
Hello,=20 Can somebody help me about the preparation of the Sato's Lead Citrate? = What's the chemicals and its proportion? Thank's in advance. M.Sc. Rinaldo Pires dos Santos Lab. of Plant Anatomy - Dept. of Botany - UFRGS Porto Alegre - RS - Brazil
Hello, Can somebody help me about the preparation of the Sato's Lead Citrate? What's the chemicals and its proportion? Thank's in advance. M.Sc. Rinaldo Pires dos Santos Lab. of Plant Anatomy - Dept. of Botany - UFRGS Porto Alegre - RS - Brazil
We did some work on materials investigation of a 300-year old Virgin Mary stone (Indo-Christian style). We picked up small pieces of samples from different positions of the stone, e.g., coating, and stone itself. The results are interesting. We analyed mineral constituents and chemical compositions and finally we were able to determine the most possible locality where the stone was produced.
The paper was published at MRS Proceedings: M.S. Barger and W.L. Gong, La Virgincita: Technical study of an Indo-Christian Statue, Mat. Res. Soc. Proc. Symp. 462, 381 (1997).
I would appreciate comments or opinions regarding this software. I saw the presentation and I was quite impressed. Howver before I can make any recommendation I would like to hear from users of this software especially those using the Confocal Imaging module and Cell Tracking.
My two cents worth is to throw that mental switch into your head in the analytical mode. As you know your EM, and my Pol Scope, do analysis as well as make WOW! pictures. To not assume, I will refer you to the Journal of Archaeological Sciences for many articles using the EM.
You have a "tool" that can analysis micro quantities, which archaeologist are not used to working with. You need to educate them, not what IS done, but the types of things can be done. Archaeological problems of the "what the .... is this" tend to come on a more or less dig by dig basis. Build an easy bridge for them to walk accross to your analystical tool. Problem solving is best done with the interest of the various are openly and freely discussed.
While not archaeology, don't forget conservation and restoration as you consider your course.
Good luck and Shalom from Jerusalem, Azriel
} } Brussels, Belgium } } Geoff } One person you might want to try and chase down is Dr. Alan } Walker. He used to operate an SEM at Johns Hopkins University in } Baltimore, MD, but I don't believe he is there at the present time. I } beleive it was the Lucy find in Africa that he was associated with and } he might be able to give a lot of input into the archeological uses of } the SEM. } Hope this helps. } } Ken Converse } owner } Quality Images } third party SEM service } } +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ Azriel Gorski azrielg-at-cc.huji.ac.il ICQ User ID No. - 1750739
CHOICE - The enchanted blade, with an edge that shapes lifetimes. Richard Bach RUNNING FROM SAFETY
A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart, and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words. +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
We run in-house courses on EDS analysis, WDS analysis, combined EDS / WDS analysis and Quantitative X-ray Mapping. These courses are all 'hands on' using ETEC and JEOL Microprobes. We offer these courses to all University and Industry Personnel.
Moran Scientific Pty Ltd P.O. Box 651 Goulburn NSW 2580 Australia Tel 02 4844 4234 (International, 61 2 48444234) Fax 02 4844 4291 (International, 61 2 48444291) Email {kmoran-at-goulburn.net.au} Web Page http://www.goulburn.net.au/~kmoran "Tell me and I'll forget, show me and I may remember, involve me and I'll understand" - an Old Chinese Proverb
Dear all, has anybody experience or can give me tips for the preparation/examination of liposomes ( {100nm diameter) for TEM or SEM . We want to analyse the homogeneity of suspensions and to estimate the single volume of the liposome particles? Unfortunately we don't have any unit for cryomicroscopical observations! Any suggestions are welcome... best regards, Bernward Bernward Laube University of Bielefeld Faculty of Biology Department Plant Morphology and Cell Ultrastructure Universit„tsstrasse 25 Germany 33615 Bielefeld phone: +49 521 1065592 fax: +49 521 1066039 e-mail: b.laube-at-biologie.uni-bielefeld.de http://www.uni-bielefeld.de/biologie/Pflanzenmorphologie
Hello: We are considering doing TEM to look at the microstructure around surface pits in molded stainless steel parts. We are trying to understand the source of these pits. So far SEM and OM have provided us with no relevant clues. The pits are barely visible by eye and they are only very few of them on a given part. We are thinking of doing tripod polishing , but I would appreciate any comments/suggestions on how one might best approach this.
Rinaldo, Here's the recipe for Sato's Triple Lead stain that we use:
0.5 gm Pb nitrate 0.5 gm Pb acetate 0.5 gm Pb citrate 1.0 gm Na citrate 41 ml boiled,distilled water
-Mix in covered tri-pour beaker for at least 2 hours (all day is better) -Add 9.0 ml 1N NaOH to clear(changes milky-white color to clear)
If you have any questions or comments, don't hesitate to contact me. Winston
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Winston W Wiggins, Supervisor 2/24/99 8:43:32 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 recall reading a few years ago a description of the Hilbert (spelling?) raster pattern generator consisting of interlocking H's in a fractal regression of scale. As I recall, the advantages touted for this raster were equivalent (on overage) probe deflection speeds in the x & y directions, a continuous path for the raster probe, and a low sensitivity to scan coil saturation at rapid scan rates.
I have an "opportunity" to replace my scan generator with a digital device, and would like to give the Hilbert a try. The problem is that I misplaced my copy of the article. Does anyone recall the source of this reference?
Thanks,
valdemar-at-fast.net or rwafu-at-bsco.com Valdemar Furdanowicz Homer Research Labs G-165 Bethlehem Steel Co. Bethlehem, PA 18016
Dear Rinaldo: Here is the protocol for Sato's Lead Citrate:
Anhydrous lead citrate Pb(C6H5O7)2 0.20 g Lead nitrate Pb(NO3) 0.15 g Lead acetate Pb(CH3COO)2.3H2O 0.15 g Sodium citrate Na3(C6H5O7).2H2O 1.00 g Distilled water 41.0 ml
The above reagents placed in a 50 ml voletric falsk were mixed well to make a yellowish milky solution. Then the solution was added 9.0 ml of 1 N NaOH and mixed well until the solution became transparent with light yellowish color. KEEP IT IN REFRGERATOR, IT COULD BE GOOD OVER ONE YEAR.
Here is some useful references: Sato, T: Electron Microsc, 17: 158, 1968 Watson, ML: J Biophys. Biochem Cytol, 4:727, 1958 *Hanaichi T, Sato T, Hoshino M and Mizuno N: Proc XIth Int Cong on Electron Microscopy, Kyoto, 1986 -- This is where "my" recipe came from. Good Luck.
Zhaojie Zhang ********************************* Zhaojie Zhang Department of Botany and Microbiology University of Oklahoma Norman, OK 73019 Phone: 405-325-6234 http://students.ou.edu/Z/Zhaojie.Zhang-1/ *********************************
Rinaldo Pires dos Santos wrote:
} Hello, } Can somebody help me about the preparation of the Sato's Lead Citrate? } What's the chemicals and its proportion? } Thank's in advance. } M.Sc. Rinaldo Pires dos Santos } Lab. of Plant Anatomy - Dept. of Botany - UFRGS } Porto Alegre - RS - Brazil
there are several software packages available that do exactly what you want: threshold the particle, analyze them and give you particle results such as area, max. radius, etc. In my opinion you should look for software that:
a) calculates all the parameters you need b) allows you to define your own parameters (for future extension) c) provides an upgrade path if you need more processing at a later time d) reads and writes standard files for data exchange e) provides features for particle separation (watershed or other) f) allows you to set up Regions of Interest (connected and non-connected) g) provides density measurements h) deals correctly with edge particles i) allows user defined classifications
Please check out our website for more information.
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 1675 Carr St., #105N Lakewood, CO 80215 phone: (888) FIND SIS (303) 234-9270 fax: (303) 234-9271 email: info-at-soft-imaging.com web: http://www.soft-imaging.com
******************************************************* Disclaimer: Soft Imaging System produces and sells image acquisition and processing systems. We therefore have a vested interest in some of the items mentioned above. *******************************************************
DATE: Tue, 23 Feb 1999 13:06:56 } From: Rudy {mojoseph-at-NMSU.Edu} To: microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I am looking for software/hardware that will help me count the number amount , as well as note the area of the particle, off a negative (print) image that I have produced using a TEM. I could do it by hand, but the time neccessary is not available. I know that there has to be something out there that will help me, and any help would be greatly appreiciated.
Joseph Montoya Physics Department New Mexico State University
Sato lead citrate was published by T. Sato on the Journal of Electron Microscopy vol.17,No.2, 158-19, 1968.
The recipe is as follows:
Lead nitrate 1 g Lead acetate 1 g Lead citrate 1 g sodium citrate 2 g
in 82 ml of distilled water, then add 4% NaOH 18 ml. pH at 12.
There is another recipe in J. Electron Micro., 116, 133 (1976).=20
Best regards,
Ming
On Tue, 23 Feb 1999, Rinaldo Pires dos Santos wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America= =20 } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } =20 } =20 } Hello,=20 } Can somebody help me about the preparation of the Sato's Lead Citrate? } What's=A0 the chemicals and its proportion? } Thank's in advance. } M.Sc. Rinaldo Pires dos Santos } Lab. of Plant Anatomy - Dept. of Botany - UFRGS } Porto Alegre - RS - Brazil } =20 } =20
*********************************************** * Ming H. Chen, PhD * * Medicine/Dentistry Electron Microscopy Unit * * #1074B Dentistry Pharmacy Building * * University Of Alberta. * * Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2N8 *=20 * * * Visit My Page At: * * http://www.ualberta.ca/~mingchen * ***********************************************
Dear Rinaldo: Here are two references that may be helpful: 1) Takagi, I., etal, 1990. Penetration and stainability of Modified Sato's Lead Staining Solution. J. Electron Microsc. 39:67-68.
2) Hanaichi, T.,etal.. 1986. A Stable Lead by Modification of Sato's Method. J. Electron Microsc. 35:304-306.
The original Sato reference is J. Electron Microsc 17:158 (1968).
Hmmm.. I guess that's three. If you don't have access to these, contact me directly.
Don Gantz Boston Univ Med School gantz-at-med-biophd.bu.edu
On Tue, 23 Feb 1999, Rinaldo Pires dos Santos wrote:
} Date: Tue, 23 Feb 1999 21:14:06 -0300 } From: Rinaldo Pires dos Santos {rinaldop-at-botanica.ufrgs.br} } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: Sato Lead Citrate } =20 } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America= =20 } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } =20 } =20 } Hello,=20 } Can somebody help me about the preparation of the Sato's Lead Citrate? } What's=A0 the chemicals and its proportion? } Thank's in advance. } M.Sc. Rinaldo Pires dos Santos } Lab. of Plant Anatomy - Dept. of Botany - UFRGS } Porto Alegre - RS - Brazil } =20 There are several recipes for something called "Sato lead;" I don't know=20 what the original was. Here is the one we use:
1g lead nitrate 1g lead citrate 1g lead acetate 2g sodium citrate 82 ml distilled water
Shake 1 min. Sol'n will look milky. Then add 18 ml freshly prepared (from pellets) 4% NaOH (1N). Sol'n will=20 clear, except for large grains in bottom. Filter rapidly and store=20 sealed in dark bottle (plastic, not glass; can wrap with Al foil). Keep li= d=20 on. If white precipitate forms on top, remove stain from area away from=20 ppt. Can microfuge just before use to remove ppt. Lead carbonate ppt=20 on the grid looks like little "Pacmans" in the scope--very black circles=20 (100-200 nm +/-) with one side usually rough or indented. (Uranyl acetate= =20 precipitate is finer-grained--looks like pepper. Phosphate buffers can=20 also look like pepper, but grains are usually a little darker. UA=20 deposits are frequently ON subcellular structures--membranes, ribosomes,=20 etc; PO4 deposits are usually in the cytosol--where you would expect water.= )
Sara E. Miller, Ph. D. P. O. Box 3020 Duke University Medical Center Durham, NC 27710=20 Ph: 919 684-3452 FAX: 919 684-8735
McCaffrey, John (IMS) wrote: } } Does anyone out there know of a source of single crystal LiF } substrates or other similar single crystal fluorides, chlorides, etc? } Dear John, I got mine from Ted Pella. I am not affiliated with them ex- cept as a customer. Yours, Bill
Dear Bernward Laube: A relatively simple method to evaluate liposomes is to fix with osmium tetroxide to make them more rigid and less likely to flatten (effectiveness will depend upon composition of liposome) and then negative stain them on a grid. If you want to discuss in detail, contact me directly. Don Gantz Boston Univ Med School gantz-at-med-biophd.bu.edu
I am searching for any information regarding electrochemical etching of {110} Iridium to form a very sharp tip suitable for FIM use. Any information or direction towards information would be appreciated. Thanks, Randy
Try negative staining with a 2% ammonium molybdate (aq). Take a coated grid (carbon, formvar, etc.), put a drop of liposomes on top of the grid for a minute. Draw off drop with with a piece of torn filter paper. Before the grid dries, add a drop of the ammonium molybdate. After a minute, draw off drop as before and allow the grid(s) to dry. Take it to the TEM.
The above procedure is only a starting point. The concentration, stain, and times can all be varied to achieve optimum results. You might check out some EM texts on negative staining for other ideas. Good luck.
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Dear all, has anybody experience or can give me tips for the preparation/examination of liposomes ( {100nm diameter) for TEM or SEM . We want to analyse the homogeneity of suspensions and to estimate the single volume of the liposome particles? Unfortunately we don't have any unit for cryomicroscopical observations! Any suggestions are welcome... best regards, Bernward Bernward Laube University of Bielefeld Faculty of Biology Department Plant Morphology and Cell Ultrastructure Universit?tsstrasse 25 Germany 33615 Bielefeld phone: +49 521 1065592 fax: +49 521 1066039 e-mail: b.laube-at-biologie.uni-bielefeld.de http://www.uni-bielefeld.de/biologie/Pflanzenmorphologie
(SMTP Gateway for microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com); Wed, 24 Feb 1999 13:50:24 -0500 Message-Id: {199902241850.NAA24523-at-gateway.ppg.com} Received: by gateway.ppg.com (Protected-side Proxy Mail Agent-1); Wed, 24 Feb 1999 13:50:24 -0500 Randy Percival {rperciva-at-micrion.com}
John Hren's book on FIM has it. Send me a message at home to remind me and I will look it up for you. (SKAB-Walck-at-worldnet.att.net) Another option is to call Alan Melmed at John Hopkins-He'll know for sure. -Scott
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Glass Technology Center 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: Randy Percival To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
I am searching for any information regarding electrochemical etching of {110} Iridium to form a very sharp tip suitable for FIM use. Any information or direction towards information would be appreciated. Thanks, Randy
We have a manual metalographic grinding/polishing wheel. The sample being prepared is held in the hand as it is pressed against the rotating wheel. Our safety people have asked us to provide finger protection for this device. Does anyone have any solution/suggestion? Everett Ramer
Jordi, Polishing is only going to contaminate your pit with all sorts of junk. The best way is to microtome the pit either normal or preferably in cross section. A diamond knife would make this quite easy although we have done good work with glass but this is a slow process as the knife must be repositioned every few cuts. One hint is to keep your cutting area very small, like a fraction of a mm. Good Luck, Russ Gillmeister
-----Original Message----- } From: Marti, Jordi [mailto:Jordi.Marti-at-alliedsignal.com] Sent: Wednesday, February 24, 1999 8:43 AM To: Microscopy
Hello: We are considering doing TEM to look at the microstructure around surface pits in molded stainless steel parts. We are trying to understand the source of these pits. So far SEM and OM have provided us with no relevant clues. The pits are barely visible by eye and they are only very few of them on a given part. We are thinking of doing tripod polishing , but I would appreciate any comments/suggestions on how one might best approach this.
Thanks to all who responded to my problem. But I still have the problem. I got a new cylinder of Argon. I checked the hoses to make sure they were not clogged. I double checked the polarity. My vacuum is good. But when I=20 turn on my DSM-5 I get a blue arc around the=20 middle of the cathode. After 3 minutes, I shut the sputter down but I have no coating on my sample. I checked the inside of the DSM-5 and found no loose wires, and the fuses were good. Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
George Lawton Chief Electron Microscopist Microscopy and Imaging Service Center UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas Phone: 214-648-7291 eMail: George.Lawton-at-email.swmed.edu
Have you tried SWLI (scanning white light interferometry) or AFM?
SWLI has XY resolution comparable to OM (since you can see these pits by naked eye, that should suffice) but can have Z resolution as fine as about 5 nm. I have a Xerox copy of an older article available on this technology if you are interested (Amer Lab, Nov 1994) or you can visit the web sites of several of the manufacturers: Zygo, Wyko (now part of Veeco) and Phase Shift Technology. This approach would not only allow you to image but measure parameters such as depth, profile immediately around the pit, etc.
Caveat: I have no financial interest in sales derived from this message.
Best regards, Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater productivity.
125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} ****************************************************** MME is America's first national consortium providing customized on-site workshops in all areas of microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis.
At 06:43 AM 2/24/99 -0700, Marti, Jordi wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Summer School on Computing in Electron Microscopy slotted for August 9-13, 1999 , Berkeley, California
(Berkeley, CA) The seventh annual Summer School on Computer-Interactive HRTEM Image Acquisition, Processing and Simulation will be held at the National Center for Electron Microscopy (NCEM), Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley from August 9 through August 13, 1999.
The curriculum will focus on training participants in techniques of computer-assisted acquisition and interpretation of high-resolution electron microscope images, including remote-control microscopy. Participants will learn general principles and apply them to specific cases. Instruction on use of computer assistance to obtain images on NCEM microscopes will be followed by training in the use of specific application programs for image interpretation by image processing and simulation.
Participants who wish to apply newly acquired techniques to their own projects are encouraged to extend their visit at NCEM into the next week. Please note: this type of arrangement requires advance submission of a proposal. Projects may involve prepared specimens for microscopy, images and diffraction patterns for processing, or crystal and defect data for simulations. The fee of $375 will cover all materials, instruction, continental breakfast daily, two lunches and an evening reception. Deadline for applications is June 15, 1999. For more information and downloadable application materials contact:
What kind of resolution can be achieved when imaging noble metal particles in catalyst? The catalyst comprises binder and zeolite. I image the system using a STEM/ADF and have been able to see {1 nm particles on binder.
However, I have not been able to see the ultra-fine particles (5-10 --0__=Su6dP4Po6DV5U1roKslOtYgCgwxd5t1scAJybnVta3mV5BnNAUWoo8fA Content-type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-Disposition: inline Content-transfer-encoding: quoted-printable
=C5) in the zeolite. Has anyone been able to image 5-10=C5 metal particles in zeolites? I am trying to reconcile the difference between images (which don't sho= w {1nm particles on zeolites) and chemisorption technique which indicate that the metal is very highly dispersed.
Thank you, Sincerely, Mohan Kalyanaraman
Sr. Staff Material Scientist Catalyst Characterization Catalyst Technology Group Mobil Technology Company PO Box 480 Paulsboro, NJ 08066 609-224-3989 (ph#) 609-224-3608 (fax) =
A couple of weeks ago I posted a query, looking for a specific LM stain for mitochondria. There were several responses from people wanting to know the same thing so here are the results.
First of all, thanks to everyone who replied. Only some of you got a personal thankyou because I lost track of who I had thanked and who I hadn't.
If you remember, I had some tissue already fixed in glutaraldehyde but not processed further. Ideally I wanted a LM stain that would work on semithin resin sections and preferably be compatible with TEM processing.
The only practical method anyone suggested was to do what I do now: process the tissue as normal for TEM and stain semi-thins with toluidine blue at high pH. The only problem with this is that nearly everything stains with tol. blue, and you have to identify the mitochondria by the intensity of their staining. So it is not a specific stain, but it is easy to do and fits in with the TEM processing.
Other respondents suggested Janus Green, and Mitotracker from Molecular Probes, but both of these only stain mitochondria in living cells and my cells are already fixed. According to the Molecular Probes catalogue, Mitotracker is retained well in stained cells after fixation (but the cells need to be alive when they are stained).
The only other suggestions were to try the methods developed several decades ago. I had read all these before posting my query and rejected them because none of them use the type of aldehyde fixation we use today.
So that's it. No ideal methods, and I haven't the time to play around and develop my own. You know how it is.
Regards
Stephen Edgar
Electron Microscope Unit, Pathology Department Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences University of Auckland Private Bag 92019 Auckland New Zealand
*Received: from tmpil001.tmp.allied.com (tmpil001.tmp.allied.com [198.80.19.2]) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) with SMTP id HAA11930 for {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} ; Wed, 24 Feb 1999
*07:28:31 -0600 *Received: by tmpil001.tmp.allied.com id GAA00196 * (InterLock SMTP Gateway 3.0 for Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com); * Wed, 24 Feb 1999 06:44:50 -0700 *Message-Id: {199902241344.GAA00196-at-tmpil001.tmp.allied.com} *Received: by tmpil001.tmp.allied.com (Internal Mail Agent-1); * Wed, 24 Feb 1999 06:44:50 -0700 *From: "Marti, Jordi" {Jordi.Marti-at-alliedsignal.com} *To: Microscopy {Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com} *Subject: TEM of Pits in Stainless Steel *Date: Wed, 24 Feb 1999 06:43:00 -0700 *X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2232.9)
(1) Reflection Optical Microscopy in NOMARSKI (Differential Interference Contrast) mode. This has similar high resolution in the Z direction as SWLI (Barbara Foster reply), but it does have the disadvantage, that it only works for nearly flat surfaces: if your steel objects have curved surfaces then the next might be useful:
(2) for TEM it is very easy to make replicas of steel surfaces using cellulose acetate, followed by shadow / carboning the first stage replica. We have used this on all sorts of specimens. It is very easy if your surface is flat or even cylindrical (as long as the curvature is not too great) but for spherical surfaces you can either (i) replicate a square part with only a small solid angle - say from the N.Pole to 80^ north; or (ii) reliplicate a thin nearly cylindrical strip along a latitude or longitude.
There are books which discuss extraction replicas, which not only give you the surface but can pull off tiny inclusions for electron diffraction, etc.
On Wed, 24 Feb 1999, Marti, Jordi wrote:
} We are considering doing TEM to look at the microstructure around } surface pits in molded stainless steel parts. We are trying to understand } the source of these pits. So far SEM and OM have provided us with no } relevant clues. The pits are barely visible by eye and they are only very } few of them on a given part. We are thinking of doing tripod polishing , but } I would appreciate any comments/suggestions on how one might best approach } this.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 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 international conference will address the world-wide state-of-the-art in semiconductor microscopy. The scientific programme, which contains over 180 papers, has been finalized and is available at the conference Web site http://www.iop.org/Confs/MSM
Online registration is available also at the same site.
A G Cullis MSMXI Co-Chairman
**************** Prof Anthony G Cullis EEE Department University of Sheffield Mappin Street Sheffield S1 3JD, UK
Hmmm.... Then you may want to check/replace the target. Blue arc may indicate you have the correct power supply and vacuum. But you should make a double check. -cy TEMist, Batta Labs, Delaware
On Wed, 24 Feb 1999, George Lawton wrote: } Thanks to all who responded to my problem. } But I still have the problem. I got a new cylinder } of Argon. I checked the hoses to make sure they } were not clogged. I double checked } the polarity. My vacuum is good. But when I } turn on my DSM-5 I get a blue arc around the } middle of the cathode. After 3 minutes, I shut } the sputter down but I have no coating on my } sample. I checked the inside of the DSM-5 and } found no loose wires, and the fuses were good. } Any other suggestions would be greatly } appreciated. } } George Lawton } Chief Electron Microscopist } Microscopy and Imaging Service Center } UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas } Phone: 214-648-7291 } eMail: George.Lawton-at-email.swmed.edu
I did not see the original tread. There is a list of "mite experts" who did a lot of TEM, SEm on mites. Don Griffin in the UK, Enrico de Lillo in Italy Carin Kameric in SA just to name a few. These individuals will be more than happy to help, give references etc. We are active in South Africa as well. I did a bit in confocal and SEM.
Hope this does help.
Mr. S H Coetzee Electron Microscope Unit Private bag X3 Wits Johannesburg 2050 Tell: +27 11 716 2419 Fax : +27 11 339 3407 E-mail stephan-at-gecko.biol.wits.ac.za
Mohan Rice and Treacy were able to image an individual Pt atom in a zeolite using high angle annular dark field microscopy with a HB501. Imaging an individual atom on a catalyst support or zeolite is quite difficult because of the problem in differentiating whether the intensity is a result of tip noise or scatter from a higher atomic number atom. The smallest cluster in a zeolite that I have been able to image and then reimage to demonstrate that it is scattering is about 0.4nm. One also has to be careful so as not to agglomerate the metal because of the beam energy and structural collapse of the zeolite. Pennycook has shown some work with the HB603 that an individual Pt atom on alumina can be imaged. The key to performing this type of work is utilizing a very thin sample so that scattering from the catalyst support is minimized. Orienting along a zone axis is often helpful. Sample thickness may be the reason you can image clusters on the binder and not in the zeolite. On the other hand, all of the Pt may be on the binder and not in the zeolite. Don't always believe that the impregnation and subsequent finishing accomplished the desired metals location.
Steve Bradley UOP sabradle-at-uop.com (847) 391-3321
} -----Original Message----- } From: Mohan Kalyanaraman [SMTP:mohan_kalyanaraman-at-EMail.mobil.com] } Sent: Wednesday, February 24, 1999 3:57 PM } To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } Subject: Imaging of ultra-fine metal particles } } Fellow Microscopists, } } What kind of resolution can be achieved when imaging noble metal particles } in catalyst? } The catalyst comprises binder and zeolite. I image the system using a } STEM/ADF and have been } able to see {1 nm particles on binder. } } However, I have not been able to see the ultra-fine particles (5-10 { { } File: ATT17711.txt } }
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Hi all, I have a new problem that I believe hinges on fixation at very low pH. The problem is this: I want to fix virus crystals that appear to be very sensitive to pH change...i.e. they dissolve when put into any solution having a pH above about 4.6. They are stable in a stabilization buffer (40% PEG MME 2000 and 10mM CaCl2 in 0.1M sodium acetate pH4.6).
We have been successful fixing virus crystals in the past by first fixing in 0.1M glutaraldahyde in a stabilization buffer at pH 6.0 (47% saturated ammonium sulfate, 0.1M MES) for 72 hrs. Then we fixed briefly in 0.1 Glut in 0.67M PO4 buffer (pH 6.8) and finally in 1% OsO4 in 0.67 PO4 buffer for 1 hr. However, this was all done at a much higher pH than the present crystals can tolerate.
We have tried fixing the crystals by first adding glutaraldehyde to the stabilization buffer to a final concentration of 0.1% and leaving the crystals in this for 72 hrs. The crystals are fine. If moved to fix in higher pH buffer, the crystals dissolve. Therefore I then rinsed with stabilization buffer and added aqueous OsO4 directly to the buffer to a final concentration of 1% OsO4. This was followed by washes with buffer. The crystals still seemed to be intact. Next was to try to dehydrate by gently and gradually adding ETOH to the buffer-crystal prep. As soon as I started adding the ETOH, which both diluted the stabilization buffer and affected the pH, the crystals started to dissolve.
I suspect that the fixatives did not crosslink at the low pH and that the crystals were still so unstable that they disintegrated in the dilute ETOH/buffer mix. It did not surprise me that the glut would not work at the low 4.6 pH but I did think the OsO4 would work. By the way, the crystals did not turn brown with the OsO4.
Does anyone know what is the minimum pH that 0.1% glutaraldehyde and 1% Osmium will crosslink? Has anyone else had a similar fixation problem and come up with a solution? These crystals are very difficult to make and I hate to keep dissolving them.
Looking forward eagerly to suggestions. 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
for {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} Paris Thu, 25 Feb 1999 15:01:09 +0100 (MET) Message-ID: {36D55860.979FBCD4-at-wanadoo.fr}
Materials for sale (well cared and under maintenance) : 1/- Ultramicrotome MT-1 /SORVALL-PORTER BLUMM (manual type), weight 12
Kg Price 8000FF or 1220 EUROS. 2/- Knife maker LKB Type 7801B, serial 2776, weight 20 Kg Price 8000FF or 1220 EUROS 3/- SEM coating unit: POLARON model E5100, without rotary pump, weight
25 Kg Price 12000FF or 1830 EUROS Sending expenses are not included Hoan Please contact us off line: e-mail: opea.hoan-at-wanadoo.fr OPEA lab. 114, rue de la Jarry 94300-VINCENNES (FRANCE) Phone: 33.1.4328.3496 Fax: 33.1.4328.0364
We have a manual metalographic grinding/polishing wheel. The sample being prepared is held in the hand as it is pressed against the rotating wheel. Our safety people have asked us to provide finger protection for this device. Does anyone have any solution/suggestion? Everett Ramer
Could you elaborate on how you would fix liposomes w/ Osmium tetroxide.= We have tried the negative stain approach with some success but have to li= ve with the obvious artifacts such as flattening. There are likely other artifacts caused by ionic or chemical changes of the stain. The chemic= al fixation sounds promising but I'm not sure how this could be done on a = liquid sample.
Joe Neilly Abbott Laboratories D-45M, AP31 200 Abbott Park Rd. Abbott Park, IL 60064-6202 voice: (847)-938-5024 fax: (847)-938-5027 e-mail: joe.neilly-at-abbott.com =
Position Open: Research Electron Microscopist, to start July, 1999. (http://www.burnham-inst.org).
Highly motivated, conscientious individuals, especially with experience in negative staining, frozen hydrated, or other high resolution biological specimen preparation techniques, are encouraged to apply. Qualifications include a BA/BS or equivalent experience, preferably in one of the biological or physical sciences, or in bioengineering. Knowledge of the operation of a high resolution TEM is required. An ability to work independently as well as in a small group environment is important. The candidate will not be solely responsible for microscope maintenance, but will assist with such, as well as with operating/testing/developing instrumentation (e.g., transmission electron microscopes, cryo-holders, freeze-etch machine, cryo-microtome). Previous experience with and aptitude for such activities is desirable, although some on-the-job training is possible. Additional duties include routine and publication-quality photographic work and general assistance in examining biological specimens for members of the group. Applications should include a statement of experience and goals plus three letters of reference. Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. EOE. Send applications to: The Burnham Institute, 10901 N. Torrey Pines Rd., La Jolla, Ca 92037 Attn: Dr. Dorit Hanein c/o Sherri Marinovich Director of Human Resources or e-mail www.humanresources-at-burnham-inst.org. REFERENCE JOB CODE DH.
"Sequential treatment by phosphotungstic acid and uranyl acetate enhances the adherence of lipid membranes and membrane proteins to hydrophobic EM grids", A. N. Barnakov, Journal of Microscopy. Vol 175, Pt 2, August 1994, pp. 171-174.
I've not actually tried the above, just collected the paper last year for future reference.
Gib Ahlstrand
----------------------------------------------------------------------------- } Try negative staining with a 2% ammonium molybdate (aq). Take a coated grid (carbon, formvar, etc.), put a drop of liposomes on top of the grid for a minute. Draw off drop with with a piece of torn filter paper. Before the grid dries, add a drop of the ammonium molybdate. After a minute, draw off drop as before and allow the grid(s) to dry. Take it to the TEM.
} The above procedure is only a starting point. The concentration, stain, and times can all be varied to achieve optimum results. You might check out some EM texts on negative staining for other ideas. Good luck.
} Chuck Butterick Engineered Carbons, Inc.
______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________ } Subject: TEM/SEM of liposomes Author: {"B.Laube-at-biologie.uni-bielefeld.de"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} at
} } Dear all, has anybody experience or can give me tips for the preparation/examination of liposomes ( {100nm diameter) for TEM or SEM . We want to analyse the homogeneity of suspensions and to estimate the single volume of the liposome particles? Unfortunately we don't have any unit for cryomicroscopical observations! Any suggestions are welcome... best regards, Bernward } } Bernward Laube University of Bielefeld Faculty of Biology Department Plant Morphology and Cell Ultrastructure Universit?tsstrasse 25
Gib Ahlstrand Electron Optical Facility, University of Minnesota, Dept. Plant Pathology 495 Borlaug Hall, St. Paul, MN. USA. 55108 (612)625-8249 612-625-9728 FAX, giba-at-puccini.crl.umn.edu
Dear Everett, Grinding your fingers down is the first rite of passage for any Metallurgist worth his/her salt. No good metallographer has any feeling left in thumb or forefinger. Will you mess with tradition? Seriously, any glove thick enough to provide protection will hamper the fine control necessary to get a flat surface. The only thing I can think of is some sort of clamp or vise to hold the sample. I have never seen one, however. Now you know why automatic polishers are so popular. You wrote: } } We have a manual metalographic grinding/polishing wheel. The sample } being prepared is held in the hand as it is pressed against the rotating wheel. } Our safety people have asked us to provide finger protection for this device. } Does anyone have any solution/suggestion? } Everett Ramer } 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 Mohan, I have imaged the catalyst used by Petro Canada in my 200 kV TEM and seen the larger particles you mentioned at 40,000X, but I wasn't looking for the small ones and I no longer have the sample. Have you tried conventional TEM at 100 or 200 kV? The size you are looking for is difficult, since they are clusters of only a few atoms, so they have very little electron stopping power. The problem is not resolution, but contrast. Have you tried conventional darkfield? You wrote: } Fellow Microscopists, } } What kind of resolution can be achieved when imaging noble metal particles } in catalyst? } The catalyst comprises binder and zeolite. I image the system using a } STEM/ADF and have been } able to see {1 nm particles on binder. } } However, I have not been able to see the ultra-fine particles (5-10 } =C5) in } the zeolite. } Has anyone been able to image 5-10=C5 metal particles in zeolites? } I am trying to reconcile the difference between images (which don't show } {1nm particles on zeolites) and } chemisorption technique which indicate that the metal is very highly } dispersed. } } Thank you, } Sincerely, } Mohan Kalyanaraman 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
What is the crystal made of (what is the virus? is it in a matrix inside the cell? what is on the surface of the virus or crystal?). Maybe it's something that doesn't get cross-linked by either glut or Os. How about water sol resins to avoid organic solvents? What are the research questions you want to ans by sectioning the virus?
Sara E. Miller, Ph. D. P. O. Box 3020 Duke University Medical Center Durham, NC 27710 Ph: 919 684-3452 FAX: 919 684-8735
O.k., using Methylmethcrylate and Butyl methacrylate the instructions say " degas with nitrogen" does anyone know what that actually means? Does it mean simply bubbling N2 gas through the resin mixture? Any one have any specific instructions / recommendations?
Richard E. Edelmann, Ph.D. Electron Microscopy Facility Supervisor 352 Pearson Hall Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056 Ph: 513.529.5712 Fax: 513.529.4243 E-mail: edelmare-at-muohio.edu
Widely used as a routine stain for ultrathin sections, lead solutions are frequently employed after uranyl staining to produce high contrast and stain many cellular and tissue components. Sato's method of lead staining(1967) is one of several variations of lead staining since its introduction by Watson(1958), among which are two methods by Karnovsky(1961), one by Millonig(1961), Reynolds (1963), Venable and Coggeshall(1965), and Fahmy(1967).
We have recently begun using a refinement of Sato's method introduced by Hanaichi et al.(1986) to produce a long-term-storage lead solution that seems to give virtually no -CO3 precipitate and claims to be good for one year at room temperature. We'll see.
Indicated references: - Karnovsky MJ.(1961), Simple methods for 'staining with lead' at high pH in electron microscopy, J.biochem.biophys. Cytol.11,729.
- Millonig G.(1961). A modified procedure for lead staining of thin sections, J.biophys.biochem Cytol 11,736.
- Reynolds ES.(1963). The use of lead citrate at high pH as an electron-opaque stain in electron microscopy.J.Cell Biol.17,208.
- Venable JH, and Coggeshall R.(1965). A simplified lead citrate stain for use in electron microscopy. J.Cell Biol.25,407.
- Fahmy A.(1967). An extemporaneous lead citrate stain for electron microscopy, Proc. 25th Ann. Conf. EMSA,p.148.
- Sato T.(1967). A modified method for lead staining of thin sections.J. Electron Microsc., 16:133.
- Hanaichi T.,et al.,(1986). A stable lead by modification of Sato's method. J.Electron Microsc.,35:304.
General references: - Staining Methods for Sectioned Material, Lewis PR;Knight DP, Practical Methods in Electron Microscopy, Ed:Glauert AM.
- Principles and Techniques of Electron Microscopy,Biological Applications,3rd ed.,Hayat MA.
- Electron Microscopy, Principles and Techniques for Biologists, Bozzola JJ,Russell LD.
- Technical Tips II, Electron Microscopy Sciences
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Winston W Wiggins, Supervisor 2/25/99 2:44:49 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 need some advice about sample prep for TEM. I have several amorphous silicon thin films that have been deposited on glass substrates from which I would like to make samples for TEM. The films are ~200 A thick, and it is important that they not be folded over or significantly thinned during the preparation. I would generally prefer a chemical process, as I worry that mechanical processes or ion milling could significantly change the microstructure of the films.
I have been told that it is possible to prepare the samples I want to first scoring the surface of the film, then immersing it and the substrate in a weak solution of HF. A little gentle scraping and the film is supposed to float free of the substrate and I can then pick it up on a copper mesh grid. Does anyone have any experience with this technique? Any advice on how weak a "weak" solution might be, or how long I need to let the film+substrate soak before scraping?
I would also be very glad to hear of any alternative means to prepare the samples I need that don't involve HF.
Thanks,
Paul Voyles
Paul Voyles (609) 951-2627 voyles-at-research.nj.nec.com NEC Research Institute, 4 Independence Way, Princeton, NJ 08540
I need to evaporate nickel in my Balzers BAF 301 Freeze Etcher. Everything is ready to go except I can't find what the density of nickel is in grams/cc so that I can calibrate my Quartz Crystal monitor. No, this information is not in the Merck Index, a disappointment indeed! Any help would be appreciated.
Richard: I do this by attaching a glass pasteur pipet to a rubber tube on a N2 tank and very slowly (barely perceptible flow against my cheek) flow the gas. I immerse the tip into the resin mix (in the fume hood) and bubble it for about 5-10 min. It is worth the effort - we have done the expt. Tom
Thomas E. Phillips, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Biological Sciences Director, Molecular Cytology Core Facility
3 Tucker Hall Division of Biological Sciences University of Missouri Columbia, MO 65211 (573)-882-4712 (voice) (573)-882-0123 (fax)
Hi all, I have recently finished my third year project in electron microscopic observations of the entry and exit of influenza virus. In it I used Thermanox coverslips to culture the cells on, one of the problems that I had was delamination of the coverslip from the resin (Spurrs) and wondered if this had any thing to do with the different densities of the Thermanox and resin. If anyone knows their densities I would be most grateful.
I need to purchase a liquid nitrogen filling device for the Reichert KF-80. This consists of the 35 liter dewar and the filling head that goes into the dewar. I have contacted Leica/Reichert and they are unable to supply me with the unit because I needed the older model version. The new one available does not have the same circuitry and therefore will not be not compatible.
This dewar and filling head are of the same vintage of the F-C through D series of the cryo attachment for their ultramicrotome. So if any of you purchased the cryo attachment for your Reichert Ultramicrotome and are no longer doing cryo-microscopy and would want to part with at least half of the equipment, please get in touch with me.
Thank you very much.
Margaret E. Bisher
NEC Research Institute 4 Independence Way Princeton, NJ 08540. Tel.: (609) 951-2629 Fax: (609) 951-2496 e-mail: peggy-at-research.nj.nec.com
We are looking for a used, but late model "research grade" SEM. A large chamber is imperative. Chamber porting for EDS, WDS, and BSE is also required. The system must be configured to provide a clean, high vacuum (heavy element carbides & similar work). VP systems will certainly qualify and are desirable if the clean high vacuum criteria can also be met. Digital (=} 1024x1024) or analog is OK. I do prefer manual/knobs over automatic/windows mode. Software may set things up correctly on the average, but we don't do average work. Specimens are metallics/oxides/carbides etc., elements range from boron through uranium in almost any possible combination.
For a point of reference, We currently have an Etec Autoscan which has been modified to use a mag-lev turbo pump. It is also fitted with a windowless EDS detector, Microspec 2A WDS, and GW Electronics BSE. Although the Etec is a 70s vintage SEM, it is an excellent instrument. It only falls short in the realm of very low kV / high resolution imaging, high resolution at hefty WDS beam currents (somewhat of a conflict) and chamber size.
Woody White McDermott Technology, Inc. Lynchburg Research Center P.O. Box 11165 Lynchburg, VA 24506-11165
} } We have a manual metalographic grinding/polishing wheel. The sample } } being prepared is held in the hand as it is pressed against the rotatin= g wheel. } } Our safety people have asked us to provide finger protection for this device. } } Does anyone have any solution/suggestion? } } Everett Ramer
Everett, =
Mary Mager's response, while funny, is actually quite accurate. There ar= e not too many ways to protect fingers while properly holding a small (1-1/4", typically) =
sample for grinding/polishing. =
I preface my next remarks by pointing out that I work for a manufacturer = of
metallographic equipment and consumables, and therefore have a financial interest in solving your problem:
We at BUEHLER, do offer a simple grinding fixture which might help. This=
fixture is a squat, stainless steel, hollow cylinder with a carbide ring around it's base. The sample is clamped within another hollow cylinder seated within the first. =
The two cylinders are threaded, so that the inner can be raised or lowere= d =
with respect to the carbide 'stop' of the outer. Engraved markings allow= =
material removal in increments as fine as 20microns. While this is not actually =
finger protection, per se, it will allow you to grasp something larger so=
that your =
fingers are not in such close proximity to the grinding wheel. We also offer =
a motor system which allows the fixture to rotate, in place, on the wheel=
My manual for our Blazers quartz crystal film thickness monitor QSG 301 says the density of nickel is 8.9
Aloha, Tina
} I need to evaporate nickel in my Balzers BAF 301 Freeze Etcher. Everything } is ready to go except I can't find what the density of nickel is in grams/cc } so that I can calibrate my Quartz Crystal monitor. No, this information is } not in the Merck Index, a disappointment indeed! Any help would be } appreciated.
**************************************************************************** * 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* ****************************************************************************
We have such a device, but are not willing to part with it. The reason I replied is that I can assure you that you can still use your KF80. The pump unit sometimes drives me nuts, so when I plunge freeze I merely fill the unit by hand. Take care to cover the cryogen tube, then pour LN2 in the working area with a small Dewar. I've done this with a blown fuse, but if your electronics work, it's easy to keep an eye on the LN2 level on the front panel. I find I have to add LN2 after every plunge (level goes down one light), but it just becomes part of the rhythm of freezing. Freeze, remove sample, cover tube, pour in nitrogen, uncover tube, freeze.
I have not tried this with impact freezing ("slamming").
Good luck!
Tina
} I need to purchase a liquid nitrogen filling device for the } Reichert KF-80. This consists of the 35 liter dewar and the filling head } that goes into the dewar. I have contacted Leica/Reichert and they are } unable to supply me with the unit because I needed the older model version. } The new one available does not have the same circuitry and therefore will } not be not compatible. } } This dewar and filling head are of the same vintage of the F-C } through D series of the cryo attachment for their ultramicrotome. So if any } of you purchased the cryo attachment for your Reichert Ultramicrotome and } are no } longer doing cryo-microscopy and would want to part with at least half of } the equipment, please get in touch } with me.
**************************************************************************** * 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* ****************************************************************************
If you know of anyone that may be interested in (and suited for) the "exciting world of industrial research" please pass them the following job posting. The position has been advertised at a technical level but we now have the opportunity to expand the position to a research scientist (Ph.D.) position. We have just installed a state-of -the art FEI XL830 DualBeam FIB and I am looking for someone to be the "FIB expert".
I am looking for a person with extensive focused ion beam (FIB) experience and preferably some transmission electron microscopy (TEM) experience to fill a position in the Materials Analysis and Characterization Group at the IBM Almaden Research Center. Much of the work will involve the operation of a dual beam FIB in collaboration with other scientists in the study of small structures, thin films, and magnetic structures. Areas of application include photoresists, magnetic thin films, and tips for atomic force microscopes. The scientist is expected to take responsibility for the operation of the FIB, assist in the training of other users, and collaborate with a wide variety of applications of the that device. In addition, the scientist will apply TEM techniques to related problems. Experience with FIB instruments and TEM is extremely important.
Experience with TEM sample prep - especially tripod polishing and micromanipulation, as well as TEM and SEM would be a plus.
IBM is an Equal Opportunity Employer, Women and Minorities are encouraged to apply.
Please include the names of three references with your resume.
Please contact me directly. Submit your resume to:
Dr. Philip M. Rice K19/D1 IBM Almaden Research Center 650 Harry Road San Jose, CA 95120-6099
Dear Listers, Just a question about the MSA standard for x-ray spectrum file format: do any of you use it and under what circumstances? I am looking to upgrade my old x-ray analyser computer soon and want to know whether this standard is ever used and when. Please reply to me off-list and I will summarize to the list if I get any results.
Thank you all, 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 density of nickel is 8.902 g/cc according to the American Society for Metals, Metal Handbook.
Mark Robertson National Research Council Integrated Manufacturing Technology Institute Vancouver, B.C. Canada Phone (604) 221-3073 Fax (604) 221-3088 mark.robertson-at-nrc.ca http://www.nrc.ca/imti/vanc_e.html
} -----Original Message----- } From: Grazul, John [SMTP:Grazul-at-nel-exchange.Rutgers.EDU] } Sent: Thursday, February 25, 1999 12:46 PM } To: 'Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com' } Subject: density of nickel for evaporation } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Evaporators All, } } I need to evaporate nickel in my Balzers BAF 301 Freeze Etcher. } Everything } is ready to go except I can't find what the density of nickel is in } grams/cc } so that I can calibrate my Quartz Crystal monitor. No, this information } is } not in the Merck Index, a disappointment indeed! Any help would be } appreciated. } } TIA, } }
In a message dated 99-02-25 14:56:29 EST, edelmare-at-casmail.muohio.edu-at-sparc5.microscopy.com writes:
{ { O.k., using Methylmethcrylate and Butyl methacrylate the instructions say " degas with nitrogen" does anyone know what that actually means? Does it mean simply bubbling N2 gas through the resin mixture? Any one have any specific instructions / recommendations? } }
Hi Richard,
Yes, this is correct. Simply bubble dry nitrogen gas at a *very low* flow rate through a pipette that's immersed in the mixture. Regarding how long to do this, we used to bubble with nitrogen for 15 minutes as a matter of routine. If the mixture contains benzoyl peroxide or a similar granular or dry catalyst, just bubble until the catalyst is completely dissolved.
Bob ****************************** Robert (Bob) Chiovetti, Ph.D. President Microimaging Technologies, Inc. Tucson, Arizona USA Tel./Fax (520) 546-4986 rchiovetti-at-aol.com Manufacturers' Representatives Systems Integrators Analog & Digital Imaging Systems Clinical & Research Microscopy Cytology/Histology/Pathology/EM *******************************
Huge thanks to you all - your responses to my query on EM & Archaeology has given me a stack of leads to chase up for my seminar. I will be contacting many of you privately in the course of the next week or so - s= o expect a call!
Geoff Avern Universit=E9 Libre de Bruxelles
P.S. It was nice to get responses from familiar names - it made me realise that I'm missing working in EM more than I thought!
Hi Paul, I looked at a similar sample recently, although in my case the Si was laser annealed and was crystalline. Here is the protocol I used. I don't think you will be able to pick up the Si from the etch in your case as the layer is too thin.
1) Grind the sample to a thickness of ~100 um by mounting a ~1 cm square piece face down on a glass slide using thermoplastic wax. By placing grade zero cover slips (~120 um thick) on either side of the sample you don't have to worry about grinding the sample away.
(By the way, I think that hand protection whilst using a grinding wheel is just not necessary. It is not a chainsaw! I have never hurt myself when grinding a sample which is properly mounted on a proper (large enough) stub - maybe you could put a big flange on your stubs to keep your decidedly overzealous safety officer happy.)
2) Take the sample off the glass slide and put it in a small amount of conc. HF (48%). This will dissolve the glass completely in less than half an hour. The Si film will probably break up into many very small fragments (biggest being a few hundred um across).
3) Dilute the HF at least 20 times with DI water.
4) Filter the solution (preferably using a smooth filter paper).
5) Wash out any remaining HF from the filter paper with DI water.
6) Let the filter dry.
7) Take a 200 mesh TEM grid and 5-minute epoxy. Make up a small blob of epoxy and dunk the grid in it. Put the grid between two pieces of filter paper and remove most of the glue. Do this two or three times more so that you have a grid coated with a very thin layer of tacky glue.
8) Holding the grid in tweezers and working under a low mag optical microscope, pick up Si fragments by touching them with the grid.
9) If you're really in a hurry, you can stick the grid on a hot plate at ~170C for 30 secs (after the epoxy has cured) to outgas it.
It took me less than 90 minutes from getting the sample to having it in the microscope.
} I need some advice about sample prep for TEM. I have several amorphous } silicon thin films that have been deposited on glass substrates from which } I would like to make samples for TEM. The films are ~200 A thick, and it } is important that they not be folded over or significantly thinned during } the preparation. I would generally prefer a chemical process, as I worry } that mechanical processes or ion milling could significantly change the } microstructure of the films. } } I have been told that it is possible to prepare the samples I want to } first scoring the surface of the film, then immersing it and the substrate } in a weak solution of HF. A little gentle scraping and the film is } supposed to float free of the substrate and I can then pick it up on a } copper mesh grid. Does anyone have any experience with this technique? } Any advice on how weak a "weak" solution might be, or how long I need to } let the film+substrate soak before scraping? } } I would also be very glad to hear of any alternative means to prepare } the samples I need that don't involve HF. } } } Thanks, } } Paul Voyles } } Paul Voyles (609) 951-2627 voyles-at-research.nj.nec.com } NEC Research Institute, 4 Independence Way, Princeton, NJ 08540
Its not clear to me what your trying to measure here, but if it is the surface profile (ie the physical form, depth etc.) of these corrosion pits, then how about conoscopic holography. Uniscan manufacture a non- contact optical surface profiler which can use a conoscopic head in order to measure surface profiles on the sub - micronic scale, without touching the surface (and down holes too! - not too many optical techniques can do this).
Much less involved than TEM - or SEM for that matter.
If it the dynamics of pitting you want to measure then we also manufacture various scanning probe electrochemistry systems (SRET,SVET,LEIS) which will measure the localised pitting currents, and hence the corrosion rate, dynamically whilst the thing is pitting.
Let me know if you want more details - or see www.uniscan.co.uk.
Good luck.
Graham Johnson.
In message {Pine.GSO.3.96.990225093315.6816A- 100000-at-suma3.reading.ac.uk} , Robert H. Olley {R.H.Olley-at-reading.ac.uk} writes } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
-- Graham R. Johnson PhD. CPhys. MInstP. ________________________________________________________________________
I asked my metalsmith wife this question, as she's often grinding little bits of metal and such, and has a fondness for her fingers. Her recommendations are: 1) *Do not* wear gloves! They are a safety hazard and can be caught in the grinding wheel. Then you won't have to worry about your fingers. 2) Try a dop stick. This is a wooden dowel with sealing wax on the end in which the sample is held. Krazy glue can also be used to attach the sample. These sticks allow fine control. Gem facetters use dop sticks, for instance. 3) If you prefer to hold the pieces in your fingers, use leather finger tips. They cover just the tips of the fingers and since they come off easily are no hazard. They may not allow you the fine control you want.
Check your local college's art department or any art supply or lapidary store for these supplies (dop sticks are just dowels, so get them at a cheap hardware store--the wax may have to be gotten elsewhere).
Phil
} We have a manual metalographic grinding/polishing wheel. The sample } being prepared is held in the hand as it is pressed against the rotating wheel. } Our safety people have asked us to provide finger protection for this device. } Does anyone have any solution/suggestion? } Everett Ramer
****be famous! send in a tech tip or question*** Philip Oshel Technical Editor, Microscopy Today PO Box 620068 Middleton, WI 53562 Voice: (608) 833-2885 Fax: (608) 836-1969 (please make sure my name is on any fax) oshel-at-terracom.net
I want to thank everyone for all the responses and suggestions I received on looking at surface pits in molded stainless steel parts.
The suggestions ranged from doing microtomy to FIB , SEM (and EDS) as well as replication . Polishing seems to be the less desirable because it could introduce artifacts and contaminants that would complicate matters.
Currently we have two reconditioned microscopes available for purchase and can provide service contracts. Please contact me at this address for more details.
Mark W. Rigler, Ph.D. Vice President MAS, Inc. Suwanee, GA
Holy Cow! Talk of your rapid and accurate responce! I guess I either have to buy the CRC, or take up Liechtensteinian {so that I can translate my manuals}. It does turn out that the Quartz Crystal control manual is the one manual that I do not have; the others are in German, at least the pictures are really cool.
Polishing (crossections) can give you very good results if you apply low viscosity epoxy on surface in advance - to protect edge and debris in pits. You can get good sample for SEM/EDS investigation - use diamond and do not use soft polishing wheels, or you can prepare thin sections for STEM/EDS - do not use electrolytic thinning, ion mill is better for samples as yours. I do not believe you will get sufficient results for your investigation using TEM.
Vladimir Dusevich Electron Microscope Lab Manager UMKC
On Fri, 26 Feb 1999, 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } I want to thank everyone for all the responses and suggestions I received } on looking at surface pits in molded stainless steel parts. } } The suggestions ranged from doing microtomy to FIB , SEM (and EDS) as } well as replication . Polishing seems to be the less desirable because it } could introduce artifacts and contaminants that would complicate matters. } } } } Thanks again, } } Jordi Marti } } }
HAVE YOU EVER TRIED AND ENJOYED THE DELICIOUS LOW CALORIES - CAFFEINE FREE YERBA MATE TEA FROM ARGENTINA?
HAVE YOU EVER TRIED AND ENJOYED THE BEST BRANDS OF GOURMET SPECIALTIES FROM ITALY AND SPAIN SUCH AS ESPRESSO AND JAMON SERRNO?
HOW ABOUT EXPERIENCING A HEALTHY MATE TEA FROM THE LAND OF THE TANGO AND THE GAUCHOS, FEELING THE AROMATIC TASTE OF ITALIAN ESPRESSO THAT MAKE ITALIANS SINGS LIKE PAVAROTTI AND THE DELICIOUS JAMON SERRANO THAT IS THE FAVORITE BULLFIGHTERS DISH IN SPAIN?
HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE ANY OF THEM DELIVERED DIRECT TO YOUR DOOR ?
We would like to get you acquainted with your friendly on line neighbor store. The number one mail order service of gourmet food and groceries since 1996. We are introducing for massive consumption in America and the world the marvelous low calories - caffeine free Yerba mate tea, direct from Argentina along with many other from southamerica and the caribbean that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Also the best brands of gourmet specialties from Italy and Spain.
ARGENTINA
Yerba Mate tea from Argentina, several brands Authentic beautiful Gauchos Mate Gourd w/ rims Authentic Bombillas - steel seeper argentinean w/ flag or shield Quincy Jam. Caramel Dulce de leche - Sweet Potato Jam- Crackers
ITALY Porcini Mushrooms URBANI first choice Espresso Segafredo Philter D'or - Panettone Motta 2.2 LB Panettone Segafredo by Paluani - 2 LB TIN - Authentic home made Italian Salame - Sopresa 10 units/string Kimbo Flavour and Aroma ( white can ) Costa D'oro X. Virgin Olive Oil - Fruitted -
SPAIN
Jamon Serrano ( spanish prosciutto very lean ) presliced Manchego Cheese 2.2/lb wheel Montsia Rice from Spain-Rio Ebro ( paellas best ) Unio x.v. olive oil Glass 17 oz Borges x.v. Olive Oil 1 gl. Saffron 0.5 g
We ship anywhere in the US and the world. Major credit cards accepted.
If you would like to visit our web page and see the rest of international gourmet specialties you can do it by going to www.infoplanet.com/RJL. call toll free at
I'm sorry for trouble, but I have missed the discussion about = free(share)ware software for frame averaging a month ago and would like = to ask someone who initiated the discussion to send me a summary. Net is increadibly slow at my place and I can't search the archive. TIA Andrew
Dear Woody, I saw a notice last week in this listserver for a Hitachi S-570 for sale. This is what I use to do my EDX, WDX (Microspec WD-3PC) and BSE. It is very reliable, has incredible beam stability, high resolution and very high beam current capabilities. With an optioal low-kV gun it can do great low kV work. I bought a new S-570 years ago to replace my old Etec Autoscan. I recently purchased a used S-570 for less than $10,000 for EBSP work. The S-2500 is the later model of this with a larger chamber and it is also very good. You wrote: } We are looking for a used, but late model "research grade" SEM. A } large chamber is imperative. Chamber porting for EDS, WDS, and BSE } is also required. The system must be configured to provide a } clean, high vacuum (heavy element carbides & similar work). VP } systems will certainly qualify and are desirable if the clean high } vacuum criteria can also be met. Digital (=} 1024x1024) or analog } is OK. I do prefer manual/knobs over automatic/windows mode. } Software may set things up correctly on the average, but we don't } do average work. Specimens are metallics/oxides/carbides etc., } elements range from boron through uranium in almost any possible } combination. } } } For a point of reference, We currently have an Etec Autoscan which } has been modified to use a mag-lev turbo pump. It is also fitted } with a windowless EDS detector, Microspec 2A WDS, and GW } Electronics BSE. Although the Etec is a 70s vintage SEM, it is an } excellent instrument. It only falls short in the realm of very low } kV / high resolution imaging, high resolution at hefty WDS beam } currents (somewhat of a conflict) and chamber size. } } Woody White } McDermott Technology, Inc. } Lynchburg Research Center } P.O. Box 11165 } Lynchburg, VA 24506-11165 Good luck, Mary Mary Mager Electron Microscopist Metals and Materials Engineering University of British Columbia 6350 Stores Road Vancouver, B.C. V6T 1Z4 CANADA tel: 604-822-5648 fax: 604-822-3619 e-mail: mager-at-interchg.ubc.ca
I have a Kevex 7700 XRF unit and have found out recently that the = printer interface card isn't working. Does anyone know where I can get a = spare other than Kevex (Kevex is on the expensive side). Thanks.
______________________ Roberto Garcia Senior Analyst, Metallography North Carolina State University Analytical Instrumentation Facility Box 7531, Room 303 EGRC Raleigh, NC 27695-7531 rgarcia-at-unity.ncsu.com http://spm.aif.ncsu.edu/aif
{!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD W3 HTML//EN"} {HTML} {HEAD} {META content=3Dtext/html;charset=3Diso-8859-1 = http-equiv=3DContent-Type} {STYLE} {/STYLE}
{META content=3D'"MSHTML 5.00.0910.1309"' name=3DGENERATOR} {/HEAD} {BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff} {DIV} {FONT size=3D3} I have a Kevex 7700 XRF unit and have found out = recently that=20 the printer interface card isn't working. Does anyone know where I can = get a=20 spare other than Kevex (Kevex is on the expensive side). = Thanks. {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {/DIV} {DIV} ______________________ {BR} Roberto Garcia {BR} Senior Analyst,=20 Metallography {BR} North Carolina State University {BR} Analytical = Instrumentation=20 Facility {BR} Box 7531, Room 303 EGRC {BR} Raleigh, NC 27695-7531 {BR} {A=20 href=3D"mailto:rgarcia-at-unity.ncsu.com"} rgarcia-at-unity.ncsu.com {/A} {BR} {A=20 href=3D"http://spm.aif.ncsu.edu/aif"} http://spm.aif.ncsu.edu/aif {/A} {/DIV= } {/BODY} {/HTML}
1. EELS imaging was recommended for catalyst particles; 2. You need to worry about contrast more than resolution; 3. Finer the probe size in the STEM, the resolution is going to be better 4. Difficulty in seein g these due to the fact they are only a few atom clusters; may be try to compare contrast between zeolite with Pt atoms vs. no Pt atoms 5. Zeolites are prone to damage in beam - computer acquisition helpful to lowering current and acquiring metal particle images 6. Tracey and Rice have imaged indivudual Pt particles in zeolite L; agglomeration of metal under beam due to zeolite structure damage is a problem; thin samples are better 7. Energy filtered TEM may work, but try STM (scanning tunneling microscope) 8. Size of probe and Thickness of zeolite important - affects signal to noise ratio 9. Thin sectioning will help - microtoming
Various people have been able to image single atoms on alumina.
Thanks to all those that responded.
As always, it is great that we have a forum to share the collective experience. I have a detailed summary of postings that I can mail it to anyone who is interested.
Mohan Kalyanaraman
Sr. Staff Material Scientist Catalyst Characterization Catalyst Technology Group Mobil Technology Company PO Box 480 Paulsboro, NJ 08066 609-224-3989 (ph#) 609-224-3608 (fax)
I'm in search of a TIFF image that was taken using an Philips XL series SEM that is running with a 50Hz mains. The image detail is unimportant as is linescan time. It just needs to be taken with the standard XL TIFF export function. This is for an internal project that we are doing. You can e-mail it to me at the below address (watch doing a reply as it might go to the list server and we don't want that).
Thanks 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 was under the impression that this server was NOT the place for posting items for sale. If that is the case then ignore this message. If I have been wrong or the rules have changed then fellow readers I have some equipment that is available:
edelmare-at-casmail.muohio.edu-at-sparc5.microscopy.com wrote: } } O.k., using Methylmethcrylate and Butyl methacrylate the instructions say " degas with } nitrogen" does anyone know what that actually means? Does it mean simply bubbling N2 } gas through the resin mixture? Any one have any specific instructions / } recommendations? } Dear Richard, Bubbling N2 through the resin will displace disolved O2, so that would be an indicated procedure if you don't want O2 in the resin. After this, however, I'd pull a vacuum on the mix (using house vac) to get rid of the N2. The latter will prevent bubble formation during polymerization. Yours, Bill Tivol
I will offer this initial reply on-list, then suggest that we take the discussion off-line.
We have used a Pixera for a couple years now and have no problems with it. Software updates did much to improve the quality of the viewfinder.
Are you sure that you rebooted after installing the Pixera drivers and software? (That may require a full reboot rather than just a suspend/resume thing like many new PCs support.) We recently moved our Pixera to a Pentium II 450 from a Pentium 200, and I think I got the "can not initialize camera" message after I loaded the software but before I rebooted. Unfortunately, I cannot tell you about the NT behavior. Although I had NT on our Pentium 200, I never tried installing the Pixera software for NT. Maybe I can.
If you still need help, perhaps you can reply directly. I also have a contact at Pixera if they need to step in.
At 02:08 PM 2/23/99 +0100, you wrote: } Dear Colleagues, } } We recently purchased Pixera Professional digital camera (for optical } microscopy). Nice little thing, but: } } We want to have the camera on PC (Pentium II, 333MHz, 128MB RAM) with Win NT } 4.0 operating system. } We successfully installed the NT driver Pixdrv.drv and Pixera Visual } Communication Suite (from a CD). After starting Studio Viewfinder (a } software for picture acquisition), there was just fine b/w raster (noise) } instead of picture. Using other software and Twain interface led us to the } same disappointment. } We repeated experiments with both service packs for NT 4.0, namely 3 and 4. } } We also tried to install the same camera on another computer (Pentium MMX } 200MHz, 64MB RAM ), running on Win 98. New hardware was installed without a } problem, but when opening the Pixera VC Suite and running Viewfinder } program a message "Can not initialize the camera" appeared. } } I would be very grateful for any suggestion. } ------------------------------ } Dr. Goran Drazic } J. Stefan Institute } Jamova 39 } SI-1001 Ljubljana } Slovenia
I like to have some way to pull the x-ray spectra from our EDS for use elsewhere. Once in a while we get an adventurous grad student who thinks they want a spectrum in an Excel file so they can do their own processing. Other times, we want to overlay spectra from our two, disimilar x-ray systems. In those cases, we want to be able to export the data to something that a spreadsheet can read. The exact format doesn't matter that much to me. It could be MSA format or plain text, preferably in a single column or in two columns of energy and intensity.
MSA format is one answer to the problem, but I would probably relax the constraints to simply something readable by a spreadsheet.
Warren
At 02:39 PM 2/25/99 -0800, you wrote: } } Dear Listers, } Just a question about the MSA standard for x-ray spectrum file format: do } any of you use it and under what circumstances? I am looking to upgrade my } old x-ray analyser computer soon and want to know whether this standard is } ever used and when. Please reply to me off-list and I will summarize to the } list if I get any results. } } Thank you all, } Mary } } Mary Mager } Electron Microscopist } Metals and Materials Engineering } University of British Columbia
Let me first describe the reason for this request. As a professor in a Faculty of Engineering, I co-ordinate the teaching of a basic course in Materials Engineering. This course is annually given to nearly one thousand students. Presently, I am preparing an interactive CD-ROM which will be a complement for a book already published (in French) and used as a reference manual in this course. Today, there is the opportunity to include video-clips, short movies, animations, sounds on a media such as CD-ROM with the pedagogical benefits of such tools. In Materials Science, some topics such as the glide of dislocations on a slip plane, cross-slip of dislocations, pile-ups of dislocations along grain boundaries, Frank-Read sources, Orowan’s mechanism are difficult to teach with only the help of traditional 2D figures in a book. Video-clips with sound track and movies can now easily be included on a CD-ROM and will surely help the students to better understand these topics.
So, my request is the following: I am looking for videos or movies showing the movement of dislocations or any of the dislocation mechanisms described above as directly seen in thin foils observed in TEM. If any of you has already on his shelves such video or movies (or knows somebody who has this type of audiovisuals), please get in touch directly with me at this e-mail address jbailon-at-email.phys.polymtl.ca ). Arrangements will be made for the duplication of the documents and for their copyright. Obviously, due credits will be given in the CD-ROM for the authors of these documents. Many thanks in advance.
{!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD W3 HTML//EN"} {HTML} {HEAD} {META HTTP-EQUIV=3D"Content-Type" CONTENT=3D"text/html; = charset=3Diso-8859-1"}
{META content=3D'"MSHTML 4.72.3110.7"' name=3DGENERATOR} {/HEAD} {BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff} {DIV} {P align=3Djustify} {FONT size=3D2} Let me first describe the reason for = this request.=20 As a professor in a Faculty of Engineering, I co-ordinate the teaching = of a=20 basic course in Materials Engineering. This course is annually given to = nearly=20 one thousand students. Presently, I am preparing an interactive CD-ROM = which=20 will be a complement for a book already published (in French) and used = as a=20 reference manual in this course. Today, there is the opportunity to = include=20 video-clips, short movies, animations, sounds on a media such as CD-ROM = with the=20 pedagogical benefits of such tools. In Materials Science, some topics = such as=20 the glide of dislocations on a slip plane, cross-slip of dislocations, = pile-ups=20 of dislocations along grain boundaries, Frank-Read sources, = Orowan’s=20 mechanism are difficult to teach with only the help of traditional 2D = figures in=20 a book. Video-clips with sound track and movies can now easily be = included on a=20 CD-ROM and will surely help the students to better understand these=20 topics. {/FONT} {/P} {P} {FONT size=3D2} So, my request is the following: I am looking for = videos or=20 movies showing the movement of dislocations or any of the dislocation = mechanisms=20 described above as directly seen in thin foils observed in TEM. If any = of you=20 has already on his shelves such video or movies (or knows somebody who = has this=20 type of audiovisuals), please get in touch directly with me at this = e-mail=20 address ( {A=20 href=3D"mailto:jbailon-at-email.phys.polymtl.ca"} jbailon-at-email.phys.polymtl.= ca {/A} ).=20 Arrangements will be made for the duplication of the documents and for = their=20 copyright. Obviously, due credits will be given in the CD-ROM for the = authors of=20 these documents. Many thanks in advance. {/FONT} {/P} {/DIV} {DIV} {SPAN class=3D300292522-26021999} {FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial =
I am trying to return an older microscope to service. It is a Reichert, I think of 1960's or 1970's vintage, and has been "in storage" ( ie. collecting dirt) for about 15 years, so its moving parts are frozen. It has only a serial number for identification; Nr. 236 628. It is a big black microscope with trinocular head and camera. The light source is rear-mounted, the lamp housing making a right angle with a tube containing a focuser for the bulb filament, a diaphragm, and two filter holder slides. It provides sub-stage illumination through the base, from an external transformer. There are "toggles" on either side of the base for switching to "Epi" or "Mix" illumination. The condenser looks like a dedicated phase type, Nr. 13 259. The objectives are Plan 4:1 (brightfield), Ph. 20:1, Ph. 44:1, and 100.1 (also appears to contain a phase ring, and has an internal diaphragm). Does this description ring bells for anyone? I used the same model microscope briefly back in the early 70's, but this one has a different condenser. I can't recall how to set it up properly as I have not used phase contrast since then. I seem to recall that something called a "phase telescope" (??) was used in alignment. Of course I can't find any other parts or the manual!
Could anyone offer advice on how to set it up correctly? Or know how I could get a manual? The lamp assembly is puzzling; the bulb is so large that it is touching the housing. I wonder if it is the correct bulb - any ideas?
To all who desired more info on fixing and staining of liposomes-- I apologize for the delay in my response. We had a major snowstorm and I lost a day. The initial query by Bernward Laube was about evaluating homogeneity of liposome suspensions ( {100nm diam) and estimating particle volumes. We have been using a osmium fix/negative stain technique for a number of years to look at size distribution of VLDL, chylomicrons, and synthetic lipid emulsions. The osmium fix firms up these particles nicely so that flattening is greatly reduced. In fact, based upon metal shadowing exps. the slight enlargement of diameter due to flattening after fixation is negated by slight shrinkage of particles during processing. The result is an excellent estimate of diameter and volume.
In regard to lipid vesicles/liposomes, our experience with smaller ones of 50nm or so prepared by sonication and processed with only negative stain is that they are preserved pretty well. We would expect some flattening although we have not shadowed these. However, with larger liposomes of 100nm+ diam, we believe OsO4 will aid in preservation and stability and presumably reduce flattening.
If one requires differentiation of lamellar structure (uni vs multi) among particles within a population, negative staining is unreliable because of variability of stain penetration. For this purpose, we use vitreous ice cryomicroscopy as we are fortunate to have it available.
In general our fixation/negative staining procedure is as follows:
1) Add 1 volume of 2% OsO4 in Cacodylate buffer to 2 volumes of emulsion or liposome prep. Fix for 30 mins.+
2) Place small aliquot on freshly flow-discharged carbon formvar-coated grid for a few seconds.
3) Remove and blot off excess fluid and immediately stain with 1% NaPT.
4) After a few seconds, remove and blot excess fluid. Air dry.
Optimum concentration is trial and error. Fixed suspension can be diluted as needed. Hope this helps.
Don Gantz Biophysics Dept Boston Univ Med School gantz-at-med-biophd.bu.edu
As the applications and inquiries about the UBC Live-cell Course have come in, it has become clear to me that some of the descriptions of it may have given some wrong impressions.
Two of the common misconceptions seem to be:
1. That you will not be welcome unless you have a live-cell project.
2. That you should have a very high level of confocal experience before attending.
In fact, many students participate fully in the course even though they do not come with their own live-cell project. This is because they are paired in small groups with others who do have such projects. We stress the "live-cell" emphasis in the course for two reasons:
- We think of it as the most difficult type of 3D microscopy to do. Therefore, learning to do it, will teach the best techniques in other areas.
- We think that the ability of LM techniques to perform live-cell studies is one of their greatest advantages: one that should not be thrown away when one moves to 3D.
However, many excellent images are produced each year from specimens that have been fixed and stained. (Try http://corn.eng.buffalo.edu/19983d.htm and http://confo.pulmonary.ubc.ca/~dietrich for some examples)
On the second point, it is true that many who have attended in the past have run major microscopy facilities for years, it is also true that others have had only slight prior experience.
We start with Kohler illumination (taught by Ernst Keller from Carl Zeiss) and go on from there. In addition, this year we will add a one-day pre-course meeting with Ernst for those but who really haven't thought seriously about microscopes before, although they may have used them.
The best news is that, because of a misprint in one of our announcements, the deadline for applications has been extended to March 15.
Hope to see you there,
Jim Pawley
PS: For more info: see http://www.cs.ubc.ca/spider/ladic/course/bulletin.html
**************************************** Prof. James B. Pawley, Ph. 608-263-3147 Room 223, Zoology Research Building, FAX 608-265-5315 1117 Johnson Ave., Madison, WI, 53706 JBPAWLEY-at-FACSTAFF.WISC.EDU "A scientist is not one who can answer questions but one who can question answers." Theodore Schick Jr., Skeptical Enquirer, 21-2:39
Dear Microcopists: In my recent study of Si dislocations caused by MeV ion implantation and annealing (long time), I found that many linear dislocations in the implanted area. In the attached file (observed along [110] of (001) Si), there two kinds of dislocations. One on {111} planes and running along {112} directions and the other on (001) plan and enlongated along {100} . I am sure there are not {311} dislocations either the Frank loops. But I can't give a defination of these dislocation with a Burgers vector, because my HRTEM is not suitable to do that defect analysis. Hope some one can give me some suggestions about this dislocations (how to call them and what's their possible B vector and they are partial or perfect dislocations). I realy appreciate any information about it. Thank you very much.
{ {dislocation draw.doc} } DAI Jiyan IMRE Singapore
The microscope is (almost) certainly a Reichert Zetopan. This famous stand was made in the Reichert factory in Vienna, Austria and was discontinued in1975. Reichert is now part of the Leica group. I can send you a copy of the manual (multiple page *.tif file, zipped, about 1M).
I have included a (small) picture of the Zetopan from the manual for identification purposes...
Consider yourself lucky: this is one of the best microscopes ever made!
You may want to double check and see if Ar really flows into the chamber 'cause lighter ions MAY NOT be able to knock off atoms off your target. -cy
On Wed, 24 Feb 1999, George Lawton wrote: } Thanks to all who responded to my problem. } But I still have the problem. I got a new cylinder } of Argon. I checked the hoses to make sure they } were not clogged. I double checked } the polarity. My vacuum is good. But when I } turn on my DSM-5 I get a blue arc around the } middle of the cathode. After 3 minutes, I shut } the sputter down but I have no coating on my } sample. I checked the inside of the DSM-5 and } found no loose wires, and the fuses were good. } Any other suggestions would be greatly } appreciated. } } George Lawton } Chief Electron Microscopist } Microscopy and Imaging Service Center } UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas } Phone: 214-648-7291 } eMail: George.Lawton-at-email.swmed.edu
In a message dated 2/27/99 12:13:30 AM, jbailon-at-phys-server.phys.polymtl.c= a writes:
} ...In Materials Science, some topics such as the glide of dislocations on } a slip plane, cross-slip of dislocations, pile-ups of dislocations } along grain boundaries, Frank-Read sources, Orowan=92s mechanism are } difficult to teach with only the help of traditional 2D figures in a } book...
I couldn't agree more. Have you seen the diagrams, animations and video cl= ips in our ViMS (Visualizations in Materials Science) CD? (http://www.pws.com/ge/russ.html, PWS Publishing Co) The CD is available f= or both Mac (ISBN 0-534-95052-3) and Windows (ISBN 0-534-95736-6) users. The = CD is in use along with or in some cases in place of a traditional textbook a= t more than 40 universities, worldwide. When our own classes are not in sess= ion at N. C. State University, you can access them via the web at http://vims.ncsu.edu
I have been trying to find the fax or email of Leitz Microscopes. I have been unable to find it after a lot of efforts on the web. Can anybody pass me the relevant info so that I can get in touch with their sales people.
{html} {head} {/head} {BODY bgcolor=3D"#FFFFFF"} {p} {font size=3D2 = color=3D"#000000" face=3D"Arial"} I have been trying to find the fax or = email of Leitz Microscopes. I have been unable to find it after a lot of = efforts on the web. Can anybody pass me the relevant info so that I can = get in touch with their sales people. {br} {br} Thanks {br} {br} Dr.Usman = Rafi {/p} {/font} {/body} {/html} ------=_NextPart_000_01BE628A.433AF9E0--
In a message dated 99-02-27 10:13:27 EST, pulse-at-shoa.net writes:
{ { I have been trying to find the fax or email of Leitz Microscopes. I have been unable to find it after a lot of efforts on the web. Can anybody pass me the relevant info so that I can get in touch with their sales people. } }
Dr. Rafi,
Leitz is now part of the Leica group (along with Reichert-Jung, American Optical, Bausch & Lomb and Cambridge Instruments). The address for Leica will depend on what country you are in, but the easiest way to contact them is at their website:
www.leica.com
} From there you can fill out a request form, and it will be passed to the group which represents Leica in your area.
Best regards,
Bob ****************************** Robert (Bob) Chiovetti, Ph.D. President Microimaging Technologies, Inc. Tucson, Arizona USA Tel./Fax (520) 546-4986 rchiovetti-at-aol.com Manufacturers' Representatives Systems Integrators Analog & Digital Imaging Systems Clinical & Research Microscopy Cytology/Histology/Pathology/EM *******************************
It sounds as though you have a very treasured microscope called a Zetopan. If you can take a picture (even a polaroid) and send it to me, I can confirm that.
If, indeed, this is the instrument you have, I can supply supportive documentation (manual, brochure with decription of parts, etc.). Since this microscope was changed to a dramatically different design in the early 60's (the Polyvar), I suspect that it may be older than you think.
Setting up phase is simple: (I know that this looks like a large number of steps, but once you get the hang of it, it should take less than a minute) 1. Put a well-behaved sample (thin section or cheek smear) on the stage and bring it into focus using the 20x Phase Objective. Set the condenser to brightfield (either BF or H). 2. Close the field iris (on the light port) until you can see it in the field of view. Set up regular Koehler illumination. (If you need a review: a. Focus the image of the field iris using the focus control on the condenser mount b. Center the image of the field iris using the centration screws at about 5 o'clock and 7 o'clock) When you are done, open the field iris so that it is just outside the field of view. 3. Replace one of the eyepieces with the "phase telescope". If you can't find the phase telescope, just remove one of the eyepieces and look way down the tube (this plane is called the Back Focal Plane of the Objective and what goes on there is critical to good imaging). You will see a smokey ring (the phase plate). 4. Rotate the condenser so that the "PH20" aligns with the white marker on the condenser. Look back down the tube/phase telescope. You should see a bright ring. Align the bright ring so that it sits completely and exactly under the smokey ring. I don't have either my manuals or my microscope here at the office, so I am not sure where these alignment controls are. Frequently they are sliders on the rotating plate and/or secondary centering screws on the condenser rather than on its mount. TROUBLE-SHOOTING: If the ring is not the same size, rotate through all the options until you find the best match. If it is not exactly in focus as you look down the Back Focal Plane, use the condenser focus to rack the condenser up or down slightly. If you cannot see the ring, check to make sure that both the field iris and, especially, the condenser aperture iris are open. Most condensers are designed so that this second iris is out of the way when you rotate to the Phase position, but not all. Finally, Phase works best if you insert a good quality green (546nm) filter over the light port. However, the illuminator for the Zetopan may not be powerful enough to supply adequate illumination. In this case you have two options: (a) work without the green filter or (b) contact me privately. I am having my Zetopan illuminator "modernized" shortly and may have some alternatives for you.
For further information on how Phase Contrast works and how to optimize it, see our book "Optimizing Light Microscopy". Details are on our website: MME-Microscopy.com/education
Hope this was helpful.
Best regards, Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater productivity.
125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} ****************************************************** MME is America's first national consortium providing customized on-site workshops in all areas of microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis.
At 06:07 PM 2/26/99 -0500, Sharon Godkin wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Finally AFM that compliments the SEM lab.=20 =20 AFM designed for imaging in fluids and under controlled environmental = condition. =20 Capable of force spectroscopy measurements down to the piconeuton of = force (protein folding or antibody - antigen binding force = characterization) with the same instrument that can measure very soft = biological samples at 37C with better that 1 manometer resolution.
Some images http://www.molec.com/biology/index.html
Hands on workshop (bring you own samples) Detail will be posted on = www.molec.com in about a week. In Situ Surface Chemistry 4/27 to 4/28 In Vitro Biology 4/28 to 4/30
If two peaks are overlapped, and you want to distinguish between the two, you can increase the acceleration voltage, right? But how does this help to distinguish between the elements?
My next question concerns Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS). The baseline on the EDS spectra is influenced by inelasic scattering of the incident electron beam by the atomic nuclei of the sample, which results in a peaked background. This is called the bremsstrahlung effect. What causes this???
I don't get your first question. You are probably referring to the EDS peak overlap. If so, I don't think increased acceleration voltage can increase the EDS resolution directly. Instead, higher voltage may generate/promote peaks with higher characteristic energy values. These peaks may not overlap and therefore can be distinguished.
A simple answer to your second question is that X-ray photons are not only, though mainly from the sample, but also from everywhere in the chamber because of the elastic/inelastic scattering of electrons.
Hope the above helps.
-cy
On Sat, 27 Feb 1999 Seadoohog-at-aol.com-at-sparc5.microscopy.com wrote:
} I just have a couple of questions regarding SEM. } } If two peaks are overlapped, and you want to distinguish between the two, you } can increase the acceleration voltage, right? But how does this help to } distinguish between the elements? } } My next question concerns Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS). The } baseline on the EDS spectra is influenced by inelasic scattering of the } incident electron beam by the atomic nuclei of the sample, which results in a } peaked background. This is called the bremsstrahlung effect. What causes } this??? } } Thanks! } } } }
Does any one have any experience with the $279.00 eyepiece camera that www.imicrovision.com sells? It is a CMOS camera that is read through the printer port.
It claims a 704 X 576 max resolution.=20
I know that CMOS cameras are noisy. But it looks like it might be an adequate illustration tool. If I want resolution I can use the 4X5 camera and do 3 color separations.
Thanks Gordon
Gordon Couger gcouger-at-couger.com Owner PRAG-L PRactical AGriculture List www.couger.com/prag-l Stillwater, OK 405 624-2855 GMT -6:00
{!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"} {!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=3D4} Does any one have any experience = with the=20 $279.00 eyepiece {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D4} camera that {A=20 href=3D"http://www.imicrovision.com"} www.imicrovision.com {/A} sells? It = is a CMOS=20 camera {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D4} that is read through the printer=20 port. {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D4} {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT size=3D4} It claims a 704 X 576 max resolution. {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT size=3D4} {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT size=3D4} I know that CMOS cameras are noisy. But it looks = like it=20 might {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT size=3D4} be an adequate illustration tool. If I want = resolution I can=20 use the {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT size=3D4} 4X5 camera and do 3 color separations. {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT size=3D4} {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT size=3D4} Thanks {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT size=3D4} Gordon {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT size=3D4} {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT size=3D4} Gordon Couger {A=20 href=3D"mailto:gcouger-at-couger.com"} gcouger-at-couger.com {/A} {BR} Owner = PRAG-L=20 PRactical AGriculture List {A=20 href=3D"http://www.couger.com/prag-l"} www.couger.com/prag-l {/A} {BR} Stillw= ater,=20 OK 405 624-2855 = GMT=20 -6:00 {/FONT} {/DIV} {/BODY} {/HTML}
---------- } Van: Barbara Foster {mme-at-map.com} } Aan: Sharon Godkin {GodkinS-at-em.agr.ca} ; microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Onderwerp: Re: LM - old Reichert; need manual } Datum: zaterdag 27 februari 1999 19:02
Hi all,
According to Mr. Kappl, head of the service department of the Reichert-factory in Vienna, Austria (now Leica-Reichert), the Zetopan was discontinued in 1975 (personal communication, 1995).
There were two models of the Zetopan: the (older) Zetopan with black finishing, and the (more recent) one with grey finishing. Essentialy these two are the same except that some spare parts have other dimensions (i.e. the UV-block filterholder).
Some spare parts (new/second hand) are still availlable trough some German and Austrian dealers (bought some time ago a new micro flash unit for Zetopan and some filter holders).
Second-hand Zetopans aren't to expensive (if you can find one). Judging from the prices on some online auctions, Zetopan is far less expensive than comparable instruments made by Zeiss and Leitz (Leica). This puzzles me as the Zetopan is IMHO far better than those, spare parts are (more or less: with luck and time) availlable at decent prices (at least in Europe).
One problem is, that the bulbs used in the illuminator "LUX FNI" are difficult to find. It's probably interesting to know that most European microscopes are using either Osram-bulbs or some kind of modified Osram-bulb. This is also the case for the lightsource "LUX FNI". The bulb used is essentialy an Osram nr. 8100 with E14 foot (BTW: this is the same bulb as the one used in another famous microscope: the Leitz Ortholux...) The bulb is soldered in some kind of a "Reichert adapter", thus providing a "precentered and preadjusted" bulb... It's perfectly possible to remove the old bulb, clean up this adapter and fit a regular Osram 8100 in it. That bulb is also far less expensive than the "Reichert bulb"...
At least its true that electrons scatter like light and X-rays with the characteristics of the last reflecting surface (sufficient oomph permitting) are generated. However, EDS detectors have a collimator tube which limits most of the scattered X-rays. In any case the percentage of scattered X-rays is small - to wit: this type of analyses is very location specific and on polished specimen can give very accurate results.
Bremsstrahlung (literally "Braking Radiation") is also called continuum. Peaks sit on top of this background radiation. Lower kV results in a higher continuum as does an average low atomic number specimen. Continuum is the product of electron interaction with the nucleus and not other electrons.
Remember that most EDS/WDS analysis is done at 15kV. KV is varied to identify problem peaks. Perhaps to see another higher peaks or obtain better resolution in the low end of the spectrum. Change from 15kV is there is a good reason only. Disclaimer: ProSciTech has no bremsstrahlung but plenty of continuum on offer. 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 Sunday, February 28, 1999 12:05 PM, Chao-ying Ni; Office 312 SPL; Phone 1013 [SMTP:ni-at-me.udel.edu] wrote: } } } I don't get your first question. You are probably } referring to the EDS } peak overlap. If so, I don't think increased acceleration } voltage can } increase the EDS resolution directly. Instead, higher } voltage may } generate/promote peaks with higher characteristic energy } values. These } peaks may not overlap and therefore can be distinguished. } } A simple answer to your second question is that X-ray } photons are not } only, though mainly from the sample, but also from } everywhere in the } chamber because of the elastic/inelastic scattering of } electrons. } } Hope the above helps. } } -cy } } } } On Sat, 27 Feb 1999 } Seadoohog-at-aol.com-at-sparc5.microscopy.com wrote: } } } I just have a couple of questions regarding SEM. } } } } If two peaks are overlapped, and you want to distinguish } } between the two, you } } can increase the acceleration voltage, right? But how } } does this help to } } distinguish between the elements? } } } } My next question concerns Energy Dispersive X-ray } } Spectroscopy (EDS). The } } baseline on the EDS spectra is influenced by inelasic } } scattering of the } } incident electron beam by the atomic nuclei of the } } sample, which results in a } } peaked background. This is called the bremsstrahlung } } effect. What causes } } this??? } } } } Thanks! } } } } } } } } }
This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --------------FFDDB42C033F1E52239010A3 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
We had a similar problem. Eventually the horizontal banding became so bad we thought we needed a new detector or at least a new photomultiplier tube in the detector. The banding was absent when we switched to our Robinson detector. It turned out to be a loose grounding wire in the detector unit itself. See if wiggling the wires coming out of your detector effect your image (e.g. increased banding, lost of contrast, bright white screen), if it does, then the solution is simple.
Roy Nelson Material Testing Laboratory Pennington, NJ 08534 jrnelson-at-nj1.aae.com
P.S. It took forever for your images to load. --------------FFDDB42C033F1E52239010A3 Content-Type: text/x-vcard; charset=us-ascii; name="jrnelson.vcf" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Description: Card for jrnelson Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="jrnelson.vcf"
Does the banding appear in your secondary images? If so there may be a contaminant in the column or on the BSED itself. Slide the BSED out and see if the SED image improves. (I believe Robinson detectors can be moved in or out). If the banding in your SED imaging goes away with the BSED out, there is probably a piece of "dirt" on the forks of the BSED. Try to clean the forks with a blast of nitrogen or other aerosol. Careful if you have to clean the forks of the BSED by wiping them, there is a thin conductive coating on the Lucite forks which comes off easily. Also check the metal strip on top of the BSED forks with an ohmeter to make sure it makes good electrical contact with the detector tube. (As long as you have an ohmeter out, make sure your sample is indeed grounded by measuring the resistance from your coated sample to ground.) Also inspect the bottom of the objective lens for any contaminants. If the banding happens in both SE and BSE modes, any contaminant in the column, or even an ungrounded aperture in the beam path is suspect. Also, make sure the beam emission current is stable. Hope this helps!
Bill Carmichael
"D.Wild" wrote:
} Dear all, } We are imaging pumice sections on glass slides, using BSE detector at 25kv, } condenser lens 4, using a Robinson BSE detector on a Hitachi FE4000 The } idea is to obtain highly contrasted images to transform into black and } white binary images. The problem is we are getting horizontal banding which } looks like a charging problem, although the samples are well coated and } earthed. Could it be due to anything else? The problem has recently } developed and was also apparent on a more conducting sample of some TEM } grids. Attached are some images. } Any comments would be helpful. } } Thank { {horiz_bd.tif} } { {18299_29.tif} } s David Wild } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } Name: horiz_bd.tif } horiz_bd.tif Type: TIFF Image (image/tiff) } Encoding: base64 } } Name: 18299_29.tif } 18299_29.tif Type: TIFF Image (image/tiff) } Encoding: base64
Actually the bremsstrahlung, (I think is German for "braking radiation") is from the beam/specimen interaction, and infact, can tell you much about the specimen surface. As I understand it, the bremsstrahlung is the result of the inelastic scattering events that occur when the high energy beam electrons interact with the specimen. As the primary electron (beam) approaches the specimen, it is affected by the electrons and nuclei of the specimen atoms, and it loses energy. The energy lost is released in the form of a photon with a given energy. These events are quite random and the energies of the photons are also quite random, with photon energies ranging from as high as the beam energy, down to small fractions of the beam energy. These photons when detected by the EDS system give a continuous background of energy counts from nearly zero to the accelerating voltage energy. By the way this is a good way for determining the actual high energy (accelerating voltage) that is being emitted by your SEMs "electron gun".
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I just have a couple of questions regarding SEM.
If two peaks are overlapped, and you want to distinguish between the two, you can increase the acceleration voltage, right? But how does this help to distinguish between the elements?
My next question concerns Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS). The baseline on the EDS spectra is influenced by inelasic scattering of the incident electron beam by the atomic nuclei of the sample, which results in a peaked background. This is called the bremsstrahlung effect. What causes this???
by mailhost.auckland.ac.nz (8.9.2/8.9.2/8.9.2-ua) with ESMTP id IAA20889 for {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} ; Mon, 1 Mar 1999 08:57:21 +1300 (NZDT) Received: from GLGNOV2/SpoolDir by glgnov2.auckland.ac.nz (Mercury 1.21); 1 Mar 99 08:54:57 +1200 Received: from SpoolDir by GLGNOV2 (Mercury 1.21); 1 Mar 99 08:54:30 +1200
Dear All
My vote would be that ads for the disposal of used equipment by the owner are OK but that ads by dealers are not. I hope that this is the rule.
Ritchie
} I was under the impression that this server was NOT the place for posting } items for sale. } If that is the case then ignore this message. } If I have been wrong or the rules have changed then fellow readers I have } some equipment that is available: } } Sorvall MT-2 ultramicrotomes(2). } Mettler analytical balance H78AR } TMC Micro-G pneumatic table 24x40 } AFM probes } GAST compressor/vacuum pump 60psi. } } All are in excellent working order and are being offered at substancially } reduced prices. } I need the cash. } } Contact; } Steve D'Angelo, Pacifica California, 650.738.2699, 650.400.8063 or email } sdangelo-at-batnet.com
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
Hi there listers, Someone in our lab is about to start a project on microvascular casting of varicose veins for SEM viewing. We were wondering what most peoples preference was for some of the commercial polymers and kits available? Your ideas of pro's and con's for these products would be nice too!
Look forward to hearing from you,
Rich.
----------------------------------------------------------------------- Richard Lander Electron Microscopist South Campus Electron Microscope Unit Otago School of Medical Sciences P.O. Box 913 Dunedin New Zealand. Tel. National 03 479 7301 Fax. National 03 479 7254 mailto:richard.lander-at-stonebow.otago.ac.nz "Southernmost EM Unit in the World!" ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----Original Message----- } From: "Seadoohog-at-aol.com"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com {"Seadoohog-at-aol.com"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com {microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com}
I am wanting to label some ultra thin sections of marrow embedded in LR White for alkaline phosphatase for viewing on the TEM. Can any-one help me with a method, I have heard that the use of lead citrate is the way to go. My specimens were originally fixed in either 4% paraformaldehyde, or 2% paraformaldehyde and 0.05% glutaraldehyde, then decalcified in 10% EDTA. Do I need to reactivate the enzyme with Mg2+ treatment? If so how? Thanks, Susie Nilsson PhD. Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute Melbourne, Australia s.nilsson-at-pmci.unimelb.edu.au
I appreciate FS posts. For those that do not, it would be easy for the poster to preface their post in the Subject block with FS: xxxxx that way, those that do not want to see FS items can filter them out.
Dear All This is all fun. Lost a bit of skin myself. Latex gloves does help a bit. Home made clamping devices I pressume will help, but I prefer to have a "hands on" onto the sample. For large amounts of samples automation is a option.
} Everett Ramer wrote: } } } } We have a manual metalographic grinding/polishing wheel. The sample } } } being prepared is held in the hand as it is pressed against the rotating } wheel. } } } Our safety people have asked us to provide finger protection for this } device. } } } Does anyone have any solution/suggestion? } } } Everett Ramer } } Everett, } Mary Mager's response, while funny, is actually quite accurate. There are } not too } many ways to protect fingers while properly holding a small (1-1/4", } typically) } sample for grinding/polishing. } } I preface my next remarks by pointing out that I work for a manufacturer of } } metallographic equipment and consumables, and therefore have a financial } interest in solving your problem: } } We at BUEHLER, do offer a simple grinding fixture which might help. This } fixture } is a squat, stainless steel, hollow cylinder with a carbide ring around } it's base. } The sample is clamped within another hollow cylinder seated within the } first. } The two cylinders are threaded, so that the inner can be raised or lowered } with respect to the carbide 'stop' of the outer. Engraved markings allow } material removal in increments as fine as 20microns. While this is not } actually } finger protection, per se, it will allow you to grasp something larger so } that your } fingers are not in such close proximity to the grinding wheel. We also } offer } a motor system which allows the fixture to rotate, in place, on the wheel} Mr. S H Coetzee Electron Microscope Unit Private bag X3 Wits Johannesburg 2050 Tell: +27 11 716 2419 Fax : +27 11 339 3407 E-mail stephan-at-gecko.biol.wits.ac.za
I am curious if anyone is using an automatic section stainer for TEM. If so, what brand are you using. We are using an LKB section stainer (15 years old now). I just wonder if there is anything else in the market. Thanks,
Cora Bucana ******************************************************* Corazon D. Bucana, Ph.D. Department of Cancer Biology U.T. M.D. Anderson Cancer Center 1515 Holcombe Blvd. Box 173 Houston, Texas 77030 Phone: (713) 792-8106 Email:bucana-at-audumla.mdacc.tmc.edu FAX: (713) 792-8747
May 20-22 and May 24-26, 1999 North Carolina State University Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
and
June 14-16, 1998 Danish Technological Institute Taastrup, Denmark
This highly regarded hands-on course taught by expert faculty has been presented annually for more than 15 years. It deals with all phases of quantitative and computer-assisted imaging from acquisition and processing through measurement and stereological interpretation. Attendees receive The Image Processing Handbook plus a CD-ROM containing images, algorithms (Photoshop-compatible for Mac and Windows) and an extensive on-line tutorial and course notes on stereology and statistical analysis. The course is appropriate for scientists, technicians and administrators using or intending to use these techniques. Attendees typically come from materials science, geology, biological and medical sciences, pharmaceuticals, food science, industrial quality control, remote sensing, and other disciplines. You are encouraged to bring your own images for the hands-on lab sessions.
For detailed information and registration contact Cindy Allen, Dept. of Continuing and Professional Education, N. C. State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7401, 919-515-8171, fax 919-515-7614, email: Cindy_Allen-at-NCSU.edu
Information is available on-line at the following sites:
Seadoohog-at-aol.com-at-sparc5.microscopy.com wrote: } } My next question concerns Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS). The } baseline on the EDS spectra is influenced by inelasic scattering of the } incident electron beam by the atomic nuclei of the sample, which results in a } peaked background. This is called the bremsstrahlung effect. What causes } this??? } } Thanks!
Dear Seadoohog, Brehmsstrahlung, or "braking radiation" is caused by the ac- celeration of the electron by a large mass (nucleus). Both Maxwell's equations and quantum mechanics predict that accelerated charges will give off electromagnetic radiation. The large mass is necessary so that conservation of both energy and momentum can be satisfied. Yours, Bill Tivol
There are some second hand equipment outlets here in the US who occasionally get bits and pieces for Zetopans. One is John Oren, in VT.
Re: illuminators - OptiQuip has suggested some interesting alternatives for an upgrade path. We will be working on this in Apr/May. Anyone interested is welcome to email privately for further info.
Best regards, Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater productivity.
125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} ****************************************************** MME is America's first national consortium providing customized on-site workshops in all areas of microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis.
At 01:41 PM 2/28/99 +0100, Yvan Lindekens wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
In the process of trying to produce some Ag coated samples, I instead obtained some silver beads, which would be dandy if that's what I was after ;^ { ...
The specifics were: Denton DV502A evaporator, 4cm of 0.2mm dia Ag wire wrapped around ~1mm dia section of a standard carbon rod, 5x10^-7 Torr. Melting of the wire occured abruptly at well under 20A.
Can anyone suggest conditions or parameters to that will yield evaporation rather than melting???
Later I expect to coat with Al, which like Ag melts and boils at much lower temperatures than Pd and Pt (which are no problem with the above...) so if anyone can provide similar information regarding Al, that would also be helpful.
(This is probably pushing my luck, but if anyone knows any rule of thumb for how thick the films of the above are as a function of conditions & time, that would be super to hear....)
Thanks.
_______________________________________________________ Get your free, private email at http://mail.excite.com/
O.k., I've lost my cheat sheet which had the sizes of Tobbaco Mosaic Virus components, and I can't locate the information presently. Can anyone help me out here? I know the particles are 18.0 nm in diameter "300 nm" in length (o.k. some of them break). What is the diameter of the central core?
What is the spacing between the sprialing sub units?
Thanks!
Richard E. Edelmann, Ph.D. Electron Microscopy Facility Supervisor 352 Pearson Hall Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056 Ph: 513.529.5712 Fax: 513.529.4243 E-mail: edelmare-at-muohio.edu
Silver has a melting point of 961C. Its vapor pressure is 847C = 1e-8 torr 958C = 1e-6 torr 1105C = 1e-4 torr
An equilibrium vapor pressure of 1e-6 will give ~1 monolayer per second deposition rate (using a kinetic theory of gas model with a sticking coefiicient of 1). Since this will undoubtedly not be an equilibrium situation, you can this value to be an upper limit. So, at the melting point of silver, you will get much less than 0.2nm/sec deposition rate near the sample. Farther away, it will drop as 1/r^2.
Aluminum too, will melt long before you get much evaporation 660C = melting point 677C = 1e-8 torr 821C = 1e-6 torr 1010C = 1e-4 torr
Also, thermal evaporation of Ag, Au, Al will tend to produce metal islands on the sample which can interfere with high mag imaging. Sputtering often will give a smaller grain size.
Cheers, Henk
At 08:40 AM 3/1/99 -0800, you wrote: } {snip} } } Can anyone suggest conditions or parameters to that will yield evaporation } rather than melting??? } } Later I expect to coat with Al, which like Ag melts and boils at much lower } temperatures than Pd and Pt (which are no problem with the above...) so if } anyone can provide similar information regarding Al, that would also be } helpful. } } (This is probably pushing my luck, but if anyone knows any rule of thumb for } how thick the films of the above are as a function of conditions & time, } that would be super to hear....) } } Thanks.
Hendrik O. Colijn colijn.1-at-osu.edu Campus Electron Optics Facility Ohio State University (614) 292-0674 http://web.ceof.ohio-state.edu An optimist believes that we live in the best of all possible worlds. A pessimist fears that this is true.
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
There was a request recently for information on a new EM techniques book. = The book is scheduled to be published in mid March so there is no = information yet other than the chapter titles. I post them here.
Electron microscopy methods and protocols / edited by M.A. Nasser Hajibagheri. (Methods in molecular biology ; v. 117) ISBN 0-89603-640-5 Expected publication date is mid March.
Contents: 1 General Preparation of Material and Staining of Sections ................= ... 1 Heather A. Davies 2 Negative Staining of Thinly Spread Biological Particulates ..............= . 13 J. Robin Harris 3 Preparation of Thin-Film Frozen-Hydrated/Vitrified Biological Specimens for Cryoelectron Microscopy .....................................= .. 31 J. Robin Harris and Marc Adrian 4 The Production of Cryosections Through Fixed and Cryoprotected Biological Material and Their Use in Immunocytochemistry .......... 49 Paul Webster 5 High-Pressure Freezing for Preservation of High Resolution Fine Structure and Antigenicity for Immunolabelling ............................= . 77 Kent McDonald 6 The Application of LR Gold Resin for Immunogold Labeling .............. = 99 J. R. Thorpe 7 Low-Temperature Embedding in Acrylic Resins .............................= . 111 Pierre Gounon 8 Quantitative Aspects of Immunogold Labeling in Embedded and Nonembedded Sections...................................................= ..... 125 Catherine Rabouille 9 Microwave Processing Techniques for Electron Microscopy: A Four-Hour Protocol ......................................................= ............. 145 Rick T. Giberson and Richard S. Demaree, Jr. 10 Electron Microscopic Enzyme Cytochemistry...............................= .... 159 Nobukazu Araki and Tanenori Hatae 11 In Situ Molecular Hybridization Techniques for Ultrathin Sections ....................................................= ................ 167 Jean-Guy Fournier and Fran=E7oise Escaig-Haye 12 Preparation of the Fission Yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe for Ultrastructural and Immunocytochemical Study ..................... 183 M. A. Nasser Hajibagheri, Kenneth Sawin, Steve Gschmeissner, Ken Blight, and Carol Upton 13 Preparation of Double/Single-Stranded DNA and RNA Molecules for Electron Microscopy ...................................................= ............ 209 M. A. Nasser Hajibagheri 14 Applications of Electron Microscopy for Studying Protein-DNA Complexes..................................................................= .................. 229 Maria Schnos and Ross B. Inman 15 X-Ray Microanalysis Techniques .........................................= ............. 245 A. John Morgan, Carole Winters, and Stephen St=FCrzenbaum
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 http://www.hei.org/htm/apw.htm
by nss4.cc.Lehigh.EDU (8.9.1a/8.9.1) with ESMTP id OAA158376; Mon, 1 Mar 1999 14:17:15 -0500 Message-ID: {36DAF5C8.6259645-at-lehigh.edu}
Please note the following job announcement:
ELECTRON MICROSCOPE TECHNICIAN
Lehigh University seeks an Electron Microscope Technician to perform technical duties in support of the Electron Microscopy Laboratory of the Materials Science and Engineering Department. Technician will instruct students in the operation of microscopes and other equipment; maintain and repair instruments; oversee upkeep of the lab; support research professors and students; analyze samples; give tours and demonstrations; supervise students; maintain a safe environment; and other assigned duties. Bachelors degree in physical science and/or 4+ years related work experience required. Candidates should be familiar with electron microscopes, mechanical and electronic equipment, vacuum systems, PC and/or MAC and EDS/WDS systems. Good communication and interpersonal skills are essential.
Lehigh University offers excellent benefits and vacation package. Interested candidates should forward resume to: Deanne Hoenscheid, Materials Science and Engineering, Lehigh University, 5 E. Packer Ave., Bethlehem, PA 18015. EOE. M/F/D/V.
On Mon, 1 Mar 1999 edelmare-at-casmail.muohio.edu-at-sparc5.microscopy.com wrote:
} Date: Mon, 1 Mar 1999 11:42:21 -0500 } From: edelmare-at-casmail.muohio.edu-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: Size of TMV? } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } O.k., I've lost my cheat sheet which had the sizes of Tobbaco Mosaic Virus components, } and I can't locate the information presently. Can anyone help me out here? I know the } particles are 18.0 nm in diameter "300 nm" in length (o.k. some of them break). What } is the diameter of the central core? } } What is the spacing between the sprialing sub units? } } Thanks! } } } Richard E. Edelmann, Ph.D. } Electron Microscopy Facility Supervisor } 352 Pearson Hall } Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056 } Ph: 513.529.5712 Fax: 513.529.4243 } E-mail: edelmare-at-muohio.edu } } "RAM disk is NOT an installation procedure." }
TMV:
Pitch = 2.3 nm
Don't know about inner diameter of core; try: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nik.gov/ICTVdb/welcome.htm
Let me know the diameter if you find it. S
Sara E. Miller, Ph. D. P. O. Box 3020 Duke University Medical Center Durham, NC 27710 Ph: 919 684-3452 FAX: 919 684-8735
I've used W baskets to produce thin films of Au,Cr,Al and Cu in similar evaporators. I would think it would work with Ag too. The liquid metal seems to "hang" in the basket by what, I would guess, are surface tension effects. Any of the major EM houses should have these baskets.
I've also attempted to calculate, a priori, what the film thickness should be and never been too thrilled at the agreement with the result. A quartz crystal thickness monitor can be calibrated for most metals but if you don't have one, you might try using the change in resistance across a glass coverslip (Steere approach) or cross sectioning a series of thin films generated under known evaporation conditions and looking at them in a TEM.
cheers, John John Heckman Michigan State University
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
radsci-at-excite.com writes ... } } } In the process of trying to produce some Ag coated samples, I instead } obtained some silver beads, which would be dandy if that's } what I was after } ... } The specifics were: Denton DV502A evaporator, 4cm of 0.2mm } dia Ag wire wrapped around section of a standard carbon rod, } ...
I might suggest, rather than carbon rod, you wrap the Ag wire around tungsten wire which will be wetted. I imagine the Ag on carbon was like water on a duck's back.
BTW, why did a simple reply to this post want to send a message to {"radsci-at-excite.com"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} ???
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/
Everett, When I have to do a quick grind on something small that I don't want to put into a mount, I use the "rubber fingers" that secretaries wear. I have found these to be much better than finger cots, which don't last one spin of the wheel. I don't know if this solution will satisfy the "safety" people but I still have finger prints. Dorrance
} ---------- } From: EVERETT RAMER } Sent: Thursday, February 1999 8:23 AM } To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } Subject: Finger Protection during Sample Prep } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 a manual metalographic grinding/polishing wheel. The sample } being prepared is held in the hand as it is pressed against the rotating } wheel. } Our safety people have asked us to provide finger protection for this } device. } Does anyone have any solution/suggestion? } Everett Ramer } }
We have been asked this question by a customer: =========================================== We are looking for a holder for the Wehnelt cap for filament adjustment. AMRAY had one when we went up there but they do not sell one nor could they tell us where to buy one. It looks like a custom job. Do you know what we are talking about? =========================================== I am sure that someone has this hidden away somewhere in their catalog but I have not been able to find it. Any help would be appreciated.
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: www.2spi.com ############################ ==================================================
I run a very old probe in a small Geology department. I want to buy a JEOL 733 or later (eg 840A). I would be very pleased to hear from anyone who has one currently for sale or who is planning to sell one this year.
thanks
Ritchie
Ritchie Sims Phone : 64 9 3737599 ext 7713 Department of Geology Fax : 64 9 3737435 The University of Auckland email : r.sims-at-auckland.ac.nz Private Bag 92019 Auckland New Zealand
Dear all We do evaporation of various metals on a old Edwards evaporator. First the Tungstan (W) wire gets heated up under vacuum to clean it from all dirt. Then the requiered metal wire gets wraped around a V bent in the W wire. when heated up the wire will melt and form a melted globule. this will evaporate only after futher heating. }
} } The specifics were: Denton DV502A evaporator, 4cm of 0.2mm dia Ag wire } wrapped around ~1mm dia section of a standard carbon rod, 5x10^-7 Torr. } Melting of the wire occured abruptly at well under 20A. } } Can anyone suggest conditions or parameters to that will yield evaporation } rather than melting??? }
} } (This is probably pushing my luck, but if anyone knows any rule of thumb for } how thick the films of the above are as a function of conditions & time, } that would be super to hear....) } No it does exist.
p = density of the of the coating material in g. ( cm^-3) M = weight of coating material a source (g) R = source samle seperation, (cm) dx = film thickness.
(4 pie R^2) dx p = M
But 1) efficiency factor of evaporative method method is rarely better than 75%. thuss: (4 pie R^2) dx p = M.3/4 this will only work if the sample is directly under the evaporated source
If it is at a angle theta,
3/4.M = (4 pie R^2 dx p)/ sin theta Where theta is the angle between the gounr and the tip of the V.
since Em people do like a really thin coating (nm) for M in g/cm^3 R in cm and dx in nm
M = 4/3. ( 4pie R^2 dx p)/sin theta . 10^-7
For coating material in wire form for a diameter d cm and l lenth (cm0
M = (pie d^2 lp)/4
length of wire required for a coatint thickness of dx cm 1 = 64/3 .[( R^2 dx)/d^2 sin theta)]
hope this does help
Mr. S H Coetzee Electron Microscope Unit Private bag X3 Wits Johannesburg 2050 Tell: +27 11 716 2419 Fax : +27 11 339 3407 E-mail stephan-at-gecko.biol.wits.ac.za
Good day Listmembers A while ago there was a discussion on this list on the preparation of insect eggs for ultra-thin sectioning. Without re-opening the discussion, can somebody that collected all the replies and other experts in this regard please supply me with a general protocol if there is one?
TIA Alan N Hall Laboratory for Microscopy and Micro-Analysis NWII Building University of Pretoria Pretoria 0002 Republic of South Africa Tel: +27-12-420 3896(Office) +27-12-420 2075(Laboratory) Fax: +27-12-362 5150
Dear all, In the evaporation of metal from tungsten wire it is important not to raise the temperature of the wire too fast. If you do this, the metal will melt and drop off in a blob. The thing to do is to raise the temperature until the metal just starts to melt. Then wait until the wire is wetted - you'll see the liquid creeping up the sides of the V. The bulk of the metal will remain as a blob at the apex of the V but will not drop off. Then you can turn the heat up more until the evaporation takes place.
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
At 03:54 PM 3/1/99, shAf wrote: } } BTW, why did a simple reply to this post want to send a } message to {"radsci-at-excite.com"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} ??? } I am not sure about the why, but I see that too for various posts. I think it has something to do with the formating of the address, perhaps the use of the quotes.
You know, it could almost be beneficial. You can reply to the sender or the whole list by removing the unwanted part. However, about half the time, I forget to do the editing and my posts get kecked back for me to fix them.
Open Position: Microscopy Characterization Scientist
Essential Functions:
Provide polymer morphology, particle and aesthetics characterization support at GE Plastics in Mt. Vernon, IN. In particular, TEM, SEM, optical microscopy, AFM, particle sizing, surface and other more specialized techniques are used. Leadership in effective problem solving approaches is a must.
Developing Six Sigma quality methods, leveraging information technology to improve problem solving/productivity, and establishing world class techniques appropriate for supporting the businesses are key components to success. This position will have as an area of responsibility the interface role between Analytical Technology and the High Performance Polymer business. The role requires development of effective test plans to support customer issue resolution, Technology Design for Six Sigma programs and manufacturing issues. Broad analytical problem solving skills or the ability to develop these skills.
Qualifications/Requirements:
Ph.D. in Polymer Science, Analytical Chemistry or related areas with expertise in Microscopy characterization of materials. Excellent problem solving and innovation skills are required. Six Sigma Quality Training or the ability to learn these skills. Good interpersonal , teamwork, and communication skills. High energy.
Interested candidates should send their resume to:
Matt Harthcock GE Plastics Global Leader Materials Characterization and Analytical Technology Building 1 1 Lexan Lane Mt. Vernon, Indiana 47620 Phone: 812-831-4776 FAX 812-831-4917
The C.M.I./A.A.B. Descriptions of Plant Viruses No. 151 (Oct. 1975) on tobacco mosaic virus (type strain) gives the following information:
..cylindrical canal of radius c. 2 nm.....
As Sarah Miller states, a pitch of c. 2.3 nm is given.
More infromatiom about particle structure is given: If anyone would like a complete copy of this bulletin, I can mail you a copy. Dont' know if the fax machine will accept this document the way it is folded.
Maureen Petersen
************************************************************************ Maureen Petersen Department of Plant Pathology 1453 Fifield Hall University of Florida
My grandson in the states recently and proudly wrote to his Grand-Dad that he NOW has a microscope and could I send him some samples to look at. He told me that .....
"the microscope is EDU-SCIENCE and the magnifications are 100x 300x 600x."
Since my grandson is 10 years old and egar, I don't want to ask him questions like - Are the objectives aprochromats?. Is anyone on the list familiar with this microscope? I specifically want to know if it's optics are good, and if they are color corrected.
Once I know if he has a decent microscope or a toy that makes things biger and the user blind or crazy, I will better know how to encourage him, and what type of samples and reading matter to send.
Thanks for you help, from a land far away.
Shalom from Jerusalem, Azriel
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ Azriel Gorski, Head Fibers and Polymers Laboratory Division of Identification and Forensic Science Israel National Police Jerusalem
azrielg-at-cc.huji.ac.il ICQ User ID No. - 1750739
CHOICE - The enchanted blade, with an edge that shapes lifetimes. Richard Bach RUNNING FROM SAFETY
A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart, and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words. +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
Hi! I have a reference to two stains/methods for nerves: Koelle's acetyl cholinesterase technique and Winklemann's Silver Impregnation method. I have not been able to find either one. I found a "general" reference to acetyl cholinesterase from the University of Nottingham web page in which they recommend using 'DPK' mounting resin. I have never heard of it--can anyone help me out? Thanks!
Peggy Sherwood Wellman Labs of Photomedicine (224) Massachusetts General Hospital 50 Blossom Street Boston, MA 02114 617-724-4839 (voice mail) 617-726-3192 (fax)
} -- [ From: Garber, Charles A. * EMC.Ver #3.1 ] -- } } We have been asked this question by a customer: } =========================================== } We are looking for a holder for the Wehnelt cap for filament adjustment. } AMRAY had one when we went up there but they do not sell one nor could they } tell us where to buy one. It looks like a custom job. Do you know what we } are talking about? } =========================================== } I am sure that someone has this hidden away somewhere in their catalog but I } have not been able to find it. Any help would be appreciated. } } Chuck
Chuck:
I believe these Wehnelt cap holders are available from Energy Beam Sciences.
Ken Bart
Kenneth M. Bart Director, Electron Microscopy Facility Hamilton College Clinton, New York 13323 USA kbart-at-hamilton.edu (315) 859-4715
} O.k., I've lost my cheat sheet which had the sizes of Tobbaco Mosaic Virus components, } and I can't locate the information presently. Can anyone help me out here? I know the } particles are 18.0 nm in diameter "300 nm" in length (o.k. some of them break). What } is the diameter of the central core?
The diameter of the central core is 40 A, it is packed with the nucleic acid (RNA). The protein subunits are arranged in a helix containing 16 1/3 subunits per turn ( or 49 subunits per three turns). Each subunit consists of 158 amino acids in a constant sequence.
} What is the spacing between the sprialing sub units? } It is the nucleic acid.
Best regards,
Ming
*********************************************** * 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 * ***********************************************
Charles writes ... } } We have been asked this question by a customer: } =========================================== } We are looking for a holder for the Wehnelt cap for filament } adjustment. } AMRAY had one when we went up there but they do not sell one } nor could they tell us where to buy one. ...
Just to clarify ... this sounds like a "jig" strictly for holding the wehnelt on the workbench(??) From personal experience I've never seen one of these as a necessary component for the adjustment ... or if it were, it came with the instrument, or was available from the manufacturer. Usually, its primary use is as a heat sink so that the wehnelt assy can be removed while it is hot and to allow it to cool down in a minimum amount of time. Since wehnelts vary in design and geometry I can't imagine this being available thru any other source other than the manufacturer ... which leaves you with what would seem to be a very simple job for a machine shop. (... why do I think this isn't much help? ...)
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/
} From: Mriglermas-at-aol.com Return-path: {Mriglermas-at-aol.com} To: Woody.N.White-at-mcdermott.com Cc: Mriglermas-at-aol.com
I wish to purchase a picoammeter for specimen current measurement (x-ray analysis work) and am requesting information on models, prices and vendors. Please contact me directly. 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 ####################################################################
Sonneborn, T.M. (1975), "The Paramecium aurelia complex of fourteen sibling species", Transactions of the American Microscopical Society 94: 155-178.
This is to support a high school student doing a very interesting project on individual variation in protozoa. The local library ordered a copy but estimates 3 weeks delivery.
Can someone out there help me to get it quickly? I will be happy to reimburse reasonable expenses.
Posted by our evaporater, dating from who-knows-when, but certainly long ago, is a sheet of recommended procedures for evaporation different metals. For silver it recommends using a molybdenum or tantalum wire as the filament. It says to wrap a fine wire of silver around the Ta or Mo filament, and then simply evaporate. I recently did a number of successful silver evaporations by fashioning (by hand) a Mo spiral basket and putting a small bead of Ag in it. (I had some Mo wire and Ag beads). I then evaporated the Ag just as I would have evaporated Au from a W basket. It worked fine, but, as always with evaporating from a basket in this way, the thickness uniformity over distances of 2-3 cm. was not very good.
My favorite form of fingertip protection has always (20+ years) been long fingernails. Not talons by any means, but longer than fingertip length. You can feel when a nail is touching without actually losing any skin. Granted, you sometimes generate a strange-looking manicure but an emery board or some 600 grit paper will soon put that to rights. One thing to watch out for: don't let the water to your wheel get so cold as to cause numbness in your fingers. If the water's too cold, you won't know you've ground off your fingerprints until you notice blood on the wheel. And it will really smart when the feeling comes back!
Stephan Coetzee 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 } This is all fun. Lost a bit of skin myself. Latex gloves does help a } bit. Home made clamping devices I pressume will help, but I prefer } to have a "hands on" onto the sample. For large amounts of samples } automation is a option. } } } } Everett Ramer wrote: } } } } } } We have a manual metalographic grinding/polishing wheel. The sample } } } } being prepared is held in the hand as it is pressed against the rotating } } wheel. } } } } Our safety people have asked us to provide finger protection for this } } device. } } } } Does anyone have any solution/suggestion? } } } } Everett Ramer } } } } Everett, } } Mary Mager's response, while funny, is actually quite accurate. There are } } not too } } many ways to protect fingers while properly holding a small (1-1/4", } } typically) } } sample for grinding/polishing. } } } } I preface my next remarks by pointing out that I work for a manufacturer of } } } } metallographic equipment and consumables, and therefore have a financial } } interest in solving your problem: } } } } We at BUEHLER, do offer a simple grinding fixture which might help. This } } fixture } } is a squat, stainless steel, hollow cylinder with a carbide ring around } } it's base. } } The sample is clamped within another hollow cylinder seated within the } } first. } } The two cylinders are threaded, so that the inner can be raised or lowered } } with respect to the carbide 'stop' of the outer. Engraved markings allow } } material removal in increments as fine as 20microns. While this is not } } actually } } finger protection, per se, it will allow you to grasp something larger so } } that your } } fingers are not in such close proximity to the grinding wheel. We also } } offer } } a motor system which allows the fixture to rotate, in place, on the wheel} } Mr. S H Coetzee } Electron Microscope Unit } Private bag X3 } Wits } Johannesburg } 2050 } Tell: +27 11 716 2419 } Fax : +27 11 339 3407 } E-mail stephan-at-gecko.biol.wits.ac.za
Help- We are having a problem with getting nuclear autofluorescence of tissue culture cells fixed (Paraformaldehyde) and prepped for immunofluorescence. If you fix and mount the cells in glycerol-phenylene diamine with no antibody treatment, they usually look blank immediately, then over time they develop nuclear fluorescence. The nuclear stain is primarily in the fluorescein window and somewhat variable but seems to come up over time. Is it possible that this is coming from a breakdown product of the phenylene diamine we are using as an antifade? An apparently unrelated problem is nuclear background with secondary antibodies alone. If we treat with secondary and look immediately (before the other problem seems to arise), we also get nuclear staining. This seems to vary with the batch of secondary antibody so appears to be non-specific binding of the secondary. It is not blocked by serum etc. Any ideas appreciated. THanks- Dave
Dr. David Knecht Department of Molecular and Cell Biology University of Connecticut 75 N. Eagleville Rd. U-125 Storrs, CT 06269 Knecht-at-uconnvm.uconn.edu 860-486-2200 860-486-4331 (fax)
I am trying to dissolve Brefeldin A in Dulbecco's MEM for use in a cell = culture experiment for TEM study. However the drug does not seem to be = readily soluble in the MEM.=20 Can someone give me some help?
Dr. A.P. Alves de Matos Curry Cabral Hospital TEM Unit Portugal
{!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} I am trying to dissolve Brefeldin A = in=20 Dulbecco's MEM for use in a cell culture experiment for TEM study. = However the=20 drug does not seem to be readily soluble in the MEM. {BR} Can someone = give me=20 some help? {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2} {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2} Dr. A.P. Alves de Matos {BR} Curry = Cabral=20 Hospital {BR} TEM Unit {BR} Portugal {/FONT} {/DIV} {/BODY} {/HTML}
I have been watching what has been going on in relation to your sputter coating problems. I did not look too hard at the early postings so what = I have set out below may be covering old ground, but I hope it may help? M= ay I say that there have been many who have tried so hard to help you, my comments below in no way are critical of their stirling efforts.
Sputter coaters need a RP vacuum of just to the left of dead centre on yo= ur coater's vacuum gauge. It does not matter what the gauge has as its calibration; this setting should work for gold, gold-palladium or platinu= m.
There are three styles of sputter coater low voltage {600volts, medium voltage 1,000 to 1,500volts and a high voltage coater at 1,000 to 3,000volts.
The low voltage coaters do not have a voltage control, simply a depositio= n control which you should set at it's mid point. Set the voltage controls=
for the other two coaters in their mid range too.
As a test specimen use a 2" square piece of white paper weighted down wit= h a stub. Set the target to specimen distance at 5cms. Set the time at tw= o minutes (much too long for normal coating but fine for this test).
Pump the system down YOU DO NOT NEED ARGON! We often run with air, the difference is that argon gas gives a constant coating rate but air, wet o= r dry, gives different coatings. If you are using argon, flush to full lef= t scale once or twice to clean out the system during the pump down.
When you have a vacuum greater than 60% of the scale bleed the gas into t= he system until the pressure holds on the position mentioned above; just to the left of dead centre. When the vacuum is at the correct level, switch=
on the plasma and increase the voltage to the correct level. You should have a plasma and by adjustment of the voltage, deposition, or gas, adjus= t the current to ~20mA. Let the system run for the two minutes.
When the system completes its cycle open it up and take a look at the paper. Using a gold target - very light blue, its working but not very efficiently, pale blue, better but still not good enough, darker blue, still not good enough, blue-grey much more like it, grey to gold tint, it= s working fine.
If you do not have any of these colours the target material may be your problem. Is it one of the metals mentioned below? Even if the target is=
gold on brass and all the gold has gone you will still sputter brass! =
Chromium, aluminium and carbon will not sputter with the very simple systems used for conventional SEM. Much higher specification systems, i= n relation to current and vacuum, are required.
Well I do hope that helps? Please remember that sputter coaters are not 100% efficient when it comes to coating non-conducting specimens. Even a=
good coater will have trouble with rough and porous specimens. You shoul= d never expect to run above 15kV if you have coated this type of specimen.
Well that's it I do hope we can sort out your problem?
Regards
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
If anyone is disposing of this Amray scope, I would appreciate knowing about it so that I could purchase some spare parts and assemblies from it before it is dumped. I am particularly interested in the main 30KV power supply and the CRT power supply, photomult assembly, and any of the circuit boards. (Specific model is 1600T without the digital controls and pushbuttons. All components and assemblies are of interest.)
I am also looking for a Robinson detector for this scope. Pls let me know if you have one and want to dispose of it.
I also have an EDAX 9100 with detector and LSI-11 console that I do not need. suggestions on its disposition are welcome.
Slightly off subject, but I am sure that someone has encountered this obstacle. We have ASCII data files on 8" floppies from various sort of data acquisision hardware/software and are seeking out a way to transfer the data to a useable media 3.5" would suffice, a 8" drive on a system w/internet access would be great, etc. etc.
Does anyone know of someone I could obtain assistance from?
__ _-==-=_,-. /--`' \_-at---at-.-- { Tim (TJ) LaFave Jr. `--'\ \ {___/. Department of Physics \ \\ " / University of North Carolina, Charlotte } =\\_/` { Charlotte, NC 28223 ____ /= | \_|/ _' `\ _/=== \___/ (704)547-3244 `___/ //\./=/~\====\ (704)509-6622 [Hm] \ // / | ===: http://www.iit.edu/~lafatim | ._/_,__|_ ==: __ \/ \\ \\`--| / \\ ---------- +*+ ---------- | _ \\: /==:-\ `.__' `-____/ |--|==: Such that the future be theirs \ \ ===\ :==:`-' to shape and direct. _} \ ===\ /==/ -----------------------------------------------------------------
Hi there there seems to be 2 versions of this book, one was pub in 1988 and one in 1995, what is the diff in them besides the ISBN number?
I have the older one I just got it today and it is a lot of fun was wondering what the newer one might offer..... The one I have has all black and white pictures in it. thanks Ed Sharpe
We are interested in quantifying the amount of sulphur in wool via EDXS analysis in the TEM.
Wool has approximately 5% sulphur within the fibre which varies for different components of the fibre. We would like to be able to mount the sample and standard in the same block and microtome them together. It is not necessary for the material to be fibrous but that would help!
To date we have tried a couple of methods without much success.
In the first instance we attempted to mix sulphur compounds in with the resin to obtain a homogenous material but found that no matter what we did there was always significant variability in the amount of sulphur throughout the resin.
The next attempt used a commercially available fibre which had a known amount of sulphur in it (0.25%) which we embedded in the resin and microtomed. This "sort of" worked OK but the level of sulphur was not quite high enough for our purpose and the uncertainties in our measurements were too high.
So, if anyone has any ideas or a source of materials we could use, I (and the rest of the team) would be most grateful.
Thanks very much in anticipation.
Colin Veitch
Instrumentation Scientist Fibre Structure & Function Group CSIRO Wool Technology PO Box 21 BELMONT Vic 3216 Australia
Tel: +61 (0)3 5246 4000 Fax: +61 (0)3 5246 4811
The information contained in this email message may be privileged or confidential information. If you are not an intended recipient, you may not copy, distribute or take any action in reliance on it. If you have received this message in error, please telephone CSIRO Wool Technology on +61 3 5246 4000.
If anyone is disposing of this Amray scope, I would appreciate knowing about it so that I could purchase some spare parts and assemblies from it before it is dumped. I am particularly interested in the main 30KV power supply and the CRT power supply, photomult assembly, and any of the circuit boards. (Specific model is 1600T without the digital controls and pushbuttons. All components and assemblies are of interest.)
I am also looking for a Robinson detector for this scope. Pls let me know if you have one and want to dispose of it.
I also have an EDAX 9100 with detector and LSI-11 console that I do not need. suggestions on its disposition are welcome.
I need information about SOPHIA process for aluminium castings ?
Best regards
Krzysztof Jan Huebner
{hubner-at-IOd.krakow.pl} :-)
FOUNDRY RESEARCH INSTITUTE Research Materials Department Manager of Structural and Mechanical Research Laboratory str. Zakopianska 73 Call (*48 12) 2618356 (after 8th march) 30-418 KRAKOW - POLAND Fax (+48 12) 2660870
Hi Lesley S. Bechtold, =20 I have read with interest your contribution from 1998-11-27 where you=20 described your treatment of mouse sperm prior to SEM. I want to=20 prepare thrombocytes in a similar way and wonder whether you always=20 apply 1% solutions of poly-L-lysine to render coverslips adhesive. As=20 I understand 0.01% solutions are suitable (and much less expensive...)= =20 for other applications. I deal with moderate amounts of "precious"=20 thrombocytes from knockout mice so I can not play around with=20 conditions. You certainly have extensive experience with this.=20 Any comments would be highly appreciated! =20 All the best, Matthias
I think DPK is a misprint for DPX which is a mounting medium consisting of polystyrene and plasticizers dissolved in xylene and should be widely available from most microscopy suppliers
Dan Hill Biochemistry Department Cambridge University Cambridge UK
On Tue, 2 Mar 1999, Peggy Sherwood wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Hi! } I have a reference to two stains/methods for nerves: Koelle's acetyl } cholinesterase technique and } Winklemann's Silver Impregnation method. I have not been able to find } either one. I found a "general" reference to acetyl cholinesterase from } the University of Nottingham web page in which they } recommend using 'DPK' mounting resin. I have never heard of it--can } anyone help me out? Thanks! } } Peggy Sherwood } Wellman Labs of Photomedicine (224) } Massachusetts General Hospital } 50 Blossom Street } Boston, MA 02114 } 617-724-4839 (voice mail) } 617-726-3192 (fax) } } } }
OFFER #1: 1)CO-OP MAILING TO 1 MILLION GENERAL E-MAIL ADDRESSES: -send one ad (5-line message. 65 characters/line) only $75 -send one or two ads (max 10 lines. 65 characters/line) only $125 -Extra for placement of ad(s) in top 5 positions in the mailer $15
2)150 CLASSIFID ADS:submit an ad to 150 top global classified sites $20
3)SUBMISSION TO 1000+ SEARCH ENGINES, directories, FFAs, etc only $20
4)SUBMIT ELECTRONIC TRADE OPPORTUNITY: promote it globally! only $20
6)2 AUTOMATIC SOFTWARES: Automatic Classsified ad- submitting softwares:Sold each $60. Buy BOTH during this special for only $100
7)Exclusive Mailing of your 1-page ad to 1 million email addresses 895
8)Exclusive Mailing of your 1-page ad to 1/2 million email addr. 495
9)Exclusive Mailing of your 1-page ad to 1/4 million email addr. 295
10)Exclusive Mailing of your 1-page ad to 100,000 email addresses 195
11)EMAIL LISTS: 9.5 Million on a CD, with 6 Mln Removal List!Only 50
12)Do you have a product or a service to promote , and you do not know how, or do not have a ton of money to spend? Fax the details to (310) 495-0232. I will give you an affordable proposal or may even start a joint venture with you!
HOW TO ORDER, ASK FOR MORE DETAILS, OR REMOVE YOUR ADDRESS:
A)If you want more details,or want to order the above, please call (561) 732-9490 Leave your number and a detailed message. For REMOVAL, please call 1 (800) 242-0363 #1292. B)Fax inquiries, orders, or removals to (310)495-0232. C)For those ads with a REF.# besides them, it is important you mention this Ref. # when calling or faxing for more details on those offers! _______________________________________________________________________ OFFER #2:Work at home! Be an e-mail rep!! From anywhere in the world! Total Freedom! 10-15 hours a week, around YOUR schedule! This is a legitimate money-making opportunity! No experienced required, FULL ON-LINE TRAINING PROVIDED & WEBSITE TOO! For more info: {mailto:pro-info4-at-usa.net} or fax request to 310 - 495 - 0218 _____________________________________________________________________ OFFER #3:A Legitimate Money-Making Opportunity. Become an Email Rep. You can work from home and really get paid!!! No experience required. FULL ON-LINE TRAINING PROVIDED! To obtain more info mailto:topriches-at-usa.net or send a fax to 310 495--0176 with Requesting Email Rep. info on the fax. __________________________________________________________________ OFFER #4:FREE SECRETS...we have the newest technology available! With this Tested, Proven, and Guaranteed program you can earn over $5,000 a month working from your home! Whether you're Curious, Skeptical, or just Anxious to know the details, we can answer all your questions with one TOLL-FREE CALL. 1 800-811-21431 Password: 66214 ___________________________________________________________________ OFFER #5: THIS EXACT SAME AD can make you $200-$300 in CASH everyday. Setup today...be getting checks tomorrow! mailto:cookiemail-at-usa.net or fax 310 -495-0176 with CookieCutter info on the fax _______________________________________________________________ OFFER #6:World's greatest European SHOWERHEAD ! 35% more pressure! Different choice of colors! Now only $5.00! Watermiracle unique faucet sprayer! Now only $5.00! Order yours now! Operators are standing by. email:sales-at-siroflex-usa.com. Visit www.siroflex-usa.com. _____________________________________________________________________ OFFER #7:Contact us regarding Residual Funds for: Your Business, large and small Household Expenses, Tuitions, a Mortgage, a Vacation, your Retirement, an Automobile. Funds for Any Need. Fax On Demand # (403) 934-6061, Document #712402 (USA). Call 1-800 242-0363 Extension #1992, ask for Offer # 401. _______________________________________________________________________ OFFER #8: Our ADDRESS, PHONE, and LABEL MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE will save you time managing addresses, phone numbers, birthdays, printing labels and more. Great for home and business. $39.95. For more information, phone us at (561) 732-9490 or fa (310) 495-0232. FREE DEMOS on web. You need to mention 'ADDRESS SOFTWARE OFFER" please to process your request!Thanks. _____________________________________________________________________ OFFER #9: First we'll build your WEB SITE/ page.After you are satisfied, you pay. Nobody beats our quality and price. We are part of a team of people from the web industry that are tired of people being over charged for web sites and paying for unnecessary services. We do a lot more than web sites. To learn more call The Web Team (713) 725-5586. A service to you and a reputation to us. ______________________________________________________________________ OFFER #10: BEFORE YOU SPEND A FORTUNE ON DIET PROGRAMS. BEFORE YOU GIVE UP ON EVER LOSING WEIGHT, TRY M.B.L. (Reg. #1,865,548). It is an advanced formula for weight maintenance & energy! M.B.L.'S benefits are:
1)Lose body fat without dieting, 2)maintain health, body weight,3)control appetite naturally, 4)reduce water retention, 5)curb desire for sweets, 6)increase energy level, 7)increase stamina, 8) improve health. Try M.B.L. with a 60-day money back guarantee! Only $39.95/ jar of 90 tablets, or $69.96/2 jars (180 tablets). Mail check, money order, or cash to: G.T. Products, 1129 Royal Palm Beach Blvd #39, Royal Palm Beach, Fl 33411, USA. _______________________________________________________________________
OFFER #11: Don't borrow money-The Debt Management Club (Not-for-Profit) can pay your debts and you don't have to pay us back-EVER! For more information, please send a long, self-addressed stamped envelope to: DMC , Dept. 2935, POBox:4332, Valley Village, CA. 91617. _______________________________________________________________________ OFFER #12:Mortgages, Land Contracts, Credit Cards, Negotiating, Auto Loans, Debt Consolidation Co., Credit Repair, Collectors and Bankruptcy. This is the same book sold at bookstores for $19.95, for $8.95. Published August 1998. SEND NO MONEY! We will send you the book. Pay only if you are satisfied. Just include your Name, Address, City, State and Zip.Ph # is optional. Book Liquidators, POBOx:382 Pasadena, TX 77501. Or fax (281) 334-9577. ______________________________________________________________________ OFFER#13: Buy Beanie Babies and Buddies at A Beanie Buddy’s Burough. Very large inventory! Price sstart at $6.00. Retired-Current Beanies & Buddies for sale, Free Beanie Electronic Post Cards, free classified ads, free buy-sell-trade guestbook, tons of beanie information, accessories, news, rumors, contests, price guide and much MORE! A fun site! Leave voice mail at (919) 274-6100, with your name and e-mail address. Phone (561) 732-9490 or fax (310) 495-0232. Mention Beanie Offer #409. Thank you. ________________________________________________________________________ OFFER #14: I am looking for products or biz opp to promote over the Net on a Joint-venture 50/50 basis! You have the product, service, or biz opp, and I have the marketing and promotional resources! Call 1-800- 242-0363 #1992: leave your name, number, email, & a short message about what you have and want promoted. I shall call you to discuss it! _____________________________________________________________________ OFFER #15: THE ULTIMATE CD: 600 PROGRAMS FOR YOUR COMPUTER YOU CAN USE: *100 software titles *50+ business and productivity titles *150 hot screen savers *300 Freeware and Shareware games System Requirements: Pentium 133 or better, Windows 95/98, 16 RAM (32 recommended), Soundblaster Compatible Audio Card (optional), CD-Rom Drive, Mouse & Keyboard. This is the ULTIMATE CD! A give away at $34.95 Outside USA, add $3 cover airmail. Mail payment to G.T. (Ultimate CD), 3668 161st Terrace N., Lox. , Fl 33470. Write "Ultimate CD" on check ________________________________________________________________________ OFFER #16:the best informational CD on the market! Approx.200 MB of solid informion! Over 4000 files covering 50 topics:personal, business, computer-related, etc! Packed with detailed "how-to" information anyone can use to make money, get free stuff, improve oneself,start a business, get government (and other) grants, cheapest airline tickets, get AAA credit legally, free cable TV, Direct TV, and DSS! The list is long! CD is usually sold for $39.95.It is now available for only $24.95 INCLUDING S&H within USA. Outside add $3.00. Mail check/money order to: G.T.(Jumbo CD), 3668 161st Terrace N., Lox. , Fl 33470. Write "Jumbo CD" on check!
There are 3-4 sulfur standards for the carbon black industry, ASTM D-1619. The concentrations I know about are 0.82%, 1.54%, and 1.93%. These are carbon black powders so combining them in block with your fibers would be a real challenge. I do know a source for these standards if you want to try them.
Chuck Butterick Engineered Carbons, Inc. ______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Hi All,
We are interested in quantifying the amount of sulphur in wool via EDXS analysis in the TEM.
Wool has approximately 5% sulphur within the fibre which varies for different components of the fibre. We would like to be able to mount the sample and standard in the same block and microtome them together. It is not necessary for the material to be fibrous but that would help!
To date we have tried a couple of methods without much success.
In the first instance we attempted to mix sulphur compounds in with the resin to obtain a homogenous material but found that no matter what we did there was always significant variability in the amount of sulphur throughout the resin.
The next attempt used a commercially available fibre which had a known amount of sulphur in it (0.25%) which we embedded in the resin and microtomed. This "sort of" worked OK but the level of sulphur was not quite high enough for our purpose and the uncertainties in our measurements were too high.
So, if anyone has any ideas or a source of materials we could use, I (and the rest of the team) would be most grateful.
Thanks very much in anticipation.
Colin Veitch
Instrumentation Scientist Fibre Structure & Function Group CSIRO Wool Technology PO Box 21 BELMONT Vic 3216 Australia
Tel: +61 (0)3 5246 4000 Fax: +61 (0)3 5246 4811
The information contained in this email message may be privileged or confidential information. If you are not an intended recipient, you may not copy, distribute or take any action in reliance on it. If you have received this message in error, please telephone CSIRO Wool Technology on +61 3 5246 4000.
by smtp.uky.edu (8.8.8/8.8.8) with ESMTP id JAA09170 for {Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com} ; Wed, 3 Mar 1999 09:50:05 -0500 (EST) Received: from nc.gws.uky.edu ([128.163.193.169]) by pop.uky.edu (8.8.8/8.8.8) with SMTP id JAA13068 for {Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com} ; Wed, 3 Mar 1999 09:50:05 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: {2.2.32.19990303145459.006bcec0-at-pop.uky.edu} X-Sender: jmcclin-at-pop.uky.edu X-Mailer: Windows Eudora Pro Version 2.2 (32) Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Woody,
We have a JEOL 35CF for sale that was made in '82. Excellent condition and has backskatter detector. Dual supply Haskris water chiller also available that cooled a TEM as well as this SEM.
We have a stock of spare parts, vacuum tubes, manuals, tools, etc., for an old RCA EMU-3G microscope. Since the scope itself is long gone, these items are destined for that mysterious place where old scope parts go to die. UNLESS someone wants them.
Preserve history! Keep your EMU going! Read the manuals! Now's your chance. All yours for the mere cost of shipping.
Randy Tindall Electron Microscope Core College of Veterinary Medicine University of Missouri - Columbia Phone: 573-882-8304
I made a makeshift but useable holder for filament adjustment for a Amray 1830. I took one of the cardboard boxes that hold the coaters for Polaroid film (about 9"X2"X3/4") and glued two metal washers(1" outer diameter and ~7/16 inner diameter) on top of one another and to the middle of the box. The height of the washers was about 1/8". I then positioned the posts of the filament in the center of the washers to mark the spots. Then I used a needle to poke holes in the cardboard. The Wehnhelt can then be upright and it is easier to center the filament.
Mike Baxter Lehman College mykkb-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]
If this is what I think it is it should be available from E Fjeld C., Inc. 978-667-1416. CAA-FB Filament Alignment Base is item discription in my 1985 catalog.
I am posting this on behalf of nearby hospital colleagues:
1. JEOL 1200EX TEM for sale, serviced twice yearly since installation in 1985. In excellent condition. Very light use of up to 65 cases per year.
2. Reichert (now Leica) Ultracut S ultramicrotome, new in 1993, with table, drawers plus LKB Knifemaker 7800. Hardly used and in storage over the last three years.
For information, telephone Mike Sale on England (0)1872 255006. Cash offers to Keith Atkinson on England (0)1872 255006. An e-mail address: tracey.leigh-at-rcht.swest.nhs.uk
Please do not "Reply to sender" - although I would pass replies on to the correct contact!
Keith Ryan Marine Biological Association of the UK Plymouth, UK
I have been asked to research the latest methods for colloidal gold labelling in biological tissues. The researchers would first like to do some diaminobenzidine peroxidase staining on kidney tubules embedded in paraffin to see if the cell membrane antigen and distribution can be detected at the LM-peroxidase level.
Then the project would progress to preparation, sectioning, and labelling of kidney tissue at the TEM level. I have been asked to provide a beginning point of up-to-date protocols that are presently being done.
I am currently scanning Medline and Ovid search engines. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Ginger Baker EM Lab Manager OSU-College of Osteopathic Medicine 918-561-8232 lizard-at-osu-com.okstate.edu
I just wanted to say a wholehearted thank you to all of you on this listserver. With your suggestions I have managed to inject an antibody which was directly conjugated to ultrasmall gold particles (thanks to Dr. Jan Leunissen and Electron Microscopy Sciences), perfuse the mouse, and embed the tissues with the specific orientation that I wanted in airtight flat embedding molds to polymerize under UV (thanks to so many people for different aspects of the embedding that I don't have space to name them all), then cut, silver enhance and examine by TEM!
The antibody in question had failed to label anything when the tissue was fixed with ANY fixative but these results were unquestionable and the morphology great!!
My most sincere thanks to you all - I'm off to try new things as our little research lab is closing down. Thanks and Good-bye!
Pat Hales McGill University Dept. of Anatomy & Cell Biology hales-at-med.mcgill.ca
hi, Brefeldin A does not dissolve in media , you need first to dissolve it in either Methanol or DMSO. We dissolve the Brefeldin A in Methanol at a conc of 5mgs/ml and use this as our stock to then be diluted into our buffer or media.
I am currently looking to upgrade my EDS system. I work in a semiconductor manufacturing facility(CMOS) and I currently have a Cambridge S200 SEM with Kevex Delta II.
I have an interest in Oxford, EDAX and a company called EVEX (which I am not familiar with)? Does anyone have experience with these companies - Good or Bad?
I am looking for a light element detector with possibly a WDS for Boron quantification.
Thanks in advance.
Jim Arnold Microelectronics and Technology Center AlliedSignal Electronics and Avionics Systems 9140 Old Annapolis Road Columbia, MD 21045
I have a requirement to process liquid and agar-bound pathogenic bacteria for SEM & TEM. I've been collecting them in cacodylate-buffered 3% glutaraldehyde where the final concentration has been 1.5% for the liquid suspended bacteria. These have been kept in the refrigerator. Does anyone have a protocol(s) that would lead me to SEM and TEM specimens from this point? Have I made a mistake already? My instruments are a Philips EM-400 and JEOL 6300V.
We have an immediate opening for a field service technician in the Los Angeles area. Responsibilities include the repair and maintenance of Scanning Electron Microscopes of a number of manufacturers including JEOL, Hitachi, Leo.
Candidate should have a minimum of three years electronic or instrumentation experience. Please e-mail or fax me at:
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Hello,
I have been asked to research the latest methods for colloidal gold labelling in biological tissues. The researchers would first like to do some diaminobenzidine peroxidase staining on kidney tubules embedded in paraffin to see if the cell membrane antigen and distribution can be detected at the LM-peroxidase level.
Then the project would progress to preparation, sectioning, and labelling of kidney tissue at the TEM level. I have been asked to provide a beginning point of up-to-date protocols that are presently being done.
I am currently scanning Medline and Ovid search engines. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Ginger Baker EM Lab Manager OSU-College of Osteopathic Medicine 918-561-8232 lizard-at-osu-com.okstate.edu
We bought some of those chain meshed type gloves that protect fingers pretty well when hand grinding. Our metallographers say you can easily hold the samples and mounts. They look and feel rather clumsy to me tho. But if they work....alrighty then.
There are two special issues of journals on immunogold labeling which appeared recently. Cell Vision, Vol. 4, No. 6 (1997), and Microscopy Research and Technique, Vol. 42, No. 1 (1998). If you have trouble finding a hard copy of that issue of Cell Vision (I think it was from before it was indexed by Medline), you can download all the articles from the journal's web site - if you go to
this is the table of contents for this issue, and it links to the full text articles in pdf format.
Disclaimer: we supply immunogold reagents, and both these special issues contain several articles which feature results obtained with our products (Nanogold).
A good recent reference on post-embedding immunogold labeling is "Colloidal Gold Post-Embedding Immunocytochemistry" (Progress in Histochemistry and Cytochemistry, Vol 29, No 4) by Moise Bendayan (Gustav Fischer, 1995).
Hope this helps,
Rick Powell Nanoprobes, Incorporated.
} } Hello, } } I have been asked to research the latest methods for colloidal gold } labelling in biological tissues. The researchers would first like to do } some diaminobenzidine peroxidase staining on kidney tubules embedded in } paraffin to see if the cell membrane antigen and distribution can be } detected at the LM-peroxidase level. } } Then the project would progress to preparation, sectioning, and labelling } of kidney tissue at the TEM level. I have been asked to provide a } beginning point of up-to-date protocols that are presently being done. } } I am currently scanning Medline and Ovid search engines. Any suggestions } would be greatly appreciated. } } Sincerely, } } Ginger Baker } EM Lab Manager } OSU-College of Osteopathic Medicine } 918-561-8232 } lizard-at-osu-com.okstate.edu
****************************************************************** * NANOPROBES, Incorporated | US Toll-free: (877) 808-2101 * * 25 East Loop Road, Suite 113 | Tel: (516) 444-8815 * * Stony Brook, NY 11790-3350, | Fax: (516) 444-8816 * * USA | rpowell-at-mail.lihti.org * * * * NOW EASY TO FIND ON THE WEB: http://www.nanoprobes.com * ******************************************************************
Hello Jim., Since you mentioned the word evex, I suspect you missed the past discussions on this list server regarding them. It centered around their registering URLs with the trade names of all competitors so that any web search by manufacture's name produced the evex web page. Reports were that they were willing to sell the URLs to the principles for 10s of K$, perhaps more. Seems they (someone) did try a defense with an unsigned response. Personally wouldn't have confidence in any claim they made. You can probably find these discussion in the list server archives, ~a year ago.
Bruce Brinson Rice U.
Disclaimer: I use EDS & WDS on occasion. I have absolutely no financial interest & know no one with financial interest in the sales of equipment in this industry & no qualms about bringing this issue back to light.
Arnold, Jim 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 currently looking to upgrade my EDS system. I work in a semiconductor } manufacturing facility(CMOS) and I currently have a Cambridge S200 SEM with } Kevex Delta II. } } I have an interest in Oxford, EDAX and a company called EVEX (which I am not } familiar with)? Does anyone have experience with these companies - Good or } Bad? } } I am looking for a light element detector with possibly a WDS for Boron } quantification. } } Thanks in advance. } } Jim Arnold } Microelectronics and Technology Center } AlliedSignal Electronics and Avionics Systems } 9140 Old Annapolis Road } Columbia, MD 21045 } } email: Jim.arnold-at-alliedsignal.com } voice: (410) 964-4118 } fax: (410) 964-5046
I have to prepare pure Al foils for TEM investigation. What I need is (as usual :) a large thin area. What are the best electrolytes for the thinning of Al? Is there anything else to consider (e.g. temperature, ...)? As you see, I have not a lot of experience with this technique. Could anybody recommend a book concerning electrolytical thinning?
TIA,
Petra -------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Petra Wahlbring Centre de Recherche Public Centre Universitaire (CRP-CU) Laboratoire d'Analyse des Materiaux (LAM) 162a, av. de la Faiencerie L-1511 Luxembourg tel. +352-466644-402 fax +352-466644-400 e-mail: petra.wahlbring-at-crpcu.lu Visit our WWW site! http://www.crpcu.lu/~wahlbrin
Don't forget our annual meeting in Gainesville Florida April 8-10
Dealines are fast approaching
For details see the latest issue of the Beam or our web site at :
http://www.biotech.ufl.edu/cbr/sems/sems.html
or cal or fax me below.
Greg Erdos 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
Hi, All We are looking for a Wenhelt Block Filament for filament ( SEM Philips 505 or 501), If you got one we're interested in it ( Free, or for sale , reasonable price)) , please contact us.
Thanks
***************************************************************** Mohamed Belhaj UFR SCIENCES Laboratoir d'Analyse des Solides Surfaces et Interfaces DTI/LASSI EP CNRS 120 BP 1039 Reims 51687 Cedex 2 Tel : 03 26 05 33 27 ou 03 26 05 33 14 Fax : 03 26 05 33 12 ******************************************************************
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Hi,
I have a usual question, which was posted before and, I believe, will be posted again and again. It is about printers for SEM images. So:
- What is the best printer for monochrome SEM/STEM images? - What is the best inexpensive printer for the same images? - What is the best printer for EDS output (color maps, maps+images)?
Thank you,
J.Meen
____________________________________________________________________ Get free e-mail and a permanent address at http://www.netaddress.com/?N=3D= 1
======================================================== FOCUS ON MICROSCOPY 1999
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
We wish to remind you about the upcoming deadline for abstract submission and modification.
The abstract submission and modification deadline is:
!!! Monday, 8 March 1999 --- 15.00 hours Heidelberg Time !!!
The "abstract submission part" of the database will definitely be closed at 15.00 hours, so that it is not possible to submit further abstracts or make any further modifications to the abstracts after this date.
The "registration only part" of the database will remain open until 9 April 1999!!!
Our website now also includes informations about some highlights of the commercial exhibition. This is an extract:
Leica Microsystems GmbH: Two-Photon Confocal System Leica TCS MP L.O.T. Oriel GmbH & Co KG: Nanopositioning Unit and Fiber Laser Molecular Probes: New fluorescent reagents for Cell Biology and Imaging highly - Fluorescent Alexa dyes Olympus Optical Co. GmbH: Confocal Laser-Scanning-Microscope with two-photon excitation Omicron Vakuumphysik GmbH: Scanning Near Field Optical Microscope (SNOM) Visitron Systems GmbH: 2D/3D Fluorescence Imaging System based on Cooled Digital Camera System Wallac Distribution GmbH: Confocal Microscope
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 have never done any material sciences work - I've only ever done biological specimens for EM. Our engineering department has asked me to look at some ball bearings that are failing, as a favour. I know I don't need to fix or dehydrate but do I simply clean them, mount them (using double-sided tape?) and coat them as usual? Or is coating unnecessary? What whould I clean these with? I'm assuming there is grease somewhere that is not good for my vacuum!
Any help would be appreciated!! Thanks in advance.....
Lesley Bechtold
Lesley S. Bechtold Supervisor, Biological Imaging The Jackson Laboratory 600 Main St. Bar Harbor, ME 04609 207-288-6191
Ginger R Baker {lizard-at-osu-com.okstate.edu} CC: Bruce A Benjamin {benjamb-at-osu-com.okstate.edu} , Connie A Hebert {hconnie-at-osu-com.okstate.edu} , William D Meek {meekwd-at-osu-com.okstate.edu} X-Mailer: QuickMail Pro 1.5.3 (Mac) X-Priority: 3 MIME-Version: 1.0 Reply-To: Paul Webster {pwebster-at-mailhouse.hei.org} Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="====50515355485450534849===1"
Reply to: RE: LM and TEM Need help locating the latest = Colloidal Gold T Dear Ginger,
The methods you are looking for can be slit into two sections; (i) = specimen preparation and (ii) colloidal gold labeling. For both, you have = many choices that will be determined by your lab equipment, lab skills = and budget. A good book to have next to you is "Fine structure = Immunocytochemistry" by G. Griffiths (published 1993 by Springer Verlag) = because it will give you advice on all your choices. First, specimen preparation: Your aim is to prepare samples that have = good morphology but also have good accessibility to antigen by the = antibodies and colloidal gold. The best way to achieve this is to obtain = sections. To section, you can either embed in resin (Lowicryl, LR White/= Gold, Unicryl, Monostep), or use cryosections. If you decide to use resin,= will you embed using the PLT method or by freeze substitution? Whatever = your choice, if you are to test the system first by light microscopy then = I would highly recommend using the same system for LM and EM. Do not try = to compare paraffin-embedded, HRP-DAB labeled material with aldehyde-fixed,= sectioned material. =
The gold labeling is also filled with many choices. It is clear that = sequential labeling (ie adding the primary antibody followed by a gold-= labeled secondary) is the best choice. However, what you choose as the = gold-labeled secondary may affect your labeleing pattern. If a = quantitative result is your aim (do you want a signal that reflects the = amount of antigen present?) then you must try not to use signal = amplification. For this either protein A-gold or immunoglobulin-gold as a = single secondary step is best. If you want to get a "strong" signal and = are not too worried about quantitative result you may want to try silver = enhancement of the gold marker.
If I were doing this study, I would fix the kidney, by perfusion, in 4% = formaldehyde (buffered in phosphate buffer). I would then cryoprotect = with sucrose, freeze in liquid nitrogen and embed part of it in Lowicryl = resin through freeze substitution. Other pieces of the cryoprotected, = frozen tissue, I would then section in a cryoultramicrotome. Both the = Lowicryl and cryo sections can be mounted onto glass substrate and labeled = with antibody and fluorescent secondary antibody. You can also label the = sections with the gold conjugated secondary you choose to use for EM and = visualize this for LM by silver enhancement. The advantage of using the = same reagents and tissues for LM is that you can easily test your system = before moving onto EM preparation. Once you have the conditions worked = out, the same blocks you used for LM can be sectioned again for EM (just = mount the sections on grids) and labeled with the same (or similar) = protocols you used for LM.
The protocols you need are all covered in the Griffiths book. Some of the = newer advances have been covered in the a book that had the contents = posted recently.
Contact me if you want more details, resources or references.
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 http://www.hei.org/htm/aemi.htm --====50515355485450534849===1 Content-Type: text/html; charset="US-Ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
{HTML} {HEAD} {/HEAD} {BODY} {PRE WIDTH=3D"132"} Reply to: RE: LM and TEM Need help locating the latest = Colloidal Gold T
{/PRE} {FONT FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D3 = COLOR=3D"#000000"} Dear Ginger, {BR} {BR} The methods you = are looking for can be slit into two sections; = (i) specimen preparation and (ii) colloidal = gold labeling. For both, you have many = choices that will be determined by your = lab equipment, lab skills and budget. A = good book to have next to you is "Fine = structure Immunocytochemistry" by G. = Griffiths (published 1993 by Springer Verlag) = because it will give you advice on all your = choices. {BR} First, specimen preparation: = Your aim is to prepare samples that have = good morphology but also have good accessibility = to antigen by the antibodies and colloidal = gold. The best way to achieve this is to = obtain sections. To section, you can either = embed in resin (Lowicryl, LR White/Gold, = Unicryl, Monostep), or use cryosections. = If you decide to use resin, will you embed = using the PLT method or by freeze substitution? = Whatever your choice, if you are to test = the system first by light microscopy then = I would highly recommend using the same = system for LM and EM. Do not try to compare = paraffin-embedded, HRP-DAB labeled material = with aldehyde-fixed, sectioned material. = {BR} {BR} The gold labeling is also filled = with many choices. It is clear that sequential = labeling (ie adding the primary antibody = followed by a gold-labeled secondary) is = the best choice. However, what you choose = as the gold-labeled secondary may affect = your labeleing pattern. If a quantitative = result is your aim (do you want a signal = that reflects the amount of antigen present?) = then you must try not to use signal amplification. = For this either protein A-gold or immunoglobulin-gold = as a single secondary step is best. If = you want to get a "strong" signal = and are not too worried about quantitative = result you may want to try silver enhancement = of the gold marker. {BR} {BR} If I were doing = this study, I would fix the kidney, by perfusion, = in 4% formaldehyde (buffered in phosphate = buffer). I would then cryoprotect with = sucrose, freeze in liquid nitrogen and embed = part of it in Lowicryl resin through freeze = substitution. Other pieces of the cryoprotected, = frozen tissue, I would then section in a = cryoultramicrotome. Both the Lowicryl and = cryo sections can be mounted onto glass = substrate and labeled with antibody and fluorescent = secondary antibody. You can also label = the sections with the gold conjugated secondary = you choose to use for EM and visualize this = for LM by silver enhancement. The advantage = of using the same reagents and tissues for = LM is that you can easily test your system = before moving onto EM preparation. Once = you have the conditions worked out, the = same blocks you used for LM can be sectioned = again for EM (just mount the sections on = grids) and labeled with the same (or similar) = protocols you used for LM. {BR} {BR} The protocols = you need are all covered in the Griffiths = book. Some of the newer advances have been = covered in the a book that had the contents = posted recently. {BR} {BR} Contact me if you = want more details, resources or references. {/FONT} {FONT = FACE=3D"Monaco" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#000000"} {BR} {BR} Paul Webster, Ph.D {BR} House = Ear Institute {BR} 2100 West Third Street {BR} Los = Angeles, CA 90057 {BR} phone:213 273 8026 {BR} fax: = 213 413 6739 {BR} e-mail: pwebster-at-hei.org {BR} http://www.hei.org/htm/aemi.htm {/FONT} {/BODY} {/HTML} --====50515355485450534849===1--
Has anyone had any experience with these knives and would you like to comment on their performance relative to "standard" diamond knives?
Tom
Thomas Moninger moninger-at-emiris.iaf.uiowa.edu University of Iowa Central Microscopy Research Facility http://www.uiowa.edu/~cemrf Views expressed are mine.
On Wed, 3 Mar 1999 14:32:22 -0700, jwright-at-dugway-emh3.army.mil wrote... } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
For the TEM samples, fixation in small 1.5 mL eppendorf microfuge tubes works well since you can pellet the samples between solution changes if necessary. From the point you are at right now, you should rinse in your cacodylate-buffer (I used 0.1M cacodylate with 7.5% sucrose), then move on to post-fixation with 1% OsO4 in 0.1M cacodylate (no sucrose) until pellets turn dark brown or black (usually 30-min at room temp). If the pellets are really big, separate them before osmium treatment to make sure the entire pellet is fixed. Rinse in cacodylate buffer (no sucrose), dehydrate in an acetone or ethanol series. I use ethanol because I like to embed in LR White. After 2 changes in 100%, separate the SEM run (for critical point drying and coating) from the TEM samples- move on to resin infiltration right in the eppendorf tubes. I usually do 3:1 (solvent:resin) on a rotator for 1 hr., 1:1, 1:3, 100% times two and cure overnight. Good luck.
As promised, here is a summary of the replies I received to my enquiry about who uses the MSA (formerly EMSA) spectra file format.
Of eight replies, two didn't care for the format or never used it. "My personal preference is not to use MSA format for these purposes. It's way overcomplicated".
The rest of the replies were either reluctant or enthusiastic users who use the format to transfer spectra from one EDX analyser to another, or to the DTSA program, or into a desktop computer. Three would be just as happy to have any method to convert the spectra into Excel format, but three were quite enthusiastic about the ability to exchange spectra between different labs, different EDX programs on commercial systems, even different analysers from the same company of differnet versions.
Thanks to all who replied. I can send the text of all replies to anyone who wishes to see them.
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 best quality will probably always be from a dye sublimation printer. There are Kodak and Codonics machines at the high end for full page output at a cost of about $10K. Kodak also makes a small format (4x5) printer that does 3-color for about $600 and under $1/print. I don't know that they yet offer a black ribbon for true monochrome prints.
For general purpose work, most any of the inkjets will do decent work for both color and monochrome. You may just want to try some at your local computer stores to see what resolution you can get and how fast. We use an Epson 600 ( {$200) for pretty good work at maybe 2 minutes per full page print.
1200 dpi laser printers do a pretty good job for monochrome. We have a Lexmark Optra R. I have seen similar good results from an HP LaserJet 5. It takes a while to transmit the data to the printer, but then they whip out prints fast.
In all cases, the paper can do a lot to improve appearance. You will want some good stuff on had for the best prints.
None of what I have said is peculiar to EM work. You may want to enlist a few others in your area to get a good printer. Happy hunting.
Warren S.
At 09:13 AM 3/4/99 -0600, you wrote: } Hi, } } I have a usual question, which was posted before and, I believe, will be } posted again and again. It is about printers for SEM images. So: } } - What is the best printer for monochrome SEM/STEM images? } - What is the best inexpensive printer for the same images? } - What is the best printer for EDS output (color maps, maps+images)? } } Thank you, } } J.Meen
I am more of a TEM eprson, but I have a suggestion from watching my colleagues. Take an aluminium stub, which would normally go into an SEM, and using a 5 mm drill bit just drill a small , 1-2 mm deep, hole in top so that the ball bearing will sit in it. Before you mount the bearing, wash the bearing in organic solvents first, say two acetone washes and then two ethanol washes, and ultrasonically clean the bearing in an ultrasound bath with both solvents.
Dry it off by putting it into an oven at say 150 C for ten minutes and then mount it onto the stub using silver-dag mounting paint (used by almost everyone here) to fix the bearing onto the stub. If you have access to vacuum coating system with a Radio Frequency inductive plasma ring attachment or anything that can produce an Argon plasma, then put the stub in for ten minutes so that there are no organic residues left. Once it is finished you can put it straight into the SEM knowing that there should be a clean surface to look at. The silver dag paint should earth the bearing to the stub.
I hope this helps.
Jon
-- ***************************************** Jonathan Barnard
Microstructural Physics, H.H.Wills Physics Laboratory, University of Bristol, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TL.
Yes, that's right - if you are somewhere between Baltimore, Maryland and Sarasota, Florida (with a detour to visit my son in Chapel Hill, NC) I can deliver this lovely item to you in early April. I still don't want to crate it for shipment, but I am driving down to visit my mother and can drop it off on the way if it is not too far off my path. The item in question is an LKB-Huxley Ultra Microtome (model 9801-1) in nice clean condition with the knife holder and a set of chucks and collets. I have about $500 tied up in it which I would like to recover - if you can use it, get in touch and perhaps we can work something out. It just does not fit the work I am doing now, and I need both the $$ and space.
Dear Petra, We have had good success with Al alloys with the Struers Tenupol Twin-jet polisher, using their A-7 electrolyte at about -5 degrees C and 12V. The A-7 is: 100 ml. perchloric acid 700 ml. methanol 200 ml. gycerine The usual precautions with perchloric acid solutions apply. Another I have had recommended to me is: 100 ml. perchloric acid 900 ml. ethanol The solution must be kept at less than 10 degrees C. while polishing, and a voltage range of 7.5V to 20 V, depending on the alloy. I have no experience with pure Al, only commercial Al alloys. A book I recommend for these things is: "Metallography Principles and Practices" by Vander Voort, but I don't know if it is still in print.
You wrote: } } Hello Everyone, } } I have to prepare pure Al foils for TEM investigation. What I need is (as } usual :) a large thin area. What are the best electrolytes for the thinning } of Al? Is there anything else to consider (e.g. temperature, ...)? } As you see, I have not a lot of experience with this technique. Could } anybody recommend a book concerning electrolytical thinning? } } TIA, } } Petra } -------------------------------------------------------------- } Dr. Petra Wahlbring Best of luck, Mary
Mary Mager Electron Microscopist Metals and Materials Engineering University of British Columbia 6350 Stores Road Vancouver, B.C. V6T 1Z4 CANADA tel: 604-822-5648 fax: 604-822-3619 e-mail: mager-at-interchg.ubc.ca
We've been very pleased with the Epson Color Stylus 740 (approx. $280) and Epson Stylus Photo 700 (approx. $250) using Epson's Photo Quality Glossy Film. Image and text quality is very good to excellent.
James Martin Director of Analytical Services and Research Williamstown Art Conservation Center
Research Scientist, Chemistry Williams College
On Thu, 4 Mar 1999, Warren E Straszheim 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } The best quality will probably always be from a dye sublimation printer. } There are Kodak and Codonics machines at the high end for full page output } at a cost of about $10K. Kodak also makes a small format (4x5) printer that } does 3-color for about $600 and under $1/print. I don't know that they yet } offer a black ribbon for true monochrome prints. } } For general purpose work, most any of the inkjets will do decent work for } both color and monochrome. You may just want to try some at your local } computer stores to see what resolution you can get and how fast. We use an } Epson 600 ( {$200) for pretty good work at maybe 2 minutes per full page print. } } 1200 dpi laser printers do a pretty good job for monochrome. We have a } Lexmark Optra R. I have seen similar good results from an HP LaserJet 5. It } takes a while to transmit the data to the printer, but then they whip out } prints fast. } } In all cases, the paper can do a lot to improve appearance. You will want } some good stuff on had for the best prints. } } None of what I have said is peculiar to EM work. You may want to enlist a } few others in your area to get a good printer. Happy hunting. } } Warren S. } } At 09:13 AM 3/4/99 -0600, you wrote: } } Hi, } } } } I have a usual question, which was posted before and, I believe, will be } } posted again and again. It is about printers for SEM images. So: } } } } - What is the best printer for monochrome SEM/STEM images? } } - What is the best inexpensive printer for the same images? } } - What is the best printer for EDS output (color maps, maps+images)? } } } } Thank you, } } } } J.Meen } } }
Depending on the suspected failure mechanism, just give them a good soaking in acetone or some kind of degreasing detergent (local auto store) followed by a good rinse and dry. That should remove any grease. I would however talk to the Eng. folks to make sure that your cleaning would not disturb the failure mecahnism or worse.... enhance it. Yes, I would give them a light coat of Au or AuPd. Mounting on any kind of tape (carbon or otherwise) might present some drifting problems in the SEM.......perhaps Ag or C paint would do the trick....that's our solution around here anyway. Hope this helps.
John Staman LSI Logic, Process Analysis Lab, Colorado Springs, CO. 719-573-3282
} -----Original Message----- } From: Lesley S. Bechtold [SMTP:lsb-at-aretha.jax.org] } Sent: Thursday, March 04, 1999 8:53 AM } To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: Biologist needs help from Material Scientists!! } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 have never done any material sciences work - I've only ever done } biological specimens for EM. Our engineering department has asked me to } look at some ball bearings that are failing, as a favour. I know I don't } need to fix or dehydrate but do I simply clean them, mount them (using } double-sided tape?) and coat them as usual? Or is coating unnecessary? } What whould I clean these with? I'm assuming there is grease somewhere } that is not good for my vacuum! } } Any help would be appreciated!! Thanks in advance..... } } Lesley Bechtold } } } Lesley S. Bechtold } Supervisor, Biological Imaging } The Jackson Laboratory } 600 Main St. } Bar Harbor, ME 04609 } 207-288-6191 }
Assuming that you want to look at the bearings in an SEM and that the balls are made of steel, the solution is very simple:
Clean the balls to get rid of any grease. A few years back we used Trichlorethylene to degrease materials, but that is environmentally unsafe. There are other possibilities for safer degreasing.
Then you could just use a simple specimen holder and glue the balls to the holder with silver paint or carbon paint, mainly to fix them in place. I am not sure what you mean by double-sided sticky tape, but I would not use that. Who knows what the tape might do when the chamber is pumped down. Since they are steel, you don't have to worry about conductivity, just put them in the chamber, pump down and enjoy.
Michael Bode
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 1675 Carr St., #105N Lakewood, CO 80215 phone: (888) FIND SIS (303) 234-9270 fax: (303) 234-9271 email: info-at-soft-imaging.com
} ---------- } From: Lesley S. Bechtold[SMTP:lsb-at-aretha.jax.org] } Sent: Thursday, March 04, 1999 8:53 AM } To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: Biologist needs help from Material Scientists!! } } ---------------------------------------------------------------------- } -- } 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 have never done any material sciences work - I've only ever } done } biological specimens for EM. Our engineering department has asked me } to } look at some ball bearings that are failing, as a favour. I know I } don't } need to fix or dehydrate but do I simply clean them, mount them (using } double-sided tape?) and coat them as usual? Or is coating } unnecessary? } What whould I clean these with? I'm assuming there is grease } somewhere } that is not good for my vacuum! } } Any help would be appreciated!! Thanks in advance..... } } Lesley Bechtold } } } Lesley S. Bechtold } Supervisor, Biological Imaging } The Jackson Laboratory } 600 Main St. } Bar Harbor, ME 04609 } 207-288-6191 } }
I need a razor blade holder to use in an old A/O CryoCut vintage 1978. It's a weird one, the blade is mounted to the far right of the holder to accommodate the knife mounting mechanism of the cryostat.
I could also use a razor blade holder for use in an old A/O rotary microtome. This is pretty standard, with the blade in the center of the holder.
I think they are available new, but are pretty expensive given the scope of my project. Anything old but serviceable would work for me. If you have something, maybe we can workout a deal.
Thanks
Jonathan Krupp Microscopy & Imaging Lab University of California Santa Cruz, CA 95064 (831) 459-2477 jmkrupp-at-cats.ucsc.edu
I have a few technical papers that deal with electropolishing aluminum using our Model 550 Single Vertical Jet Electropolisher which may be of interest:
1)" Characterization of the Microstructure, Fracture, Morphology and Toughness in Particulate and Short Fibre Reinforced Aluminum Matrix Composites", M.R. Krishnadev et al
2) "Preparation of Iron and Aluminum Samples for Ion Implantation and TEM=
Examination" J.M. McDonald
and the "Bible" of Jet Polishing:
3) "Polishing Methods for Metallic and Ceramic Transmission Electron Microscopy Specimens", B.J. Kestel
Kestel report is 60+ pages and give preparation guidelines for dozens of materials. He has recipes for pure aluminum as well as several aluminum alloys. I would recommend this report for anyone doing electropolishing.=
I have copies of all 3 of these reports as well as a bibliography of over=
200 technical reports mostly dealing with specimen preparation. I would = be pleased to mail you a copy of any or all of these if you think they will = be of use. Please let me know.
DISCLAIMER: South Bay Technology does manufacture the Model 550 Single Vertical Jet ELectropolisher and has 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 Petra Wahlbring } ------------------------------------------------------------------------=
The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America =
Hello Everyone,
I have to prepare pure Al foils for TEM investigation. What I need is (as=
usual :) a large thin area. What are the best electrolytes for the thinni= ng of Al? Is there anything else to consider (e.g. temperature, ...)? As you see, I have not a lot of experience with this technique. Could anybody recommend a book concerning electrolytical thinning?
J. Meen asks ... } } } ... } } - What is the best printer for monochrome SEM/STEM images?
A dye-sublimation printer with its optional gray scale media.
} - What is the best inexpensive printer for the same images?
A good 600dpi laser printer configured for random dithering, although the next printer would work well too. I would opt for $$ being spent up front on the printer ... it will still cost pennies per page.
} - What is the best printer for EDS output (color maps, maps+images)?
A photographic quality ink jet would work well here ... inexpensive and could as well serve your second purpose, 'cept for speed.
If you're concerned with archiving, fading can be a problem with color ink jets ... moreso than with dye-subs ... so the dye-sub can serve dual purposes, gray scale and color. But, it is a hassle to constantly be changing its purposes from monochrome to color. The dye-sub's color media can be used to print gray scale, but it almost always has a tint because CMY is used, therefore I would not classify a color mode dye-sub as the best printer for your first need.
my $0.02 and 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/
Lesley writes ... } } } ... Our engineering department has asked me to } look at some ball bearings that are failing, as a favour. I } know I don't } need to fix or dehydrate but do I simply clean them, mount them (using } double-sided tape?) and coat them as usual? Or is coating } unnecessary? } What whould I clean these with? I'm assuming there is grease } somewhere } that is not good for my vacuum! } } ...
I would clean them first with acetone and then with clean ETOH and then dry to remove the small amount of absorbed water. They shouldn't need coating, but I'd mount them with conductive double-stick tape. Should be as easy as that :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 am using a Drukker Diamond Knive at 3 years. It is a excellent knive. I did perfect sections without compression. I cut plant tissues and pollen grains with a hard cell wall.
Rinaldo Pires dos Santos Dept of Botany - Plant Anatomy Laboratory - UFRGS Porto Alegre - RS - Brazil
A student of ours is going to the Washington, D.C. area this summer. I've already told her to stay away from the White House. What she really wants to know is: are any EM/Imaging facilities in the area? She would like to use one to help her with her work while she's there. So drop me a line and I'll pass the info on to her.
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
Warren E Straszheim says: } The best quality will probably always be from a dye sublimation printer. } There are Kodak and Codonics machines at the high end for full page output } at a cost of about $10K. Kodak also makes a small format (4x5) printer that } does 3-color for about $600 and under $1/print. I don't know that they yet } offer a black ribbon for true monochrome prints.
1. Several other manufacturers (JVC, Sony, Panasonic) offer dye sublimation printers, marketed for catching/printing video frames. [I'm planning to buy one of those, probably Sony.]
2. I doubt that a term "ribbon" can be applied to such a printer...
} For general purpose work, most any of the inkjets will do decent work for } both color and monochrome. You may just want to try some at your local } computer stores to see what resolution you can get and how fast. We use an } Epson 600 ( {$200) for pretty good work at maybe 2 minutes per full page } print.
Interesting. For monochrome of course inkjets hardly cut it. But for color - it suddenly becomes cost-effective and attractive.
} 1200 dpi laser printers do a pretty good job for monochrome. We have a } Lexmark Optra R. I have seen similar good results from an HP LaserJet 5. It } takes a while to transmit the data to the printer, but then they whip out } prints fast.
1. I have yet to see a laser printer (within $2K price range) that comes close to Optra in reproducing photographs. LaserJet-5 is good, but not that good.
2. I wonder what kind of printer connection you use, and how large your files are. My printers are on Ethernet, and 16MB files "fly in" in less than half-a-minute.
} In all cases, the paper can do a lot to improve appearance. You will want } some good stuff on head for the best prints.
(:-) -- Regards, Uri uri-at-watson.ibm.com -=-=-=-=-=-=- {Disclaimer}
Additional to the useful replies relating to the preparation of ball bearings, I would like to add a little regarding the microscopy: Small, clean and undamaged ball bearings are a good instructive aid to explain SEM functioning. This may be of some use to Jonathan when viewing those bearings and to anybody trying to explain some SEM effects. 1 At high kV (say above 20) you may have trouble seeing anything, because fine surface structure and dirt will be invisible. 2 At low kV (say 10 and below) such surface structures will be visible. 3 At low powers, regardless of kV, the ball bearing will appear like a disk, but the outer part of the disk is brighter. This nicely shows that in secondary mode, brightness almost entirely is increased with the angle of incidence. Being a sphere, tilt has no effect on the brightness distribution over that image. 4 A BS detector mounted at an angle (whereas the Robinson and some others are vertical) will make the distinction that the specimen is not a disk but a sphere, because the BS electrons directed away from the detector leave a shadow. 5 A similar effect is produced when the bias current of the secondary detector is turned off and the condenser current is turned down. This floods the secondary detector's scintillator with backscattered electrons and produces a BS image quite suitable for low powers.
Nice teaching exercise, but its useful to know about these effects when actually looking at those bearings. 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 Friday, March 05, 1999 6:11 AM, Jonathan Barnard [SMTP:J.Barnard-at-bristol.ac.uk] wrote: } } I am more of a TEM eprson, but I have a suggestion from } watching my } colleagues. } Take an aluminium stub, which would normally go into an } SEM, and using a } 5 mm drill bit just drill a small , 1-2 mm deep, hole in } top so that the } ball bearing will sit in it. Before you mount the bearing, } wash the } bearing in organic solvents first, say two acetone washes } and then two } ethanol washes, and ultrasonically clean the bearing in an } ultrasound } bath with both solvents. } } Dry it off by putting it into an oven at say 150 C for ten } minutes and } then mount it onto the stub using silver-dag mounting } paint (used by } almost everyone here) to fix the bearing onto the stub. If } you have } access to vacuum coating system with a Radio Frequency } inductive plasma } ring attachment or anything that can produce an Argon } plasma, then put } the stub in for ten minutes so that there are no organic } residues left. } Once it is finished you can put it straight into the SEM } knowing that } there should be a clean surface to look at. The silver dag } paint should } earth the bearing to the stub. } } I hope this helps. } } Jon } } -- } ***************************************** } Jonathan Barnard } } Microstructural Physics, } H.H.Wills Physics Laboratory, } University of Bristol, } Tyndall Avenue, } Bristol BS8 1TL. } } 0117 928 9000 ext 8750 } } ***************************************** } }
The string concerning preparation of bacteria touched on delayed second fixation. This is worth a separate discussion on delayed second (usually Os) fixation: Sabatini, first to publish GA as a fixative, also published that Os fixation could be delayed by several months. That seems true for some tissues, which show no ill-effects when compared with the usual, immediate double fixation. However, we found in the lab that other tissues are sensitive to that delay. I used to run a couple of busy service labs and cannot remember specifically which tissues and what structures were affected. It would be interesting to know when delayed double fixation is acceptable and others may have experience to share. I believe that specimen preparation for SEM is never affected by delayed second fixation. 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 Thursday, March 04, 1999 11:14 PM, Tina Schwach [SMTP:tschwach-at-tc.umn.edu] wrote: } } On Wed, 3 Mar 1999 14:32:22 -0700, } jwright-at-dugway-emh3.army.mil wrote... } } I have a requirement to process liquid and agar-bound } } pathogenic } } bacteria for SEM & TEM. I've been collecting them in } } cacodylate-buffered 3% glutaraldehyde where the final } } concentration has } } been 1.5% for the liquid suspended bacteria. These have } } been kept in } } the refrigerator. Does anyone have a protocol(s) that } } would lead me to } } SEM and TEM specimens from this point? Have I made a } } mistake already? My } } instruments are a Philips EM-400 and JEOL 6300V. } } } } John Wright } } Microbiologist } } } } West Desert Test Center } } Dugway, UT } } } } } } John, } I have stored samples in primary fixative (glut-para- } ruthenium red in } cacodylate) for several weeks, even months and they appear } to be fine. } For SEM, you may want to place (dry) your samples on some } kind of surface, } ie stainless steel chips, so you'll be able to view them. } You'll have to } do this at the end anyway. You can even place them on } nucleopore filter } membranes. Depending on what you want to see, the agar } strands can get in } the way. } } For the TEM samples, fixation in small 1.5 mL eppendorf } microfuge tubes } works well since you can pellet the samples between } solution changes if } necessary. From the point you are at right now, you } should rinse in your } cacodylate-buffer (I used 0.1M cacodylate with 7.5% } sucrose), then move on } to post-fixation with 1% OsO4 in 0.1M cacodylate (no } sucrose) until pellets } turn dark brown or black (usually 30-min at room temp). } If the pellets are } really big, separate them before osmium treatment to make } sure the entire } pellet is fixed. Rinse in cacodylate buffer (no sucrose), } dehydrate in an } acetone or ethanol series. I use ethanol because I like } to embed in LR } White. After 2 changes in 100%, separate the SEM run (for } critical point } drying and coating) from the TEM samples- move on to resin } infiltration } right in the eppendorf tubes. I usually do 3:1 } (solvent:resin) on a } rotator for 1 hr., 1:1, 1:3, 100% times two and cure } overnight. } Good luck. } } } } }
The peaks have suddenly started to move around a bit, although the resolution stays good. The problem comes and goes, in its good times the standard deviation of the position of the Co Ka peak is about 0.4 eV (10 determinations), but sometimes it's about 10 or even 20 eV. My thinking is that if it were the detector, the resolution would be degrading, but it's not, so maybe the culprit is the (analog) pulse-processor. Anyone got any thoughts on how to pin it down as being either a the detector b the subsequent signal-processing stuff, eg pulse-proc? Could I successfully test the pulse-proc with a ramp from a standard signal generator, or would that signal, being relatively clean compared with that from a detector, not really check it out rigorously enough?
cheers (well, I try)
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
======================================================== FOCUS ON MICROSCOPY 1999
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
We wish to remind you about the upcoming deadline for abstract submission and modification.
The abstract submission and modification deadline is:
!!! Monday, 8 March 1999 --- 15.00 hours Heidelberg Time !!!
The "abstract submission part" of the database will definitely be closed at 15.00 hours, so that it is not possible to submit further abstracts or make any further modifications to the abstracts after this date.
The "registration only part" of the database will remain open until 9 April 1999!!!
Our website now also includes informations about some highlights of the commercial exhibition. This is an extract:
Leica Microsystems GmbH: Two-Photon Confocal System Leica TCS MP L.O.T. Oriel GmbH & Co KG: Nanopositioning Unit and Fiber Laser Molecular Probes: New fluorescent reagents for Cell Biology and Imaging highly - Fluorescent Alexa dyes Olympus Optical Co. GmbH: Confocal Laser-Scanning-Microscope with two-photon excitation Omicron Vakuumphysik GmbH: Scanning Near Field Optical Microscope (SNOM) Visitron Systems GmbH: 2D/3D Fluorescence Imaging System based on Cooled Digital Camera System Wallac Distribution GmbH: Confocal Microscope
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
Others have offered their suggestions but may I add a friendly warning, o= r offer a bit of fun?
Ball bearings are a great eye opener for the novice SEM operator. Fix a small ball bearing to a stub with a NON conducting adhesive. Run the microscope at 20 to 25kV for a few minutes and the ball will charge like=
mad. let it charge { one of the very few reasons for using such high kV := -) }. NOW drop to 2kV and wonder of wonders you will see the inside of the=
specimen chamber. Move the ball around and change the magnification and you will be able to view the chamber in detail. Take a look at the aperture of the final lens, the EDX detector face, or the backscattered detector surface. Great fun if you know what is happening, totally confusing if you did not do it deliberately.
This "problem" may occur in other circumstances where, after using high k= V and charging a specimen, moving to a low kV the charge does not go away b= ut simply acts as a reflector of the beam. Double sided tape which is non conducting is the biggest culprit. It should never be used in SEM where = we now have available carbon double sided media which is great for a quick f= ix with lighter weight specimens.
Have fun?
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
As an assistance to people who have day to day problems with their equipment the listserver provides a very valuable service and I am often pointing people in this direction to solve their problems.
My area of knowledge is in the operation and maintenance of scanning and transmission electron microscopes so I take an interest in and discussion= s in this area.
Of late I have noticed a tendency for replies to become very complicated,=
so much so that the person asking the question would in my mind only beco= me bemused by the reply. Should we not build the knowledge base step by ste= p rather than leap in with solutions far distant from the actual question/problem?
As a made-up example -
Q - What do I do if I do not have a good quality image on the screen in m= y TEM?
A - Change the phosphor.
Have you seen answers like this?
I like many of you reading this I would not like to inhibit anyone sendin= g in a reply to a question, but should they not place their reply on a leve= l?
Example
A - Assuming that you have prepared the specimen correctly, have the correct alignment, kV and apertures, have the condenser lenses set correctly and are in a well darkened room and have become dark adapted - = if you notice your screen is not as bright as a colleagues TEM perhaps you should consider changing the screen as they fade due to beam damage and contamination?
I look forward to being put in my place! =
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
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
The string concerning preparation of bacteria touched on delayed second fixation. This is worth a separate discussion on delayed second (usually Os) fixation: Sabatini, first to publish GA as a fixative, also published that Os fixation could be delayed by several months. That seems true for some tissues, which show no ill-effects when compared with the usual, immediate double fixation. However, we found in the lab that other tissues are sensitive to that delay. I used to run a couple of busy service labs and cannot remember specifically which tissues and what structures were affected. It would be interesting to know when delayed double fixation is acceptable and others may have experience to share. I believe that specimen preparation for SEM is never affected by delayed second fixation. 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 Thursday, March 04, 1999 11:14 PM, Tina Schwach [SMTP:tschwach-at-tc.umn.edu] wrote: } } On Wed, 3 Mar 1999 14:32:22 -0700, } jwright-at-dugway-emh3.army.mil wrote... } } I have a requirement to process liquid and agar-bound } } pathogenic } } bacteria for SEM & TEM. I've been collecting them in } } cacodylate-buffered 3% glutaraldehyde where the final } } concentration has } } been 1.5% for the liquid suspended bacteria. These have } } been kept in } } the refrigerator. Does anyone have a protocol(s) that } } would lead me to } } SEM and TEM specimens from this point? Have I made a } } mistake already? My } } instruments are a Philips EM-400 and JEOL 6300V. } } } } John Wright } } Microbiologist } } } } West Desert Test Center } } Dugway, UT } } } } } } John, } I have stored samples in primary fixative (glut-para- } ruthenium red in } cacodylate) for several weeks, even months and they appear } to be fine. } For SEM, you may want to place (dry) your samples on some } kind of surface, } ie stainless steel chips, so you'll be able to view them. } You'll have to } do this at the end anyway. You can even place them on } nucleopore filter } membranes. Depending on what you want to see, the agar } strands can get in } the way. } } For the TEM samples, fixation in small 1.5 mL eppendorf } microfuge tubes } works well since you can pellet the samples between } solution changes if } necessary. From the point you are at right now, you } should rinse in your } cacodylate-buffer (I used 0.1M cacodylate with 7.5% } sucrose), then move on } to post-fixation with 1% OsO4 in 0.1M cacodylate (no } sucrose) until pellets } turn dark brown or black (usually 30-min at room temp). } If the pellets are } really big, separate them before osmium treatment to make } sure the entire } pellet is fixed. Rinse in cacodylate buffer (no sucrose), } dehydrate in an } acetone or ethanol series. I use ethanol because I like } to embed in LR } White. After 2 changes in 100%, separate the SEM run (for } critical point } drying and coating) from the TEM samples- move on to resin } infiltration } right in the eppendorf tubes. I usually do 3:1 } (solvent:resin) on a } rotator for 1 hr., 1:1, 1:3, 100% times two and cure } overnight. } Good luck. } } } } }
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Additional to the useful replies relating to the preparation of ball bearings, I would like to add a little regarding the microscopy: Small, clean and undamaged ball bearings are a good instructive aid to explain SEM functioning. This may be of some use to Jonathan when viewing those bearings and to anybody trying to explain some SEM effects. 1 At high kV (say above 20) you may have trouble seeing anything, because fine surface structure and dirt will be invisible. 2 At low kV (say 10 and below) such surface structures will be visible. 3 At low powers, regardless of kV, the ball bearing will appear like a disk, but the outer part of the disk is brighter. This nicely shows that in secondary mode, brightness almost entirely is increased with the angle of incidence. Being a sphere, tilt has no effect on the brightness distribution over that image. 4 A BS detector mounted at an angle (whereas the Robinson and some others are vertical) will make the distinction that the specimen is not a disk but a sphere, because the BS electrons directed away from the detector leave a shadow. 5 A similar effect is produced when the bias current of the secondary detector is turned off and the condenser current is turned down. This floods the secondary detector's scintillator with backscattered electrons and produces a BS image quite suitable for low powers.
Nice teaching exercise, but its useful to know about these effects when actually looking at those bearings. 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 Friday, March 05, 1999 6:11 AM, Jonathan Barnard [SMTP:J.Barnard-at-bristol.ac.uk] wrote: } } I am more of a TEM eprson, but I have a suggestion from } watching my } colleagues. } Take an aluminium stub, which would normally go into an } SEM, and using a } 5 mm drill bit just drill a small , 1-2 mm deep, hole in } top so that the } ball bearing will sit in it. Before you mount the bearing, } wash the } bearing in organic solvents first, say two acetone washes } and then two } ethanol washes, and ultrasonically clean the bearing in an } ultrasound } bath with both solvents. } } Dry it off by putting it into an oven at say 150 C for ten } minutes and } then mount it onto the stub using silver-dag mounting } paint (used by } almost everyone here) to fix the bearing onto the stub. If } you have } access to vacuum coating system with a Radio Frequency } inductive plasma } ring attachment or anything that can produce an Argon } plasma, then put } the stub in for ten minutes so that there are no organic } residues left. } Once it is finished you can put it straight into the SEM } knowing that } there should be a clean surface to look at. The silver dag } paint should } earth the bearing to the stub. } } I hope this helps. } } Jon } } -- } ***************************************** } Jonathan Barnard } } Microstructural Physics, } H.H.Wills Physics Laboratory, } University of Bristol, } Tyndall Avenue, } Bristol BS8 1TL. } } 0117 928 9000 ext 8750 } } ***************************************** } }
We lost our Ar/Kr laser very early in its life. (it was still under warranty) A bit of advice was given to us from Zeiss regarding our Ar/Kr laser. That is to run it at 50% power rather than full blast all the time. It seems to be much better now.
} Just to give an opposite example about the laser, } } I'm running an LSM 410 equipped with an Omnichrome Ar/Kr 488/568/647 laser } since 5 years (1750 hours) and i had no problem yet ! Maybe it's just luck } though... } } } At 05:01 PM 25/2/99 -0800, you wrote: } } As for my own experience, I found the 568nm Kr laser sadly unreliable, we } had to } change it twice in the past year. } } Mr. S H Coetzee Electron Microscope Unit Private bag X3 Wits Johannesburg 2050 Tell: +27 11 716 2419 Fax : +27 11 339 3407 E-mail stephan-at-gecko.biol.wits.ac.za
A number of suggestions have been made about the preparation and observation of failed ballbearings. These will certainly give good images and may well be enough to solve the problem, but if the fault lies in the alloy rather than in the physical state of the balls, it will not show up. You might have to consider embedding the bearing in resin and polishing a flat on it. A thin coat of carbon is needed unless you use a conductive resin. Then the BSE image (and EDX if possible) will reveal the internal structure of the alloy.
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
} The peaks have suddenly started to move around a bit, although the } resolution stays good. } The problem comes and goes, in its good times the standard deviation } of the position of the Co Ka peak is about 0.4 eV (10 } determinations), but sometimes it's about 10 or even 20 eV. } My thinking is that if it were the detector, the resolution would be } degrading, but it's not, so maybe the culprit is the } (analog) pulse-processor. Anyone got any thoughts on how to pin it } down as being either } a the detector } b the subsequent signal-processing stuff, eg pulse-proc? } Could I successfully test the pulse-proc with a ramp from a standard } signal generator, or would that signal, being relatively clean } compared with that from a detector, not really check it out } rigorously enough?
One thing to note is if your movement is due to gain or offset drifts. If offset drift then both a low peak and high peak will move the same amount. If gain the low will move a little, high will move much more.
Sometimes the gain and offset pots on the pulse processor get "dirty". Run them up and down a few times or clean with electronic cleaner spray.
Disconnect and reconnect every connector. The contacts can get "dirty" over time. The physical active of disconnecting/reconnecting will clean the contacts.
You can test your MCA by using a sliding pulser. We use a Berkley Nucleonics Corp (BNC) GL-3 pulse generator to test every MCA that we ship. It's the only way to really know how well the MCA is working. It's about $5k, not cheap. You really need a very good pulser to test linearity. 10 to 20eV is a really small voltage difference.
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
Is it OK to (thin) section the Falcon cell culture inserts in cross section, and would anyone who's done this please contact me directly? I have a question or two about the best way to embed to maximize cell numbers. (I think this has been discussed before.) Thank you. Grace
In the spirit recently suggested by Steve Chapman, try disturbing the cables and processor box. If this affects the peak positions or resolution, there's a good chance you have a loose or dirty connector. Try reseating the PC boards in the processor box.
Larry Thomas Washington State University
---------- From: Ritchie Sims Sent: Friday, March 5, 1999 1:28 PM To: microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com Subject: EDS trouble-shooting
------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 Experts
The peaks have suddenly started to move around a bit, although the resolution stays good. The problem comes and goes, in its good times the standard deviation of the position of the Co Ka peak is about 0.4 eV (10 determinations), but sometimes it's about 10 or even 20 eV. My thinking is that if it were the detector, the resolution would be degrading, but it's not, so maybe the culprit is the (analog) pulse-processor. Anyone got any thoughts on how to pin it down as being either a the detector b the subsequent signal-processing stuff, eg pulse-proc? Could I successfully test the pulse-proc with a ramp from a standard signal generator, or would that signal, being relatively clean compared with that from a detector, not really check it out rigorously enough?
cheers (well, I try)
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
American Soc List {microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com} X-Mailer: QuickMail Pro 1.5.3 (Mac) X-Priority: 3 MIME-Version: 1.0 Reply-To: Paul Webster {pwebster-at-mailhouse.hei.org} Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="====56495250495150514856===1"
Reply to: RE: Complications With regard to this comment By Steve Chapman, I agree that the discussion = aspect of the listserver is slowly being erroded and would sometimes like = to see the more detailed, carfully considered answers being posted again. = I use the server as a source of assistance but also find that by reading = discussions on subjects I know little about, I can actually learn = something. This sort of passive learning is useful in a busy lab environme= nt.
I am not sure we can hold the solution providers totally responsible for = this errosion either. It is sometimes difficult to know exactly the = problem, the skill of the poster or the environmentally limiting factors = from such brief postings as in the example given by Steve ("What do I do = if I do not have a good quality image on the screen in my TEM?"). Why is = it that some questions are posted in almost annotated form from posters = who do not even provide us with an identification? =
The tendency for discussions to be carried out "off-line" in more detail = is not very beneficial either. It is true that some of the really = detailed discussions, and perhaps some of the comments about particular = products, are best covered in a more private setting, but it would be = great to see edited summaries and final results.
I know writing is tough and it takes some time to write but by putting = more effort into this skill we could improve our list. I am not getting = at non-English writers here but at anyone who writes messages which are so = brief that relevant information is omitted. The more we practice our = writing, the better we get (hopefully). =
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 http://www.hei.org/htm/aemi.htm http://www.hei.org/htm/apw.htm
Steve Chapman wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America =
{HTML} {HEAD} {/HEAD} {BODY} {PRE WIDTH=3D"132"} Reply to: RE: Complications
{/PRE} {FONT FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D3 = COLOR=3D"#000000"} With regard to this comment By Steve = Chapman, I agree that the discussion aspect = of the listserver is slowly being erroded = and would sometimes like to see the more = detailed, carfully considered answers being = posted again. I use the server as a source = of assistance but also find that by reading = discussions on subjects I know little about, = I can actually learn something. This sort = of passive learning is useful in a busy = lab environment. {BR} {BR} I am not sure we can = hold the solution providers totally responsible = for this errosion either. It is sometimes = difficult to know exactly the problem, the = skill of the poster or the environmentally = limiting factors from such brief postings = as in the example given by Steve ("What = do I do if I do not have a good quality = image on the screen in my TEM?"). Why = is it that some questions are posted in = almost annotated form from posters who do = not even provide us with an identification? = {BR} {BR} The tendency for discussions to be = carried out "off-line" in more = detail is not very beneficial either. It = is true that some of the really detailed = discussions, and perhaps some of the comments = about particular products, are best covered = in a more private setting, but it would = be great to see edited summaries and final = results. {BR} {BR} I know writing is tough and = it takes some time to write but by putting = more effort into this skill we could improve = our list. I am not getting at non-English = writers here but at anyone who writes messages = which are so brief that relevant information = is omitted. The more we practice our writing, = the better we get (hopefully). {BR} {BR} Regards, {BR} {/FONT} {FONT = FACE=3D"Monaco" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#000000"} {BR} {/FONT} {FONT FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D3 COLOR=3D"#000000"} Paul = Webster, Ph.D {BR} House Ear Institute {BR} 2100 = West Third Street {BR} Los Angeles, CA 90057 {BR} phone:213 = 273 8026 {BR} fax: 213 413 6739 {BR} e-mail: pwebster-at-hei.org {BR} http://www.hei.org/htm/aemi.htm {BR} http://www.hei.org/htm/apw.htm {/FONT} {FONT = FACE=3D"Monaco" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#000000"} {BR} {BR} {BR} {/FONT} {FONT FACE=3D"Geneva" = SIZE=3D3 COLOR=3D"#000000"} Steve Chapman wrote: {/FONT} {FONT FACE=3D"Geneva"= = SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#000000"} {BR} >-----------------------------------------------------------------------= - {BR} >The = Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy = Society of America {BR}
id xma019702; Fri, 5 Mar 99 13:37:30 -0500 Received: by eastman.com id AA1958416 (5.67b/IDA-1.5 for microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com); Fri, 5 Mar 1999 13:37:57 -0500 Received: from ntmcon02.emn.com by eastman.com with SMTP id AA2032906 (5.67b/SMI-4.1 for {microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com} ); Fri, 5 Mar 1999 13:37:57 -0500 Received: by ntmcon02.emn.com with Internet Mail Service (5.5.2232.9) id {FZ4RM9PM} ; Fri, 5 Mar 1999 13:38:06 -0500 Message-Id: {E788D998AAC8D1119EC10000F8CD1E8A5B42BA-at-ntmail23.emn.com}
Regarding moving peaks in EDS, we once experienced a problem caused by the video monitor on the EDS unit being too close to the wires coming from the detector. Our problem became quite obvious when the resolution began to degrade. Moving the wires fixed the problem. Perhaps your problem is being caused by electromagnetic fields.
Dennis B. Barr (dennbarr-at-eastman.com) Physical Chemistry Research Laboratory Physical & Analytical Chemistry Research Division Eastman Chemical Company Kingsport, TN 37662-5150
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
} The peaks have suddenly started to move around a bit, although the } resolution stays good. } The problem comes and goes, in its good times the standard deviation } of the position of the Co Ka peak is about 0.4 eV (10 } determinations), but sometimes it's about 10 or even 20 eV. } My thinking is that if it were the detector, the resolution would be } degrading, but it's not, so maybe the culprit is the } (analog) pulse-processor. Anyone got any thoughts on how to pin it } down as being either } a the detector } b the subsequent signal-processing stuff, eg pulse-proc? } Could I successfully test the pulse-proc with a ramp from a standard } signal generator, or would that signal, being relatively clean } compared with that from a detector, not really check it out } rigorously enough?
One thing to note is if your movement is due to gain or offset drifts. If offset drift then both a low peak and high peak will move the same amount. If gain the low will move a little, high will move much more.
Sometimes the gain and offset pots on the pulse processor get "dirty". Run them up and down a few times or clean with electronic cleaner spray.
Disconnect and reconnect every connector. The contacts can get "dirty" over time. The physical active of disconnecting/reconnecting will clean the contacts.
You can test your MCA by using a sliding pulser. We use a Berkley Nucleonics Corp (BNC) GL-3 pulse generator to test every MCA that we ship. It's the only way to really know how well the MCA is working. It's about $5k, not cheap. You really need a very good pulser to test linearity. 10 to 20eV is a really small voltage difference.
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 have a couple of questions w/r to EELS output in other formats. I am acquiring EELS data on a GIF at another institution, but would like to take the files back to my lab. I saved the files as ASCII X,Y, tagged ASCII, and EMSA/MAS format. I can plot the X,Y data with no problem. However, in the tagged ASCII and the EMSA/MAS format, the data are written in 5 wide rows that wrap the data. I typically use Excel to plot stuff like this, but I don't know how to unwrap the data. What I am doing is going into a Wordprocessor and getting rid of the hard returns and commas and then resaving as a text file. I can automate it a little with macros, but it still takes time.
1. Are there ways to unwrap the data directly into Excel?
2. Is there a public domain EELS program that will plot the data and perhaps do some work with the EMSA/MAS format that will run on a PC or a Mac? (I would prefer PC because our Macs are old and there is not much chance of getting new ones here.)
Thanks in advance.
-Scott
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Glass Technology Center Guys Run Rd. (packages) P.O. Box 11472 (letters) Pittsburgh, PA 15238-0472
Lesley S. Bechtold wrote: ============================================ I have never done any material sciences work - I've only ever done biological specimens for EM. Our engineering department has asked me to look at some ball bearings that are failing, as a favour. I know I don't need to fix or dehydrate but do I simply clean them, mount them (using double-sided tape?) and coat them as usual? Or is coating unnecessary? What whould I clean these with? I'm assuming there is grease somewhere that is not good for my vacuum! ================================================== It is interesting how so many different persons, skilled in the art, would approach the same kind of problem so many different ways. Of course, not much information was given either so we could all be those proverbial blind men feeling a different part of the elephant.
We ourselves approach bearing failures somewhat differently. For one thing, at the onset, it is rarely clear whether it is a straight SEM job. If corrosion is involved, for example, the ability to analyze corrosion product is lost if vigorous washing/cleaning procedures are used.
No mention was made of the examination of the raceway, but that is also something of importance in any kind of a failure analysis of this type.
Our approach is to liquid wash in cold solvent, such as acetone and/or heptane, perhaps even xylene, but you don't want a solvent that is "too good ." You want to leave some organic layer on the metal surfaces. We then remove the last vestiges of the lubricant system with exposure to an oxygen plasma such as in our Plasma Prep™ II plasma etcher. This is a dry process approach, corrosion product is left in situ in place, right where it is, and with EDS, sometimes complimented with Auger, one can learn information about the failure mechanism that would not be learned by straight topographical examination.
For the mounting of the bearing "balls", depending on size, we would always use one of the conductive double sided adhesive products, either carbon sheets or if larger, then Tempfix™.
We ourselves believe one should use caution before washing away the information that could be contained in corrosion product.
Disclaimer: SPI Supplies manufactures the Plasma Prep II plasma etcher and supplies the carbon based adhesives. Our Structure Probe services laboratory performs failure analysis as a service on these kinds of samples.
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: www.2spi.com ############################ ==================================================
Ritchie Sims wrote: } Dear Experts } } The peaks have suddenly started to move around a bit, although the } resolution stays good. } The problem comes and goes, in its good times the standard deviation } of the position of the Co Ka peak is about 0.4 eV (10 } determinations), but sometimes it's about 10 or even 20 eV. } My thinking is that if it were the detector, the resolution would be } degrading, but it's not, so maybe the culprit is the } (analog) pulse-processor. Anyone got any thoughts on how to pin it } down as being either } a the detector } b the subsequent signal-processing stuff, eg pulse-proc? } Could I successfully test the pulse-proc with a ramp from a standard } signal generator, or would that signal, being relatively clean } compared with that from a detector, not really check it out } rigorously enough? } } cheers (well, I try) } } 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 } }
Dear Ritchie! In similar cases the first I do is the following: I take off the signal cable from preamplifier and processor and measure its resistance, which should be near zero, and then check stability of this resistance during curving this cable. Two times in my practice I have met the case when after several working years the copper core of the cable was corroded as result of chemical interaction with material of cable insulation, and the resistance between many wires of core became rather big and unstable. After change to cable with Teflon insulation the peaks became very (!) stable. Regards.
I have run across the same problems with EMSA format and with other files that store multiple points of data per row.
I have developed macros that insert the necessary number of blank lines (5 for EMSA) following a given row, I select the data in the row, Copy-Special using the transpose function into the blank rows, delete the original row, and move down to the next row, and repeat. It isn't pretty, but it gets the job done.
If I was doing it regularly, I think I would write a program (standalone or Word Basic) that would incorporate the smarts enough to do it all automatically given the file name. As of yet, I have not been so driven. But maybe someone else has already done one.
Good luck.
At 03:54 PM 3/5/99 -0500, you wrote: } I have a couple of questions w/r to EELS output in other formats. I am } acquiring EELS data on a GIF at another institution, but would like to take } the files back to my lab. I saved the files as ASCII X,Y, tagged ASCII, and } EMSA/MAS format. I can plot the X,Y data with no problem. However, in the } tagged ASCII and the EMSA/MAS format, the data are written in 5 wide rows } that wrap the data. I typically use Excel to plot stuff like this, but I } don't know how to unwrap the data. What I am doing is going into a } Wordprocessor and getting rid of the hard returns and commas and then } resaving as a text file. I can automate it a little with macros, but it } still takes time. } } 1. Are there ways to unwrap the data directly into Excel? } } 2. Is there a public domain EELS program that will plot the data and } perhaps do some work with the EMSA/MAS format that will run on a PC or a } Mac? (I would prefer PC because our Macs are old and there is not much } chance of getting new ones here.) } } Thanks in advance. } } -Scott } } Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. } PPG Industries, Inc.
---------------------------------------------------- Warren E. Straszheim 23 Town Engineering Iowa State University Ames IA, 50011-3232
On Fri, 5 Mar 1999, Walck. Scott D. wrote: | |2. Is there a public domain EELS program that will plot the data and |perhaps do some work with the EMSA/MAS format that will run on a PC or a |Mac? (I would prefer PC because our Macs are old and there is not much |chance of getting new ones here.) |
I've been using XlispStat {http://www.xlispstat.org/} for both plotting and analysis ( Mostly EDS but some EELS ).
It's a free, cross-platform (Mac,Windows,Unix) version of Lisp enhanced with vector and matrix arithmetic, math and statistical function, linear and non-linear regression, smoothing, FFTs, and simple object oriented graphics.
It's extensible with function written either in Lisp or C: I've written functions to read & write EMSA/MAS format (roughly -- the specs are somewhat ambiguous), read spectra from a 4pi SpectraEngine on a Mac, convolution and digital filtering and other utilities. ( Haven't quite gotten it all wrapped up into a complete EDS/EELS package yet. )
---| Steven D. Majewski (804-982-0831) {sdm7g-at-Virginia.EDU} |--- ---| Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics |--- ---| University of Virginia Health Sciences Center |--- ---| P.O. Box 10011 Charlottesville, VA 22906-0011 |---
Caldera Open Linux: "Powerful and easy to use!" -- Microsoft(*) (*) {http://www.pathfinder.com/fortune/1999/03/01/mic.html}
Dear Lim (S'pore), There are many infrared camera in the market. You might need to specify = what is the usage are for. By the way, how is Singapore nowadays? Still M= oney no enough?
Thank you for the replies so far. I should have included the info that it's a gain problem ie the zero peak stays in the right place. I guess it boils down to:
given that the resolution stays good, does anyone think that it could be a detector problem, or does everyone think that it's the pulse-processor?
rtch
} From: Self {GLGNOV2/RSIMS} } To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: EDS trouble-shooting } Date: Fri, 5 Mar 1999 21:28:27 GMT+1200
} Dear Experts } } The peaks have suddenly started to move around a bit, although the } resolution stays good. } The problem comes and goes, in its good times the standard deviation } of the position of the Co Ka peak is about 0.4 eV (10 } determinations), but sometimes it's about 10 or even 20 eV. } My thinking is that if it were the detector, the resolution would be } degrading, but it's not, so maybe the culprit is the } (analog) pulse-processor. Anyone got any thoughts on how to pin it } down as being either } a the detector } b the subsequent signal-processing stuff, eg pulse-proc? } Could I successfully test the pulse-proc with a ramp from a standard } signal generator, or would that signal, being relatively clean } compared with that from a detector, not really check it out } rigorously enough? } } cheers (well, I try) } } 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
As one of the committee members of the MSA/MAS Format I'm perplexed about your comment on the 5 wide rows. That sounds very odd indeed and I recall nothing in the format that calls out that type of coding. Perhaps there is an error somewhere or a misinterpretation of the spectral file format. .
Send me a "private" copy of the 3 files at my ANL address (Zaluzec-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov) and I'll have a look at them when I get back to the US.
Nestor
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I think that the main problem here is that we have a defined M&M=20 =46ormat (MSA/MAS in old parlance, let's face it we are a Microscopy=20 and Microanalysis community and the sooner we realize it the=20 better!), but the XEDS and EELS manufacturers don't fully support it.=20 They either write it but don't read it or read it but don't write it.=20 I think the format should be refined so that the manufacturers will=20 use it and let them have tags in the format similar to the TIFF.
Just my two cents worth (probably start a war, but just my opinion)
Jfm.
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"
Ritchie Sims wrote: } Dear Experts } } The peaks have suddenly started to move around a bit, although the } resolution stays good. } The problem comes and goes, in its good times the standard deviation } of the position of the Co Ka peak is about 0.4 eV (10 } determinations), but sometimes it's about 10 or even 20 eV. } My thinking is that if it were the detector, the resolution would be } degrading, but it's not, so maybe the culprit is the } (analog) pulse-processor. Anyone got any thoughts on how to pin it } down as being either } a the detector } b the subsequent signal-processing stuff, eg pulse-proc? } Could I successfully test the pulse-proc with a ramp from a standard } signal generator, or would that signal, being relatively clean } compared with that from a detector, not really check it out } rigorously enough? } } cheers (well, I try) } } 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 } }
Dear Ritchie! In similar cases the first I do is the following: I take off the signal cable from preamplifier and processor and measure its resistance, which should be near zero, and then check stability of this resistance during curving this cable. Two times in my practice I have met the case when after several working years the copper core of the cable was corroded as result of chemical interaction with material of cable insulation, and the resistance between many wires of core became rather big and unstable. After change to cable with Teflon insulation the peaks became very (!) stable. Regards.
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Hello
Ritchie Sims wrote: } Dear Experts } } The peaks have suddenly started to move around a bit, although the } resolution stays good. } The problem comes and goes, in its good times the standard deviation } of the position of the Co Ka peak is about 0.4 eV (10 } determinations), but sometimes it's about 10 or even 20 eV. } My thinking is that if it were the detector, the resolution would be } degrading, but it's not, so maybe the culprit is the } (analog) pulse-processor. Anyone got any thoughts on how to pin it } down as being either } a the detector } b the subsequent signal-processing stuff, eg pulse-proc? } Could I successfully test the pulse-proc with a ramp from a standard } signal generator, or would that signal, being relatively clean } compared with that from a detector, not really check it out } rigorously enough? } } cheers (well, I try) } } 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 } }
Dear Ritchie! In similar cases the first I do is the following: I take off the signal cable from preamplifier and processor and measure its resistance, which should be near zero, and then check stability of this resistance during curving this cable. Two times in my practice I have met the case when after several working years the copper core of the cable was corroded as result of chemical interaction with material of cable insulation, and the resistance between many wires of core became rather big and unstable. After change to cable with Teflon insulation the peaks became very (!) stable. Regards.
Arnold, Jim 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 currently looking to upgrade my EDS system. I work in a semiconductor } manufacturing facility(CMOS) and I currently have a Cambridge S200 SEM with } Kevex Delta II. } } I have an interest in Oxford, EDAX and a company called EVEX (which I am not } familiar with)? Does anyone have experience with these companies - Good or } Bad? } } I am looking for a light element detector with possibly a WDS for Boron } quantification. } } Thanks in advance. } } Jim Arnold } Microelectronics and Technology Center } AlliedSignal Electronics and Avionics Systems } 9140 Old Annapolis Road } Columbia, MD 21045 } } email: Jim.arnold-at-alliedsignal.com } voice: (410) 964-4118 } fax: (410) 964-5046
Jim, One of my customers sent their Kevex detector to Evex for repair. They didn't complete the repair, they bent the dewar, and they never returned. A very bad bet to do business with them.
Ken Converse owner Quality Images third party SEM service Delta, PA
Lesley S. Bechtold wrote: } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Hi, } } I have never done any material sciences work - I've only ever done } biological specimens for EM. Our engineering department has asked me to } look at some ball bearings that are failing, as a favour. I know I don't } need to fix or dehydrate but do I simply clean them, mount them (using } double-sided tape?) and coat them as usual? Or is coating unnecessary? } What whould I clean these with? I'm assuming there is grease somewhere } that is not good for my vacuum! } } Any help would be appreciated!! Thanks in advance..... } } Lesley Bechtold } } Lesley S. Bechtold } Supervisor, Biological Imaging } The Jackson Laboratory } 600 Main St. } Bar Harbor, ME 04609 } 207-288-6191
Lesley, All of the suggestions have been pretty much on the mark. Just two things 1) Get a degausser so you can demagnetize the sample, because if you don't, your resolution will have you swearing at your microscope for its poor performance, 2) a ball bearing that has a good surface may require up to 20kx magnification to see any surface detail. Some dirt on the surface can make finding that surface much easier. Materials failure analysis is a lot of fun!
Ken Converse owner Quality Images third party SEM service Delta, PA
Dear listserved all, I wish to know the examination dates for the next cycle of MSA certification in Electron Microscopy. I know that this question should have been sent to the business office at MSA, but I hope to have a quicky answer from any of the list members. Cheers and have a good day. Mohammed Yousuf A.Rawoof.
} } 1. Are there ways to unwrap EMSA/MAS data directly into Excel? }
Scott, it's a fairly straightforward process to unwrap the data in MSExcel. I recorded a macro to do it a while ago - although we were on Macs then, not PCs, I think I kept it somewhere... If you e-mail a file to me I could write it again, if you like. It is fairly easy to do yourself - I think it's just a matter of cutting and pasting columns. If you can work out a routine to do it once, you can 'record' what you're doing as a macro. All you have to do for subsequent files is to run the macro again.
} 2. Is there a public domain EELS program that will plot the data and } perhaps do some work with the EMSA/MAS format that will run on a PC or a } Mac? (I would prefer PC because our Macs are old and there is not much } chance of getting new ones here.) } } Thanks in advance. } } -Scott } } Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. } PPG Industries, Inc. } Glass Technology Center } Guys Run Rd. (packages) } PO Box 11472 (letters) } Pittsburgh, PA 15238-0472 } } Walck-at-PPG.com } } (412) 820-8651 (office) } (412) 820-8161 (fax) } } } } } }
I am alarmed by your statement. It is Evex Analytical's policy to "always" perform an on-site installation of "any" new detector install or detector repair.
Please be more specific on your customer's name, location, detector serial number, date of service. .
Are you absolutely sure the customer you mentioned sent a "Kevex" detector to "Evex Analytical"? Your prompt reply is appreciated.
Thank you Evex Analytical Peter Tarquinio
-----Original Message----- } From: Kenneth Converse {qualityimages-at-netrax.net} To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} ; Arnold, Jim {Jim.Arnold-at-alliedsignal.com}
I am working with self-assembled microstructures that are composed of a sterol and a phosphatidylcholine. I need to be able to attach these structures to glass or plastic walls of a chamber they grow in. What would you recommend? I have tried various commercially coated glass slides, super glue, jewel glue, leather glue, and almost any other glue I could think of. The problem is that my structures grow in an aqueous solution, and I was not able to find an adhesive which would not only glue the structures (super glue did the job actually), but also not dissolve in water.
I would greatly appreciate your suggestions and comments.
Thank you in advance -- Yevgeniya Zastavker.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Yevgeniya V. Zastavker Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Biophysics 77 Massachusetts Ave, Room 13-2038 Cambridge, MA 02139 (617) 253-4826
Sorry to bombard you with questions. This could be the wrong list, but I thought to try anyway. I am looking for crystallographic data of various sterols, and in particular (MAJORLY) I need information on the crystal angles of various sterols. Does anybody know of a good source for this information? I would greatly appreciate your advice.
Thank you very much in advance -- Yevgeniya Zastavker
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Yevgeniya V. Zastavker Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Biophysics 77 Massachusetts Ave, Room 13-2038 Cambridge, MA 02139 (617) 253-4826
The Electron Microscopy Laboratory at New Mexico State University has an open position for an Electron Microscopy Specialist. The laboratory provides transmission and scanning electron microscopy and some light microscopy services for the university research community and a few external organizations, in biological, physical and materials sciences fields. Qualifications: bachelor's degree minimum, master's degree desirable, with at least four years of electron microscopy experience. The preferred candidate will have experience with energy-dispersive x-ray analysis. Experience with digital image capture and analysis, fluorescence microscopy, immunocytochemistry (including immunogold labeling), and laser scanning confocal microscopy is desirable. The candidate must be competent with sample preparation techniques, including vacuum evaporation, sputter coating, critical point drying, support film production, low temperature embedding, and photographic film processing and printing. The successful candidate must be able to work well with researchers, staff, and students, and be able to train graduate and undergraduate students for independent work with relevant techniques and equipment. Duties: operations and routine maintenance of transmission and scanning electron microscopes and associated equipment; fixation, embedding, semi-thin and ultrathin sectioning, staining, and coating of samples; supervision of facility users; record keeping, including billings, budgets, maintenance of instrument and research logs, and researching and designing specimen preparation protocols as required. Salary: DOQ Website: www.nmsu.edu/~personal/postings/professional/ Screening of applicants will begin May 1, 1999 and continue until a candidate is chosen. Applications should include a resume, letter of application and three letters of recommendation.
Apply to: Dr. Reed Dasenbrock Associate Dean/Director Arts and Sciences Research Center New Mexico State University MSC RC, Box 30001 Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001 rdasenbr-at-nmsu.edu
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
We have an ETEC SEM available if anyone wants it. (Stockton, CA) It is = in working condition. We bought it new in 1973 and it has been under = contract since that time until Feb. 1, 1999. We also have extra ETEC = parts (power supplies, modules, etc.) We must take it out by March 24, 1999. If anyone wants it, please let me = know or we start chopping it on that day. Thanks Judy M.
Judy Murphy Microscopy Technology Center San Joaquin Delta College 5151 Pacific Ave Stockton, CA 95207 209/954-5284 FAX 209/954-5600 e-mail; jmurphy-at-sjdccd.cc.ca.us
id {1DCJVQ86} ; Mon, 8 Mar 1999 12:10:10 -0800 Message-ID: {3D55EE50922DD21192CC00A0C9A9D8270120F8-at-cas.csudh.edu}
Dear subscribers,
I want to purchase a microtome that sections both paraffin and plastic embedded tissue. I have not purchased a rotary microtome before and I would like your suggestions as to what companies handle rotary microtomes at the present time. I have an ultramicrotome and I know that both types of media can be cut on it but I need a second microtome and have about $12,000 to spend.
Laura J. Robles
Laura J. Robles, PhD. Associate Dean, Student Academic Advancement Professor of Biology MBRS Program Director College of Arts and Sciences California State University, Dominguez Hills 1000 East Victoria Street, Carson CA 90747 310 243-3389, FAX 310 516-4268 lrobles-at-cas.csudh.edu
I think an inexpensive inkjet is the way to go. However, you must try to set the DPI of the printer to match the resolution setting of your digital images. If you capture a digital image at 1024 X800 for instance, you have about 820K of information. Now lets say you plan to print a 4X5 image similar to a Polaroid, then your printer should be no less than 300dpi {4"x5" x (300)2=1.8Mpixel} to accommodate the amount of pixel information from the capturing rate of the image. Hence, a 2048X1600 resolution setting captures 3.2 Mpixels of info, so a 400DPI setting should be used. The idea being to match the capturing info with the amount of pixels the printer can resolve to minimize interpolation...be it upwards or downwards. Not sure what the human eye can resolve tho.
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
We have an ETEC SEM available if anyone wants it. (Stockton, CA) It is = in working condition. We bought it new in 1973 and it has been under = contract since that time until Feb. 1, 1999. We also have extra ETEC parts (power supplies, modules, etc.) We must take it out by March 23, 1999. If anyone wants it, please let me = know or we start chopping it on that day. Thanks Judy M.
Judy Murphy Microscopy Technology Center San Joaquin Delta College 5151 Pacific Ave Stockton, CA 95207 209/954-5284 FAX 209/954-5600 e-mail; jmurphy-at-sjdccd.cc.ca.us
******************* NOTE ******************* There may be important message content contained in the following MIME Information. ********************************************
------------------ MIME Information follows ------------------
Received: from mail02-baxter.baxter.com. ([204.48.31.50]) by ccmailgw.mcgawpark.baxter.com with SMTP (IMA Internet Exchange 3.11) id 0019FE9D; Mon, 8 Mar 1999 19:17:44 = -0600 Received: from mail03-ord.pilot.net (mail-ord-4.pilot.net [205.243.174.18]= ) by mail02-baxter.baxter.com. with ESMTP id TAA06970; Mon, 8 Mar 1999 = 19:23:11 -0600 (CST) Received: from Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (sparc5.microscopy.com = [206.69.208.10]) by mail03-ord.pilot.net with SMTP id TAA04165; Mon, 8 Mar 1999 19:17:44 = -0600 (CST) Received: (from daemon-at-localhost) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com = (8.6.11/8.6.11) id NAA07057 for dist-Microscopy; Mon, 8 Mar 1999 13:19:58 -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 NAA07052 for "MicroscopyFilteredEmail-at-msa.microscopy.com"; Mon, 8 Mar 1999 13:19:27 = -0600 Received: from ms.sjdccd.cc.ca.us (ms.sjdccd.cc.ca.us [198.189.15.5]) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) with ESMTP id NAA07045 for {Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com} ; Mon, 8 Mar 1999 13:19:14 -0600 Received: from sjdccd.cc.ca.us (198.189.15.92) by ms.sjdccd.cc.ca.us with SMTP (Eudora Internet Mail Server 1.2); Mon, 8 Mar 1999 11:43:00 = -0800 Message-ID: {n1291229323.46709-at-sjdccd.cc.ca.us}
------------------ RFC822 Header Follows ------------------ Received: by sjdccd.cc.ca.us with ADMIN;8 Mar 1999 17:29:13 -0800 Received: from mail03-ord.pilot.net ([205.243.174.17]) by ent2.sjdccd.cc.ca.us (Netscape Messaging Server 3.6) with ESMTP id 331 for {murphy-at-sjdccd.cc.ca.us} ; Mon, 8 Mar 1999 17:28:33 -0800 Received: from mail01-baxter.baxter.com. ([204.48.31.49]) by = mail03-ord.pilot.net with ESMTP id TAA05176 for {murphy-at-sjdccd.cc.ca.us} ; = Mon, 8 Mar 1999 19:25:27 -0600 (CST) } From: Administrator_at_RLT013-at-ccmailgw.mcgawpark.baxter.com Received: from ns1.baxter.com (unknown-31-52.pilot.net [204.48.31.52]) by = mail01-baxter.baxter.com. with ESMTP id TAA23909 for = {murphy-at-sjdccd.cc.ca.us} ; Mon, 8 Mar 1999 19:30:38 -0600 (CST) Received: from ccmailgw.mcgawpark.baxter.com = (ccmailgw.mcgawpark.baxter.com [159.198.176.60]) by ns1.baxter.com (8.9.1/8.9.1) with ESMTP id TAA21933 for {murphy-at-sjdccd.cc.ca.us} ; Mon, 8 Mar 1999 19:24:32 -0600 (CST) Received: from ccMail by ccmailgw.mcgawpark.baxter.com (IMA Internet Exchange 3.11) id 0019FF1B; Mon, 8 Mar 1999 19:25:23 = -0600 Mime-Version: 1.0
Dear List, Can anyone explain what does "Reflective" means in Laser Terminology .
I read through a article in a Magazine regarding Laser Marker and in the = article the mentioned that Wood and Paper is 100% reflective . I am lost = and confuse
M.E.Lim Sr Regional Support Engineer QES(Asia Pacific) Sdn Bhd Tel : 603-7241188 ext 214 Fax : 603-7244488 Emails : melim-at-qes.po.my
Can anyone give me tips how to prepare micro-injected cells for TEM. Which cell culture support is best for detaching the cells? Is there any compound which we could micro-inject as a marker?
Try gap-filling super glue (crazy glue), available at any hobby store or it should be at a hardware store. No particular brand, they all work--it's the gap-filling that seems to be important. I used this to glue gelatin specimen blocks to the stage of a Vibratome which was then flooded with phosphate buffer. It holds under water if you let it set. This doesn't take long.
The problem may be the gap-filling property--it may cover your microstructures.
Phil
} I am working with self-assembled microstructures that are composed of a } sterol and a phosphatidylcholine. I need to be able to attach these } structures to glass or plastic walls of a chamber they grow in. What } would you recommend? I have tried various commercially coated glass } slides, super glue, jewel glue, leather glue, and almost any other glue I } could think of. The problem is that my structures grow in an aqueous } solution, and I was not able to find an adhesive which would not only glue } the structures (super glue did the job actually), but also not dissolve in } water. } } I would greatly appreciate your suggestions and comments. } } Thank you in advance -- Yevgeniya Zastavker. } } ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ } Yevgeniya V. Zastavker } Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Biophysics } 77 Massachusetts Ave, Room 13-2038 } Cambridge, MA 02139 } (617) 253-4826
****be famous! send in a tech tip or question*** Philip Oshel Technical Editor, Microscopy Today PO Box 620068 Middleton, WI 53562 Voice: (608) 833-2885 Fax: (608) 836-1969 (please make sure my name is on any fax) oshel-at-terracom.net
May I offer a word of caution about the approach below?
While you're correct in saying you need to optimize printing conditions for your image and printer, there will probably be a little more to it than setting up comparable number of pixels. Your image is probably either a 256-level gray scale or a 16 million color (256 levels of red, green and blue). An inkjet can't print that kind of color depth in each pixel. The concepts of "halftoning" or "dithering" need to be considered. As I'm far from the expert, and we don't need a complete textbook on the listserver anyway, so I'll refer you to chapter 2 of "The Image Processing Handbook" by John Russ. As we would expect from Dr. Russ, the material is excellent.
That does bring up a question for me, though. The new HP inkjets have a "PhotoREt" technology which, I believe is supposed to be able to vary the size of the dots it produces, therefore producing better photo-printing results. Has anyone determined whether this is true, or just hype?
Jim Passmore Sr. Analytical Chemist Cryovac Division Sealed Air Corporation
---------- } From: Harry.Ekstrom } To: Microscopy } Subject: FW: Printers for SEM Images } Date: Monday, March 08, 1999 5:11PM } ------------- } } I think an inexpensive inkjet is the way to go. However, you must try to } set the DPI of the printer to match the resolution setting of your digital } images. If you capture a digital image at 1024 X800 for instance, you have } about 820K of information. Now lets say you plan to print a 4X5 image } similar to a Polaroid, then your printer should be no less than 300dpi } {4"x5" x (300)2=1.8Mpixel} to accommodate the amount of pixel information } from the capturing rate of the image. Hence, a 2048X1600 resolution setting } captures 3.2 Mpixels of info, so a 400DPI setting should be used. The idea } being to match the capturing info with the amount of pixels the printer can } resolve to minimize interpolation...be it upwards or downwards. Not sure } what the human eye can resolve tho. } } Good Luck, } Harry Ekstrom } }
Does anyone have or know of a good reference on EM lab safety? I thought there was a book called "Safety in the EM Laboratory"...but I haven't been able to find it. Probably imagined it.
FEI Company Celebrates 50 Years Philips Electron Microscopy with an Anniversary Image Contest (Calling all microscopists!)
Fifty years ago, we delivered the first Philips electron microscope. Since then, our TEMs and SEMs are used for all kinds of applications.
To celebrate the occasion, we're inviting all Philips electron microscope users all over the world to join our special Anniversary Image Contest.
To enter, simply submit prints of one or two of your best images made with a Philips electron microscope, showing the original data bar. Prints only, please! Closing date: 31 July 1999
WIN 1,000 EURO*!
Our jury panel of experts will select the best ten images, five in Life Science and five in Material Science. All ten winners will each be awarded a prize of 1000 Euro*. The winners will be announced in August 1999 on the FEI website at www.feic.com.
The following details must accompany each entry: * Name and contact address of owner * Category: Life Science or Material Science * Description of subject * Type of instrument used * Electron optic magnification * Magnification of print
Please submit your entry to: FEI Company 50 Years Philips EM Celebration P.O. Box 218 5600 MD EINDHOVEN The Netherlands
Digital images cannot be accepted for practical reasons. All submissions must be free of any legal obligations. All entries remain property of their original owners, but contestants consent to the use of their entries for promotional purposes by FEI Company without further compensation. Prizes are not transferable. Taxes are the sole responsibility of the winners. Contest rules are available on the company's website (www.feic.com) or can be requested by fax to +31 40 276 6587. FEI Company will not enter into any other correspondence regarding this contest.
*Actual prize will be the equivalent value in the winner's local currency
Yev, You might try Cell-Tak from Collaborative Biomedical Products, Two Oak Park, Bedford, Mass. 617-275-0004. This is the isolated mussel adhesion protein (map) the marine mussels and barnacles use to attach themselves to rocks and boats etc. It is commonly used by people perform atomic force microscopy to attach their molecules to a surface.
Images & Info at http://www.molbio.princeton.edu/confocal {http://www.molbio.princeton.edu/confocal}
Joseph Goodhouse Confocal / EM Core Laboratory Department of Molecular Biology Princeton University jgoodhouse-at-molbio.princeton.edu {mailto:Jgoodhouse-at-molbio.princeton.edu}
609-258-5432
-----Original Message----- From: Yevgeniya Zastavker [mailto:zhenya-at-critical.mit.edu] Sent: Monday, March 08, 1999 10:43 AM To: microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com Cc: Yevgeniya Zastavker Subject: adhesive for lipids
------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 working with self-assembled microstructures that are composed of a sterol and a phosphatidylcholine. I need to be able to attach these structures to glass or plastic walls of a chamber they grow in. What would you recommend? I have tried various commercially coated glass slides, super glue, jewel glue, leather glue, and almost any other glue I could think of. The problem is that my structures grow in an aqueous solution, and I was not able to find an adhesive which would not only glue the structures (super glue did the job actually), but also not dissolve in water.
I would greatly appreciate your suggestions and comments.
Thank you in advance -- Yevgeniya Zastavker.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Yevgeniya V. Zastavker Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Biophysics 77 Massachusetts Ave, Room 13-2038 Cambridge, MA 02139 (617) 253-4826
I think an inexpensive inkjet is the way to go. However, you must try to set the DPI of the printer to match the resolution setting of your digital images. If you capture a digital image at 1024 X800 for instance, you have about 820K of information. Now lets say you plan to print a 4X5 image similar to a Polaroid, then your printer should be no less than 300dpi {4"x5" x (300)2=1.8Mpixel} to accommodate the amount of pixel information from the capturing rate of the image. Hence, a 2048X1600 resolution setting captures 3.2 Mpixels of info, so a 400DPI setting should be used. The idea being to match the capturing info with the amount of pixels the printer can resolve to minimize interpolation...be it upwards or downwards. Not sure what the human eye can resolve tho.
I just scanned through postings about processing tissue cultures and coverslips for TEM, but I didn't see anything on processing cells grown on 8 well Permanox slides. I will be embedding in PolyBed 812, with a transition through propylene oxide. Unfortunately, the wells don't survive the p.o. step. I would appreciate hearing about any experiences with Permanox slides. Thank you very much.
Sandy Perkins
Laboratory for Neurotoxicity Studies Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine Virginia Tech
I agree that you must match the print resolution to the image resolution, but take some exception with your math.
At the crux of the issue is how many printer pixels are required to represent a single image pixel with a satisfactory level of gray or color scale resolution. While a dye sub printer conceptually requires only a single pixel to render the whole range of colors or gray scales, an inkjet printer may require multiple pixels based on the technology used. If an ink jet can only be tunred on and off (like a laser printer), then dithering will be required over a number of pixels to give the appearance of shades of color. More pixels will be needed for smoother or finer gradations. Now I think I heard that new inkjet printers can control the amount of ink at each pixel so that they approach the dye-subs in using only one printer pixel per one image pixel. However, I think better results would be had by allowing something like an 6x6 printer pixel pattern for each image pixel.
Using those assumptions, a 1024x800 image would require 6144x4800 pixels in a 5x4 inch space which requires 1200 dpi printer resolution. Doubling the image resolution to 2048 requires doubling the printer resolution to 2400 dpi. However, the limited resolution (both spatial and color) of the human eye may permit decent images with much less printer resolution, but there would be some loss of image detail.
At 03:11 PM 3/8/99 -0700, Ekstrom, Harry wrote: } } I think an inexpensive inkjet is the way to go. However, you must try to } set the DPI of the printer to match the resolution setting of your digital } images. If you capture a digital image at 1024 X800 for instance, you have } about 820K of information. Now lets say you plan to print a 4X5 image } similar to a Polaroid, then your printer should be no less than 300dpi } {4"x5" x (300)2=1.8Mpixel} to accommodate the amount of pixel information } from the capturing rate of the image. Hence, a 2048X1600 resolution setting } captures 3.2 Mpixels of info, so a 400DPI setting should be used. The idea } being to match the capturing info with the amount of pixels the printer can } resolve to minimize interpolation...be it upwards or downwards. Not sure } what the human eye can resolve tho. } } Good Luck, } Harry Ekstrom
---------------------------------------------------- Warren E. Straszheim 23 Town Engineering Iowa State University Ames IA, 50011-3232
I have an address for Electron Microscopy Safety Handbook. 2nd Edition. 1994. $15.00 Barber, V.C. and J.A. Mascorro (Eds)
San Francisco Press, Box 428600 San Francisco, CA 94142-6800
Hopefully it is still in print, Sally -- Sally Burns Center for Electron Optics B5 Center for Integrated Plant Systems E. Lansing, MI 48824 (517) 355-5004 burnssal-at-pilot.msu.edu
We are electropolishing a two-phase alloy containing a Laves phase and a bcc solid solution. The bcc phase is mainly Vanadium and the Laves phase is mainly HfV2. We are experiencing preferential polishing of the bcc phase leading to marginal TEM specimen quality.
Reply to: RE: Electropolishing of Hf alloy Try adding about 5% acetic acid, polish at -40 C, 100 volts.
Alternate polish: (worked on V-20Ti) = 5.3 g lithium chloride Temp=3D -50 C 11.1 g magnesium perchlorate voltage=3D 190-200 500 ml methanol current=3D 40-50 mA 100 ml butyl cellosolve
Above done with a South Bay 550-B single jet polisher in 1985. A notation mentions even grain boundaries. =
Bernie Kestel Materials Science Division Argonne National Laboratory Argonne, Il., 60439 E-mail {kestel-at-anl.gov} 100 ml butyl cellosolve David E. Luzzi wrote: } We are electropolishing a two-phase alloy containing a Laves phase and a = bcc } solid solution. The bcc phase is mainly Vanadium and the Laves phase is } mainly HfV2. We are experiencing preferential polishing of the bcc phase } leading to marginal TEM specimen quality. } } Our solution is H2SO4 / Methanol / HF / butyl cellusolve } } Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks in advance. } } David E. Luzzi } Department of Materials Science } University of Pennsylvania } 3231 Walnut Street } Philadelphia, PA 19104-6272 } } 215-898-8366 } 215-573-2128 - fax } luzzi-at-lrsm.upenn.edu {mailto:luzzi-at-lrsm.upenn.edu} } } } } RFC822 header } ----------------------------------- } } Received: from dns2.anl.gov (dns2.anl.gov [146.139.254.3]) by = } horus.et.anl.gov (8.6.11/8.6.11) with ESMTP id NAA23584 for {kestel-at-horus.= et.anl.gov} ; Tue, 9 = } Mar 1999 13:42:50 -0600 } Received: from Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (sparc5.microscopy.com = } [206.69.208.10]) by dns2.anl.gov (8.9.1a/8.6.11) with SMTP id NAA21456; = Tue, 9 Mar 1999 = } 13:42:50 -0600 (CST) } Received: (from daemon-at-localhost) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.= 11) = } id NAA12717 for dist-Microscopy; Tue, 9 Mar 1999 13:07:10 -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 NAA12703 for = } "MicroscopyFilteredEmail-at-msa.microscopy.com"; Tue, 9 Mar 1999 13:06:39 -= 0600 } Received: from sol1.lrsm.upenn.edu (SOL1.LRSM.UPENN.EDU [130.91.56.35]) = by = } Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) with ESMTP id NAA12692 for = } {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} ; Tue, 9 Mar 1999 13:06:24 -0600 } Received: from Luzzi.sol1.lrsm.upenn.edu (LRSM221PC.LRSM.UPENN.EDU = } [130.91.56.249]) } by sol1.lrsm.upenn.edu (8.8.5/8.8.4) with SMTP } id OAA08509 for {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} ; Tue, 9 Mar 1999 = } 14:23:08 -0500 (EST) } From: "David E. Luzzi" {luzzi-at-sol1.lrsm.upenn.edu} } To: {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} } Subject: Electropolictropoliing of Hf alloy } Date: Tue, 9 Mar 1999 14:22:45 -0500 } Message-ID: {001001be6a62$36779b20$f9385b82-at-Luzzi.sol1.lrsm.upenn.edu} } MIME-Version: 1.0 } boundary=3D"----=3D_NextPart_000_0011_01BE6A38.4DAABAE0" } X-Priority: 3 (Normal) } X-MSMail-Priority: Normal } X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook 8.5, Build 4.71.2232.26 } X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V4.72.2106.4 } Importance: Normal } X-MS-TNEF-Correlator: 00000000CB8AF9838A20D111B1C200C04FDF38E4A42E5600 } Errors-to: Microscopy-request-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Content-Type: multipart/mixed; } boundary=3D"----=3D_NextPart_000_0011_01BE6A38.4DAABAE0" } Content-Length: 3968 } Status: = } --====48555149575755524855===1 Content-Type: text/html; charset="US-Ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
{HTML} {HEAD} {/HEAD} {BODY} {PRE = WIDTH=3D"132"} Reply to: RE: Electropolishing of Hf alloy
{/PRE} {FONT FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D3 COLOR=3D"#000000"} Try = adding about 5% acetic acid, polish at -40 = C, 100 volts. {BR} {BR} Alternate polish: = (worked on V-20Ti) {BR} {BR} 5.3 = g lithium chloride = Temp=3D -50 C {BR} 11.1 g magnesium perchlorate = voltage=3D 190-200 {BR} 500 ml methanol = current=3D 40-50 = mA {BR} 100 ml butyl cellosolve {BR} {BR} = Above done with a South Bay 550-B single = jet polisher in 1985. {BR} A notation mentions = even grain boundaries. {BR} {BR} Bernie = Kestel {BR} Materials Science Division {BR} = Argonne National Laboratory {BR} Argonne, = Il., 60439 E-mail = <kestel-at-anl.gov> {BR} 100 ml = butyl cellosolve {BR} David E. Luzzi wrote: {/FONT} {FONT = FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#000000"} {BR} >We are electropolishing = a two-phase alloy containing a Laves phase = and a bcc {BR} >solid solution. The bcc = phase is mainly Vanadium and the Laves phase = is {BR} >mainly HfV2. We are experiencing = preferential polishing of the bcc phase {BR} >leading = to marginal TEM specimen quality. {BR} > {BR} >Our = solution is H2SO4 / Methanol / HF / butyl = cellusolve {BR} > {BR} >Does anyone have = any suggestions? Thanks in advance. {BR} > {BR} >David = E. Luzzi {BR} >Department of Materials Science {BR} >University = of Pennsylvania {BR} >3231 Walnut Street {BR} >Philadelphia, = PA 19104-6272 {BR} > {BR} >215-898-8366 {BR} >215-573-2128 = - fax {BR} > {/FONT} {FONT FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#0000FF"} {U} luzzi-at-lrsm.= upenn.edu {/U} {/FONT} {FONT = FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#000000"} < {/FONT} {FONT FACE=3D"= Geneva" SIZE=3D1 = COLOR=3D"#0000FF"} {U} mailto:luzzi-at-lrsm.upenn.edu {/U} {/FONT} {FONT = FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#000000"} > {BR} > {BR} > {BR} > {BR} >RFC822 = header {BR} >----------------------------------- {BR} > {BR} > = Received: from dns2.anl.gov (dns2.anl.gov = [146.139.254.3]) by {BR} >horus.et.anl.gov = (8.6.11/8.6.11) with ESMTP id NAA23584 for = < {/FONT} {FONT FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#0000FF"} {U} kestel-at-= horus.et.anl.gov {/U} {/FONT} {FONT = FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#000000"} >; Tue, 9 {BR} >Mar = 1999 13:42:50 -0600 {BR} > Received: from = Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (sparc5.microscopy.com = {BR} >[206.69.208.10]) by dns2.anl.gov = (8.9.1a/8.6.11) with SMTP id NAA21456; Tue, = 9 Mar 1999 {BR} >13:42:50 -0600 (CST) {BR} > = Received: (from {/FONT} {FONT FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#0000FF"} {U} = daemon-at-localhost {/U} {/FONT} {FONT = FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#000000"} ) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com = (8.6.11/8.6.11) {BR} >id NAA12717 for dist-Microscopy; = Tue, 9 Mar 1999 13:07:10 -0600 {BR} > Received: = from no_more_spam.com (Sparc5 [206.69.208.10]) = by {BR} >Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) =
Arizona Imaging and Microanalysis Society Annual Spring Meeting Thursday, March 11, 1999 University of Arizona Student Union Sr. Ballroom
There is no registration fee.
8:30 - 9:00 Registration
9:00 - 9:15 Welcome Dr. Clark Lantz, President AIMS
9:15 - 10:15 Microanalysis Society Tour Speaker - Applications of SEM/EDX to forensic cases and research related to food product and pharmaceutical tampering and counterfeiting. Dr. Frank Platek, US Food and Drug Administration
10:15 - 10:30 Break
10:30 - 10:55 Metals as documents: some uses of imaging and microanalysis in African history. Dr. David Killick, Anthropology, University of Arizona
10:55 - 11:20 Visualizing surfactant aggregation with atomic force microscopy Jon Wolgemuth, Physics, University of Arizona
11:20 - 11:45 Multi-parametric analysis of cell function in 2- and 3- dimensions by spectral imaging microscopy Dr. Ron Lynch, Physiology, University of Arizona
11:35 - 1:30 Lunch AIMS Business Meeting
1:30 - 1:55 In situ molecular imaging of stress proteins and oxidative damage Dr. Claire Payne, Microbiology & Immunology University of Arizona
1:55 - 2:20 Determining the functional signficance of cytoskeletal proteins using microinjection and transfection techniques Dr. Carol Gregorio, Cell Biology and Anatomy University of Arizona
2:20 - 2:45 Fiberoptic Confocal Microscope for In Vivo Imaging Dr. Art Gmitro, Radiology, University of Arizona
2:45 - 3:00 Break
3:00 - 5:00 Student Presentations
5:30 - 7:30 Banquet ($12 for dinner, contact Suzanne Kelly {suekelly-at-ag.arizona.edu} to reserve dinner)
Microscopy Society of America Tour Speaker - Digital manipulation of acquired images: What is possible vs what is ethical Dr. Jack Kinnamon, University of Denver
.................................................................... : Douglas W. Cromey, M.S. Dept. of Cell Biology & Anatomy : : Research Specialist, Principal University of Arizona : : (office: AHSC 4212A) P.O. Box 245044 : : (voice: 520-626-2824) Tucson, AZ 85724-5044 USA : : (FAX: 520-626-2097) (email: doug-cromey-at-ns.arizona.edu): :...................................................................: http://www.pharmacy.arizona.edu/exp_path.html Home of: "Microscopy and Imaging Resources on the WWW"
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Reply to: RE: Processing of micro-injected cells for TEM Dear Raija,
If you are to microinject cells, then the best support is one that gives = access for your needles. I am sure you would prefer to use coverslips. = The material you use will depend on your cells but glass usually works = well. Get the coverslips that have locator grids etched onto them. It is = important to know if you plan to examine the cells for morphology or if = you want to immunolabel them. I will assume you only want to look at = their morphology.
Once you have micro-injected cells and know where they are on the grid (so = don't plate then at too high a density), fix with aldehyde, post fix with = osmium tetroxide, dehydrate and infiltrate with resin (as you would any = piece of tissue for TEM). During the final stages of infiltration (= acetone or propylene oxide) it is wise to transfer the cells, still on the = glass coverslip, to a glass or metal dish. Plastic will dissolve. =
Embed the glass in resin, cells up, at the bottom of an aluminum weigh = boat. Push the glass to the bottom of the dish and pour unpolymerized = resin over. Polymerize by heat and remove from the aluminum dish. Cut = the thin layer of resin away from the back of the coverslip to expose the = glass. Now you can remove the glass by plunging into liquid nitrogen and = rapidly warming few times. It will cause the block to crack but it does = work. Alteratively you can heat the resin, glass-down, on a hot plate and = slide the glass of.. Either way the cells will remain in the resin, as = will the grid locator lines. You should then be able to locate your cells = and cut sections. This is not as easy as I make it seem but it all has = been done before.
If you don't like the idea of embedding at the bottom of a dish, it is = also possible to embed the glass coverslip, cells to the resin, over BEEM = or gelatin capsules, or over flat embedding molds. You will still have to = remove the glass. You could use plastic coverslips and section them too, = but finding your cells will not be easy.
The second part of your question - is there anything you can inject to = identify the cells by EM. Yes, colloidal gold particles can be prepared = that can be microinjected into cells. However, if the gold suspension is = too concentrated it will block the needle. If it is too dilute, it will be= more difficult to detect by EM. =
Immunocytochemistry by request.
Regards,
Paul Webster
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 http://www.hei.org/htm/aemi.htm http://www.hei.org/htm/apw.htm
Raija Sormunen wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America =
by arl-img-10.compuserve.com (8.8.6/8.8.6/2.18) id DAA22626; Wed, 10 Mar 1999 03:04:50 -0500 (EST)
Hi,
The Royal Microscopical Society (Oxford England) produced a series of safety notes for its members that included - the microscopes, embedding a= nd fixation.
I have had use of some of these recently so I do know that they are still=
available.
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
Dear all, thanks for the tips preparing liposomes for TEM observations. In summary, most answers dealed with negativ staining of the liposomes. We' ve tried so and got good results for an overview. I added all replies to this meeages for all who're interested in this topic. Bernward 1.Don Gantz wrotes: To all who desired more info on fixing and staining of liposomes-- I apologize for the delay in my response. We had a major snowstorm and I lost a day. The initial query by Bernward Laube was about evaluating homogeneity of liposome suspensions ( {100nm diam) and estimating particle volumes. We have been using a osmium fix/negative stain technique for a number of years to look at size distribution of VLDL, chylomicrons, and synthetic lipid emulsions. The osmium fix firms up these particles nicely so that flattening is greatly reduced. In fact, based upon metal shadowing exps. the slight enlargement of diameter due to flattening after fixation is negated by slight shrinkage of particles during processing. The result is an excellent estimate of diameter and volume.
In regard to lipid vesicles/liposomes, our experience with smaller ones of 50nm or so prepared by sonication and processed with only negative stain is that they are preserved pretty well. We would expect some flattening although we have not shadowed these. However, with larger liposomes of 100nm+ diam, we believe OsO4 will aid in preservation and stability and presumably reduce flattening.
If one requires differentiation of lamellar structure (uni vs multi) among particles within a population, negative staining is unreliable because of variability of stain penetration. For this purpose, we use vitreous ice cryomicroscopy as we are fortunate to have it available.
In general our fixation/negative staining procedure is as follows:
1) Add 1 volume of 2% OsO4 in Cacodylate buffer to 2 volumes of emulsion or liposome prep. Fix for 30 mins.+
2) Place small aliquot on freshly flow-discharged carbon formvar-coated grid for a few seconds.
3) Remove and blot off excess fluid and immediately stain with 1% NaPT.
4) After a few seconds, remove and blot excess fluid. Air dry.
Optimum concentration is trial and error. Fixed suspension can be diluted as needed. Hope this helps. 2.Sheila Garcia wrotes:I've just finished my Doctorate Thesis, and I worked preparing liposome. I used phosphotungstic acid in 2% aq solution, neutralized with KOH 1M (PTK). But, before it, I used bacitracin 0,1mg/ml aq sol., as a wetting agent ( D.W.Gregory and B.J.S. Pirie-Journal of Microscopy, v.99,pt.3, dec. 1973,.261-265). Take a coated grid (carbon, formvar), put a drop of bacitracin sol. for 2 min. Draw off drop with with a piece of torn filter paper. Before the grid dries, add a drop of the liposome (a dilueted solution), draw off again and add a drop of PTK for 2 min. I hope it could help you. Profa. Dra. Sheila Garcia
Check out the following paper:
"Sequential treatment by phosphotungstic acid and uranyl acetate enhances the adherence of lipid membranes and membrane proteins to hydrophobic EM grids", A. N. Barnakov, Journal of Microscopy. Vol 175, Pt 2, August 1994, pp. 171-174. 3.Joe Neilly:Don,
Could you elaborate on how you would fix liposomes w/ Osmium tetroxide. We have tried the negative stain approach with some success but have to live with the obvious artifacts such as flattening. There are likely other artifacts caused by ionic or chemical changes of the stain. The chemical fixation sounds promising but I'm not sure how this could be done on a liquid sample. 4.Charles Garber:For your information, we have never been successful in quenching a sample fast enough (the larger sample used for SEM work) in order to keep the vesicles from rupturing. So we do this solely by freeze fracture TEM.
Do you know the name of Richard Banfield in the UK? He pretty much was the first person to really commercialize a cryo-SEM fracture system, when he owned the former Hexland Ltd. company and which was purchased by Oxford Instruments.
As of about three or four years ago, he confirmed to me that he too, had never been able to visualize liposomes via cryo SEM because of the quench rate and rupturing problem.
Should you figure out a way to quench and see the structures by SEM, a lot of us would like to know the secret! 5.Ming Chen:The easiest way to do is by negative staining technique. A 1-2% PTA (phosphotungstic acid) soultion is commonly used. It only take a few minutes to do and you can examine it under TEM to see the distribution of liposomes right away. 6. L.R. Melsen:We have looked at liposome using routine negative staining protocol. The vesicles will flatten upon drying, but simple math can reconstruct the volume of the sphere. 7. Charles Butterick: Try negative staining with a 2% ammonium molybdate (aq). Take a coated grid (carbon, formvar, etc.), put a drop of liposomes on top of the grid for a minute. Draw off drop with with a piece of torn filter paper. Before the grid dries, add a drop of the ammonium molybdate. After a minute, draw off drop as before and allow the grid(s) to dry. Take it to the TEM. The above procedure is only a starting point. The concentration, stain, and times can all be varied to achieve optimum results. You might check out some EM texts on negative staining for other ideas. Good luck. 8. Maria Ericsson: When I've prepared liposome suspensions for TEM I've just done a simple negative staining and it's worked fine. I adsorb the suspension to a carbon coated copper grid for about 1 minute, blot off excess liquid with a filterpaper and stain with 1-2% aqueous Uranyl Acetate for 1 minute and blot on a filterpaper again. (If there is phosphate in your buffer, you will need to wash in a drop of water before the Uranyl Acetate staining) 9. Marc Schmutz:To observe liposomes without cryo systems is quit a difficult purpose. Pure lipid systems can not be easily seen in negative staining (try always Uranyl acetate and PTA or other stains). And they generaly undergo severe structural changes during the staining process. So to calculate the volume I will not try to do it and furthermore I will not believe in a volume calculate from negative staining images. Myself I'm observing routinely liposomes pure or with proteins or DNA associated and I always use cryo TEM. It's really a easy approach and also very rapid. (You don't need more than half a day per specimen) As you said you don't have access to such a apparatus but why you don't consider collaborating with a lab equiped in cryo ? If you need some more infos about cryo you can ask me and I will try to help you.
Bernward Laube University of Bielefeld Faculty of Biology Department Plant Morphology and Cell Ultrastructure Universit„tsstrasse 25 Germany 33615 Bielefeld phone: +49 521 1065592 fax: +49 521 1066039 e-mail: b.laube-at-biologie.uni-bielefeld.de http://www.uni-bielefeld.de/biologie/Pflanzenmorphologie
This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --------------B73E5AA6C975623FC057F918 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
"...reflector may be either a highly polish metal surface or ...coated. The coating consists of a highly brilliant metallic deposit or a dielectric material." Principles & Practice of Laser Technology.
While both wood & paper are dielectric, their fine porosity would preclude 100% reflective. Typical light reflective number for paper would be 70%. Special paper grades can be much higher. In the case of a coherent laser beam, a porous surface or a surface comprised of fine particles would cause significant scattering.
'Laser marker' refers to a family of products that are used to put bar codes and other identifying markings on products. Since they mark by burning/evaporating away the surface, a marking laser would not work on a 100% reflective surface.
J. Roy Nelson Material Testing Laboratory jrnelson-at-nj1.aae.com
"melim-at-qes.po.my"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com wrote: } } Dear List, } Can anyone explain what does "Reflective" means in Laser Terminology . } } I read through a article in a Magazine regarding Laser Marker and in the article the mentioned that Wood and Paper is 100% reflective . I am lost and confuse } } M.E.Lim } Sr Regional Support Engineer } QES(Asia Pacific) Sdn Bhd } Tel : 603-7241188 ext 214 } Fax : 603-7244488 } Emails : melim-at-qes.po.my --------------B73E5AA6C975623FC057F918 Content-Type: text/x-vcard; charset=us-ascii; name="jrnelson.vcf" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Description: Card for jrnelson Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="jrnelson.vcf"
Dear all, thanks for the tips preparing liposomes for TEM observations. In summary, most answers dealed with negativ staining of the liposomes. We' ve tried so and got good results for an overview. I added all replies to this message for all those who're interested in this topic. Bernward 1.Don Gantz wrotes: To all who desired more info on fixing and staining of liposomes-- I apologize for the delay in my response. We had a major snowstorm and I lost a day. The initial query by Bernward Laube was about evaluating homogeneity of liposome suspensions ( {100nm diam) and estimating particle volumes. We have been using a osmium fix/negative stain technique for a number of years to look at size distribution of VLDL, chylomicrons, and synthetic lipid emulsions. The osmium fix firms up these particles nicely so that flattening is greatly reduced. In fact, based upon metal shadowing exps. the slight enlargement of diameter due to flattening after fixation is negated by slight shrinkage of particles during processing. The result is an excellent estimate of diameter and volume.
In regard to lipid vesicles/liposomes, our experience with smaller ones of 50nm or so prepared by sonication and processed with only negative stain is that they are preserved pretty well. We would expect some flattening although we have not shadowed these. However, with larger liposomes of 100nm+ diam, we believe OsO4 will aid in preservation and stability and presumably reduce flattening.
If one requires differentiation of lamellar structure (uni vs multi) among particles within a population, negative staining is unreliable because of variability of stain penetration. For this purpose, we use vitreous ice cryomicroscopy as we are fortunate to have it available.
In general our fixation/negative staining procedure is as follows:
1) Add 1 volume of 2% OsO4 in Cacodylate buffer to 2 volumes of emulsion or liposome prep. Fix for 30 mins.+
2) Place small aliquot on freshly flow-discharged carbon formvar-coated grid for a few seconds.
3) Remove and blot off excess fluid and immediately stain with 1% NaPT.
4) After a few seconds, remove and blot excess fluid. Air dry.
Optimum concentration is trial and error. Fixed suspension can be diluted as needed. Hope this helps. 2.Sheila Garcia wrotes:I've just finished my Doctorate Thesis, and I worked preparing liposome. I used phosphotungstic acid in 2% aq solution, neutralized with KOH 1M (PTK). But, before it, I used bacitracin 0,1mg/ml aq sol., as a wetting agent ( D.W.Gregory and B.J.S. Pirie-Journal of Microscopy, v.99,pt.3, dec. 1973,.261-265). Take a coated grid (carbon, formvar), put a drop of bacitracin sol. for 2 min. Draw off drop with with a piece of torn filter paper. Before the grid dries, add a drop of the liposome (a dilueted solution), draw off again and add a drop of PTK for 2 min. I hope it could help you. Profa. Dra. Sheila Garcia
Check out the following paper:
"Sequential treatment by phosphotungstic acid and uranyl acetate enhances the adherence of lipid membranes and membrane proteins to hydrophobic EM grids", A. N. Barnakov, Journal of Microscopy. Vol 175, Pt 2, August 1994, pp. 171-174. 3.Joe Neilly:Don,
Could you elaborate on how you would fix liposomes w/ Osmium tetroxide. We have tried the negative stain approach with some success but have to live with the obvious artifacts such as flattening. There are likely other artifacts caused by ionic or chemical changes of the stain. The chemical fixation sounds promising but I'm not sure how this could be done on a liquid sample. 4.Charles Garber:For your information, we have never been successful in quenching a sample fast enough (the larger sample used for SEM work) in order to keep the vesicles from rupturing. So we do this solely by freeze fracture TEM.
Do you know the name of Richard Banfield in the UK? He pretty much was the first person to really commercialize a cryo-SEM fracture system, when he owned the former Hexland Ltd. company and which was purchased by Oxford Instruments.
As of about three or four years ago, he confirmed to me that he too, had never been able to visualize liposomes via cryo SEM because of the quench rate and rupturing problem.
Should you figure out a way to quench and see the structures by SEM, a lot of us would like to know the secret! 5.Ming Chen:The easiest way to do is by negative staining technique. A 1-2% PTA (phosphotungstic acid) soultion is commonly used. It only take a few minutes to do and you can examine it under TEM to see the distribution of liposomes right away. 6. L.R. Melsen:We have looked at liposome using routine negative staining protocol. The vesicles will flatten upon drying, but simple math can reconstruct the volume of the sphere. 7. Charles Butterick: Try negative staining with a 2% ammonium molybdate (aq). Take a coated grid (carbon, formvar, etc.), put a drop of liposomes on top of the grid for a minute. Draw off drop with with a piece of torn filter paper. Before the grid dries, add a drop of the ammonium molybdate. After a minute, draw off drop as before and allow the grid(s) to dry. Take it to the TEM. The above procedure is only a starting point. The concentration, stain, and times can all be varied to achieve optimum results. You might check out some EM texts on negative staining for other ideas. Good luck. 8. Maria Ericsson: When I've prepared liposome suspensions for TEM I've just done a simple negative staining and it's worked fine. I adsorb the suspension to a carbon coated copper grid for about 1 minute, blot off excess liquid with a filterpaper and stain with 1-2% aqueous Uranyl Acetate for 1 minute and blot on a filterpaper again. (If there is phosphate in your buffer, you will need to wash in a drop of water before the Uranyl Acetate staining) 9. Marc Schmutz:To observe liposomes without cryo systems is quit a difficult purpose. Pure lipid systems can not be easily seen in negative staining (try always Uranyl acetate and PTA or other stains). And they generaly undergo severe structural changes during the staining process. So to calculate the volume I will not try to do it and furthermore I will not believe in a volume calculate from negative staining images. Myself I'm observing routinely liposomes pure or with proteins or DNA associated and I always use cryo TEM. It's really a easy approach and also very rapid. (You don't need more than half a day per specimen) As you said you don't have access to such a apparatus but why you don't consider collaborating with a lab equiped in cryo ? If you need some more infos about cryo you can ask me and I will try to help you.
Bernward Laube University of Bielefeld =46aculty of Biology Department Plant Morphology and Cell Ultrastructure Universit=D1tsstrasse 25 Germany 33615 Bielefeld phone: +49 521 1065592 fax: +49 521 1066039 e-mail: b.laube-at-biologie.uni-bielefeld.de http://www.uni-bielefeld.de/biologie/Pflanzenmorphologie
We use 4 and 8 well Labtek=A9 Chamber Slides (permanox slides).... substituting Ethanol for the Propylene Oxide. They are my favorite slides for processing cell cultures.
See the following publication for more information:
"Subcellular Localization of SV2 and Other Secretory Vesicle Components in PC12 Cells by an Efficient Method of Preembedding EM Immunocytochemistry for Cell Cultures", Tanner, Ploug and Tao-Cheng, Journal of Histochemistry and Cyrtochemistry, Vol. 44, No. 12, pp. 1481-1488, 1996.
If you have any questions.. feel free to contact me.
Virginia Tanner Crocker
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
******************************************************************* Virginia Tanner Crocker Biologist NIH, NINDS EM Facility, Bldg 36, Room 3B24 Bethesda, MD 20892
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Thanks to all who replied. The ETEC has been spoken for. If for some = reason it does not leave as scheduled I will keep the names of those who = responded, just in case, since it MUST GO.
Thanks again, Judy Murphy
Judy Murphy Microscopy Technology Center San Joaquin Delta College 5151 Pacific Ave Stockton, CA 95207 209/954-5284 FAX 209/954-5600 e-mail; jmurphy-at-sjdccd.cc.ca.us
by mail-ewr-3.pilot.net (Pilot/8.8.8) with ESMTP id MAA19999; Wed, 10 Mar 1999 12:27:37 -0500 (EST) Received: from ridexch1.rid.com ([148.189.116.16]) by mailgw.bi-pharm.com with ESMTP id MAA24037; Wed, 10 Mar 1999 12:28:05 -0500 (EST) Received: by RIDEXCH1 with Internet Mail Service (5.5.2232.9) id {F437PDQP} ; Wed, 10 Mar 1999 12:27:36 -0500 Message-ID: {5063A0AB7328D211BCAA0008C7A4467704758B-at-RIDMSG05}
Sandy:
The p.o. step is not necessary. Dehydration with any of the 812 replacements can be done through EtOH alone. I use at least 3x 100%, then grade thru the EtOH:epoxy at 2:1, 1:1 and 1:2, then into pure resin. The only caveat is that the EtOH and resin must be very carefully mixed--both to ensure complete mixing and to avoid the creation of bubbles in the mix. I also use only freshly prepared resin once I reach the 1:1 stage, but have had no problem using older batches that were stored at -20 C and thawed just prior to use.
Roger Moretz Toxicology & Safety Assessment
} -----Original Message----- } From: Sandy Perkins [SMTP:skperkin-at-vt.edu] } Sent: Tuesday, March 09, 1999 11:01 AM } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: TEM-cells on Permanox slides } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 just scanned through postings about processing tissue cultures and } coverslips for TEM, but I didn't see anything on processing cells grown on } 8 well Permanox slides. I will be embedding in PolyBed 812, with a } transition through propylene oxide. Unfortunately, the wells don't } survive } the p.o. step. I would appreciate hearing about any experiences with } Permanox slides. Thank you very much. } } Sandy Perkins } } Laboratory for Neurotoxicity Studies } Virginia-Maryland Regional College } of Veterinary Medicine } Virginia Tech } }
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America=20
Dear all, thanks for the tips preparing liposomes for TEM observations. I= n summary, most answers dealed with negativ staining of the liposomes. We' ve tried so and got good results for an overview. I added all replies to this message for all those who're interested in this topic. Bernward 1.Don Gantz wrotes: To all who desired more info on fixing and staining of liposomes-= - I apologize for the delay in my response. We had a major snowstorm and I lost a day. The initial query by Bernward Laube was about evaluating homogeneity of liposome suspensions ( {100nm diam) and estimating particle volumes. We have been using a osmium fix/negative stain technique for a number of years to look at size distribution of VLDL, chylomicrons, and syntheti= c lipid emulsions. The osmium fix firms up these particles nicely so that flattening is greatly reduced. In fact, based upon metal shadowing exps. the slight enlargement of diameter due to flattening after fixation is negated by slight shrinkage of particles during processing. The result i= s an excellent estimate of diameter and volume.
In regard to lipid vesicles/liposomes, our experience with smaller ones of 50nm or so prepared by sonication and processed with only negative stain is that they are preserved pretty well. We would expect some flattening although we have not shadowed these. However, wit= h larger liposomes of 100nm+ diam, we believe OsO4 will aid in preservation and stability and presumably reduce flattening.
If one requires differentiation of lamellar structure (uni vs multi) among particles within a population, negative staining is unreliable because of variability of stain penetration. For this purpose, we use vitreous ice cryomicroscopy as we are fortunate to have it available.
In general our fixation/negative staining procedure is as follows:
1) Add 1 volume of 2% OsO4 in Cacodylate buffer to 2 volumes of emulsion or liposome prep. Fix for 30 mins.+
2) Place small aliquot on freshly flow-discharged carbon formvar-coated grid for a few seconds.
3) Remove and blot off excess fluid and immediately stain with 1% NaPT.
4) After a few seconds, remove and blot excess fluid. Air dry.
Optimum concentration is trial and error. Fixed suspension can be diluted as needed. Hope this helps. 2.Sheila Garcia wrotes:I've just finished my Doctorate Thesis, and I worked preparing liposome. I used phosphotungstic acid in 2% aq solution, neutralized with KOH 1M (PTK). But, before it, I used bacitracin 0,1mg/ml aq sol., as a wetting agent ( D.W.Gregory and B.J.S. Pirie-Journal of Microscopy, v.99,pt.3, dec. 1973,.261-265). Take a coated grid (carbon, formvar), put a drop of bacitracin sol. for 2 min. Draw off drop with with a piece of torn filter paper. Before the grid dries, add a drop of the liposome (a dilueted solution), draw off again and add a drop of PTK for = 2 min. I hope it could help you. Profa. Dra. Sheila Garcia
Check out the following paper:
"Sequential treatment by phosphotungstic acid and uranyl acetate enhances the adherence of lipid membranes and membrane proteins to hydrophobic EM grids", A. N. Barnakov, Journal of Microscopy. Vol 175, Pt 2, August 1994, pp. 171-174. 3.Joe Neilly:Don,
Could you elaborate on how you would fix liposomes w/ Osmium tetroxide. W= e have tried the negative stain approach with some success but have to live with the obvious artifacts such as flattening. There are likely other artifacts caused by ionic or chemical changes of the stain. The chemical fixation sounds promising but I'm not sure how this could be done on a liquid sample. 4.Charles Garber:For your information, we have never been successful in quenching a sample fast enough (the larger sample used for SEM work) in order to keep the vesicles from rupturing. So we do this solely by freeze fracture TEM.
Do you know the name of Richard Banfield in the UK? He pretty much was the first person to really commercialize a cryo-SEM fracture system, when he owned the former Hexland Ltd. company and which was purchased by Oxfor= d Instruments.
As of about three or four years ago, he confirmed to me that he too, had never been able to visualize liposomes via cryo SEM because of the quench rate and rupturing problem.
Should you figure out a way to quench and see the structures by SEM, a lo= t of us would like to know the secret! 5.Ming Chen:The easiest way to do is by negative staining technique. A 1-2% PTA (phosphotungstic acid) soultio= n is commonly used. It only take a few minutes to do and you can examine it under TEM to see the distribution of liposomes right away. 6. L.R. Melsen:We have looked at liposome using routine negative staining protocol. The vesicles will flatten upon drying, but simple math can reconstruct the volume of the sphere. 7. Charles Butterick: Try negative staining with a 2% ammonium molybdate (aq). Take a coated grid (carbon, formvar, etc.), put a drop of liposomes on top of the grid for a minute. Draw off drop with with a piece of torn filter paper. Before the grid dries, add a drop of the ammonium molybdate. After a minute, draw off drop as before and allow the grid(s) to dry. Take it to the TEM. The above procedure is only a starting point. The concentration, stain, and times can all be varied to achieve optimum results. You might check out some EM text= s on negative staining for other ideas. Good luck. 8. Maria Ericsson: When I've prepared liposome suspensions for TEM I've just done a simple negative staining and it's worked fine. I adsorb the suspension to a carbon coated copper grid for about 1 minute, blot off excess liquid with a filterpaper and stain with 1-2% aqueous Uranyl Acetate for 1 minute and blot on a filterpaper again. (If there is phosphate in your buffer, you will need to wash in a drop of water before the Uranyl Acetate staining) 9. Marc Schmutz:To observe liposomes without cryo systems is quit a difficult purpose. Pure lipid systems can not be easily seen in negative staining (try always Uranyl acetate and PTA or other stains). And they generaly undergo severe structural changes during the staining process. So to calculate the volume I will not try to do it and furthermore I will not believe in a volume calculate from negative staining images. Myself I'm observing routinely liposomes pure or with proteins or DNA associated and I always use cryo TEM. It's really a easy approach and also very rapid. (You don't need more than half a day per specimen) As you said you don't have access to such a apparatus but why you don't consider collaborating with a lab equiped in cryo ? If you need some more infos about cryo you can ask me and I will try to help you.
Bernward Laube University of Bielefeld Faculty of Biology Department Plant Morphology and Cell Ultrastructure Universit=D1tsstrasse 25 Germany 33615 Bielefeld phone: +49 521 1065592 fax: +49 521 1066039 e-mail: b.laube-at-biologie.uni-bielefeld.de http://www.uni-bielefeld.de/biologie/Pflanzenmorphologie
Hello, Does anyone have a suggesstion on how to fix/reset the advance mechanism to a reichert e ultramicrotome. The mechanism on the left side (0.5 um to 2 um advance) does not work, I have to get close with the coarse knife advance then use the electronic advance which makes alignment tedious. Thanks
We are thinking of purchasing a negative scanner for use with TEM negatives from our Jeol 2000-FX, and also for SEM negatives. A scanner has been recommended to us: the Agfa Duoscan T2500, which has a resolution (hardware) of 1250 x 2500 dpi and a density of 3.4D. (The scans would be output to a Kodak DS 8650 PS printer)
We need the quality of the scans to match the quality of the standard darkroom enlarger if possible, as we would like to 'go digital' at least for routine work. Does anyone have experience of routine negative scanning for TEM prints, with this or other scanners, and if so, is it realistic to expect such high quality?
Also, what additional image processing software would people recommend we got to go along with this?
Any advice would be appreciated.
Caspar
Caspar McConville, Ph.D. Technical Specialist New York State College of Ceramics Alfred University
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America=20
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America=20
Dear all, thanks for the tips preparing liposomes for TEM observations. I= n summary, most answers dealed with negativ staining of the liposomes. We' ve tried so and got good results for an overview. I added all replies to this message for all those who're interested in this topic. Bernward 1.Don Gantz wrotes: To all who desired more info on fixing and staining of liposomes-= - I apologize for the delay in my response. We had a major snowstorm and I lost a day. The initial query by Bernward Laube was about evaluating homogeneity of liposome suspensions ( {100nm diam) and estimating particle volumes. We have been using a osmium fix/negative stain technique for a number of years to look at size distribution of VLDL, chylomicrons, and syntheti= c lipid emulsions. The osmium fix firms up these particles nicely so that flattening is greatly reduced. In fact, based upon metal shadowing exps. the slight enlargement of diameter due to flattening after fixation is negated by slight shrinkage of particles during processing. The result i= s an excellent estimate of diameter and volume.
In regard to lipid vesicles/liposomes, our experience with smaller ones of 50nm or so prepared by sonication and processed with only negative stain is that they are preserved pretty well. We would expect some flattening although we have not shadowed these. However, wit= h larger liposomes of 100nm+ diam, we believe OsO4 will aid in preservation and stability and presumably reduce flattening.
If one requires differentiation of lamellar structure (uni vs multi) among particles within a population, negative staining is unreliable because of variability of stain penetration. For this purpose, we use vitreous ice cryomicroscopy as we are fortunate to have it available.
In general our fixation/negative staining procedure is as follows:
1) Add 1 volume of 2% OsO4 in Cacodylate buffer to 2 volumes of emulsion or liposome prep. Fix for 30 mins.+
2) Place small aliquot on freshly flow-discharged carbon formvar-coated grid for a few seconds.
3) Remove and blot off excess fluid and immediately stain with 1% NaPT.
4) After a few seconds, remove and blot excess fluid. Air dry.
Optimum concentration is trial and error. Fixed suspension can be diluted as needed. Hope this helps. 2.Sheila Garcia wrotes:I've just finished my Doctorate Thesis, and I worked preparing liposome. I used phosphotungstic acid in 2% aq solution, neutralized with KOH 1M (PTK). But, before it, I used bacitracin 0,1mg/ml aq sol., as a wetting agent ( D.W.Gregory and B.J.S. Pirie-Journal of Microscopy, v.99,pt.3, dec. 1973,.261-265). Take a coated grid (carbon, formvar), put a drop of bacitracin sol. for 2 min. Draw off drop with with a piece of torn filter paper. Before the grid dries, add a drop of the liposome (a dilueted solution), draw off again and add a drop of PTK for = 2 min. I hope it could help you. Profa. Dra. Sheila Garcia
Check out the following paper:
"Sequential treatment by phosphotungstic acid and uranyl acetate enhances the adherence of lipid membranes and membrane proteins to hydrophobic EM grids", A. N. Barnakov, Journal of Microscopy. Vol 175, Pt 2, August 1994, pp. 171-174. 3.Joe Neilly:Don,
Could you elaborate on how you would fix liposomes w/ Osmium tetroxide. W= e have tried the negative stain approach with some success but have to live with the obvious artifacts such as flattening. There are likely other artifacts caused by ionic or chemical changes of the stain. The chemical fixation sounds promising but I'm not sure how this could be done on a liquid sample. 4.Charles Garber:For your information, we have never been successful in quenching a sample fast enough (the larger sample used for SEM work) in order to keep the vesicles from rupturing. So we do this solely by freeze fracture TEM.
Do you know the name of Richard Banfield in the UK? He pretty much was the first person to really commercialize a cryo-SEM fracture system, when he owned the former Hexland Ltd. company and which was purchased by Oxfor= d Instruments.
As of about three or four years ago, he confirmed to me that he too, had never been able to visualize liposomes via cryo SEM because of the quench rate and rupturing problem.
Should you figure out a way to quench and see the structures by SEM, a lo= t of us would like to know the secret! 5.Ming Chen:The easiest way to do is by negative staining technique. A 1-2% PTA (phosphotungstic acid) soultio= n is commonly used. It only take a few minutes to do and you can examine it under TEM to see the distribution of liposomes right away. 6. L.R. Melsen:We have looked at liposome using routine negative staining protocol. The vesicles will flatten upon drying, but simple math can reconstruct the volume of the sphere. 7. Charles Butterick: Try negative staining with a 2% ammonium molybdate (aq). Take a coated grid (carbon, formvar, etc.), put a drop of liposomes on top of the grid for a minute. Draw off drop with with a piece of torn filter paper. Before the grid dries, add a drop of the ammonium molybdate. After a minute, draw off drop as before and allow the grid(s) to dry. Take it to the TEM. The above procedure is only a starting point. The concentration, stain, and times can all be varied to achieve optimum results. You might check out some EM text= s on negative staining for other ideas. Good luck. 8. Maria Ericsson: When I've prepared liposome suspensions for TEM I've just done a simple negative staining and it's worked fine. I adsorb the suspension to a carbon coated copper grid for about 1 minute, blot off excess liquid with a filterpaper and stain with 1-2% aqueous Uranyl Acetate for 1 minute and blot on a filterpaper again. (If there is phosphate in your buffer, you will need to wash in a drop of water before the Uranyl Acetate staining) 9. Marc Schmutz:To observe liposomes without cryo systems is quit a difficult purpose. Pure lipid systems can not be easily seen in negative staining (try always Uranyl acetate and PTA or other stains). And they generaly undergo severe structural changes during the staining process. So to calculate the volume I will not try to do it and furthermore I will not believe in a volume calculate from negative staining images. Myself I'm observing routinely liposomes pure or with proteins or DNA associated and I always use cryo TEM. It's really a easy approach and also very rapid. (You don't need more than half a day per specimen) As you said you don't have access to such a apparatus but why you don't consider collaborating with a lab equiped in cryo ? If you need some more infos about cryo you can ask me and I will try to help you.
Bernward Laube University of Bielefeld Faculty of Biology Department Plant Morphology and Cell Ultrastructure Universit=D1tsstrasse 25 Germany 33615 Bielefeld phone: +49 521 1065592 fax: +49 521 1066039 e-mail: b.laube-at-biologie.uni-bielefeld.de http://www.uni-bielefeld.de/biologie/Pflanzenmorphologie
I'm trying to cobble together a new probe. So far, I have one WDS spectrometer which used to be on an 840. Can anyone tell me exactly which JEOL SEMs it will fit on to? I am pretty sure it will go onto 6300 and 6400, and maybe also the 733. So far I've had no luck getting this info from JEOL, but if someone within their organisation can help, great. Also, does anyone know whether a two-crystal spectro can be transformed into a 4-crystal type? I've been told that it can't be done in the field, but can the factory do it?
Anybody got any more of these spectros that they'd be willing to sell? And maybe also an 840 or 840A?
thanks
Ritchie
Ritchie Sims Phone : 64 9 3737599 ext 7713 Department of Geology Fax : 64 9 3737435 The University of Auckland email : r.sims-at-auckland.ac.nz Private Bag 92019 Auckland New Zealand
I have been very happy with the results from my Polaroid Sprintscan 45 (~$8500). For a TEM neg, it will digitize at 2000dpi and it will output 12 bits. I can't remember the optical density but I think it is similar to what you are quoting here, but you can look it up on their web site. For a 35 mm slide, it will do 4000 dpi. You have to ask them for a special TEM negative carrier that fits into their 4x5 holder. I use 300 dpi as the standard for what kind of enlargement I can get because my HP 890C (which does a great job on photo deluxe paper) is 300 dpi and the two sub-dye printers that I have access to are both 300 dpi. This gives a usable enlargement factor of 2000/300 = 6.7x printing to these printers. It is also very quick. I think that Polaroid could definitely improve their user control interface a bit, but for the most part it works well. I have had some problems with the computer recognizing the scanner on two systems, (one with a Sprintscan 35 and the other with a Sprintscan 45) that have flatbed scanners attached and that are on. The solution is simply to turn the flatbed power off and reopen the program.
I think that the Duoscan is a flatbed. You have to be careful with putting the negatives on the glass because you can get Newton rings in you images. I have a Umax Powerlook II flatbed that is 600 x 1200 dpi that I sometimes use and you can sometimes see them. You need a mask to lift it off the glass. I have asked the listserver in the past if that defocuses the scanned image, but I did not get a satisfactory answer. I use the flatbed as a contact printer by scanning 6 images at once held in Neg-a-file sheets and digitizing to 150 dpi. This is the minimum value that I can still read the numbers on the JEOL negatives. This is actually better than making contacts prints in the darkroom, because I can select areas to adjust the contrast and brightness independently. This makes BF, DF, and diffraction images come out well even if they are on one sheet.
I highly recommend Adobe Photoshop (version 4 is what I have) coupled with John Russ' Image Processing Toolkit Plug-ins. I Import the images as 12 bits (16bit), adjust the levels to what I want, and then convert the images to 8 bits. You can then use all of Photoshop's features.
-Scott
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Glass Technology Center 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: Caspar McConville To: Microscopy List Server -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
We are thinking of purchasing a negative scanner for use with TEM negatives from our Jeol 2000-FX, and also for SEM negatives. A scanner has been recommended to us: the Agfa Duoscan T2500, which has a resolution (hardware) of 1250 x 2500 dpi and a density of 3.4D. (The scans would be output to a Kodak DS 8650 PS printer)
We need the quality of the scans to match the quality of the standard darkroom enlarger if possible, as we would like to 'go digital' at least for routine work. Does anyone have experience of routine negative scanning for TEM prints, with this or other scanners, and if so, is it realistic to expect such high quality?
Also, what additional image processing software would people recommend we got to go along with this?
Any advice would be appreciated.
Caspar
Caspar McConville, Ph.D. Technical Specialist New York State College of Ceramics Alfred University
One approach might be to plunge freeze on filmed grids and then clamp these to a standard cryoSEM specimen support. The support could have a hole drilled through it for STEM. Because of the water film thickness, it could be sublimed by freeze drying, although any dissolved salts would be left behind.
A similar approach would be to quench the liposomes on something like aluminium foil, in a size & shape which could then be clamped under a thin ring which is drilled to screw to a standard suppport. These attachments can be done quite easily under a shallow depth of liquid nitrogen in a polystyrene container.
Hoping these ideas are useful to someone
Keith Ryan Marine Biological Association Plymouth, UK
Hello, The Newtonian Ring problem might be corrected the way it was done on anti-Newton glass slides, in days gone by. They used glass which was slightly etched on the side which went next to the film. I am not suggesting you etch the glass face of your scanner but it might be worth experimenting on a spare piece of glass. The etch is ever so slight; maybe just acid fumes would do the trick. This didn't seem to degrade projected slides. Just a suggestion. Good luck.
Alex Greene SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTATION SERVICES, INC. Number 499, Post Office Box 19400 Austin, Texas 78760 Phone 512/282-5507 Fax 512/280-0702
TEM & SEM Maintenance -----Original Message----- } From: Walck. Scott D. {walck-at-ppg.com} To: Caspar McConville {mcconville-at-olsen.alfred.edu} ; Micro {microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com}
Tamara, The copy I have of "Safety in the EM Lab..." is from San Francisco Press, ISBN 0-911302-56-5, 1985. You should be able to get it ordered with that info. Good luck.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Winston W. Wiggins, Supervisor 09 Mar 1999 4:30 PM CRC-Electron Microscopy Lab Ofc: 704-355-1267 Carolinas Medical Center Lab: 704-355-7220 P.O. Box 32861 Fax: 704-355-7648 Charlotte, NC 28232-2861 USA Eml: WWiggins-at-Carolinas.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
} -----Original Message----- } From: Tamara Howard [SMTP:howard-at-cshl.org] } Sent: Tuesday, March 09, 1999 9:49 AM } To: Microscopy Listserver } Subject: EM safety book? } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Does anyone have or know of a good reference on EM lab safety? I thought } there was a book called "Safety in the EM Laboratory"...but I haven't been } able to find it. Probably imagined it. } } Thanks for any help anyone can give! } } Tamara Howard } CSHL } }
I think you are making an excellent choice with the new Agfa DuoScan T2500. You will appreciate the 3.4 D on this unique flatbed scanner. The glass less negative carriers fit into the lower tray, which slides into a precise position. The negatives will not contact any surface. I have just ordered also a DuoScan T2500. You will learn more about it at:
One of the most versatile imaging software is CorelDraw8 and CorelPHOTO-PAINT8. It offers the highest image format manipulation with Plug-ins, for most applications. Highly recommended.
We are looking for commercially available options for being able to transfer a metallographic type sample from a sample preparation workstation and into an SEM while under vacuum or inert atmosphere. We have a number of make and model SEMs therefore just any general information is fine on this subject.
thanks,
Mark A. Wall
Mr. Mark A. Wall Sr. Scientific Assoc. L-350 Chemistry & Materials Science Directorate Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Livermore, CA USA 94550
I think you are making an excellent choice with the new Agfa DuoScan T2500. You will appreciate the 3.4 D on this unique flatbed scanner. The glass less
negative carriers fit into the lower tray, which slides into a precise position. The negatives will not contact any surface. I have just ordered also a DuoScan T2500. You will learn more about it at:
One of the most versatile imaging software is CorelDraw8 and CorelPHOTO-PAINT8. It offers the highest image format manipulation with Plug-ins, for most applications. Highly recommended.
Laszlo J. Veto
Caspar McConville 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 thinking of purchasing a negative scanner for use with TEM } negatives from our Jeol 2000-FX, and also for SEM negatives. A } scanner has been recommended to us: the Agfa Duoscan T2500, which } has a resolution (hardware) of 1250 x 2500 dpi and a density of 3.4D. } (The scans would be output to a Kodak DS 8650 PS printer) } } We need the quality of the scans to match the quality of the standard } darkroom enlarger if possible, as we would like to 'go digital' at } least for routine work. Does anyone have experience of routine } negative scanning for TEM prints, with this or other scanners, and if } so, is it realistic to expect such high quality? } } Also, what additional image processing software would people } recommend we got to go along with this? } } Any advice would be appreciated. } } Caspar } } Caspar McConville, Ph.D. } Technical Specialist } New York State College of Ceramics } Alfred University
I just want to say THANK YOU to all who responded to my question regarding the electrolytical thinning of Al. Now I own a collection of serveral different recipes! If anybody else is interested in it, just let me know.
Cheers,
Petra -------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Petra Wahlbring Centre de Recherche Public Centre Universitaire (CRP-CU) Laboratoire d'Analyse des Materiaux (LAM) 162a, av. de la Faiencerie L-1511 Luxembourg tel. +352-466644-402 fax +352-466644-400 e-mail: petra.wahlbring-at-crpcu.lu Visit our WWW site! http://www.crpcu.lu/~wahlbrin
My first posting was placed whilst away from the office, now I am back I can give you the full details of the safety data mentioned.
1. Safety in the Electron Microscope Room - S. K. Chapman, Microscopy &=
Analysis, March 89, 27-29, (only two pages of text)
2. Routine Handling of Resins, RMS E.M. Safety Committee, Single sheet handout
OR from one of the same group
3. Resins: Toxicity, Hazards and Safe Handling - B. E. Causton, Proceedings RMS, Vol 16/4, June 81, 265-269
4. Routine Handling of Fixatives, RMS E.M. Safety Committee, Single shee= t handout.
I am prepared to scan in part of 1, plus 2 and 3 and send as attachments direct to those who ask.
As you can see I was not quite correct they are not all Royal Microscopic= al Society publications. Their address is 37/38 St. Clements, Oxford OX4 1AJ= , England
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 believe the two scanners are both excellent, although I have a preference for the Polaroid, that I am also going to buy (if can get the money).
As far as being capable of being able to use the scanner instead ot the darkroom, I strongly believe that both scanner technology, and computer technology is not yet capable of completely replacing a darkroom, unfortunately, for all its applications.
Would appreciate very much a feedback on this subject.
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
May I offer a word of caution about the approach below?
While you're correct in saying you need to optimize printing conditions for your image and printer, there will probably be a little more to it than setting up comparable number of pixels. Your image is probably either a 256-level gray scale or a 16 million color (256 levels of red, green and blue). An inkjet can't print that kind of color depth in each pixel. The concepts of "halftoning" or "dithering" need to be considered. As I'm far from the expert, and we don't need a complete textbook on the listserver anyway, so I'll refer you to chapter 2 of "The Image Processing Handbook" by John Russ. As we would expect from Dr. Russ, the material is excellent.
That does bring up a question for me, though. The new HP inkjets have a "PhotoREt" technology which, I believe is supposed to be able to vary the size of the dots it produces, therefore producing better photo-printing results. Has anyone determined whether this is true, or just hype?
Jim Passmore Sr. Analytical Chemist Cryovac Division Sealed Air Corporation
---------- } From: Harry.Ekstrom } To: Microscopy } Subject: FW: Printers for SEM Images } Date: Monday, March 08, 1999 5:11PM } ------------- } } I think an inexpensive inkjet is the way to go. However, you must try to } set the DPI of the printer to match the resolution setting of your digital } images. If you capture a digital image at 1024 X800 for instance, you have } about 820K of information. Now lets say you plan to print a 4X5 image } similar to a Polaroid, then your printer should be no less than 300dpi } {4"x5" x (300)2=1.8Mpixel} to accommodate the amount of pixel information } from the capturing rate of the image. Hence, a 2048X1600 resolution setting } captures 3.2 Mpixels of info, so a 400DPI setting should be used. The idea } being to match the capturing info with the amount of pixels the printer can } resolve to minimize interpolation...be it upwards or downwards. Not sure } what the human eye can resolve tho. } } Good Luck, } Harry Ekstrom } }
The M & M '99 Golf tournament will be Sunday, Aug. 1, 1999 just outside Portland, OR. Hole sponsorships are available for $65.00 each on a first come, first serve basis. Prizes for longest drive, longest putt etc. can also be donated. In addition, Logo gifts to be distributed to all participants will also be most welcome. To reserve your holes or to supply gifts/prizes etc. please notify me as soon as possible.
Thank you,
John Arnott Chairman
-- LADD RESEARCH 13 Dorset Lane Williston, VT 05495 TEL 1-800-451-3406 (US) or 1-802-878-6711 (anywhere) FAX 1-802-878-8074 e-mail ladres-at-worldnet.att.net web site http://www.ladd.cc
We have an aging BioRad Confocal (1991!)with the associated computer and software (COMOS ver.7.0a). Has anyone replaced/upgraded their computer on this system other than just purchasing an upgrade from BioRad? What problems were encountered and what were some solutions? Thanks in advance for any info.
History of unit is below: Like an old car, different parts of the computer are beginning to need replacement, but I understand that several of the boards are specialized propietary boards (control of scan head and frame grabber) and cannot be replaced with conventional boards. We want to "upgrade" the computer, ie new mother board, more memory, etc... The existing mother board is not compatible with any device drivers other than SCSIs.
******************************************** John P. Shields Center for Ultrastructural Research 151 Barrow Hall University of Georgia Athens, GA 30602-2403 (706)542-4080 jpshield-at-arches.uga.edu ********************************************
I need to know the wavelength of the main ~ 441.6nm emission line from our He-Cd laser source to at least 5 significant figures, if possible (wavelength in air atmosphere). Any references containing other related data (emission lines) would be useful too.
-- ***************************************** Jonathan Barnard
Microstructural Physics, H.H.Wills Physics Laboratory, University of Bristol, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TL.
I have recently taken over an SEM with an AN 10000 analyser and I was wondering if anyone out there kows if it is possible to get the results files out to a PC ?
Any help greatly appreciated.
******************************************* Robert McDonald EPMA & SEM Laboratories Dept Geography - Earth Sciences Division Gregory Building LilyBank Gardens University of Glasgow Glasgow G12 8QQ Scotland, UK email: robert-at-earthsci.gla.ac.uk Tel:- +44 (0)141 330 5505/5442 FAX:- +44 (0)141 330 4817 ********************************************
Reply to: RE: SEM vacuum transfer = For many years I used a simple permanent magnet to lift and transfer = samples mounted on metallographic mounts with a steel washer epoxied onto = the back surface. A hole in the circular magnet allowed a push rod to = release the mount from the magnet. Possibly a small electromagnet could = be made that would be easier to operate in your system-or even a vacuum = powered suction cup to eliminate magnetic fields. Most likely you will = need to make one. = Bernard Kestel Materials Science Division Argonne National Laboratory Argonne, Il., 60439
Phone: (630) 252-4945 E-mail {kestel-at-anl.gov} Mark Wall wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America =
{HTML} {HEAD} {/HEAD} {BODY} {PRE = WIDTH=3D"132"} Reply to: RE: SEM vacuum transfer =
{/PRE} {FONT FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D3 COLOR=3D"#000000"} For = many years I used a simple permanent magnet = to lift and transfer samples mounted on = metallographic mounts with a steel washer = epoxied onto the back surface. A hole in = the circular magnet allowed a push rod to = release the mount from the magnet. Possibly = a small electromagnet could be made that = would be easier to operate in your system-or = even a vacuum powered suction cup to eliminate = magnetic fields. Most likely you will need = to make one. {BR} {BR} Bernard Kestel {BR} = Materials Science Division {BR} Argonne = National Laboratory {BR} Argonne, Il., = 60439 {BR} {BR} Phone: (630) 252-4945 = E-mail <kestel-at-anl.gov> {BR} Mark = Wall wrote: {/FONT} {FONT FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#000000"} {BR} >-----------------------------------------------------------------------= - {BR} >The = Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy = Society of America {BR}
Peggy, Can you please contact me with your address, at your convenience? My computer crashed and I lost your e-mail, and snail mail addresses. I'll send the nerve staining info out when you reply. Best wishes Ronnie Houston Cytochemistry & Molecular Pathology Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children 2222 Welborn Street Dallas, TX 75219
I am looking for any references that can give the emission wavelength of a HeCd laser to five significant figures (in air/vacuum). The line inparticular is the 441.6 nm line, but a table of up to date measurements would be useful too.
-- ***************************************** Jonathan Barnard
Microstructural Physics, H.H.Wills Physics Laboratory, University of Bristol, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TL.
} We are thinking of purchasing a negative scanner...
Check out the Imacon FlexTight II. This is an affordable drum scanner with magnetic carriers for various size media (2x2 skides up to at least 8x10 sheeets) that make it as easy to use as a flatbed scanner. The unit has 5,760 dpi optical resolution (although this may drop to 4,800 dpi for something the size of an EM negative), 12-bit grayscale, 24, 32 and 48-bit color, and 14 bits (4.1 OD) of dynamic range, and it is fast. For image editing, Photoshop is the best. Period.
} That does bring up a question for me, though. The new HP } inkjets have a "PhotoREt" technology which, I believe is } supposed to be able to vary the size of the dots it produces, } therefore producing better photo-printing results. Has anyone } determined whether this is true, or just hype?
HP's statement, in itself, is explicid, so I doubt they could say it if it weren't true. I own one of these printers (720C) and looking closely it is hard to tell just how small the dots are, or when and where there being used. Appearance is very close to "random dithering". A couple of clues which would lead you to believe the technology is not just hype: (1) the suggested DPI for the printer is 300dpi which is beyond what would be calculated for a normal 600dpi dithering printer, and (2) dithering can not be seen at all for the primary colors reb, green & blue as created with cyan, magenta and yellow.
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/
A researcher would like to be able to tell the difference between apototic cells and necrotic and/or other degenerating cells in an invertebrate nervous system, using TEM. So far the only general statement I've come across is that apototic cells will undergo autophagy within their plasma membranes whereas necrotic cells tend to spill their contents and get cleaned up by other cells.
Any additional tips will be appreciated!
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* ****************************************************************************
I've just found a neat screen capture (and more) utility called HyperSnap-DX, a free trial version can be had from www.hyperionics.com, and registration is only $25!
cheers
rtch
} Have a couple of avi movies here and we need some stills printed from them. } Anyone have any ideas/shareware/freeware? } } } Scott D. Whittaker 218 Carr Hall } EM Technician Gainesville, FL 32610 } University Of Florida ph 352-392-1184 } ICBR EM Core Lab fax 352-846-0251 } sdw-at-biotech.ufl.edu http://www.biotech.ufl.edu/~emcl/ } The home of " Tips & Tricks " }
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'm not a microscopy expert, but a retired computer systems engineer.
An inkjet can produce high color if it uses CMYK inks (vs RGB). Photo-realistic inkjet printers don't dither (screen) or halftone such as with b&w printing. They attempt to produce a 1-1 relationship with the input color data. } } That does bring up a question for me, though. The new HP } inkjets have a "PhotoREt" technology which,
H-P's RET technology has been around for quite some time. I find it introduces distracting patterns into the hardcopy. H-P sat on its laurels for quite some time, and most experts say that they have fallen behind. Unless they've changed, H-Ps use RGB ink.
I find that the Epson and newer Cannon printers do a credible job of photo-color, both are CMYK.
However, you will find that the proper software will make a bigger difference in the results than the printer. If you want high color fidelity, then I recommend Adobe Photoshop, (even if you only use it for printing), calibrated for the printers ink that you use. (Epson and Cannon ink files are provided for Photoshop.) If you expect to manipulate color on the computer screen and then print the same colors on the printer, your computer has to have a "color system" such as Kodak ColorSync (adjusts for your scanner, screen and printer). Color Systems are pretty much free on the Macintosh, but you are may be out of luck if you have a Windows box (I've not found one that works very well).
Your Color System has to "know" your hardware unless you have a means of calibrating. (UMAX scanners provide a means to calibrate from a Kodak target.)
The confusion arises out of the difference between the well established printing industry and the newer technology of photorealistic inkjet printing.
In short: make sure you can calibrate your scanner for color and that it comes with a color system,
that ink files are available for your printer's ink for use by photoshop, (even if you don't use Photoshop, other programs use the PS as a standard),
I will agree wholehearted that Adobe PhotoShop is best, but I'll bet that most people never learn it properly to get their $600 worth. A very impressive PhotoShop clone is Ulead Photo Impact ( http://www.ulead.com {http://www.ulead.com} ) for ~$90.00 which does what most people use PhotoShop for (TWAIN compliant, Image resizing and level adjustments), plus Web-based image production is built in, not an add-on.) Try their 15-day fully functional demo. Enough said on image editors.
Just passing along some unbiased information.
Walt Bobrowski Subcellular Pathology Parke-Davis Research 2800 Plymouth Road Ann Arbor, MI 48105
Over the years our workforce has dwindled to the point that I find myself = working alone in the lab (metalographic sample prep/optical microscopy + = image analysis) almost all the time. The lab doesn't have windows to the = hallway, so it is difficult for people walking by to see if I am in the = lab, and if I am OK. My manager is concerned about my safety and is asking = me for suggestions. What do other labs do to make working alone safe? Everett Ramer Federal Energy Technology Center
I have replaced the original Compaq 386 with a Dell 486. I had no problems with the BioRad MRC 600 system and comos software. BioRad people have told of problems with some computers but I haven't seen any.
Larry D. Ackerman Lily & Yuh Nung Jan Laboratories Howard Hughes Medical Institute UCSF, Box 0725, Rm U226 533 Parnassus Ave. San Francisco, CA 94143
This announcement is for colleagues of Don W. Fawcett, M.D. ("A textbook = of histology", Bloom & Fawcett and "The Cell"), Professor Emeritus, = Harvard University. =
This coming Sunday (3/14/99) he will be celebrating his 82nd birthday. A = few e-mail greetings might surprize and please him. His e-mail address is = {DFawc20586-at-aol.com} . =
I am sure he would appreciate good wishes from anyone inspired by his = books and papers too.
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 http://www.hei.org/htm/aemi.htm --====48525552525549495651===1 Content-Type: text/html; charset="US-Ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
{HTML} {HEAD} {/HEAD} {BODY} {FONT FACE=3D"Monaco" = SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#000000"} Dear Microscopists and Histologists, {BR} {BR} This = announcement is for colleagues of Don W. = Fawcett, M.D. ("A textbook of histology", = Bloom & Fawcett and "The Cell"), = Professor Emeritus, Harvard University. = {BR} {BR} This coming Sunday (3/14/99) he will = be celebrating his 82nd birthday. A few = e-mail greetings might surprize and please = him. His e-mail address is < {/FONT} {FONT FACE=3D"Monaco" = SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#0000FF"} {U} DFawc20586-at-aol.com {/U} {/FONT} {FONT FACE=3D"= Monaco" = SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#000000"} >. {BR} {BR} I am sure he would = appreciate good wishes from anyone inspired = by his books and papers too. {BR} {BR} Paul Webster, = Ph.D {BR} House Ear Institute {BR} 2100 West Third = Street {BR} Los Angeles, CA 90057 {BR} phone:213 = 273 8026 {BR} fax: 213 413 6739 {BR} e-mail: {/FONT} {FONT = FACE=3D"Monaco" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#0000FF"} {U} pwebster-at-hei.org {/U} {/FONT} {= FONT = FACE=3D"Monaco" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#000000"} {BR} {/FONT} {FONT FACE=3D"Monaco" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#0000FF"} {U} http://www.hei.= org/htm/aemi.htm {/U} {/FONT} {/BODY} {/HTML} --====48525552525549495651===1 Content-Type: application/quickmail Content-Transfer-Encoding: base64
by newton.wadsworth.org (8.8.8/8.8.8) with SMTP id QAA21360 for {microscopy-at-msa.microscopy.com} ; Thu, 11 Mar 1999 16:59:34 -0500 (EST) Sender: tivol-at-wadsworth.org Message-ID: {36E839DF.41C6-at-wadsworth.org}
Jonathan Barnard wrote: Dear Johnathan,
} I need to know the wavelength of the main ~ 441.6nm emission } line from our He-Cd laser source to at least 5 significant figures, } if possible (wavelength in air atmosphere). Any references } containing other related data (emission lines) would be useful too. } Do such variables as pressure and composition (e.g., humidity) of the air allow the wavelength to be determined to 5 sig figs? The refractive index of air is related to pressure, and I think the cor- rect expression is n-1 = kP. Since P can easily vary by ~3% at sea level, depending on k, n could vary by more than 10^-5. The humidity might be even more important (especially for any other emission lines where water has n very different from that of air). Yours, Bill Tivol
We're trying to visualize meiotic spindle microtubules using LM and TEM. = Our methods for fixing and embedding insect testes are fairly = standard, however we are using 8% tannic acid in our fixative. This = appears to be what others have used, but we were wondering if anyone has = any warnings, hints or suggestions regarding microtubule preservation = and TEM.
We are also experimenting with different methods of preparing insect = testes for immunocytochemistry and LM. We are using various antibodies = to microtubules and nucleoproteins. We would like to optimize our = methods for the preservation of these structures. Is "live" tissue best = or will fixed tissue suffice? What is the best way to get the cells = spread onto slides? We've tried thumb "squashing" and cytospinning, but = are not satisfied with the results. Any suggestions would be greatly = appreciated!
Thanks,
Laura K. Garvey Dept. of Molecular and Cell Biology University of Connecticut
} } I have recently taken over an SEM with an AN 10000 analyser and I was } wondering if anyone out there kows if it is possible to get the results } files out to a PC ? } Bob-
Several years ago I wrote a nunber of utilities that would allow you to do just what you describe. You can write the files to an AN 10000 3.5" floppy (I hope yours *is* a 3.5" system? - if not, my programs won't help), which my utility will then read on a PC, copying the files to the PC in a byte-for-byte format. Then I wrote other utilities that would convert spectra and linescan files into tab-separated text files, and would extract images from studies and convert them, or individual image files, to baseline TIFF 6.0 files. I still use these utilities on a daily basis.
For a long while these were available on an FTP server here, but after aeons of no hits, and in the general progression of computer hardware, this went by the wayside. It would be the work of a few minutes to re-establish this, if there is interest. In the meantime, Bob, you may try contacting Pat Nicholson in the Dept. of Physics and Astronomy at Glasgow. I'm not sure, but I may well have given him copies of these files. In any case, I'll post the URL when I have re-established it.
If you have Windows, you should have everything you need already.
In DOS, the PrintScrn key used to dump a copy of the screen on the dot-matrix printer. In Windows nothing apparently happens. However, if you check the clipboard, PrintScrn snaps a copy of the desktop and stores it for pasting. Try pressing PrintScrn and then try paste into Word, or elsewhere. You will get a bitmap of the screen. Perhaps you don't want the whole screen - then Alt-PrintScrn copies just the active application window to the clipboard.
Using this process you end up with a lot or a little extra window junk around the sides. Then I use MS Imager that came with Office 6.0 (and was available on the MS website) to crop the image down to what I want.
I tried this using the AVI player from MS. I stopped the video, pulled the slider to the frame I wanted, and pressed Alt-PrintScrn. I opened up MS Imager, selected the File, New, Clipboard option and up came my AVI viewer window as a bitmap. I saved copies of it before and after cropping. I will send those to you directly. They are from the PICTURE.AVI movie that came on the Windows 98 disk.
You can use your imagination to apply this technique for other things, like producing your own instructions with snapshots showing what your EDS screen looks like at various stages.
Hope this Tip and Trick helps.
Warren
At 01:03 PM 3/11/99 +0000, you wrote: } } Have a couple of avi movies here and we need some stills printed from them. } Anyone have any ideas/shareware/freeware? } } } } } } {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} { } GO GATORS } Scott D. Whittaker 218 Carr Hall } EM Technician Gainesville, FL 32610 } University Of Florida ph 352-392-1184 } ICBR EM Core Lab fax 352-846-0251 } sdw-at-biotech.ufl.edu http://www.biotech.ufl.edu/~emcl/ } The home of " Tips & Tricks "
A Mac application that delivers the most commonly used tools in Photoshop (e.g. adjusting levels, assembling RGB images and montages) is Color-It!, from MicroFrontiers. It retails for about $50.
Glen
Glen MacDonald Research Scientist Hearing Research Laboratories of the Virginia Merrill Bloedel Hearing Research Center Box 35-7923 University of Washington Seattle, WA 98195-7923 (206) 616-4156 glenmac-at-u.washington.edu
On Thu, 11 Mar 1999, Bobrowski, Walter 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 will agree wholehearted that Adobe PhotoShop is best, but I'll bet that } most people never learn it properly to get their $600 worth. A very } impressive PhotoShop clone is Ulead Photo Impact ( http://www.ulead.com } {http://www.ulead.com} ) for ~$90.00 which does what most people use } PhotoShop for (TWAIN compliant, Image resizing and level adjustments), plus } Web-based image production is built in, not an add-on.) Try their 15-day } fully functional demo. Enough said on image editors. } } Just passing along some unbiased information. } } Walt Bobrowski } Subcellular Pathology } Parke-Davis Research } 2800 Plymouth Road } Ann Arbor, MI 48105 } } TEL: (734) 622-7814 } FAX: (734) 622-3478 } Mailto:Walter.Bobrowski-at-WL.COM {mailto:Walter.Bobrowski-at-WL.COM} } } } }
The nice thing about HyperSnap is that you can copy just any selected rectangular portion from your screen, and then either print it, fool around with it, or save it in an astonishing number of formats.
Ritchie
} } If you have Windows, you should have everything you need already. } } In DOS, the PrintScrn key used to dump a copy of the screen on the } dot-matrix printer. In Windows nothing apparently happens. However, if you } check the clipboard, PrintScrn snaps a copy of the desktop and stores it } for pasting. Try pressing PrintScrn and then try paste into Word, or } elsewhere. You will get a bitmap of the screen. Perhaps you don't want the } whole screen - then Alt-PrintScrn copies just the active application window } to the clipboard. } } Using this process you end up with a lot or a little extra window junk } around the sides. Then I use MS Imager that came with Office 6.0 (and was } available on the MS website) to crop the image down to what I want. } } I tried this using the AVI player from MS. I stopped the video, pulled the } slider to the frame I wanted, and pressed Alt-PrintScrn. I opened up MS } Imager, selected the File, New, Clipboard option and up came my AVI viewer } window as a bitmap. I saved copies of it before and after cropping. I will } send those to you directly. They are from the PICTURE.AVI movie that came } on the Windows 98 disk. } } You can use your imagination to apply this technique for other things, like } producing your own instructions with snapshots showing what your EDS screen } looks like at various stages.
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
Everett, if the door to your lab is of a "simple" configuration, it would be easy to replace it with a "windowed" door as long as your boss is willing to accept the cost as a price towards improved safety. Obviously, not a complete answer to the problem but a first step of common sense.
Mike Bucker Feed Microscopy Consolidated Labs of Va
} } } "EVERETT RAMER" {Everett.Ramer-at-fetc.doe.gov} 03/11 4:23 PM } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Over the years our workforce has dwindled to the point that I find myself working alone in the lab (metalographic sample prep/optical microscopy + image analysis) almost all the time. The lab doesn't have windows to the hallway, so it is difficult for people walking by to see if I am in the lab, and if I am OK. My manager is concerned about my safety and is asking me for suggestions. What do other labs do to make working alone safe? Everett Ramer Federal Energy Technology Center
Everett and all: I work at Dow Chemical and we have a fairly rigorous "lone operator" system. If we are working in an isolated area or at a time when there are few people in the building (evenings, weekends, etc.) we carry little alert transmitters which call out to plant security (as well as within the building). The building receivers are location sensitive and we have a "lone-operator" login book at the building entrance with a building map. The lone operator marks the map as s/he signs in. Between the map and the alert location, they can find us pretty fast.
This is pretty elaborate, but maybe a mini version using something like the "First Alert" products would work ("Help, I've fallen and I can't get up") - have it tied into a siren or flashing light outside your lab so that anyone along the corridor would know there was a problem. Maybe even carry a cordless phone with an autodial button to your site security - caller ID would get them to you pretty quick.
This is definitely NOT a trivial matter. It is always disconcerting to me when I am working in an area with nobody else around - I hope you get an effective solution soon.
there's lots of stuff on t.e,m, of apoptosis in vertebrate cells (it's very popular in HIV, cancer, inflammation response etc) and much of it indicates visible nuclear changes but relative stability of cytoplasm compared with necrosis. There was a review article (as a good starting point): Microscopical Study of Cell Death via Apoptosis by S. Verhaegen in MIcroscopy and Analysis, January 1998 pp5-7
but you could do a reference or citation 'trawl' on the authors: Kerr, J.F.; Wyllie, A.H. or Currie
Malcolm Haswell Electron Microscopy School of Sciences Fleming Building University of Sunderland SUNDERLAND SR1 3SD Tyne and Wear UK
Tel (0191) 515 2872 e-mail: malcolm.haswell-at-sunderland.ac.uk ---------- } From: Tina Carvalho To: Microscopy Listserver
Hi, All-
A researcher would like to be able to tell the difference between apototic cells and necrotic and/or other degenerating cells in an invertebrate nervous system, using TEM. So far the only general statement I've come across is that apototic cells will undergo autophagy within their plasma membranes whereas necrotic cells tend to spill their contents and get cleaned up by other cells.
Any additional tips will be appreciated!
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*
by ahmler1.mail.eds.com (8.9.1/8.9.1) with ESMTP id JAA30032; Fri, 12 Mar 1999 09:51:43 -0500 (EST) Received: from SYS1.BSCO.COM (sys1.bsco.com [198.132.68.84]) by nnsa.eds.com (8.9.1/8.9.1) with SMTP id JAA27069; Fri, 12 Mar 1999 09:51:12 -0500 (EST) Received: from rfurdanowiczw [10.224.0.46] by SYS1.BSCO.COM (IBM VM SMTP Level 310) via TCP with SMTP ; Fri, 12 Mar 1999 09:51:21 EST Reply-To: {rwafu-at-bsco.com} {microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com}
Yes, on my AN10000 there is a program called MSDOSCV.SV which converts files between the Link (now Oxford) and PC DOS operating systems. It writes files to 720kB 3.5" floppies that previously have been formatted to that density on a PC.
An alternative that I sometimes resort to is to capture on a PC output meant to go to the Facit printer over the serial connection.
If you need more details, contact me directly or seek support from Oxford (they are very helpful), for example Ruth Murray ( ruth-at-oxford.usa.com ).
Valdemar Furdanowicz Research Labs Bethlehem Steel Co. valdemar-at-fast.net or rwafu-at-bsco.com
-----Original Message----- } From: Robert McDonald [mailto:R.McDonald-at-geology.gla.ac.uk] Sent: Thursday, March 11, 1999 10:08 AM To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
Hi All:
I have recently taken over an SEM with an AN 10000 analyser and I was wondering if anyone out there kows if it is possible to get the results files out to a PC ?
Any help greatly appreciated.
******************************************* Robert McDonald EPMA & SEM Laboratories Dept Geography - Earth Sciences Division Gregory Building LilyBank Gardens University of Glasgow Glasgow G12 8QQ Scotland, UK email: robert-at-earthsci.gla.ac.uk Tel:- +44 (0)141 330 5505/5442 FAX:- +44 (0)141 330 4817 ********************************************
Differentiating apoptosis and necrosis morphologically is based primari= ly upon nuclear changes, although there are characteristic cytoplasmic cha= nges as well. In general (note the wiggle words), necrotic cells swell and = lyse, whereas apoptotic cells shrink and fragment. Chromatin in apoptotic ce= lls forms electron-dense crescents at the nuclear envelope, then breaks up.=
Apoptotic cells fragment into "apoptotic bodies" that may contain bits = of chromatin. A good place to see characteristic ultrastructural changes = of apoptosis is in lymphoid tissues, where lymphocytes die via apoptosis a= nd then are phagocytosed by resident macrophages (the ones that are someti= mes called "tingible body macrophages" because of the staining properties o= f the apoptotic cell remnants in them.)
Differenting apoptosis from necrosis is a tricky deal. Apoptotic cells= may undergo secondary necrosis, during which they swell and lyse. So, just=
because you see necrotic cells doesn't mean that they didn't die apoptotically. Like everything else, it's complicated; there is a cont= inuum of change with apoptosis and necrosis at opposite poles and a lot of st= uff in between!
There are lots of good reviews on this topic. The Aug 28, 1998 issue o= f Science had a special section on apoptosis, and on page 1302, there is = a series of three electron micrographs of neurons undergoing apoptosis. = One of the first reviews of the subject contains the best collection of micrographs I've found - "Cell death: the significance of apoptosis" in= the International Review of Cytology 68:251-306, 1980. Another good revie= w was in Amer J of Pathol 146:3-15, 1995. The title is "Apoptosis, oncosis, = and necrosis: an overview of cell death."
Hope this helps!
Jane A. Fagerland, Ph.D. Dept. Microscopy and Microanalysis Abbott Laboratories Abbott Park IL 60064-6202 =
In the past I have been on jobs where a great deal of the time was spent isolated. Now days I think it is a huge safety liability. One time I had appendicitis and had to drive myself to 50 miles on back roads to a clinic with my knees up on the stearing wheel. The point here is, even though you work in a laboratory complex, if something happened you probably wouldn't get help until the cleaning crew found you. Bad news! the other issue is: Life is short and work is long, and working alone sucks. It's not emotionally healthy. Make a change. Consolidate in with other workers.
Bob Derm Imaging Center Microscopist Ex-wood cutter
On Thu, 11 Mar 1999, 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Over the years our workforce has dwindled to the point that I find myself working alone in the lab (metalographic sample prep/optical microscopy + image analysis) almost all the time. The lab doesn't have windows to the hallway, so it is difficult for people walking by to see if I am in the lab, and if I am OK. My manager is concerned about my safety and is asking me for suggestions. What do other labs do to make working alone safe? } Everett Ramer } Federal Energy Technology Center } }
The New York State Center for Advanced Thin Film Technology University at Albany - State University at New York announces the following positions:
Senior Analytical Specialist (Two Positions Available) The New York State Center for Advanced Thin Film Technology at the University at Albany - SUNY is a fast growing, high technology research and development program with a mission of supporting industry and creating new jobs. This position will serve as a primary, materials characterization, support person for the Center's scientific and technical staff in our advanced surface science facilities.
Job responsibilities include: performing day to day operation and support of the advanced surface science laboratories; assisting in data acquisition and analysis; participating in selected research projects to ensure contractual deliverables are met; providing materials characterization of microelectronic, optoelectronic and photonic samples for faculty and staff; providing instrumentation training to staff and student; and working with students on the advanced analytical tools.
The position requires: a Ph.D. in materials science or related field such as physics or chemistry and a minimum of three years experience in the characterization of microelectronic, optoelectronic or photonic materials or a bachelors degree with 10 years of relevant work experience; demonstrated ability to work in a high energy, team oriented environment; and excellent communication and analytical skills. Preference will be given to those candidates with the required work experience with Auger Electron Spectroscopy, X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy, X-Ray diffractometry, Atomic and Scanning Tunneling Microscopy, or Transmission Electron Microscopy. Salary and Benefits are highly competitive and dependent upon experience.
Please submit a resume and cover letter to:
Jacqueline DiStefano NYS Center for Advanced Thin Film Technology CESTM B110 251 Fuller Road Albany, NY 12203
The SUNY/Research Foundation is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
Well, the best method for presevering wonderfully empheral / delicate structures is cryo-preservation and freeze subsitution. I see you are a little far from us to come and try some freezing, but maybe you have some ready access to some rapid freezing.
Richard E. Edelmann, Ph.D. Electron Microscopy Facility Supervisor 352 Pearson Hall Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056 Ph: 513.529.5712 Fax: 513.529.4243 E-mail: edelmare-at-muohio.edu
I'll second the opinion about getting your money's worth out of Adobe Photoshop. I've used PhotoImpact (we have v 3 here at work; I've not used v 4 which is out already) and agree it's good. My favorite, though, is Paintshop Pro (Jasc, Inc.) which I bought for home after trying a download version. I find it is a little more intuitive than PhotoImpact (at least for me!). It handles layered images like Photoshop, and runs most Photoshop plugins. I even use it with the Image Processing Toolkit (Dr. John Russ); most of the plugins run without problem, although a few tend to crash. PhotoImpact also handles layers, I believe, but with an object-oriented approach. I haven't tried the IP Toolkit plugins in PhotoImpact.
Paintshop Pro can probably be had for a little less than Photoimpact. List price is probably $90 or $100, but I've seen it on some of the on-line computer stores for much less. I think one may have even had it for something like $58 (?). Check out info & demo at http://www.jasc.com
Disclaimer: I have no ties to any of these software packages!
Jim Passmore Cryovac Division Sealed Air Corp.
---------- } From: Walter.Bobrowski } To: Microscopy } Subject: RE: Photo Editors } Date: Thursday, March 11, 1999 3:52PM } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I think you are making an excellent choice with the new Agfa DuoScan T2500. You will appreciate the 3.4 D on this unique flatbed scanner. The glass less
negative carriers fit into the lower tray, which slides into a precise position. The negatives will not contact any surface. I have just ordered also a DuoScan T2500. You will learn more about it at:
One of the most versatile imaging software is CorelDraw8 and CorelPHOTO-PAINT8. It offers the highest image format manipulation with Plug-ins, for most applications. Highly recommended.
Laszlo J. Veto
Caspar McConville 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 thinking of purchasing a negative scanner for use with TEM } negatives from our Jeol 2000-FX, and also for SEM negatives. A } scanner has been recommended to us: the Agfa Duoscan T2500, which } has a resolution (hardware) of 1250 x 2500 dpi and a density of 3.4D. } (The scans would be output to a Kodak DS 8650 PS printer) } } We need the quality of the scans to match the quality of the standard } darkroom enlarger if possible, as we would like to 'go digital' at } least for routine work. Does anyone have experience of routine } negative scanning for TEM prints, with this or other scanners, and if } so, is it realistic to expect such high quality? } } Also, what additional image processing software would people } recommend we got to go along with this? } } Any advice would be appreciated. } } Caspar } } Caspar McConville, Ph.D. } Technical Specialist } New York State College of Ceramics } Alfred University
I am pseudocolorizing some data we have of cellular responses from striatum of rats learning a T-maze from Ann Graybiel's tetrode recording project. What I am looking for is any "standard" pseudocolor tables used by imagers to colorize 0-255 grey levels into RGB values.
I can apply a standard spectrum from 0 to 255 running from magenta (255 0 255 RGB) through blue, cyan, green, yellow to red (255 0 0) or start with blue and go to red in a linear way. What this produces is colors that are mostly in the middle. What I think imagers must be using are tables weighted toward the red and blue, so transitions show up better. I can play with my tables in Excel to boost the red and blue ends and then apply them using Paint Shop Pro - what I was wondering was if you have or know where I can find any standard tables, preferably of numerical RGB values used by the pros in the field.
Hi, A student in the lab is looking at museum samples of dinosaur bones and teeth on the SEM. He could get access to more samples if he could restore them to their original condition ( ie, remove the gold). Is there a good nondestructive way to do this?
Kim DeRuyter Histology and Electron Microscopy Labs University of Alaska Fairbanks
In a message dated 3/12/99 9:55:46 AM Hawaiian Standard Time, underwoo-at-u.washington.edu writes:
{ { Bad news! the other issue is: Life is short and work is long, and working alone sucks. It's not emotionally healthy. } }
Perhaps it is true for some that working alone is not emotionally healthy. However, if you ARE emotionally healthy, then working alone can be emotionally healthy and spiritually healthy also. It can be a time for focussed energy, contemplative thought, creative thought - all without interruption. Personally I love working alone and after the work I enjoy the company of my family and friends.
} From: Robert Underwood {underwoo-at-u.washington.edu}
} } In the past I have been on jobs where a great deal of the time was spent } isolated. Now days I think it is a huge safety liability. One time I had } appendicitis and had to drive myself to 50 miles on back roads to a clinic } with my knees up on the stearing wheel. The point here is, even though } you work in a laboratory complex, if something happened you probably } wouldn't get help until the cleaning crew found you. Bad news! the other } issue is: Life is short and work is long, and working alone sucks. It's } not emotionally healthy. Make a change. Consolidate in with other workers.
I spent most of my life farming and ranching. Both rather dangerous occupations. You spend almost all your time alone and in the busy season I might be alone 48 hours at a time so no one would even start looking for me for a couple of days.
Not many people are killed because of the isolation. Your best protection' is to think before you do something dangerous.
Gordon
Gordon Couger gcouger-at-couger.com Owner PRAG-L PRactical AGriculture List www.couger.com/prag-l Stillwater, OK 405 624-2855 GMT -6:00
Can anyone help me acquire an instruction manual for a Reichert-Jung FC4E cyroultramicrotome attachment for a Reichert-Jung Ultracut E ultramicrotome? I would be able to pay copy and mailing expenses.
Thanks
Damian Neuberger Research Scientist damian_neuberger-at-baxter.com
There are some two way pagers that have a man down feature. If the pager is in a horozonal postion for 10 seconds it beeps. If the wearer doesn't acknoledge the beep it sends an alarm to a central station. These pagers have a panic button as well and will serve as regular alpha numeric pagers that allow yes/no acknoledgement from the wearer.
Disclaimer: I own a substantial share of Datalink System that manufactures and selling these. See www.rfdata.net. Gordon
Gordon Couger gcouger-at-rfdata.net Datalink Systems www.rfdata.net Stillwater, OK 405 624-2855 GMT -6:00 =================================
Everett Ramer's question regarding working-alone has ellicited thoughtful and poignant reply. Useful reply as well, by Jerry Heeschen.
To level this solemn feeling, here is mine originally just shared with Everett.
Nathan Haese - at work, alone in a garage, on a new microscope, perhaps too alone.
Everett,
At a large chemical company that I once worked for, we had a badge with a radio alert button that we wore when we worked alone on weekends. Pressing the button would alert the gate guard to come find us in the lab=
Does any one have an instruction/operations manual for an American Optical microtome knife sharpener? Or if it's basic enough to enlighten me just put it in an email? Thanks in advance Steve D'Angelo
Let's join and pay our tribute to Drs Richard Henderson & Nigel Unwin for their Aminoff Award.. Cheers!
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has decided to award the Gregori Aminoff prize in crystallography for 1999 to dr. Richard Henderson and dr. Nigel Unwin, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, England, for their development of methods for structure determination of biological macromolecules using electron diffraction. The prize is presented at the Annual Meeting of the Academy 31. March 1999. The Aminoff symposium 29 - 30. March is organised to the honour of the prize-winners.
The symposium is supported by the Academy through its Nobel Institute for Chemistry.
Aminoff Symposium Structure Determination of Macromolecules with Electron Diffraction 29 - 30. March 1999
Monday 29. March
13.00 - 13.15 Opening of the symposium: Erling Norrby Introduction: Ivar Olovsson
General and non-biological Systems
13.15 - 14.15 Atomic Resolution Electron Microscopy in Biology Richard Henderson
14.15 - 15.00 Imaging Individual Atoms by Electron Microscopy Sven Hovmller, Stockholm
15.00 - 15.30 Coffee/Tea
Diffraction Studies of Membrane Proteins
15.30 - 16.30 Different methods for the study of membrane structures. Matti Saraste, EMBL, Heidelberg
16.30 - 17.15 Electron Crystallography of Membrane-bound Enzymes Hans Hebert, Stockholm
17.15 - 18.00 Structural Studies on the Cytochrome bc1 Complex So Iwata, Uppsala
18.00 - 18.30 General discussion
18.30 Dinner in the Club House of the Academy
Tuesday 30. March
Studies of Virus Structures
09.00 - 10.00 Combination of Different Methods in Virus Studies Michael Rossmann, Purdue
10.00- 10.45 Virus Studies, Essence of Supermolecular Symmetry Holland Cheng, Stockholm
10.45 - 11.15 Coffee/Tea
Non-crystalline Materials
11.15 - 12.00 Visualization of Single Protein Molecules by Electron tomography. Ulf Skoglund, Stockholm
12.00 - 13.00 0 - dimensional Crystallography Marin van Heel, Imperial College
13.00 - 14.30 Lunch in the Club House
Concluding talks
14.30 - 15.30 Making Light Work: The Membrane Proteins of Plant Photosynthesis Werner Khlbrandt, Frankfurt
Getting gold off museum fossil pieces is nay impossible. Al would be easier but basically its the same problem. C coating is good enough for low powers, but again, Curators do not like that dark coating, To view these "hard, dry and non-conducting" specimens uncoated, the best solution is a poor vacuum SEM; a fully fledged Environmental SEM would also do well, but its a more expensive instrument for that job. Poor vacuum SEM's (I believe at least a couple of the major manufacturers make instruments with that facility) use only mechanical pump vacuum in the specimen chamber and because of a vacuum limiting aperture retain high vacuum in the gun chamber. Secondary mode is impossible, but a Robinson detector gives excellent images for this type of work. Magnifications under these conditions are limited to about 2000x, but details in fossils do not warrant higher magnifications; its the SEM's superior depths of field that wins out over light microscopy. Kim - all you require now is one of those scopes! Years ago I modified an Etec Autoscan to function reversibly as a poor vacuum instruments. It worked well but it was a fair bit of trouble to accomplish the required modifications. Our online contain a link to an archive collated by Scott Wight. This contains listserver contributions concerned with Environmental and Poor Vacuum SEM. 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, March 13, 1999 6:55 AM, Kim DeRuyter [SMTP:fnksd1-at-uaf.edu] wrote: } } Hi, } A student in the lab is looking at museum samples of } dinosaur bones and } teeth on the SEM. He could get access to more samples if } he could restore } them to their original condition ( ie, remove the gold). } Is there a good } nondestructive way to do this? } } Kim DeRuyter } Histology and Electron Microscopy Labs } University of Alaska Fairbanks }
Due to the response (and fun) of our contest at last years MSA/MAS Conference, we will repeat the contest this year in Portland. The concept of the contest is based on composite micrographs, each made up from two or more images - one of which must be microscopical in nature. Prizes of value will be awarded and one will not have to be present to win. If of interest, kindly advise by return email and I will see that you receive full contest detail. Don Grimes, Microscopy Today
Many years ago I worked in a hospital basement EM lab. One day my boss and I came out of the inner TEM room and wondered why the hallways were deserted. Then a fire marshall came by demanding to know why we hadn't vacated the building during the fire drill!
The following email notice arrived from our university safety office: ------------
Kim
I seem to remember a story - a long time ago - about about dipping the sample in liquid mercury - the gold is taken into the liquid as an amalgam and leaves the specimen clean. I have never tried it. I do not know what any Safety person would say about that these days!
Keith Ryan Marine Biological Association of the UK Citadel Hill Plymouth Devon PL1 2PB England
In a message dated 3/12/99 9:45:34 PM Mid-Atlantic Standard Time, fnksd1-at-uaf.edu writes:
{ { Hi, A student in the lab is looking at museum samples of dinosaur bones and teeth on the SEM. He could get access to more samples if he could restore them to their original condition ( ie, remove the gold). Is there a good nondestructive way to do this?
Kim DeRuyter Histology and Electron Microscopy Labs University of Alaska Fairbanks } } Good Morning! A less destructive way to analyze these samples would be to coat them with carbon instead of gold, and then ashing the carbon off with O2. Gold is tricky to remove on most materials (I work mostly with semiconductors), but would be very difficult to remove on dinosaur bones. (This is assuming your samples are small enough to fit into an available asher or RIE tool). There are several labs that could perform both the coating and ashing - let me know if you have trouble locating one close to your area. Lisa Montanaro Consultant, MME
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
im, A good way to handle specimens of this sort is to make casts of the surface and examine the casts in the SEM. This way there is no damage to the original artifact. I had an anthropology grad student do this with human teeth for his thesis research. He worked out a very inexpensive, low tech, but reliable method to do the casting. He can be reached at the following for full details of his method: Dr. Chris Schmidt Indianapolis University cschmidt-at-indy.edu
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, A student in the lab is looking at museum samples of dinosaur bones and teeth on the SEM. He could get access to more samples if he could restore them to their original condition ( ie, remove the gold). Is there a good nondestructive way to do this?
Kim DeRuyter Histology and Electron Microscopy Labs University of Alaska Fairbanks
RFC822 header -----------------------------------
RECEIVED: from SF_Database by POP_Mailbox_-1290846887 ; 12 MAR 99 21:53:29 UT Received: from SPARC5.MICROSCOPY.COM by mailcenter.btny.purdue.edu with SMTP (QuickMail Pro Server for MacOS 1.1.2); 12-Mar-1999 21:53:25 -0500 Received: (from daemon-at-localhost) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) id OAA15642 for dist-Microscopy; Fri, 12 Mar 1999 14:54:41 -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 OAA15635 for "MicroscopyFilteredEmail-at-msa.microscopy.com"; Fri, 12 Mar 1999 14:54:10 -0600 Received: from aurora.alaska.edu (aurora.alaska.edu [137.229.18.100]) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) with ESMTP id OAA15622 for {microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} ; Fri, 12 Mar 1999 14:53:47 -0600 Received: from emlab.alaska.edu (kim.geology.uaf.edu [137.229.53.96]) by aurora.alaska.edu (8.9.1a/8.9.1) with SMTP id LAA00122 for {microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} ; Fri, 12 Mar 1999 11:58:57 -0900 (AKST) Message-Id: {199903122058.LAA00122-at-aurora.alaska.edu} X-Sender: fnksd1-at-aurora.alaska.edu X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Pro Version 4.0 Date: Fri, 12 Mar 1999 11:55:24 -0900 To: microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com From: Kim DeRuyter {fnksd1-at-uaf.edu} Subject: Removing gold Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Errors-to: Microscopy-request-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
by dj.stud.ntnu.no (8.9.1/8.9.3) with ESMTP id QAA03224; Mon, 15 Mar 1999 16:01:30 +0100 (MET)
I have the same problem with the Microm-Heidelberg, Heavy duty Microtome HM 350. We would also be able to pay copy and mailing expenses.
Gary. NTNU Norway. } } } Can anyone help me acquire an instruction manual for a Reichert-Jung FC4E } cyroultramicrotome attachment for a Reichert-Jung Ultracut E } ultramicrotome? I would be able to pay copy and mailing expenses. } } Thanks } } Damian Neuberger } Research Scientist } damian_neuberger-at-baxter.com } } }
Two postdoctoral fellowships are available immediately in the Supramolecular Structure and Function group in the Bioengineering & Physical Science Program at the NIH. Our laboratory is looking for a physical scientist (e.g., physics or materials) and biological scientist (e.g., biophysics) to help develop and apply new methods based on electron microscopy and spectroscopy. There is considerable flexibility in the scope of research which includes the following:
(i) development of EELS spectrum-imaging in the STEM to map phosphorus, calcium and other elements in macromolecular assemblies and cells.
(ii) development of energy-filtered TEM to establish elemental detection limits and to map elemental distributions.
(iii) development of x-ray microanalysis and cryo-preparation techniques for studies in cell biology.
(iv) image processing techniques to determine the structures of large macromolecular assemblies using cryo-EM and STEM.
(v) applications of any of the above methods to biomedical research in collaboration with investigators in other NIH laboratories.
Our laboratory is equipped with field-emission scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS), energy-filtered electron microscopy (EFTEM), x-ray microanalysis (EDXS), cryo-electron microscopy, and UNIX-based image processing.
Preference will be given to candidates with less than five years of relevant postdoctoral experience. Candidates from the United States or from overseas are welcome to apply.
For additional information see: http://www.nih.gov/od/ors/beps/ssfr/
Please send curriculum vitae and bibliography to:
Dr. Richard Leapman
Biomedical Engineering & Physical Sciences Program
- Eye on Imaging - MSC/SMC Conference May 26-28, 1999
Sponsored by the Microscopical Society of Canada
We are pleased to annouce the 26th annual meeting of the Microscopical Society of Canada. This spring meeting and exhibition will be taking place for three days, May 26-28, 1999, on the campus of the University of Guelph in Guelph, Ontario. Many interesting speakers have agreed to participate including Dr. John Russ (author of the Image Processing Handbook, Dr. P.C. Cheng (multi-photon microscopy and microscope construction) , Dr. Chris Yip (AFM), Dr. Nestor Zaluzec (Tele-Presence microscopy), Dr. Nick White (3-D quantitative analysis and multi-photon microscopy) and Dr. Brian Kaye (Fractal analysis) amongst others. We are also offering a variety of afternoon workshops as well as a commercial exhibition offering a full range of Microscopy and Imaging equipment and supplies. Please visit our web site for information and registration packages:
http://www.uoguelph.ca/botany/rootlab/msc99.htm
Please pass this link along to anybody that may be interested. Deadline for submission of abstracts and pre-registration is April 6, 1999. Hope you can make it,
George Harauz Microscopical Society of Canada Chairman, Local Organizing Committee University of Guelph Guelph, Ontario gharauz-at-uoguelph.ca
You might look into utilities that allow you to adjust the color LUT and data separately of each other. Then you should be able to stretch the colors to fit like you want. If that is not easily possible with your software, then you might try playing with the gamma, contrast and brightness on your image before applying the pseudo-color and you should be able to get your weighting as you like it.
If you absolutely need help, I might be able to fabricate a color table here if you can send me a typical image and your color table.
At 03:46 PM 3/12/99 -0500, you wrote: } Hi computer imagers,, } } I am pseudocolorizing some data we have of cellular responses from striatum of } rats learning a T-maze from Ann Graybiel's tetrode recording project. What I } am looking for is any "standard" pseudocolor tables used by imagers to colorize } 0-255 grey levels into RGB values. } } I can apply a standard spectrum from 0 to 255 } running from magenta (255 0 255 RGB) through blue, cyan, green, yellow to red } (255 0 0) or start with blue and go to red in a linear way. What this produces } is colors that are mostly in the middle. What I think imagers must be using } are tables weighted toward the red and blue, so transitions show up better. I } can play with my tables in Excel to boost the red and blue ends and then apply } them using Paint Shop Pro - what I was wondering was if you have or know where } I can find any standard tables, preferably of numerical RGB values used by the } pros in the field. } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------ } |Glenn Holm {mailto:karuzis-at-wccf.mit.edu} | } |Graybiel Lab (617)253-5780;fax (617)253-1599 | } |M.I.T Dept. of Brain + Cog. Sci. Cambridge, MA 02139 | } ------------------------------------------------------------------
Kim DeRuyter 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, } A student in the lab is looking at museum samples of dinosaur bones and } teeth on the SEM. He could get access to more samples if he could restore } them to their original condition ( ie, remove the gold). Is there a good } nondestructive way to do this? } } Kim DeRuyter } Histology and Electron Microscopy Labs } University of Alaska Fairbanks Kim, One thing that no one has mentioned, yet, is low kV operation. If your instrument will operate at 5kV or lower (perferably around 1kV) and you limit your beam current, you should be able to view uncoated specimens at at least a couple of kX. Some intruments will go much higher at that voltage range. Grains of quartz may still present a problem because SiO2 is such a good insulator, but many other minerals will work fine under those conditions.
Ken Converse owner Quality Images third party SEM service Delta, PA
I have set up an FTP site at prism.mit.edu, port 2101, with the files I mentioned that will convert LINK/Oxford AN10/eX/L files. Apologies if the documentation is sparse!
To access a non-standard port in FTP you will need to know how your FTP program works. In Netscape, use the following URL:
ftp://prism.mit.edu:2101
In WS_FTP you have to change the port number in the Advanced tab. From a command line ftp program (e.g. Unix, or DOS from Win 95/98/NT), first invoke the program without a server name, i.e. just enter
ftp
The program responds with the ftp prompt ftp} . Then you enter:
open prism.mit.edu 2101
The user is anonymous, and the password is unimportant. I don't know how you would do it with other FTP programs. Sorry about the difficulty, but I am already using the standard FTP port for another, non-public, purpose!
I think you are making an excellent choice with the new Agfa DuoScan T2500. You will appreciate the 3.4 D on this unique flatbed scanner. The glass less
negative carriers fit into the lower tray, which slides into a precise position. The negatives will not contact any surface. I have just ordered also a DuoScan T2500. You will learn more about it at:
One of the most versatile imaging software is CorelDraw8 and CorelPHOTO-PAINT8. It offers the highest image format manipulation with Plug-ins, for most applications. Highly recommended.
Laszlo J. Veto
Caspar McConville 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 thinking of purchasing a negative scanner for use with TEM } negatives from our Jeol 2000-FX, and also for SEM negatives. A } scanner has been recommended to us: the Agfa Duoscan T2500, which } has a resolution (hardware) of 1250 x 2500 dpi and a density of 3.4D. } (The scans would be output to a Kodak DS 8650 PS printer) } } We need the quality of the scans to match the quality of the standard } darkroom enlarger if possible, as we would like to 'go digital' at } least for routine work. Does anyone have experience of routine } negative scanning for TEM prints, with this or other scanners, and if } so, is it realistic to expect such high quality? } } Also, what additional image processing software would people } recommend we got to go along with this? } } Any advice would be appreciated. } } Caspar } } Caspar McConville, Ph.D. } Technical Specialist } New York State College of Ceramics } Alfred University
} From: Self {miller.TEX.TAFA} To: Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com
Howdy all, There is a graduate student here who is trying to look at a possible stem cell line under TEM. The problem is that they are quite small, don't seem to pellet very well, and he has only been able to get me a few thousand cells at a time. We have tried to embed the cells in 2% Agar after fixation but this hasn't worked. Is it possible to filter the media and cells, and then process the filter with the cells stuck onto it? Maybe use a cytospin to spin the cells into a filter? Is there anyone with experience with this? Any suggestions or ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance Frank Herbert Technician Integrated Microscopy Core Department of Cell Biology Baylor College of Medicine
Somewhere in the deep receses of my mind I recall a cytochemical test for arsenic. I think it was for EM but I am not sure. Does anyone out there know it??
Or was it all just a bad dream?
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
We are trying to equip our lab with a reflected light BF/DF microscope (+ trinocular head, B&W video system, 4X5" Polaroid system), for two basic needs: 1. viewing and photographing our fine metal, ceramic, and carbide powders for QA purposes (e.g. visual standards), and 2. viewing and photographing mounted/polished thermal spray powder and coating samples prepared at our parent company's facility.
Our budget allows for a used (reconditioned or demo) top-name microscope (e.g. Nikon, Olympus, Leitz, Zeiss) or a new lesser- name scope (e.g. Meiji...) with the same basic features. Not being professional microscopists ourselves, we ask you to comment on aspects of the above tradeoff, based on your experience. Our main concern is flatness of field and sharpness of image at magnifications up to 500X. Thanks for your help!
Sincerely,
Robert A. Miller TAFA Material Technologies, Inc. 1702 Mykawa Road Pearland TX 77581 USA PHONE: 281-485-7765 FAX: 281-485-0211 EMAIL: miller-at-tafa.com
by dogwood.botany.uga.edu (8.9.1/8.9.1) with SMTP id RAA17081 for {Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.com} ; Mon, 15 Mar 1999 17:56:43 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: {199903152256.RAA17081-at-dogwood.botany.uga.edu} Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Hi, I'm trying to find out if the elemental imaging system on my scope (a Zeiss 902A TEM) is working...or if it is a problem with the sample. Does anyone have a sample they could spare for elemental imaging?
In October, I had a great sample grid (30nm liver sections with no stain). We were able to get nice images of iron. The scope had its annual service in November and the elemental imaging system has not worked correctly since that time. The serviceman is suggesting that the sample is fried (no pun intended). I think the scope is whacked. So I'm trying to get another liver sample (my source for the first sample retired) or I'm willing to try something else. I need a "known" sample, cut 30 nm thick, no support film (600 mesh grids help) or staining.
Any help or suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated!
Sincerely, Beth Richardson
************************************** Beth Richardson EM Lab Coordinator Botany Department University of Georgia Athens, GA 30602
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I'm interested. Elaine
Dr. Elaine Humphrey Biosciences Electron Microscopy Facility University of British Columbia 6270 University Blvd, mail-stop Botany Vancouver, BC CANADA, V6T 1Z4 Phone: 604-822-3354 FAX: 604-822-6089 e-mail: ech-at-unixg.ubc.ca
hello members. here is a probable dumb question. Maybe an impossible situation.
Suppose that I have a prepared microscope slide-- 1"x3" glass slide with specimen under cover slip. Ordinary LM analysis works fine. Is there some other analysis method besides confocal that would offer better resolution and increased depth of field? The idea is to not have to prepare TEM specimens.
Is this possible? Gary Gaugler, Ph.D. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Modern surfers use PC boards. You can too at http://photoweb.net ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thanks to everyone for your fantastic responses to my request for a Reichert-Jung FC4E manual. The folks from Leica have been especially helpful and quick to respond and I'm most grateful for the help.
As Valdemar Furdanowicz wrote you, you can transfer LINK files to the PC = with their MSDOSCV program. However, you can also use the serial port of the = LINK=20 computer and it can be a little bit faster. What I don't know, however, = is whether you can connect the the two machines directly. When I worked in the electron = beam lab of Hungalu Engineering, we had a little box between the serial ports=20 of the machines, made by Oxford. You can try any terminal program on the PC if it has an option for the = well-known XMODEM protocol. Once transferred, the files have to be converted from one format to = another , because the numbers are formatted differently on the LINK and the PC. With fixed point numbers the only difference is the order of the bytes, = but with floating point numbers the problem is more serious.=20 Your opportunities for file conversion are very limited with the MSDOSCV = program.=20 Of course you have to know the structure of the files, if you want to = convert them.=20 You can find this information in the Oxford manuals.
I wrote some programs to solve the above mentioned problems: 1. File transfer: with our XMODEM program we can transfer multiple files = using wildcards in=20 the file specifications. For this purpose the PC program prepares the = necessary LINK macros, which are sent as a first step. 2. File inspection: with a little utility program one can look at the = files obtained from the LINK computer and compare their content with the documentation.=20 3. File conversion: I have worked out simple conversion programs for = image files, DIGISCAN image anal. result files and X-ray spectra.
With a private letter I can send you anything from these programs, but = there are still some minor=20 problems with that. When I worked for Hungalu, I was the only user of my = programs, and I didn't have enough time for a better user interface. They are written = for the DOS platform, and they send Hungarian messages to the screen. Now I work as a computer programmer in a very different field, and =
in our group we are using formvar-coated grids to stabilize ultrathin sections for immunogold-labelling. Sometimes the formvar is *heavily* labelled by gold particles. This is no= t due to binding of the gold grains, but depends only on the primary antibo= dy that had been used. It can happen both with Protein A-gold or goat anti rabbit-gold, but using other primary antibodies the formvar is clean. What is the reason for this binding of antibodies to formvar? Is there any blocking reagent that would provide this? Thanks in advance
Birgit
-------------------------------------------------------------------------= ----- Dr. Birgit Neubohn Institut fuer Pflanzengenetik und Kulturpflanzenforschung (IPK) (Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research) Corrensstr. 3 D-06466 Gatersleben, Germany
there might be a number of other sources for your problem beside the microscope itself. You could have trouble with your camera and/or image processing system. Please give more details what equipment you are using to acquire an elemental map (SIT or CCD camera, what software, etc. ...) Due to the principle of the energy-filter of your microscope (Castaing-Henry electrostatic mirror type) you would probably not be able to see an image at all if it would malfunction. But to make things clear you could insert a fairly thick biological sample and check: 1. If you the a normal spectrum on the final screen if you are switching from image mode to spectrum mode and 2. if you are able to see the contrast change if you acquire filtered images before and above the carbon edge. If both works fine, you should search the problem elsewhere. Are the intensities of the filtered images before and on the iron edge high enough to allow the system to calculate a useful result? Did you change any other important parameters since your last successful try (slit width, energy losses, acquisition time, background correction, ...)? You can contact me directly if you like to discuss this a little more in detail.
Cheers,
Petra
beth-at-dogwood.botany.uga.edu wrote:
} Hi, } I'm trying to find out if the elemental imaging system on my scope (a Zeiss } 902A TEM) is working...or if it is a problem with the sample. } Does anyone have a sample they could spare for elemental imaging? } } In October, I had a great sample grid (30nm liver sections with no stain). } We were able to get nice images of iron. The scope had its annual service } in November and the elemental imaging system has not worked correctly since } that time. The serviceman is suggesting that the sample is fried (no pun } intended). I think the scope is whacked. So I'm trying to get another liver } sample (my source for the first sample retired) or I'm willing to try } something else. I need a "known" sample, cut 30 nm thick, no support film } (600 mesh grids help) or staining. } } Any help or suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated! } } Sincerely, } Beth Richardson -------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Petra Wahlbring Centre de Recherche Public Centre Universitaire (CRP-CU) Laboratoire d'Analyse des Materiaux (LAM) 162a, av. de la Faiencerie L-1511 Luxembourg tel. +352-466644-402 fax +352-466644-400 e-mail: petra.wahlbring-at-crpcu.lu Visit our WWW site! http://www.crpcu.lu/~wahlbrin
Perhaps a second-hand Reichert Zetopan equipped for reflected light could fit the bill.
These are available from time to time at +/- decent prices in the USA (about $ 1000 - 2000, depending on condition and accessories mounted on the stand). (Some) spare parts are available in Germany or Austria.
Reichert had objectives for incident light for Zetopan 5.5x/0.15; 11x/0.25; 32x/0.65, 45x/0.95. I don't know about higher magnifications... The objectives mentioned are still available trough at least one German dealer.
I don't know about their quality regarding flatness of field and sharpness: I use a Zetopan equipped for biological work/transmitted light. Contact me offline if you are interested (I have no financial interests in this).
Yvan Lindekens. ---------- } Van: Bob Miller {miller-at-tafa.com} } Aan: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Onderwerp: Instrument Quality vs. Budget } Datum: maandag 15 maart 1999 23:32 } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 trying to equip our lab with a reflected light BF/DF } microscope (+ trinocular head, B&W video system, 4X5" Polaroid } system), for two basic needs:
Dear Kim, an old method which I used a long while ago and now and then recently to remove gold from calcareous surfaces of REM-samples is to leave the sample in a solution of NaCN and NaOH and let air bubble through by means of a small glass pipette. The amount of NaCN is about 1-2% and NaOH should be 1 N or more. You may try it on a fresh part of bone perhaps it works. Dietmar Keyser PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGE IN TELEFON AND FAX Dr.Dietmar Keyser Zoologisches Institut und Museum Martin-Luther-King Platz 3 D-20146 Hamburg Germany Tel. +49 40/428 38 4232 Fax: +49 40/428 38 3937 E-mail: Keyser-at-zoologie.uni-hamburg.de
EUREM XII 12th European Congress on Electron Microscopy Brno, Czech Republic, July 9-14, 2000 http://www.eurem2000.isibrno.cz/ -------------------------------------------------------- Second Circular and Call for papers will be distributed in May 1999 to pre-registered scientists. DO NOT FORGET TO PRE-REGISTER YOURSELF AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! PRE-REGISTRATION FORM CAN BE COMPLETED DIRECTLY ON THE WEB SITE:
http://www.eurem2000.isibrno.cz/regform.html
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 | +---------------------------------------------------------------------+
Greetings Friends, Does anyone have tips for critical point drying and SEM viewing of fresh fish samples including skin/scale layers? They seem to be VERY oily, and I am wondering if this will hamper the CPD process or muck up the vacuum in the SEM. Any food or fish scientists out there? Thanks, Linda lfox1-at-wpo.it.luc.edu
{bold} "Analyzing Materials Interfaces at Atomic Resolution" {/bold}
There will be a Materials Science symposium at Scanning 99 entitled "Analyzing Materials Interfaces at Atomic Resolution". Scanning 99 is being held at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare in Rosemont, IL from April 11-14 1999. The "Analyzing Materials at Atomic Resolution" symposium is scheduled for Tuesday April 13th. The details of the conference can be found at http://www.scanning.org or can be requested from Mary Sullivan (e-mail: scanning-at-fams.org, tel:201-818-1010). Registration for members of the Midwest Microscopy and Microanalysis Society is at the reduced rates of $150 (regular $ 235) for the whole conference or $50 (regular $ 95) for a single day (all attendees of the MMMS symposium held at UIC last May are members of MMMS).
{bold} Speakers {/bold}
9.00 {bold} M. Haider-CEOS GmbH, Germany {/bold}
"Towards sub-Angstrom resolution by correction of spherical aberration"
9.30 {bold} O. Krivanek-University of Washington {/bold}
"Towards sub-Angstrom electron probes by Cs-corrected STEM."
10.00 Break
10.30 {bold} E. M. James-University of Illinois at Chicago {/bold}
"Atomic resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy on the 200kV FEGTEM"
11.00 {bold} S. J. Pennycook-Oak Ridge National Lab {/bold}
"Probing the Origin of Interfacial Properties by STEM"
11.30 {bold} D. A. Muller-Lucent Technologies {/bold}
"The End of the Roadmap for Silicon Dioxide: The Electronic Structure of Hyper-Thin Gate
Oxides at the Atomic Scale"
12.00 {bold} D. B. Williams-Lehigh University {/bold}
"Atomic-Resolution X-ray Microanalysis in the AEM"
12.30 Lunch
2.00 {bold} L. D. Marks-Northwestern University {/bold}
"Picometer structure determination using Electron Diffraction"
2.30 {bold} J. M. Gibson -University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign {/bold}
"Statistical Measurement of Electron Scattering Fluctuations in Amorphous
Materials - A new Structural Tool"
3.00 Break
3.30 {bold} M. Gajdardziska-Josifovska-University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee {/bold}
"Quantitative surface microscopy and diffraction over the length scales: Morphology and
crystallography of polar oxide surfaces. "
4.00 {bold} M. Tanaka-NRIM, Tsukuba, Japan {/bold}
"Nano-behavior of Small Metal Particles in the Electron Beam"
I would like to establish some contacts with the TEM comunity in Brazil and I thought that perhaps you could give me some information concerning TEM-oriented Materials Science groups in Brazil.
Regards,
LF Giles
***************************************** Luis Felipe Giles, PhD
MPI of Microstructure Physics Weinberg 2, D-06120, Halle (Saale) Germany
} Kim DeRuyter wrote: } ... } } Hi, } A student in the lab is looking at museum samples of dinosaur bones and } teeth on the SEM. He could get access to more samples if he could restore } them to their original condition ( ie, remove the gold). Is there a good } nondestructive way to do this? } } ...
Of all the suggestions, I believe you'll want to develop the casting procedure for your facility. I can give you the e-mail address for Dr Robert Pastor who can let you know which resin materials he used, but he used two ... one for the field while casting the pliable negative mold of ancient Pakastani teeth, and another casting resin for the durable positive mold in the lab. You'd then be able to coat with gold and archive these specimens for all types of future study ... and I was quite impressed with the detail of the micr-wear and lack of artifacts.
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/
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I sent the following message out yesterday with the incorrect Email. I talked to Chris who has gone from human teeth to mastodon teeth (a bit large to cast for SEM!!) and he would be happy to provide details and answer questions about his casting method. The correct Email is: cschmidt-at-uindy.edu
Sorry for the mistake. Debby -------------
Kim, A good way to handle specimens of this sort is to make casts of the surface and examine the casts in the SEM. This way there is no damage to the original artifact. I had an anthropology grad student do this with human teeth for his thesis research. He worked out a very inexpensive, low tech, but reliable method to do the casting. He can be reached at the following for full details of his method: Dr. Chris Schmidt Indianapolis University cschmidt-at-indy.edu
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
(SMTPD32-4.06) id A372AEA00BC; Tue, 16 Mar 1999 12:22:58 EST Message-Id: {3.0.3.32.19990316123207.00ea5d10-at-mail.map.com} X-Sender: mme-at-mail.map.com X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Pro Version 3.0.3 (32)
Dear Linda,
The world class expert on fish scales is Dr. Gilbert Hartley in the UK. You can probably get his contact information by contacting the Royal Microscopical Society, 37/38 St. Clements Street, Oxford, England.
Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater productivity.
125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} ****************************************************** MME is America's first national consortium providing customized on-site workshops in all areas of microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis.
At 07:44 AM 3/16/99 -0600, Linda Fox wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
If you are growing stem cells in a culture well plate and they're fairly confluent you can do all the processing in the dish, including embedding. This saves alot of time as you dont have to spin between changes, etc. If the plates are Permanox, any resin will work as will PO. However if they're in something like Falcon or Corning you need to use Eponate 12 and skip the PO. I've tried lots of resins and most will partially dissolve the plastic. After polymerization you simply pop the capsules off the dish and section. This works very well if you have a fairly large population of cells. Otherwise you just need to cut several blocks. I can send you our protocol if you'd like. Good luck!
Mary Gail Engle Electron Microscopy & Imaging Facility University of Kentucky
I believe that the 1 N NaOH is unecessarily strong to accomplish the purpose and would result in damage to some specimens. A very brief exposure to NaCN with a stronger oxidant such as ammonium persulfate or hydrogen peroxide would probably accomplish the result without prolonged exposure to the reagents which would lead to their becoming more deeply absorbed into capillaries that may exist.
John Twilley Conservation Scientist
KEYSER.DIETMAR 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 Kim, } an old method which I used a long while ago and now and then recently } to remove gold from calcareous surfaces of REM-samples is to leave } the sample in a solution of NaCN and NaOH and let air bubble through } by means of a small glass pipette. The amount of NaCN is about 1-2% } and NaOH should be 1 N or more. You may try it on a fresh part of } bone perhaps it works. } Dietmar Keyser } PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGE IN TELEFON AND FAX } Dr.Dietmar Keyser } Zoologisches Institut und Museum } Martin-Luther-King Platz 3 } D-20146 Hamburg } Germany } Tel. +49 40/428 38 4232 } Fax: +49 40/428 38 3937 } E-mail: Keyser-at-zoologie.uni-hamburg.de
We are in the final phases of deciding which confocal microscope to purchase. We are down to the following two which are comparably equipped and priced. We are having difficulty resolving this decision and would like some input from those who may have some experience with these instruments, the software and support service.
Here are our two choices: ******* Nikon PCM - 2000 MultiLine 3 Confocal w/Compix Software
8 bit capture 2 monitors 3 PMT's Fiber Optic Image capture ******* Olympus Flouview 12 bit capture 1 monitor 2 PMT's Direct optical light *******
We are experienced with standard light microscopes, SEM and TEM but are novices with the subtleties of making a good choice in the purchase of a confocal microscope. Please ask me about any additional information I haven't listed that is pertinent to a clear comparison.
Any suggestions about these instruments and the issues we need to consider would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance for your help, Gerald Harrison Biochemistry/Dental Univ. of Penn.
I am forwarding this message for a Ph. D student in our department.
"Does anyone have references for or a working procedure for differentiating between macrophages and neutrophils in tissue sections processed for TEM. I am currently trying to determine the lineage of inflammatory cells present in dog muscle. These cells harbor a parasite, H. americanum. Preliminary TEM data suggests that these cells are modified macrophages but I need to positively confirm the lineage. I would be grateful for any information or ideas as to how to positively determine that these cells are really macrophages or of a monocyte lineage".
Thanks.
Phoebe J. Doss Manager, Electron Microscope Lab Oklahoma State University
I've read with interest the comments regarding negative scanners for TEM because I'm currently starting to look for scanners for X-ray film. Questions:
1) The resolution info. I've gotten for x-ray film scanners is that they can scan to 50 micron resolution. How do I convert between the dpi resolution quoted on the microscopy listserver to this type of number? My back of the envelope calculations seems wacky when I convert.
2) The x-ray film is much thicker and darker than TEM film. Do the TEM scanner folk talk about what the scanners are capable of blasting through?
At 15:44 16/03/99 -0600, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
U.S.A. Contact Jim Hilton Advanced Database Systems 7931 S. Broadway #322 Littleton CO 80122 U.S.A. Tel: + 1 303 761-5635 Fax: + 1 303 761-592
} ***************************************************** Mel Dickson, Director. Electron Microscope Unit, University of New South Wales. Sydney NSW 2052 Australia
We are thinking about revising the user fees (including tech support) for our TEM, SEM and all related equipments. However, before doing so, we would very much appreciate some feedback about user fee structures in place and current rates. This is a centralized, university EM facility serving both biological and material people.
Secondly, the university acquired a new confocal microscope and it is going to be a part of the EM facility. I would also like to get some user fee structures for this instrument.
Thanks in advance,
Soumitra Soumitra Ghoshroy Ph.D. Electron Microscopy Lab Box 3EML New Mexico State University Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001 Tel: 505-646-1531/3600 Fax: 505-646-5665 e-mail: ghoshroy-at-nmsu.edu
} Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 15:01:29 -0600 } From: Frank herbert {fherbert-at-bcm.tmc.edu} } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: TEM of Lymphocytes } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Howdy all, } There is a graduate student here who is trying to look at a possible stem } cell line under TEM. The problem is that they are quite small, don't seem } to pellet very well, and he has only been able to get me a few thousand } cells at a time. } We have tried to embed the cells in 2% Agar after fixation but this hasn't } worked. } Is it possible to filter the media and cells, and then process the filter } with the cells stuck onto it? Maybe use a cytospin to spin the cells into a } filter? } Is there anyone with experience with this? Any suggestions or ideas would } be greatly appreciated. } } } Thanks in advance } Frank Herbert } Technician } Integrated Microscopy Core } Department of Cell Biology } Baylor College of Medicine } I presume, from your description, the cells are non-adherent?
Pellet the cells. Remove media with pipet. Add small amount of 2-4% glut (depends on size of tube--?maybe 1/2 ml). Resuspend cells, place into very tiny tube with pointed end, and IMMEDIATELY pellet. Let sit in fix. Do not resuspend pellet. After an hour or so, remove most of the fix, and cut off the tip of the tube just below cells, then slice the tube above the pellet. You end up with cells in the center of a log of plastic. Gently dislodge cells with paper clip. Drain with wedge of filter paper, but don't allow to dry out--should be the consistency of thick oat meal. Cut into 1 mm cubed pieces if necessary. Coat each pile of cells with 1% molten, cooled agar (Do not fix the agar in glut). Wash in buffer. Fix in Os. Proceed as with tissue. This method was printed in Microscopy Today sometime back. Also try:
Miller SE. 1983. Electron microscopy of tissue culture. In Jones BR, Hayes RL (eds.) Techniques in Electron Microscopy: A Laboratory Workbook. Burgess Publishing Co., Minneapolis, MN. pp. 478-512.
OR reprinted as
Miller SE. 1985. Electron microscopy of tissue culture. In Jones BR (ed.) Electron Microscopy: 41 Exercises by 17 Scientists. Library Research Associates, Monroe, NY. pp. 293-315.
Good luck, Sm
Sara E. Miller, Ph. D. P. O. Box 3020 Duke University Medical Center Durham, NC 27710 Ph: 919 684-3452 FAX: 919 684-8735
I got 12.7 um for 2000 dpi (1/2000 in x 25400 um/in) and half that if it is 4000 dpi. You should know that the Fuji plate system was originally developed for X-ray plates and was at 50 um. They had to get that down to at least 25 um for TEM usage. They key to blasting is optical density of the scanner (assuming that you have enough light and exposure control). It should be at least 3.4 or higher but costs as this goes up. See the book, Real World Photoshop (3,4,or 5). It has a very good section on scanners and buying considerations. You should also get something that outputs with a depth of 12 bits per channel or higher. It really helps in getting contrast and brightness correct in the final TEM image. I would avoid scanner software that automatically converts it to 8 bits -you can do better. You do need a software platform (NIH Image, Photoshop, Digital Micrograph, etc.) that will handle 16 bit images so that you can convert them to 8 bits.
-Scott ---------- } From: "rgriffin-at-eng.uab.edu"-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com To: microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
I've read with interest the comments regarding negative scanners for TEM because I'm currently starting to look for scanners for X-ray film. Questions:
1) The resolution info. I've gotten for x-ray film scanners is that they can scan to 50 micron resolution. How do I convert between the dpi resolution quoted on the microscopy listserver to this type of number? My back of the envelope calculations seems wacky when I convert.
2) The x-ray film is much thicker and darker than TEM film. Do the TEM scanner folk talk about what the scanners are capable of blasting through?
} Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 08:04:52 +0100 } From: Birgit Neubohn {neubohn-at-ipk-gatersleben.de} } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: TEM: antibodies bind to formvar } =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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } =20 } =20 } Hello, } =20 } in our group we are using formvar-coated grids to stabilize ultrathin } sections for immunogold-labelling. } Sometimes the formvar is *heavily* labelled by gold particles. This is no= t } due to binding of the gold grains, but depends only on the primary antibo= dy } that had been used. It can happen both with Protein A-gold or goat anti } rabbit-gold, but using other primary antibodies the formvar is clean. } What is the reason for this binding of antibodies to formvar? } Is there any blocking reagent that would provide this? } Thanks in advance } =20 } Birgit } =20 } =20 } -------------------------------------------------------------------------= ----- } Dr. Birgit Neubohn } Institut fuer Pflanzengenetik und Kulturpflanzenforschung (IPK) } (Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research) } Corrensstr. 3 } D-06466 Gatersleben, Germany } =20 } Phone.: (+49) 039482 5447 } Fax: (+49) 039482 5139 } e-mail: neubohn-at-ipk-gatersleben.de } -------------------------------------------------------------------------= -----=9D } =20 We use Formvar routinely for ultrathin cryosections. There should be no=20 gold on the plastic. You should block your sections with a protein=20 before the primary, and use protein in the antibody solutions as well. =20 Bovine serum albumen (BSA) and fetal calf serum (FCA) are commonly used. = =20 We wash grids in 5% FCS in PBS 10 min, PBS with 100 mM ammonium=20 chloride--quenches aldehydes in cryo sections (you don't say what kind=20 of sections), PBS, then primary, then 6 washes in FCS/PBS, then=20 secondary in PBS with FCS, 6 more washes; wash off protein with water=20 before proceeding. Next step will depend on what kind of sections you=20 have. Results: no background.
Sara E. Miller, Ph. D. P. O. Box 3020 Duke University Medical Center Durham, NC 27710=20 Ph: 919 684-3452 FAX: 919 684-8735
I am looking for configuration details for a PCVisionplus framegrabber - = specifically, the board jumper settings. These are all listed in the = hardware manual (which we have mislaid). If anyone has this info, could = you please email or fax me, as below. The PCVisionplus card was very popular a few years ago, as one of the = preferred framegrabbers for a variety of image analysis packages (JAVA, = Optimas, etc).
Cheers,
David Vowles Senior Technical Officer Electron Microscopy Unit Australian National University PO Box 475 Canberra ACT 2601 Australia Tel: +61 2 6249 3543 Fax: +61 2 6279 8525 Email: vowles-at-rsbs.anu.edu.au
rgriffen asks ... } } ... } } 1) The resolution info. I've gotten for x-ray film scanners is that they } can scan to 50 micron resolution. How do I convert between the dpi } resolution quoted on the microscopy listserver to this type of number? My } back of the envelope calculations seems wacky when I convert.
My calculations at this late hour would imply 50 microns converts to 500 "per inch", but since "resolution" is the distance between two resolvable points (with something between), a 50u resolution scanner would need scan "optically" at 1000 pixels/inch (the distance between the centers of 2 black pixels with a white pixel between).
} } 2) The x-ray film is much thicker and darker than TEM film. Do the TEM } scanner folk talk about what the scanners are capable of blasting through?
This is a good question ... most transparency and film scanners don't do very well for dense areas. Presumably if the manufacturer advertises a relatively high "dynamic range" it will do better ... but do evaluate for detail and noise in those areas.
} I am wonder if Dietmar method could be used for beetles... } } Regards } } Ricardo } www.coleoptera.org
Hello Ricardo! Especially for insects have a look at:
C. Arno': Removal of gold coatings from biological SEM specimens, European Microscopy and Analysis, July 1998, p.13
In this suggestion bromine vapors are used. If you have problems to get this article, let me know your fax number. I then will send a fax copy -- Gerhard Frank UNIVERSITAET ERLANGEN-NUERNBERG Phone: +49 9131 85 28606 Institut fuer Werkstoffwissenschaften VII Fax: +49 9131 85 28602 Cauerstr. 6, D-91058 Erlangen, Germany frank-at-ww.uni.erlangen.de
Dear Dr. Neubohn, In our experience there is a huge variety in stickiness of primary rabbit antibodies. We have the impression that this originates from different degrees of hydrophobicity, the more hydrophobic the protein, the easier it sticks to a hydrophobic surface (formvar, resins and so on). If this problem shows itself it is almost always with rabbit species. Possible solutions are: 1. make the primary less hydrophobic. Some have done this by pre-incubating the primary antibody with free protein A, but this would make a detection with protein A/gold complexes impossible. If you need a reference I can look it up. An alternative is sometimes, but not always, to use Fab or Fab2 fragments of the primary, but then you would have to use a (goat)-anti-rabbit conjugate. 2. make the substratum less hydrophobic. In general parlodion films seem to be less sticky, but with formvar films possibilities are to use glow discharged films, and a carbon coating. An appropriate blocking step will deal efficiently with hydrophobic binding sites on the substratum. Albumin is suited and a relatively long blocking time helps, as more albumin molecules tend to share larger surface areas with the substratum, resulting in a more efficient blocking with time. If you work with resin sections, you might consider to use Tween-20 (0.1%, not less!) in PBS for an incubation buffer. At concentrations above the critical micel concentration the detergent will prevent hydrophobic interactions like the one you describe. This approach may not be suited for cryo sections, since they are much easier affected by detergents. Good luck, Jan =========================== Jan Leunissen AURION http://www.aurion.nl Costerweg 5 The Netherlands phone: 31-317-497676 fax: 31-317-415955 You will find more technical info on our web site
rgriffin, I've recently had a few attempts at using my Linotype-Hell Saphir Ultra scanner to digitise X-ray radiographs and topographs. I usually use the scanner for TEM negs, and it does a fair job for those as long as they're not too full of contrast (haven't gone in the darkroom since I bought it). I have found it woefully inadequate for X-ray images recorded on nuclear emulsion (grain size 5 or 10 um). The 'real' (supposedly non-interpolated) resolution of the scanner is 1200 dpi, even though it will interpolate up to 5000 dpi. (2.54 cm/1200 = 21 um pixel size). Nearly all of the image detail is lost in a scanned image, even at the maximum resolution setting. And yes, you have to have a fairly weak-looking negative to cope with the contrast produced by a gold wire in a radiograph. My current way of dealing with these images is to use a digital camera on a microscope, which is fine for detail of wire bonds, etc. However, I know I'll have to go into the darkroom today since I have some topographs which are several inches square. I'll scan the prints. In a couple of weeks I'll have a macro lens for the camera and may be able to take pictures from a light box. Unless scanners have improved massively since last year, I wouldn't recommend using one as your only way of getting an image. (I believe 2000 dpi is standard now, and maybe 15% better range in optical density.)
Tel. +44 1327 356363 Fax. +44 1327 356389 } ---------------------------------------------------------------------- } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } ---------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } I've read with interest the comments regarding negative scanners for TEM } because I'm currently starting to look for scanners for X-ray film. } Questions: } } 1) The resolution info. I've gotten for x-ray film scanners is that they } can scan to 50 micron resolution. How do I convert between the dpi } resolution quoted on the microscopy ListServer to this type of number? My } back of the envelope calculations seems wacky when I convert. } } 2) The x-ray film is much thicker and darker than TEM film. Do the TEM } scanner folk talk about what the scanners are capable of blasting through? } }
I have been using a system by Orion with my JEOL 840 SEM. I have been using the DOS version and am in the process of upgrading to the Windows NT version. You can visit their web site at: http://www.OrionMicroscopy.com/
Louie Kerr
At 3:44 PM -0600 3/16/99, "rgriffin-at-eng.uab.edu"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Louie Kerr Research and Education Support Coordinator Marine Biological Laboratory 7 MBL Street Woods Hole, MA 02543 508-289-7273 508-540-6902 (FAX) 508-292-0289 (Cell phone)
Hi Linda, Although I haven't tried this with oily fish scales, I've managed to defat raw food samples (at different stages of refining and production). In preparation for CPD, samples can be dehydrated through a gradient series of ethanol or acetone. If the sample still contains oil, you might try hexane followed by acetone before going to CPD. A common alternative to CPD is to use hexamethyldisilizane (HMDS) x3 following the final 100% ethanol wash. Your samples can then be air dried. Do some trial runs on samples on test samples. The HMDS is available from EMS or other EM supply companies. Let me know how this project works out. Rosemary
We have prepared fish parts including scales for SEM and TEM without problems. The standard preparation protocols of fixation, washes, dehydration and CPD should result in clean dry samples. One problem with scales is that they sometimes tend to curl up as they dry. Usually we just work around that problem but you can try to process them more slowly or try to hold them flat through the processing.
Louie
At 7:44 AM -0600 3/16/99, Linda Fox wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Louie Kerr Research and Education Support Coordinator Marine Biological Laboratory 7 MBL Street Woods Hole, MA 02543 508-289-7273 508-540-6902 (FAX) 508-292-0289 (Cell phone)
On the general subject of removing sputtered of evaporated metal from SEM samples. I am told that removing silver can be a relatively simple. The following paper describes a method using "Farmer's" reducer, a dilute aqueous solution of potassium ferricyanide and sodium thiosulphate.
"Silver as a removable conductive coating for scanning electron microscopy" by A.A. Mills Dept. Geology, University of Leicester. UK
Best regards Mike Wombwell Polaron range Business Manager V G Microtech The Birches Industrial Estate Imberhorne Lane East Grinstead West Sussex RH19 1UB UK Direct line: +44 (0)1342 310296 Switchboard: +44 (0)1342 327211 Fax: +44 (0)1342 315074 http://www.vgmicrotech.com/polaron-range E&OE
--=====================_26460618==_.ALT Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable X-MIME-Autoconverted: from 8bit to quoted-printable by euronet.be id PAA09268
At 03:44 PM 3/16/99 -0600, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America=20
Our company, E.L.I. Belgium has designed a very powerful image grabbing s= ystem for SEMs: Orion 5 for Windows.
This system connects to ANY SEM. Its resolution goes up to 8k x 8k (only depending on the SEM resolution). A lot of useful functions are easily available: zoom, distance measuremen= ts, image extraction, text inclusions,...=20 Orion is the only frame grabber with FULL electrical isolation between th= e SEM and the PC. Orion is fully programmable with macro commands. The Orion system is fully configurable: up to 64 image sizes stored in a driver file. Orion runs under Windows 3.1x, Windows 95 and Windows NT. Continuous software updates guarantee the evolution of the Orion system.=20 It is a fully passive device that tracks the SEM scanning signals - easy connection Orion is open to the outside world: all =93 popular =94 image file format= s (TIFF, BMP, TGA, JPG...) can be used.
Please visit our web site (orionmicroscopy.com) to get more info and also= to download a demo program to evaluate the different functions without any cnnection to an SEM or contact us directly to know our nearest dealer.
Best regards,
Paul Vanderlinden. Sales Manager.
********************************************************************* See our web site: http://www.orionmicroscopy.com
--=====================_26460618==_.ALT Content-Type: text/html; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable X-MIME-Autoconverted: from 8bit to quoted-printable by euronet.be id PAA09268
{html} {div} At 03:44 PM 3/16/99 -0600, you wrote: {/div} {div} >----------------------------------------------------------------= -------- {/div} {div} >The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America {/div}
--=====================_27702444==_.ALT Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable X-MIME-Autoconverted: from 8bit to quoted-printable by euronet.be id PAA15721
At 03:44 PM 3/16/99 -0600, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America=20
Our company, E.L.I. Belgium has designed a very powerful image grabbing s= ystem for SEMs: Orion 5 for Windows.
This system connects to ANY SEM. Its resolution goes up to 8k x 8k (only depending on the SEM resolution). A lot of useful functions are easily available: zoom, distance measuremen= ts, image extraction, text inclusions,...=20 Orion is the only frame grabber with FULL electrical isolation between th= e SEM and the PC. Orion is fully programmable with macro commands. The Orion system is fully configurable: up to 64 image sizes stored in a driver file. Orion runs under Windows 3.1x, Windows 95 and Windows NT. Continuous software updates guarantee the evolution of the Orion system.=20 It is a fully passive device that tracks the SEM scanning signals - easy connection Orion is open to the outside world: all =93 popular =94 image file format= s (TIFF, BMP, TGA, JPG...) can be used.
Please visit our web site (orionmicroscopy.com) to get more info and also= to download a demo program to evaluate the different functions without any cnnection to an SEM or contact us directly to know our nearest dealer.
Best regards,
Paul Vanderlinden. Sales Manager.
********************************************************************* See our web site: http://www.orionmicroscopy.com
--=====================_27702444==_.ALT Content-Type: text/html; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable X-MIME-Autoconverted: from 8bit to quoted-printable by euronet.be id PAA15721
{html} {div} At 03:44 PM 3/16/99 -0600, you wrote: {/div} {div} >----------------------------------------------------------------= -------- {/div} {div} >The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America {/div}
Several people in the recent past have asked about the discontinued Leafscan 45 film scanner. Leaf transferred the technology to Bremson, Inc. of Kansas. Their web page can be found at www.bremson.com . The page detailing the specs for the scanner can be found at www.bremson.com/products/45hsprod.htm .
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Russell E. Cook, Ph.D. 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 cook-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov
The biggest difference between these cell types is in the nucleus. Neutrophils have a multilobed nucleus, and in thin sections this will a= ppear as multiple small, unconnected profiles. The nucleus of macrophages ma= y be deeply indented, but it will usually not be seen as multiple, unconnect= ed profiles. The cytoplasm of neutrophils is generally more electron dens= e than macrophages, and there will be more granules in the neutrophil cytoplas= m. Macrophages will have a distinct Golgi region with lots of vesicles and=
secretory granules of many sizes.
The best way to learn to differentiate the cell types is to get a buffy= coat sample and fix it without disturbing the cell layers. Neutrophils and eosinophils will layer nearest to the erythrocyte layer, lymphocytes an= d macrophages will be next, and platelets will be at the top. I've got a= n easy procedure for processing buffy coats for TEM, if you'd like to have it.=
Jane A. Fagerland, Ph.D. Abbott Laboratories Abbott Park IL 60064-6202 =
We're new to making density measurements on digital images. I'm looking for basic papers/books on the topic. I already have John Russ's "The Image Processing Handbook" and "Computer Assisted Microscopy". Is there any other good stuff out there?
Dear Fellow Microscopists, What is the best way of determining Carbon in solution in Ni-base superalloys? Chemical analysis strikes to me as one of the best ways, but I don't have enough material. Thanks. Anita
} Date: Wed, 17 Mar 1999 15:01:15 -0600 } To: Histonet-at-Pathology.swmed.edu } From: Sue Danielson {sdaniels-at-post.its.mcw.edu} } Subject: Laboratory Technologist position } } The Department of Neurology at the Medical College of Wisconsin has an immediate opening in their Neuromuscular Diagnostics Laboratory for a Clinical Laboratory Technologist. Our fast-paced, growing laboratory receives muscle & nerve biopsies from hospitals & clinics throughout Wisconsin and Northern Illinois. } } Applicants should possess a Bachelors' degree in the Biological or related Sciences or an MT/HT certification. Laboratory experience in histology (cryosectioning and muscle enzyme histochemistry) and transmission electron microscopy techniques a plus. Excellent organizational skills and ability to work independently as well as with physicians and medical students is essential. } } Excellent salary and benefits package offered including health and dental insurance, 403B retirement plan and tuition reimbursement. This is a full-time, 40hr/wk salaried position (no weekend or evening hrs required) available immediately. } } Applicants may contact/submit resume to: } } Susan K. Danielson, MS } Neuromuscular Laboratory Coordinator } Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital - West } Muscle/Nerve Lab, Rm 1132 } 9200 W. Wisconsin Ave. } Milwaukee, WI 53226 } } Ph: (414) 259-3836 } Fax: (414) 454-7905 } email: sdaniels-at-mcw.edu }
Gerald- I have worked with the Fluoview system from Olympus, and the BioRad MRC600, but not the Nikon system. I prefer the BioRad over Olympus. My advice is to sit down and work with the software, with each of the systems you are considering. Time at the scope is the only way to understand the quirks of each. If you don't have the time, assign someone you trust to do the comparison. Get both scopes set up as DEMOS for at least 2-4 weeks. Run them trough their functions, collect images, edit images, transport to various other SW programs, print to various printers, etc. All systems have bugs, most are in the software, file formats, the ability to transfer images from one platform to another is essential... find the bugs, decide if you can live with them.
Good luck -Mike
disclaimer- I have no financial interest in any of the above mentioned companies.
On Tue, 16 Mar 1999, Gerald Harrison 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 fellow microscopists, } } We are in the final phases of deciding which confocal microscope to } purchase. We are down to the following two which are comparably equipped } and priced. We are having difficulty resolving this decision and would like } some input from those who may have some experience with these instruments, } the software and support service. } } Here are our two choices: } ******* } Nikon PCM - 2000 MultiLine 3 Confocal w/Compix Software } } 8 bit capture } 2 monitors } 3 PMT's } Fiber Optic Image capture } ******* } Olympus Flouview } 12 bit capture } 1 monitor } 2 PMT's } Direct optical light } ******* } } We are experienced with standard light microscopes, SEM and TEM but } are novices with the subtleties of making a good choice in the purchase of a } confocal microscope. Please ask me about any additional information I } haven't listed that is pertinent to a clear comparison. } } Any suggestions about these instruments and the issues we need to } consider would be greatly appreciated. } } Thanks in advance for your help, Gerald Harrison } Biochemistry/Dental } Univ. of Penn. } } }
Thanks to the several contributors who posted very helpful information to me regarding our choice between a Nikon and Olympus confocal. We were restricted to these two choices by budgetary constraints.
I have just emerged from what is the last meeting for making this decision and we went over the many good questions and comments I've received. They were a significant aid in our being able to focus on the kind of unique considerations facing us.
We believed, from on-site demonstrations of both instruments and comments I received from the List, that image quality could be considered equivalent. Olympus was also including an additional remote workstation to compensate for the advantage of the Nikon's Compix compatibility with Windows NT. We were swayed by the apparently more powerful software for the Nikon, but because we will be a multi-user facility primarily doing routine visible fluorescence imaging, and the person who will work with users is already familiar with the Olympus package and believes it is easier for a novice to learn basic image acquirement, we will go with the Olympus.
Again, the department personnel involved in making this choice are very grateful for all the helpful input.
Gerald Harrison Biochemistry/Dental Univ. of Penn.
When I posted this letter for the first time, something went wrong, and = the last 10 percent were lost.
As Valdemar Furdanowicz wrote you, you can transfer LINK files to the PC = with their MSDOSCV program. However, you can also use the serial port of the = LINK=20 computer and it can be a little bit faster. What I don't know, however, = is whether you can connect the the two machines directly. When I worked in the electron = beam lab of Hungalu Engineering, we had a little box between the serial ports=20 of the machines, made by Oxford. You can try any terminal program on the PC if it has an option for the = well-known XMODEM protocol. Once transferred, the files have to be converted from one format to = another , because the numbers are formatted differently on the LINK and the PC. With fixed point numbers the only difference is the order of the bytes, = but with floating point numbers the problem is more serious.=20 Your opportunities for file conversion are very limited with the MSDOSCV = program.=20 Of course you have to know the structure of the files, if you want to = convert them.=20 You can find this information in the Oxford manuals.
I wrote some programs to solve the above mentioned problems: 1. File transfer: with our XMODEM program we can transfer multiple files = using wildcards in=20 the file specifications. For this purpose the PC program prepares the = necessary LINK macros, which are sent as a first step. 2. File inspection: with a little utility program one can look at the = files obtained from the LINK computer and compare their content with the documentation.=20 3. File conversion: I have worked out simple conversion programs for = image files, DIGISCAN image anal. result files and X-ray spectra.
With a private letter I can send you anything from these programs, but = there are still some minor=20 problems with that. When I worked for Hungalu, I was the only user of my = programs, and I didn't have enough time for a better user interface. They are written = for the DOS platform, and they send Hungarian messages to the screen. Now I work as a computer programmer in a very different field, and = microscopy remained only a hobby for me. Well, I would like to port my programs to Windows = for my previous colleagues,=20 but I can work on them only in my spare time. =20 (And maybe, I would like to earn a little money if they can afford to = pay.) Anyhow, you can try to convert the image files with Photoshop. They can = be read by Photoshop as raw bitmaps. Here you don't have byte order problems, because the = LINK machine usually stores=20 every pixel on one byte. Even black and white pictures use eight bits = for every single pixel.=20 (Such files can be packed with PKZIP on the PC with 50 to 100:1 ratios.) There is only one thing you have to do: remove the header from the beginning of the file. As far as I can remember, it is 256 bytes long.
Good luck!
******************************************* Mr. L=E1szl=F3 Varga M=C1V Informatika Ltd. H-1012 Budapest, Krisztina Krt. 37/a Hungary Tel: (36-1) 457-9387 email: varguc-at-freemail.c3.hu ********************************************=09 -------------------------------------------------------------------------= ----------- Robert McDonald wrote: Hi All:
I have recently taken over an SEM with an AN 10000 analyser and I was wondering if anyone out there kows if it is possible to get the results files out to a PC ?=20
I'm looking for spares for a Durst M800 Enlarger and a Fujimoto G70 Dichro = Enlarger. Some bright spark has dropped the negative carrier in both = cases and broken the glass plates. If I can get a replacement negative = carrier or just replacement glass plates that would be great. I'd also = like to get some specs on the plates, so if need be I can get replacement = plates made up. =20 If anyone has a complete unit that they want to get rid of rather then the = parts, let me know, we might be in a position to buy for a reasonable = price. =20
Thanks=20
George
If at first you do succeed, try not to look surprised!
George Theodossiou Dept Applied Physics RMIT GPO Box 2476V Melbourne 3001 Victoria Australia Ph: +61 3 9925 3394 Fax: +61 3 9925 5290 Email: george.theodossiou-at-rmit.edu.au
Dear All, We are in the process of mulling over the question of how much we should charge for various services on offer within the department to in-house users, external users and industry. The aim is to revise the charges at some practical level, neither frighteningly expensive nor laughably cheap. However, in order to come up with realistic values, I thought that some input on what the wider world charges would be of use. Of course, I could just sit down and calculate a figure for each of the things that we can do, but this is complicated as some of the variables are unknown - we don't get an electricity or water bill!! Also, there will be some discrepancies between different countries due to currency and the cost of living, but nevertheless, to know would be of undoubted help. So, please let me know how you price microprobe usage, XRF usage and sample preparation, and thin-section preparation. Yours gratefully, Malc. Dr MP Roberts Department of Geology Rhodes University Grahamstown 6140 South Africa Tel: +27 46 6038316 Fax: +27 46 6229715 ******************************* "A sleep is as good as a walk to a legless insomniac" Anon.
} ---------- } From: John Best[SMTP:jbest-at-elmdas.com] } Sent: Wednesday, March 17, 1999 1:53 PM } To: rgriffin-at-eng.uab.edu } Cc: Best, Christine (BEST); jbest-at-elmdas.com } Subject: Digitizing Philips 515 } } Dear Dr. Griffin, } } Your request for information regarding updating a Philips 515 with } digital imaging was recently forwarded to me. } } We manufacture just such a system, and have installed it on Philips 500 } series SEM's owned and operated at several Philips manufacturing or } research facilities. } } It has active control of the SEM probe, and will therfore add features } like frame averaging to your SEM. Perhaps the best approach is to check } out our website at http:\\www.elmdas.com. } } I look forward to hearing from you. } } Regards, } John Best } } } ELMDAS Co. ELectron } Microscopy } Data } Acquisition } Systems } } Mailing & Shipping: RD1 Box 62A, } Alexandria, PA 16611 } Phone: 814-669-4474 } Email: jbest-at-elmdas.com } Our Website: http://www.elmdas.com }
I'm looking for feedback from labs having experience with insurance companies that provide programs replacing traditional manufacturer's service contracts on scopes and other lab equipment. According to the companies' claims these programs provide substantial savings over regular contracts, with service continuing to be from the provider of choice. In other words, they seem to be saying that we can save huge amounts of money with no decline in service. This is a very attractive proposition for the cost-cutters, but can it be real?
Feel free to reply directly to me, if you like. (And thanks to those of you who have already spoken with me by phone!)
Thanks. Randy
Randy Tindall Electron Microscope Core College of Veterinary Medicine University of Missouri - Columbia Phone: 573-882-8304
I've received several requests for this protocol. Phil Oshel asked tha= t I write it up for Microscopy Today, so it will be available to subscriber= s there, as well.
PREPARATION OF BLOOD SAMPLES FOR ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
1. Collect blood in standard EDTA tube.
2. Spin blood sample in clinical centrifuge to obtain visible buffy co= at (about 3500 rpm for 20 minutes).
3. Carefully remove straw-colored plasma layer with pipette, without disturbing the buffy coat layer. It won't hurt to leave some plasma ab= ove the buffy coat.
4. Gently add buffered glutaraldehyde by running it dropwise down the = sides of the tube, again without disturbing the buffy coat layer. 3% glut in= 0.1M cacodylate or Sorensen's phosphate buffer, pH 7.2- 7.4 works fine.
5. After about 30 minutes, test the plug to see if it's fixed - it sho= uld feel rubbery with gentle prodding. If it is not firm, replace the fixa= tive with fresh and allow it to fix for another 15 - 30 minutes.
6. Remove the fixed buffy coat plug from the tube. A small spatula or=
sharpened wooden stick works well. This step can get a little messy, b= ut the idea is to get the plug out as a coin-shaped disk with only a small amo= unt of adherent erythrocytes on the underside. Erythrocytes can be washed off= with buffer, if needed.
7. Place the plug with the erythrocyte-side down on dental wax and cut= out a long transverse slice. Take the slice and slice it again crossways int= o tissue-sized blocks (1-2 mm thick). Each block will contain all cell t= ypes with erythrocytes on the bottom, then granulocytes (neutrophils, eosino= phils, and basophils), then macrophages (often mixed with large lymphocytes), = small lymphocytes, and finally platelets at the top.
8. Place the blocks into a processing vial, and fix for an additional = hour in glutaraldehyde.
9. Wash in buffer, 2 x 10 minutes each.
10. Post-fix in 1% osmium tetroxide in 0.1 M buffer (same type as used = in glut fixative).
11. Rinse several times in distilled water.
12. Dehydrate in ethanol: 50, 70, and 95%, 15 minutes in each.
13. Absolute ethanol: 2 x 15 minutes each.
14. Propylene oxide: 2 x 15 minutes each.
15. Propylene oxide: epoxy resin (1:1) - 1 hour.
16. 100% resin - 2 x 8 hours
17. Orient for embedding so that the largest face of the block will be sectioned (to get all the cell layers in the section).
18. Polymerize blocks as usual.
The dehydration and infiltration schedule is what I've used and know wo= rks. Other methods will most likely work (e.g., acetone dehydration, differe= nt infiltration schedules).
If there are any further details needed, please contact me.
Good luck!
Jane A. Fagerland, Ph.D. Dept. Microscopy and Microanalysis Abbott Laboratories Abbott Park IL 60064-6202 =
Does the MSA have a web site or something that lists EM & LM job postings? Someone told me that it exists but I don't know where to look. So please drop me a line and I'll fish around in the listings.
With things going swimmingly well,
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
Dear Robin, I have had the Quartz PCI digital imaging system for several years and I am very happy with it. The software runs on Windows 95, NT and 98, is very robust (even my students can't crash it) and it can attach to any SEM. It really transforms older SEMs. You can contact them at: http://www.quartzimaging.com/ You wrote: } } I need vendors that can sell me the set-up for getting digital images from } our Phillips 515 SEM. Any suggestions? } } Robin Griffin } rgriffin-at-eng.uab.edu } 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 e-mail: mager-at-interchg.ubc.ca
Regarding the question about charges in a centralized EM facility--We have the same situation but without sem. The federally mandated cost accounting standard has made things difficult but since all universities must now comply, we have no choice. Because of this, your rates should vary based on cost of equipment (and therefore depreciation), cost of personnel and the number of hours the facility is used by paying customers. Our facility charges $25.00 per hour for a Hitachi H7000 TEM and will be charging $35.00 for a new TEM with digital capabilities. Technical help is 35.00 per hour, an inverted multi-photon confocal is $25 per hour and a 3 laser upright confocal with nomarski is $15 per hour. We offer two hours of training at no charge. Use of the darkroom which covers chemicals and the service on our processor is $10 per hour. We charge cost plus shipping on any supplies or chemicals people use. After hours rates are the same. These rates vary yearly depending upon usage. Unfortunately we can't charge what it really cost to operate the facility or we'd have no business--so the university subsidizes us. Hope this helps,
Mary Gail Engle Electron Microscopy & Imaging Facility University of Kentucky
It's me again. I've just been asked to speak to a group of high school kids about EM, and how I got to where I am today (I'm not gonna tell them about all the little people I squashed along the way). Actually what I wanted to know is if there are any folks out there doing Forensic EM. You know analysis of blood, guts, bullets, things like that. You know that if I gross the kids out they'll think that EM is coolest thing since ice cubes. So if anybody does that sort of stuff or knows of anybody I can talk to about it, let me know. Cuz y'all know there's nothing better than gettin' a great big EEEEWWWW out of the young'uns.
Gotta go, I hear my microtome calling 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
Dear Robin, We (Soft Imaging System SIS)have a few options that you may want to look at for acquiring digital images from your SEM. This is where you can find a listing of our products on the web: http://www.soft-imaging.de/products/p_one.htm
The first solution is our ADDA II, slow-scan interface for active or passive digital image acquisition from SEM/STEM. Technical data: Resolution: 4096 x 4096 pixel, 4096 gray values. 8 analog (ADC) inputs. 16 logical input and output channels. http://www.soft-imaging.de/products/hardware/h_add.htm
The second solution is our framegrabber (the grabBit) and our software (analySIS) for acquisition of standard video images generated on your microscope. The image quality, S/N ratio, is much worse for video images than it is for the slow-scan interface.
Our software is a state-of-the-art image acquisition, processing, analysis, and archiving package. We have application specific modules, like STEREO, for generating and viewing height mapped images from a stereo pair.
Please contact me if you have any further questions about either of these solution. I would be glad to send out brochures describing our products, or discuss your specific application. By telephone, (888) FIND SIS, or e-mail ac-at-soft-imaging.com
-Sincerely,
Andrew Cahill Soft Imaging System Corp. 1675 Carr St., #105N Lakewood, CO 80215 phone: (888) FIND SIS (303) 234-9270 fax: (303) 234-9271 web: www.soft-imaging.com, www.soft-imaging.de email: ac-at-soft-imaging.com
At 03:44 PM 3/16/99 -0600, you wrote: } ----------------------------------------------------------------------- - } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America=20
We bought several large Plexiglas developing tanks from Energy Beam Sciences for developing TEM negatives. Several of them split their seams after a few months and we sent them out for repair. After a few months, they split again. Has anyone else had problems with these tanks? They are model DT-111 and are 1-1/2 gallon size (approx. 8-3/4" x 12" x 8").
Please contact me off-line.
-Scott
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Glass Technology Center Guys Run Rd. (packages) P.O. Box 11472 (letters) Pittsburgh, PA 15238-0472
Dear Listers, We are planning to purchase a cold stage for a Zeiss Axioplan and would welcome your experience with vendors in this field. It will primarily be used for imaging food products at temps from -20C to -120C. Thanks in advance! Rosemary
Randy- from my experience these Insurance policies are valid, however the biggest variable is timeliness of service. You will not be at the top of the priority list once you leave the manufacturer and use a middle man to schedule your service needs. -Mike
On Thu, 18 Mar 1999, Tindall, Randy D. wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Hi, } } I'm looking for feedback from labs having experience with insurance } companies that provide programs replacing traditional manufacturer's service } contracts on scopes and other lab equipment. According to the companies' } claims these programs provide substantial savings over regular contracts, } with service continuing to be from the provider of choice. In other words, } they seem to be saying that we can save huge amounts of money with no } decline in service. This is a very attractive proposition for the } cost-cutters, but can it be real? } } Feel free to reply directly to me, if you like. (And thanks to those of you } who have already spoken with me by phone!) } } Thanks. } Randy } } } Randy Tindall } Electron Microscope Core } College of Veterinary Medicine } University of Missouri - Columbia } Phone: 573-882-8304 } } }
We encircle our tissue samples using a PAP pen to keep the solutions in place during immunocytochemical procedures. We just received a new PAP pen and we think they changed the formula!!
The PAP material lifts off the slides during incubation whereas with the old pens the material stayed put until we removed it.
Do you all have any suggestions regarding something else we could use in place of the PAP pen??
MSA's Placement Office is the location to look for this information. It is located on the MSA WWW Site. Look under General Society Information. at http://www.msa.microscopy.com
} } } Hidee-ho Boarders, } } Does the MSA have a web site or something that lists EM & LM job } postings? Someone told me that it exists but I don't know where to look. } So please drop me a line and I'll fish around in the listings. } } With things going swimmingly well, } } } 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
Three years ago almost to the day we had a discussion on ENTOMO-L about confocal laser microscopes, which several contributors believed would eventually largely replace the use of electron microscopes in insect taxonomy and morphology. One huge advantage is that images are "captured" directly into a computer, where they can be stored and manipulated later. As Richard L. Brown wrote, with regard to insect genitalia, "The confocal can take images every two microns (or more) from the top to bottom and then reconstruct the photo-sections to provide a flat or 3-D image (with resolution comparable to SEM at lower magnifications). The stored data from all the sections can then be compiled and used to provide an image at any level of the structure or a movie or photo of the whole genitalia as it rotates, allowing one to see areas of the genitalia that are obscured by overlaying structures."
Our University has now purchased such a microscope system, and it has recently been installed. Can a confocal laser microscope be used to view entire objects, or just slide mounts?? I called the technician who will be training us in its use, and he had only heard of using it with microscope slides. I went through the email discussion we had on the list, and nowhere is this limitation stated. My desire is to use it with very small beetles (0.6 mm up to whatever the limit is, max. for my taxa about 12 mm) which cannot be dissected or slide mounted because they are type material or otherwise special specimens.
Perhaps we could hear generally, again, the potential uses for these instruments in entomological research. Surely much has happened since Mar. 1996?
Lawrence ..................................................................... Lawrence R. Kirkendall lawrence.kirkendall-at-zoo.uib.no Associate Professor FAX: +47 55 58 96 73 Univ. Bergen Dept. of Zoology TELEPHONE:+47 55 58 23 42 Allegaten 41, N-5007 BERGEN Norway time = GMT + 1 hour Home ph. (if you can't beat the time zone differences):+47 55 95 00 34
Keep care and be of good cheer.
Regards
(name) Vratislav Richard Eugene Maria John Baptiste (surname) of Bejsak (Bayshark)-Collorado-Mansfeld
Coleoptera - Australia, Tenebrionidae of World (incl. Lagriinae, Alleculinae)
University of Sydney The Wentworth Bldg., P.O.Box 62 NSW 2006 AUSTRALIA phone : +61 414 540 465 e-mail: vratislav-at-bigfoot.com ricardo-at-ans.com.au (before Ricardo-at-compuserve.com and ricardo-at-login.cz )
http://www.coleoptera.org
Home address: 32 Girrawheen Ave. Kiama NSW 2533 Australia
Only after the last tree has been cut down, only after the last river has been poisoned, only after the last fish has been caught, only then will you find that money can not be eaten.' CREE INDIAN PROPHECY.
We are having problems with our Kevex 770 keyboard. They seem to = print out random letters and numbers when you press certain keys. Does = anyone have a spare that they are willing to part with. thanks.
______________________ Roberto Garcia Senior Analyst, Metallography North Carolina State University Analytical Instrumentation Facility Box 7531, Room 303 EGRC Raleigh, NC 27695-7531 rgarcia-at-unity.ncsu.com http://spm.aif.ncsu.edu/aif
{!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD W3 HTML//EN"} {HTML} {HEAD} {META content=3Dtext/html;charset=3Diso-8859-1 = http-equiv=3DContent-Type} {STYLE} {/STYLE}
{META content=3D'"MSHTML 5.00.0910.1309"' name=3DGENERATOR} {/HEAD} {BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff} {DIV} {FONT size=3D3} Hi, {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT size=3D2} We are having problems with our = Kevex 770=20 keyboard. They seem to print out random letters and numbers when you = press=20 certain keys. Does anyone have a spare that they are willing to part = with.=20 thanks. {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT size=3D3} ______________________ {BR} Roberto Garcia {BR} Senior = Analyst,=20 Metallography {BR} North Carolina State University {BR} Analytical = Instrumentation=20 Facility {BR} Box 7531, Room 303 EGRC {BR} Raleigh, NC=20 27695-7531 {BR} rgarcia-at-unity.ncsu.com {BR} http://spm.aif.ncsu.edu/aif {/FONT= } {/DIV} {/BODY} {/HTML}
I've just been asked to speak to a group of high school kids about EM, and how I got to where I am today (I'm not gonna tell them about all the little people I squashed along the way). Actually what I wanted to know is if there are any folks out there doing Forensic EM. You know analysis of blood, guts, bullets, things like that. You know that if I gross the kids out they'll think that EM is coolest thing since ice cubes. So if anybody does that sort of stuff or knows of anybody I can talk to about it, let me know. Cuz y'all know there's nothing better than gettin' a great big EEEEWWWW out of the young'uns.
I would be glad to talk to you about forensic applications of scanning electron microscopy as that is my job, however......you should understand "forensic EM" goes far beyond the common opinion of " analysis of blood, guts, bullets, things like that". An electron microscopist performing airborne particle analysis for possible occupational/environmental exposure to harmful particulates or the pathologist using electron microscopy to identify a pathogen/toxin induced lesion or foreign object are also performing forensic EM analyses. Forensic means "Of or used in legal proceedings or in public debate" (The American Heritage Dictionary, 2nd Edition). The investigative accountant analyzing data in the investigation of corporate illegal dealings for prosecution and the forensic scientist in the laboratory matching bloody fibers or a bullet found at a crime scene are both performing forensic analyses.
Is the point of your giving this talk to "gross them out" and generate " a great big EEEEWWWW out of the young'uns" or are you teaching to really stimulate some young minds and show them other areas of science that use microscopy for possible careers? High school students are not "young'uns" and you may have a profound impact on a few futures. You can either encourage and stimulate OR you can deter further interest altogether. Many of us were originally guided to our profession by a good speaker or teacher.
As one who both instructs and lectures extensively on forensic applications of electron microscopy, I have found the audiences (high schools, colleges, forensic science and microscopist societies) all enjoy the case history (not gore) from an investigation. The myriad of television shows on the subject speak to the popularity of this current "hot" topic. I'm sure the international emphasis on the "Crime of the Century" has contributed greatly to the recent popularity in forensic science and scientific evidence. You propose to SHOCK your audience with raw crime scene photos when the students are not used to seeing "the real thing". This is counter productive as they will be discussing the shock image(s) the whole time you are trying to explain the science/EM in the investigation. The "gore" is primarily what they will remember and take away with them.
If you really want to TEACH these high school students, show them how to identify objects from two places (exa. - particles such as soil samples from the "crime scene" with particles from a suspect's shoes - SEM/TEM/EDX) or how to find specific particles that confirm a scenario (exa. - specific lake diatoms in "lung fluids" indicating respiration of water from a lake in a possible drowning victim). You can make up your own "scenarios" and supply the "evidence" from the crime scene. Make up a class exercise "crime" and lead them through an investigation of the evidence by EM. Make your SEM/TEM/EDX lecture slides in advance and discuss possible conflicts/artifacts, etc.. You won't need "blood, guts, bullets, things like that" to impress and instruct the students. Leave that for "Hollywood" and the criminal investigator in the proper arena (the court room or instructing other forensic scientists).
You may want to attend the SCANNING 99 meeting in Chicago (April 11-14, 1999) where an all day short course (FORENSIC SCIENCE AND SCANNING MICROSCOPY) will be offered followed by a second day symposium (SCANNING MICROSCOPY APPLICATIONS IN FORENSIC SCIENCE). For information on that International Meeting, call Mary K. Sullivan (201) 818-1010 , web site { http://www.scanning-fams.org } .
Again, I offer my assistance with some other ideas if you are interested. Feel free to contact me off line or by DIRECT E-mail.
Sincerely,
S. Frank Platek Research Biologist/Electron Microscopist Forensic Chemistry Center US Food and Drug Administration 6751 Steger Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45237-3097 (513) 679-2700 , [FAX] (513) 679-2761 E-mail: fplatek-at-ora.fda.gov
DISCLAIMER: THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE SOLELY MY OWN AND DO NOT REPRESENT THOSE OF THE U.S. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION OR ANY OTHER AGENCY OF THE U.S. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OR THE FOUNDATION FOR ADVANCES IN MEDICINE AND SCIENCE (FAMS, INC.).
We purchased two of those tanks this past January. One of them had a leak, but it was suggested to use a silicon adhesive to repair the split (instead of returning the tank). So far the tank is fine. In retrospect, I should have stuck with the stainless steel developing tanks. } } } Bruce
Bruce F. Ingber Biologist- Electron Microscopy USDA-ARS, SRRC 1100 Robert E. Lee Blvd. New Orleans, LA 70124-4305
} ---------- } From: Walck. Scott D.[SMTP:walck-at-ppg.com] } Sent: Thursday, March 18, 1999 10:17 AM } To: Micro } Subject: Plexiglas developing tank -problems } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 bought several large Plexiglas developing tanks from Energy Beam } Sciences } for developing TEM negatives. Several of them split their seams after a } few } months and we sent them out for repair. After a few months, they split } again. Has anyone else had problems with these tanks? They are model } DT-111 and are 1-1/2 gallon size (approx. 8-3/4" x 12" x 8"). } } Please contact me off-line. } } -Scott } } Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. } PPG Industries, Inc. } Glass Technology Center } 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 have been experimenting with telepresence for this purpose. One can get high quality zoom-pan cameras with over-the-web control for less than about $1000 or a simple static camera for about $100. Creating a web page with this view is not very difficult and allows coworkers to monitor each others safety from any place that has network access.
Eric B. Steel, Leader e-mail: eric.steel-at-nist.gov Microanalysis Research Group Office: 301-975-3902 N.I.S.T. FAX: 301-417-1321 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8371 Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8371
} Over the years our workforce has dwindled to the point that I find myself working alone in the lab (metalographic sample prep/optical microscopy + image analysis) almost all the time. The lab doesn't have windows to the hallway, so it is difficult for people walking by to see if I am in the lab, and if I am OK. My manager is concerned about my safety and is asking me for suggestions. What do other labs do to make working alone safe? } Everett Ramer } Federal Energy Technology Center
When I worked at Sarastro a decade ago, applications specialists in our parent company in Sweden had taken pictures of aphids, orchid seeds, and various other 3D objects very successfully with the confocal. As long as the structures of interest are either autofluorescenct, reflective, or can be stained with a fluorescent tag so that they can be imaged, the confocal is a great instrument for this type of work.
The only caveats: (1) make sure to match the numerical aperture of the objective (which governs the depth of field) to the vertical step height so that you get continiguous information (no gaps in the image) (2) be aware of the size of the image file so that you will have enough room on your computer/tape to handle the file (3) check out various types of reconstruction to see which ones best reproduce the information you are seeking. I seem to remember that "look through projections" worked really well but this is an area which has grown tremendously in the recent past. See what is available on your particular system.
Best of luck, Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater productivity.
125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} ****************************************************** MME is America's first national consortium providing customized on-site workshops in all areas of microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis.
At 10:00 PM 3/19/99 +1100, ricardo wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
} } Three years ago almost to the day we had a discussion on ENTOMO-L about } } confocal laser microscopes, which several contributors believed would } } eventually largely replace the use of electron microscopes in insect } } taxonomy and morphology. One huge advantage is that images are "captured" } } directly into a computer, where they can be stored and manipulated later.
Just an aside here, many SEMs can also capture images digitally. Also, (although it involves an additional step) photographs can be scanned at very high resolutions and bit depths, and subsequently digitally manipulated and stored.
} } Our University has now purchased such a microscope system, and it has } } recently been installed. Can a confocal laser microscope be used to view } } entire objects, or just slide mounts??
My $0.02, based on my previous experience...
Several years ago I worked with Prof. Dan Young of our entomology Dept. on doing some coleopteran cranial morphology studies. The samples in question were, in some cases, one-of-a-kind museum pieces; the only known examples of their species. For this reason dissection and platinum coating of the beetle heads was not a possiblility.
We had some good luck using autofluorescence of the exoskeleton to capture striking tilt-stereo images of the beetle heads, which could then be displayed as 3D stereo-pairs. The dense, opaque, and reflective nature of the exoskeletal material was such that the laser didn't penetrate it readily, so traditional confocal z-series and reconstruction was not possible. We arrived at a protocol that worked, however, in order to capture these pictures, most of the advantages of the confocal had to be circumvented. We used a 3.5x lens with the pinhole open as far as it would go so that we could get a large area and depth of field to capture the large (for microscopy; about 3 x 2 mm) specimens.
It is my opinion that we would have been much better off using a good quality dissecting scope with a and a color video camera to obtain our tilt-stereo images. For smaller and less opaque organelles, there is the possibility that the confocal would work quite well. But for 3D tilt-stereo capture of the larger external features, I would recommend that people try out a good quality, video-equipped dissecting scope.
-- Charles Thomas 4D Software Engineer 4D Imaging Coordinator Integrated Microscopy Resource Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison 1675 Observatory Dr. Madison, WI 53706 608-263-6288 Office 608-265-4076 Fax
cthomas-at-facstaff.wisc.edu
VISIT OUR WEB SITE: http://www.bocklabs.wisc.edu/imr/facility/4D/4d.htm
Email removal 800-771-2003, Monday thru Friday 8-5 Pacific Time
We'll Submit Your Site To Over 900
Search Engines, Directories, & Indices
For A Cost Of Only $ 14.95 (*)
100% Money Back Guarantee
Immediately Increase Your Sites Exposure
READ THIS TESTIMONIAL
'We have been a subscriber to a service that analyzes the "hits" to our web site. ( their reports showed )
The day after we received confirmation from you that you had submitted our web site to search engines, directories and indices we got a "Niagra" of hits! In fact, we doubled and almost tripled our "hits."
And since then we have had a pattern of hits that has doubled the number of hits we averaged for the same period last year.
For this little country inn, you have developed sales for us we never expected to get.'
For About One Penny Each We Will Submit Your Web Site To Over 900 Of The Net's Hottest Search Engines, Directories & Indices.
If your site isn't listed in the Search Engines, how can people find you to buy your products or services?
For just $14.95 we'll take the work load off your back instead of you trying to do it manually which can take days to do.
We're the professionals that are here to help you have a shot at having a successful marketing experience with the internet.
You know as well as we that your time is best utilized managing your business and not sitting at some keyboard hours upon hours trying to save about one penny for each submission. See how it's kind of crazy to try to tackle this on your own. It's just not cost effective to try to do this yourself to save just $14.95.
See why thousands and thousands of businesses world wide both large and small have come to us to utilize our services. Hotels, Motels, On-Line Stores, Travel Agents, Colleges, Universities, Governments, Fortune 500 companies, Movie Studios, Chambers Of Commerce and many, many more. Shouldn't you give us a call now?
To Learn More, Call Us At The Numbers Below.
Call us toll free at (800) 771-2003 in the USA and Canada or outside the USA at (916) 771-4739 and we'll provide you with all the necessary information to get you submitted Right Away.
(*) We submit your site MONTHLY to over 900 search engines, directories and indices for a total cost of just $14.95 per month. Minimum 12 month term required.
A colleague is looking for the following: Leitz Accessory 10-419-613 4x5 cone for the Photomacroscopes (connection point is circular; needs to fit into an MPS 11 manual shutter)
If your lab has one and is interested in selling it, please contact Dennis O'Leary of MicroOptical Methods: 518-482-8200
Thanks Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater productivity.
125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} ****************************************************** MME is America's first national consortium providing customized on-site workshops in all areas of microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis.
I am wondering how many microscopists are suffering from RSI (repetitve stress injuries). I have recently developed DeQuervain's tendonitis in my thumb and I am wondering if it is from moving the specimen drive control knob on the E.M. with my thumb for many years. Not to mention the knobs on the microtome. We work with alot of knobs, some easy to turn and some not Here at Stanford, 3 out of 5 electron microscopists ( 2 are no longer working here but not because of RSI), suffer from hand problems. I thought I would take a survey to find out the prevalence of this condition among microscopists.
Olympus has discontinued a dual output module for their AX and BX line of optical microscopes. This accessory allows two lamps (e.g., halogen and mercury) to be mounted to a vertical illuminator; either source can be used by flipping a mirror. I am told the decision to discontinue the accessory was due to liability concerns that could arise if an operator switched from a halogen to UV lamp source without engaging an appropriate fluorescence cube (with barrier filter).
Several microscope vendors have told me that third-party accessories are available, but can or will not provide any documentation. One company mentioned is 20-20 Technology.
I am seeking referrals to a company providing such an accessory, or a microscopist who wishes to part with one.
Thank you.
James Martin Director of Analytical Services and Research Williamstown Art Conservation Center http://members.tripod.com/~James_Martin/dasrhome.htm
Research Scientist in Chemistry Williams College www.williams.edu http://members.tripod.com/~James_Martin
Does anyone know of an authoritative source explaining the deduction of quantitative information (such as void volume, etc.) from stereomicroscopy of membrane microstructures? Thanks, Sai
******************************************************************** Sai S. Prakash, M.S. Doctoral Student / Graduate Research and Teaching Assistant (Research Area: Cryo-SEM of Coating Microstructures) Chemical Engineering and Materials Science Department University of Minnesota 421 Washington Avenue SE, Box 137 Minneapolis, MN 55455. USA. Tel: 612 625 4809 Fax: 612 626 7246 Email: sprakash-at-cems.umn.edu ********************************************************************
Is anyone familiar with reasonably priced software programs that can manipulate 16-bit gray scale images? While Adobe Photoshop can read 16-bit images, you have to change the images to 8-bit before you can run filters etc. Gatan's Digital Micrograph can work with 16-bit images, but its price is a little steep for equipping several computers. What are the capabilities of other packages? I would like to use the software to work with diffraction patterns as well as images.
TIA, Henk
Hendrik O. Colijn colijn.1-at-osu.edu OSU Campus Electron Optics Facility (614) 292-0674 "An optimist believes that we live in the best of all possible worlds. A pessimist fears that this is true."
WOW!! Thanks for all the advice and info!! You folks are really wonderful!
I'm sorry to take so long to get back to you; I have been "down and out" with a killer cold. Then trying to get caught up on all the "urgent" jobs that always seem to appear just when all you really feel good for is a doorstop.
I'll try to answer everyone at once, to not clutter the list with a bunch of messages. Yes, I think it must be a Zetopan. That name rings a faint bell in the old belfrey. But it is an older model than the one in the image Yvan kindly sent. No, I don't have an image of mine; but I was able to dig up the original inventory entry for it. It was purchased in 1955! And retired to storage in 1981, apparently because it was impossible to get a bulb that would fit it. Yvan, that is interesting about the "Reichert adapter" for the bulb you mentioned. We have quite a few bulbs (apparently bought for it), but they are not long enough to reach the contact at the base of the socket. This was no doubt the problem way back then - our "Mr. Fix-it" (who keeps this place running) has now solved that problem by soldering a tiny washer onto the contact at the base of the socket so that when the bulb is screwed in all the way, it makes contact with the washer. And we have light! The bulbs we have are Osram BPA 554, 6V 5A. There is also a burned-out Osram 8100 with it (was in the socket) but it is even shorter than the BPAs., so didn't meet the contact either. Maybe someone threw out the adapter with the last bulb? Both types of bulbs are the same diameter so have the same tight fit into the bulb housing. There is no identification on the housing as to illuminator type; and the rheostat/transformer has been replaced with one from another make of microscope.
The bulb housing at the back looks like the one in Laslo's image, not Yvan's. There is no "Epi" attachment though; and no "flip-in" phase telescope. Between "6" and "7" in Yvan's image (objective lens turret and eyepiece attachment) my scope has two filter holder slides (empty of course; one with a hole about dime-sized, the other about nickle-sized) and the lever to send the light up the photo tube.
Many, many thanks to Barbara for taking the time to send such detailed instructions re phase set-up! Unfortunately... I can't get past the first step! My scope doesn't have a turret condenser with a brightfield option. I said "dedicated phase" and I should have said "phase only" to be clearer. Sorry. This condenser is strictly one-size-fits-all! It doesn't have an "aperture iris" either. But, it does have a knurled ring around its bottom and a measuring scale (like a ruler) stamped around its front. Turning the knurled ring screws the innards of the condenser up and down through a total of about 15 divisions (I don't know what units) on the scale. It also has the following stamped on its front above the scale: "Objektragerdicke 1,0 mm". I'm sure that means something important! So one can focus the condenser by the usual control that moves the entire gizmo in its fork mount, as well as this "internal" focus. I have, eons ago, set up phase on another scope with a turret condenser, so the steps you detailed are familiar. I don't recall ever using a condenser like this one. But many thanks for the procedure!
Wayne; great! I'd like to have a manual if you have one that might apply to this old microscope. Julian and Susan; I would like bits and pieces ( like a condenser with brightfield option! and brightfield objectives) if you wouldn't have a problem sending them to Canada. I'm appending my address below. Unfortunately we have no money (as usual) for servicing, or new parts. I've just been told to have the manual etc. sent COD, and we'll deal with it when it arrives. I guess it had better not exceed what's in petty cash that day!
Again, many thanks.
Sharon Godkin Canadian Food Inspection Agency Centre for Plant Health 8801 East Saanich Road Sidney, B.C. Canada V8L 1H3
I agree with Jim that the best way to deal with gold on museum specimens, = artwork, taxonomic type specimens, fossils etc is to leave it off in the = first place where possible. The material can sometimes be viewed in a = normal SEM by keeping kV and probe current low, or generally more = conveniently by using one of several types of variable pressure SEM. = Until recently the cheaper versions, working up to about 2 torr, were = restricted to non-SE detection modes (BSE, CL, absorbed current etc) but = several SE detector systems working in this range have become commercially = available. =20 We have just installed a new Robinson detector which allows convenient= BSE and/or SE detection to low kV, in high vacuum or variable pressure = conditions, on a small Hitachi NSEM. (1992) and find the combination mode = in particular gives very good results for topographic imaging. =09 beats explaining a caustic cyanide stew to your friendly curator, I should = think.
cheers
Sally
Dr Sally Stowe Facility Coordinator Australian National University EM Unit Research School of Biological Sciences Box 475, ACT 2601, Canberra, Australia FAX 06 (0)2 6279 8525
James , I don't understand how the light from the mercury illuminator could get to the observers eyes without a filter in place. If a filter position is blank and in place the light from the illuminator has no beam splitter or prisim to direct light to the eyepieces. There fore the light remains enclsoed within the illuminator module... Also there should be a stop on the illuminator to block any light coming through. Leica has the same option built into the stand of their DMR series microscope and does not seem to have a problem with light reaching the observer unfiltered.. This is probably another argument why the Leica is preferred over tthe competition.. Another is being the Lecia optics tend to absorb the harmful UV more so then its inferior Japanese competitors. Did you ever notice the Olympus has the filter shield in place so you don't see the uv light coming out of the objectives at the sample. Thats there for a reason....Harmful UV........ In answer to your question, I do not know of anyone who has one of these devices but would check with some of the larger Olympus dealers. Since it was not such a good idea maybe some of them still have units unsold on the shelf waiting to unload... Good Luck C YA CIP -----Original Message----- } From: James Martin {James.S.Martin-at-williams.edu} To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com}
That Olympus reasoning is absurd! We (Nikon), Zeiss and Leica all still manufacture this part! In any event, here are a few third-party sources where you can get such an item. Try Opti-Quip, Inc., Highland Mills, NY (914) 928-2254 or MicroTec, Inc. Milford, NJ (800) 724-5508. I have used the MicroTec one (product #MIT-001), just specify Olympus adapter fittings.
Good Luck,
Lawrence Kordon Nikon, Inc. Columbia, Maryland nikon-at-jagunet.com
Cono Passione 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } James , } I don't understand how the light from the mercury illuminator could get to } the observers eyes } without a filter in place. If a filter position is blank and in place the } light from the illuminator has } no beam splitter or prisim to direct light to the eyepieces. There fore the } light remains enclsoed } within the illuminator module... Also there should be a stop on the } illuminator to block any light } coming through. } Leica has the same option built into the stand of their DMR series } microscope and does not } seem to have a problem with light reaching the observer unfiltered.. This } is probably another } argument why the Leica is preferred over tthe competition.. Another is } being the Lecia optics } tend to absorb the harmful UV more so then its inferior Japanese } competitors. Did you ever } notice the Olympus has the filter shield in place so you don't see the uv } light coming out of the } objectives at the sample. Thats there for a reason....Harmful UV........ } In answer to your question, I do not know of anyone who has one of these } devices but would check } with some of the larger Olympus dealers. Since it was not such a good idea } maybe some of them } still have units unsold on the shelf waiting to unload... } Good Luck } C YA CIP } -----Original Message----- } } From: James Martin {James.S.Martin-at-williams.edu} } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} } Date: Friday, March 19, 1999 10:40 PM } Subject: light microscopy: dual output monitor } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } } 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 } } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } } } Olympus has discontinued a dual output module for their AX and BX line of } } optical microscopes. This accessory allows two lamps (e.g., halogen and } } mercury) to be mounted to a vertical illuminator; either source can be } } used by flipping a mirror. I am told the decision to discontinue the } } accessory was due to liability concerns that could arise if an operator } } switched from a halogen to UV lamp source without engaging an appropriate } } fluorescence cube (with barrier filter). } } } } Several microscope vendors have told me that third-party accessories are } } available, but can or will not provide any documentation. One company } } mentioned is 20-20 Technology. } } } } I am seeking referrals to a company providing such an accessory, or a } } microscopist who wishes to part with one. } } } } Thank you. } } } } James Martin } } Director of Analytical Services and Research } } Williamstown Art Conservation Center } } http://members.tripod.com/~James_Martin/dasrhome.htm } } } } } } Research Scientist in Chemistry } } Williams College } } www.williams.edu } } http://members.tripod.com/~James_Martin } } } } } }
A point that Cono seems to miss in the criticism of the Olympus scope (with the U.V. filter flange over the objective nosepiece) is that scattered U.V. from the sample is not a function of the quality of the optics or the manufacturer but rather a function of the type of excitation in use.
Some users, particularly biologists, use a mercury or xenon lamp but are not relying upon the U.V. output per se. In some filter combinations a high level of excitation in a certain short wavelength region of the visible spectrum is the most efficient for stimulating emission from a fluorochrome which emits in the longer wavelength region of the visible. Sometimes the cubes which are optimized for this effect limit the amount of short-wave U.V. which reaches the sample. Therefore, scattered light from the sample surface is lower in proportion of U.V. than the proportion emitted from the lamp.
However, people who make use of intrinsic U.V. fluorescence in unlabeled specimens, or cascade effects, often use cubes which pass a significant quantity of U.V. directly to the sample. The scatter or reflected light may be correspondingly high in it's proportion of U.V. Those in forensics and art conservation who rely on this mechanism for all or part of their work are dealing with a different situation by intention rather than accident and must take precautions regardless of the manufacturer.
John Twilley Art Conservation Scientist P.O. Box 2324 Sag Harbor, NY 11963-0113
Cono Passione 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } James , } I don't understand how the light from the mercury illuminator could get to } the observers eyes } without a filter in place. If a filter position is blank and in place the } light from the illuminator has } no beam splitter or prisim to direct light to the eyepieces. There fore the } light remains enclsoed } within the illuminator module... Also there should be a stop on the } illuminator to block any light } coming through. } Leica has the same option built into the stand of their DMR series } microscope and does not } seem to have a problem with light reaching the observer unfiltered.. This } is probably another } argument why the Leica is preferred over tthe competition.. Another is } being the Lecia optics } tend to absorb the harmful UV more so then its inferior Japanese } competitors. Did you ever } notice the Olympus has the filter shield in place so you don't see the uv } light coming out of the } objectives at the sample. Thats there for a reason....Harmful UV........ } In answer to your question, I do not know of anyone who has one of these } devices but would check } with some of the larger Olympus dealers. Since it was not such a good idea } maybe some of them } still have units unsold on the shelf waiting to unload... } Good Luck } C YA CIP } -----Original Message----- } } From: James Martin {James.S.Martin-at-williams.edu} } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} } Date: Friday, March 19, 1999 10:40 PM } Subject: light microscopy: dual output monitor } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } } 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 } } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } } } Olympus has discontinued a dual output module for their AX and BX line of } } optical microscopes. This accessory allows two lamps (e.g., halogen and } } mercury) to be mounted to a vertical illuminator; either source can be } } used by flipping a mirror. I am told the decision to discontinue the } } accessory was due to liability concerns that could arise if an operator } } switched from a halogen to UV lamp source without engaging an appropriate } } fluorescence cube (with barrier filter). } } } } Several microscope vendors have told me that third-party accessories are } } available, but can or will not provide any documentation. One company } } mentioned is 20-20 Technology. } } } } I am seeking referrals to a company providing such an accessory, or a } } microscopist who wishes to part with one. } } } } Thank you. } } } } James Martin } } Director of Analytical Services and Research } } Williamstown Art Conservation Center } } http://members.tripod.com/~James_Martin/dasrhome.htm } } } } } } Research Scientist in Chemistry } } Williams College } } www.williams.edu } } http://members.tripod.com/~James_Martin } } } } } }
Depends on what you mean by reasonably priced. I am a firm believer that Research Systems (RSI) IDL software is the most complete quantitative image analysis software available. It runs on UNIX, VMS, Windows, and Mac OS. I have used all versions except Windows, but I expect it to work like the others. It is not cheap; $1500 single user licence. Has been as low as $500 for .EDU institutions. The software comes with an enormous number of canned routines and its own procedural programming language. It will also interface with external routines and has been used for many years to run the Scanning X-ray Microscope (STXM) at the National Synchrotron Light Source, Brookhaven. It handles any data format you want 8, 16, 24 bit images, 3-D data sets, etc. You do have to spend a week or two learning the basics but I don't consider it difficult. Frequently we ended up hiring work study students to do any special programming. These were biology students not programmers. So if you want something that is complete, extensible, more color tables than you'd ever want, and handles any data format, get IDL. I know this sounds like a commercial but I have no financial interest in RSI or anyother imaging software company.
As an alternative I recommend NIH-Image for the Mac and its equivalent Scion-Image for PCs obtainable from the site shown below. Just remember to check the "calibrate box" and use the import file option. It cannot export 16-bit tiff but with calibrate turned on it will do calculations using 16 bit for projecting 3-D data, numerical calculations,etc. These programs will import image stacks only limited by the amount of available computer ram. For raw data, the import dialog under "custom" requires you to tell how many frames to import. Best of all these programs are free. However, they are not suitable for diffraction analysis. IDL is. Good luck.
http://www.scioncorp.com
} } Is anyone familiar with reasonably priced software programs that can } manipulate 16-bit gray scale images? While Adobe Photoshop can read 16-bit } images, you have to change the images to 8-bit before you can run filters } etc. Gatan's Digital Micrograph can work with 16-bit images, but its price } is a little steep for equipping several computers. What are the } capabilities of other packages? I would like to use the software to work } with diffraction patterns as well as images. } } TIA, } Henk } } Hendrik O. Colijn colijn.1-at-osu.edu } OSU Campus Electron Optics Facility (614) 292-0674 } "An optimist believes that we live in the best of all possible worlds. } A pessimist fears that this is true."
Mario M. Moronne, Ph.D. Material and Life Science Div. M/S 6-2100 University of California Berkeley Lab 1 Cyclotron Rd. Berkeley, CA 94720
ph (510) 486-4236 FAX (510) 528-8076 mariomm-at-ux5.lbl.gov or biostar-at-aldecoa.com
Am headed out of town and don't have time to track down the Reichert manuals, but the phase system you describe sounds amazingly like the "anopteral phase" which I have on my system. Will be back in about a week and will check back with you then.
Best regards, Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater productivity.
125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} ****************************************************** MME is America's first national consortium providing customized on-site workshops in all areas of microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis.
At 08:48 PM 3/19/99 -0500, Sharon Godkin wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Check with Media Cybernetics. I am pretty sure that their Image Pro is at least 16 bit now. They are in Silver Spring MD and on the web.
Best of luck Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater productivity.
125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} ****************************************************** MME is America's first national consortium providing customized on-site workshops in all areas of microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis.
At 08:16 PM 3/19/99 -0500, Hendrik O. Colijn wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
The dual output accessory couples two lamp housings to the back end of the vertical illuminator. A mirror is used to reflect light from either lamp housing down the vertical illuminator to a rotating turret, situated over the nosepiece, that contains filter cubes. A variety of excitation/emission cubes would be used for fluorescence examination (UV or visible excitation) using a mercury or xenon source. A brightfield cube would be used for visible light examination using a halogen source. If a mercury or xenon source was used with a normal brightfield cube (not designed for use with a UV source), an observer would not be protected from UV wavelengths reflected or fluoresced from a sample. Of course, this sort of mistake, followed by examination, ought not to occur in practice. However, the possibility does exist with such multipurpose illumination systems. I hope this helps to answer your most reasonable question.
James Martin Director of Analytical Services and Research Williamstown Art Conservation Center http://members.tripod.com/~James_Martin/dasrhome.htm
Research Scientist in Chemistry Williams College www.williams.edu http://members.tripod.com/~James_Martin
On Sat, 20 Mar 1999, John Twilley wrote:
} Cono Passione and James Martin, } } A point that Cono seems to miss in the criticism of the Olympus scope (with the } U.V. filter flange over the objective nosepiece) is that scattered U.V. from } the sample is not a function of the quality of the optics or the manufacturer } but rather a function of the type of excitation in use. } } Some users, particularly biologists, use a mercury or xenon lamp but are not } relying upon the U.V. output per se. In some filter combinations a high level } of excitation in a certain short wavelength region of the visible spectrum is } the most efficient for stimulating emission from a fluorochrome which emits in } the longer wavelength region of the visible. Sometimes the cubes which are } optimized for this effect limit the amount of short-wave U.V. which reaches the } sample. Therefore, scattered light from the sample surface is lower in } proportion of U.V. than the proportion emitted from the lamp. } } However, people who make use of intrinsic U.V. fluorescence in unlabeled } specimens, or cascade effects, often use cubes which pass a significant } quantity of U.V. directly to the sample. The scatter or reflected light may be } correspondingly high in it's proportion of U.V. Those in forensics and art } conservation who rely on this mechanism for all or part of their work are } dealing with a different situation by intention rather than accident and must } take precautions regardless of the manufacturer. } } John Twilley } Art Conservation Scientist } P.O. Box 2324 } Sag Harbor, NY 11963-0113 } } Cono Passione 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 } } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } James , } } I don't understand how the light from the mercury illuminator could get to } } the observers eyes } } without a filter in place. If a filter position is blank and in place the } } light from the illuminator has } } no beam splitter or prisim to direct light to the eyepieces. There fore the } } light remains enclsoed } } within the illuminator module... Also there should be a stop on the } } illuminator to block any light } } coming through. } } Leica has the same option built into the stand of their DMR series } } microscope and does not } } seem to have a problem with light reaching the observer unfiltered.. This } } is probably another } } argument why the Leica is preferred over tthe competition.. Another is } } being the Lecia optics } } tend to absorb the harmful UV more so then its inferior Japanese } } competitors. Did you ever } } notice the Olympus has the filter shield in place so you don't see the uv } } light coming out of the } } objectives at the sample. Thats there for a reason....Harmful UV........ } } In answer to your question, I do not know of anyone who has one of these } } devices but would check } } with some of the larger Olympus dealers. Since it was not such a good idea } } maybe some of them } } still have units unsold on the shelf waiting to unload... } } Good Luck } } C YA CIP } } -----Original Message----- } } } From: James Martin {James.S.Martin-at-williams.edu} } } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} } } Date: Friday, March 19, 1999 10:40 PM } } Subject: light microscopy: dual output monitor } } } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } } } 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 } } } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } } } } } } Olympus has discontinued a dual output module for their AX and BX line of } } } optical microscopes. This accessory allows two lamps (e.g., halogen and } } } mercury) to be mounted to a vertical illuminator; either source can be } } } used by flipping a mirror. I am told the decision to discontinue the } } } accessory was due to liability concerns that could arise if an operator } } } switched from a halogen to UV lamp source without engaging an appropriate } } } fluorescence cube (with barrier filter). } } } } } } Several microscope vendors have told me that third-party accessories are } } } available, but can or will not provide any documentation. One company } } } mentioned is 20-20 Technology. } } } } } } I am seeking referrals to a company providing such an accessory, or a } } } microscopist who wishes to part with one. } } } } } } Thank you. } } } } } } James Martin } } } Director of Analytical Services and Research } } } Williamstown Art Conservation Center } } } http://members.tripod.com/~James_Martin/dasrhome.htm } } } } } } } } } Research Scientist in Chemistry } } } Williams College } } } www.williams.edu } } } http://members.tripod.com/~James_Martin } } } } } } } } } } } } }
I've been looking at purchasing a dry 60x objective for use on a Nikon E600 microscope (application is temporary and permanent mounts of soil invertebrates, particularly soil mites, nematodes, etc.). The particular lens I'm trying right now is the CFI PLAN APO Phase 60x Dry DM objective. According to the sales rep, a DIC slider is not made specifically for this objective, and Nikon suggests that users try different combinations and choose what they like best. We've mixed and matched what the rep had available, and the best image was with CD DIC slider for the Plan Fluor ELWD (extra long working distance) DLL 60x C Phase objective. This objective is for an inverted microscope and is meant to look through a lot more material than one coverslip. I'd like to know if anyone on the list uses this Plan Apo objective for DIC, and what slider they use. Does this seem right to have to mix and match DIC sliders and objectives? ______________________________________________________________________ Edmond R. Zaborski phone (217) 265-0330 Soil Invertebrate Ecology Center for Economic Entomology FAX (217) 333-8076 Illinois Natural History Survey zaborski-at-uiuc.edu 607 E. Peabody Dr. Champaign, Illinois 61820 U.S.A. http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/ ______________________________________________________________________
I am a neophyte to the microscopy world and am curious about EBIC and Voltage Contrast. I am wondering if there are good resources on the general mechanics of setting up the system. I also am having trouble finding basic information/ uses for EBIC. The Goldstein et al book does not delve too much into the topic of EBIC and am not sure of any other good SEM resource books.
Sharon Godkin says: } I'll try to answer everyone at once, to not clutter the list with a bunch } of messages. Yes, I think it must be a Zetopan. That name rings a faint } bell in the old belfrey. But it is an older model than the one in the } image Yvan kindly sent.
The *shape* should be roughly the same. The *color* would be black in your case (the old model).
} No, I don't have an image of mine; but I was able to dig up the original } inventory entry for it. It was purchased in 1955!
(:-) [but doesn't the recond say what microscope it is?]
} And retired to storage in 1981, apparently because it was impossible to } get a bulb that would fit it.
Osram 8100 should fit. See below.
} Yvan, that is interesting about the "Reichert } adapter" for the bulb you mentioned. We have quite a few bulbs } (apparently bought for it), but they are not long enough to reach the } contact at the base of the socket. This was no doubt the problem way } back then - our "Mr. Fix-it" (who keeps this place running) has now } solved that problem by soldering a tiny washer onto the contact at the } base of the socket so that when the bulb is screwed in all the way, it } makes contact with the washer. And we have light! The bulbs we have } are Osram BPA 554, 6V 5A. There is also a burned-out Osram 8100 } with it (was in the socket) but it is even shorter than the BPAs., so didn't } meet the contact either. Maybe someone threw out the adapter with } the last bulb?
I think this is EXACTLY the case: somebody "discarded" the bulb adapter (probably because another idiot soldered the bulb TO the adapter instead of just screwing it in - Yvan told me about one such incident).
} Both types of bulbs are the same diameter so have the same tight fit } into the bulb housing.
Hmm... This is to the experts to comment on.
} There is no identification on the } housing as to illuminator type; and the rheostat/transformer has been } replaced with one from another make of microscope.
No worries - the one I got also came with a "foreign" transformer. Who cares (unless you are a collector :-).
} The bulb housing at the back looks like the one in Laslo's image, not } Yvan's. There is no "Epi" attachment though; and no "flip-in" phase } telescope.
No Epi - because it was configured for transmitted light. No flip-in Bertrand lens ("phase telescope") - because yours is an older model (mine is "younger" than yours but still doesn't have Bertrand lens).
} Between "6" and "7" in Yvan's image (objective lens turret } and eyepiece attachment) my scope has two filter holder slides (empty } of course; one with a hole about dime-sized, the other about } nickle-sized) and the lever to send the light up the photo tube.
One slot (the lower narrow one, going 45 degrees) is for a compensator (don't know the details). The wider one is of course for the filter slider. Your swivelling head is identical to mine.
} It also has the following stamped on its front above the scale: } "Objektragerdicke 1,0 mm". I'm sure that means something important!
I suspect it says "object-vertical-thickness 1mm". Might it apply to the specimen slide?
As for bits and pieces - hey, me too! Objectives, condensers, TL DIC, etc.! Please e-mail with whatever Zetopan parts you're willing to part, and how much you'd like for it. -- Regards, Uri uri-at-watson.ibm.com -=-=-=-=-=-=- {Disclaimer}
Hello Frank and everybody, I hope this will be of some help:
Dr. Pickett-Heaps recently published (Journal of Phycology 34:1088) a solution that, I remember, just mesmerized me with its elegance. "A rapid, highly efficient method... for fixation, dehydration, and embedding of small (e.g. planktonic) cells dispersed in large volumes of culture medium... based on continuous filtration..." -- so that you never really pellet the cells, just gently concentrate them over a cellulose filter in a standard Millipore apparatus while gradually adding the fixatives-washes-dehydrant-resin from the top. Seems worth trying , doesn't it? And yet the setup is VERY simple.
Just contact me directly if you can't get the journal. And if you do try it, I would ask you to please comment about the outcome. I have not yet made the time to try that for myself and will be MOST INTERESTED to hear how it worked for, say, lymphocytes. Or maybe somebody else uses something similar routinely?
Sincerely yours, Vlad.
} } Howdy all, } There is a graduate student here who is trying to look at a possible stem } cell line under TEM. The problem is that they are quite small, don't seem } to pellet very well, and he has only been able to get me a few thousand } cells at a time. } We have tried to embed the cells in 2% Agar after fixation but this hasn't } worked. } Is it possible to filter the media and cells, and then process the filter } with the cells stuck onto it? Maybe use a cytospin to spin the cells into a } filter? } Is there anyone with experience with this? Any suggestions or ideas would } be greatly appreciated. } } } Thanks in advance } Frank Herbert } Technician } Integrated Microscopy Core } Department of Cell Biology } Baylor College of Medicine } } } Vladislav V. Speransky School of Marine Sciences University of Maine 5722 Deering Hall Orono, ME 04469-5722 Phone: 207 581 2998 Fax: 207 581 2969 Email: vladis-at-maine.maine.edu
The description provided by Sharon and some educated guesses:
..."... The bulbs we have are Osram BPA 554, 6V 5A..."
I didn't found that one in older Osram catalogues, but these doesn't go back to the 50's. I can send some pages from Osram with descriptions of bulbs that could fit and their most important parameters (voltage and current, foot type, dimensions of lamp and filament, relative position of the filament....).
"Longer" bulbs are:
* 8001 (6V, 4.35A, E14 foot, filament (4 x 0.9 mm) at 57mm from the middle contact of the foot, overall dimensions the same as 8100)
* 8025 (6V, 5A, BA20d foot, filament (2.2 x 2 mm) at 54 mm from the "bottom" of the foot, overall dimensions about the same as 8100, length is 60mm instead of 65 in the 8100)
* ...
..."... My scope doesn't have a turret condenser with a brightfield option. I said "dedicated phase" and I should have said "phase only" to be clearer. Sorry. This condenser is strictly one-size-fits-all! It doesn't have an "aperture iris" either. But, it does have a knurled ring around its bottom and a measuring scale (like a ruler) stamped around its front. Turning the knurled ring screws the innards of the condenser up and down through a total of about 15 divisions (I don't know what units) on the scale. It also has the following stamped on its front above the scale: "Objektragerdicke 1,0 mm". ..."...
"Objektragerdicke 1,0 mm" means: thickness of slides (to be used with this condenser): 1mm
As Barbara suggested (unless I misunderstand that) the condenser could be a "MS1.40" condenser, usable with phase and/or Anoptral inserts (the "UV-inserts"), but the MS1.40 is a brightfield condenser usable too for fluorescence and it doesn't has a ".... knurled ring around its bottom and a measuring scale (like a ruler) stamped around its front. Turning the knurled ring screws the innards of the condenser up and down through a total of about 15 divisions...". Could the curled ring device be an insert in the condenser that can be removed? (The MS 1.40 uses magnetic inserts that can easily be removed, you just have to pull these out of the condenser...). If it's the same condenser as the one I have, it should read on the top lens "UV". Sure it's not an adjustable DF-condenser?
Can send you some pictures of different condensers offline if you like... Can't send pictures to the list as it's considered poor netiquette (I had some reactions regarding that after sending the Zetopan picture...).
There seems to be some misunderstanding regarding the 6V, 5A bulb for the "LUX FNI" illuminator for Zetopan:
Uri: "... } I think this is EXACTLY the case: somebody "discarded" the bulb adapter } (probably because another idiot soldered the bulb TO the adapter instead } of just screwing it in - Yvan told me about one such incident)....".
Ussualy the bulb + the adapter were discarded. reichert sold these bulbs soldered in their individual adapter, thus providing a fully precentered and preadjusted bulb for the Zetopan. desoldering the bulb and replace it for an osram 8100 in the original adapter is just a way of fixing the problem that the bulbs are rather rare now...
Sharon: I'm preparing a multipage tif-file containing information and pictures on bulbs, lamphouses, filterholders and condensers for Zetopan. Interested?
Chris, For a number of years I performed what we call "electrical failure analysis" using electron beam techniques on semiconductor devices and integrated circuits. My favorite was Electron Beam Induced Current measurements. I found no definitive text or reference for that or the other measurements, Voltage Contrast, Specimen Absorbed Current, Electron Bean Induced Voltage, Charge Contrast, although I do have a few publications which discuss them. I have included in-depth discussions of these techniques in classes, and have assembled a number of example analyses which help to explain them. Send me a personal note if you have an interest in any of this. Or respond with a particular question that might be of interest to the e-beam community on the list. Jerry
_______________________ Jerome D. Schick, Ph.D. Semiconductor Devices and Electron Microscopy 26 Kuchler Drive LaGrangeville, NY 12540 Bus (914)223-7393 FAX (914)227-2743 jdschick-at-worldnet.att.net
Chris Parks 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, } } I am a neophyte to the microscopy world and am curious about EBIC and } Voltage Contrast. I am wondering if there are good resources on the } general mechanics of setting up the system. I also am having trouble } finding basic information/ uses for EBIC. The Goldstein et al book does } not delve too much into the topic of EBIC and am not sure of any other } good SEM resource books. } } Thanks } CP
JoAnn, About 5 years ago I developed a bad case of tendonitis which our occupational health adviser attributed to the magnification knob in our SEM. She advised on a modification which our worksops made up. This effected a rapid improvement in my condition, although I still get some discomfort if I do a lot of typing.
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
Jerome D. Schick, Ph.D. Semiconductor Devices and Electron Microscopy 26 Kuchler Drive LaGrangeville, NY 12540 Bus (914)223-7393 FAX (914)227-2743 jdschick-at-worldnet.att.net
March 22, 1999
We are currently doing a very small R&D project for an electrical contector company which involves SEM EBIC. I would love to read any articles or notes that you may have on the subject.
J. Roy Nelson, Ph.D Material Testing Laboratory Pennington, NJ 08534 (609) 730-0575 FAX 737-7119 jrnelson-at-nj1.aae.com
Hi, Several people have asked for a summary of the responses to this question, = and there were many. Thanks to all for some good suggestions. Everett Ramer Federal Energy Technology Center
The solutions suggested were: 1. call a coworker/secretary/boss/security every hour 2. a pendant call button worn around neck---some have location capabilities= to guide rescuers to wearer's location. 3. a pendant worn around neck that automatically calls for help when the = wearer is in the horizontal position. 4. a pager with built-in motion detector that beeps after several minutes = of inactivity. If wearer does not shut off the beeping, the pager = automatically calls security. 5. a zoom-pan camera with over-the-web control with a web page that allows = coworkers to monitor each other safety from any place that has network = access.
Question: I recently purchased an older B&L microscope w/ 3 objectives and a prism inclined eyepiece. I think this model of microscope is from the 50's or 60's. That is all that I know of the model as there are no other markings that I can find to this regard. I was wanting to get a 4X & 20X objective for it and was wondering if AO Spencer objectives would fit. I have an opportunity to get these over the Web, but cannot try them out prior to purchase. We are planning to use the microscope to augment our childrens' studies and perhaps allow my oldest who is interested in cattle use it to examine parasites.
Replies to my inquiry about vendors of dual illumination modules are summarized below:
Opti-Quip, Inc. Highland Mills, NY (914) 928-2254 Model 1030 Universal Mirror housing will adapt to just about any microscope. The price is $998.00. For the Olympus there are 3 models: Olympus IMT2 (Part number: 1030E), Olympus BH (Part number: 1030-F) and Olympus B MAX (Part number: 1030-G)
MicroTec, Inc. Milford, NJ (800) 724-5508 #MIT-001
Thank you for your assistance.
James Martin Director of Analytical Services and Research Williamstown Art Conservation Center http://members.tripod.com/~James_Martin/dasrhome.htm
Research Scientist in Chemistry Williams College www.williams.edu http://members.tripod.com/~James_Martin
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Hi, I need to get information (specs and quotations) rather quickly on = vibration tables for ultramicrotomes, light microscopes, and an atomic = force microscope. If any manufacturers of such equipment read the list, would you = please contact my e mail directly with information. This is for our new building and we need to get updated info into the = state in a very short time.
Thanks in advance, Judy M.
Judy Murphy, PhD Microscopy Technology Center San Joaquin Delta College 5151 Pacific Ave Stockton, CA 95207 209/954-5284 FAX 209/954-5600 e-mail; jmurphy-at-sjdccd.cc.ca.us
with SMTP (Eudora Internet Mail Server 1.2); Sun, 21 Mar 1999 16:47:32 -0800 Message-ID: {n1290087840.86882-at-sjdccd.cc.ca.us}
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Hi, I am trying to find a good negative processor that will process the = following films: EM film (Kodak4489,SO163,etc.) Ektapan (4162) and Kodak 4127 (for SEM) i.e. 4 x 5 sheet film.
1. We want to go from dry film to dry film, thus do not want tank develop= ment. 2. We now have Mohr processors however in 3 yrs have not been able to = get rid of things like roller marks, etc. Believe me, we have tried = every solution that everyone has suggested. We are of course open to new = ones. 3. Does anyone know of other possibilities out there? possibly from our = photographic friends. 4. We need to specify something very quickly, but I haven't come up with = a solution.
Any help is appreciated. Thanks Judy M.
Judy Murphy Microscopy Technology Center San Joaquin Delta College 5151 Pacific Ave Stockton, CA 95207 209/954-5284 FAX 209/954-5600 e-mail; jmurphy-at-sjdccd.cc.ca.us
by bubba.NMSU.Edu (8.9.2/8.9.0) with ESMTP id IAA07647 for {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} ; Mon, 22 Mar 1999 08:12:59 -0700 (MST) Received: from nestor.NMSU.Edu (nestor.NMSU.Edu [128.123.34.146]) by dns1.NMSU.Edu (8.9.0/8.9.0) with ESMTP id IAA09442 for {Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com} ; Mon, 22 Mar 1999 08:09:32 -0700 (MST) Received: from microscope.nmsu.edu (microscope.NMSU.Edu [128.123.5.85]) by nestor.NMSU.Edu (AIX4.3/UCB 8.8.8/8.7) with SMTP id IAA28404 for {Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com} ; Mon, 22 Mar 1999 08:09:33 -0700 Message-Id: {3.0.2.32.19990322070641.006a6380-at-cnmailsvr.nmsu.edu} X-Sender: ghoshroy-at-cnmailsvr.nmsu.edu X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Light Version 3.0.2 (32)
Thanks to everyone who took their time to respond to my inquiry about microscope user fees. It was a big help.
Best wishes,
Soumitra
Soumitra Ghoshroy Ph.D. Electron Microscopy Lab Box 3EML New Mexico State University Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001 Tel: 505-646-1531/3600 Fax: 505-646-5665 e-mail: ghoshroy-at-nmsu.edu
Dr. Nelson, I have FAXed you a short five page article I wrote describing VC, SAC, and EBIC. Remember, traditionally, EBIC refers to the measurement of currents generated in the specimen, usually a semiconductor with a PN junction at least, and the function of the electron beam is to excite hole-electron pairs in the sample. In this measurement, the primary electrons do not significantly contribute to the current measured. It sounds like your project for a connector company may not involve a semiconductor material as the sample, in which case the wiring connections of the sample, the current amplifier, the time constants, and the interpretation might be somewhat different. When I get a chance, I shall dig around for a few more references which may be of use. I hope the FAXed copy is legible. Jerry
jrnelson wrote: } } Jerome D. Schick, Ph.D. } Semiconductor Devices and Electron Microscopy } 26 Kuchler Drive } LaGrangeville, NY 12540 } Bus (914)223-7393 } FAX (914)227-2743 } jdschick-at-worldnet.att.net } } March 22, 1999 } } We are currently doing a very small R&D project for an electrical } contector company which involves SEM EBIC. I would love to read any } articles or notes that you may have on the subject. } } J. Roy Nelson, Ph.D } Material Testing Laboratory } Pennington, NJ 08534 } (609) 730-0575 } FAX 737-7119 } jrnelson-at-nj1.aae.com
I am working on a business project that requires an analysis of the microscopy market and am hoping someone can direct me to a good source of information. Defining Microscopy to include all techniques which employ a probe such as: photons (including x-rays), electrons, ions, mechanical and/or electromagnetic radiation to form a representation or characterization of the morphology, crystallography, elemental, chemical or electronic structure of any material in either physical and/or life sciences applications. The questions I am trying to answer are: How large is the microscopy community in the US and worldwide? What technology has the greatest number of users? (Optical microscopy, x-ray microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, scanning tunneling microscopy, scanning ion microscopy, analytical electron microscopy, electron microprobe, x-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy, electron energy loss spectroscopy, electron diffraction, convergent beam diffraction, high resolution electron microscopy, high voltage electron microscopy, etc.) Thank you for your assistance. Dave Akerson Tektronix CPID 682-7471 800-825-6100, ext. 7471 david.l.akerson-at-tek.com {mailto:david.l.akerson-at-tek.com}
Last week, there was a posting regarding the preparation of buffy coats for the TEM. Unfortunately, I didn't save the message and I now have a student who would benefit from the protocol. If you saved the protocol (or are the author of the email) could you please forward it to me offline.
Thanks for your assistance!
Steve
Stephen J. Beck Associate Professor Bio-Imaging Center/Electron Microscopy Department of Biology Nassau Community College Garden City, NY 11530 Voice Mail: (516) 572-7829 Email: {becks-at-sunynassau.edu} URL: {http://www.sunynassau.edu/webpages/biology/becks.htm}
Biology Dept., University of Saskatchewan http://www.usask.ca.biology
The individual will be responsible for the departemntal Electron Microscope facility, consisting of 2 Philips TEMs, an SEM and related vacuum and preparatory equipment. Duties will include alignment and maintenance of the instuments, assisting and training students, faculty and outside users in their use, and providing general electronics and instrumentation expertise to the Department.
Required qualifications: Grade XII, post-secondary technical qualifiactions in electronics, and five years of relevant experience, including experience in EM maintenance. A strong interest in computer technology is also desireable. Salary range $36,336 - $46,320 depending on qualifications, with good fringe benefits. Starting date May 1, 1999. Forward resume with names, addresses and phone numbers of references to:
Dr. L.C. Fowke, Head Department of Biology University of Saskatchewan Saskatoon, Sask., S7N-5E2 phone: (306) 966-4400
The posting is directed in the first instance to Canadian citizens and permanent residents. The University is committed to employment equity.
I would second Franks comments. As he points out not all "Forensic" labs do criminal case analysis for law enforcement agencies that you think of when the phrase comes up. I happen to work in one that does. To a great extent our work is not "gore" related. Though you do have to deal with it on a routine basis, the science is the interesting part not the "gore". After a few years you hardly notice it is there most of the time, the tissue on a bullet removed from a body, for example, (I guess that is what you'd classify as "gore") is just something you have to get past to get to the fibers that may tell you something when you turn them over the hair and fiber specialist.
I am a Firearm and Toolmark Examiner that also does some SEM work. As such I work mostly Homicide and other crimes aginst people type cases. Light microscopy makes up the majority of Firearms analysis (The bullets or cartridge case comparison to a given firearm) or Toolmark Analysis. Before they go to the comparison scope, stereo microscopy is the majority of the non comparative examination of bullets and cartridge cases, (though this information is still comparitive in nature). Bullets are looked at for trace evidence and GRC (General Rifling Charicteristics) on the stereo microscope then taken to the comparison scope. Most firearms comparison is carried out between 10 and 40 power on a forensic comparison microscope. The unknown bullet being mounted on one scope (stage) with a standard (known) bullet fired from the firearm in question on the other, the two fields of view being observed through the comparison bridge (though this is a highly intagrated unit in modern firearms scopes and thought of as a single scope). Stereo scopes are also used in examining clothing items for bullet holes, gunpowder, etc.. The SEM is a good tool for the examination of trace evidence, but the application of the SEM to the comparison of bullets is unnecessary and provides no additional information (the James E. Ray appeal claims not withstanding) beyond that seen on the stereo and comparison scopes if you are considering comparison to a firearm only. Only SEMs designed for direct comprison of two fields are sutable for bullet or toolmark comparison. Manipulation of captured images is dificult compared to the Comparison microscope and not considered appropriate without the real time control of the two images. As no properly trained firearms examiner would make an identification from a photograph you would also run into problems with acceptability in court if not using a comparison SEM (only a few exist that I am aware of). The SEM can be highly useful for examination of trace evidence on bullets.
LMs of various types plays a big part in trace evidence examinations, as can SEM/EDS. Blood and other physiologic fluid analysis (serology) relies on LM and other techniques but older methods are quickly being replaced by DNA analysis (this is out of may area). Guts? Our toxicologists do stomach contents for toxicological materials at times using some LM I think (also out of my area). Gun Shot Residue is one of the heavy uses of SEM in the Forensic Science Labs of police agencies (firearms examiners tend to stay clear of this work -do to our contamination from shooting and handling firearms all the time).
War Stories have their place but usually are only interesting if in answer to a question or from the speakers personal experience. Show them the interesting information they can learn with EM and maybe you'll get a different kind of "EEEEWWWW ."
I hope this fills in some of the gaps for you but don't think its really went where you wanted to go. You can probably get some "war storys" (we all have them) at Scanning '99 if your there, but the real information will be more interesting (to you and the students at the HS I suspect).
Jim Roberts Firearm and Toolmark Examiner
} } } RFC-822=fplatek-at-ora.fda.gov-at-sparc5.microscopy.com-at-internet 03/19/99 532 } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Dear Paula:
I have read with some concern your request for forensic EM assistance.
I've just been asked to speak to a group of high school kids about EM, and how I got to where I am today (I'm not gonna tell them about all the little people I squashed along the way). Actually what I wanted to know is if there are any folks out there doing Forensic EM. You know analysis of blood, guts, bullets, things like that. You know that if I gross the kids out they'll think that EM is coolest thing since ice cubes. So if anybody does that sort of stuff or knows of anybody I can talk to about it, let me know. Cuz y'all know there's nothing better than gettin' a great big EEEEWWWW out of the young'uns.
I would be glad to talk to you about forensic applications of scanning electron microscopy as that is my job, however......you should understand "forensic EM" goes far beyond the common opinion of " analysis of blood, guts, bullets, things like that". An electron microscopist performing airborne particle analysis for possible occupational/environmental exposure to harmful particulates or the pathologist using electron microscopy to identify a pathogen/toxin induced lesion or foreign object are also performing forensic EM analyses. Forensic means "Of or used in legal proceedings or in public debate" (The American Heritage Dictionary, 2nd Edition). The investigative accountant analyzing data in the investigation of corporate illegal dealings for prosecution and the forensic scientist in the laboratory matching bloody fibers or a bullet found at a crime scene are both performing forensic analyses.
Is the point of your giving this talk to "gross them out" and generate " a great big EEEEWWWW out of the young'uns" or are you teaching to really stimulate some young minds and show them other areas of science that use microscopy for possible careers? High school students are not "young'uns" and you may have a profound impact on a few futures. You can either encourage and stimulate OR you can deter further interest altogether. Many of us were originally guided to our profession by a good speaker or teacher.
As one who both instructs and lectures extensively on forensic applications of electron microscopy, I have found the audiences (high schools, colleges, forensic science and microscopist societies) all enjoy the case history (not gore) from an investigation. The myriad of television shows on the subject speak to the popularity of this current "hot" topic. I'm sure the international emphasis on the "Crime of the Century" has contributed greatly to the recent popularity in forensic science and scientific evidence. You propose to SHOCK your audience with raw crime scene photos when the students are not used to seeing "the real thing". This is counter productive as they will be discussing the shock image(s) the whole time you are trying to explain the science/EM in the investigation. The "gore" is primarily what they will remember and take away with them.
If you really want to TEACH these high school students, show them how to identify objects from two places (exa. - particles such as soil samples from the "crime scene" with particles from a suspect's shoes - SEM/TEM/EDX) or how to find specific particles that confirm a scenario (exa. - specific lake diatoms in "lung fluids" indicating respiration of water from a lake in a possible drowning victim). You can make up your own "scenarios" and supply the "evidence" from the crime scene. Make up a class exercise "crime" and lead them through an investigation of the evidence by EM. Make your SEM/TEM/EDX lecture slides in advance and discuss possible conflicts/artifacts, etc.. You won't need "blood, guts, bullets, things like that" to impress and instruct the students. Leave that for "Hollywood" and the criminal investigator in the proper arena (the court room or instructing other forensic scientists).
You may want to attend the SCANNING 99 meeting in Chicago (April 11-14, 1999) where an all day short course (FORENSIC SCIENCE AND SCANNING MICROSCOPY) will be offered followed by a second day symposium (SCANNING MICROSCOPY APPLICATIONS IN FORENSIC SCIENCE). For information on that International Meeting, call Mary K. Sullivan (201) 818-1010 , web site { http://www.scanning-fams.org } .
Again, I offer my assistance with some other ideas if you are interested. Feel free to contact me off line or by DIRECT E-mail.
Sincerely,
S. Frank Platek Research Biologist/Electron Microscopist Forensic Chemistry Center US Food and Drug Administration 6751 Steger Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45237-3097 (513) 679-2700 , [FAX] (513) 679-2761 E-mail: fplatek-at-ora.fda.gov
DISCLAIMER: THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE SOLELY MY OWN AND DO NOT REPRESENT THOSE OF THE U.S. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION OR ANY OTHER AGENCY OF THE U.S. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OR THE FOUNDATION FOR ADVANCES IN MEDICINE AND SCIENCE (FAMS, INC.).
Leica Microsystems, Diatome US, Electron Microscopy Sciences, and Bal-Tec announce another in a series of EM Specimen Preparation workshops. These seminars will focus on the following techniques:
Ultramicrotomy of Materials
Embedding of industrial samples Specimen trimming
Ultramicrotomy of hard materials Ultramicrotomy of polymers
Collection & handling of sections Staining of polymer sections
Low temperature ultramicrotomy
Ion Beam Milling of Materials
Ion Milling of plan view samples for TEM
Ion Milling of cross section samples for TEM
SEM preparation of interfaces using fast slope cutting technique
TEM / SEM preparation of temperature sensitive specimens
SEM / LM preparation of surface structures with ion milling
The format of our workshop is half day lecture and half day bench work. Samples will be supplied by the course instructors. Participants are encouraged to bring their own samples to work with as time allows.
Course Speakers & Instructors
Ultramicrotomy of Materials
Dr. Tom Malis CANMET Characterization Group Leader Materials Technology Laboratory Ottawa, Ontario
Mr. Bob Vastenhout DOW Chemical Polymer Microscopist Analytical Science Department Terneuzen, The Netherlands
Mr. Helmut Gnaegi Product Manager Microtomist Extaordinaire Diatome, Ltd., Switzerland
Ion Beam Milling
Dr. Wolfgang Gruenewald Bal-Tec Head of Applications Laboratory Liechtenstein
Mr. Arthur Buechel Bal-Tec Product Manager Liechtenstein
Hosted by: JoAn Hudson Clemson University Microscopy Facility Clemson, SC
When: Ion Milling June 7-8, 1999
Ultramicrotomy June 9-11, 1999
Tuition: Ion Milling $400.00
Ultramicrotomy $1,400.00
Ion Milling & Ultramicrotomy $1,700.00
Includes lodging at the lakefront Conference Center & Inn at Clemson University, continental breakfast and lunch daily, one group dinner, course supplies, and lab charges.
Contact: Mike Boykin, Leica Microsystems, Inc. 800-248-0665 X5092
I'm sorry to bother everyone, again, with a question about fixation of bacteria. I greatly appreciate the responses I received a few weeks ago. At one time Ryter-Kellenberger fixation was considered the standard. It produced an image with a relatively clear nucleoid containing fibrillar chromatin. Is this now considered to be an artifact of preparation?
John Wright West Desert Test Center (435) 831-3017
have you red the chapter about EBIC in the book of Ludwig Reimer?
Here is the reference:
Reimer, L: Scanning Electron Microscopy: Physics of Image Formation and Microanalysis. Springer Series in Optical Sciences Vol. 45 Chapter 7: Electron-Beam-INduced Current, Cathodoluminescence and Special Techniques p.272-312 (Springer-Verlag Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, Tokyo, 1985) ISBN 3-540-13530-8
Petra
} Hello, } } I am a neophyte to the microscopy world and am curious about EBIC and } Voltage Contrast. I am wondering if there are good resources on the } general mechanics of setting up the system. I also am having trouble } finding basic information/ uses for EBIC. The Goldstein et al book does } not delve too much into the topic of EBIC and am not sure of any other } good SEM resource books. } } Thanks } CP
-------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Petra Wahlbring Centre de Recherche Public Centre Universitaire (CRP-CU) Laboratoire d'Analyse des Materiaux (LAM) 162a, av. de la Faiencerie L-1511 Luxembourg tel. +352-466644-402 fax +352-466644-400 e-mail: petra.wahlbring-at-crpcu.lu Visit our WWW site! http://www.crpcu.lu/~wahlbrin
A phantastic opportunity to meet well-kmown scientists and an excellent chance to see and to compare the latest equipment for confocal and multiphoton fluorescence microscopy. Attend an excellent meeting and see the most recent technological developments.
=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=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D FOCUS ON MICROSCOPY 1999
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
we would like to invite you to attend this years "Focus on Microscopy" conference.
Many of the well known scientists in this field will present their recent progress.
Here is a list of the plenary speakers: - G.J. Brakenhoff, Amsterdam - Christoph Cremer - Winfried Denk - Timothy Holmes - Anthony A. Hyman - Stefan Hell - Satoshi Kawata - Karsten K=F6nig - Andres Kriete - Ulrich Kubitscheck - Eric Manders - Colin Sheppard - Ernst H.K. Stelzer, Heidelberg - Kevin F Sullivan - Tony Wilson - Daniele Zink
The commercial exhibition offers an excellent overview. The modern instruments of all major microscope manufacturers as well as microscope accessories are on display. This is the 1999 event focussed on microscopy= in Europe.
Highlights of the commercial exhibition include:
Hamamatsu Photonics: ORCA Series - state of the art digital imaging =B7 Progressive scan interline transfer CCD with 1280x1024 pixel =B7 Lens-on-chip technology, TE cooling and optimized readout guarantee highest sensitivity =B7 Black & white cameras with 10-14 bit output =B7 Color cameras with RGB matrix filter or filterwheel =B7 Plug & play set incl. framegrabber and comfortable TWAIN driver avai= lable
L.O.T. Oriel GmbH & Co KG: Nanopositioning Unit and Fiber Laser
Molecular Probes: New fluorescent reagents for Cell Biology and Imaging highly - Fluorescent Alexa dyes - click here for more details
Nikon GmbH: Two compact confocal microscopes + fully automatic motorized research microscope
Olympus Optical Co. GmbH Confocal Laser-Scanning-Microscope with two-phot= on excitation
Omicron Vakuumphysik GmbH Scanning Near Field Optical Microscope (SNOM)
Visitron Systems GmbH: 2D/3D Fluorescence Imaging System based on Cooled Digital Camera System
Wallac Distribution GmbH: 1. EG&G Wallac LSR UltraView, confocal fluorescence microscope for "real time" images. It is the first presentation of this instrument in Germany. 2. EG&G Wallac Signifer, fluorescence microscope for recording images wi= th the time resolved fluorescence prinziple. 3. EG&G Berthold NightOWL, a universal imaging system for low level luminescence images.
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 meet= ing point for developers and users working in these rapidly evolving fields a= nd play an important role in the dissemination of information about new developments. Special attention will be given to the dramatic development= s 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
A phantastic opportunity to meet well-kmown scientists and an excellent chance to see and to compare the latest equipment for confocal and multiphoton fluorescence microscopy. Attend an excellent meeting and see the most recent technological developments.
=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=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D FOCUS ON MICROSCOPY 1999
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
we would like to invite you to attend this years "Focus on Microscopy" conference.
Many of the well known scientists in this field will present their recent progress.
Here is a list of the plenary speakers: - G.J. Brakenhoff, Amsterdam - Christoph Cremer, Heidelberg - Winfried Denk, Murray Hill - Timothy Holmes, Watervliet - Anthony A. Hyman, Heidelberg - Stefan Hell, Goettingen - Satoshi Kawata, Osaka - Karsten K=F6nig, Jena - Andres Kriete, Giessen - Ulrich Kubitscheck, Muenster - Eric Manders, Amsterdam - Colin Sheppard, Sydney - Ernst H.K. Stelzer, Heidelberg - Kevin F Sullivan, La Jolla - Tony Wilson, Oxford - Daniele Zink, Munich
The commercial exhibition offers an excellent overview. The modern instruments of all major microscope manufacturers as well as microscope accessories are on display. This is the 1999 event focussed on microscopy= in Europe.
Highlights of the commercial exhibition include:
Hamamatsu Photonics: ORCA Series - state of the art digital imaging =B7 Progressive scan interline transfer CCD with 1280x1024 pixel =B7 Lens-on-chip technology, TE cooling and optimized readout guarantee highest sensitivity =B7 Black & white cameras with 10-14 bit output =B7 Color cameras with RGB matrix filter or filterwheel =B7 Plug & play set incl. framegrabber and comfortable TWAIN driver avai= lable
L.O.T. Oriel GmbH & Co KG: Nanopositioning Unit and Fiber Laser
Molecular Probes: New fluorescent reagents for Cell Biology and Imaging highly - Fluorescent Alexa dyes - click here for more details
Nikon GmbH: Two compact confocal microscopes + fully automatic motorized research microscope
Olympus Optical Co. GmbH Confocal Laser-Scanning-Microscope with two-phot= on excitation
Omicron Vakuumphysik GmbH Scanning Near Field Optical Microscope (SNOM)
Visitron Systems GmbH: 2D/3D Fluorescence Imaging System based on Cooled Digital Camera System
Wallac Distribution GmbH: 1. EG&G Wallac LSR UltraView, confocal fluorescence microscope for "real time" images. It is the first presentation of this instrument in Germany. 2. EG&G Wallac Signifer, fluorescence microscope for recording images wi= th the time resolved fluorescence prinziple. 3. EG&G Berthold NightOWL, a universal imaging system for low level luminescence images.
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 meet= ing point for developers and users working in these rapidly evolving fields a= nd play an important role in the dissemination of information about new developments. Special attention will be given to the dramatic development= s 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
David asks ... } } } I am working on a business project that requires an analysis of the } microscopy market and am hoping someone can direct me to a } good source of information. } ...
The best jump off point is the WWW-Virtual Library ...
http://www.ou.edu/research/electron/www-vl/ ...
... 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/
It is possible to use a variety of other fixatives to preserve bacteria. However, we find that when all else fails, the R-K procedure nearly always gives a good fixation on organisms that otherwise look poorly preserved. The buffer is somewhat cumbersome to prepare since the veronal (sodium barbitol) is a controlled substance.
} I'm sorry to bother everyone, again, with a question about fixation of } bacteria. I greatly appreciate the responses I received a few weeks } ago. At one time Ryter-Kellenberger fixation was considered the } standard. It produced an image with a relatively clear nucleoid } containing fibrillar chromatin. Is this now considered to be an } artifact of preparation?
#################################################################### 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 am looking for a procedure to do TEM of low density polyethylene films. I would like to stain the film so I can then microtome at room temperature. For high density films we use chlorosulfonic acid at 60C but this dissolves the low density material. I can cryo-microtome the low density films and then stain the sections with ruthenium tetroxide but this is giving only marginal results. I would really like to be able to room temperature microtome the material. Any help greatly appreciated.
------------------------------ Stephen McCartney Research Associate Virginia Tech Materials Institute 2108 Hahn Hall Blacksburg, VA 24061-0344 USA
Need a simplified recipe for viewing circular DNA ~5000KB in a gamish of linear DNA. No special marker or complementary sequence available. Thanks.
*Disclaimer: Whatever... is not Tulane opinion! Cesar D. Fermin, Ph.D. Professor of Pathology & Otolaryngology web:[ http://www.tmc.tulane.edu/ferminlab/] or [http://www.tmc.tulane.edu/imaging/] Internet: [cfermin-at-mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu] 1430 Tulane Ave/SL79 New Orleans, La 70112-2699 Fax 504 587-7389, Voice 584-2521, Main Office 588-5224
I've received the following query and thought I'd post it so the various types of microscopists out there besides me might like to help this fellow out. Please reply directly to his eddress since he's not on the listserver.
Many thanks,
Dee Breger
hello:
my name is francisco sandoval, and I live in Guatemala in central america.
I am a photographer, and I am interested in microscope photography, but I do not know where to begin, could you help me with it.
I guess I do not understand the kind of microscope you are using. I do not know anything about microscopes..... If you do not mind helping me, tell me where to begin..... Thanks
Francisco Sandoval
kikophoto-at-geocities.com jfse30-at-hotmail.com
www.geocities.com/paris/jardin/4108/
____________________________________________________________________________ Automatic note: Sometimes I don't receive incoming emails (with no notice to the sender). If I don't respond to your message, please send it again! ____________________________________________________________________________ _ Dee Breger Manager, SEM/EDX Facility Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory Route 9W Palisades NY 10964 USA
As a company that produces image processing systems (see disclaimer below), I would like to invite you to check out our website at http://www.soft-imaging.com or http://www.soft-imaging.de. We routinely deal with 12 to 16 bit gray scale images as most digital cameras supply them.
If you need further information, don't hesitate to contact us at one of the URLs or numbers below.
Thank you.
Michael Bode
******************************************************* Disclaimer: Soft Imaging System produces and sells image acquisition and processing systems. We therefore have a vested interest in some of the items mentioned above. *******************************************************
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 1675 Carr St., #105N Lakewood, CO 80215 phone: (888) FIND SIS (303) 234-9270 fax: (303) 234-9271 email: info-at-soft-imaging.com
} ---------- } From: Hendrik O. Colijn[SMTP:colijn.1-at-osu.edu] } Sent: Friday, March 19, 1999 6:16 PM } To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: Image processing software } } ---------------------------------------------------------------------- } -- } 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 } ---------------------------------------------------------------------- } -. } } } Is anyone familiar with reasonably priced software programs that can } manipulate 16-bit gray scale images? While Adobe Photoshop can read } 16-bit } images, you have to change the images to 8-bit before you can run } filters } etc. Gatan's Digital Micrograph can work with 16-bit images, but its } price } is a little steep for equipping several computers. What are the } capabilities of other packages? I would like to use the software to } work } with diffraction patterns as well as images. } } TIA, } Henk } } Hendrik O. Colijn colijn.1-at-osu.edu } OSU Campus Electron Optics Facility (614) 292-0674 } "An optimist believes that we live in the best of all possible worlds. } A pessimist fears that this is true." }
I provide third party maintenance for EM in the midwest, so take the following as a somewhat biased view. I'd also like to apologize in advance for my typically long and meandering response. I don't pull punches, so perhaps I should start adding a disclaimer that the following are my opinions - if that's not enough, go ahead and sue, I don't have anything anyway.
An insurance company's primary usefulness is to large organizations that can off-load the responsibility for a large amount of equipment. Their customers will contract with them for all of their equipment, they handle the paperwork and arrange service. In these cases, a good portion of the cost savings can be in the customer's reduction in paperwork - one contract as opposed to hundreds. To do the service, they hire the manufacturer (don't know how many manufacturers go along with this, not all do) or an independant service provider (I have been approached a number of times, haven't done it yet) on an hourly basis to do the work, usually negotiating reduced rates. I am sure that, here in the early stages, they are underestimating their costs and will raise their rates as they gain a greater understanding.
A number of direct problems. Mainly, they will have a hard time guaranteeing response time. For any manufacturer or independant, contract customers come first. You are also at their mercy for who comes to work on your equipment, it may even be a different organization each time. From my point of view, you run a risk of never getting someone who has some long term interest or commitment in your needs, even if they use the original equipment manufacturer. The OEM will no longer bear any responsibility other than providing service when needed (and the more often the better for their bottom line when hourly).
Service used to be a loss-leader, a way for a company to increase their sales by creating good will and a positive corporate image. Question this, just count up the number of JEOLs sold in the last fifteen years. They made a conscious effort to provide exceptional service and sold like crazy on the basis of those efforts. A couple of decades ago, most companies found that there are profits to be made in service and have run their service accordingly and made the industry an increasingly tempting market for new manufacturers, third party service providers and the new insurance companies.
If you only have a few pieces of equipment, you'd do better to find a local independant. You'll probably find that an independant can be very flexible in contract terms. Consider asking them to remove the 'insurance' aspects of a service contract by removing parts coverage. You could still get PMs and emergency labor, but the service provider would not have to be escrowing a good chunk of money just in case an expensive part goes. That, of course, would require you to do so. There is some insurance value to the contract labor rates, but generally not much. A good technician can do a lot to prevent future service needs and it is a lot less traumatic to a small operation to spend extra time fixing an instrument than it is to replace that $10,000 whiz-bang that blew.
You can also, of course, handle your service on a billable basis with manufacturer or independent. Watch out for the manufacturers, though. Some like to charge a premium (I've seen over $300/hour) in order to encourage you to go under contract. Independents may play this game too, but not to that extent (I don't know of any who do). While I am obviously biased towards the independents, I truely think that supporting them is the only way to keep any real competition in this or any other industry.
Frankly, the insurance companies are hoping to become the big kid on the block in the future so that they can create their own terms with the manufacturers. Instrumental service rates are bad enough already, but this squeeze play could eventually hurt the industry the same way managed care and HMOs have hurt the medical industry. Manufacturers have income goals that will be met, one way or another. If the insurance companies squeeze out their service profits, manufacturer's prices on remaining contracts will go up which will then force more users to go to the insurance companies. Manufacturers will also have to increase the selling price for their equipment. We are merely adding another layer of for-profit companies to take a bite out of your pocket.
There is a potentially insidious effect of organizations like this. In claiming to reduce costs for a few, they wind up increasing costs for all. Rather than introducing new competition, they manipulate a market to the point where some existing competitors leave the market. They bring no new instruments to market, work counter to free enterprise by attempting to be the arbitor of pricing without actually providing the service and, as the market becomes saturated by them, will go into bidding wars between themselves reducing services in order to lower their costs. There will be some manufacturers that won't be able to stay competitive with the external pressure and others that won't want to bend to those pressures. Look to a future of greater cutbacks and mergers as these new players are accommodated in the market.
We are also already seeing another aspect of this. In attempting to cut costs, manufacturers may cut back their own sales efforts, relying on others instead. The EM markets are getting large enough and there are enough manufacturers that we may eventually see 'distributers' added on the front end, yet another layer of for-profit companies taking a piece of the pie. It is common for a company to enter a new national market through marketing arrangements. ISI has for a long time had direct sales presence in the US. While this is a company that has had its share of problems, their new marketing arrangement is a cutback in its sales force that is in large part due to its poor service history and poor profits in sales and service. While not precipitated by the insurance companies, it still may offer a view of their future effects.
It will not benefit any manufacturer to take part in these plans in the long run. Doing so would be giving up all control over a very important sector of their public relations, cut into their profits and resolve them to having other companies dictate their policies and pricing. Look for some manufacturers to resist because doing so allows them to distinguish themselves in the market by maintaining their own high level of service responsiveness and performance. However, as this snowballs we may well reach a critical mass where all manufacturers will have to participate in order to survive.
Good luck, whatever you choose.
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-sem.com
-----Original Message----- } From: Tindall, Randy D. {TindallR-at-missouri.edu} To: 'microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com' {microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com}
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Stephen,
The following procedure has been adapted from the literature (I don't have the references with me):
The method that I normally use to image LLDPE is to first embed a strip of the film with Epofix epoxy using a silicone mold. After curing the epoxy, face-off the end of the specimen block to expose the film (assuming you want a cross-section) and then attach the block to a piece of double-sided tape on a glass microscope slide. The next step involves staining the specimen block with the vapor of a mixture of 0.2 g of ruthenium trichloride trihydrate and 10 ml of 5.25% sodium hypochlorite (regular household bleach). This produces a fairly aggressive RuO4 vapor. The staining mixture and the slide should be kept in a glass jar with a loosely fitting lid for 2 to 3 hours -at- room temp. Occasionally, the temp. needs to be elevated for higher density polyolefins. Do all of the staining in a fume hood!!
After staining is complete, remove the slide/specimen, rinse well and allow to dry. The specimen block can be trimmed and microtomed at room temperature. I normally orient the film parallel to the edge of the diamond knife. This helps prevents delamination from the epoxy.
I hope this procedure helps. I've been using this technique for several years with great success.
Gene Young Microscopy/Microanalysis Group Dow Chemical USA Freeport, TX
------------------------------ Original message:
I am looking for a procedure to do TEM of low density polyethylene films. I would like to stain the film so I can then microtome at room temperature. For high density films we use chlorosulfonic acid at 60C but this dissolves the low density material. I can cryo-microtome the low density films and then stain the sections with ruthenium tetroxide but this is giving only marginal results. I would really like to be able to room temperature microtome the material. Any help greatly appreciated.
------------------------------ Stephen McCartney Research Associate Virginia Tech Materials Institute 2108 Hahn Hall Blacksburg, VA 24061-0344 USA
} Date: Tue, 23 Mar 1999 16:56:22 -0600 } To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } Subject: photographer needs microscopy info } } } Dear collegues, } } I've received the following query and thought I'd post it so the various } types of microscopists out there besides me might like to help this fello } out. Please reply directly to his eddress since he's not on the listserver } } } Many thanks, } } Dee Breger } } hello: } } my name is francisco sandoval, and I live in Guatemala in central } america. } } I am a photographer, and I am interested in microscope photography, but } I do not know where to begin, could you help me with it. } } I guess I do not understand the kind of microscope you are using. I do } not know anything about microscopes..... If you do not mind helping me, } tell me where to begin..... Thanks } } Francisco Sandoval } } kikophoto-at-geocities.com } jfse30-at-hotmail.com } } _________________________________ } Francisco, I don't know if it is still available but the booklet by Eastman Kodak, Photography through the Microscope, is quite good. It isKodak Publication P-2 CAT 152 8371. Published in 1980
Don Marshall
Donald J. Marshall Relion Industries P.O. Box 12 Bedford, MA 01730 Ph: 781-275-4695 FAX: 781-271-0252 email dmrelion-at-world.std.com
"A weed is a flower out of place."
(Please note: Do not send email with attachments to this address. Instead, send it to donbarlen-at-aol.com. Thank you.)
} I am looking for a procedure to do TEM of low density polyethylene films. I } would like to stain the film so I can then microtome at room temperature. } For high density films we use chlorosulfonic acid at 60C but this dissolves } the low density material. I can cryo-microtome the low density films and } then stain the sections with ruthenium tetroxide but this is giving only } marginal results. I would really like to be able to room temperature } microtome the material. Any help greatly appreciated.
I'm an etcher, not a stainer, but we do have some experience of staining materials in bulk. Possibly a room temperature chlorosulphonation might help. I've never used RuO4, but it might also work in bulk on a thin enough film. I'll have to ask a colleague, when he's in his office.
If you're interested in larger scale variations in morphology, then permanganic etching followed by reflection optical microscopy (Nomarski) is very useful.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 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 | +------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Before you do anything, including cleaning the ball bearings, find out their history! The goop on the surface may be part of the story.
My advice: try light microscopy first. Reflected light DIC may tell you alot about the surface. Also try interferometry (I'll be back in the office Monday; call or contact me directly for further info). I had a similar project for a client some years ago with ball bearings for jet engines. If the height of the asperities was too tall, they would break off, leaving metallic residue in the raceway which caused the lubricant to polymerize and freeze up. Needless to say, not a desirable outcome for an airplane at 30,000+ feet!
If the bumps on the ball bearings are not the problem, then you might want to try SEM + EDS to see if there is some problem in the alloy.
Best of luck and let me know how things turn out.
Barbara Foster 125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com
At 10:53 AM 3/4/99 -0500, Lesley S. Bechtold wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I've attached a recent announcement for a workshop as an example of an item "for sale." I believe that items for sale, whether services, supplies, or instruments all require the same kind of response you gave to my posting for "instruments available" recently. Please see that workshops for profit are stricken from the Listserver so that you are consistent with your own policy or, change your posting policy.
I believe that any of us who are in this field should be able to post any kind of useful informative item that would be of interest to those on the list. The availability of microscopes is a useful piece of info for someone who has a legitimate need for a used scope. There are a lot of people looking for microscope users and owners as a trusted resource rather than the manufacture's sales reps. Please consider this in the future.
Return-Path: {Microscopy-request-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} Received: from rly-yc02.mx.aol.com (rly-yc02.mail.aol.com [172.18.149.34]) by air-yc04.mail.aol.com (v58.13) with SMTP; Tue, 23 Mar 1999 00:26:21 -0500 Received: from Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (sparc5.microscopy.com [206.69.208.10]) by rly-yc02.mx.aol.com (vx) with SMTP; Tue, 23 Mar 1999 00:25:48 -0500 Received: (from daemon-at-localhost) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) id WAA03774 for dist-Microscopy; Mon, 22 Mar 1999 22:52:10 -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 WAA03770 for "MicroscopyFilteredEmail-at-msa.microscopy.com"; Mon, 22 Mar 1999 22:51:39 -0600 Received: from smtp2.mindspring.com (smtp2.mindspring.com [207.69.200.32]) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) with ESMTP id WAA03763 for {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} ; Mon, 22 Mar 1999 22:51:26 -0600 Received: from [209.86.60.157] (user-38lcf4t.dialup.mindspring.com [209.86.60.157]) by smtp2.mindspring.com (8.8.5/8.8.5) with ESMTP id UAA25474; Mon, 22 Mar 1999 20:54:55 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: {199903230154.UAA25474-at-smtp2.mindspring.com} X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express for Macintosh - 4.01 (295)
TEM & SEM Sample Preparation of Materials
A Two Part Workshop & Seminar
Leica Microsystems, Diatome US, Electron Microscopy Sciences, and Bal-Tec announce another in a series of EM Specimen Preparation workshops. These seminars will focus on the following techniques:
Ultramicrotomy of Materials
Embedding of industrial samples Specimen trimming
Ultramicrotomy of hard materials Ultramicrotomy of polymers
Collection & handling of sections Staining of polymer sections
Low temperature ultramicrotomy
Ion Beam Milling of Materials
Ion Milling of plan view samples for TEM
Ion Milling of cross section samples for TEM
SEM preparation of interfaces using fast slope cutting technique
TEM / SEM preparation of temperature sensitive specimens
SEM / LM preparation of surface structures with ion milling
The format of our workshop is half day lecture and half day bench work. Samples will be supplied by the course instructors. Participants are encouraged to bring their own samples to work with as time allows.
Course Speakers & Instructors
Ultramicrotomy of Materials
Dr. Tom Malis CANMET Characterization Group Leader Materials Technology Laboratory Ottawa, Ontario
Mr. Bob Vastenhout DOW Chemical Polymer Microscopist Analytical Science Department Terneuzen, The Netherlands
Mr. Helmut Gnaegi Product Manager Microtomist Extaordinaire Diatome, Ltd., Switzerland
Ion Beam Milling
Dr. Wolfgang Gruenewald Bal-Tec Head of Applications Laboratory Liechtenstein
Mr. Arthur Buechel Bal-Tec Product Manager Liechtenstein
Hosted by: JoAn Hudson Clemson University Microscopy Facility Clemson, SC
When: Ion Milling June 7-8, 1999
Ultramicrotomy June 9-11, 1999
Tuition: Ion Milling $400.00
Ultramicrotomy $1,400.00
Ion Milling & Ultramicrotomy $1,700.00
Includes lodging at the lakefront Conference Center & Inn at Clemson University, continental breakfast and lunch daily, one group dinner, course supplies, and lab charges.
Contact: Mike Boykin, Leica Microsystems, Inc. 800-248-0665 X5092
Hi. I was recently asked of a way to determine C film thickness. I = remember that using a polished brass specimen and observing the color is = one way. Does anyone have a source in the literature for this method? = Thanks.
______________________ Roberto Garcia Senior Analyst, Metallography North Carolina State University Analytical Instrumentation Facility Box 7531, Room 303 EGRC Raleigh, NC 27695-7531 rgarcia-at-unity.ncsu.com http://spm.aif.ncsu.edu/aif
{!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD W3 HTML//EN"} {HTML} {HEAD} {META content=3Dtext/html;charset=3Diso-8859-1 = http-equiv=3DContent-Type} {STYLE} {/STYLE}
{META content=3D'"MSHTML 5.00.0910.1309"' name=3DGENERATOR} {/HEAD} {BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff} {DIV} {FONT size=3D2} Hi. I was recently asked of a way to determine C = film=20 thickness. I remember that using a polished brass specimen and observing = the=20 color is one way. Does anyone have a source in the literature for this = method?=20 Thanks. {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT size=3D3} ______________________ {BR} Roberto Garcia {BR} Senior = Analyst,=20 Metallography {BR} North Carolina State University {BR} Analytical = Instrumentation=20 Facility {BR} Box 7531, Room 303 EGRC {BR} Raleigh, NC=20 27695-7531 {BR} rgarcia-at-unity.ncsu.com {BR} http://spm.aif.ncsu.edu/aif {/FONT= } {/DIV} {/BODY} {/HTML}
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I have a student who has done confocal on tetrahymena and now wants to move on to TEM. She is primarily interested in the microtubular arrays in the cilia and also within the body of the organism, especially at division. However, we also would like to get the best possible preservation of the entire organism.
Since these two needs may conflict, I would appreciate hearing from anyone with experience with this or similar organisms.
Possible approaches could include: a) using tannic acid to stabilize the microtubules (percent?, in all solutions or only primary fix?, best buffer system?, etc) b) using a combined glutaradyhde-osmium fix followed by straight osmium (recommended by Hayat.
Thanks in advance for the assistance.
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
id HMDAAJC2; Wed, 24 Mar 1999 12:54:34 -0600 Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" X-Sender: schattenh-at-pop.email.missouri.edu (Unverified) Message-Id: {v04020600b31ee56f600f-at-[128.206.215.129]}
Ph.D. graduate student or post-doctoral student (D.V.M. or M.D.) position available for research in the area of protozoal parasitology. Research will involve electron microscopy and cellular biology studies utilizing in vitro derived Sarcocystis spp. , Neospora spp. and Toxoplasma gondii parasites. Individual will work with a multi-disciplinary team at the University of Missouri-Columbia, in the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology and the Molecular Biology Program Electron Microscopy Core facility. Successful candidate should have background in tissue/cell embedding and processing for light and electron microscopy, and demonstrated proficiency in written and spoken English. Molecular biology and cell culture skills are helpful, but not a necessary requirement. U.S. citizenship is not required. For further information contact Dr. A.E. Marsh at ph: 573-884-2673, fax: 573-884-5414, or email: marshae-at-missouri.edu {mailto:marshae-at-missouri.edu} .
Try The American Mineralogist, Volume 58, pages 920-925, 1973. The role of Carbon Film Thickness in Electron Microprobe Analysis - Kerrick DM, Eminhizer LB amd Villaume JF.
Hi. I was recently asked of a way to determine C film thickness. I = remember that using a polished brass specimen and observing the color is = one way. Does anyone have a source in the literature for this method? = Thanks.
______________________ Roberto Garcia Senior Analyst, Metallography North Carolina State University Analytical Instrumentation Facility Box 7531, Room 303 EGRC Raleigh, NC 27695-7531 rgarcia-at-unity.ncsu.com http://spm.aif.ncsu.edu/aif
{!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD W3 HTML//EN"} {HTML} {HEAD} {META content=3Dtext/html;charset=3Diso-8859-1 = http-equiv=3DContent-Type} {STYLE} {/STYLE}
{META content=3D'"MSHTML 5.00.0910.1309"' name=3DGENERATOR} {/HEAD} {BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff} {DIV} {FONT size=3D2} Hi. I was recently asked of a way to determine C = film=20 thickness. I remember that using a polished brass specimen and observing = the=20 color is one way. Does anyone have a source in the literature for this = method?=20 Thanks. {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT size=3D3} ______________________ {BR} Roberto Garcia {BR} Senior = Analyst,=20 Metallography {BR} North Carolina State University {BR} Analytical = Instrumentation=20 Facility {BR} Box 7531, Room 303 EGRC {BR} Raleigh, NC=20 27695-7531 {BR} rgarcia-at-unity.ncsu.com {BR} http://spm.aif.ncsu.edu/aif {/FONT= } {/DIV} {/BODY} {/HTML}
------=_NextPart_000_0017_01BE75E6.4E13C940--
Robert MacKay Department of Earth Sciences Dalhousie University Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3H 3J5 Tel: 902 494-7087 Fax: 902 494-6889 e-mail rmackay-at-ac.dal.ca
} Subject: job opening } Priority: normal } X-mailer: Pegasus Mail for Windows (v2.42a) } Message-ID: {5586A5401D-at-dcsmserver.med.sc.edu}
} } Hi, } } We currently have a position open for a microscopist in the } University of South Carolina School of Medicine Instrumentation } Resource Facility. Primary responsibilities involve assisting } faculty, staff and students in the use of confocal and electron } microscopes and in digital preparation of images (primarily Adobe } Photoshop). Secondary responsibilities involve assistance a flow } cytometer and a BioRad phosphorimager. } } All current work in the facility is biological. Applicants should } have a masters degree or equivalent experience. The } position is listed as a Research Specialist II with a salary range } from $24,618-$35,081. Please reply directly to me at
} Price-at-med.sc.edu. } Robert L. Price } Director, Instrumentation } Resource Facility } USC School of Medicine } Garner's Ferry Road } Columbia, SC 29208 } Phone: 803-733-3393 } Fax:803-733-1533
I am one of the people involved in the "for sale" example that Mark feels to be equivalent to his "instruments available" posting, which, I must confess, I don't remember seeing, or Nestor's apparent striking of it from the Listserver. I have participated in 8 of these TEM specimen prep workshops for Leica and RMC over the years, plus I have taken part (with many others) in similar workshops or short courses that are university-based, with the famous Lehigh short courses being the most widely-known example. I think that there are 2 key points you are missing, Mark:
1) These workshops are not designed to make money. If they break even, the companies that organize them are ecstatic.
2) These workshops are highly educational, which is the justification used by the students attending to their superiors (and confirmed by attendee feedback). As a supervisor, I continually look for such workshops on the Listserver for professional upgrading and/or career changes for my scientists and technologists.
When I want a new (or used) research tool, I tend not to look to the Listserver, but talk to vendors or colleagues, walk the floor at the MSA commercial exhibition, etc, etc. Whether or not your posting meets Nestor's criteria is not up to me, but let's not confuse apples with oranges (or the difficulty in properly using a complex instrument with the initial purchase of the instrument).
Tom Malis Group Leader - Characterization Materials Technology Laboratory Natural Resources Canada (Govt. of Canada) 568 Booth St., Ottawa, Canada ph. 613-992-2310 FAX 613-992-8735 email: malis-at-nrcan.gc.ca
} ---------- } From: } "Mriglermas-at-aol.com"-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com[SMTP:"Mriglermas-at-aol.com"-at-Sparc } 5.Microscopy.Com] } Sent: March 24, 1999 10:49 AM } To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } Cc: Mriglermas-at-aol.com } Subject: Fwd: TEM / SEM Sample Prep Workshop } } { {Message: TEM / SEM Sample Prep Workshop} } } Dear Friendly Sysop - Nestor: } } I've attached a recent announcement for a workshop as an example of an } item } "for sale." I believe that items for sale, whether services, supplies, or } instruments all require the same kind of response you gave to my posting } for } "instruments available" recently. Please see that workshops for profit } are } stricken from the Listserver so that you are consistent with your own } policy } or, change your posting policy. } } I believe that any of us who are in this field should be able to post any } kind } of useful informative item that would be of interest to those on the list. } The availability of microscopes is a useful piece of info for someone who } has } a legitimate need for a used scope. There are a lot of people looking for } microscope users and owners as a trusted resource rather than the } manufacture's sales reps. Please consider this in the future. } } } Thanks for your attention to this matter. } } Mark W. Rigler, Ph.D. } VP, MAS, Inc. }
} I'm sorry to bother everyone, again, with a question about fixation of } bacteria. I greatly appreciate the responses I received a few weeks } ago. At one time Ryter-Kellenberger fixation was considered the } standard. It produced an image with a relatively clear nucleoid } containing fibrillar chromatin. Is this now considered to be an } artifact of preparation? } } John Wright } West Desert Test Center } (435) 831-3017 }
Two of the more recent reviews by the same E. Kellenberger ("The bacterial nucleoid revisited" (1994) in Microbiol Rev 58:211-32; and "Functional consequences of improved structural information on bacterial nucleoids" (1991) in Res Microbiol 142:229-38) should answer your question in great detail. They also make a most enjoyable reading!
Briefly, the nucleoid, according to the results obtained with rapid freezing-freeze substitution, "is now more granular than fibrillar", thus, conceivably, reflecting the natural supercoiled state of the DNA. It has a "coralline" shape, and "the excrescencies reach far into the cytoplasm. Membrane contact is no longer excluded". Interestingly, but the liquid-crystalline form of the DNA also appears to be native in some cases...
The classic Ryter-Kellenberger method still makes a standard for a good chemical fixation. It is beneficial sometimes to add an aldehyde prefixation step or make other minor modifications, but treatment with AQUOEUS uranyl acetate before dehydration remains the most critical for good nucleoid preservation. Bacterial "chromosome" lacks the proteins that keep eukaryotic chromatin from collapse during dehydration, and only aqueous uranyl acetate, following conventional fixation, cross-links the nucleoid in that "liquid-crystalline" state.
I remember your original posting also generated discussion about delayed secondary fixation, or for how long the material can be left in glut. For fine ultrastructure work, I would not leave bacteria (as well as anything else) at any step longer than necessary. Even if the osmotic pressure is adjusted to minimize swelling/shrinking, you will most likely end up with a specific unpleasant granularity of the cytoplasm in your bacteria if you leave them in a glutaraldehyde fixative for too long. To split the protocol into two days, it is best to leave the material overnight in 70% ethanol in the refrigerator. But for just diagnostic, etc., purposes, it is, of course, O.K., and sometimes simply unavoidable, to store the samples for quite a while in a glutaraldehyde fixative in a refrigerator.
Please feel free to contact me directly if you can't find the journals or if other questions arise. Sincerely, Vlad.
Vladislav V. Speransky School of Marine Sciences University of Maine 5722 Deering Hall Orono, ME 04469-5722 Phone: 207 581 2998 Fax: 207 581 2969 Email: vladis-at-maine.maine.edu
Theoretical stereology Mathematical morphology Advances in image=20 analysis, Modern techniques in microscopy /image acquisition=20 Quantitative fractography 3-D modelling and analysis dissemination of=20 stereology and image analysis applications=20
Conference language English, no translations anticipated
Conference program (proceedings will be distributed prior to the=20 conference)=20
No parallel sessions Invited lectures (25') Oral presentations (15')=20 Poster presentations combined with panel discussion=20
Deadlines=20
Preliminary registration, October 31, 1999=20 Second circular, December 31, 1999=20 Final papers, March 31, 2000=20 Final registration, May 31, 2000=20 Final circular with conference program, July 31, 2000=20
Correspondence:
STERMAT 2000
Institute of Materials Science Cracow University of Technology Al. Jana Paw=B3a II 37 31-864 Krak=F3w, Poland
See information about Free Credit Application Below!
My Multi-Million Dollar Publishing Company ONLY $149
Free Pre-Approved Merchant Account Application with Order!! To Start Your Business Out Right!!
If you ever wanted "the easy way out" to make a lot of money with a business of your own.... Here is the EASIEST WAY TO START!
I'm writing this letter to let you in on something that'll blow you away. What I'm about to present is something I've never done before...something that I'll never do again.... So PAY ATTENTION!
For the past few years...I've have been running ads in newspapers & magazines, by direct mail, and throughout the internet. These ads were always small and very cheap...
On these ads, we have been selling little manuals. These manuals have sold for anywhere between $10 to $99 each. We always ran different ads for each manual we were selling.
I like selling information because NOBODY can put a price on it...ESPECIALLY when it is your own...The Sky is the Limit!
Plus it is very cheap to reproduce How-To manuals. It costs between 40 cents and $3 to print the entire print manuals and around 35 cents to copy the manuals on disk. AND you can sell them for up to $99 each. That is one hell of a markup!
These manuals tell you how to get a car with no money down and no credit...another one tells you how to avoid taxes by depositing income offshore...now you may not be interested in saving money by going offshore...but believe me....there are MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO DO...and they are willing to pay me to teach them!!!
Well this is where the unbelievable offer comes in...I hope you are sitting down for this one...because this is a once in a lifetime chance for you. I do not know of an easier way to become financially independent...In fact THERE IS NO EASIER WAY!!! The next few paragraphs will reveal everything to you.
I am willing to sell you my entire informational product line with FULL REPRINT RIGHTS and complete step-by-step instructions on how to start your mail order information business with very little money.
Remember, these are PROVEN WINNERS. If you are stumped on something to sell or if you are having trouble writing a good ad, I have also included an entire book on disk to help you produce KILLER ads!
This entire package which I call a Publishing Company in a Box will come on 1 CD containing over 2000 'Hot-Selling' Books, Reports And Manuals ready to print and sell, Sell, SELL! It also will come with a signed letter giving YOU FULL REPRINT RIGHTS allowing you to sell them for as much as you want and however you want. You Can even sell the entire kit to someone else to resale on their own! You also receive copies of KILLER ads which can fill your mailbox with cash!
I am not even going to ask you for any of the money either... What you make is yours to keep . In fact...you get to make a ton of money on these manuals for as long as you wish...and you will never have to pay me another red cent in royalties!
I am even going to print out and prepare our #1 selling report which contains the secrets of obtaining credit without a credit check and producing an offshore income without taxes so that you will be able to take it down to your local copy shop and be ready to sell it the same day you have received it. Watch out though - one individual is making $70,000 a month on this report alone! (Why - Because you can include a FREE offshore credit application for those with bad or no credit with this report and explode your mailbox with orders) Note: THIS APPLICATION IS INCLUDED!
All I ask for is...$149 and I will include FREE Priority Mail Shipping! Yes, I said $149. There are no zeros missing. Plus if you order before April 1st, 1999 I will include 4 extra special bonuses...
Bonus #1 - "Search Engine Magic" on disk. This report will shoot your web site up to the top of the search engine listings. Other web advertisers are selling this manual for $99 by itself - But I will give it to you for FREE with this package.
Bonus #2 - The report "How to Make at least $1,600 a week online...Starting Now!" which is taking the internet by storm will be included absolutely FREE!
Bonus #3 - I will include special details about a secret source for direct mail leads that can produce cash orders along with out KILLER ads. And another source will be given which allows you to advertise nationwide through newspapers to 70,000,000 readers for as low as 7 cents per word.
Bonus #4 - I also will include a pre-approved application for a merchant account for your business benefit. Taking credit cards will increase your business up to 100%. The normal $195 application fee will be waved with this pre-approved application.
But there is one drawback... I am sending this ad to 10,000 other people...and I will only allow 50 kits to be sold. It wouldn't make much sense if I sold this kit to 1,000 or 2,000 people...The market would be saturated with these same manuals... and I don't want to do that. To make sure that the people in this offer get the same results I have...ONLY 50 people can have it for $149.00!
Chances are, I will get all 50 within a week's time. So if this is something you are interested in...RUSH me a check or money order for $149.00 TODAY to insure your future business.
But, even if you decide to pass this up...Don't sweat it. It's not like I am going to be mad or anything like that. I know I will get my 50 order limit really fast. And anyone who gets their check into me late... I will simply send it back.
For only $149.00, I am going to let you have the easiest money you will ever make. The manuals are written, the ads are presented, the advertising plan is laid out, and all you have to do is print them out for pennies and place the ads.
Do it today! Rush me your payment of $149.00 right now...and get your very own MILLION DOLLAR publishing company going!
You can start with one or two manuals...even the day you receive the package...and then expand to include ALL of them!
For $149.00, you have everything you need to make a killing with your very own business. If you want to make real money - then this offer is for you!
"I took the report "Search Engine Magic" and sold over 50 copies on disk within 2 weeks! They sold for $99 and I was able to copy them for under 50 cents each. Wait till I start marketing the other products included in this line!!!" Joe Fisher - Internet Marketer
To rush order this "MILLION DOLLAR Publishing Company in a Box" simply fill out the order form below and fax it to our 24 hour order line at:
FAX ORDER LINE: 1 (212) 504-8032
Regular Mail to: Financial Systems P.O. Box 301 Orange, Ma 01364
ORDER FORM -------------------------------------------------------------- Please send to:
Your Name__________________________________________
Your Address________________________________________
Your City____________________________________________
State / Zip___________________________________________
Phone #: ____________________________________________ (For problems with your order only. No salesmen will call.)
We Accept Checks or Money Orders along with all Major Credit Cards including Visa, MasterCard and American Express. (NOTE - We only ship to the address listed on the credit card)
(Please Fill Out Below Section and Make sure that the above name and address are listed as it appears on the card) for $149.00
[ ] YES! Please rush my Publishing Company in a Box. I understand I have FULL REPRINT Rights and can sell any of the items for whatever price I desire, even the entire kit.
[ ] DOUBLE YES! I am ordering before April 1st 1999! Please include the extra special bonuses!
* Please check one of the following payment options: [ ] I am faxing a check (Do not send original, we will make a draft from the faxed check)
[ ] I am faxing or mailing my credit card number. (Note your card will be charged for $149.00 and we only ship to the address on the card)
[ ] I am enclosing a check or money order for $149.00!
Note - If ordering outside continental US, please add $5 to S&H
P.S. Don't forget you will receive 2,000 Manuals, Books, and Reports (Some of which are up to 200 pages each)...all for $149...You have full reprint and resale rights to make as much money as you want without ever paying any royalties whatsoever!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * You have been carefully selected to receive the following as a person obviously interested in this subject based upon your previous internet postings, or visits to one of our affiliate web sites. If you have received this message in error, email No-Thanks-at-bigfoot.com with the word unsubscribe in the subject. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Roberto, We used a thin gold coating on the shiny side of household = aluminum foil. This works great for relative thicknesses. Russ
-----Original Message----- } From: Roberto Garcia [mailto:rgarcia-at-unity.ncsu.edu] Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 1999 11:06 AM To: MSA Microscopy
The accurate control of the thickness of evaporated carbon films.
Principle. When carbon is deposited onto gold, it forms interference colors that are well defined. They can be used to determine the thickness of the carbon.
The colors. If carbon is evaporated onto gold, as the thickness of the carbon increases, the color changes through the following sequence: gold, orange, red, blue, grey. The change of color from red to blue is particularly sharp and clear. The change of color from red to blue occurs when the thickness of the carbon is 24.0 nm +/- 0.5nm. This result was obtained by people at Balzers using a multibeam interference technique for calibration.
Details. 1 Take a glass slide (or any other suitable substrate) and evaporate onto it a layer of gold. The thickness is not critical as long as the gold is thick enough to give an opaque film that looks like gold. 2 Mount the slide in the same chamber with the specimen to be coated with carbon. the thickness of the carbon on the slide will be 24 nm so arrange the distance of the slide and the sample so that (by the inverse square law) the desired thickness on the sample will occur when the thickness on the slide is 24 nm. 3 Evaporate the carbon; stop the evaporation as the color changes form red to blue. If you are using a normal arc for the carbon evaporation, the light from the arc will allow you to see the colors. The bell jar will need to be reasonably clean.
Example. Suppose you need to deposit a carbon film of thickness T nm. Let d be the distance from the carbon arc to the gold slide; let D be the distance from the carbon arc to the specimen. Then [d/D]squared = T/24.
Reference: My thesis (1967).
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
Reply to: RE: Thickness of carbon films. Re: Carbon Film Thickness When great accuracy of film thickness is not needed, we simply = place a small metal washer upon a glass slide near the "specimen area". after evaporation the step height between the shaded and coated areas is = measured optically on a bench interference microscope. Ours is a Zeiss = two beam unit that is good for 30 nanometer resolution, (+ or -), with no = physical contact with the film. It works for ANY reflective metallic film = and fairly well even on "dull" carbon coatings because it has three = different reference mirrors that can be quickly changed. Each mirror has a = different reflectivity that one merely tests to get reasonable = interference fringes which can also be photographed via polaroid or 35 mm. = film. Bernie Kestel Materials Science Division = Argonne National Laboratory 9700 South Cass Ave. Argonne, Il., 60439
E-mail {kestel-at-anl.gov} FAX: (630) 252-4289
Alwyn Eades wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America =
{HTML} {HEAD} {/HEAD} {BODY} {PRE = WIDTH=3D"132"} Reply to: RE: Thickness of carbon films.
{/PRE} {FONT FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D3 COLOR=3D"#000000"} Re: = Carbon Film Thickness {BR} When = great accuracy of film thickness is not = needed, we simply place a small metal washer = upon a glass slide near the "specimen = area". {BR} after evaporation the step = height between the shaded and coated areas = is measured optically on a bench interference = microscope. Ours is a Zeiss two beam unit = that is good for 30 nanometer resolution, = (+ or -), with no physical contact with = the film. It works for ANY reflective metallic = film and fairly well even on "dull" = carbon coatings because it has three different = reference mirrors that can be quickly changed. = Each mirror has a different reflectivity = that one merely tests to get reasonable = interference fringes which can also be photographed = via polaroid or 35 mm. film. {BR} Bernie = Kestel {BR} Materials Science Division {BR} = Argonne National Laboratory {BR} 9700 South = Cass Ave. {BR} Argonne, Il., 60439 {BR} {BR} = E-mail <kestel-at-anl.gov> FAX: = (630) 252-4289 {BR} {BR} Alwyn Eades wrote: {/FONT} {FONT = FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#000000"} {BR} >-----------------------------------------------------------------------= - {BR} >The = Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy = Society of America {BR} They can be used to determine the thickness = of the carbon. {BR} > {BR} >The colors. {BR} >If = carbon is evaporated onto gold, as the thickness = of the carbon {BR} >increases, the color = changes through the following sequence: = gold, orange, {BR} >red, blue, grey. The = change of color from red to blue is particularly {BR} >sharp = and clear. The change of color from red = to blue occurs when the {BR} >thickness = of the carbon is 24.0 nm +/- 0.5nm. {BR} >This = result was obtained by people at Balzers = using a multibeam {BR} >interference technique = for calibration. {BR} > {BR} >Details. {BR} >1 Take = a glass slide (or any other suitable substrate) = and evaporate onto {BR} >it a layer of gold. = The thickness is not critical as long as = the gold is {BR} >thick enough to give an = opaque film that looks like gold. {BR} >2 Mount = the slide in the same chamber with the specimen = to be coated with {BR} >carbon. the thickness = of the carbon on the slide will be 24 nm = so arrange {BR} >the distance of the slide = and the sample so that (by the inverse square {BR} >law) = the desired thickness on the sample will = occur when the thickness on {BR} >the slide = is 24 nm. {BR} >3 Evaporate the carbon; = stop the evaporation as the color changes = form red {BR} >to blue. If you are using = a normal arc for the carbon evaporation, = the {BR} >light from the arc will allow = you to see the colors. The bell jar will {BR} >need = to be reasonably clean. {BR} > {BR} >Example. {BR} >Suppose = you need to deposit a carbon film of thickness = T nm. Let d be the {BR} >distance from = the carbon arc to the gold slide; let D be = the distance from {BR} >the carbon arc to = the specimen. Then [d/D]squared =3D T/24. {BR} > {BR} >Reference: = My thesis (1967). {BR} > {BR} >Alwyn Eades {BR} >Department = of Materials Science and Engineering {BR} >Lehigh = University {BR} >5 East Packer Avenue {BR} >Bethlehem {BR} >Pennsylvannia = 18015-3195 {BR} > Phone 610 758 4231 {BR} > Fax = 610 758 4244 {BR} > {/FONT} {FONT FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 = COLOR=3D"#0000FF"} {U} jae5-at-lehigh.edu {/U} {/FONT} {FONT FACE=3D"Geneva" = SIZE=3D1 = COLOR=3D"#000000"} {BR} > {BR} > {BR} > {BR} >RFC822 = header {BR} >----------------------------------- {BR} > {BR} > = Received: from dns2.anl.gov (dns2.anl.gov = [146.139.254.3]) by {BR} >horus.et.anl.gov = (8.6.11/8.6.11) with ESMTP id IAA26354 for = < {/FONT} {FONT FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#0000FF"} {U} kestel-at-= horus.et.anl.gov {/U} {/FONT} {FONT = FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#000000"} >; Thu, 25 {BR} >Mar = 1999 08:32:30 -0600 {BR} > Received: from = Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (sparc5.microscopy.com = {BR} >[206.69.208.10]) by dns2.anl.gov = (8.9.1a/8.6.11) with SMTP id IAA03123; Thu, = 25 Mar 1999 {BR} >08:32:29 -0600 (CST) {BR} > = Received: (from {/FONT} {FONT FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#0000FF"} {U} = daemon-at-localhost {/U} {/FONT} {FONT = FACE=3D"Geneva" SIZE=3D1 COLOR=3D"#000000"} ) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com = (8.6.11/8.6.11) {BR} >id HAA19493 for dist-Microscopy; = Thu, 25 Mar 1999 07:53:13 -0600 {BR} > Received: = from no_more_spam.com (Sparc5 [206.69.208.10]) = by {BR} >Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) =
for {Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com} id QAA26644 (ESMTP). Thu, 25 Mar 1999 16:50:44 +0100 (MET) Received: by tnt1.chem.tue.nl with Internet Mail Service (5.5.2448.0) id {GXT3GKNM} ; Thu, 25 Mar 1999 16:50:44 +0100 Message-ID: {23285647B6CFD111B783002048083698174AC4-at-tnt1.chem.tue.nl} {Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com}
Hallo Roberto,
In the first edition of "Electron Microprobe Analysis" of S.B.J. Reed (Cambridge University Press 1975) you can find the next table. for Carbon on polished brass
Thickness in nm Colour
15 Orange 20 Indigo red 25 Blue 30 Bluish green 35 Green blue 40 Pale green 45 Silver gold
We determined the thickness with our thin layer program and found out that the values were very good. The table is not found in newer editions of Reed's book.
Ir.Hans Heijligers Solid State and Materials Chemistry Lab. STO 2.45, Eindhoven University of Technology POBox 513 NL-5600 MB Eindhoven E-mail: H.J.M.Heijligers-at-TUE.NL Tel.: +31 (0)402473051 Fax.: +31 (0)402445619
Hi. I was recently asked of a way to determine C film thickness. I remember that using a polished brass specimen and observing the color is one way. Does anyone have a source in the literature for this method? Thanks.
______________________ Roberto Garcia Senior Analyst, Metallography North Carolina State University Analytical Instrumentation Facility Box 7531, Room 303 EGRC Raleigh, NC 27695-7531 rgarcia-at-unity.ncsu.com http://spm.aif.ncsu.edu/aif
I'm in the market for a good quality, but inexpensive, film scanner- e.g., for scanning 35mm slides into my PC. I've heard Nikon makes a good one (model LS2500), but it runs a hefty $2,500 or so (too expensive for me). Got any suggestions?
-- Steven J. Fliesler, Ph.D. Professor Dept. of Ophthalmology Saint Louis Univ. School of Med. 1755 S. Grand Blvd. St. Louis, MO 63104-1540 Phone: (314) 577-8259 Fax: (314) 771-0596 E-mail: Fliesler-at-slu.edu
I am thinking of purchasing a microwave tissue processor. I would appreciate your opinion as to the pro's and con's of this type of tissue preparation.
If you have access to an AFM, accurate measurement of C thickness takes about 4 minutes. If I'm looking at flat samples, I use a toothpick to remove a thin line o= f carbon. I then can bring the sample to the AFM and directly measure the height of the step betwwen the sample and the top of the carbon film. Alternatively, if I can't work directly on the sample I coat a plain glas= s slide (making sure it is the same distance from the arc as the sample) an= d measure the C thinckness on it. Hope this helps
Hello everyone, A friend of mine has informed me that there is a young boy in the south of England who has a terminal cancer and is close to the end of his suffering. Apparently, he wishes to enter the Guiness Book of Records for the largest collection of buisness cards. Could you all take the time to help boost this young man's collection. I was asked to tell everyone else to forward this information to as many other people as possible. His particulars are: Master Gary Richard, 30 Selby Road, Carshalton, Surrey, England, U.K.
Regards Martin Roe Macaulay Land Use Research Institute Aberdeen Scotland AB15 8QH U.K.
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
--------------------------------------
Message not delivered to recipients below. Press F1 for help with VNM error codes.
VNM3042: bqli-at-Gateways-at-Corporate
VNM3042 -- NAME NOT FOUND
Mail cannot deliver the message for one of the following reasons: the appropriate StreetTalk is not available; the recipient's user name was deleted; the recipient's name was not entered correctly. Verify the accuracy of the name entered. If the name you entered is a user name, check to see if the user was deleted. If the name is correct and the user exists, check the connections between the recipient and the sender.
You may see this error if you send a message to a list, but one of the names on the list is incorrect or invalid. Anytime a user is deleted, that user name must be removed from all lists that contain the name.
---------------------- Original Message Follows ----------------------
Reply to: RE: Thickness of carbon films. Re: Carbon Film Thickness When great accuracy of film thickness is not needed, we simply place a small metal washer upon a glass slide near the "specimen area". After evaporation the step heigth between the shaded and coated areas is measured optically on a bench interference microscope. Ours is a Zeiss two beam unit that is good for 30 nanometer resolution, (+ or -), with no physical contact with the film. It works for ANY reflective metallic film and fairly well even on "dull" carbon coatings because it has three different reference mirrors that can be quickly changed. Each mirror has a different reflectivity that one simply tests to get reasonable interference fringes which can also be photographed via polaroid or 35 mm. film. Bernie Kestel Materials Science Division Argonne National Laboratory 9700 South Cass Ave. Argonne, Il., 60439
E-mail {kestel-at-anl.gov} FAX: (630) 252-4289
Alwyn Eades wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
RFC822 header -----------------------------------
Received: from dns2.anl.gov (dns2.anl.gov [146.139.254.3]) by horus.et.anl.gov (8.6.11/8.6.11) with ESMTP id NAA29090 for {kestel-at-horus.et.anl.gov} ; Thu, 25 Mar 1999 13:36:05 -0600 Received: from reynolds2-bh.rmc.com (reynolds-bh.rmc.com [137.25.23.67]) by dns2.anl.gov (8.9.1a/8.6.11) with ESMTP id NAA16389 for {kestel-at-anl.gov} ; Thu, 25 Mar 1999 13:36:03 -0600 (CST) Received: (from root-at-localhost) by reynolds2-bh.rmc.com (8.8.8/8.6.11) id OAA28830 for {kestel-at-anl.gov} ; Thu, 25 Mar 1999 14:35:38 -0500 (EST) Received: from rmchq15.rmc.com(137.25.126.22) by reynolds2-bh.rmc.com via smap (4.1) id xma027657; Thu, 25 Mar 99 14:34:38 -0500 Received: by RMCHQ15.RMC.COM with VINES-ISMTP; Thu, 25 Mar 99 14:34:33 -0500 Date: Thu, 25 Mar 99 14:34:30 -0500 Message-ID: {vines.Xkh8+6zcyqA-at-RMCHQ15.RMC.COM} X-Priority: 3 (Normal) To: "Bernard Kestel" {kestel-at-anl.gov} From: {MAILER-DAEMON-at-Lanmail.RMC.COM} Errors-to: {MAILER-DAEMON-at-Lanmail.RMC.COM} Subject: Undeliverable Message X-Incognito-SN: 1539 X-Incognito-Version: 4.12.4 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Length: 6111 Status:
We have a Cambridge S240 scanning electron microscope that is available, that needs a new lab home. The S240 was wrapped up recently when we unexpectedly received a field emission SEM. The S240 is a digital frame store SEM; has a LaB6 source; and a second backplate that adapts to a Microspec WDS spectrometer. The S240 also includes a mating Noran thin window EDS detector. The S240 was well maintained under service contract for 11 years, and still would be in use if the FESEM has not suddenly become available from another Raytheon facility.
We also can include a used Kevex 8000 EDS analyzer with the interfaces to the Noran detector. In addition, I know where that Microspec spectrometer can be obtained.
We would like to trade the Cambridge SEM/Noran detector, and if desired, the Kevex analyzer, for a new Noran Vantage upgrade to our Noran EDS analyzer. We would like to hear from anyone who is interested.
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
--------------------------------------
Reply to: RE: Thickness of carbon films.
Re: Carbon Film Thickness When great accuracy of film thickness is not needed, we simply place a small metal washer upon a glass slide near the "specimen area". after evaporation the step height between the shaded and coated areas is measured optically on a bench interference microscope. Ours is a Zeiss two beam unit that is good for 30 nanometer resolution, (+ or -), with no physical contact with the film. It works for ANY reflective metallic film and fairly well even on "dull" carbon coatings because it has three different reference mirrors that can be quickly changed. Each mirror has a different reflectivity that one merely tests to get reasonable interference fringes which can also be photographed via polaroid or 35 mm. film. Bernie Kestel Materials Science Division Argonne National Laboratory 9700 South Cass Ave. Argonne, Il., 60439
E-mail {kestel-at-anl.gov} FAX: (630) 252-4289
Alwyn Eades wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
RFC822 header -----------------------------------
Received: from dns2.anl.gov (dns2.anl.gov [146.139.254.3]) by horus.et.anl.gov (8.6.11/8.6.11) with ESMTP id JAA27093 for {kestel-at-horus.et.anl.gov} ; Thu, 25 Mar 1999 09:54:05 -0600 Received: from Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (sparc5.microscopy.com [206.69.208.10]) by dns2.anl.gov (8.9.1a/8.6.11) with SMTP id JAA06920; Thu, 25 Mar 1999 09:54:05 -0600 (CST) Received: (from daemon-at-localhost) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) id JAA19978 for dist-Microscopy; Thu, 25 Mar 1999 09:22:12 -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 JAA19960 for "MicroscopyFilteredEmail-at-msa.microscopy.com"; Thu, 25 Mar 1999 09:21:40 -0600 Received: from horus.et.anl.gov (horus.et.anl.gov [146.139.240.27]) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) with ESMTP id JAA19950 for {microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} ; Thu, 25 Mar 1999 09:21:25 -0600 Received: from 146.139.240.184 (et212mac184.et.anl.gov [146.139.240.184]) by horus.et.anl.gov (8.6.11/8.6.11) with SMTP id JAA26953 for {microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} ; Thu, 25 Mar 1999 09:38:52 -0600 Message-Id: {199903251538.JAA26953-at-horus.et.anl.gov} Date: 25 Mar 99 09:38:53 -0500 From: Bernard Kestel {kestel-at-anl.gov} Subject: RE: Thickness of carbon films. To: Alwyn Eades {jae5-at-lehigh.edu} , microscopy {microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} X-Mailer: QuickMail Pro 1.5.4 (Mac) X-Priority: 3 MIME-Version: 1.0 Reply-To: Bernard Kestel {kestel-at-anl.gov} Errors-to: Microscopy-request-at-sparc5.microscopy.com Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="====52535053545649515457== =1" Content-Length: 13448 Status:
by darkwing.uoregon.edu (8.9.3/8.9.3) with SMTP id NAA13960; Thu, 25 Mar 1999 13:51:51 -0800 (PST)
Alwyn writes ...
} The accurate control of the thickness of evaporated carbon films. } } ... } } The colors: } If carbon is evaporated onto gold, as the thickness of the carbon } increases, the color changes through the following sequence: } gold, orange, red, blue, grey. The change of color from red to } blue is particularly sharp and clear. The change of color from } red to blue occurs when the thickness of the carbon is } 24.0 nm +/- 0.5nm.
We also find the red-} blue transistion the most easily recognized and the most consistent, even for a multiple-user facility ... and altho it may be considered a bit thick, the transistion is sharp enough to use for EPMA without need for coating standards and unknowns at the same time. However, for the sake of clarification ... the Mineralogy reference would imply "blue" is 24nm ... are you claiming the red-} blue transistion (i.e., "purple") is 24nm?? We have been writing our technique up as 22(+/-1)nm.
cheerios, shAf :o)
{} /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ {\/} /\ 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/
Lawrence Kordon Nikon, Inc. Columbia, MD nikon-at-jagunet.com
"Steven J. Fliesler" 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'm in the market for a good quality, but inexpensive, film scanner- } e.g., for scanning 35mm slides into my PC. I've heard Nikon makes a } good one (model LS2500), but it runs a hefty $2,500 or so (too } expensive for me). Got any suggestions? } } -- } Steven J. Fliesler, Ph.D. } Professor } Dept. of Ophthalmology } Saint Louis Univ. School of Med. } 1755 S. Grand Blvd. } St. Louis, MO 63104-1540 } Phone: (314) 577-8259 } Fax: (314) 771-0596 } E-mail: Fliesler-at-slu.edu
Can anyone out there help us out with a current phone number for Dunaway - or with anyone else that might have replacement heaters for a diffusion pump?
Many thanks in advance
Gill Bond Department of Materials & Met. Eng. New Mexico Tech
Steve, It depends on the resolution you need. Microtek sells a scanner with a 35 mm film attachment (X6EL) for under $200. You can also get better ones for $600-1000 with a second scan bed designed for slides. If you only have a few slides, we have even taken slides apart and scanned them directly on a flat bed scanner with a transparency adapter.
Best regards,
Chris Baumann
"Steven J. Fliesler" 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'm in the market for a good quality, but inexpensive, film scanner- } e.g., for scanning 35mm slides into my PC. I've heard Nikon makes a } good one (model LS2500), but it runs a hefty $2,500 or so (too } expensive for me). Got any suggestions? } } -- } Steven J. Fliesler, Ph.D. } Professor } Dept. of Ophthalmology } Saint Louis Univ. School of Med. } 1755 S. Grand Blvd. } St. Louis, MO 63104-1540 } Phone: (314) 577-8259 } Fax: (314) 771-0596 } E-mail: Fliesler-at-slu.edu
Dear all, Does anyone have an old Hitachi H450 SEM lying around that they would like to donate or sell cheaply for parts? Eric Hines Microscopy Centre CSIRO Entomology Canberra.
Gil Bond wrote: =============================================== Can anyone out there help us out with a current phone number for Dunaway - or with anyone else that might have replacement heaters for a diffusion pump ? =============================================== The information for Duniway is the following: Duniway Stockroom Corporation 1305 Space Park Way Mountain View, California USA 94043 Toll Free: 800-446-8811 Phone: 650-969-8811 Fax: 650-965-0764 E-MAIL: info-at-duniway.com WEB: www.duniway.com
If they don't have it, one place that seems to always have the odd-ball item others don't have is the following:
TORR International, Inc. 12 Columbus Street New Windsor, NY USA 12553 Ph: 1-914-565-4027 Fax:1-914-561-7731 E-mail: torr.intl-at-juno.com WEB: www.torr.com Ask for Dr. Masud Naraghi
We have no interest in either of these firms, however we have done some amount of business as a satisfied customer with both.
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: www.2spi.com ############################ ==================================================
Glenn Poirier and Bernard Kestel (both messages appended)=20 advocate very accurate means of determining C film=20 thickness. No doubt these means have some applications.=20 However, for most applications it is rather more convenient=20 to determine thickness at the time of coating with fairly=20 good accuracy. It is no use to an analyst to break the vacuum to determine=20 that another 3nm of carbon are required. For these reason=20 the polished brass slide method and the still more=20 convenient, auto-terminating thickness monitors are the=20 preferred means to determine coating thickness. Incidentally, for WDS/EDS I used indigo red - 20nm; its=20 enough C to prevent charging on flat specimens and absorbs=20 fewer light X-rays. 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 *****
On Friday, March 26, 1999 4:28 AM, Glenn Poirier=20 [SMTP:glennp-at-eps.mcgill.ca] 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.ht } ml } =20 ---------------------------------------------------------- } -------------. } } } If you have access to an AFM, accurate measurement of C } thickness takes } about 4 minutes. } If I'm looking at flat samples, I use a toothpick to } remove a thin line of } carbon. I then can bring the sample to the AFM and } directly measure the } height of the step betwwen the sample and the top of the } carbon film. } Alternatively, if I can't work directly on the sample I } coat a plain glass } slide (making sure it is the same distance from the arc=20 as } the sample) and } measure the C thinckness on it. } Hope this helps } } Glenn } {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} } Glenn Poirier Tel: (514) 398 6774 } MicroAnalysis Laboratrory Fax: (514) 398 4680 } Earth and Planetary Sciences email: glennp-at-eps.mcgill.ca } Rm. 238, 3450 University St.=09 } http://castaing.eps.mcgill.ca } Montr=E9al, Qc } H3A 2A7 } Millennium hand and shrimp } {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {}
When great accuracy of film thickness is not needed, we=20 simply place a small metal washer upon a glass slide near=20 the "specimen area". after evaporation the step height between the shaded and=20 coated areas is measured optically on a bench interference=20 microscope. Ours is a Zeiss two beam unit that is good for=20 30 nanometer resolution, (+ or -), with no physical contact=20 with the film. It works for ANY reflective metallic film=20 and fairly well even on "dull" carbon coatings because it=20 has three different reference mirrors that can be quickly=20 changed. Each mirror has a different reflectivity that one=20 merely tests to get reasonable interference fringes which=20 can also be photographed via polaroid or 35 mm. film. Bernie Kestel Materials Science Division Argonne National Laboratory
John, you are possibly right; a similar thought did occur to me before sending it to the list (what if it's bogus and is really someone trying to get marketing, company information, or even a non-cancer patient who is building up a collection for himself etc.) and I questioned my friend as to how reliable her information was. Of course she could not guarantee that this wasn't a hoak but in the absence of any evidence to the contary I was prepared to take this more or less at face value and I thought well what if it is true? It's not much of an effort to help someone out and nothing has been lost in doing so even if it turns out not to be genuine.
Regards
Martin Roe Macaulay Land Use Research Institute Aberdeen Scotland AB15 8QH
John Mansfield wrote: } } I hate to pour cold water on this, but it looks like another of } } those net myths.
Steven writes ... } } } I'm in the market for a good quality, but inexpensive, film scanner- } e.g., for scanning 35mm slides into my PC. I've heard Nikon makes a } good one (model LS2500), but it runs a hefty $2,500 or so (too } expensive for me). Got any suggestions? } } ...
I believe you mean the LS-2000 ... and it can be found for less $$. For example, http://www.pricewatch.com will show you many places for which it can be purchased for near $1600. There are lesser expensive scanners and I've seen a comparison of the Nikon with the new HP Photosmart scanner with will only leave you with why would you pay so much more for the Nikon. Still, the Nikon comes with "dust removal" software which works very well, and you also have an option for 4X and 16X multiple scans for removing LED noise in the dense areas of the slide or negative. Both the Nikon and new HP will deliver 48bit files to image editors which can handle that color depth (e.g., Photoshop).
I agree with Jim Darley when he says=20 =93However, for most applications it is rather more convenient=20 to determine thickness at the time of coating with fairly=20 good accuracy.=94 What I find hard to understand is the assumption he and other contributor= s to this thread have made that the interference color method allows you to evaporate carbon of only one thickness. The brass (or in the method I gave, gold) test sample has always the same thickness of carbon but the thickness of carbon on the sample can be what you like. The idea is that the brass/gold test piece is placed at a distance from the source which i= s different from the distance between the source and the sample to be coate= d. Then the thickness on the sample can be calculated from the inverse squa= re law. When I first used this technique, I used it to apply a coating only= 1 nm thick.
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
Dear Steven, I have the top model Hewlett-Packard flat bed scanner and that comes with a 35 mm slide scanning attachment that works very well. Cost ~ $500. You wrote:
} } I'm in the market for a good quality, but inexpensive, film scanner- } e.g., for scanning 35mm slides into my PC. I've heard Nikon makes a } good one (model LS2500), but it runs a hefty $2,500 or so (too } expensive for me). Got any suggestions? } } -- } Steven J. Fliesler, Ph.D. } Professor } Dept. of Ophthalmology } Saint Louis Univ. School of Med.
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 e-mail: mager-at-interchg.ubc.ca
Ph.D. graduate student or post-doctoral student (D.V.M. or M.D.) position available for research in the area of protozoal parasitology. Research will involve electron microscopy and cellular biology studies utilizing in vitro derived Sarcocystis spp. , Neospora spp. and Toxoplasma gondii parasites. Individual will work with a multi-disciplinary team at the University of Missouri-Columbia, in the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology and the Molecular Biology Program Electron Microscopy Core facility. Successful candidate should have background in tissue/cell embedding and processing for light and electron microscopy, and demonstrated proficiency in written and spoken English. Molecular biology and cell culture skills are helpful, but not a necessary requirement. U.S. citizenship is not required. For further information contact Dr. A.E. Marsh at ph: 573-884-2673, fax: 573-884-5414, or email: marshae-at-missouri.edu {mailto:marshae-at-missouri.edu} .
A colleage at our university needs servicing on an ISI Alpha 9 SEM. The problem is related to the manually valved vacuum system. The hand-turned knob for valving does not appear to be actually moving the vacuum cylinder (plunger) up and down. Either it has come off of the main shaft or the vacuum cylinder (plunger) is jammed.
Does anyone service these instruments commercially? Any directions available for opening the vacuum system (for example, to change the diffusion pump oil)? 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 ####################################################################
My name is Randy Anderson and I am a senior at Northern Il University. I am currently finishing the second semester of a TEM/SEM independent study. The reason that I am writing is to find out how I can apply for an E.M. certification and to see how the best way to look for a job position in the E.M. field when I graduate in the summer of 99. Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions as the information will be a valuable assest.
I've put copies of my Reichert Zetopan manuals on http://users.skynet.be/sky95421/
Availlable manuals ? Zetopan.zip Instruction manual for the Zetopan.Large research Microscope. In Englisch= . 1 298 kb. Contains one page from an older Osram-catalogue regarding much used bulbs for older European microscopes.
? Zetopol.zip Instruction manual for the Zetopan-Pol .Large Polarization Microscope. In French. 487 kb.
? reflight.zip Instruction manual for the Universal polarization illuminator for opaque objects. In French. 179 kb.
? micflash.zip Instruction manual for the Universal microflasch equipment for Zetopan. I= n German. 523 kb.
? MS140.zip Instruction manual for the MS 1.40 multisystem condenser. In German. 319 = kb.
? Binolux.zip Instruction manual for the Binolux III twin lamp unit. In Englisch. 1 063 kb.
uri-at-watson.ibm.com has devised a procedure to treat these files when you = are using Unix (thanks Uri=85)
Nigel Browning schrieb: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } {bold} "Analyzing Materials Interfaces at Atomic Resolution" {/bold} } } } } There will be a Materials Science symposium at Scanning 99 entitled } "Analyzing Materials Interfaces at Atomic Resolution". Scanning 99 is } being held at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare in Rosemont, IL from April 11-14 } 1999. The "Analyzing Materials at Atomic Resolution" symposium is } scheduled for Tuesday April 13th. The details of the conference can be } found at http://www.scanning.org or can be requested from Mary } Sullivan (e-mail: scanning-at-fams.org, tel:201-818-1010). Registration } for members of the Midwest Microscopy and Microanalysis Society is at } the reduced rates of $150 (regular $ 235) for the whole conference or } $50 (regular $ 95) for a single day (all attendees of the MMMS } symposium held at UIC last May are members of MMMS). } } } } } {bold} Speakers {/bold} } } } } 9.00 {bold} M. Haider-CEOS GmbH, Germany {/bold} } } "Towards sub-Angstrom resolution by correction of spherical } aberration" } } } 9.30 {bold} O. Krivanek-University of Washington {/bold} } } "Towards sub-Angstrom electron probes by Cs-corrected STEM." } } } } 10.00 Break } } } } 10.30 {bold} E. M. James-University of Illinois at Chicago {/bold} } } "Atomic resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy on the } 200kV FEGTEM" } } } 11.00 {bold} S. J. Pennycook-Oak Ridge National Lab {/bold} } } "Probing the Origin of Interfacial Properties by STEM" } } } 11.30 {bold} D. A. Muller-Lucent Technologies {/bold} } } "The End of the Roadmap for Silicon Dioxide: The Electronic Structure } of Hyper-Thin Gate } } Oxides at the Atomic Scale" } } } 12.00 {bold} D. B. Williams-Lehigh University {/bold} } } "Atomic-Resolution X-ray Microanalysis in the AEM" } } } } 12.30 Lunch } } } } 2.00 {bold} L. D. Marks-Northwestern University {/bold} } } "Picometer structure determination using Electron Diffraction" } } } 2.30 {bold} J. M. Gibson -University of Illinois at } Urbana-Champaign {/bold} } } "Statistical Measurement of Electron Scattering Fluctuations in } Amorphous } } Materials - A new Structural Tool" } } } } 3.00 Break } } } } 3.30 {bold} M. Gajdardziska-Josifovska-University of Wisconsin at } Milwaukee {/bold} } } "Quantitative surface microscopy and diffraction over the length } scales: Morphology and } } crystallography of polar oxide surfaces. " } } } 4.00 {bold} M. Tanaka-NRIM, Tsukuba, Japan {/bold} } } "Nano-behavior of Small Metal Particles in the Electron Beam" } } } } } } } } } } } } ___________________________________________________________________________ } } } Nigel D. Browning, PhD } } Assistant Professor } } University of Illinois at Chicago } } Department of Physics } } 845 West Taylor Street, } } Chicago } } IL 60607-7059. USA } } } Tel: 312-413-8164 } } Fax: 312-996-9016 } } } } http://interface.phy.uic.edu } } } ___________________________________________________________________________ } } }
I work on virtually everything in EM but have not worked on that model. Is that one of ISI's integrated vacuum valves, i.e. a hand operated valve with a number of individual positions for backing, roughing, etc. (usually just marked 0, 1, 2)? Or is it an individual valve with a single function?
I suspect that it is one of their integrated models, similar to manual and electrically operated models common to many of their instruments. They do come completely apart and have a very simple mechanism. There is probably a spring or taper pin that connects the hand turned portion to the central shaft. In some models, the shaft is visible from the top. If the shaft is not turning with the knurled hand piece then that pin has sheared off. While the pin can be easily driven out and replaced, this would also be a good time to rebuild the valve as there might be a problem inside that caused the pin to shear (these pins are often used a 'fuses' to prevent excessive force being applied to a mechanism).
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-sem.com
-----Original Message----- } From: John J. Bozzola {bozzola-at-siu.edu} To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com {microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com}
Linda asks ... } } Dear listservers: } I would like to know which brands/models of dye sub printers do people } find give the best quality images. Thanks. Linda Chicoine }
A timely question ... 6-10 months ago photographic quality and trouble-free dye-subs were $5k-$10k printers ... plus $3/page. While you can buy a dye-sub today for { $700, it is still very much a case of how well the printer's software works with your application and OS and the quality of its color profile. I believe the consensus at one time was Kodak and Fujitsu for photographic and color quality. Today Alps should be considered in any decision because it has broken the price barrier to allow it to be considered along with color ink jets. I've been keeping an eye on lists and newsgroups without a good feeling for how well Alps supports its printers (... tech support, and ICC profiles ..) ... but the demo print they sent me was definitely excellent quality. If I were you I'd indicate which computer platform you use, and with what applications ... someone may reply with specific problems associated with less expensive dye-subs.
We have a M=E4rzh=E4user MRC-3 which is used to control stage movement and focusing by a joystick. The equipment is capable of being controlled from a computer but due to the need to write Basic instructions most users are put off this option. A similar problem exists using NIH Image macros. All very sad for the stereologists who would like to be able to have random sampling, montages, etc. The main problem is we use a Power Macintosh for the image processing side of things so would like to find a stage control program compatable with a Mac. At this point things grind to a halt, has anyone any knowledge of a Mac compatable stage control program with a user friendly interface?
Thanks
Andrew McNaughton
____________________________________________________________________________= __ Andrew McNaughton South Campus Electron Microscope Unit C/-Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology School of Medical Sciences University of Otago PO Box 913, Dunedin NEW ZEALAND
We have great luck with the Codonics NP1600. However, Ii have recently talked with a Tektronix rep who tells me that they are geting out of the dye sub market and focusing on color laser and solid ink technologies. According to him, with the current color laser printers on the market, you can approach dye sub quality for between 2 and 3 k but the cost per sheet is } $.30 where a Codonics print costs $1.90.
Regards,
Chris Baumann
Linda Chicoine 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 listservers: } I would like to know which brands/models of dye sub printers do people } find give the best quality images. Thanks. Linda Chicoine
You might consider the Fuji Pictrography. We have one here and it delivers very high quality prints. I believe the price is competitive with dye-subs.
Mohan Kalyanarman
Materials Characterization Catalyst Technology Group Mobil Technology Company PO Box 480 Paulsboro, NJ 08066 609-224-3989 (ph) 609-224-3608 (fax) mohan_kalyanaraman-at-email.mobil.com
My company's R&D group is interested in visualizing several of our = polymers. The M&M '99 session, "Developments in Scanned Probe = Microscopy of Polymers", will be helpful. However, we would like some = basic/general information prior to the meeting. Any suggestions of = review articles, textbooks, etc. would be greatly appreciated.
In advance, thanks!
Janet H. Woodward, Ph.D. Corporate Technical Specialist - Microscopy & Microbiology Buckman Laboratories 1256 N. McLean Street Memphis, TN 38108 (901) 272-6408 jhwoodward-at-bbuckman.com
My name is Aaron Rea. I am working on an undergraduate research project at Southwest Missouri State University (Springfield, MO USA). I am starting work with a BALB 3t3 mouse fibroblast cell line from ATCC (CCL 163). We are trying to develop a specimen preparation protocol for the immunolocalization of Cx43 within this cell line. I have outlined the prep protocols from 6 papers that utilized immunoEM below. I am looking for any suggestions or recommendations on which protocol might yield the greatest success. Any other thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks to all who responded back in October when I began this project!! Please reply offlist at: aaronrea-at-hotmail.com
Blocking: 200 ml of 5% BSA in PBS (15 min) 1st Incubation: antiserum + [5% BSA in PBS] {1:20, 1:50, or 1:100} (1.5 hr) ---or--- 1st Incubation: preimmune serum + [5% BSA in PBS] {1:20, 1:50, or 1:100} (1.5 hr) Washing: PBS 2nd Incubation: 5 nm colloidal gold-labelled goat anti-rabbit IgG antibody+[5% BSA in PBS] {1:10, 1:20, or 1:40} (1 hr) Washing: (thoroughly) PBS Fixation: 2% glutaraldehyde in 0.1 M cacodylate buffer (pH 7.2) (?? hr) Post Fixation: 1% osmium tetroxide Staining: uranyl acetate Dehydration: Embedding: Epon Staining: lead citrate and uranyl acetate Total Time: 6+ hr
6. Gap Juctions in Drosophila PBS = phosphate buffered saline (150mM NaCl, 6mM Na2HPO4, 4mM KH2PO4) (post-embedding) {1989} DW = distilled water wash buffer = 0.5 M NaCl and 0.05% Tween-20 in PBS
Fixation: (4 C) 2% paraformaldehyde/0.5% glutaraldehyde in PBS (3 hr) Dehydration: (4 C) 1 X 5 min in 50%, 70%, 95%, and 100% ethanol (20 min) Embedding: (-20 C) 100% ethanol + Lowicryl K4M resin {1:1} (16 hr), 2 X 3 hr in Lowicryl K4M resin in BEEM capsules (6hr) 1st Polymerization: (-20 C) UV light (16 hr) 2nd Polymerization: (R.T.) UV light (24 hr) Sectioning: 10 nm sections gathered on parlodion-coated gold grids Blocking: 3% ovalbumin in wash buffer (10 min) 1st Incubation: (4 C) antibody, preimmune serum, or non-immune IgG + 1% ovalbumin in wash buffer (16 hr) Washing: 5 X 5 min in wash buffer (25 min) Blocking: 3% ovalbumin in wash buffer (10 min) 2nd Incubation: 10 nm colloidal gold-labelled goat anti-rabbit IgG antibody + [1% ovalbumin in wash buffer] {1:25} (1 hr) Washing: 5 X 5 min in wash buffer (25 min) Washing: 1 X 5 min with DW (5 min) Staining: lead citrate and uranyl acetate Total Time: 83.5 hr ----------------------------------------------------------------------1. Muramatsu T, Hashimoto S, Shimono M. “Differential Expression of Gap Junction Proteins Connexin32 and 43 in Rat Submandibular and Sublingual Glands.” Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry 1996;44(1): p 49-56. 2. Campos de Carvalho AC, Roy C, Moreno AP, Melman A, Hertzberg EL, Christ GJ, Spray DC. “Gap Junctions Formed of Connexin43 are Found Between Smooth Muscle Cells of Human Corpus Cavernosum.” Journal of Urology June 1993;149: p 1568-75. 3. Koike K, Watanabe H, Hiroi M, Tonosaki A. “Gap Junction of Stratum Granulosum Cells of Mouse Follicles: Immunohistochemistry and Electron Microscopy.” Journal of Electron Microscopy 1993;42: p 94-106. 4. Laird DW, Revel JP. “Biochemical and immunochemical analysis of the arrangement of connexin43 in rat heart gap junction membranes.” Journal of Cell Science 1990;97: p 109-17. 5. Yancey SB (I), John SA (II), Ratneshwar L (III), Austin BJ, Revel JP. “The 43-kD Polypeptide of Heart Gap Junctions: Immunolocalization (I), Topology (II), and Functional Domains (III).” Journal of Cell Biology June 1989;108:p 2241-54. 6. Ryerse J. “Electron Microscope Immunolocation of Gap Junctions in Drosophila.” Tissue & Cell 1989;21(6): p 835-39.
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
I am thinking of purchasing a microwave tissue processor. I would appreciate your opinion as to the pro's and con's of this type of tissue preparation.
Laura Robles
Hi Laura. I have been using my Pelco microwave for over a year now and I am very happy with it. I can process tissue in 2 hours instead of 2 days. It is especially useful for dehydration and infiltration. I would highly recommend getting one. It will pay for itself in the amount of time saved very quickly. The only con is that you have to experiment to find the best parameters for your tissue since there are few published protocols. Try it!
Does anyone have tips for dimpling soft metal alloys for TEM sample prep? I'm having difficulty dimpling an aluminium composite alloy. It appears that the abrasive (2-4 um cubic BN slurry) is getting embedded into the surface of the alloy. This then attacks the dimpling wheel (phosphor bronze).
Thanks, Wharton
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Wharton Sinkler Argonne National Laboratory West P. O. Box 2528 Idaho Falls, ID 83403 Tel: (208) 533-7724 FAX: (208) 533-7863
Central Michigan University Electron Microscope Facility Supervisor Biology Department
Central Michigan University is looking for an electron microscopy technician to supervise teaching/research EM facility. Assists in teaching introductory TEM and SEM classes. Solicits externally funded contracts. Required qualifications include education equivalent to Bachelor's degree; two years qualifying work experience; working knowledge of the principles and techniques of transmission and scanning electron microscopy, ultramicrotomy, vacuum evaporation, critical point drying and biological specimen preparation; general knowledge of solid-state electronics; proficiency with TERM, SEM, EDS, digital imaging and light microscopy. Experience with routine maintenance of EM and optical microscopes desired.
Review of applications will begin on May 1, 1999, and will continue until the position is filled. Please send resume materials to Central Michigan University, Human Resources/Staff, Rowe 109, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48859. CMU provides flexible benefits, an excellent retirement program with tax deferred investment options, tuition waiver for employee and family, and competitive salaries in an environment committed to excellence and customer service.
-- Amy B. Gambrell Phone: 517.774.3339 Human Resources/Staff Fax: 517.774.3256 109 Rowe Hall E-mail: Amy.Beth.Gambrell-at-cmich.edu Central Michigan University http://www.sps.cmich.edu Mt. Pleasant, MI 48859
To find out about exciting job opportunities at CMU, click here: http://www.sps.cmich.edu/jobs.html
My name is Aaron Rea. I am working on an undergraduate research project at Southwest Missouri State University (Springfield, MO USA). I am starting work with a BALB 3t3 mouse fibroblast cell line from ATCC (CCL 163). We are trying to develop a specimen preparation protocol for the immunolocalization of Cx43 within this cell line. I have outlined the prep protocols from 6 papers that utilized immunoEM below. I am looking for any suggestions or recommendations on which protocol might yield the greatest success. Any other thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks to all who responded back in October when I began this project!! Please reply offlist at: aaronrea-at-hotmail.com
Blocking: 200 ml of 5% BSA in PBS (15 min) 1st Incubation: antiserum + [5% BSA in PBS] {1:20, 1:50, or 1:100} (1.5 hr) ---or--- 1st Incubation: preimmune serum + [5% BSA in PBS] {1:20, 1:50, or 1:100} (1.5 hr) Washing: PBS 2nd Incubation: 5 nm colloidal gold-labelled goat anti-rabbit IgG antibody+[5% BSA in PBS] {1:10, 1:20, or 1:40} (1 hr) Washing: (thoroughly) PBS Fixation: 2% glutaraldehyde in 0.1 M cacodylate buffer (pH 7.2) (?? hr) Post Fixation: 1% osmium tetroxide Staining: uranyl acetate Dehydration: Embedding: Epon Staining: lead citrate and uranyl acetate Total Time: 6+ hr
6. Gap Juctions in Drosophila PBS = phosphate buffered saline (150mM NaCl, 6mM Na2HPO4, 4mM KH2PO4) (post-embedding) {1989} DW = distilled water wash buffer = 0.5 M NaCl and 0.05% Tween-20 in PBS
Fixation: (4 C) 2% paraformaldehyde/0.5% glutaraldehyde in PBS (3 hr) Dehydration: (4 C) 1 X 5 min in 50%, 70%, 95%, and 100% ethanol (20 min) Embedding: (-20 C) 100% ethanol + Lowicryl K4M resin {1:1} (16 hr), 2 X 3 hr in Lowicryl K4M resin in BEEM capsules (6hr) 1st Polymerization: (-20 C) UV light (16 hr) 2nd Polymerization: (R.T.) UV light (24 hr) Sectioning: 10 nm sections gathered on parlodion-coated gold grids Blocking: 3% ovalbumin in wash buffer (10 min) 1st Incubation: (4 C) antibody, preimmune serum, or non-immune IgG + 1% ovalbumin in wash buffer (16 hr) Washing: 5 X 5 min in wash buffer (25 min) Blocking: 3% ovalbumin in wash buffer (10 min) 2nd Incubation: 10 nm colloidal gold-labelled goat anti-rabbit IgG antibody + [1% ovalbumin in wash buffer] {1:25} (1 hr) Washing: 5 X 5 min in wash buffer (25 min) Washing: 1 X 5 min with DW (5 min) Staining: lead citrate and uranyl acetate Total Time: 83.5 hr ----------------------------------------------------------------------1. Muramatsu T, Hashimoto S, Shimono M. “Differential Expression of Gap Junction Proteins Connexin32 and 43 in Rat Submandibular and Sublingual Glands.” Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry 1996;44(1): p 49-56. 2. Campos de Carvalho AC, Roy C, Moreno AP, Melman A, Hertzberg EL, Christ GJ, Spray DC. “Gap Junctions Formed of Connexin43 are Found Between Smooth Muscle Cells of Human Corpus Cavernosum.” Journal of Urology June 1993;149: p 1568-75. 3. Koike K, Watanabe H, Hiroi M, Tonosaki A. “Gap Junction of Stratum Granulosum Cells of Mouse Follicles: Immunohistochemistry and Electron Microscopy.” Journal of Electron Microscopy 1993;42: p 94-106. 4. Laird DW, Revel JP. “Biochemical and immunochemical analysis of the arrangement of connexin43 in rat heart gap junction membranes.” Journal of Cell Science 1990;97: p 109-17. 5. Yancey SB (I), John SA (II), Ratneshwar L (III), Austin BJ, Revel JP. “The 43-kD Polypeptide of Heart Gap Junctions: Immunolocalization (I), Topology (II), and Functional Domains (III).” Journal of Cell Biology June 1989;108:p 2241-54. 6. Ryerse J. “Electron Microscope Immunolocation of Gap Junctions in Drosophila.” Tissue & Cell 1989;21(6): p 835-39.
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
My name is Aaron Rea. I am working on an undergraduate research project at Southwest Missouri State University (Springfield, MO USA). I am starting work with a BALB 3t3 mouse fibroblast cell line from ATCC (CCL 163). We are trying to develop a specimen preparation protocol for the immunolocalization of Cx43 within this cell line. I have outlined the prep protocols from 6 papers that utilized immunoEM below. I am looking for any suggestions or recommendations on which protocol might yield the greatest success. Any other thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks to all who responded back in October when I began this project!! Please reply offlist at: aaronrea-at-hotmail.com
Blocking: 200 ml of 5% BSA in PBS (15 min) 1st Incubation: antiserum + [5% BSA in PBS] {1:20, 1:50, or 1:100} (1.5 hr) ---or--- 1st Incubation: preimmune serum + [5% BSA in PBS] {1:20, 1:50, or 1:100} (1.5 hr) Washing: PBS 2nd Incubation: 5 nm colloidal gold-labelled goat anti-rabbit IgG antibody+[5% BSA in PBS] {1:10, 1:20, or 1:40} (1 hr) Washing: (thoroughly) PBS Fixation: 2% glutaraldehyde in 0.1 M cacodylate buffer (pH 7.2) (?? hr) Post Fixation: 1% osmium tetroxide Staining: uranyl acetate Dehydration: Embedding: Epon Staining: lead citrate and uranyl acetate Total Time: 6+ hr
6. Gap Juctions in Drosophila PBS = phosphate buffered saline (150mM NaCl, 6mM Na2HPO4, 4mM KH2PO4) (post-embedding) {1989} DW = distilled water wash buffer = 0.5 M NaCl and 0.05% Tween-20 in PBS
Fixation: (4 C) 2% paraformaldehyde/0.5% glutaraldehyde in PBS (3 hr) Dehydration: (4 C) 1 X 5 min in 50%, 70%, 95%, and 100% ethanol (20 min) Embedding: (-20 C) 100% ethanol + Lowicryl K4M resin {1:1} (16 hr), 2 X 3 hr in Lowicryl K4M resin in BEEM capsules (6hr) 1st Polymerization: (-20 C) UV light (16 hr) 2nd Polymerization: (R.T.) UV light (24 hr) Sectioning: 10 nm sections gathered on parlodion-coated gold grids Blocking: 3% ovalbumin in wash buffer (10 min) 1st Incubation: (4 C) antibody, preimmune serum, or non-immune IgG + 1% ovalbumin in wash buffer (16 hr) Washing: 5 X 5 min in wash buffer (25 min) Blocking: 3% ovalbumin in wash buffer (10 min) 2nd Incubation: 10 nm colloidal gold-labelled goat anti-rabbit IgG antibody + [1% ovalbumin in wash buffer] {1:25} (1 hr) Washing: 5 X 5 min in wash buffer (25 min) Washing: 1 X 5 min with DW (5 min) Staining: lead citrate and uranyl acetate Total Time: 83.5 hr ----------------------------------------------------------------------1. Muramatsu T, Hashimoto S, Shimono M. “Differential Expression of Gap Junction Proteins Connexin32 and 43 in Rat Submandibular and Sublingual Glands.” Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry 1996;44(1): p 49-56. 2. Campos de Carvalho AC, Roy C, Moreno AP, Melman A, Hertzberg EL, Christ GJ, Spray DC. “Gap Junctions Formed of Connexin43 are Found Between Smooth Muscle Cells of Human Corpus Cavernosum.” Journal of Urology June 1993;149: p 1568-75. 3. Koike K, Watanabe H, Hiroi M, Tonosaki A. “Gap Junction of Stratum Granulosum Cells of Mouse Follicles: Immunohistochemistry and Electron Microscopy.” Journal of Electron Microscopy 1993;42: p 94-106. 4. Laird DW, Revel JP. “Biochemical and immunochemical analysis of the arrangement of connexin43 in rat heart gap junction membranes.” Journal of Cell Science 1990;97: p 109-17. 5. Yancey SB (I), John SA (II), Ratneshwar L (III), Austin BJ, Revel JP. “The 43-kD Polypeptide of Heart Gap Junctions: Immunolocalization (I), Topology (II), and Functional Domains (III).” Journal of Cell Biology June 1989;108:p 2241-54. 6. Ryerse J. “Electron Microscope Immunolocation of Gap Junctions in Drosophila.” Tissue & Cell 1989;21(6): p 835-39.
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
Hey people, Anyone have any experience with the new RMC crx cryounit that can attach to a Riechert E? It is supposedly much cheaper than Leica's but is it as good? Does anyone have any general experience with RMC. Thanks.
I am interested in finding out if there is any facility that has an ESEM Tensile Stage with Peltier capabilities for structure/function studies using ESEM.
SPM of Polymers is one of the hottest new trends in microscopy. I am in the middle of writing a review of "What's New in Microscopy at PITTCON" (May, 1999, American Lab) and this topic was well represented by new offerings from several companies. I'd suggest you visit the websites for
1. Digital Instruments - they have lots of great app notes on this topic
2. ThermoMicroscopes (previously known as Park Scientific and Topometrix) and look for information on the new Explorer PolymerSystem SPM (integrated microthermal analysis and pulsed force mode imaging)
3. JEOL - their new SPM has a full hot/cold stage which runs from 130K to 800K, for watching thermal transitions.
Other relevant technology I found at Pittcon included the new thermal stage in Philips' ESEM, the new Continuum microscope for full microscopy imaging (Including DIC) integrated with FTIR from SpectraTech, and a number of interesting systems for Raman/confocal from Renishaw and Instruments SA.
Hope this "preview" was helpful.
CAVEAT: Neither Barbara Foster nor MME has any commercial interest in any of these instruments.
Best regards,
Barbara Foster
Consortium President
Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater productivity.
125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118
MME is America's first national consortium providing
customized on-site workshops in all areas of
microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis.
At 10:29 AM 3/29/99 -0600, Janet H. Woodward wrote:
} } } }
{excerpt} My company's R&D group is interested in visualizing several of our polymers. The M&M '99 session, "Developments in Scanned Probe Microscopy of Polymers", will be helpful. However, we would like some basic/general information prior to the meeting. Any suggestions of review articles, textbooks, etc. would be greatly appreciated.
My name is Aaron Rea. I am working on an undergraduate research project at Southwest Missouri State University (Springfield, MO USA). I am starting work with a BALB 3t3 mouse fibroblast cell line from ATCC (CCL 163). We are trying to develop a specimen preparation protocol for the immunolocalization of Cx43 within this cell line. I have outlined the prep protocols from 6 papers that utilized immunoEM below. I am looking for any suggestions or recommendations on which protocol might yield the greatest success. Any other thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks to all who responded back in October when I began this project!! Please reply offlist at: aaronrea-at-hotmail.com
Fixation: 1% paraformaldehyde-0.1M PB Sectioning: 30 mm Rinsing: PBS (24 hr) Blocking: BSA-PBS (30 min) 1st Incubation:(4 C) antibody+[BSA-PBS] {1:1000} (12 hr) Washing: (4 C) PBS (12 hr) 2nd Incubation: (4 C) Au conj. anti-mouse IgG+[BSA-PBS] {1:20} (12 hr) Post Fixation:=09 1% osmium tetroxide-0.1 M PB (1 hr) Dehydration:=09 Embedding: Epon 812 Ultra-thin Sectioning:=09 80 nm Mounting: mesh grids Total Time: 61.5 hr =09 2. Human Smooth Muscle =09 PB =3D phosphate buffer Au conj. =3D gold conjugated (post-embedding) {1993} =09 Fixation: 0.5% glutaraldehyde- 0.175 M cacodylate buffer Dehydraton:=09 Embedding: (4 C) LR White Polymerization:=09 cold+UV light (?? hr) Ultra-thin Sectioning:=09 parallell to plane of c-slip Mounting: formvar, 200 Ni mesh grids Blocking: 0.01 M glycine+1% NFDM+0.5% gelatin+0.1 M PB (?? hr) 1st Incubation: (R.T.) rabbit anti-Cx43 serum+[NFDM+gelatin+PB] {1:750} (1 hr) Washing: (entensive) PB 2nd Incubation: (R.T.) Au conj. goat anti-rabbit IgG+[NFDM+gelatin+PB] {1:10} (1hr) Washing: =09 Fixation: (brief) 2% glutaraldehyde+PB Rinsing: water Drying: air Staining: uranyl acetate and Reynold's lead citrate Total Time: ?? hr =09 3. Stratum Granulosum Cells of Mouse Follicles=09 PB =3D phosphate buffer PBS =3D phosphate buffered saline Au conj. =3D gold conjugated (pre-embedding) {1993} =09 Fixation: 1% paraformaldehyde- 0.1 M PB (2-4 hr) Sectioning: 80 mm Rinsing: PB Blocking: PBS containing 1% BSA & 0.05% sapoinin (30 min) 1st Incubation: (4 C)=09 anti-Cx43 rabbit serum+[PBS containing 1% BSA & 0.05% sapoinin] {1:200} (28-40 hr) Washing: PBS (5 hr) 2nd Incubation: 5 nm Au conj. Antibody+[PBS containing 1% BSA & 0.05% sapoinin] {1:3} (22-24 hr) Washing: PBS (4-6 hr) Fixation: sodium cacodylate buffer (pH 7.4, 0.1 M) + 2.5% glutaraldehyde (1.5 hr) Post Fixation:=09 1% osmium tetroxide (1.5 hr) Dehydration: ethanol & propylene monoxide Embedding: Epon 812 Ultra-thing Sectioning:=09 Mounting: formvar-film coated single-slot grids Staining: uranyl acetate and lead citrate solutions Total Time: 64.5 - 82.5 hr =09 4. Rat Heart Gap Junction Membranes=09 PBS =3D phosphate buffered saline (pre-embedding) {1990}
1st Incubation: (R.T.)=09 poly-L-lysine coated 96-well plates (unbouding of membranes??) (14 hr) Blocking: PBS containing 5% BSA (1 hr) 2nd Incubation: 25-to-100 fold dilution of preimmune or immune serum (1 hr) ---or--- 2nd Incubation:=09 80-115 mg ml-1 affinity purified antibodies Washing: PBS 3rd Incubation:=09 5 nm colloidal gold-labelled goat anti-rabbit IgG antibody+[5% BSA in PBS] {1:10} (1 hr) Washing: PBS Fixation: 2% glutaraldehyde in 0.1 M cacodylate buffer (pH 7.2) (?? hr) Post Fixation: 1% osmium tetroxide Staining: uranyl acetate Dehydration:=09 Embedding: Epon Staining: lead citrate and uranyl acetate Total Time: 15+ hr =09 5. Heart Gap Junctions=09 PBS =3D phosphate buffered saline (pre-embedding) {1989}
Blocking: 200 ml of 5% BSA in PBS (15 min) 1st Incubation: antiserum + [5% BSA in PBS] {1:20, 1:50, or 1:100} (1.5 hr) ---or--- 1st Incubation: preimmune serum + [5% BSA in PBS] {1:20, 1:50, or 1:100} (1.5 hr) Washing: PBS 2nd Incubation: =095 nm colloidal gold-labelled goat anti-rabbit IgG antibody+[5% BSA in PBS] {1:10, 1:20, or 1:40} (1 hr) Washing: (thoroughly)=09PBS Fixation: 2% glutaraldehyde in 0.1 M cacodylate buffer (pH 7.2) (?? hr) Post Fixation: 1% osmium tetroxide Staining: uranyl acetate Dehydration:=09 Embedding: Epon Staining: lead citrate and uranyl acetate Total Time: 6+ hr =09 6. Gap Juctions in Drosophila=09 PBS =3D phosphate buffered saline (150mM NaCl, 6mM Na2HPO4, 4mM KH2PO4) (post-embedding) {1989} =09 DW =3D distilled water wash buffer =3D 0.5 M NaCl and 0.05% Tween-20 in PBS
Fixation: (4 C) 2% paraformaldehyde/0.5% glutaraldehyde in PBS (3 hr) Dehydration: (4 C) 1 X 5 min in 50%, 70%, 95%, and 100% ethanol (20 min) Embedding: (-20 C) 100% ethanol + Lowicryl K4M resin {1:1} (16 hr), 2 X 3 hr in Lowicryl K4M resin in BEEM capsules (6hr) 1st Polymerization: (-20 C) UV light (16 hr) 2nd Polymerization: (R.T.) UV light (24 hr) Sectioning: 10 nm sections gathered on parlodion-coated gold grids Blocking: 3% ovalbumin in wash buffer (10 min) 1st Incubation: (4 C)=09 antibody, preimmune serum, or non-immune IgG + 1% ovalbumin in wash buffer (16 hr) Washing: 5 X 5 min in wash buffer (25 min) Blocking: 3% ovalbumin in wash buffer (10 min) 2nd Incubation: 10 nm colloidal gold-labelled goat anti-rabbit IgG antibody + [1% ovalbumin in wash buffer] {1:25} (1 hr) Washing: 5 X 5 min in wash buffer (25 min) Washing: 1 X 5 min with DW (5 min) Staining: lead citrate and uranyl acetate Total Time: 83.5 hr ----------------------------------------------------------------------1. Muramatsu T, Hashimoto S, Shimono M. =93Differential Expression of Gap Junction Proteins Connexin32 and 43 in Rat Submandibular and Sublingual Glands.=94 Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry 1996;44(1): p 49-56. 2. Campos de Carvalho AC, Roy C, Moreno AP, Melman A, Hertzberg EL, Christ GJ, Spray DC. =93Gap Junctions Formed of Connexin43 are Found Between Smooth Muscle Cells of Human Corpus Cavernosum.=94 Journal of Urology June 1993;149: p 1568-75. 3. Koike K, Watanabe H, Hiroi M, Tonosaki A. =93Gap Junction of Stratum Granulosum Cells of Mouse Follicles: Immunohistochemistry and Electron Microscopy.=94 Journal of Electron Microscopy 1993;42: p 94-106. 4. Laird DW, Revel JP. =93Biochemical and immunochemical analysis of the arrangement of connexin43 in rat heart gap junction membranes.=94 Journal of Cell Science 1990;97: p 109-17. 5. Yancey SB (I), John SA (II), Ratneshwar L (III), Austin BJ, Revel JP. =93The 43-kD Polypeptide of Heart Gap Junctions: Immunolocalization (I), Topology (II), and Functional Domains (III).=94 Journal of Cell Biology June 1989;108:p 2241-54. 6. Ryerse J. =93Electron Microscope Immunolocation of Gap Junctions in Drosophila.=94 Tissue & Cell 1989;21(6): p 835-39.
My name is Aaron Rea. I am working on an undergraduate research project at Southwest Missouri State University (Springfield, MO USA). I am starting work with a BALB 3t3 mouse fibroblast cell line from ATCC (CCL 163). We are trying to develop a specimen preparation protocol for the immunolocalization of Cx43 within this cell line. I have outlined the prep protocols from 6 papers that utilized immunoEM below. I am looking for any suggestions or recommendations on which protocol might yield the greatest success. Any other thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks to all who responded back in October when I began this project!! Please reply offlist at: aaronrea-at-hotmail.com
Fixation: 1% paraformaldehyde-0.1M PB Sectioning: 30 mm Rinsing: PBS (24 hr) Blocking: BSA-PBS (30 min) 1st Incubation:(4 C) antibody+[BSA-PBS] {1:1000} (12 hr) Washing: (4 C) PBS (12 hr) 2nd Incubation: (4 C) Au conj. anti-mouse IgG+[BSA-PBS] {1:20} (12 hr) Post Fixation:=09 1% osmium tetroxide-0.1 M PB (1 hr) Dehydration:=09 Embedding: Epon 812 Ultra-thin Sectioning:=09 80 nm Mounting: mesh grids Total Time: 61.5 hr =09 2. Human Smooth Muscle =09 PB =3D phosphate buffer Au conj. =3D gold conjugated (post-embedding) {1993} =09 Fixation: 0.5% glutaraldehyde- 0.175 M cacodylate buffer Dehydraton:=09 Embedding: (4 C) LR White Polymerization:=09 cold+UV light (?? hr) Ultra-thin Sectioning:=09 parallell to plane of c-slip Mounting: formvar, 200 Ni mesh grids Blocking: 0.01 M glycine+1% NFDM+0.5% gelatin+0.1 M PB (?? hr) 1st Incubation: (R.T.) rabbit anti-Cx43 serum+[NFDM+gelatin+PB] {1:750} (1 hr) Washing: (entensive) PB 2nd Incubation: (R.T.) Au conj. goat anti-rabbit IgG+[NFDM+gelatin+PB] {1:10} (1hr) Washing: =09 Fixation: (brief) 2% glutaraldehyde+PB Rinsing: water Drying: air Staining: uranyl acetate and Reynold's lead citrate Total Time: ?? hr =09 3. Stratum Granulosum Cells of Mouse Follicles=09 PB =3D phosphate buffer PBS =3D phosphate buffered saline Au conj. =3D gold conjugated (pre-embedding) {1993} =09 Fixation: 1% paraformaldehyde- 0.1 M PB (2-4 hr) Sectioning: 80 mm Rinsing: PB Blocking: PBS containing 1% BSA & 0.05% sapoinin (30 min) 1st Incubation: (4 C)=09 anti-Cx43 rabbit serum+[PBS containing 1% BSA & 0.05% sapoinin] {1:200} (28-40 hr) Washing: PBS (5 hr) 2nd Incubation: 5 nm Au conj. Antibody+[PBS containing 1% BSA & 0.05% sapoinin] {1:3} (22-24 hr) Washing: PBS (4-6 hr) Fixation: sodium cacodylate buffer (pH 7.4, 0.1 M) + 2.5% glutaraldehyde (1.5 hr) Post Fixation:=09 1% osmium tetroxide (1.5 hr) Dehydration: ethanol & propylene monoxide Embedding: Epon 812 Ultra-thing Sectioning:=09 Mounting: formvar-film coated single-slot grids Staining: uranyl acetate and lead citrate solutions Total Time: 64.5 - 82.5 hr =09 4. Rat Heart Gap Junction Membranes=09 PBS =3D phosphate buffered saline (pre-embedding) {1990}
1st Incubation: (R.T.)=09 poly-L-lysine coated 96-well plates (unbouding of membranes??) (14 hr) Blocking: PBS containing 5% BSA (1 hr) 2nd Incubation: 25-to-100 fold dilution of preimmune or immune serum (1 hr) ---or--- 2nd Incubation:=09 80-115 mg ml-1 affinity purified antibodies Washing: PBS 3rd Incubation:=09 5 nm colloidal gold-labelled goat anti-rabbit IgG antibody+[5% BSA in PBS] {1:10} (1 hr) Washing: PBS Fixation: 2% glutaraldehyde in 0.1 M cacodylate buffer (pH 7.2) (?? hr) Post Fixation: 1% osmium tetroxide Staining: uranyl acetate Dehydration:=09 Embedding: Epon Staining: lead citrate and uranyl acetate Total Time: 15+ hr =09 5. Heart Gap Junctions=09 PBS =3D phosphate buffered saline (pre-embedding) {1989}
Blocking: 200 ml of 5% BSA in PBS (15 min) 1st Incubation: antiserum + [5% BSA in PBS] {1:20, 1:50, or 1:100} (1.5 hr) ---or--- 1st Incubation: preimmune serum + [5% BSA in PBS] {1:20, 1:50, or 1:100} (1.5 hr) Washing: PBS 2nd Incubation: =095 nm colloidal gold-labelled goat anti-rabbit IgG antibody+[5% BSA in PBS] {1:10, 1:20, or 1:40} (1 hr) Washing: (thoroughly)=09PBS Fixation: 2% glutaraldehyde in 0.1 M cacodylate buffer (pH 7.2) (?? hr) Post Fixation: 1% osmium tetroxide Staining: uranyl acetate Dehydration:=09 Embedding: Epon Staining: lead citrate and uranyl acetate Total Time: 6+ hr =09 6. Gap Juctions in Drosophila=09 PBS =3D phosphate buffered saline (150mM NaCl, 6mM Na2HPO4, 4mM KH2PO4) (post-embedding) {1989} =09 DW =3D distilled water wash buffer =3D 0.5 M NaCl and 0.05% Tween-20 in PBS
Fixation: (4 C) 2% paraformaldehyde/0.5% glutaraldehyde in PBS (3 hr) Dehydration: (4 C) 1 X 5 min in 50%, 70%, 95%, and 100% ethanol (20 min) Embedding: (-20 C) 100% ethanol + Lowicryl K4M resin {1:1} (16 hr), 2 X 3 hr in Lowicryl K4M resin in BEEM capsules (6hr) 1st Polymerization: (-20 C) UV light (16 hr) 2nd Polymerization: (R.T.) UV light (24 hr) Sectioning: 10 nm sections gathered on parlodion-coated gold grids Blocking: 3% ovalbumin in wash buffer (10 min) 1st Incubation: (4 C)=09 antibody, preimmune serum, or non-immune IgG + 1% ovalbumin in wash buffer (16 hr) Washing: 5 X 5 min in wash buffer (25 min) Blocking: 3% ovalbumin in wash buffer (10 min) 2nd Incubation: 10 nm colloidal gold-labelled goat anti-rabbit IgG antibody + [1% ovalbumin in wash buffer] {1:25} (1 hr) Washing: 5 X 5 min in wash buffer (25 min) Washing: 1 X 5 min with DW (5 min) Staining: lead citrate and uranyl acetate Total Time: 83.5 hr ----------------------------------------------------------------------1. Muramatsu T, Hashimoto S, Shimono M. =93Differential Expression of Gap Junction Proteins Connexin32 and 43 in Rat Submandibular and Sublingual Glands.=94 Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry 1996;44(1): p 49-56. 2. Campos de Carvalho AC, Roy C, Moreno AP, Melman A, Hertzberg EL, Christ GJ, Spray DC. =93Gap Junctions Formed of Connexin43 are Found Between Smooth Muscle Cells of Human Corpus Cavernosum.=94 Journal of Urology June 1993;149: p 1568-75. 3. Koike K, Watanabe H, Hiroi M, Tonosaki A. =93Gap Junction of Stratum Granulosum Cells of Mouse Follicles: Immunohistochemistry and Electron Microscopy.=94 Journal of Electron Microscopy 1993;42: p 94-106. 4. Laird DW, Revel JP. =93Biochemical and immunochemical analysis of the arrangement of connexin43 in rat heart gap junction membranes.=94 Journal of Cell Science 1990;97: p 109-17. 5. Yancey SB (I), John SA (II), Ratneshwar L (III), Austin BJ, Revel JP. =93The 43-kD Polypeptide of Heart Gap Junctions: Immunolocalization (I), Topology (II), and Functional Domains (III).=94 Journal of Cell Biology June 1989;108:p 2241-54. 6. Ryerse J. =93Electron Microscope Immunolocation of Gap Junctions in Drosophila.=94 Tissue & Cell 1989;21(6): p 835-39.
My name is Aaron Rea. I am working on an undergraduate research project at Southwest Missouri State University (Springfield, MO USA). I am starting work with a BALB 3t3 mouse fibroblast cell line from ATCC (CCL 163). We are trying to develop a specimen preparation protocol for the immunolocalization of Cx43 within this cell line. I have outlined the prep protocols from 6 papers that utilized immunoEM below. I am looking for any suggestions or recommendations on which protocol might yield the greatest success. Any other thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks to all who responded back in October when I began this project!! Please reply offlist at: aaronrea-at-hotmail.com
Blocking: 200 ml of 5% BSA in PBS (15 min) 1st Incubation: antiserum + [5% BSA in PBS] {1:20, 1:50, or 1:100} (1.5 hr) ---or--- 1st Incubation: preimmune serum + [5% BSA in PBS] {1:20, 1:50, or 1:100} (1.5 hr) Washing: PBS 2nd Incubation: 5 nm colloidal gold-labelled goat anti-rabbit IgG antibody+[5% BSA in PBS] {1:10, 1:20, or 1:40} (1 hr) Washing: (thoroughly) PBS Fixation: 2% glutaraldehyde in 0.1 M cacodylate buffer (pH 7.2) (?? hr) Post Fixation: 1% osmium tetroxide Staining: uranyl acetate Dehydration: Embedding: Epon Staining: lead citrate and uranyl acetate Total Time: 6+ hr
6. Gap Juctions in Drosophila PBS = phosphate buffered saline (150mM NaCl, 6mM Na2HPO4, 4mM KH2PO4) (post-embedding) {1989} DW = distilled water wash buffer = 0.5 M NaCl and 0.05% Tween-20 in PBS
Fixation: (4 C) 2% paraformaldehyde/0.5% glutaraldehyde in PBS (3 hr) Dehydration: (4 C) 1 X 5 min in 50%, 70%, 95%, and 100% ethanol (20 min) Embedding: (-20 C) 100% ethanol + Lowicryl K4M resin {1:1} (16 hr), 2 X 3 hr in Lowicryl K4M resin in BEEM capsules (6hr) 1st Polymerization: (-20 C) UV light (16 hr) 2nd Polymerization: (R.T.) UV light (24 hr) Sectioning: 10 nm sections gathered on parlodion-coated gold grids Blocking: 3% ovalbumin in wash buffer (10 min) 1st Incubation: (4 C) antibody, preimmune serum, or non-immune IgG + 1% ovalbumin in wash buffer (16 hr) Washing: 5 X 5 min in wash buffer (25 min) Blocking: 3% ovalbumin in wash buffer (10 min) 2nd Incubation: 10 nm colloidal gold-labelled goat anti-rabbit IgG antibody + [1% ovalbumin in wash buffer] {1:25} (1 hr) Washing: 5 X 5 min in wash buffer (25 min) Washing: 1 X 5 min with DW (5 min) Staining: lead citrate and uranyl acetate Total Time: 83.5 hr ----------------------------------------------------------------------1. Muramatsu T, Hashimoto S, Shimono M. “Differential Expression of Gap Junction Proteins Connexin32 and 43 in Rat Submandibular and Sublingual Glands.” Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry 1996;44(1): p 49-56. 2. Campos de Carvalho AC, Roy C, Moreno AP, Melman A, Hertzberg EL, Christ GJ, Spray DC. “Gap Junctions Formed of Connexin43 are Found Between Smooth Muscle Cells of Human Corpus Cavernosum.” Journal of Urology June 1993;149: p 1568-75. 3. Koike K, Watanabe H, Hiroi M, Tonosaki A. “Gap Junction of Stratum Granulosum Cells of Mouse Follicles: Immunohistochemistry and Electron Microscopy.” Journal of Electron Microscopy 1993;42: p 94-106. 4. Laird DW, Revel JP. “Biochemical and immunochemical analysis of the arrangement of connexin43 in rat heart gap junction membranes.” Journal of Cell Science 1990;97: p 109-17. 5. Yancey SB (I), John SA (II), Ratneshwar L (III), Austin BJ, Revel JP. “The 43-kD Polypeptide of Heart Gap Junctions: Immunolocalization (I), Topology (II), and Functional Domains (III).” Journal of Cell Biology June 1989;108:p 2241-54. 6. Ryerse J. “Electron Microscope Immunolocation of Gap Junctions in Drosophila.” Tissue & Cell 1989;21(6): p 835-39.
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
We are a non-profit botanical garden conducting plant anatomy research. We are looking for donations or second hand low-cost microscopy equiptment. We can pay for the shipping of the following items:
Compound research/student style microscope
We are looking for a Riechert Sliding Microtome & knives from anyone/institution wishing to dispose of one.
We are also looking for non-disposible blades for a Spencer 820 rotary microtome
& just the INSTRUCTIONS for a Sensaur microtome knife sharpener: Aloe - Cat # V60041; Model # SH 67-R; Serial # 1107; 115 Vac 50/60 C 5A
Please reply to my email: crow-at-aloha.net Thanks very much in advance
"The light which puts out our eyes is darkness to us. Only that day dawns to which we are awake. There is more day to dawn. The sun is but a morning star."
Try one, two, three or all of the following: 1. Use a stainless steel wheel instead of a bronze wheel; 2. Decrease the balance load; 3. Change slurry (size, abrasive particles etc. etc....) 4. If I were you, I would also completely skip the dimpling procedure and try a Grind Holder (such as Gatan's) or Tri-pod (such as south Bay Tech's) and put the specimen on ion-mill right after obtaining {20um thick foil.
Hope the above helps.
-cy, Rodelee-to-be
On Mon, 29 Mar 1999, Wharton Sinkler wrote:
} Does anyone have tips for dimpling soft metal alloys for TEM sample prep? } I'm having difficulty dimpling an aluminium composite alloy. It appears } that the abrasive (2-4 um cubic BN slurry) is getting embedded into the } surface of the alloy. This then attacks the dimpling wheel (phosphor } bronze). } } Thanks, } Wharton } } ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ } Wharton Sinkler } Argonne National Laboratory West } P. O. Box 2528 } Idaho Falls, ID 83403 } Tel: (208) 533-7724 } FAX: (208) 533-7863 } } mailto:wharton.sinkler-at-anlw.anl.gov } }
Politeness would suggest that you enter something a little more informative in your subject field!
To just say "I AM NOT SPAM" makes you look suspiciously like spam, but also somehow manages to suggest that you think that, compared to YOUR important message, others may be spam.
rtch
} Hello, } } My name is Aaron Rea. I am working on an undergraduate research project at } Southwest Missouri State University (Springfield, MO USA). I am starting work } with a BALB 3t3 mouse fibroblast cell line from ATCC (CCL 163). We are trying } to develop a specimen preparation protocol for the immunolocalization of Cx43 } within this cell line. I have outlined the prep protocols from 6 papers that } utilized immunoEM below. I am looking for any suggestions or recommendations } on which protocol might yield the greatest success. Any other thoughts or } ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks to all who responded back in } October when I began this project!! Please reply offlist at: } aaronrea-at-hotmail.com }
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
Hello, could you please post my message below to the list with the title of the subject being, "HELP! ImmunoEM Prep for Cx43 Localization". Thank you for your time.
Sincerely, Aaron Rea 439 E. Madison #7 Springfield, MO 65806 aaronrea-at-hotmail.com ---------------- Hello,
My name is Aaron Rea. I am working on an undergraduate research project at Southwest Missouri State University (Springfield, MO USA). I am starting work with a BALB 3t3 mouse fibroblast cell line from ATCC (CCL 163). We are trying to develop a specimen preparation protocol for the immunolocalization of Cx43 within this cell line. I have outlined the prep protocols from 6 papers that utilized immunoEM below. I am looking for any suggestions or recommendations on which protocol might yield the greatest success. Any other thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks to all who responded back in October when I began this project!! Please reply offlist at: aaronrea-at-hotmail.com
Blocking: 200 ml of 5% BSA in PBS (15 min) 1st Incubation: antiserum + [5% BSA in PBS] {1:20, 1:50, or 1:100} (1.5 hr) ---or--- 1st Incubation: preimmune serum + [5% BSA in PBS] {1:20, 1:50, or 1:100} (1.5 hr) Washing: PBS 2nd Incubation: 5 nm colloidal gold-labelled goat anti-rabbit IgG antibody+[5% BSA in PBS] {1:10, 1:20, or 1:40} (1 hr) Washing: (thoroughly) PBS =46ixation: 2% glutaraldehyde in 0.1 M cacodylate buffer (pH 7.2) (?? hr) Post Fixation: 1% osmium tetroxide Staining: uranyl acetate Dehydration: Embedding: Epon Staining: lead citrate and uranyl acetate Total Time: 6+ hr
6. Gap Juctions in Drosophila PBS =3D phosphate buffered saline (150mM NaCl, 6mM Na2HPO4, 4mM KH2PO4) (post-embedding) {1989} DW =3D distilled water wash buffer =3D 0.5 M NaCl and 0.05% Tween-20 in PBS
=46ixation: (4 C) 2% paraformaldehyde/0.5% glutaraldehyde in PBS (3 hr) Dehydration: (4 C) 1 X 5 min in 50%, 70%, 95%, and 100% ethanol (20 min) Embedding: (-20 C) 100% ethanol + Lowicryl K4M resin {1:1} (16 hr), 2 X 3 hr in Lowicryl K4M resin in BEEM capsules (6hr) 1st Polymerization: (-20 C) UV light (16 hr) 2nd Polymerization: (R.T.) UV light (24 hr) Sectioning: 10 nm sections gathered on parlodion-coated gold grids Blocking: 3% ovalbumin in wash buffer (10 min) 1st Incubation: (4 C) antibody, preimmune serum, or non-immune IgG + 1% ovalbumin in wash buffer (16 hr) Washing: 5 X 5 min in wash buffer (25 min) Blocking: 3% ovalbumin in wash buffer (10 min) 2nd Incubation: 10 nm colloidal gold-labelled goat anti-rabbit IgG antibody + [1% ovalbumin in wash buffer] {1:25} (1 hr) Washing: 5 X 5 min in wash buffer (25 min) Washing: 1 X 5 min with DW (5 min) Staining: lead citrate and uranyl acetate Total Time: 83.5 hr ----------------------------------------------------------------------1. Muramatsu T, Hashimoto S, Shimono M. =ECDifferential Expression of Gap Junction Proteins Connexin32 and 43 in Rat Submandibular and Sublingual Glands.=EE Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry 1996;44(1): p 49-56. 2. Campos de Carvalho AC, Roy C, Moreno AP, Melman A, Hertzberg EL, Christ GJ, Spray DC. =ECGap Junctions Formed of Connexin43 are Found Between Smooth Muscle Cells of Human Corpus Cavernosum.=EE Journal of Urology June 1993;149: p 1568-75. 3. Koike K, Watanabe H, Hiroi M, Tonosaki A. =ECGap Junction of Stratum Granulosum Cells of Mouse Follicles: Immunohistochemistry and Electron Microscopy.=EE Journal of Electron Microscopy 1993;42: p 94-106. 4. Laird DW, Revel JP. =ECBiochemical and immunochemical analysis of the arrangement of connexin43 in rat heart gap junction membranes.=EE Journal of Cell Science 1990;97: p 109-17. 5. Yancey SB (I), John SA (II), Ratneshwar L (III), Austin BJ, Revel JP. =ECThe 43-kD Polypeptide of Heart Gap Junctions: Immunolocalization (I), Topology (II), and Functional Domains (III).=EE Journal of Cell Biology June 1989;108:p 2241-54. 6. Ryerse J. =ECElectron Microscope Immunolocation of Gap Junctions in Drosophila.=EE Tissue & Cell 1989;21(6): p 835-39.
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
Barbara Foster says: } Uri, Let me see what I can dig out. I'm headed out on an extended } business trip... will be back around 3/15. Could you send me a reminder?
Barbara, since my attempts to contact you via e-mail failed so far, I decided to post the reminder here, hoping that it will reach you.
Do you (or anybody else on this list) have any Zetopan manuals, especially for Phase Contrast, Anoptral Contrast, transmitted light Interference Contrast, Fluorescence, Zetopan-POL? [Needless to say, I need those.]
Thank you. -- Regards, Uri uri-at-watson.ibm.com -=-=-=-=-=-=- {Disclaimer}
} My company's R&D group is interested in visualizing several of our } polymers. The M&M '99 session, "Developments in Scanned Probe } Microscopy of Polymers", will be helpful. However, we would like some } basic/general information prior to the meeting. Any suggestions of } review articles, textbooks, etc. would be greatly appreciated.
Janet,
It strikes me that it is better not to limits oneself to SPM. This technique is powerful, but limited in its application. Etching and staining can often do better - it really depends which polymers you're lloking at. If you can get hold of "Atlas of Polymer Morphology" by Arthur E. Woodward (distributed in USA by Oxford University Press, New York, ISBN 0-19-520758-0) this would give you a lot of ideas.
If staining interests you, the following article is superb. However, the author is out of reprints, so it might be better to use some form of library loan, if you don't take the journal.
TI: Reflections on the use of microtomy for materials science specimen preparation AU: Plummer_HK NA: FORD MOTOR CO,RES LAB,MAIL DROP 3028,SRL,DEARBORN,MI,48121 JN: MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS, 1997, Vol.3, No.3, pp.239-260 IS: 1431-9276 DT: Review
If you are into polyethylene or polypropylene, and also some blends, etching might be useful. You can see a few pictures on my home page by following the link "Picture Gallery" and also on:
http://www.reading.ac.uk/~spshosir/gallery.htm
from a colleague. If you want to follow this further, please let me know.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 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 | +------------------------------------------------------------------------+
} Janet H. Woodward, Ph.D. Corporate Technical Specialist - Microscopy & } Microbiology Buckman Laboratories 1256 N. McLean Street Memphis, TN } 38108 (901) 272-6408 jhwoodward-at-bbuckman.com
I was having problems with my e-mail account yesterday and wasn't sure if I was getting my message through. I now have the problem figured out and this will not happen again. I am truly sorry for any inconvenience or annoyance this caused. A special thanks to those who responded with Cx43 protocol ideas!
Sincerely,
Aaron Rea Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
***************************************************** Electron Microscopy/Image Analysis Technician
An NIH-funded position is available immediately for an electron microscopist to study the molecular structure and function of muscle. Projects involve determination of the 3D molecular structure of actin and myosin filaments and the structural changes underlying contraction. Our main approaches involve electron microscopy (negative staining, cryo-EM) and 3D image analysis (helical and tomographic reconstruction) combined with biochemical, immunological and molecular biological methodology. Candidates should be motivated individuals with a good background in molecular level electron microscopy and/or image processing. Our laboratory is equipped with Philips CM120 cryo, CM10 and EM400 TEMs, Gatan cryoholder and TV system, ancillary EM equipment (freeze plungers, freeze fracture, evaporators, etc), optical diffractometer, scanning densitometer, Silicon Graphics image processing workstations, etc. Applicants should provide a CV and names and addresses of 3 references to Dr Roger Craig, Department of Cell Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester MA 01655. Tel: (508) 856 2474; Fax: (508) 856 6361; Email: Roger.Craig-at-ummed.edu. *****************************************************
Dear Wharton, I have successfully dimpled Al2O3-Al MMC (metal matrix composite) samples, using the VCR Dimpler. The dimpling abrasive is 3 um diamond paste diluted in water and the wheel is steel. In the notes, this problem of embedding the abrasive in a soft work piece is addressed and recommends using a softer abrasive or a diamond tool. You might contact VCR at: 650-875-1000 for advice. You wrote:
} } Does anyone have tips for dimpling soft metal alloys for TEM sample prep? } I'm having difficulty dimpling an aluminium composite alloy. It appears } that the abrasive (2-4 um cubic BN slurry) is getting embedded into the } surface of the alloy. This then attacks the dimpling wheel (phosphor } bronze). } } Thanks, } Wharton } } ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ } Wharton Sinkler } Argonne National Laboratory West
No financial interest, just a happy customer. 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 e-mail: mager-at-interchg.ubc.ca
Barbara Foster says: } I have a general manual which outlines all the transmitted light functions. } Unfortunately, there is only a small amount on Anoptral Phase --- they } refer to a "separate manual" for that. There are also other accompanying } materials which discuss Fluorescence.
I am interested in the Fluorescence materials. The general manual - I got it, thanks to Yvan and Wayne.
} Also, Yvan Lindekens has posted his copy of the Zetopan manual at } {http://users.skynet.be/sky95421} . I am having trouble with my unzip files } so have not been able to open his manual to compare it to mine, but suggest } you see what is there.
I was probably the first who got Yvan's copy of the manual (:-). It's a pretty good one, in case anybody cares to know.
After you unzip it, you get one large TIFF file. So now you need software that (a) can deal with multi-page TIFF's, or (b) can convert TIFF to something the printers like better [such as PostScript]. See my comments on Yvan's Web site.
Yvan, please get in touch with me off-line - I need to figure out how to scan a few manuals myself, and put them on your Web site. -- Regards, Uri uri-at-watson.ibm.com -=-=-=-=-=-=- {Disclaimer}
The Listserver system went bizzare today in synchronism with my attempts to check for viruses. As a result, a number of of mail messages were rejected.
I believe all is well again. Those of you that were rebuffed please accept my apology.
My name is Birna Gu=F0bj=F6rnsd=F3ttir working at Icelandic Fisheries Laboratories as a food scientist. This field is quite new to me and I am looking for information how I can prepare wood samples, both wet nad dry, for SEM. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
My name is Birna Gu=F0bj=F6rnsd=F3ttir working at Icelandic Fisheries Laboratories as a food scientist. This field is quite new to me and I am looking for information how I can prepare wood samples, both wet nad dry, for SEM. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Birna wrote: } My name is Birna Gudbjoernsdottir working at Icelandic Fisheries } Laboratories as a food scientist. This field is quite new to me and I am } looking for information how I can prepare wood samples, both wet nad dry, } for SEM. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Dear Birna,
If you wish to keep the wood wet, you will have to use an environmental SEM (ESEM), in which you can examine the sample with a pressure above 5 torr (the equilibrium pressure of water vapour just above 0 degree C) in the specimen chamber. If you can accept that the wood slowly dries, you may use a low-vacuum SEM (LVSEM) where you can work with a pressure of up to 1-2 torr. Both ESEM and LVSEM allows the examination of electrical insulators.
In the conventional high vacuum SEM you cannot have wet wood. Dry wood may be examined, but then the surface must be made conductive e.g. by sputtering gold onto the sample.
Best regards, Joergen.
J. B. Bilde-Soerensen Senior Research Scientist, Ph. D. Materials Research Department Risoe National Laboratory DK-4000 Roskilde Denmark
I have been using Syquest 230 EZ Flier dirves on my TDL12 8000/Delta system for some time. Other than the reliability problem of the Syquest hardware and the posibility of little future support from Syquest, they work well and are rather faster than the bernoulliis. A "sort-of" special cable is needed to interconnect the drives. The interface instructions simply address the setup of DMON (nowdays that would be called a driver, I guess). The disks are formatted rt11 and instead of 230MB, hold 44Mb, but it was an overall improvement. I would guess that similar, more current external SCSI-1 drives could also be made to work.
First, thanks to everyone who responded to my question on fixation of cells grown on chambered Permanox slides. As soon as I try the suggested procedures (the cells crashed!), I will post a summary of responses to the list.
My question today has to do with the presence of "pepper" on TEM sections. We process rather large tissue blocks (4X5 mm) of nervous tissue that we have dissected from perfused animals (5% glut. in PB is routine perfusate). Post-fixation is in osmium tetroxide in PB and all buffer rinses are done in PB. We dehydrate using an ethanol series, transition through propylene oxide (although we are experimenting with ethanol with no succes so far) and infiltrate/embed in PolyBed 812. The pepper shows up most obviously on the cytoskeletal elements of nerves, mitochondria, and collagen. I have tried pretreating the sections with 0.5-1.0 N HCl or 1% EDTA (Mollenhauer, 1987)prior to staining with uranyl acetate/lead citrate.....no luck. I can visualize the pepper on unstained sections. I seem to recall that this may have something to do with phosphate buffer, but the details are hazy. I would appreciate any suggestions.
Birna Guðbjörnsdóttir wrote: =================================================== My name is Birna Guðbjörnsdóttir working at Icelandic Fisheries Laboratories as a food scientist. This field is quite new to me and I am looking for information how I can prepare wood samples, both wet nad dry, for SEM. Any information would be greatly appreciated. =================================================== Assuming you would have just a conventional SEM at your disposal, we have generally had good results in our own laboratory, when the need has arisen in the past, to examine wood, to dry it with critical point drying. A second (but we believe inferior) approach is to use the HMDS drying protocol , which tends to be favored by those without access to a CPD unit. Whatever the drying method, since the sample itself will be nonconductive, it should be made conductive via the application of a thin layer of gold, or for higher resolution work, chromium or (more recently) osmium (metal).
Information about CPD and HMDS and also metal coaters can be found on our website given below or the websites of the other major manufacturers and suppliers of sample preparation equipment and consumable supply items for SEM laboratories.
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: www.2spi.com ############################ ==================================================
Does anyone involved in Electron Microscopy know where I can obtain = spare glass scoring wheels for an LKB 2178 Knife Maker II. Any helpful = advise would be welcome as our machine requires a replacement scorer = ASAP.
Dr Terry Robertson (PhD) Senior Research Fellow Department of Pathology University of Western Australia Nedlands 6907
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Hello,
I am interested in finding out if there is any facility that has an ESEM Tensile Stage with Peltier capabilities for structure/function studies using ESEM.
by majestic.tcs.tulane.edu (8.9.3/8.9.3) with SMTP id PAA21132; Wed, 31 Mar 1999 15:13:53 -0600 (CST) Message-Id: {199903312113.PAA21132-at-majestic.tcs.tulane.edu}
Dear Colleagues: Sometime ago I posted a request for information on microscopy fees. I received several wonderful information packages and thank those who contributed. Before submitting a proposal internally at Tulane, I would like to build a table with a comparison among several institutions. Thus, I need information on fees charged as shown in the sample below. Additional information on structure and function of morphology cores and microscopy coresis welcome as well. You do not have to be specific, and I will not disclose your name or associate it with the information outside. I will only use your name inside Tulane if you authorize it. Thus far not a single institution can recoup costs from fees. Thus, what I need to demonstrate is that such fact is not just an idea, and for that I need your input.
} Our facility charges $25.00 per hour for a Hitachi H7000 TEM and will be } charging $35.00 for a new TEM with digital capabilities. Technical help is } 35.00 per hour, an inverted multi-photon confocal is $25 per hour and a 3 } laser upright confocal with nomarski is $15 per hour. We offer two hours of } training at no charge. Use of the darkroom which covers chemicals and the } service on our processor is $10 per hour...Unfortunately we can't charge } } what it really cost to operate the facility or we'd have no business--so } } the university subsidizes us.
When all is done, I will summarize information received (leaving out names and institutions unless specifically asked to leave in the posting) and post for MSA users. Thanks in advance for your help.
*Disclaimer: Whatever... is not Tulane opinion! Cesar D. Fermin, Ph.D. Professor of Pathology & Otolaryngology web:[ http://www.tmc.tulane.edu/ferminlab/] or [http://www.tmc.tulane.edu/imaging/] Internet: [cfermin-at-mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu] 1430 Tulane Ave/SL79 New Orleans, La 70112-2699 Fax 504 587-7389, Voice 584-2521, Main Office 588-5224
We are trying to study the microstructure of cold drawn 25 =B5m gold = wires. We meet the difficulty in etching the gold wires to reveal the grain structure in SEM and optical observations. Could somebody give us some suggestions on how to etch the wires.
Thanks in advance!
Best regards,
Kun Li
Kun Li, Ph. D Institute of Materials Research and Engineering BLK S7, Level 3 Office: BLK S13, #02-13d National University of Singapore Lower Kent Ridge Road Singapore 119260
Birna wrote: My name is Birna Gu=F0bj=F6rnsd=F3ttir working at Icelandic Fisheries Laboratories as a food scientist. This field is quite new to me and I am looking for information how I can prepare wood samples, both wet nad dry, for SEM. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Dear Birna,
for conventional SEM your samples have to be dry. If your sample is already dry, just sputter with gold. For wet wood it is depending on the age of the the wood and the quality you want. Maybe air drying is possible? If not you have to perform critical point drying or freeze drying.
Best wishes from Anne Heller
Dr. Anne Heller Arbeitsgruppe Elektronenmikroskopie Institut fuer Botanik (210) Universitaet Hohenheim Garbenstr.30 D-70593 Stuttgart Tel.0049-711-459-2180 Fax 0049-711-459-3355
hi everybody ! What is specific to surface profile imaging technique in HRTEM ? Is it classical HRTEM used on surface imaging and profile only means that HRTEM images are used to deduce the structure (=profile) of the surface (=edge) of the microcrystal in a classical way (structural models + simulations) or is there a specific technique ? Thanks B. DOMENGES CRISMAT - ISMRA Boulevard du Marechal Juin 14050 CAEN CEDEX France E-mail : domenges-at-crismat.ismra.fr Tel. : (33) 02 31 45 26 32 Fax. : (33) 02 31 95 16 00
Sandra: Pardon a copied reply, but this is a common problem with phosphate buffer fixation. I posted the following reply to a similar request in September '98.
Sally, about 15 years ago somebody published the reason for this Os "pepper". Simply, for this to occur, some chemically unbound Os, GA and phosphate must remain in the tissue. If any one of these is missing you will not get this frustrating artefact.
I suppose this is one major reason for the popularity of cacodylate buffer. It makes the very thorough rinsing process which is required between GA and OS redundant; simply any unbound GA no longer matters.
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 Thursday, April 01, 1999 5:10 AM, Sandra Perkins [SMTP:skperkin-at-vt.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- } } First, thanks to everyone who responded to my question on } fixation of cells } grown on chambered Permanox slides. As soon as I try the } suggested } procedures (the cells crashed!), I will post a summary of } responses to the } list. } } My question today has to do with the presence of "pepper" } on TEM sections. } We process rather large tissue blocks (4X5 mm) of nervous } tissue that we } have dissected from perfused animals (5% glut. in PB is } routine perfusate). } Post-fixation is in osmium tetroxide in PB and all buffer } rinses are done } in PB. We dehydrate using an ethanol series, transition } through propylene } oxide (although we are experimenting with ethanol with no } succes so far) } and infiltrate/embed in PolyBed 812. The pepper shows up } most obviously } on the cytoskeletal elements of nerves, mitochondria, and } collagen. I have } tried pretreating the sections with 0.5-1.0 N HCl or 1% } EDTA (Mollenhauer, } 1987)prior to staining with uranyl acetate/lead } citrate.....no luck. I } can visualize the pepper on unstained sections. I seem to } recall that this } may have something to do with phosphate buffer, but the } details are hazy. } I would appreciate any suggestions. } } Thank you very much! } } Sandy Perkins } }
Hi Terry: I found scoring wheels available at a local glass supplier. You may have to purchase a glass cutter and then remove the wheel. The wheels I bought had a smaller diameter, but they worked well for many years. The wheel diameter does not affect any calibration since the clamping position and pressure are determined by they weight of the head.
If needed, the axle could be replaced by part way grinding and then breaking a piece from the shaft of a small drill. 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 Thursday, April 01, 1999 9:51 AM, Terry Robertson [SMTP:terryr-at-cyllene.uwa.edu.au] wrote:
} http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.ht } ml } } Does anyone involved in Electron Microscopy know where I } can obtain spare glass scoring wheels for an LKB 2178 } Knife Maker II. Any helpful advise would be welcome as } our machine requires a replacement scorer ASAP. } } Dr Terry Robertson (PhD) } Senior Research Fellow } Department of Pathology } University of Western Australia } Nedlands 6907 } } Phone 618 9346 2935 } Fax 618 9346 2891 } Mobile phone 618 0415 986531 } email terryr-at-cyllene.uwa.edu.au } }
Sandra, Regarding your problem with pepper on sections, I have seen that phenomenon in sections that had not been buffer washed enough after glut. Your blocks are very large and so may require longer and more requent washing.If the glutaraldehyde is not completely washed out it will form a ppt with osmium. You might also check the ph of your buffer. It should be around 7.4 for mammalian tissue.
Mary Gail Engle Electron Microscopy & Imaging Facility University of Kentucky
Subject: Polymers SPM -----Original Message-----From: george sibbald {geos-at-goldrush.com} To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com {microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} , Barbara Foster {mme-at-map.com} Date: Tuesday, March 30, 1999 6:45 PMSubject: Polymers SPM Barbara Although Molecular Imaging was not at Pittcon, MI also has products for polymer several with significant technical advantage. eg: Temperature, environmental control, MAC Mode, "Pulse Force" and Force spectroscopy. George Sibbald -----Original Message-----From: Barbara Foster {mme-at-map.com} To: Janet H. Woodward {jhwoodward-at-buckman.com} ; microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com {microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} Date: Monday, March 29, 1999 5:37 PMSubject: Re: SPM of Polymers------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 Janet,SPM of Polymers is one of the hottest new trends in microscopy. I am in the middle of writing a review of "What's New in Microscopy at PITTCON" (May, 1999, American Lab) and this topic was well represented by new offerings from several companies. I'd suggest you visit the websites for 1. Digital Instruments - they have lots of great app notes on this topic2. ThermoMicroscopes (previously known as Park Scientific and Topometrix) and look for information on the new Explorer PolymerSystem SPM (integrated microthermal analysis and pulsed force mode imaging)3. JEOL - their new SPM has a full hot/cold stage which runs from 130K to 800K, for watching thermal transitions.Other relevant technology I found at Pittcon included the new thermal stage in Philips' ESEM, the new Continuum microscope for full microscopy imaging (Including DIC) integrated with FTIR from SpectraTech, and a number of interesting systems for Raman/confocal from Renishaw and Instruments SA.Hope this "preview" was helpful.CAVEAT: Neither Barbara Foster nor MME has any commercial interest in any of these instruments.Best regards,Barbara FosterConsortium PresidentMicroscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater productivity.125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.comVisit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} *************************************** ***************MME is America's first national consortium providingcustomized on-site workshops in all areas ofmicroscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis.At 10:29 AM 3/29/99 -0600, Janet H. Woodward wrote: } } } } My company's R&D group is interested in visualizing several of our polymers. The M&M '99 session, "Developments in Scanned Probe Microscopy of Polymers", will be helpful. However, we would like some basic/general information prior to the meeting. Any suggestions of review articles, textbooks, etc. would be greatly appreciated.In advance, thanks!Janet H. Woodward, Ph.D.Corporate Technical Specialist - Microscopy & MicrobiologyBuckman Laboratories1256 N. McLean StreetMemphis, TN 38108(901) 272-6408 {mailto:jhwoodward-at-bbuckman.com} jhwoodward-at-bbuckman.com { { { {
Several years ago I bought some at the local hardware store that fit our LKB 7801A, they were the standard replacements for commercial window glass cutters. If I remember rightly they were only about a dollar each.
Terry Robertson wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Does anyone involved in Electron Microscopy know where I can obtain spare glass scoring wheels for an LKB 2178 Knife Maker II. Any helpful advise would be welcome as our machine requires a replacement scorer ASAP. } } Dr Terry Robertson (PhD) } Senior Research Fellow } Department of Pathology } University of Western Australia } Nedlands 6907 } } Phone 618 9346 2935 } Fax 618 9346 2891 } Mobile phone 618 0415 986531 } email terryr-at-cyllene.uwa.edu.au
--
Richard J. Mount Auditory Science Laboratory, Department of Otolaryngology & Brain and Behaviour Division/Research Institute The Hospital for Sick Children Toronto, Ontario, Canada (416) 813-6551; Fax (416) 813-8456 http://www.sickkids.on.ca/HSCWeb/Otolaryngology/Otoalias/Earhome1.htm
I am looking for a software package or algorithm to produce 3D images from stereo-pair images (LM or SEM). From the 3D images, we want to extract information such as distance, height, angles, volumes, etc. Any suggestions would be warmly welcome!!
My Safety Officer wants all our mechanical pumps vented outdoors. The pumps are Sargent-Welch, Alcatel, and Edwards and are used to back TEMs, film desiccators, evaporators, etc. Initially I thought this was a good idea, having done it simply in past lives by drilling a hole in a wall, ganging the outlet hoses, and presto - out the bad smoke went.
However the B&G engineering consultant got hold of the project (yes now it's a 'project') and now EVERY pump must get its own line up to the roof. This means each pump's discharge is directed to a run of 1-inch copper pipe with three to five 90-degree bends over a total vertical length of about 20'. (Luckily I am on the top floor.) There is also talk about inserting a clean-out or filter at each feed-through for dealing with accumulated oil.
I'm concerned that the pumps are not designed for backpressure on the outlet side coming from the 20' column of air plus the resistence from the 90-degree bends and filter.
Could this setup affect the (1) efficiency or (2) overall life of the pumps? Am I being overly cautious?
I'd appreciate feedback from the List (including manufacturers) re the feasiblity of this approach, and the pump specs - I haven't been able to find anything about discharge 'load' tolerances.
Thanks, you can reply offline and if there is sufficient interest I'll summarize responses for the List.
Ann Hein Lehman EM Facility Mgr Trinity College Hartford, CT 06106 v. 860-297-4289 f. 860-297-2538 e. ann.lehman-at-exchange.cc.trincoll.edu
Postdoctoral Position to Study the Microstructure and Chemistry of Catalyst Materials
The Materials Analysis User Center (MAUC) at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, is seeking a postdoctral candidate to perform research using primarily electron microscopy and surface chemistry to characterize the structure and chemistry of catalysts and other materials. This position will support Department of Energy research programs aimed at reducing both gaseous and particulate emissions from gasoline and diesel engines. The researcher will work with others who are producing and performance testing advanced catalyst formulations. The researcher will be expected to use high resolution electron microscopy and other tools to relate structure at the atomic level to performance. Although a small portion of the research will be proprietary, most will not, and the researcher will be expected to present and publish results. The successful candidate must have a PhD (in materials science, surface chemistry, or a related discipline), experience characterizing catalyst materials using TEM and/or STEM; and should have a strong computer background (the MAUC is entirely digital). The researcher should also have experience with other analytical tools such as FEG-SEM, FEG-SAM, XPS, or electron microprobe, and experience characterizing a wide range of other non-catalyst materials. The researcher will work with many DOE contractor, industrial and university researchers, including some as a part of DOE-ORNL user programs; thus he or she should enjoy collaborating with others. This position is for one year, extendable to two.
ORNL, a multipurpose research laboratory managed by Lockheed Martin Energy Research Corporation for the U.S. Department of Energy, is an equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a diverse work force.
Please send curriculum vitae and bibliography to:
Ted Nolan Manager, Materials Analysis User Center High Temperature Materials Laboratory Oak Ridge National Laboratory 1 Bethel Valley Road Bldg. 4515, MS 6064 Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6064
Dear Mr. Li, Although I don't have experience etching gold myself, the chemical recommended in the Vander Voort book for gold is aqua regia, a mixture of HNO3 and HCl. Either a 60% HCl, 40% HNO3 or 60 ml. HCl, 20 ml. HNO3, used boiling, is recommended. Always use aqua regia fresh, in a fume jood and never cap it, as it evolves gas. We had a nasty explosion here from sommeone who screwed the cap on a two liter bottle of aqua regia. The MSDS os the separate acids do not prepare one for this hazard. You wrote:
} Hi, } } We are trying to study the microstructure of cold drawn 25 =B5m gold= wires. } We meet the difficulty in etching the gold wires to reveal the grain } structure in SEM and optical observations. Could somebody give us some } suggestions on how to etch the wires. } } Thanks in advance! } } Best regards, } } Kun Li } } Kun Li, Ph. D } Institute of Materials Research and Engineering 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 e-mail: mager-at-interchg.ubc.ca
} I am looking for a software package or algorithm to produce 3D images from } stereo-pair images (LM or SEM). From the 3D images, we want to extract } information such as distance, height, angles, volumes, etc. Any suggestions } would be warmly welcome!! } } James Ma } 3M Building 201-1E-15 } St. Paul, MN 55144 } Some years ago we were interested in doing similar things. You would expect the algorithms to have been all worked out for problems like aerial photography, remote mapping of Mars and Venus, etc. etc., and indeed, for those applications they have been. I worked, with colleagues, with Meemong Lee, then at JPL, to try to apply her programs to our images, but we could not make them work. More recently I discussed this with a friend, Tom Parr, who is a specialist in satellite imagery at The Analytical Services Corporation (TASC) in Reading, Mass. He suggested that the problem arises in extensive assumptions made by the software about the characteristics of the topology under investigation. Planetary surfaces tend to be relatively smooth, and the software has been optimise to take advantage of this characteristic. His thought was that to apply the algorithms to SEM images (in our case, of fracture surfaces in polymers) would require a re-working of the code (by someone who knew what they were doing, of course!!). Needless to say, we didn't try this!
If there is anything avaliable that would help in this problem, we, too, would still be most interested in hearing.
It has been pointed out to me that I phrased my comments regarding the header a bit harshly.
I'm sorry.
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
Does anyone have some advice for a novice DIC user. I have an older Leitz Diaplan that is supposed to have DIC, but it doesn't look as good as I think it should.
Can anyone suggest a good test subject for adjusting the DIC and does anyone have some good practical advice/experience in adjusting the DIC system.
Thanks
Jonathan Krupp Microscopy & Imaging Lab University of California Santa Cruz, CA 95064 (831) 459-2477 jmkrupp-at-cats.ucsc.edu
I have been trying all week to get in touch with the VCR company. I have three different voice mail messages with three different people there, including Mr. Carlino. Does anybody have any ideal where or what they are doing? I have one of their dimplers and I am trying rather desperately to order the 3i dimpling tool. Any help out there? Anybody by any chance have an extra one of them? I could either purchase it directly from you or when I finally am able to order one from VCR, I can replace it. Any help will be appreciated.
Thank you.
Margaret E. Bisher
NEC Research Institute 4 Independence Way Princeton, NJ 08540. Tel.: (609) 951-2629 Fax: (609) 951-2496 e-mail: peggy-at-research.nj.nec.com
Good Afternoon, Just recently, I was asked to manage an imaging core facility which actually needs to be designed and pulled together to include all imaging equipment now in the department with visions of future acquisitions. At this point in time, the major challenge is getting service for a Zeiss TEM 10C, vintage 1986 which has an X-Ray analyzer attached and a JEOL 35C SEM. Neither of these instruments is under contract. There is also a Phillips 201C, now housed in a different building, which is under contract and has been since its purchase in 1974. It is in mint condition, but because it is no longer very productive, the powers that be want to drop the contract. My question to you is, do any of you have independent service engineers servicing your scopes whom you would be willing to recommend? Or do you know of any such engineers whom I might contact? I will be most grateful for any information you might be able to provide.
Sincerely, Sandra Zane Sandra F. Zane, EM Tech. sfzane-at-email.uncc.edu Dept. of Biology, UNC-Charlotte Ph.(704)547-4051 9201 University City Blvd. Fax (704)547-3128 Charlotte, NC 28223
Our facility is going to be replacing an aging Ilford print processor soon. I have been looking at different company's products and am interested in hearing from anyone on the list who would have experience with Colex B&W print processors. In particular, I am looking at the Colette Pro model. I am not familar with this company. I am also considering the Ilford 2650.
If anyone has experience, good or bad, I would like to hear from you.
Thank you,
Jean Ross Central Microscopy Research Facility University of Iowa 85 EMRB Iowa City, IA 42242 319-335-8142 Fax 319-335-6710
We produce an image processing system called "analySIS", and one of the available modules (called "Stereo") provides the measurements you mention in your email. It also does anaglyphic images, surface rendering (heightmapped, textures, illumination), has a very fast computation algorithm, and can perform the calculations with sub-pixel accuracy.
If you need more information, please visit our website at:
http://www.soft-imaging.com
or contact me through email.
Thanks.
Michael
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 1675 Carr St., #105N Lakewood, CO 80215 phone: (888) FIND SIS (303) 234-9270 fax: (303) 234-9271 email: info-at-soft-imaging.com
******************************************************* Disclaimer: Soft Imaging System produces and sells image acquisition and processing systems. We therefore have a vested interest in some of the items mentioned above. *******************************************************
} ---------- } From: } "jma2-at-mmm.com"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com[SMTP:"jma2-at-mmm.com"-at-sparc5.micros } copy.com] } Sent: Thursday, April 01, 1999 8:15 AM } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: Stereoscopy software } } ---------------------------------------------------------------------- } -- } 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 software package or algorithm to produce 3D images } from } stereo-pair images (LM or SEM). From the 3D images, we want to extract } information such as distance, height, angles, volumes, etc. Any } suggestions } would be warmly welcome!! } } James Ma } 3M Building 201-1E-15 } St. Paul, MN 55144 } } }
Hello, My first response would be to query whether the safety office really knows what he desires to vent with this very expensive venting project. Usually the most noxious part of a roughing pump exhaust is the particulate or oil mist. If you are not pumping something dangerous like a poison gas or something equally dreadful, I see no reason to go to the expense. The exhaust filters which have been designed for use on your pumps usually do a fine job at trapping any problem vapors. There should be no problem with back pressure. If someone finds me in error, I'm sure we will hear about it.
Good luck.
Alex Greene SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTATION SERVICES, INC. Number 499, Post Office Box 19400 Austin, Texas 78760 Phone: 512/282-5507 FAX 512/280-0702
An alternate source for your electron microscope maintenance needs.-----Original Message----- } From: Lehman, Ann {Ann.Lehman-at-exchange.cc.trincoll.edu} To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com {Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com}
I would say you have nothing to fear. Typically, a roughing pump should be fitted with an oil mist filter. The back pressure generated by the filter would "swamp" any from the piping you described. My answer is predicated on pumping down a reasonably sized, sealed vacuum chamber with a rotorary vane pump or similar. After the initial few gulps of gas, the volume of gas moved (at STP) is very tiny. If your vacuum chamber is the size of a small room and the initial pumpdown is by something like a roots blower, that is different... {g}
Dear Ann, I can sympathize with your problems. I run a plastic sump pump hose from each of my rotary pumps out to the window. If you have ever watched an untrapped rotary pump, you will notice that there is almost no air movement out of the pump after the initial ten seconds of pumping. There should be no problem with long runs, bends, etc. if there is nothing but simple atmospheric pressure to oppose the air movement. A simple drain at the first bend up should drain any condensed oil, or a wad of steel wool in the line. Use as large a diameter pipe as you can get them to run. One solution I've seen is to put a commercial car oil filter onto the pump exhaust. If this didn't bother it, neither should your copper line. You wrote:
} Dear Listers, } } My Safety Officer wants all our mechanical pumps vented outdoors. The pumps } are Sargent-Welch, Alcatel, and Edwards and are used to back TEMs, film } desiccators, evaporators, etc. Initially I thought this was a good idea, } having done it simply in past lives by drilling a hole in a wall, ganging } the outlet hoses, and presto - out the bad smoke went. } } However the B&G engineering consultant got hold of the project (yes now it's } a 'project') and now EVERY pump must get its own line up to the roof. This } means each pump's discharge is directed to a run of 1-inch copper pipe with } three to five 90-degree bends over a total vertical length of about 20'. } (Luckily I am on the top floor.) There is also talk about inserting a } clean-out or filter at each feed-through for dealing with accumulated oil. } } I'm concerned that the pumps are not designed for backpressure on the outlet } side coming from the 20' column of air plus the resistence from the } 90-degree bends and filter. } } Could this setup affect the (1) efficiency or (2) overall life of the pumps? } Am I being overly cautious? } } I'd appreciate feedback from the List (including manufacturers) re the } feasiblity of this approach, and the pump specs - I haven't been able to } find anything about discharge 'load' tolerances. } } Thanks, you can reply offline and if there is sufficient interest I'll } summarize responses for the List. } } Ann Hein Lehman } EM Facility Mgr } Trinity College } Hartford, CT 06106
Best of luck! Mary
Mary Mager Electron Microscopist Metals and Materials Engineering University of British Columbia 6350 Stores Road Vancouver, B.C. V6T 1Z4 CANADA tel: 604-822-5648 e-mail: mager-at-interchg.ubc.ca
To: Janet Woodward Quesant also did not exhibit its range of AFMs at Pittcon, but would like you to be aware of the fact that polymer imaging can also be done with ambient AFMs, such as ours, costing much less than the more specialized systems. Much depends on the specifics of your application. Good luck, Thomas Pelnar Quesant Instrument Corporation
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Our Coolwell "SE-Style" Chiller hooked to our TEM is on the fritz. An answering machine at the Coolwell phone number says they went out of business and refers one to Litron (or Lintron?). A call to them reveals that all they bought from Coolwell was their name and "marketing strategy". Apparently the marketing strategy is to not produce replacement parts for Coolwell chillers. So we are on our own. Does anyone have a wiring diagram, schematics, specs (such as type and amount of coolant), and/or advice for a SE Style Chiller they could share with me? Our campus refrigeration guy thinks he can fix it but he would like some help on the unit design.
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
I am a technical recruiter, and I am looking for help with a job opening
for a metallographer on Long Island. Does anyone know a good candidate for my client?
The title of the position is Metallographic Specialist. This individual
will be responsible for maintaining a high technology lab environment, operating the latest lab equipment such as optical image analyzer, SEM, microscopes and hardness tester, interpreting micro sections and coating
structures, and preparing lab reports.
Requirements include a four year technical degree or equivalent experience. Degree in materials science, chemistry, or surface engineering preferred. Should have strong analytical skills and be customer oriented. At least two years experience is needed.
There is never a fee to job candidates for my services. Please call or write for more information:
Pearl Martin Image Associates Inc. 5254 Merrick Road Massapequa, NY 11758 Phone (516)798-3993 Fax (516)797-8703 Email: image-at-worldnet.att.net (preferred) or image-at-nassau.cv.net
I applaud the decision to vent the exhaust. I know of no EPA or other regulation to do so, but the exhaust of mechanical pumps on initial pumpdown is something I have always recommended my customers be rid of. I hope that you are also taking measures to move the pumps into separate rooms or acoustic enclosures to reduce their noise output.
Working with EMs often means spending many hours at a time living with these problems. While occasional exposure can be acceptable, the constant drone of pumps and exposure to pump oil vapors can only be detrimental.
The setup you detail presents no problem to operation of the pumps. Air is very compressable and the volume of air present in the exhaust lines means that there will be only a negligible pressure increase due to the various bends.
A clean-out filter is unnecessary. Proper design of the exhaust stack should provide for a low point where accumulated oil can be either be drained or returned to the pump. This requires less than 90 degree bends in the stack so that any condensed oil can flow back to the pump or a drain. If the exhaust provides for a return to the pump, you have to be aware that there might also be other condensed materials, primarily water, included. Best bet would be to have a slightly greater than 90 degree bend close to the pump followed by a vertical section forming a trap. At that second bend, a drain should be included that would allow for the drainage of all fluids trapped there. Any such scheme would of course require the regular emptying of the trap.
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-sem.com
-----Original Message----- } From: Lehman, Ann {Ann.Lehman-at-exchange.cc.trincoll.edu} To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com}
VayTek (http://www.vaytek.com ) has been working on something like this. I know of someone who has done it on an SGI computer but I don't know if they have commercialized it yet - I'll try to contact them anad see.
Bill Miller
At 12:58 PM 4/1/99 -0500, Tony Garratt-Reed wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
A Jeol JEM-4000EX high-resolution TEM in my former colleague's lab needs a TV rate imaging or digital imaging camera system. Your information about suitable types of the camera system and related manufacturers or vendors is highly appreciated.
The names of the manufactures or vendors that provide diamond saw or wiresaw for cross-sectional sample preparation are also needed. Thank you in advance!
Cheers,
Jian-Guo Zheng
Dr. Jian-Guo Zheng Materials Science and Engineering Department of Engineering The University of Liverpool Ashton Street Liverpool, L69 3GH United Kingdom Telephone: +44-151-794-4671(office)/5382(lab) Fax: +44-151-794-4675 Email: J.G.Zheng-at-Liverpool.ac.uk
The steps for setting up "good" DIC are simple: 1. Start with setting up Koehler on a well-behaved sample (a cheek cell smear is great for this; make sure that you have the correct thickness coverslip - a number 1 1/2 or 0.17mm thick -- not diameter) 2. If you have separate polarizer and analyzer, cross them so that you get the blackest background possible 3. Insert the DIC prism and tune so that the background is soft gray. This should give you the best 3D impression and contrast.
I wrote a very extensive article on DIC which appeared in the April 1988 (!) issue of American Lab and will send you a Xeroxed copy. There is also a detailed discussion in "Optimizing Light Microscopy for Biological and Clinical Laboratories". Details are available on our website (see signature bar).
Hope this is helpful.
Best regards, Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater productivity.
125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} ****************************************************** MME is America's first national consortium providing customized on-site workshops in all areas of microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis.
At 10:58 AM 4/1/99 -0800, Jon Krupp wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
} Terry, } We purchased a new scoring wheel about a year ago from Reichert-Jung (at } the time; heaven knows who owns anybody anymore) for our Knifemaker II } which, I believe is the Reichert update(?) of your LKB Knifemaker. Check } your Reichert-Jung reps for details but I think the parts are all the } same, though the part numbers have changed (probably to protect the } innocent). The details are -- Part 16 706 699 - Scoring Wheel Assembly } Complete. It was simple to install and now works as it did "in the } beginning." Good luck. } } ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ } Winston W. Wiggins, Supervisor 01 Apr1999 4:50 PM } CRC-Electron Microscopy Lab Ofc: 704-355-1267 } Carolinas Medical Center Lab: 704-355-7220 } P.O. Box 32861 Fax: 704-355-7648 } Charlotte, NC 28232-2861 USA Eml: WWiggins-at-Carolinas.org } ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ } } } -----Original Message----- } From: Terry Robertson [SMTP:terryr-at-cyllene.uwa.edu.au] } Sent: Wednesday, March 31, 1999 6:51 PM } To: 'Microscopy-request' } Subject: Glass Scoring Wheel for LKB 2178 Knife Maker II } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Does anyone involved in Electron Microscopy know where I can obtain spare } glass scoring wheels for an LKB 2178 Knife Maker II. Any helpful advise } would be welcome as our machine requires a replacement scorer ASAP. } } Dr Terry Robertson (PhD) } Senior Research Fellow } Department of Pathology } University of Western Australia } Nedlands 6907 } } Phone 618 9346 2935 } Fax 618 9346 2891 } Mobile phone 618 0415 986531 } email terryr-at-cyllene.uwa.edu.au } }
South Bay Technology produces both wire saws and diamond wheel saws for T= EM cross section preparation (among many other uses). You can see additiona= l information on all of our products on our web site at:
www.southbaytech.com.
You may also have an interest in our new Ion Milling System which feature= s patented, new Low Energy Gun Technology (LEG). Please contact me off-lin= e for more information.
} } } } } 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 "Dr J. G. Zheng" } ----------------------------------------------------------------------- The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America =
Dear All,
A Jeol JEM-4000EX high-resolution TEM in my former colleague's lab needs = a TV rate imaging or digital imaging camera system. Your information about suitable types of the camera system and related manufacturers or vendors = is highly appreciated.
The names of the manufactures or vendors that provide diamond saw or wiresaw for cross-sectional sample preparation are also needed. Thank you=
There is an immediate opening for an experienced Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) Research Technician at Exxon Research and Engineering Company's Corporate Research Laboratory in Clinton, New Jersey. The position initially is on a temporary basis driven by an immediate need. Initial duration of the position is 4 to 12 months.
As a member of the Advanced Characterization Group at Corporate Research, this position will involve the operation of the state-of-the-art JEOL FESEM, and JEOL Analytical SEM instruments with associated Energy Dispersive and Wavelength Dispersive Spectrometers. The position will involve the creative application of high resolution SEM imaging and elemental characterization of samples related to a wide range of projects at Exxon's Corporate Research Laboratory. The position will also involve general laboratory operations, sample preparation, SEM maintenance and computer analysis of the SEM data (both image analysis and spectral analysis).
Previous SEM experience and experience with high vacuum systems and computers (DOS, Windows, and Unix) is required. Successful candidates should have experience in chemistry, physics or material science with a Baccalaureate degree or equivalent experience. Since a number of projects are simultaneously in progress, it is essential for the researcher to be very organized and to pay attention to detail and accuracy in reporting results.
Qualified candidates please send resume to:
Human Resources Recruiting - RTSEM Exxon Research and Engineering Company P.O. Box 998 Annandale, New Jersey 08801-3344
NET-DETECTIVE-4.0 "EASY WAY TO FIND OUT ANYTHING ABOUT ANYONE"
http://3515163411/n56748597/
NET DETECTIVE 4.0 TAKES YOU BEYOND WHAT SEARCH ENGINES CAN DO!
Net Detective is an amazing new tool that allows you to find EVERYTHING you ever wanted to know about your EMPLOYEES, FRIENDS, RELATIVES, SPOUSE, NEIGHBORS, even your BOSS!
You can check out ANYONE, ANYTIME, ANYWHERE, right on the internet...
Here's the best part: With our new INSTANT DELIVERY-SECURE ORDER SYSTEM you can have this amazing tool in your hands in less than 60 seconds and you can be doing your own on-line investigations IMMEDIATELY.
To find out more about what NET DETECTIVE 4.0 can do for YOU!
http://3515163411/n56748597/ click here
Thanks, Jean Rousseau, Rousseau Group, Security Software Developers Since 1995
Being the Diaplan Microscope utilized the individual objective prisims it is not a easy task tuning to achieve the preferred DIC image. To do the tunning, you must loosen the three little set screws on the 10mm collar located above the objective. Then with polarizers crossed and the matching condenser prisim in place you should rotate the objective to achieve the three demensional appearance. The best position will allow to have an even flatfield image throughout the entire field. If this does not appear to be the case then you do not have the correct orientations. You can also remove the eyepiect and look down the tube to see an interference patter. Typically when you are aligned the pattern which appears as a black line should be orientated on a forty five degree angle from two oclock to eight oclock. Once you have these prisims orientated be sure to lock the little set screw on the objective. FYI this setup with objective and prisim together will not allow you to use the same optics for typical brightfield applications should that be desired. Usually back then because of the nature of the beast (Diaplan) you had to have a interchangeable nosepiece when going from one illumination method to another. With todays infinity corrected systems and the technological developments in prisims it is easy to use a microsscope with all the latest gizmos and not have to take anything off the unit.
If you would like, I have a old instruction manual called "Interference Contrast T for the Leitz Diaplan". I would be more then happy to copy it sometime this week and send it along.
Let me know... Good Luck!
Also, a good sample to use is a section of unstained tissue about five microns or less. If you have access to someone working in a clinical pathology lab you may want to ask them.. to get this for you..I may have one or two laying around. If I do I will send it along with the manual.
C. Passione -----Original Message----- } From: Jon Krupp {jmkrupp-at-cats.ucsc.edu} To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com}
You should not have to go through all this trouble! Leitz/Leica have a great reputation for quality and those prisms should have been aligned "at the factory".
The tuning I was referring to was the compensator which adjusts the "pol color" in the background.
Also, I am surprised to hear that you could not pull out the prism/compensator from the back focal plane of the objective and move the condenser to the brightfield setting to re-establish good imaging for brightfield.
Jan Hinsch, if you are listening .... any comments?
Best regards, Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater productivity.
125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} ****************************************************** MME is America's first national consortium providing customized on-site workshops in all areas of microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis.
At 07:21 AM 4/3/99 -0500, Cono Passione wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I beleive the previous Leica/Leitz microscopes of the fixed focal length vintage almost alway utilized individual prisims that were permanent unless you unscrewed the objective then physically remove the 10mm prisim. You then would be able to put the objective back in place on the nosepiec to utilize its BF capabilities. To return to the DIC mode you would have to put the DIC prisim back in place and realign over again. The prisim in place trying to do BF techniques will be distorted and very difficult to resolve anything. This is from past experience. If someone else has developed a system to remove the prisims on a slider type set the Diaplan or laborlux series I would be intereset in knowing more about it. I also beleive the older Zeiss mciroscopes utilized an individual prisim that was pused in and out on a forty five degree angle right above the objective being used at any particular time. Some of these prisims were capable of matching up with Leitz objectives with various combinations.
Thank You
C. Passione -----Original Message----- } From: Barbara Foster {mme-at-map.com} To: Cono Passione {iami-at-nauticom.net} ; Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com {Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com} ; Jon Krupp {jmkrupp-at-cats.ucsc.edu}
To removed from our mailing list please call toll free: 1-800-242-0363 ext. 1489
High Quality Pet I.D. Tags
Are you TOO BUSY to find the forms you need to send for a new I.D. tag for your pet?
Look no further! LUVYOURPET is now offering the HIGHEST QUALITY Pet Identification Tags you've been paying $7.99 at the pet store for only $5.89 by using this CONVENIENT order form!
- REPLACE your pets' old,dirty tags. - UPDATE your address and telephone number. - Have a SPARE with your "PET SITTERS" address and telephone number. - Avoid that worried feeling when you CANT FIND your pet. - Have your lost pet RETURNED QUICKLY!
Your pet is a FAMILY MEMBER and this is their ticket HOME!
E-Z Order Form
Please PRINT this form, CIRCLE Type, size,shape,color.
Type Size Shape Color
Durable Small Round,Hydrant, Red,Blue, Plastic Medium Heart,Bone Green,Yellow Large Dog Face,House Ivory,Burgandy Cat Face Black
OR
Stainless Round Sm,Med,Lg Steel Heart,Bone Med only
PETS NAME ____________________________ PHONE # _______________________________ OWNERS NAME _________________________ ADDRESS ______________________________ CITY,STATE,ZIP _________________________
MAIL TAG TO: Address on tag (above) Other:___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________
Please mail check to: 1Tag $5.89 LUVYOURPET Additional $4.99 each P.O. Box #782 Ca.residents add .36 Tax EACH Ross,Ca. 94957
* SPECIAL OFFER! Order 5 or more I.D. Tags and get 1 additional FREE!
* These Identification tags are GREAT for key chains, luggage, etc !!!!
- Your LUVYOURPET I.D. Tag will arrive 14 days upon receipt of order. - Your Email address (optional) ____________ To be reminded to reorder! Your email address will absolutly NEVER be distributed.
Kun Li wrote the following: =================================================== We are trying to study the microstructure of cold drawn 25 µm gold wires. We meet the difficulty in etching the gold wires to reveal the grain structure in SEM and optical observations. Could somebody give us some suggestions on how to etch the wires. =================================================== While many laboratories have the capability, very few encounter the kinds of samples that would actually benefit from the application of "sputter etching". This is the process of reversing the polarity of a normal gold (sputter) coater, or having it operate in "etch" mode, whereby instead of sputtering gold onto the sample, you are sputtering (in this case, gold) off of the sample. Assuming you are working with polished cross-sections (but the outside surface of the wires should be able to be studied this way as well), you should be able to end up revealing details of the microstructure.
We have not done this in-house ourselves but we have been told by others they use this approach, for example, on gold alloys used in dentistry.
The second approach is to do this by reactive plasma etching. It is a different physics so the effect should not be expected to be the same. Again we have not done this ourselves in-house, but we have customers who claim to have done it. I am not real clear what would be the optimum etching gas. We ourselves found that we could eventually remove gold from a gold coated SEM sample using only oxygen (for 20 minutes). Others have used Ar and CF4. I have myself never quite been able to understand why oxygen would remove the gold layer from a gold coated SEM sample.
Is one approach "better" than the other approach? I don't know. What we would predict is that if the two approaches were compared, sputter etching vs. reactive plasma etching, there should be differences. But then again, the physics is different when comparing the two approaches so this should not be surprising.
Finally you might wonder about why chemical etching would not be suggested for this kind of application. I am not sure whether it would or would not work, but when I have heard people discussing doing it, they seem to be referencing some pretty terrible and nasty reagents, the main one being aqua regia. Therefore the interest in alternatives to wet chemical etching.
Disclaimer: SPI Supplies manufactures both sputter coaters with etch and reactive plasma etchers and we therefore have a vested interest in seeing these techniques used more widely. There is nothing "special" about the SPI etch mode, the same physics would be at work in anyone's sputter coater so long as it has the ability to have its polarity reversed and operate in "etch" mode.
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: www.2spi.com ############################ ==================================================
I am looking for a used Zeiss 10C. Please let me know if you have one for sale or if you know of anybody who does. Thank you very much. Peter Jordan, EMSI
I'd like to get from somewhere or somebody a manual on SEM Hitachi S-4100 in English. Copying and shipment charge is definitely to be compensated.
Dmitri. P.S. Please, send me at least some ideas, where to get it from!
__________________________________________ Dmitri V. Sokolov, Doctor Course student Research Center for Interface Quantum Electronics, Hokkaido University, North 13, West 8, Kitaku, Sapporo 060, Hokkaido, Japan Phone 81-11-706-7174 Fax 81-11-716-6004 http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Campus/1314 AOL Instant Messenger FalconDot ICQ 9418072 __________________________________________
As sometimes happens, some people find they can't get money to attend courses at the last minute while others don't hear about them until it is too late to apply.
Now may be your chance!
Three late cancellations at the UBC Live-Cell course mean three opportunities for those of you who have ten days free this June.
We expect to have an international faculty of 15, and on-site equipment that includes 2-photon systems from Olympus (and maybe Leica). There will also be single-photon confocals from Bio-Rad, Olympus, Noran, Nikon, Zeiss and Yokogawa/EG&G, deconvolution set-ups from API, AutoQuant/Universal-Imaging, Improvision, Intelligent-Imaging and Vaytek all set up for "live-cell" work. In addition, there will be was laser tweezers, microinjection and sundry other delights.
These systems are not just to look at but to use for over 45 hours of organized 2D and 3D live-cell laboratory sessions, plus 20 hours of evening sessions for group live-cell projects.
Although the eight "Groups-of-3" have already been set up and have chosen their "individual projects," we are able to accept 3-2 more students as long as their backgrounds will fit into one of these groups.
which has the rest of the story, including a preliminary program.
Then fill out the Registration Form from the site to tell us about you, Fax it to me ASAP and we will see if we can fit you in. (I will be away the week of April 9-18)
Hope that you can join us in Vancouver this June 16-27.
Jim Pawley, Organizer **************************************** Prof. James B. Pawley, Ph. 608-263-3147 Room 223, Zoology Research Building, FAX 608-265-5315 1117 Johnson Ave., Madison, WI, 53706 JBPAWLEY-at-FACSTAFF.WISC.EDU "A scientist is not one who can answer questions but one who can question answers." Theodore Schick Jr., Skeptical Enquirer, 21-2:39
I am looking for a used carbon coater for our SEM teaching lab. If you have one for sale or if you know of anybody who does, please let me know. Thanks!
Mei-Zhen Dang Research Associate Department of Physics University of Ottawa
We use the Hitachi S4100 on many occasions during our "in house" courses.= =
We do not have the Hitachi manual but we have developed a "quick guide" t= o the instrument for our clients, that I can e-mail as an attachment if yo= u wish? The trainers also use a mechanical alignment guide that we produce= , that is also available to you if you wish?
Sorry I cannot act today but with ester and all that lawns to cut etc.
Steve Chapman
Senior Consultant E.M. Protrain, 16 Hedgerley, Chinnor, Oxford OX9 4TN, England. Tel & Fax 44 (0)1844 353161 Web Site - http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/protrain For Consultancy and Courses in Electron Microscopy World Wide
This young man has contacted me twice in regards to interviewing a person involved in nanotechnology. If you can help please respond to him directly with the answers to the questions at the bottom of the page.
Mr. Nano {nanoteknologist-at-hotmail.com}
Thanks
Susanne Pignolet Brandom MicroWorld 978-456-3100
} Hi, my name is Michael Lee, and I am a high school student attending } Bellevue High. I am doing a project about a career in nanotechnology. } As part of the project, I need to interview someone with general } questions about a career in this field. I was wondering if you would be } able to help me by letting me interview you, or could refer me to } someone who I would be able to interview. If I would be } able to interview you, please let me know what type of contact would be } most convenient for you (email, phone, etc). I would really appreciate } it, thank you. } } -Michael Lee
-----Original Message----- } From: Mr. Nano {nanoteknologist-at-hotmail.com} To: spb-at-mwrn.com {spb-at-mwrn.com}
} ---------- } From: Earnhart, James P. } Sent: Monday, April 05, 1999 7:25 AM } To: Ingber, Bruce F. } Subject: RE: Mech Pump Discharge Backpressure } } Only to say that if the pumps were designed to be able to } operate in the described manner then the manufacturers would have specs on } how and what type of ventilation system to install under different } applications, i.e. extraction type if there is more than 10' of pipe to } outside, or more than 2 bends totaling more than 90 degrees. Also, if } discharging the "bad air" outside then EPA standards must be met...such as } installing "scrubber" systems to insure no oil or certain hydrocarbons are } discharged into the air and eventually being introduced into the ground } water. Best thing is to install a factory offered oil recovery exhaust } filter system such as the one we spoke about on the coating system. And } to check with OSHA as to the "hazards Imposed" by the Vacuum Pump vapors. } If they say they are too hazardous for normal laboratory environments then } we may explore the possibility of routing the exhaust into existing "Fume } Hoods" in the laboratories. That is assuming they have the necessary } environmental "cleaning" systems built into them. } } Bottom line is I doubt that without a lot of engineering the } pumps will be able to be operated properly with the exhaust "routed" } through any type of piping more than a few feet long. Meaning that if you } hook any lines, more than a few feet long without bends or any that have } more than 90 degrees of bends, to remove the fumes to any of the pumps, } they won't work properly without a lot of engineering to eliminate any } "back pressure" that may be caused. } } ---------- } From: Ingber, Bruce F. } Sent: Thursday, April 01, 1999 3:43 PM } To: Earnhart, James P., Electronic Technician } Subject: FW: Mech Pump Discharge Backpressure } } Any ideas? } Bruce F. Ingber Biologist- Electron Microscopy USDA-ARS, SRRC 1100 Robert E. Lee Blvd. New Orleans, LA 70124-4305
} ---------- } From: Lehman, } Ann[SMTP:Ann.Lehman-at-exchange.cc.trincoll.edu] } Sent: Thursday, April 01, 1999 9:56 AM } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: Mech Pump Discharge Backpressure } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 Listers, } } My Safety Officer wants all our mechanical pumps } vented outdoors. The pumps } are Sargent-Welch, Alcatel, and Edwards and are used } to back TEMs, film } desiccators, evaporators, etc. Initially I thought } this was a good idea, } having done it simply in past lives by drilling a } hole in a wall, ganging } the outlet hoses, and presto - out the bad smoke } went. } } However the B&G engineering consultant got hold of } the project (yes now it's } a 'project') and now EVERY pump must get its own } line up to the roof. This } means each pump's discharge is directed to a run of } 1-inch copper pipe with } three to five 90-degree bends over a total vertical } length of about 20'. } (Luckily I am on the top floor.) There is also talk } about inserting a } clean-out or filter at each feed-through for dealing } with accumulated oil. } } I'm concerned that the pumps are not designed for } backpressure on the outlet } side coming from the 20' column of air plus the } resistence from the } 90-degree bends and filter. } } Could this setup affect the (1) efficiency or (2) } overall life of the pumps? } Am I being overly cautious? } } I'd appreciate feedback from the List (including } manufacturers) re the } feasiblity of this approach, and the pump specs - I } haven't been able to } find anything about discharge 'load' tolerances. } } Thanks, you can reply offline and if there is } sufficient interest I'll } summarize responses for the List. } } Ann Hein Lehman } EM Facility Mgr } Trinity College } Hartford, CT 06106 } v. 860-297-4289 } f. 860-297-2538 } e. ann.lehman-at-exchange.cc.trincoll.edu } } }
} I applaud the decision to vent the exhaust... } While occasional exposure can be acceptable, the constant drone } of pumps and exposure to pump oil vapors can only be detrimental. } Not to mention that droplets of condensed oil vapor could contami- nate the specimens. Yours, Bill Tivol
One of our students has been given the use of a Model ZF Coulter counter but we cannot find the conversion chart which we have been told is necessary to have, to convert the machine readings to a cell count. Does anyone on the list have this same machine and could you perhaps FAX the chart to us at 617-638-5591? We are located in Boston, MA. Are instructions for this device hard to come by?
* Subject: Wanted Leitz Parts...... * Date: Mon, 05 Apr 1999 09:34:37 -0400 * From: Joseph Passero {jp-at-spacelab.net} * To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com * * I am looking for the following Leitz parts for use with the Zernike * 402a phase contrast condenser. * * An auxiliary focusing (magnifier) with the knurled ring for focusing on * the phase ring, Leitz part number 513 123 * * A pair of centering key for the annular stops of the condenser. * * PHACO objectives * * If you have these or any other Leitz items you would like to * sell, please tell me what you have with a price. * * Thank You * Joseph Passero * jp-at-spacelab.net
-----Original Message----- } From: Ingber, Bruce F. {bingber-at-commserver.srrc.usda.gov}
} } Only to say that if the pumps were designed to be able to } } operate in the described manner then the manufacturers would have specs on } } how and what type of ventilation system to install under different } } applications, i.e. extraction type if there is more than 10' of pipe to } } outside, or more than 2 bends totaling more than 90 degrees. Also, if } } discharging the "bad air" outside then EPA standards must be met...such as } } installing "scrubber" systems to insure no oil or certain hydrocarbons are } } discharged into the air and eventually being introduced into the ground } } water. Best thing is to install a factory offered oil recovery exhaust } } filter system such as the one we spoke about on the coating system. And } } to check with OSHA as to the "hazards Imposed" by the Vacuum Pump vapors. } } If they say they are too hazardous for normal laboratory environments then } } we may explore the possibility of routing the exhaust into existing "Fume } } Hoods" in the laboratories. That is assuming they have the necessary } } environmental "cleaning" systems built into them.
If you are worried about back pressure you can put a fan in the lines to put negitive pressure at the outlet of the vacuum pumps.
Gordon
Gordon Couger gcouger-at-couger.com www.couger.com/gcouger Stillwater, OK 405 624-2855 GMT -6:00
A few months ago I posted a request for a used SEM to purchase for a customer of mine and I was grateful for the range of replies I received. We managed to find an instrument that I felt was a perfect fit for their needs and that was within their budget, while the university that was selling it got the price they wanted and a quick sale. Thanks to all who helped along the way.
Well, I've got another request from our neighbors south of the border. A pathology lab is being setup from scratch, and one of the requirements is for an SEM, no mention of an EDS or WDS system. While they would like a later model instrument, their needs are for a basic SEM. Any and all replies are welcome, please email the specifics to me, I'll compile them and present the responsible parties with the data. While I'm not likely to travel again to Mexico to install and service an SEM (did it once before - long trip, language problems), I may come and deinstall the instrument.
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-sem.com
Thanks to those who responded with information on upgrading the computer on our BioRad Confocal 600 with COMOS
Our new computer is 8gig HD with CD, zip, internet card and all the bells and whistles. Apparently there is a limitation with the old program having trouble with hard drives that are too big, so we partitioned ours. Otherwise, it appears to have no trouble accessing any of the drives. We have a Panasonic WORM, that we are setting up on the old computer as a separate station - along with a 5 1/4, 3 1/2, and Zip so that whatever walks in the door can be transferred to a more recent fad of data storage. We try to keep a lot of older equipment/computer technology around and working so others can retrieve their data after they've suddenly been aroused from dormancy. e.g. we had a researcher come in with data stored on a WORM drive (she was working with the government) and we were the only ones she found(she states)with one still in service. Similar story with the 5.25 drive.
Now, refurbishing the detector head and laser.... Oh boy, I can hardly wait.
******************************************** John P. Shields Center for Ultrastructural Research 151 Barrow Hall University of Georgia Athens, GA 30602-2403 (706)542-4080 jpshield-at-arches.uga.edu ********************************************
DearListers, I have a GATAN (model#613) single tilt , LN cooled side entry cold stage for a Phillips 300 or 400 TEM available. I'm inquiring to see if there is any interest in purchasing it? Rosemary
Hi everyone, I'm training to be a tech here in SEM and Confocal microscopy. I am in need of a method to clean a leaf from an ocean plant to then be viewed with SEM. Any help for this rookie would be greatly appreicated. Thanks Lee Ann Baldridge SEM &Confocal Facility IUSD Indpl., IN lhadley-at-iusd.iupui.edu 317-274-5142
Our lab is looking to buy a belt grinder for heavy grinding of mounted cross-sections (metallographic cross-sections). The one quote I got was for over $5,000 for a single belt with coolant system (1/3 hp motor). The dual belt system was almost $9,000. This seems quite pricey for what you get. Is there any other options available to us?
Mark
---------------------------------------- Mark C. Biesinger, Research Scientist Surface Science Western The University of Western Ontario London, Ontario, Canada Tel: (519) 661-2173, Fax: (519) 661-3709 http://www.uwo.ca/ssw/
Members of the list: I seem to remember that a company existed that made disposable microtome knives. The knives were about the size of a regular knife, only thinner. The company seemed to go by something like "American Scientific Products." Is this company still in business, or are there satisfactory substitutes for students doing basic slide making?
George W. Smith
********************************* George W. Smith, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Biology Department of Biological Sciences Union College Schenectady, NY 12308 (518)388-6245 smithg-at-union.edu *********************************
Dear Users, Someone sent me a message asking for help using Molecular Probes Alexa dye reagents. I no longer have this message as our email file server crashed before I could respond and several days messages were lost. Recovery of damaged disk is underway. Would the person who asked about this please re-send their message. However, I would like to know more of the specifics of your problem. We have had no problem substituting these reagents for like reagents in a variety of cell type systems and tissues?
Images & Info at http://www.molbio.princeton.edu/confocal {http://www.molbio.princeton.edu/confocal}
Joe Goodhouse Confocal / EM Core Laboratory Department of Molecular Biology Princeton University jgoodhouse-at-molbio.princeton.edu {mailto:Jgoodhouse-at-molbio.princeton.edu}
I believe the item you are looking for was made by Scienctific Products; they were item # M7200 and came 12 to the box. A quick scan of the catalog didn't show them anymore, but maybe they are still around. I have several old (from the '70's) boxes of of them you are welcome to have if you wish. For my Histology class, I use instead special holders for single edge razor blades; cheap, easy, no resharpening and most importantly, very short exposed edge to prevent bloody knuckles. I'm not sure where they come from, but if you are interested I will try to find the source.
For a project on cartilage regeneration in dogs, I would like to be able to determine the origin of the new cartilage cells. I know that one way would be a classic pulse-chase experiment with tritiated thymidine to label dividing cells, but I'm wondering whether there might non-radioactive methods that could tell me the same thing. I'd prefer not to have to inject radioactive solutions (even tritium) into these animals. Any ideas?
Gary Radice 804-289-8107 Department of Biology 804-289-8233 (FAX) University of Richmond gradice-at-richmond.edu Richmond VA 23173
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
After reading the excellent ideas already presented about this subject, it occurred to me that there may be one other method that would work. First, it is no longer necessary to use things like aqua regia to polish gold. My paper in Ultamicroscopy 25 (1988) 351-354 describes an electropolish for gold using certain chemicals dissolved in methanol and butyl cellosolve at -50 degrees C. It is often possible to develop a nice etch by simply using an electropolishing solution at a lower voltage. In this case I would suggest dropping the voltage from 150 to perhaps 70 volts. A temperature of 0 C. may also be cold enough. The good thing about this is that by controlling the time the current is "on", the amount of etching can be controlled. The electrolyte does not attack gold when the current is off. This solution is easy to rinse off the specimen.
Bernard Kestel Materials Science Division Argonne National Laboratory Argonne, Il., 60439
for {Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com} ; Wed, 7 Apr 1999 07:49:02 -0700 (PDT) X-SMTP: helo gaugler.calweb.com from gaugler-at-calweb.com server -at-gaugler.calweb.com ip 207.173.132.32 user=Pgauglr Message-Id: {4.1.19990407073131.009d1100-at-pop.calweb.com} X-Sender: gaugler-at-pop.calweb.com X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Pro Version 4.1
I would appreciate hearing from and about independent companies or individuals who take down, move and set up SEMs. Specifically, I would like to receive quotes for moving an Amray 1830 from TX to Sacramento CA. This would involve disconnecting the system, locking down the turbo pump, crating, moving, and re-install at my location.
I have a quote from Amray but they do not handle moving. I am wondering if this is standard practice or if there are reputable folks who can handle the whole job from start to finish via one contact. I would anticipate that someone who knows about this specific SEM model would be preferred.
Anticipated timeframe for start of project is in about 1-2 months from now.
Dear George, Several suppliers of disposable microtome knives come to mind:
Electron Microscopy Sciences 321 Morris Road Ft. Washington, PA 19034 1-(800) 523-5874 (web site address: http://www.emsdiasum.com.)
C.L. Sturkey, Inc. 824 Cumberland Street Lebanon, PA 17042 1-(800) 274-9446 FAX (717) 274-9442
Sturkey offers free samples of their knives. Our experience in recent years has been with Sturkey knives, but other brands may be prefered depending on your application. Best regards, Henry **************************************************************************** Disclaimer: I have no vested interest in the firms mentioned above. ****************************************************************************
Henry Eichelberger, EM Facility Manager Department of Biological Sciences Binghamton, University
Try C.L. Sturkey... They should be on the net......
C YA -----Original Message----- } From: George Smith {smithg-at-union.edu} To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com}
I would just like to support and reinforce some of the many comments recently made about getting copies of older instruction manuals. It would be a real service to our community if a master compilation of these manuals, with a suitable index and regular updates, could be put together. I wish that I had the time and the resources to volunteer for this task but I don't at the moment. Hope somebody else does.
I am trying to lift the carbon coating off a metallic film. The C is less than 10nm thick. My best results so far involved aqua regia vapors, then dipping the sample in DI water, and finally picking up the C on grids as it floats on the water. However, one of the components of the metal film under the carbon is Pt, and a large number of small Pt particles stay on the carbon. Could someone recommend a Pt etch?
} Job Description } There is a TEM microscopist position open for a materials scientist at } Intel Malaysia. The primary job responsibility is to provide technical } consultation and leadership in applying materials/surface analysis & } microscopy techniques to solve day-to-day engineering and manufacturing } problems, including operation of a JEOL 2010F TEM. This individual is also } expected to develop and proliferate materials & surface analysis } capabilites within Intel Malaysia; to recommend and set up new analytical } techniques; and to coach & mentor junior-level failure analysis engineers. } } Requirements } Candidates should have a Ph.D. in Materials Science, Surface Science, } Physics, Chemistry, Thin Film Engineering or equivalent. Successful } candidates will have a strong background in microelectronic materials & } process engineering (silicon and/or packaging materials). You will have } studied and applied advanced bulk, thin film and surface characterization } techniques intensively to problems relevant to microelectronics } processing, packaging and/or failure analysis during your graduate } education and/or research/industrial experience. You should have extensive } hands-on TEM experience. Knowledge & hands-on experience in applying XPS } & TOF-SIMS in analyzing organic contaminants would be an added advantage. } } You should be highly motivated, self-directed, effective working } independently or in a team. Good problem solving skills, interpersonal, } verbal & written communication skills are necessary. Must be able to } impart your knowledge/skill to junior-level engineers. } } Interested individuals please contact: } Kian Sin Sim } Intel Technology Sdn. Bhd. } 11900 Penang, Malaysia. } Tel: ++ 604-859-6477 } Fax: ++ 604-859-6749 } kian.sin.sim-at-intel.com
Hi, We need to replace the stereo scope on a Reichert-Jung Ultracut E (purchased in 1986, Type 70-17-04, Fabr NR 396313). Something is messed up in the lens system making it impossible to focus. We sent it to Leica to be repaired and they couldn't fix it. I'd like to hear from you if you have a stereo scope for sale that would work on this microtome. The stereo scope label says: Stereo Star ZOOM Reichert 0.7X TO 4.2X 570
thanks, Beth
************************************** Beth Richardson EM Lab Coordinator Botany Department University of Georgia Athens, GA 30602
We are a training company that has been operating for the past 18 years teaching SEM, TEM and EDX in many of the English speaking countries of th= e world. As part of our "in house" course procedures we have produced our own 1 to 4 page instruction sheets to help our clients. These "quick guides" now number well in excess of 100, even with some of them covering= a range of microscopes with almost identical operating panels. This means = we have data going back to instruments produced in the late 80's which, provided the demand is not too excessive, we are pleased to offer via attachments to e-mail. We also have basic maintenance procedures for man= y models.
Hope this may help those who are in trouble with the older instrumentatio= n?
Steve Chapman
Senior Consultant E.M. Protrain, 16 Hedgerley, Chinnor, Oxford OX9 4TN, England. Tel & Fax 44 (0)1844 353161 Web Site - http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/protrain For Consultancy and Courses in Electron Microscopy World Wide
This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --------------346C90CEC1AD5BAE935208FF Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Hi,
can somebody help me with a protocol for embedding plant material in LR white. The material is fixed in PFA and kept in 70% EtOH at -20 C.
Bo
-- Dr. Bo Johansen Associate Professor Botanical Institute University of Copenhagen Gothersgade 140 DK-1123 Copenhagen K Denmark
Is there a quantitative method for determining the metal grain size when metal shadowing a biological TEM specimen?
Shadowing is new to me and I'd like to find the best conditions for TaW shadowing in our shadowing unit. To that end, I was wondering if there was something more quantitative than eyeballing TEM images of the shadowed samples?
Hello everyone. I would like to know if there is a quick write-up on the = web that explains how to prepare thin sections of rocks and sand for = microscopy. I need to know specifically what type of epoxy is used to = affix the specimen to the microscope slide. Thanks.
______________________ Roberto Garcia Senior Analyst, Metallography North Carolina State University Analytical Instrumentation Facility Box 7531, Room 303 EGRC Raleigh, NC 27695-7531 rgarcia-at-unity.ncsu.com http://spm.aif.ncsu.edu/aif
{!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD W3 HTML//EN"} {HTML} {HEAD} {META content=3Dtext/html;charset=3Diso-8859-1 = http-equiv=3DContent-Type} {STYLE} {/STYLE}
{META content=3D'"MSHTML 5.00.0910.1309"' name=3DGENERATOR} {/HEAD} {BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff} {DIV} {FONT size=3D2} Hello everyone. I would like to know if there is a = quick=20 write-up on the web that explains how to prepare thin sections of rocks = and sand=20 for microscopy. I need to know specifically what type of epoxy is used = to affix=20 the specimen to the microscope slide. Thanks. {/FONT} {/DIV} {DIV} {/DIV} {DIV} {FONT size=3D3} ______________________ {BR} Roberto Garcia {BR} Senior = Analyst,=20 Metallography {BR} North Carolina State University {BR} Analytical = Instrumentation=20 Facility {BR} Box 7531, Room 303 EGRC {BR} Raleigh, NC 27695-7531 {BR} {A=20 href=3D"mailto:rgarcia-at-unity.ncsu.com"} rgarcia-at-unity.ncsu.com {/A} {BR} {A=20 href=3D"http://spm.aif.ncsu.edu/aif"} http://spm.aif.ncsu.edu/aif {/A} {/FON= T} {/DIV} {/BODY} {/HTML}
I've called their number (973) 882 6611 to confirm, and it appears true that Coolwell has folded up. However, one can still leave a voice mail message at that number for Frank Haze, and presumably he can be helpful.
We have an early analog SE-111A, which we have substantially modified as various parts have malfunctioned or worn out. Despite its variable reliability, in my opinion, it's still the best chiller design out there, and our unit easily keeps the STEM coolant temperature within 0.10 of 700F.
I have the operating manual as well as the "pilot circuit" and the "power circuit" diagrams; however, Coolwell has refused to release the refrigeration system diagram, treating it as a trade secret. I will be glad to scan these and e-mail them to any interested party. Please, direct your requests to:
rwafu-at-bsco.com Valdemar Furdanowicz Bethlehem Steel Research Labs G-165 Bethlehem, PA 18016
-----Original Message----- } From: Bob Wise [mailto:wise-at-vaxa.cis.uwosh.edu] Sent: Thursday, April 01, 1999 6:35 PM To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
To all,
Our Coolwell "SE-Style" Chiller hooked to our TEM is on the fritz. An answering machine at the Coolwell phone number says they went out of business and refers one to Litron (or Lintron?). A call to them reveals that all they bought from Coolwell was their name and "marketing strategy". Apparently the marketing strategy is to not produce replacement parts for Coolwell chillers. So we are on our own. Does anyone have a wiring diagram, schematics, specs (such as type and amount of coolant), and/or advice for a SE Style Chiller they could share with me? Our campus refrigeration guy thinks he can fix it but he would like some help on the unit design.
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
} From Microscopy-request-at-sparc5.microscopy.com Thu Apr 8 13:57:42 1999 } } From: "Roberto Garcia" {rgarcia-at-unity.ncsu.edu} } To: "MSA Microscopy" {Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com} } Subject: Geologic Thin Specimen } Date: Thu, 8 Apr 1999 11:10:01 -0400 } } } Hello everyone. I would like to know if there is a quick write-up on the } web that explains how to prepare thin sections of rocks and sand for = } microscopy. I need to know specifically what type of epoxy is used to = } affix the specimen to the microscope slide. Thanks. } } ______________________ } Roberto Garcia } Senior Analyst, Metallography } North Carolina State University } Analytical Instrumentation Facility } Box 7531, Room 303 EGRC } Raleigh, NC 27695-7531 } rgarcia-at-unity.ncsu.com } http://spm.aif.ncsu.edu/aif } } Robert, We have had good success with Epotek 301 (Epoxy Technology, Inc. 978-667-3805) for both thin sections and thick sections (slabs) for cathodoluminescence studies. With cathodoluminescence it is important that the epoxy can stand up reasonably well under the electron beam bombardment if it is hit directly (e.g., in a void) and also that it not outgas excessively and harm the vacuum.
Don Marshall
Donald J. Marshall Relion Industries P.O. Box 12 Bedford, MA 01730 Ph: 781-275-4695 FAX: 781-271-0252 email dmrelion-at-world.std.com
Cathodoluminescence, mass spectroscopy, electron beam technology "A weed is a flower out of place."
(Please note: Do not send email with attachments to this address. Instead, send it to donbarlen-at-aol.com. Thank you.)
This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --------------711D17DCAD1F21047EF6AE08 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-2; x-mac-type="54455854"; x-mac-creator="4D4F5353" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
We would like to label artificial Xenopus oocyte nuclei after sticking them on glass. So far, we tried to centrifuge the nuclei to a glass cover slip, fix it with formaldehyde, briefly extract with triton, label them and flat embed in Epon. The problem is they do not stick very well. So far, we tested naked glass, polylysine coated glass and carbon coated/glow-discharged glass. After the centrifugation, there is usually plenty of nuclei, but with the processing, we are loosing many if not all.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Regards,
-- Michal Jarnik, Ph.D. Fox Chase Cancer Center Electron Microscopy Facility 7701 Burholme Ave. Philadelphia PA 19111 Tel. 215-728-5675 Fax 215-728-2412
--------------711D17DCAD1F21047EF6AE08 Content-Type: text/x-vcard; charset=iso-8859-2; name="M_Jarnik.vcf" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Description: Card for Michal Jarnik Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="M_Jarnik.vcf"
} We would like to label artificial Xenopus oocyte nuclei after sticking } them on glass. So far, we tried to centrifuge the nuclei to a glass } cover slip, fix it with formaldehyde, briefly extract with triton, label } them and flat embed in Epon. The problem is they do not stick very well. } So far, we tested naked glass, polylysine coated glass and carbon } coated/glow-discharged glass. After the centrifugation, there is usually } plenty of nuclei, but with the processing, we are loosing many if not } all. } } Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
You might try "silane", 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane to be precise. Get it from Sigma (cat. no. A-3648). 1. Wash slides thoroughly with hot, soapy water. Rinse very well, final 2 rinses with distilled. water. 2. Dry in an oven. 3. Dip slides in 2% silane in actone for 10 sec., then 2 rinses of acetone, 1 min. each. 4. Air dry in a vertical position.
You might also take a look at Stain Technology 62: 27-33 and 93-99, 1987. Two very interesting papers by S. Fink.
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 mcauliff-at-umdnj.edu **********************************************
Just testing yet another filter I've configured. This one is supposed reject all Email which has attachments. This is the most common way that virus's are transmitted by Email as attached documents.
Of course, NONE of you attach documents to postings on the Microscopy Listserver right? After all that is part of our rules.
Remember VCF cards that some WWW browsers attach to your Email are also attachments so you had better make sure your browser is configured so as not to attach those annoyances.
} Mime-Version: 1.0 } Date: Thu, 8 Apr 1999 17:59:16 -0600 } To: microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } From: "Nestor J. Zaluzec" {zaluzec-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com} } Subject: Administrivia: Testing Virus Filter } } Colleagues.... } } Just testing yet another filter I've configured. This one is supposed } reject all Email which has attachments. This is the most } common way that virus's are transmitted by Email as attached } documents. } } Of course, NONE of you attach documents to postings on the } Microscopy Listserver right? After all that is part of our } rules. } } Remember VCF cards that some WWW browsers attach to } your Email are also attachments so you had better make } sure your browser is configured so as not to attach those } annoyances. } } } Nestor } } }
Just testing yet another filter I've configured. This one is supposed reject all Email which has attachments. This is the most common way that virus's are transmitted by Email as attached documents.
Of course, NONE of you attach documents to postings on the Microscopy Listserver right? After all that is part of our rules.
Remember VCF cards that some WWW browsers attach to your Email are also attachments so you had better make sure your browser is configured so as not to attach those annoyances.
It's taken me a while, but I think that I now have a running version of the Email attachment filter I was working on last week, a few of you will recall a batch of rejected mail messages on 3/30. which was part of my early testing.
Local testing is now completed and I have put this filter on-line as of ~ 7 pm CST on the Full Microscopy Listserver. Please bear with me as I'm sure there will be a few glitches along the way. Especially the first few days of full operation.
This filter scans each Email message for an attachment. If an attachment is found (and I can't guarantee the filter will catch all of them) then the Email posting will be REJECTED and an explainatory message is sent to the poster. Attachments are one of the most common way that computer virus's are transmitted by Email especially they are embedded in various documents. Removing the attachment will generally allow your message through, unless of course your Email triggers yet another different "warning flag".
Of course, NONE of you attach documents to postings on the Microscopy Listserver right? After all that is part of our rules which you all have received on subscription and have read completely. The only attachments we will see are from JUNK mailers...right?
Just a final warning, you should all appreciate the fact that VCF cards that some WWW browsers "append" to Email messages are also "attachments". The filter does not differentiate attachments. So I run the risk of getting a handful of you annoyed at me. Obviously the simple solution is for those of you who may be affected to reconfigure your browser/mailer not to send VCF cards. (Netscape is particuliarly bad in this regard) so WWW users beware!
In the long run, I think it is better to protect the larger group of you and catch the grief I will get from those few who don't realize that VCF cards are attachments and consider my rejection of their mail an afront on their "virtual" personality. .......
Cheers.... Nestor Your Friendly Neighborhood SysOp.
----------------------------------------
PS. Just for those of you that are curious the filter has logged 255 messages as potential SPAM/JUNK mail since it was started August of 98.
In other words about 8 message per week trigger the filter. About 3/4 of those caught are true JUNK mail. It also inadvertently catches a few valid postings which after the author contacts me as per the instructions the messages are allowed through, albeit a day or so later.
Right...... time for a cold beer and some dinner. G'night all
Ritchie Sims wrote: } } } Date: Wed, 07 Apr 1999 15:54:35 -0700 } Hi, Earl } } Just off the top of your head, how much would you guess that a } competent person might be able to disassemble a JEOL 840 in a US } city, and crate it suitably for international despatch? } } Just to help my budgeting } } cheers } } Ritchie } } } Hi all, } } } } There are a number of qualified technicians, some of whom have worked } } for Amray that can handle this type of job. The Amray 1830 is a } } relatively simple SEM requiring about 8 hours maximum to dis-assemble } } and about 16 hours to re-assemble. I don't recommend crating the system. } } Instead, we usually ship via "padded air-ride van". Shipping costs are } } charged according to weight and distance. Maximum costs for shipping and } } SEM coast to coast has been about $3,000.00. Shipping costs from Texas } } to Calfornia should be considerably less. } } } } 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
Hi Ritchie,
A Jeol 840 has quite a bit more cables. It would take a good tech about 12 hours (max) to properly dis-assemble and then another four hours to supervise the crating. The costs for crating is about $800.00 USD. The labor for 16 hours is about $2000.00 USD plus travel time & travel expenses.
Actually, a rather complicated subject. In regards to your overall question, anyone is capable of arranging the shipping. That is a simple matter. Many independents, however, may be reluctant to accept the responsibility. If something goes wrong, you might end up with multiple lawsuits - you sue the contractor, who sues the shipper, who counter-sues the contractor, etc. It generally is easier for an single independent to contract for the de-installation and re-installation without regard to the shipping. In that case, you have a, hopefully, expert and unbiased third opinion as to the condition of the instrument both before and after the actual shipping. In court, that third opinion may well carry the day as definitive.
If the independent has arranged for the shipping, they will be seen as having a biased interest in the overall operation. The lines between the preparation for freight, the delivery of freight and the receiving of freight will be blurred and any court may appropriately spread the blame for a problem between the independent and the freight company. In other words, there will be no way to definitivily identify the source of a problem. In the worst case, a court may not be able to assign blame to any identifiable source.
An elecron microscope is a sensitive instrument, subject to many mechnical and electronic variables. A major move of an instrument like this should involve an objective assestment of the instrumental operation before the move and an objective assesment of the instrumental operation after the move. Any problems can then be identified to the source.
In all honesty, I have yet to see any problem in moving any SEM. However, considering the potential losses involved in moving a recent model SEM, these problems should be kept in mind.
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-sem.com
-----Original Message----- } From: Dr. Gary Gaugler {gaugler-at-calweb.com} To: MSA listserver {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com}
a database containing user manuals for a range of older popular microscopes would be a very good idea, especially since the purchase of a second hand microscope is usualy the only way for an amateur microscopist to get hold of a decent microscope at a (more or less) reasonable price. That's why I have put some Reichert Zetopan manuals on my website.
In the best case scenario this service should be easy accesible and free if at all possible. If that isn't possible a small fee could be asked to cover the costs.
But it isn't simple:
I don't think that the large manufacturers would like to support this idea, as it isn't in their short-term intrests to support users of second-hand equipment, they rather like to sell new gear (one example: I know from a very reliable German source, that Zeiss has, after the "wende", destroyed large stocks of spare parts for older "Eastern-German Zeiss manufactureres"). I think they see it the wrong way: I can't imagine much amateurs who spend the exorbitant prices the large manufactureres ask for their products, at least I wouldn't...
And, unfortunally, as far as I know, the manufacturers are the owners of the copyrights of their manuals, so we're stuck here, that would be the first problem to be solved...
After that: finding someone to coordinate the project, finding the manuals and scan those (can't be much of a problem I suppose), finding a server to host the documents and finding some people to do investigations regarding brands, models, serial numbers... to match manuals and models/versions...
I would like to volunteer for such a project...
Hello Royal microscopical society (England), Microscopy Society of America, German microscopy clubs, Micscape Magazine, manufacturerers...?
Yvan Lindekens.
-----Oorspronkelijk bericht----- Van: donald j marshall {dmrelion-at-world.std.com} Aan: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} Datum: donderdag 8 april 1999 1:26 Onderwerp: manuals
} I would just like to support and reinforce some of the many comments } recently made about getting copies of older instruction manuals. It would be } a real service to our community if a master compilation of these manuals, } with a suitable index and regular updates, could be put together. I wish } that I had the time and the resources to volunteer for this task but I } don't at the moment. Hope somebody else does. } } Don Marshall } } }
We're a film production company and need to shoot some footage through a stereo microscope -- stereoscopically. Would someone be so kind as to point us to a source for a scope to which *two* videocameras could be attached, one for the right field and one for the left? Please reply to JPWELT-at-aol.com.
Hi Bo, We have for sometime been using LRW for Immuno-staining for plant tissue. We have based our protocol on that of Kathryn A. Vandenbosch and a good reference is in Chapter 5 Immunogold Labelling in Electron Microscopy of Plant Cells eds.J.L.Hall & C.Hawes,Academic Press 1991. Our protocol uses medium grade LRW, it is often benificial after fixation to add some Ruthenium Red to the buffer wash to stain the tissue as later its refractive index will be the same as the resin and specimens are easily lost. AS you specimens are in 70% Alc already dissolve the stain in water and use that to dilute 100% Alc to 70%Alc to stain the tissue. If you have any problems obtaining the reference i will send you our protocol.
I would suggest using a pulse of BrdU. We use it routinely as a marker for cell proliferation. It is a non-radioactive thymidine analog. We use Dako's anti Brdu and DAB as the chromagen. Feel free to call me for specifics.
-- Begin original message --
} For a project on cartilage regeneration in dogs, I would like to be able to } determine the origin of the new cartilage cells. I know that one way would } be a classic pulse-chase experiment with tritiated thymidine to label } dividing cells, but I'm wondering whether there might non-radioactive } methods that could tell me the same thing. I'd prefer not to have to inject } radioactive solutions (even tritium) into these animals. Any ideas? } } Gary Radice 804-289-8107 } Department of Biology 804-289-8233 (FAX) } University of Richmond gradice-at-richmond.edu } Richmond VA 23173 -- End original message --
best regards, Bob Robert Schoonhoven Laboratory of Molecular Carcinogenesis and Mutagenesis Dept. of Environmental Sciences and Engineering University of North Carolina CB#7400 Chapel Hill, NC 27599 Phone office 919-966-6343 Lab 919-966-6140 Fax 919-966-6123
**Suppose you were an idiot... And suppose you were a member of Congress ... But I repeat myself.-Mark Twain**
Just take the Stereo microscope. and have two exact cameras, and two exact camera to microscope eyepiece adapters.
Ed Sharpe
}
Hello -
We're a film production company and need to shoot some footage through a stereo microscope -- stereoscopically. Would someone be so kind as to point us to a source for a scope to which *two* videocameras could be attached, one for the right field and one for the left? Please reply to JPWELT-at-aol.com.
I do not know of any write ups on the web for preparation of thin sections but Allied High Tech (I work for Allied High Tech) has a quick curing epoxy (5-10 min.) called Epoxy Bond 110. We also have extensive experience preparing thin sections, samples for Metallography, SEM and TEM samples. I am located in Raleigh and would like to work with you and help you develop your applications.
We also have a precision polisher, the MultiPrep system. It has a vertical spindle that prevents unwanted faceting. The spindle is calibrated perpendicular to the abrasive and the specimen is calibrated parallel to the abrasive. If a specific angle is required it can be set too. The MultiPrep system also allows you to monitor the amount of material that has been removed from the specimen in real time. The system is ideal for parallel polishing, preparation of thin section, SEM and TEM specimens.
If you would like additional information about the MultiPrep system or any of Allied's products please contact me off-line. I may be reached via email or at the phone number listed below. All of Allied's products are also on our web site. The address is also below.
Regards,
Ed Hirsch
At 11:10 AM 4/8/99 -0400, Roberto Garcia wrote:
} } } }
{excerpt} Hello everyone. I would like to know if there is a quick write-up on the web that explains how to prepare thin sections of rocks and sand for microscopy. I need to know specifically what type of epoxy is used to affix the specimen to the microscope slide. Thanks.
Hello I am looking for a provider of single Crystal cristal viewing screens ( ma= de of YAG), that are used as a pick up screens in image capture system to TEM. any suggestion are welcome thanks =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
Ingber, Bruce F. 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } ---------- } } From: Earnhart, James P. } } Sent: Monday, April 05, 1999 7:25 AM } } To: Ingber, Bruce F. } } Subject: RE: Mech Pump Discharge Backpressure } } } } Only to say that if the pumps were designed to be able to } } operate in the described manner then the manufacturers would have specs on } } how and what type of ventilation system to install under different } } applications, i.e. extraction type if there is more than 10' of pipe to } } outside, or more than 2 bends totaling more than 90 degrees. Also, if } } discharging the "bad air" outside then EPA standards must be met...such as } } installing "scrubber" systems to insure no oil or certain hydrocarbons are } } discharged into the air and eventually being introduced into the ground } } water. Best thing is to install a factory offered oil recovery exhaust } } filter system such as the one we spoke about on the coating system. And } } to check with OSHA as to the "hazards Imposed" by the Vacuum Pump vapors. } } If they say they are too hazardous for normal laboratory environments then } } we may explore the possibility of routing the exhaust into existing "Fume } } Hoods" in the laboratories. That is assuming they have the necessary } } environmental "cleaning" systems built into them. } } } } Bottom line is I doubt that without a lot of engineering the } } pumps will be able to be operated properly with the exhaust "routed" } } through any type of piping more than a few feet long. Meaning that if you } } hook any lines, more than a few feet long without bends or any that have } } more than 90 degrees of bends, to remove the fumes to any of the pumps, } } they won't work properly without a lot of engineering to eliminate any } } "back pressure" that may be caused. } } } } ---------- } } From: Ingber, Bruce F. } } Sent: Thursday, April 01, 1999 3:43 PM } } To: Earnhart, James P., Electronic Technician } } Subject: FW: Mech Pump Discharge Backpressure } } } } Any ideas? } } } Bruce F. Ingber } Biologist- Electron Microscopy } USDA-ARS, SRRC } 1100 Robert E. Lee Blvd. } New Orleans, LA 70124-4305 } } (504) 286-4270; fax (504) 286-4419 } bingber-at-nola.srrc.usda.gov } } } ---------- } } From: Lehman, } } Ann[SMTP:Ann.Lehman-at-exchange.cc.trincoll.edu] } } Sent: Thursday, April 01, 1999 9:56 AM } } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } } Subject: Mech Pump Discharge Backpressure } } } } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } } 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 Listers, } } } } My Safety Officer wants all our mechanical pumps } } vented outdoors. The pumps } } are Sargent-Welch, Alcatel, and Edwards and are used } } to back TEMs, film } } desiccators, evaporators, etc. Initially I thought } } this was a good idea, } } having done it simply in past lives by drilling a } } hole in a wall, ganging } } the outlet hoses, and presto - out the bad smoke } } went. } } } } However the B&G engineering consultant got hold of } } the project (yes now it's } } a 'project') and now EVERY pump must get its own } } line up to the roof. This } } means each pump's discharge is directed to a run of } } 1-inch copper pipe with } } three to five 90-degree bends over a total vertical } } length of about 20'. } } (Luckily I am on the top floor.) There is also talk } } about inserting a } } clean-out or filter at each feed-through for dealing } } with accumulated oil. } } } } I'm concerned that the pumps are not designed for } } backpressure on the outlet } } side coming from the 20' column of air plus the } } resistence from the } } 90-degree bends and filter. } } } } Could this setup affect the (1) efficiency or (2) } } overall life of the pumps? } } Am I being overly cautious? } } } } I'd appreciate feedback from the List (including } } manufacturers) re the } } feasiblity of this approach, and the pump specs - I } } haven't been able to } } find anything about discharge 'load' tolerances. } } } } Thanks, you can reply offline and if there is } } sufficient interest I'll } } summarize responses for the List. } } } } Ann Hein Lehman } } EM Facility Mgr } } Trinity College } } Hartford, CT 06106 } } v. 860-297-4289 } } f. 860-297-2538 } } e. ann.lehman-at-exchange.cc.trincoll.edu } } } } } }
Bruce, Unless your lab is at a partial vacuum and you are venting your pump to atmosphere, backpressure is a moot point. The gas flow is miniscule except for initial roughing.
Runs, elbows, diameters, restrictions are all critical on the INTAKE side of the pump, but have no significant effect on the outlet side of the pump.
We used LR White in order to embedd immobilised root protoplasts in alginate beads.
After dehydration try 96% EtOH 2x10 min, 100% EtOH 2x10 min and infiltrate with LR White, 3x1 hr at room temperature, transfer to gelatine capsules. Polymerization takes place at 60 C, 48 hr.
Gary.
On Thu, 8 Apr 1999, Bo Johansen wrote:
} Hi, } } can somebody help me with a protocol for embedding plant material in LR } white. The material is fixed in PFA and kept in 70% EtOH at -20 C. } } Bo } } -- } Dr. Bo Johansen } Associate Professor } Botanical Institute } University of Copenhagen } Gothersgade 140 } DK-1123 Copenhagen K } Denmark } } Tlf: + 45 35 32 21 57 } email: boj-at-bot.ku.dk } http://www.bot.ku.dk/staff/boj.htm
Dear Sir/Madame, Could you please tell me the going rate of using a TEM (dollars/hour) with and without a technician? Thank you in advance, Toni Milroy
I have two unrelated projects with a common element - I need to be able to get particles dispersed nicely across an SEM stub (and one of them on a TEM grid, as well). One is biological, the other material.
Tiny particles tend to clump as the solution they are in dries. In one case a client is trying to look at fungal spores, and in another someone is trying to look at tiny metal needles. I would love to hear all your expert suggestions, since this comes up often!
Snow in San Jose? It's in the low 80s F, sunny, a bit windy here on Oahu.
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* ****************************************************************************
Here is a possible cheap digital solution for you. I think that you will have to go through the eyepieces to get stereo. The following message was from a rep about a digital camera that could be inserted in the eyepiece. Two might give you what you want. Call and find out. -Scott
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Glass Technology Center 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."
--------message follows-----
Dear Mr. Walck:
Thank you for your interest in the Microrder Electric Eyepiece.
To use the Microrder our customers just take out their normal optical eyepiece and drop in our Electric Eyepiece which fits into any DIN standard 23 mm tube. The Microrder connects to any PC to allow for live previews, capturing, storing, editing, and emailing of still images or movies. An adapter is available that allows the Microrder to fit in a 30.5 eyepiece such as that normally found with an inspection microscope.
Features of the Microrder Electric Eyepiece:
-704 x 556, 24 bit color digital camera for $279US (mail-in rebate of $50) -included software that lets you preview, capture, email, and crop and edit you image or video in real-time on your computer -1 micron per pixel resolution with a 10X objective lens -the ability to image the central half of the field of view that you would see in your normal optical eyepiece -the ability to save audio with your images and even send AudioCards which are a still image with an audio track attached -inplace activation compatibility so that you can operate our software and Electric Eyepiece inside of most desktop software applications like Word, Excel and Powerpoint -connects to standard parallel port -powered by keyboard or mouse connector -30 day money back guarantee -1 year warranty -free camera driver upgrades, monthly newsletter and special discounts for Microrder owners during sale events
If you require more information please email, fax or call me and I will promptly answer any questions.
Sincerely,
David Collette Director, Sales International Micro-Vision Inc. 667 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94063-1317 USA
Phone: (650) 299-9794 Fax: (650) 366-7760 Email: info-at-imicrovision.com URL: http://www.imicrovision.com Digital Microscopy Solutions featuring the Microrder Electric Eyepiece
---------- } From: "ICEMANCINE-at-aol.com"-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
Hello -
We're a film production company and need to shoot some footage through a stereo microscope -- stereoscopically. Would someone be so kind as to point us to a source for a scope to which *two* videocameras could be attached, one for the right field and one for the left? Please reply to JPWELT-at-aol.com.
Dear Tina, } } Tiny particles tend to clump as the solution they are in dries.
If the solution wets the particles, that will certainly be true; however, if not, and the particles are attracted to the grid/formvar/ carbon, etc., then the solution should not drag them together. The solution to the solution is to find one which has the properties needed; for the metal particles, try to make the grid hydrophyllic (assuming the needles are wet by water) and use a nonpolar solvent such as petro- leum ether, and if the fungal spores have a static charge, the same may work for them. If the fungal spores are hydrophobic, try a bare formvar coat and ethanol (C-coat afterwards). You may have to fiddle with the grid-solvent combinations a lot, so good luck.
} In one } case a client is trying to look at fungal spores, and in another someone } is trying to look at tiny metal needles. I would love to hear all your } expert suggestions, since this comes up often! } } Snow in San Jose? It's in the low 80s F, sunny, a bit windy here on Oahu. } We are actually having springlike weather in Albany (~60 F, no snow) in spite of the dire predictions based on La Nina. Yours, Bill
Fernando D. Balducci wrote: ============================================== I am looking for a provider of single Crystal cristal viewing screens ( made of YAG), that are used as a pick up screens in image capture system to TEM. any suggestion are welcome =================================================== SPI Supplies has offered YAG screens for some number of years, in different dimensions and different thicknesses. Quite a bit of technical and other information about these screens is available on our website URL http://www.2spi.com/catalog/scintill/spi-tem-yag.html
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: www.2spi.com ############################ ==================================================
Dear Robert, } } Two related items cause me to respond to the list. } 1. How do we know what we see through the microscope is real? } 2. Alan Sokal and the "Science Wars." } } There is a group of social scientists who are known as social } constructionists. Of this group there are those known as } deconstructionists. And of this group there are those who are engaged in } the "Science Wars". These individuals more or less advocate that what } scientists do is a construction of their mind and not necessarily an } expression of nature. Some continue to argue that the actions or } constructions of scientists is done in part to get money to play around } in the lab. Some of these people ask that federal funding be curtailed } for these constructions of people called scientists. In some way the } arguments remind one of vegans attacking medical research. } They are partially correct--the half-truth is that everything we do is filtered through our individual perceptions--but they leave out the part of science which insists that all discoveries must be reproducible by an independent observer. This limits science in a way that art, for example, is not, but it gives the scientific method more power and generality than the other "theories" which the deconstructionists compare it to. It is clear to any experimental scientist that scientific observations are, at best (which is how *we* do them), approximations to reality, and that theories are also approximations, since only limited evidence is available to test them. It is true that without funding no scientist can function for very long, so it follows that part of the motivation for our activities is to obtain funding. However, each of us can say with confidence that science is a unified body of knowledge, even though much of that knowledge eludes us, and that the entirety of scien- tific knowledge has benefitted mankind far more than the cost to produce it (can the deconstructionists make the same claim?).
} Alan Sokal wrote an article call Transgressing the Boundaries:... and it } was accepted and published in the journal Social Text. This journal with } a circulation of about 800 is a leading journal for social } constructionists and a place where debates about the science wars have } been taking place. Sokal, an avowed leftist physicist, wrote } Transgressing as a hoax and immediately proclaimed so when the Social } Text article was published. His purpose was to show that the Science } Wars advocates were on thin intellectual grounds. You may wish to read } several recent articles of Academe (an AAUP publication) that tries to } put this all into focus. } } So back to the microscope. Those of us who do microscopy know that much } of what we look at is a construction. The tissue is dead, chemically } altered, stained, dehydrated, infiltrated, and sectioned into to little } pieces... AT BEST. Clearly we are constructing what we hope is a correct } interpretation of nature. Akin to walking through a graveyard and trying } to guess what really happened in the living lives of the people under the } tombstones.
Archeologists, in fact do essentially this. There is nothing in- herently wrong about making inferrences about reality based only on a severely modified part of that reality. As long as we realize the con- sequences of the modifications and do not over-interpret our results, we will be on reasonable safe ground. However phenomena such as the micro- trabecular network, which was shown to be an artefact, should serve to remind us of the pitfalls waiting for the unwary.
} We also know in the best sense of Popper that we are self } doubting and trying to better (disprove) much of what was published } before. These social constructionists do not seem to understand any of } this. Just like I don't understand why people watch soap operas on } daytime television. } Can one get funding by watching soap operas?
} So the question put forth in the original post is a very important one. } How do we tell a public what we see through the microscope is real?
We don't. We tell them that we see a more-or-less reasonable representation of reality which we continually strive to understand and improve, and we tell them that there are limitations to how close any particular method can come to reality (this is why some of us do cryo- EM on unstained material, which also has its limitations).
} It } is a kind of "Daddy, why is the sky blue?" question. As microscopists we } have a responsibility to address the question and help the public } understand what we see is "real" and represents nature.
The "" around real are well deserved. Only by being aware of the representational and limited aspects of science will we really help the public understand what we do.
} And yes it is a } construction of sorts but that is what science is all about: Humans' } feeble attempt to reconstruct the beauty of nature... but not in the } sense of the deconstructionists. } Agreed.
} I recognize this is an unusual thread for this microscopy list, but this } is an important issue because it can dramatically affect the funding that } many of us share. } Not to mention the little detail that without serious considera- tion of the nature of the scientific process, we will not get far in our search for the nature of reality. Yours, Bill Tivol
I was searching the Internet to find some information about STM (Scanning Tunneling Microscopy). This is about to write down a technical paper covering the physic apsects involved in STM.
Anyone could send me good links? Any link / good information in spanish?
{ {Tiny particles tend to clump as the solution they are in dries.} }
I find that a drop of poly-L-lysine in the suspension works wonders for most particle types and allows for a quite even distribution on filmed TEM grids. I have used it mostly on non-biological samples.
I use the standard 0.1% solution offered by EM supply companies. I add one drop of that (from a pasteur pipette) to 1 ml of suspension. It spreads well on all TEM grid films. Would be worth trying on SEM mount surfaces.
Am interested in hearing how it works.
Ted Dunn Maui, Hawaii
The surf is up and it is so beautiful here just now - Spring skies and brisk trade winds.
We are trying to prepare SrTiO3 (001) single crystal TEM samples by chemical means. Does anyone know a good solution to use?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Laurence Marks Department of Materials Science and Engineering Northwestern University fax: (847) 491-7820 mailto:l-marks-at-nwu.edu http://www.numis.nwu.edu ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Generally the customer wants one source for responsibility. The questions about objectivity by using a third party only complicates the matter. When I was a customer using and maintaining SEMs and other equipment, we subcontracted different portions of the job to the lowest quailified bidder. Thereafter, no one person assummed responsibility for the entire job and when things went wrong all the subcontractors pointed "their collective fingers" at each other and ultimately at us (the customer) for not co-ordinating things properly.
When we move an SEM we use subcontractors that we have experience with for crating and moving. We don't have a vested interest in using these subcontractors (commissions or kickbacks) other than the fact that we have used them before and trust them.
I also take pictures of the SEM and have the movers watch me take these pictures. I FEDEX the pictures to the customer so their receiving department has a record of the condition of the SEM when it arrives.
In the eighteen years we have service SEMs and moved them I have had only one problem: moving a JEOL IC 845. It was stored in a warehouse for one week before shipping. Unfortunately, in transporting the SEM around the warehouse, the movers dropped the column. Questions arose about the SEM being packed properly. The insurance company (Yes I always insure the shipment) tried to "relieve themselves of responsibility". The insurance company said that the shipment was not secured properly as Scanservice did not have the experience to pack the equipment. Of course the insurance company had no idea what was required to pack an SEM, much less what an SEM is. I made one phone call to the moving company (United Van Lines) and assured them that if they wanted our continued business they would re-imburse us for the SEM. Within one day, upper management at United called and assured me that they would pay any and all damages no matter what the insurance company stated. Within one week, we were re-imbursed for our services, the customer was fully re-imbursed and all are happy.
I continue to do business with United even though they are at times slightly higher.
I shutter to think what would happen if we had several other parties involved in dis-assembly crating, moving, uncrating, and re-assembly.
The SEM is a comlicated piece of equipment but after 25 years experience it complexity seems much more trivial. Any system is the sum of it's components. When I first repaired SEMs, they were considered very "Hi tech". The "Hi tech" machines of today will soon be mundane. Look at computers. We are not reluctant to assume total responsibility for the SEM move.
This is not to say that you are wrong. May independents may or may not be willing to accept full responsibility for the move. We will as long as the customer understands that he needs to use sub-contractors that we recommend.
Earl Weltmer Scanservice Corporation
Allen R. Sampson 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Actually, a rather complicated subject. In regards to your overall } question, anyone is capable of arranging the shipping. That is a simple } matter. Many independents, however, may be reluctant to accept the } responsibility. If something goes wrong, you might end up with multiple } lawsuits - you sue the contractor, who sues the shipper, who counter-sues } the contractor, etc. It generally is easier for an single independent to } contract for the de-installation and re-installation without regard to the } shipping. In that case, you have a, hopefully, expert and unbiased third } opinion as to the condition of the instrument both before and after the } actual shipping. In court, that third opinion may well carry the day as } definitive. } } If the independent has arranged for the shipping, they will be seen as } having a biased interest in the overall operation. The lines between the } preparation for freight, the delivery of freight and the receiving of } freight will be blurred and any court may appropriately spread the blame for } a problem between the independent and the freight company. In other words, } there will be no way to definitivily identify the source of a problem. In } the worst case, a court may not be able to assign blame to any identifiable } source. } } An elecron microscope is a sensitive instrument, subject to many mechnical } and electronic variables. A major move of an instrument like this should } involve an objective assestment of the instrumental operation before the } move and an objective assesment of the instrumental operation after the } move. Any problems can then be identified to the source. } } In all honesty, I have yet to see any problem in moving any SEM. However, } considering the potential losses involved in moving a recent model SEM, } these problems should be kept in mind. } } 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-sem.com } } -----Original Message----- } } From: Dr. Gary Gaugler {gaugler-at-calweb.com} } To: MSA listserver {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} } Date: Wednesday, April 07, 1999 9:31 AM } Subject: SEM moving } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } } 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 would appreciate hearing from and about independent companies } } or individuals who take down, move and set up SEMs. Specifically, } } I would like to receive quotes for moving an Amray 1830 from TX } } to Sacramento CA. This would involve disconnecting the system, } } locking down the turbo pump, crating, moving, and re-install at my } } location. } } } } I have a quote from Amray but they do not handle moving. I am } } wondering if this is standard practice or if there are reputable folks } } who can handle the whole job from start to finish via one contact. } } I would anticipate that someone who knows about this specific SEM } } model would be preferred. } } } } Anticipated timeframe for start of project is in about 1-2 months } } from now. } } } } gary g. } } } } my fax is 916.791.8186 } } telco is 916.791.8191 } } } } } }
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Dear Robert, } } Two related items cause me to respond to the list. } 1. How do we know what we see through the microscope is real? } 2. Alan Sokal and the "Science Wars." } } There is a group of social scientists who are known as social } constructionists. Of this group there are those known as } deconstructionists. And of this group there are those who are engaged in } the "Science Wars". These individuals more or less advocate that what } scientists do is a construction of their mind and not necessarily an } expression of nature. Some continue to argue that the actions or } constructions of scientists is done in part to get money to play around } in the lab. Some of these people ask that federal funding be curtailed } for these constructions of people called scientists. In some way the } arguments remind one of vegans attacking medical research. } They are partially correct--the half-truth is that everything we do is filtered through our individual perceptions--but they leave out the part of science which insists that all discoveries must be reproducible by an independent observer. This limits science in a way that art, for example, is not, but it gives the scientific method more power and generality than the other "theories" which the deconstructionists compare it to. It is clear to any experimental scientist that scientific observations are, at best (which is how *we* do them), approximations to reality, and that theories are also approximations, since only limited evidence is available to test them. It is true that without funding no scientist can function for very long, so it follows that part of the motivation for our activities is to obtain funding. However, each of us can say with confidence that science is a unified body of knowledge, even though much of that knowledge eludes us, and that the entirety of scien- tific knowledge has benefitted mankind far more than the cost to produce it (can the deconstructionists make the same claim?).
} Alan Sokal wrote an article call Transgressing the Boundaries:... and it } was accepted and published in the journal Social Text. This journal with } a circulation of about 800 is a leading journal for social } constructionists and a place where debates about the science wars have } been taking place. Sokal, an avowed leftist physicist, wrote } Transgressing as a hoax and immediately proclaimed so when the Social } Text article was published. His purpose was to show that the Science } Wars advocates were on thin intellectual grounds. You may wish to read } several recent articles of Academe (an AAUP publication) that tries to } put this all into focus. } } So back to the microscope. Those of us who do microscopy know that much } of what we look at is a construction. The tissue is dead, chemically } altered, stained, dehydrated, infiltrated, and sectioned into to little } pieces... AT BEST. Clearly we are constructing what we hope is a correct } interpretation of nature. Akin to walking through a graveyard and trying } to guess what really happened in the living lives of the people under the } tombstones.
Archeologists, in fact do essentially this. There is nothing in- herently wrong about making inferrences about reality based only on a severely modified part of that reality. As long as we realize the con- sequences of the modifications and do not over-interpret our results, we will be on reasonable safe ground. However phenomena such as the micro- trabecular network, which was shown to be an artefact, should serve to remind us of the pitfalls waiting for the unwary.
} We also know in the best sense of Popper that we are self } doubting and trying to better (disprove) much of what was published } before. These social constructionists do not seem to understand any of } this. Just like I don't understand why people watch soap operas on } daytime television. } Can one get funding by watching soap operas?
} So the question put forth in the original post is a very important one. } How do we tell a public what we see through the microscope is real?
We don't. We tell them that we see a more-or-less reasonable representation of reality which we continually strive to understand and improve, and we tell them that there are limitations to how close any particular method can come to reality (this is why some of us do cryo- EM on unstained material, which also has its limitations).
} It } is a kind of "Daddy, why is the sky blue?" question. As microscopists we } have a responsibility to address the question and help the public } understand what we see is "real" and represents nature.
The "" around real are well deserved. Only by being aware of the representational and limited aspects of science will we really help the public understand what we do.
} And yes it is a } construction of sorts but that is what science is all about: Humans' } feeble attempt to reconstruct the beauty of nature... but not in the } sense of the deconstructionists. } Agreed.
} I recognize this is an unusual thread for this microscopy list, but this } is an important issue because it can dramatically affect the funding that } many of us share. } Not to mention the little detail that without serious considera- tion of the nature of the scientific process, we will not get far in our search for the nature of reality. Yours, Bill Tivol
Funny how we were just talking about vacuum pump oil vapours and how to deal with them... Last Tuesday I had a guy in the lab to change the locks (long, unrelated story), including the lock on the door right behind our ESEM. Our vacuum lines pass through a cut-out on this door to the pumps located in a big warehouse-like area. We have the usual little filters on the pumps, but as we all know, you can usually smell a little something in the air anywhere near them. While changing the lock, the guy was standing very close to the pumps for perhaps 10 minutes or so, and said he could smell something "oily". Well, I just found out that later that day, he became quite ill, with apparently a toxic reaction to a substance or substances unknown, and was hospitalized for a few hours, though he later, apparently, recovered completely. We're not absolutely sure that breathing our oil vapours for a few minutes is actually what caused the reaction, but it appears to be the only possible toxin the man was in contact with that day ( or at least that's the story). It's possible that the gentleman just had an unusual sensitivity to the vapours; I know at times I've had lots more exposure than he did, and have personally never gotten so much as a headache. One thing bothers me a bit, though; we use Alcatel 102, an oil specially made for ESEM's, with their increased water throughput, and I wonder if this stuff might be a bit less user-friendly than the more common types. Has anyone else out there ever seen, or heard of, a toxic reaction to this or any other pump oil? (I have a funny feeling that I haven't heard the end of this incident yet...)
F.C. Thomas MicroAnalysis Facility Geological Survey of Canada (Atlantic) Bedford Institute of Oceanography Dartmouth, Nova Scotia Canada B2Y 4A2
What brands and types of razor blades are used as a disposable microtome knive (paraffin, manual rotary microtome)? What are their limitations regarding section thickness for non-problematic animal and plant tissues?
Alvaro: The links from our site include a section with 11 STM=20 sites. No doubt those sites in turn would have links to=20 most significant STM sites available. 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 *****
On Saturday, April 10, 1999 10:19 AM, =C1lvaro Hern=E1ndez=20 Tortosa [SMTP:aht-at-mx3.redestb.es] wrote: } } Hi everybody! } } I was searching the Internet to find some information } about STM } (Scanning Tunneling Microscopy). This is about to write } down a technical } paper covering the physic apsects involved in STM. } } Anyone could send me good links? Any link / good } information in spanish? } } Thank you, } } Alvaro. }
In a message dated 4/10/99 6:43:54 PM EST, gbza40-at-udcf.gla.ac.uk writes:
{ { Not to mention the little detail that without serious consideration of the nature of the scientific process, we will not get far in our search for the nature of reality. Yours, Bill Tivol } }
I thoroughly enjoyed your posting. Thanks.
The word REALITYcan be interchanged with TRUTH. I don't believe that in a wider sense the scientific process necessarily has anything to do with one's ability to know Truth.
This is my first posting to this listserver. I am in position to purchase a Jeol 840A sem in good condition equipped with a Kevex 8000 EDS detector and need to know its approximate value on the used market. Responses can be made directly to me or via the listserver.
The ion pump on our JEOL 2010 (LaB6) has just about died and we were wondering what sort of lifetimes people were getting for pumps on similar (JEOL 2000 series) machines. Our samples, though biological are not changed often and even so, with the configuration of the machine ie differential pumping etc. we would not expect the ion pumps to have to work terribly hard. We have had the microscope for around 5 years and would like to know if that is about normal for these pumps.
We were also curious as to what people did when the pumps finally fell over. As far as we know there are 3 options - replace with new pumps, replace with reconditioned pumps or replace the filaments in the existing pumps.
What have people found to be the most "cost effective" solution?
Thanks for any help with this.
Colin Veitch
Instrumentation Scientist Fibre Structure & Function Group CSIRO Wool Technology PO Box 21 BELMONT Vic 3216 Australia
Tel: +61 (0)3 5246 4000 Fax: +61 (0)3 5246 4811
The information contained in this e-mail message may be privileged or confidential information. If you are not an intended recipient, you may not copy, distribute or take any action in reliance on it. If you have received this message in error, please telephone CSIRO Wool Technology on +61 3 5246 4000.
I was shown a very simple technique for dispersing dry particles on a SEM stub by Dave Gittens in PGT(UK).
Take a sheet of paper & staple it in a funnel shape. Place a small amount of the powder in the funnel & hold the stub ( with adhesive ) at the end. Use compressed air/N2 to propel the powder out of the funnel onto the stub. It may take a bit of trial & error to get the level of dispersion right, but it should give a very even dispersion without many particles touching. Obviously this should be carried out in a fume hood for safety.
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: Tina Carvalho {tina-at-pbrc.hawaii.edu} To: Microscopy Listserver {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com}
The lifetime of the ion pump of our Jeol 2000FX was 5 years. Officially, JEOL says that the lifetime of a recondioned pump is three years and a new pump five years. Since the microscope is 10 years old, it was the second ion pump to be changed. We choose to replace the pump by a reconditioned pump. This solution save about 50% of the price of a new pump. In fact, this solution was prefered because the reconditioning consists in changing the storing elements and the result is a new pump. The only risk resides in the possibility of getting a very old pump and in this case some soldering can be defective, but it is very rare. Anyway, the pump is always tested before installation and the risk is quasi null.
Eric LEROY Dr. Laboratoire de Chimie Metallurgique des Terres Rares UPR 209 - CNRS Groupe des Laboratoires de Thiais 2-8, rue Henri Dunant 94320 THIAIS cedex
Hi Colin, Tina, Using a compressed air stream, or any moving air for that matter, is a good way to classify particles. I'm not saying it cannot be done, just that I would be very uneasy about a proper sampling. Dispersing particles is not an easy process, although it can seem that way. It would be nice if there were some simple solution, but unfortunately there isn't. We have found the best results by dispersing in an organic solvent with a dissolved polymer carrier and casting films on either water or cleaved mica. Even this technique has it's drawbacks and limitations. Particle material, density, shape, size, size distribution, surface energy and tribo properties and all have affects on dispersability. In other words the best technique for your particles must be determined by you by trials and more trials. Good luck, Russ Gillmeister, Xerox
-----Original Message----- } From: Colin Reid [mailto:creid-at-tcd.ie] Sent: Monday, April 12, 1999 1:27 AM To: MSA.Microscopy.Com
Hi Tina,
I was shown a very simple technique for dispersing dry particles on a SEM stub by Dave Gittens in PGT(UK).
Take a sheet of paper & staple it in a funnel shape. Place a small amount of the powder in the funnel & hold the stub ( with adhesive ) at the end. Use compressed air/N2 to propel the powder out of the funnel onto the stub. It may take a bit of trial & error to get the level of dispersion right, but it should give a very even dispersion without many particles touching. Obviously this should be carried out in a fume hood for safety.
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: Tina Carvalho {tina-at-pbrc.hawaii.edu} To: Microscopy Listserver {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com}
In my former position as the TEM Technical Specialist at NYS College of Ceramics for 6 years, I was the lucky one who had to make the same decision about the sputter ion pump (SIP) on our JEOL 2000FX. The microscope was installed in early 1987 and the SIP died in May 1994. I elected to have it reconditioned which resulted in no problems other than the amount of time it took since we did not have a service contract on the TEM. The reconditioned SIP was working up to the time I left that position (Aug. 1998) and is still working as far as I am aware. Since ion pumps are classified as solid entrainment type pumps, their lifetime depends on their pumping history, i.e. operating pressure. The SIP on that particular JEOL 2000FX was typically operating in the mid to high 10-7 Torr range in standby mode, which resulted in a lifetime of 7.5 years. The same operating condition has been maintained for the reconditioned SIP and it is currently coming up on 5 years this summer. Also, the cost for reconditioning was ~$1020 + shipping (US-1994 dollars). Good luck!
David
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * David T. Hoelzer, Ph.D. Metals and Ceramics Division Oak Ridge National Laboratory Bldg. 5500, Mail Stop 6376 P. O. Box 2008 Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830 (423) 574-5096 {Work} (423) 574-0641 {Fax}
Colin asks ... } } } Hi All, } } The ion pump on our JEOL 2010 (LaB6) has just about died and we were } wondering what sort of lifetimes people were getting for } pumps on similar (JEOL 2000 series) machines. ...
5 years should be considered a better than average lifetime. We had a problem replacing the ion pump on our 6300 SEM, because it was a JEOL pump, which has since stopped supporting (... at least they didn't have one on their shelf when we asked, and instead wanted to re-furbish the existing pump elements ...). Since the JEOL's IP HV connector was a non-standard type, we then decided to go with the same capacity and an established 3rd party and a standard connector. It could be that your IP has a standard connector, and that all you have to do is replace the elements. It would be also just as cost effective to have JEOL or a 3rd party service refurbish your elements. Most cost effective would be to extend the pump's lifetime by baking it out, but not all elements can be baked effeciently or at all. And, yet another option, is to try and find a replacement element which can accommodate an "in situ" bake-out heater, altho more probably, this may mean replacing the entire pump.
I have more info around here somewhere, but can't easily find it ... but I did find the 3rd party refurbishing and replacment services via searching the wwweb with "metacrawler.com".
... 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/
Hi Colin, I'm replying to the List because my system thinks your address is invalid (due to two "-at-" symbols?).
I inherited a TEM with an IGP that was less than 5yrs old. It was used in a rapid-turnaround pathology lab. Both the samples and the film were cycled very quickly through the system. (In fact, this scope would frequently crash because the film was used up so quickly, the auto-sequence for pumping the column was interrupted.) No one used the cold trap. The IGP became exhausted and had to be replaced. Luckily we had covered the IGP as a rider on a service contract.
The reason for its early demise was attributed partly to the biological specimens that essentially put a lot of water into the vacuum system but mostly to the fact that the scope and film desiccator were backfilled with impure (wet) nitrogen. (Room air would have been even worse.) The nitrogen we used was run-of-the-mill 'standard' nitrogen, and the service contract provider wanted to nullify the IGP rider coverage because of it. Lucky for us, since the rider did not specify what TYPE of nitrogen to use, we were covered. Once the pump was replaced and we switched to UHP (ultra-high purity) nitrogen for backfilling, the system performed fine.
I was not there long enough to complete another 5yr study; however, I now have another IGP system and I do specify UHP nitrogen. I also use the cold trap. Someone else may add to this, but I was told this delivers any specimen-derived water vapor to the vacuum system in a slow, controlled fashion as the trap heats up (rather than all at once).
Hope this helps.
Ann Hein Lehman Trinity College Hartford CT
-----Original Message----- } From: "colin.veitch-at-dwt.csiro.au"-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com [mailto:"colin.veitch-at-dwt.csiro.au"-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com] Sent: Monday, April 12, 1999 1:02 AM To: microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com
Hi All,
The ion pump on our JEOL 2010 (LaB6) has just about died and we were wondering what sort of lifetimes people were getting for pumps on similar (JEOL 2000 series) machines. Our samples, though biological are not changed often and even so, with the configuration of the machine ie differential pumping etc. we would not expect the ion pumps to have to work terribly hard. We have had the microscope for around 5 years and would like to know if that is about normal for these pumps.
We were also curious as to what people did when the pumps finally fell over. As far as we know there are 3 options - replace with new pumps, replace with reconditioned pumps or replace the filaments in the existing pumps.
What have people found to be the most "cost effective" solution?
Thanks for any help with this.
Colin Veitch
Instrumentation Scientist Fibre Structure & Function Group CSIRO Wool Technology PO Box 21 BELMONT Vic 3216 Australia
Tel: +61 (0)3 5246 4000 Fax: +61 (0)3 5246 4811
The information contained in this e-mail message may be privileged or confidential information. If you are not an intended recipient, you may not copy, distribute or take any action in reliance on it. If you have received this message in error, please telephone CSIRO Wool Technology on +61 3 5246 4000.
I need to pump this group for information (sorry, it slipped out).
The recent discussion of ion pump lifetimes has generated some talk here about the lifetime of turbo pumps. Does anyone have figures for turbos? For example, say one has a TP with magnetic bearings and runs the pump continuously, at what point would one expect some sort of problem due to normal wear and tear? I assume that metal fatigue would be a factor to consider here. Thanks.
While the following list is by no means complete, the following come to mind:
Leica Olympus Triangle Biomedical Accuedge
Ther are several more out there. All of them have their advocates in the histology community.
All these blades will work fine with paraffin processed tissue.
-- Begin original message --
} } Hi all, } } What brands and types of razor blades are used as a disposable microtome } knive (paraffin, manual rotary microtome)? What are their limitations } regarding section thickness for non-problematic animal and plant tissues? } } Thanks in advance for any input! } } Yvan Lindekens.
-- End original message --
best regards, Bob Robert Schoonhoven Laboratory of Molecular Carcinogenesis and Mutagenesis Dept. of Environmental Sciences and Engineering University of North Carolina CB#7400 Chapel Hill, NC 27599 Phone office 919-966-6343 Lab 919-966-6140 Fax 919-966-6123
**Suppose you were an idiot... And suppose you were a member of Congress ... But I repeat myself.-Mark Twain**
there is a short communication in "Powder Technology" from 1971 that describes a eutectic camphor-napthalene mixture that can be used to deagglomerate small particles for observation as individuals. i have used this technique with some success in the past. what it amounts to is dispersing the particles by "kneading" them into the eutectic mixture and then subliming the mixture away to leave only the particles. this avoids the pulling effect of a drying liquid dispersant and helps keep the particles apart.
hope this helps.
ref: Powder Technology, 5 (1971/72) p.377-9.
b-
**************************************************************** Brian McIntyre Electron Microscopy Lab Institute of Optics University of Rochester Rochester, NY 14627
716-275-3058 716-244-4936(fax)
"You may get to the top of the ladder of success only to find its been leaning against the wrong wall" A. Raime
I am experimenting with phosphorous doped silicon. The goal is to determine dopant concentrations in the doped regions between the source/gate and gate/drain. I believe that with the correct recipe, the doped silicon will etch at a faster rate than the undoped regions, revealing thickness fringes when view in the TEM in the WBDF configuration. Thus far I have not obtained the desired results, ie, the etchants seem to attack all areas equally. Do you know of a wet chemical etch recipe which would achieve this result?
i've got a perfectly good noran light element detector that i'd like to keep and plug into a new low-cost rear end electronics and computer system. i've spoken with some vendors (that shall remain nameless) that cannot interface easily to the detector. are there any vendors that can do this and provide qual/quant, digital imaging, and stage control for a reasonable price?
(this may not be of general interest so 'reply' may be most appropriate)
thx b-
**************************************************************** Brian McIntyre Electron Microscopy Lab Institute of Optics University of Rochester Rochester, NY 14627
716-275-3058 716-244-4936(fax)
"You may get to the top of the ladder of success only to find its been leaning against the wrong wall" A. Raime
If the wick is regularly replaced and the operating conditions are clean, the TP should last many years. I have a Balzers 240 that is 11 years old and still works perfectly. It uses a TP120 controller.
JEOL typically sells a JEOL 840 for about $40,000.00 installed with a one year warranty. This is without the EDS. On the used market the 840's have been selling for about $35,000.00 to $45,000.00 with an EDS but not the EDS is not guaranteed working. In other words the EDS and related hardware is given gratis. About half the time I have found them to be in working order as the detectors have been left at room temperature for an unspecified time. I would be heisitant to purchase a Kevex 8000 series as reliability has been an issue with this series because of the wirewrap mother boards. Check with Kevex (now Noran) for the details.
Hope this helps.
Earl Weltmer
Cochran 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, } } This is my first posting to this listserver. I am in position to } purchase a Jeol 840A sem in good condition equipped with a Kevex 8000 } EDS detector and need to know its approximate value on the used market. } Responses can be made directly to me or via the listserver. } } Thanks a lot for your time and assistance. } } Ray Cochran
In a message dated 4/9/99 6:14:32 PM US Mountain Standard Time, walck-at-ppg.com writes:
} microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
We have a most ancient AO microtome with cryostat and a dull ugly blade in a wood box. It would be neat if we could find one of the holders that held the razor blades ... any floating out there??! Ed Sharpe
Turbo pump life time is like asking how long is a piece of string. We = have many pumps on various systems that go for a very long time ( 8 to = 10 years) however we have also had those that go in one year for no = apparent reason.( plus one month just so that they are out of warranty )
However most pumps, from whichever manufacturer, seem to last pretty = long and are very reliable if treated with respect. One of the main = killers of turbos seems to be oxidation and fatigue of the metal = components. Some of the EM's, when switched off, vent the backing line = and thus the turbo. This means that the turbo parts, which are designed = to be under vacuum all the time, oxidise quicker than originally = planned.=20 So my advise is to ensure that the turbo is always on or at least under = vacuum. If you need to leave the system "off" over holiday periods, it = is better to simply unplug the turbo controller and leave the rotary = pump running. This will keep the system under vacuum without the danger = of having a power failure or such like, kill the turbo whilst no one is = around. Servicing the turbo oil wick is also recommended on a regular basis and = our experience shows that once a year is sufficient.=20 But believe me, I would much rather have a turbo system to any diff. = pump or Ion pump system.=20
Cheers Luc Harmsen Anaspec, South Africa Technical support on microscopy. Tel + 27 (0) 11 476 3455 Fax + 27 (0) 11 476 7290 anaspec-at-icon.co.za
-----Original Message----- } From: "JBozzola-at-aol.com"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com = [SMTP:"JBozzola-at-aol.com"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com] Sent: Monday, April 12, 1999 7:03 PM To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
I need to pump this group for information (sorry, it slipped out).=20
The recent discussion of ion pump lifetimes has generated some talk here =
about the lifetime of turbo pumps. Does anyone have figures for turbos? = For=20 example, say one has a TP with magnetic bearings and runs the pump=20 continuously, at what point would one expect some sort of problem due to =
normal wear and tear? I assume that metal fatigue would be a factor to=20 consider here. Thanks.
To be removed from our mailing list please call toll free 888-446-5497
This is really cool!
PREMIUM CHANNELS........Descrambled!
EASY to assemble plans for only $7.00 !
YOU WILL BE WATCHING all your FAVORITE PAY STATIONS featuring MOVIES, SPORTS. Adult entertainment, and any other scrambled signal NEXT WEEK!
You can EASILY assemble a cable descrambler in less than 30 minutes! You have probably seen many advertisments for similar plans......... BUT OURS are BETTER!
We have compared it to all the others and have actually IMPROVED the quality and SIMPLIFIED the design !!!
** We even include PHOTOS! **
OUR PLANS ARE BETTER! We have NEW, EASY TO READ,EASY to assemble plans for only $7.00! We have seen them advertised for as much as $29.00 and you have to wait weeks to receive them!
WHAT THE OTHERS SAY IS TRUE!
Parts are available at "The TV HUT" or any electronics store. Trademark rights do not allow us to use a national electronics retail chains' name but there is one in your town!
Call and ask them BEFORE you order! They are very familiar with these plans!
They may have to special order the variable capacitor, But WHY WAIT for a special order? WE have them!
WE have secured a supply of the capacitors directly from the manufacturer and We WILL include one with your plans for an ADDITIONAL $10.00 only!
All you need now is the EASY TO ASSEMBLE plans to show you how this educational device in 30 MINUTES!
It is LEGAL, providing of course you use these plans for EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES only. See first hand and LEARN how this SIMPLE circuitry works! If you intend to use these plans for any other purpose DO NOT ORDER them.
IT'S FUN TO BUILD!
We're sure you'll enjoy this project! This is a unique opportunity for hobbiest of ANY skill level to learn simple circuitry!
Learn how easy descrambling is!
$ 7.00 for plans only
$10.00 for variable capacitor only
$17.00 for The easy to assemble plans and one variable capacitor!
Please send check or money order payable to:
Kraftworks P.O. Box 11752 San Rafael, Ca. 94912
WE pay postage and handling! Please allow 14 days for delivery.
* For express service please include a self address stamped envelope with .66 postage added
On Mon, 12 Apr 1999 JBozzola-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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } I need to pump this group for information (sorry, it slipped out). } } The recent discussion of ion pump lifetimes has generated some talk here } about the lifetime of turbo pumps. Does anyone have figures for turbos? For } example, say one has a TP with magnetic bearings and runs the pump } continuously, at what point would one expect some sort of problem due to } normal wear and tear? I assume that metal fatigue would be a factor to } consider here.
John,
I have run a Seiko-Seiki Maglev on our JEOL4000 without any problems for 8 or 9 years. It does not give any noticable vibration or magnetic field problem (we resolve 0.25nm) although I do use a Balzers vibration isolator as I was pretty paranoid when I first fitted it in place of the SIP. We have had a few (2 or 3) severe vacuum crashes when it suddenly pumped air and hit the safety bearings but it has survived OK. The reason we replaced the SIP is that the microscope has been modified to include an apertured gas reaction cell so the pump often sees a pretty poor vacuum (10-5 mbar) of H, He, N, O, CO, Ar and various hydrocarbons for several hours at a time. However, the STP can still pull 10-7 mbar on the column given time to clear gasses out of the column properly.
Unfortunately, I have no financial interest in any of the companies mentioned.
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. ============================================================================
Robert, it is a far from easy task to get 'real' numbers out of this. The etch you should use is (roughly) 0.5% HF acid (usual conc., i.e. 48%) in Nitric acid (again, 'usual' conc. - 50%???). At room temperature this will give you the desired effect in a few seconds on a prepared TEM specimen. Au or diamond grids will stop Cu being dissolved from the grid and being re-deposited on your sample. UV light is supposed to be needed for one polarity of dopant, but I can't remember which. I did see one paper a couple of years ago that said that the thickness of the TEM specimen had an effect, so they etched just one side - before doing the second polish to make a thin specimen, and ion milling from the unetched side (I can probably dig this reference out if you like). Ron Anderson from IBM told me they do it at about -100 degrees C in a dark tank for a few minutes; the solution should be a kind of 'slush' like the iced drinks you can get. He said this slowed down the etch rate and ! gave better uniformity and more re In my opinion the experimental variability in this method is likely to be much worse than the FE-SEM method, where you get doping contrast due to work function changes. I'm also not sue whether the TEM method is primarily sensitive to the active or inactive dopant concentration. In either case you will need a planar sample for SIMS to give you a calibration curve.
Cheers,
Richard Beanland
} --------------------------------------------------------------------- } 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 experimenting with phosphorous doped silicon. The goal is to determine } dopant } concentrations in the doped regions between the source/gate and gate/drain. } I } believe that with the correct recipe, the doped silicon will etch at a faster } rate than the undoped regions, revealing thickness fringes when view in the } TEM in the WBDF } configuration. Thus far I have not obtained the desired results, i.e., the } etchants seem to attack all areas equally. Do you know of a wet chemical } etch recipe which would achieve this result? } } Thank you, } } Robert Pomrenke } bpom-at-aol.com
Try Conneaut Lake Scientific in Conneaut Lake, Pa. for what you are looking for.
Just to let you and others know that Mike Gemble the owner/operator has a warehouse full of used microscopes and microscope related items such as preparation equipment and accessories.... He can be reached at myroscope-at-aol.com or his phone is 814-382-1604... If anyone is interested and passing through Norhtwest Pennsylvania, it would be a good place to stop and browse if you are into this type of equipment... Also his web site is www.conneautlakesci.com Check it out!
Good Luck!
C YA C. Passione -----Original Message----- } From: "COURYHOUSE-at-aol.com"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com {"COURYHOUSE-at-aol.com"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com {microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com}
I am looking for sources to obtain a quality "student" grade microscope for my son, who is 10 years old. Can you or the MSA offer an recommendations or guidance?
I operate and service our Philips CM12. The +15 volt power supply in the remote racks has failed, mainly in the area of the 2 MJH-16010 transistors.
The designation for this supply is PE 1130/00 and I require this manual to troubleshoot the supply rather than paying out 1000's of dollars to have the it replaced by Philips.
If anyone has this manual (or circuit diagrams) I would be very appreciative of a copy.
You can contact me offline if you wish, or at the numbers below.
Thanks in advance
Fred Pearson
******************************************************* Fred Pearson Brockhouse Institute for Materials Research McMaster University 1280 Main St. West Hamilton, Ontario Canada L8S 4M1
Has anyone received information about recertification? I have not received anything and I'm a bit concerned that my certification will expire even while working in the field.
JBozzola-at-aol.com-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com wrote: } } } I need to pump this group for information (sorry, it slipped out). } } } } The recent discussion of ion pump lifetimes has generated some talk here } } about the lifetime of turbo pumps. Does anyone have figures for turbos? For } } example, say one has a TP with magnetic bearings and runs the pump } } continuously, at what point would one expect some sort of problem due to } } normal wear and tear? I assume that metal fatigue would be a factor to } } consider here. } Dear John, The HVEM has 2 Balzers TPU330's, one on the accelerator and the other on the column. The accelerator is always kept at ~3*10^-7 torr, and the pump is run at ~2/3 speed in standby mode. The column is at ~7*10^-6 torr and is occasionally aired and pumped out. We have had the reccommended bearing changes at 2-year intervals (the wicks are also changed at that time) and we change the oil twice a year. We have had no problems at all with the pumps--in contrast to the old TMPs we replaced them with many years ago. Yours, Bill Tivol
SUMMARY:(To anyone interested in the details, all replies follow.)
Thanks to all for your feedback (including phone calls). I was surprised by the volume, but that helped justify to others here my concern about venting in general.
The overall view was that I had nothing to worry about in terms of pump performance and lifetime, although there were a couple of horror stories. Many responders vent to their fume hood air-handling systems, or other positive-pressure exhaust systems. What happens to the 'bad air' once discharged outside was a real concern - I have left that one to the engineers. Other concerns included handling condensation especially water coming down from the roof, and maintenance of filters.
What I did was have them use 45-degree angles where possible and include a T-cleanout at the wall for each pump.
Thanks again-- Ann Lehman
--------------------------------------------------- THE QUESTION: Dear Listers,
My Safety Officer wants all our mechanical pumps vented outdoors. The pumps are Sargent-Welch, Alcatel, and Edwards and are used to back TEMs, film desiccators, evaporators, etc. Initially I thought this was a good idea, having done it simply in past lives by drilling a hole in a wall, ganging the outlet hoses, and presto - out the bad smoke went.
However the B&G engineering consultant got hold of the project (yes now it's a 'project') and now EVERY pump must get its own line up to the roof. This means each pump's discharge is directed to a run of 1-inch copper pipe with three to five 90-degree bends over a total vertical length of about 20'. (Luckily I am on the top floor.) There is also talk about inserting a clean-out or filter at each feed-through for dealing with accumulated oil.
I'm concerned that the pumps are not designed for backpressure on the outlet side coming from the 20' column of air plus the resistence from the 90-degree bends and filter.
Could this setup affect the (1) efficiency or (2) overall life of the pumps? Am I being overly cautious?
I'd appreciate feedback from the List (including manufacturers) re the feasiblity of this approach, and the pump specs - I haven't been able to find anything about discharge 'load' tolerances.
Thanks, you can reply offline and if there is sufficient interest I'll summarize responses for the List.
Ann Hein Lehman EM Facility Mgr Trinity College Hartford, CT 06106 v. 860-297-4289 f. 860-297-2538 e. ann.lehman-at-exchange.cc.trincoll.edu
--------------------------------------------------- THE ANSWERS:
My guess is that this will be hard to judge. We have a much saner system with the pump exhausts fed into the air handling system (which takes exhaust air from our home in the second sub-basement to the 46th floor where it is released). When we put a filter on the exhaust, we notice no adverse effects, and as the filter becomes full of oil, the back-pressure must rise. I'd think that the air column--bends and all-- would be a small contribution compared to the filter. I would definitely reccommend having some sort of oil trap on the line, since otherwise oil would accumulate and potentially cause problems. Good luck. Yours, Bill Tivol --------------------------------------------------- Yes, please summarize. I assume you are using an exhaust filter now and this presents some impedance to the exhaust. Presumably with the copper pipe
exhause, the filter would be removed so this would save a little on the overall impedance.
Donald J. Marshall Relion Industries P.O. Box 12 Bedford, MA 01730 Ph: 781-275-4695 FAX: 781-271-0252 email dmrelion-at-world.std.com
--------------------------------------------------- If you are worried about back pressure you can put a fan in the lines to put negitive pressure at the outlet of the vacuum pumps.
Gordon Couger gcouger-at-couger.com www.couger.com/gcouger Stillwater, OK 405 624-2855 --------------------------------------------------- Although we do not manufacture these pumps we do supply the range as backing pumps for our Range of Preparation Equipment, Sputter Coaters, Carbon Coaters etc, etc. We would always recommend an Oil Mist Filter and always provide one, these can be of a type which remove the oil and just vent into the air or you can have an inline type where they remove the oil and have an outlet position which you can vent to air.
In general terms the single and dual oil filled rotary vacuum pumps will withstand back pressures of at least 1/4 of a bar i.e. approx. 4 p.s.i. which equates to 8 feet head of water back pressure. So you will have no problem with your 20 feet of air.
Trust this is of help. On behalf of Emitech Ltd. --------------------------------------------------- Unless your lab is at a partial vacuum and you are venting your pump to atmosphere, backpressure is a moot point. The gas flow is miniscule except for initial roughing.
Runs, elbows, diameters, restrictions are all critical on the INTAKE side of the pump, but have no significant effect on the outlet side of the pump.
Ken Converse owner, Quality Images Delta, PA 717-456-5491 717-456-7996 fax --------------------------------------------------- I think you are being overly cautious. The static pressure inside your 20' of pipe is, of course, the same as the pressure outside. The only worry would be dynamic pressure as you pumped down the column, dessicator, or whatever. A length of 1" pipe can handle an enormous amount of air, and you only pump at maximum rate for a few moments. After all, a small-to-medium rotary pump has a capacity of, say, 5 cu. ft. per minute, which corresponds to 8,640 cu. in per minute, or 144 cu. in pr second. Very roughly, the cross-section of your pipe is 1 sq. in., so the velocity is about 150 in/sec, or 13 ft/sec, 10 mph. The pressure drop to get this velocity will be quite small. When the chamber or whatever is evacuated, the gas flow is negligible.
The whole design plan seems like overkill, though. Does the design engineer have an interest in the plumbing company that would install the pipework? Our system at MIT vents into ducts left over from a hood formerly installed in the area, so the fan, ductwork to the roof, etc., were all in place.
tonygr-at-MIT.EDU --------------------------------------------------- I don't think back pressure is an issue but something to consider: under the right conditions the ID of the cool Cu tubing (in the building) is condensation water from outside. We know the penalty for filling our pumps with water... The work around is to exhaust into a duct of a forced air exhaust system (like a chemical fume hood). Also I recommend that at your end of the exhaust line that a "T" fitting be used & you connect to the RA. Extend the lower side of the "T" ~6 inches & terminate with a ball valve. That way if anything comes down the pipe it goes into the trap rather than your pump.
& the big one: I'd be sure the F&E (B&E) group understands the liability they expose themselves to. Unknown to us till the pump croak, our F&E guys modified our exhaust line & poured water into our Fomblin full pump.
good luck, Bruce Brinson Rice U. --------------------------------------------------- I would say you have nothing to fear. Typically, a roughing pump should be fitted with an oil mist filter. The back pressure generated by the filter would "swamp" any from the piping you described. My answer is predicated on pumping down a reasonably sized, sealed vacuum chamber with a rotorary vane pump or similar. After the initial few gulps of gas, the volume of gas moved (at STP) is very tiny. If your vacuum chamber is the size of a small room and the initial pumpdown is by something like a roots blower, that is different... {g}
Woody White McDermott Technology --------------------------------------------------- My first response would be to query whether the safety office really knows what he desires to vent with this very expensive venting project. Usually the most noxious part of a roughing pump exhaust is the particulate or oil mist. If you are not pumping something dangerous like a poison gas or something equally dreadful, I see no reason to go to the expense. The exhaust filters which have been designed for use on your pumps usually do a fine job at trapping any problem vapors. There should be no problem with back pressure. If someone finds me in error, I'm sure we will hear about it.
Good luck. Alex Greene SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTATION SERVICES, INC. Number 499, Post Office Box 19400 Austin, Texas 78760 Phone: 512/282-5507 FAX 512/280-0702 --------------------------------------------------- I can sympathize with your problems. I run a plastic sump pump hose from each of my rotary pumps out to the window. If you have ever watched an untrapped rotary pump, you will notice that there is almost no air movement out of the pump after the initial ten seconds of pumping. There should be no problem with long runs, bends, etc. if there is nothing but simple atmospheric pressure to oppose the air movement. A simple drain at the first bend up should drain any condensed oil, or a wad of steel wool in the line. Use as large a diameter pipe as you can get them to run. One solution I've seen is to put a commercial car oil filter onto the pump exhaust. If this didn't bother it, neither should your copper line.
mager-at-interchange.ubc.ca --------------------------------------------------- we have 21 mechanical pumps in a total of twelve rooms in our lab. This includes pumps for specimen prep equipment, electron microscopes and desiccators much like with your situation. We remodeled the labs in 1992 and installed a new exhaust system to remove oil mists. We had previously installed some exhaust systems in the late 1970s because we had a post doc MD/Ph.D. here who insisted that breathing oil mist vapors was not healthy. I have accumulated the oil since 1992 (it condenses out into one liter containers above our pumping stations). Today I measured the total volume accumulated in all rooms. It was just a little more than one liter. This is a long time to accumulate oil, but it may be useful information for you. There are pumps on the roofs of the respective buildings which house the equipment referred to above. All roof pumps are at least 30 feet away from the instrument pumps.
We used to use the oil mist traps but we found they required a lot of maintenance with that many pumps. Cleaning them requires a lot of time and if you replace them every few months, the cost adds up quickly.
I assume that most of our accumulated oil is SUPERGRADE A OIL, the type we use for our mechanical pumps. This is produced by Inland Vacuum Industries in Churchville, NY, according to the MSDS sheets I have. These sheets also indicate the following: "VENTILATION US Gov't 8 hr TWA limit for exposure to oil mists is 5 mg per cubic meter."
I assume that some of the accumulated oil I collected is diffusion pump oil (Santovac 5). This is a polyphenyl ether and is made my Monsanto. The Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) is also 5Mg/cubic meter for this oil.
I like our system because it is maintenance free for us. Our university air conditioning mechanics maintain the pumps on the roof.
John.Wheatley-at-ASU.Edu --------------------------------------------------- The biggest problem with that sort of a set-up is that the water vapor will condense in the exhaust line and after the pump is turned off flow back into the pump ruining it in a short time. You will need a trap for the condensation and you will have to empty it on a regular basis. The long exhaust line will not add to the efficiency of your pumps.
Hope that helps, Peter Jordan, EMSI --------------------------------------------------- I applaud the decision to vent the exhaust. I know of no EPA or other regulation to do so, but the exhaust of mechanical pumps on initial pumpdown is something I have always recommended my customers be rid of. I hope that you are also taking measures to move the pumps into separate rooms or acoustic enclosures to reduce their noise output.
Working with EMs often means spending many hours at a time living with these problems. While occasional exposure can be acceptable, the constant drone of pumps and exposure to pump oil vapors can only be detrimental.
The setup you detail presents no problem to operation of the pumps. Air is very compressable and the volume of air present in the exhaust lines means that there will be only a negligible pressure increase due to the various bends.
A clean-out filter is unnecessary. Proper design of the exhaust stack should provide for a low point where accumulated oil can be either be drained or returned to the pump. This requires less than 90 degree bends in the stack so that any condensed oil can flow back to the pump or a drain. If the exhaust provides for a return to the pump, you have to be aware that there might also be other condensed materials, primarily water, included. Best bet would be to have a slightly greater than 90 degree bend close to the pump followed by a vertical section forming a trap. At that second bend, a drain should be included that would allow for the drainage of all fluids trapped there. Any such scheme would of course require the regular emptying of the trap.
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-sem.com --------------------------------------------------- All four of our mechanical pumps, those on vacuum evaporator, glow discharge, film dessicators, and TEM, have been fitted with oil mist eliminator filters on the exhaust line. I suppose there may still be some noxious fumes emitted especially at initial evacuation but our noses don't detect them. One less expensive alternative to the piping exhaust that your Safety Officer proposes might be to mount an appropriate exhaust filter on one of the pumps and have the Safety Officer monitor the output with an appropriate sensing device and compare to unfiltered output.
However, if the Safety Office budget is going to pay for the piping project...
Just a couple of thoughts. Don Gantz Boston Univ Med School --------------------------------------------------- Nothing personal, but your safety and facilities people are NUTS! But, to give you some ideas:
1) at BNL in the Light Source, the rotary-pumps exhausts are attached to a flexible corrugated-hose. This hose has a slight negative pressure. 2) Where possible, I attach rotary-pump exhaust to the "house vacuum". But, you have to monitor the "house vacuum", incase the compressor is turned off. 3) Some of our Edward's pumps have large oil-filters on the exhaust. We get these filters at the local car-parts store. They are cheaper and more massive than the ones the vacuum companies sell.
hasta, Jim jquinn-at-dol1.eng.sunysb.edu --------------------------------------------------- I have two suggestions. If these are low volume pumps 3/4" copper is probably enough for each pump. If two or more pump lines are joined then the size should be increased to maintain a cross sectional area equal to the the 3/4" time the number of pumps. Yes, traps should be incorporated into the lines to catch condensed oil and water. If the line is going out the roof you must prevent water from entering the line and it may need to be insulated to prevent water condensation on the inside only if you pump significant water.
Good Smokin, Russ RGillmeister-at-sdms.usa.xerox.com --------------------------------------------------- I think venting the MPs to the outside is a good idea. We did this in our lab by connecting the exhausts to the nearest hood using a copper pipe and rubber connectors. For our Hitachi, which has three MPs, our maintenance department built a large wooden box with a removable plexiglas lid. The lid has a large, flexible aluminum air duct connected to it. The whole thing exhausts via a hood. We can really smell the difference! So far we have had no problems.
Good luck Jordi.Marti-at-alliedsignal.com --------------------------------------------------- Only to say that if the pumps were designed to be able to operate in the described manner then the manufacturers would have specs on how and what type of ventilation system to install under different applications, i.e. extraction type if there is more than 10' of pipe to outside, or more than 2 bends totaling more than 90 degrees. Also, if discharging the "bad air" outside then EPA standards must be met...such as installing "scrubber" systems to insure no oil or certain hydrocarbons are discharged into the air and eventually being introduced into the ground water. Best thing is to install a factory offered oil recovery exhaust filter system such as the one we spoke about on the coating system. And to check with OSHA as to the "hazards Imposed" by the Vacuum Pump vapors. If they say they are too hazardous for normal laboratory environments then we may explore the possibility of routing the exhaust into existing "Fume Hoods" in the laboratories. That is assuming they have the necessary environmental "cleaning" systems built into them.
Bottom line is I doubt that without a lot of engineering the pumps will be able to be operated properly with the exhaust "routed" through any type of piping more than a few feet long. Meaning that if you hook any lines, more than a few feet long without bends or any that have more than 90 degrees of bends, to remove the fumes to any of the pumps, they won't work properly without a lot of engineering to eliminate any "back pressure" that may be caused.
--------------------------------------------------- (This is not a direct response, but a related one - In reply, I would add that the lab I used to work in had its air intake sited exactly where the delivery trucks would park and idle their engines for hours while unloading. The fumes made several people sick - nausea & headaches. So it is possible your guy suffered a hypersensitive reaction. --Ann Lehman)
Funny how we were just talking about vacuum pump oil vapours and how to deal with them... Last Tuesday I had a guy in the lab to change the locks (long, unrelated story), including the lock on the door right behind our ESEM. Our vacuum lines pass through a cut-out on this door to the pumps located in a big warehouse-like area. We have the usual little filters on the pumps, but as we all know, you can usually smell a little something in the air anywhere near them. While changing the lock, the guy was standing very close to the pumps for perhaps 10 minutes or so, and said he could smell something "oily". Well, I just found out that later that day, he became quite ill, with apparently a toxic reaction to a substance or substances unknown, and was hospitalized for a few hours, though he later, apparently, recovered completely. We're not absolutely sure that breathing our oil vapours for a few minutes is actually what caused the reaction, but it appears to be the only possible toxin the man was in contact with that day ( or at least that's the story). It's possible that the gentleman just had an unusual sensitivity to the vapours; I know at times I've had lots more exposure than he did, and have personally never gotten so much as a headache. One thing bothers me a bit, though; we use Alcatel 102, an oil specially made for ESEM's, with their increased water throughput, and I wonder if this stuff might be a bit less user-friendly than the more common types. Has anyone else out there ever seen, or heard of, a toxic reaction to this or any other pump oil? (I have a funny feeling that I haven't heard the end of this incident yet...)
F.C. Thomas MicroAnalysis Facility Geological Survey of Canada (Atlantic) Bedford Institute of Oceanography Dartmouth, Nova Scotia Canada B2Y 4A2
Does anyone know of any short courses given in New Jersey related to=20 Failure Analysis, Metallurgy, Metallography, Etc=2E? If so, I would=20 greatly appreciate the information=2E =20 TIA, =20 Leslie Link e-mail: Leslie=2ELink-at-us=2Egtc=2Eboc=2Ecom
I have an OLD razor blade holder with plastic anti-roll plate. There is IEC engraved on it. Could this be what you are looking for? 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 ---------- } From: "COURYHOUSE-at-aol.com"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
In a message dated 4/9/99 6:14:32 PM US Mountain Standard Time, walck-at-ppg.com writes:
} microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
We have a most ancient AO microtome with cryostat and a dull ugly blade in a wood box. It would be neat if we could find one of the holders that held the razor blades ... any floating out there??! Ed Sharpe
Check with your local Mattel toy store for the recently released "Play X3 Digital Video Microscope" with a list price of $99. This is a joint venture with Intel and is CMOS based. It is designed to let children of all ages display images from the microscope on a PC at both still and video rates, print images and email them. Mattel/Intel will also use similar technology for their Me2Cam. Naturally the results will not compare with the $100,000. instrumetns we use in research or will they? Larry D. Ackerman Lily & Yuh Nung Jan Laboratories Howard Hughes Medical Institute UCSF, Box 0725, Rm U226 533 Parnassus Ave. San Francisco, CA 94143
I know you all have been through this subject before, so I thought I'd ask what month's archives would be best to search for your prior discussions on the good,bad and ugly of film scanners.
I'm responsible for near 60 years of 4x5 negatives from our R&D work here at TIMET, some of the oldest are 4x5 TEM and view camera negs but the majority are Polaroid negatives.
Perhaps, someone archived just the appropriate responses?
Any help or discussion would be greatly appreciated.
I am experimenting with phosphorous doped silicon. The goal is to determine dopant concentrations in the doped regions between the source/gate and gate/drain. I believe that with the correct recipe, the doped silicon will etch at a faster rate than the undoped regions, revealing thickness fringes when view in the TEM in the WBDF configuration. Thus far I have not obtained the desired results, ie, the etchants seem to attack all areas equally. Do you know of a wet chemical etch recipe which would achieve this result?
I was wandering if anyone could help me out as i am new to this technique. i have been retorgradely labeling cells in the spinal cord with CTB-HRP in rats and then staining with TMB and DAB reactions. however this has not been highly succesfull..any suggestions? i think the problem might be in the injections rather than the staining from what i gather under EM i should be looking for a black pepper like precipitate and some form of tungstate crystals? any suggestions on how to get dendritic staining? Thanks Jennifer Wilson
Jennifer Wilson Neurosciences Loeb Research Institute Ottawa Civic Hospital 751 Parkdale Avenue Ottawa, Ontario, K1Y 4E9 Canada Tel;( 613) 798-5555 x6387
Robert, I do not know of any selective etchant for this process, although they may exist. Stains can be used to identify n vs. p regions using optical microscopy, although this gives no quantitative data. I would probably do some C-V measurements (Capacitance-Voltage) to get at the doping. Or if these are big devised, a 4-point probe would do the trick. -good luck -andrew ___________________________________ I am experimenting with phosphorous doped silicon. The goal is to determine dopant concentrations in the doped regions between the source/gate and gate/drain. I believe that with the correct recipe, the doped silicon will etch at a faster rate than the undoped regions, revealing thickness fringes when view in the TEM in the WBDF configuration. Thus far I have not obtained the desired results, ie, the etchants seem to attack all areas equally. Do you know of a wet chemical etch recipe which would achieve this result?
Thank you,
Robert Pomrenke bpom-at-aol.com
-----== Sent via Deja News, The Discussion Network ==----- http://www.dejanews.com/ Easy access to 50,000+ discussion forums
_ 9:30 =F1 10:30 : Registration (Coffee and Danish)
Coffee/Danish courtesy of Tousimis Research, Rockville, MD
_ 10:30 =F1 10:45 : Introductory Remarks and society business (Phil Flaitz)= =2E
_ 10:45 =F1 11:30 : "Future FIBs (Focused Ion Beams)=EE, Jon Orloff, Department of Electrical Engineering and Institute for Plasma Research, University of Maryland, College Park, MD.
_ 11:30 =F1 12:15 : "Practical Applications of Focused Ion Beam (FIB) Systems=EE, Pete Carleson, FEI Company, Hillsboro, OR.
_ 1:15 =F1 2:00 : " Scanning Probe Microscopy - From Birth to Adolescence=EE, H. Kumar Wickramasinghe, IBM T.J. Watson Research Center, Yorktown Heights, NY.
_ 2:00 =F1 3:15 : "Strategy and Tactics of (Microprobe) Analysis=EE - Pau= l =46. Hlava, Sandia National Labs, Albuquerque, NM. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------- =46or more information please contact either:
Phil Flaitz or Evan Slow (914) 892-3094 (201) 760-2524 flaitz-at-us.ibm.com ess-at-feico.com
by styx.services.ou.edu (8.9.1/8.9.1) with ESMTP id RAA19617 for {microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} ; Tue, 13 Apr 1999 17:19:22 -0500 (CDT) Message-ID: {3713C2B2.5CF8BD6B-at-ou.edu}
We have inherited an OLD RCA TEM minus the HVPS. I have what I think is the serial number (the ID plate is probably on the HVPS). We have no intention of trying to make it operational (we will clean it up and put it in static display), but I would like to find out the model number, about how old it is, and whatever else I can dig up on it. I used an old RCA 4 (I think) back in about '72 and that was a modern instrument compared to this one. I know RCA quit making TEM's a LONG time ago, but can anybody point me in the right direction to begin getting some info on this scope.
Thanks, Bill -- ============================================================= Bill Chissoe III Electron Microscopist University of Oklahoma 770 Van Vleet Oval Norman, Ok. 73019 E-mail: wchiss-at-ou.edu Ph. (405)325-4391 =============================================================
} I am looking for sources to obtain a quality "student" grade microscope for } my son, who is 10 years old. Can you or the MSA offer an recommendations or } guidance? } Bill -
You'll find detailed advice on what to buy, plus a list of suppliers, on the Project MICRO website (URL below).
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/PMHomePage.html Intertidal invertebrates: http://www.fortbragg.k12.ca.us/AG/PCI/pci.html
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Howdy Folks, } } I know you all have been through this subject before, so I thought I'd ask } what month's archives would be best to search for your prior discussions on } the good,bad and ugly of film scanners. } } I'm responsible for near 60 years of 4x5 negatives from our R&D work here at } TIMET, some of the oldest are 4x5 TEM and view camera negs but the majority } are Polaroid negatives. } } Perhaps, someone archived just the appropriate responses? } } Any help or discussion would be greatly appreciated. } } Bill } TIMET
Since the 2000FX was referred to in recent discussions regarding sputter ion pump lifetimes, I thought it pertinant to add a few items that can have an effect on the life of the pump with this instrument and others as well.
Of course the basis for pump life has alot to do with how tight the chamber it pumps on. If ultimate pressure is near 1 X 10 -5 Pa you can safely assume the gun/column area is reasonably tight. An order of magnitude or so higher and you need to find the vacuum leak (or replace the pump). A simple leak rate check will verify gun/column integrity.
Here at ASU we got 9 & 1/2 years use from the orginal ion pump. The reason why has alot to do with the above. However there are other reasons to consider. One being we have religiously used the cold trap (or ACD). If this is cold prior to sample insertion, the vacuum recovery time after insertion is remarkably quicker as the admitted gases are trapped immediately and thus saved from the ion pump. When baking the ACD at the end of the day, the pumping configuation is changed (in ACD HEAT mode)to where the ion pump is shut off as the trap is heated. A normally closed valve opens and the trapped contamination is released and diffusion- pumped from the system. Incorporating this system of trapping, heating, and diffusion pumping contamination from the microscope will extend the life of the pump as well as keep the contamination rate minimal in the beam/specimen interaction area.
Bob Roberts Arizona State University Center for Solid State Science PSA-213 Tempe, Arizona 85287-1704
Bill Chissoe III wrote: ================================================== We have inherited an OLD RCA TEM minus the HVPS. I have what I think is the serial number (the ID plate is probably on the HVPS). We have no intention of trying to make it operational (we will clean it up and put it in static display), but I would like to find out the model number, about how old it is , and whatever else I can dig up on it. I used an old RCA 4 (I think) back in about '72 and that was a modern instrument compared to this one. I know RCA quit making TEM's a LONG time ago, but can anybody point me in the right direction to begin getting some info on this scope. ================================================ If it is not an EMU-4 (e.g. A, B, or C), then it would have been produced by RCA in early 1969 or before, that being the time they introduced the EMU 4-A . That means it probably would be an EMU3 A, B, C,....or H. The first production of the EMU3 series would have started in the early 1960's (if I remember correctly).
You might want to contact Prof. Arthur Smith of West Chester University. He has some number of these older RCA EMU-3's in operation which he uses in conjunction with some very effective courses on EM maintenance. His e-mail address is asmith2-at-wcupa.edu
He and his students service all of these ancient RCA TEMs and Prof. Smith probably is the leading remaining authority on anything related to these old instruments.
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: www.2spi.com ############################ ==================================================
Fred Pearson 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 Everyone: } } I operate and service our Philips CM12. The +15 volt power } supply in the remote racks has failed, mainly in the area of the 2 } MJH-16010 transistors. } } The designation for this supply is PE 1130/00 and I require this manual to } troubleshoot the supply rather than paying out 1000's of dollars to have } the it replaced by Philips. } } If anyone has this manual (or circuit diagrams) I would be very } appreciative of a copy. } } You can contact me offline if you wish, or at the numbers below. } } Thanks in advance } } Fred Pearson } } ******************************************************* } Fred Pearson } Brockhouse Institute for Materials Research } McMaster University } 1280 Main St. West } Hamilton, Ontario } Canada L8S 4M1 } } email: eoptics-at-mcmaster.ca } phone: (905) 525-9140 ext. 24609 } fax: (905) 521-2773 } ******************************************************** Fred,
You may also use a number of alternative sources for spare parts. In this particular case I recommend switching power supply made by ETA POWER, LTD. Power supply part # 618-FHP15SX, rated 15V 32A (original Philips one rated 15V 25A). You can order it from MOUSER ELECTRONICS, (800)346-6873. Order number 33R42, price- $495, warranty- 3 years (not bad). I used ETA supplies more than once with great success. These are fully protected top of the line units. It is possible, of course, to use much less expensive replacement if you do not care about warranty. Contact me off line shall you have any questions.
Vitaly Feingold SIA, Inc. (770)232-7785 office (770)605-6105 mobile
Polaroid SprintScan 45 is probably the best for 4x5 negs or chromes. It is much more compatable with a Mac than with a PC however. It requires a simple slow speed narrow SCSI bus.
gary g.
At 12:33 PM 4/13/99 , you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
RCA actually was, I believe, the leading manufacturer of TEMS in America in the early days.
Ed Sharpe
} Subj: old tem } Date: 4/13/99 5:48:16 PM US Mountain Standard Time } From: wchiss-at-ou.edu (Bill Chissoe) } Reply-to: {A HREF="mailto:wchiss-at-ou.edu"} wchiss-at-ou.edu {/A} } To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com (Microcoscpy List Server) } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 inherited an OLD RCA TEM minus the HVPS. I have what I think is } the serial number (the ID plate is probably on the HVPS). We have no } intention of trying to make it operational (we will clean it up and put } it in static display), but I would like to find out the model number, } about how old it is, and whatever else I can dig up on it. I used an old } RCA 4 (I think) back in about '72 and that was a modern instrument } compared to this one. I know RCA quit making TEM's a LONG time ago, but } can anybody point me in the right direction to begin getting some info } on this scope. } } Thanks, } Bill } -- } ============================================================= } Bill Chissoe III } Electron Microscopist } University of Oklahoma } 770 Van Vleet Oval } Norman, Ok. 73019 } E-mail: wchiss-at-ou.edu Ph. (405)325-4391 } ============================================================= } } } } } } ----------------------- Headers -------------------------------- } Return-Path: {Microscopy-request-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} } Received: from rly-yb03.mx.aol.com (rly-yb03.mail.aol.com [172.18.146.3]) } by air-yb01.mx.aol.com (v59.4) with SMTP; Tue, 13 Apr 1999 20:48:16 -0400 } Received: from Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (sparc5.microscopy.com [206.69.208.10]) } by rly-yb03.mx.aol.com (8.8.8/8.8.5/AOL-4.0.0) } with SMTP id UAA10462; } Tue, 13 Apr 1999 20:48:04 -0400 (EDT) } Received: (from daemon-at-localhost) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) } id RAA12287 for dist-Microscopy; Tue, 13 Apr 1999 17:23:07 -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 RAA12281 for " } MicroscopyFilteredEmail-at-msa.microscopy.com"; Tue, 13 Apr 1999 17:22:35 -0500 } Received: from hermes.services.ou.edu (hermes.services.ou.edu [129.15.2.121]) } by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) with ESMTP id RAA12272 for { } microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} ; Tue, 13 Apr 1999 17:22:22 -0500 } Received: from styx.services.ou.edu by hermes.services.ou.edu with ESMTP; } Tue, 13 Apr 1999 17:19:23 -0500 } Received: from ou.edu (botchiss.bio.ou.edu [129.15.38.205]) } by styx.services.ou.edu (8.9.1/8.9.1) with ESMTP id RAA19617 } for {microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} ; Tue, 13 Apr 1999 17:19:22 -0500 ( } CDT) } Message-ID: {3713C2B2.5CF8BD6B-at-ou.edu} } Date: Tue, 13 Apr 1999 16:18:26 -0600 } From: Bill Chissoe {wchiss-at-ou.edu} } Reply-To: wchiss-at-ou.edu } Organization: University of Oklahoma } X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.06 [en] (Win95; I) } MIME-Version: 1.0 } To: Microcoscpy List Server {microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} } Subject: old tem } Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii } Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit } Errors-to: Microscopy-request-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } }
I have found that SEMs decrease in value following a curve like a piano off a cliff.
A JEOL 840 or other similar SEM is probably worth (going price) about $10K-$15K. Just about any other SEM that is 7-9 years old is also worth about the same amount. SEMs older than that are of course worth less. "Worth" is an interesting word in this context.
Most companies depreciate their capital equipment over 8-9 years. Thus, you would see SEMs offered that are 8-9 years old. According to the company, the equipment has been depreciated to zero value. Therefore, the salvage value, if greater than zero, might actually cost them money in recouping depreciation amounts. consequently, one sees offers to "take this thing away" or some such freebee.
The flip side is that if a person has a SEM that is working and is on-line, that makes a big difference between one that is not or is not covered by a maintenance contract. It is not unusual for an organization to stop maintenance on a SEM several years before the depreciated life is up. Then, it is caveat emptor.
Please send me a picture of this I will check the archives.
One curious TEM RCA made actually was a small unit that sat atop the bench I saw one in a microbiology for nurses manual I have. Does anyone out there have one of those? I would be interested in it for the museum. thanks, Ed Sharpe
We have inherited an OLD RCA TEM minus the HVPS. I have what I think is the serial number (the ID plate is probably on the HVPS). We have no intention of trying to make it operational (we will clean it up and put it in static display), but I would like to find out the model number, about how old it is, and whatever else I can dig up on it. I used an old RCA 4 (I think) back in about '72 and that was a modern instrument compared to this one. I know RCA quit making TEM's a LONG time ago, but can anybody point me in the right direction to begin getting some info on this scope.
Thanks, Bill -- ============================================================= Bill Chissoe III Electron Microscopist University of Oklahoma 770 Van Vleet Oval Norman, Ok. 73019 E-mail: wchiss-at-ou.edu Ph. (405)325-4391 =============================================================
----------------------- Headers -------------------------------- Return-Path: {Microscopy-request-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} Received: from rly-yb03.mx.aol.com (rly-yb03.mail.aol.com [172.18.146.3]) by air-yb01.mx.aol.com (v59.4) with SMTP; Tue, 13 Apr 1999 20:48:16 -0400 Received: from Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (sparc5.microscopy.com [206.69.208.10]) by rly-yb03.mx.aol.com (8.8.8/8.8.5/AOL-4.0.0) with SMTP id UAA10462; Tue, 13 Apr 1999 20:48:04 -0400 (EDT) Received: (from daemon-at-localhost) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) id RAA12287 for dist-Microscopy; Tue, 13 Apr 1999 17:23:07 -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 RAA12281 for "MicroscopyFilteredEmail-at-msa.microscopy.com"; Tue, 13 Apr 1999 17:22:35 -0500 Received: from hermes.services.ou.edu (hermes.services.ou.edu [129.15.2.121]) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) with ESMTP id R
That is amazing!!! Keep the software and the camera part, throw away the microscope and use on any larger microscope. I was considering getting one of the Mattel Barbie cameras for $69 to gut for the active electronics. Actually I was going to get 2 of them one for permeant mounting to a microscope and the other I was going to kluge into one of my old Nikon F bodies...... Ed Sharpe
} Subj: Student Microscopes } Date: 4/13/99 3:03:09 PM US Mountain Standard Time } From: mishot-at-itsa.ucsf.edu (Larry) } To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Check with your local Mattel toy store for the recently released "Play X3 } Digital Video Microscope" with a list price of $99. This is a joint venture } with Intel and is CMOS based. It is designed to let children of all ages } display images from the microscope on a PC at both still and video rates, } print images and email them. Mattel/Intel will also use similar technology } for their Me2Cam. Naturally the results will not compare with the $100,000. } instrumetns we use in research or will they? } Larry D. Ackerman } Lily & Yuh Nung Jan Laboratories } Howard Hughes Medical Institute } UCSF, Box 0725, Rm U226 } 533 Parnassus Ave. } San Francisco, CA 94143 } } (415) 476-8751 FAX (415) 476-5774 } mishot-at-itsa.ucsf.edu }
Just a reminder please post messages to the server to the address
microscopy-at-msa.microscopy.com
do not post messages to
listserver-at-msa.microscopy.com
That addrress (listserver-at-msa.microscopy.com) is the administrative site for problems and/or subscribe/unsubscribe requests. All mail to that address comes directly to me, not to the general mailing list.
I always forward mail that arrives there incorrectly and most of this is do to USERS simply sending to the wrong address. I don't mind occassional errors, but lately ALOT of you have been posting to the wrong address. It just creates more work for me and delay's your messages. So please check your address books etc.. and make sure you have the addresses correctly recorded.
I would like to get a new Critical Point Drier. Would you be kind enough to share your opinions on and experiences with different models ? So far, I am in favour for a EMS 850 CPD, but nobody here knows anything about this model.
You are welcome to write me off-line if you would like me to treat your reply confidential.
Yours sincerely
PETER FUNCH Assistant Professor, Ph.D.
Dept. of Zoology - Institute of Biological Sciences University of Aarhus Universitetsparken - Building 135, DK-8000 Aarhus C - Denmark Phone: + 45 8942 2764 - fax: + 45 8612 5175 E-mail: peter.funch-at-biology.aau.dk *************************************************************
Bill, Why not hook it up and get it running, at least to some demonstrable extent. One of the worst things about renovating an older instrument is finding a place to put it. If you have a location, I recommend pursuing the necessary facilities for operation. Put your graduate students to work. A great opportunity for them. Jerry ______________________ Jerome D. Schick, Ph.D. Semiconductor Devices and Electron Microscopy 26 Kuchler Drive LaGrangeville, NY 12540 Bus (914)223-7393 FAX (914)227-2743 jdschick-at-worldnet.att.net
COURYHOUSE-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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } We have inherited an OLD RCA TEM minus the HVPS. I have what I think is } } the serial number (the ID plate is probably on the HVPS). We have no } } intention of trying to make it operational (we will clean it up and put } } it in static display), but I would like to find out the model number, } } about how old it is, and whatever else I can dig up on it. I used an old } } RCA 4 (I think) back in about '72 and that was a modern instrument } } compared to this one. I know RCA quit making TEM's a LONG time ago, but } } can anybody point me in the right direction to begin getting some info } } on this scope. } } } } Thanks, } } Bill } } -- } } ============================================================= } } Bill Chissoe III } } Electron Microscopist } } University of Oklahoma } } 770 Van Vleet Oval } } Norman, Ok. 73019 } } E-mail: wchiss-at-ou.edu Ph. (405)325-4391 } } ============================================================= } } } } } }
ALL ARE WELCOMED TO ATTEND CMS members-please let everyone know because our listserver is down and this will be the only announcement before you receive the newsletter! } "SPRING DINNER MEETING: APRIL 27" } } This year we have decided that instead of the winter conference we would } have an additional dinner meeting. It is with great pleasure that we } have Dr. Jennifer Lippincott-Schwartz talking to use this spring at } second dinner meeting about membrane trafficking and protein transport } in the cell using GFP tagged proteins. } } Place: Tia Queta } 4839 Del Ray Ave. } Bethesda, MD } 301-654-4443 } } Date: April 27, 1999 (Tuesday) } } Time: 6:00 - 6:30 appetizers } 6:30 - 7:30 dinner: } red snapper,tenderloin and chicken } 7:30 - 8:30 speaker } } Cost: $25/person, $15/student } } RSVP by April 24 to: Jenny Hinshaw } 301-594-0842 } jennyh-at-helix.nih.gov } } Directions: From 495 take 355 or Wisconsin Ave exit off } 495 and head south toward Bethesda. After you pass NIH follow the } directions below. } } From NIH take Wisconsin Ave south to Woodmont Ave. Take a right } onto Rugby (soon after you veer right onto Woodmont) and then an } immediate left onto Del Ray. The restaurant is down a block on the } right. If the street parking is filled, they have valet parking for $3 } or public parking further down (a block) on Del Ray on the right. Also } there is public parking on Woodmont right before you turn onto Rugby. } } } } }
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
i do very low volume CPD work, and have had good luck with a samdri pvt-3b manually operated system. it was cheap and seems to be pretty rugged, and most importantly, easy to operate.
good luck
b-
**************************************************************** Brian McIntyre Electron Microscopy Lab Institute of Optics University of Rochester Rochester, NY 14627
716-275-3058 716-244-4936(fax)
"You may get to the top of the ladder of success only to find its been leaning against the wrong wall" A. Raime
Lately there has been a lot of responses about Scanners for TEM negatives and they seem to have all been centering around the flat-bed type. Does anybody have any comments about drum scanners, for example the JEI eX4, or the Imacon Inc. FlexTight Precision II? I know that typically drum scanners are more expensive as a rule, but do any of you use these? We are considering something along those lines. We currently have the LeafScan45, but it is feeling it's age and we want to be prepared for it's eventual end.
Thanks in advance for your comments.
Peggy Bisher.
Margaret E. Bisher
NEC Research Institute 4 Independence Way Princeton, NJ 08540. Tel.: (609) 951-2629 Fax: (609) 951-2496 e-mail: peggy-at-research.nj.nec.com
} ...the Imacon Inc. FlexTight Precision II?...do any of you use these?...
A collaborator and I had been using an ancient Perkin-Elmer scanning microdensitometer (circa late 70's) which provided 2500 dpi and gave good images, but we grew weary of its slowness (~30 min/ for a 1" x 1" scan) and lack of support. We compared the output of the Imacon with that of the Perkin-Elmer and a Polaroid Sprintscan and were quite pleased with the Imacon, so my collaborator bought one. He has since moved to Richmond, and as I have not heard otherwise, I presume that the Imacon is performing well.
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Larry -
I don't have a "local toy store" here on the coast, but I need to check this out immediately for Project MICRO. Can you supply me with any kind of contact info? Have you seen this thing?
Caroline
Caroline Schooley Educational Outreach Coordinator Microscopy Society of America Box 117, 45301 Caspar Point Road Caspar, CA 95420 Phone/FAX (707)964-9460 Project MICRO: http://www.msa.microscopy.com/ProjectMicro/PMHomePage.html Intertidal invertebrates: http://www.fortbragg.k12.ca.us/AG/PCI/pci.html
We have just had a cold stage installed on our SEM capable of obtaining near -200C. Although our intentions are primarily for cathodo-luminescence and would enjoy discussing other issues and techniques, this e-mail primarily addresses sample preparation and mounting standard thinsections on the cold stage.
The current specimen hold offers too little area for even a 1" round TS, so we have in mind machining a platform of polished brass. The question here is with respect to the glass slide and holder. That is, is there a viscous medium which will hold the TS in place and provide good thermal conductivity? ... and at the same time be easily cleaned for care of the carbon coat.
If a thinsection were to be made from scratch with the cold stage in mind, is there an especially thermally conductive epoxy?
TIA and 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/
You will see more on CMOS cameras. There was an ad, in Advanced Imaging I believe, which I can't find now, that offered CMOS cameras for about $50 in bulk.
In the meantime, www.supercircuits.com offers CCD "spy" cameras for about $150.
Leonard Corwin Research Chemist Fort Dodge Animal Health Princeton, NJ 08543-0400
We have a Reichert-Jung 2050 microtome and it needs service. Can anyone provide me a phone number or an email address of a service company in or near Oklahoma state so that I can contact them. Thanks
X.S. Ding Plant Biology Division The Noble Foundation Ardmore, OK 73401 Tel. 580 223-5810
I am upgrading from this 1600T to an 1830 and have priced this workhorse to sell. It is a turbo pump unit with ion pump to handle W or LaB6 emitters (both heads are included). A vibration isolation platform is also included. The scope is on-line and operational. You can see it listed on LabX at:
http://www.labx.com/aref.cfm?ad=19348
with an advertised price higher than my current value.
There are numerous pictures at http://www.gaugler.com/1600T
Dear Colleagues: } } The Core EM Facility at Dana Farber Cancer Institute ( Boston, MA, } USA) has the following equipment available immediately: } } 1. JEOL JEM-100 CXII transmission electron microscope, Side-entry } w/power supply, pumps, and water chiller. } } 2. JEOL JEM-100 CXII transmission electron microscope, Top entry } w/power supply, pumps, and water chiller. } } 3. JEOL JSM-35 CF scanning electron microscope } } 4. Reichert-JUng Ulrtacut E ultramicrotome w/FC4D cryochamber } attachment, Nitrogen tank, vibration-free table. } } 5. MT 5000 Sorvall ultramictotome with cryoattachment. } } 6.Ladd critical point dryer } } 7.Polaron SEM coating system } } 8.Durst Laborator s -45 special enlarger system } } 9.Agfa 3700 printing machine } } All items are in excellent working conditions. Please contact } Dr.Yuhui Xu by email. No telephone call please. } } Regards, } } Yuhui Xu, MD,PhD } EM Core, DFCI, } Boston, MA 02115 }
Users may subscribe to the list by sending the following email message:
To: listserver-at-lists.acs.ohio-state.edu Subject: [leave blank] subscribe xlsem Firstname Lastname
To have a message distributed to the xlsem list, subscribers may send email messages of the following form:
To: xlsem-at-lists.acs.ohio-state.edu Subject: My first post
[message text]
You may also toggle listserver settings on/off: set xlsem: get the current option settings for the list query xlsem: get the current option settings for the list set xlsem mail: set your mail mode to the list default. set xlsem mail ack: your message is sent back to you. set xlsem mail noack: your message is not sent back to you. set xlsem mail postpone: no messages will be sent to you until you change mode again. set xlsem mail digest: your message is not sent back to you. New messages are not sent to you as they arrive, but are accumulated into digests that are periodically sent to you. To preserve the internal formatting of the list messages, digests are sent in a multipart MIME format. set xlsem mail digest-nomime: new messages are not sent to you as they arrive, but are accumulated and sent to you in periodic digests. Digests are sent out as simple email messages, with a table of contents at the front. This will not preserve internal MIME formatting, which could cause problems for foreign language lists or messages that contain attachments. However, for users with older mail readers, the non-MIME format may be easier to read. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Cameron Begg - List Owner begg.4-at-osu.edu Hendrik O. Colijn colijn.1-at-osu.edu Campus Electron Optics Facility Ohio State University (614) 292-0674 http://web.ceof.ohio-state.edu Murphy's Law: "If anything can go wrong, it will." Commentary: "Murphy was an optimist."
} ... in a container eventually on its way to Taiwan as scrap mental
Hey, great! Does Taiwan really take this stuff? I have file drawers and file drawers full of scrap mental I ought to get rid of. Don't think any of it's actually toxic, but some of it was really dumb.
Now if I could only rid my brain of all those beer and soap jingles from the 60's and 70's life would be grand indeed.
MME offers customized, on-site workshops in these areas. Give me a call or email me directly and I can provide details.
Best regards, Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater productivity.
125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} ****************************************************** MME is America's first national consortium providing customized on-site workshops in all areas of microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis.
At 01:52 PM 4/13/99 -0500, leslie.link-at-US.GTC.BOC.COM"-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Bottom line: there is no comparison. While the two sound similar in functionality, the optical and electronic resolution and contrast are not even in the same universe. Then we could talk about image size, transfer speed, etc.
We have a unique and challenging situation rising to critical level here: As microscopists, we need to know how our instruments work (do you know that most pathologists, for example, don't even know what Koehler illumination is, yet alone how to do it?!) as well as the intricacies of our own scientific disciplines. Now we also need to become fluent in the electronics behind cameras and all the hardware/software issues involved in computer technologies. Sorry guys, but as much as the manufacturers are trying to make things simple and "transparent to the user", we need at least a basic understanding of the principles behind each of the components in our systems. I am in the process of writing an article on "Microscopy for the Next Millenium" and the research for that article has pointed up this need, in spades!f
For those of you who could use a refresher on basic principles in microscopy and digital imaging, a number of these issues are addressed in "Optimizing Light Microscopy". Details are on our website.
As always, Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater productivity.
125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} ****************************************************** MME is America's first national consortium providing customized on-site workshops in all areas of microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis.
At 12:11 PM 4/13/99 -0700, Larry wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
MME offers customized, on-site workshops in these areas. Give me a call or email me directly and I can provide details.
Best regards, Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater productivity.
125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} ****************************************************** MME is America's first national consortium providing customized on-site workshops in all areas of microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis.
At 01:52 PM 4/13/99 -0500, leslie.link-at-US.GTC.BOC.COM"-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
} ---------- } From: McLean, Dorrance } Sent: Thursday 715, 24199997 8:37 AM } To: 'Microscopy Listserver' } Subject: TEM Samples of Titania } } Dear All, } } I'm in need of some advice regarding a sample I've been asked to prepare. } The sample is Ti O2 and I have been trying to get a good thin sample for } viewing in the TEM. } } So far I've had a lot of cracking during disc cutting and dimpling. I've } learned that it's better to thin the sample to about 300 microns prior to } using the disc cutter and I'm getting good results with that. I then thin } the sample to around 150 microns using diamond films. (only from the } backside as there is a film on the sample.) I have also found from trial } and error that the Bronze wheel on the dimpler causes too much damage to } the sample so I've tried thinning with the Felt polishing wheel and } diamond paste but it's hard to measure the dimple progress. I have } stopped thinning at around 30-40 microns as the thinner samples have all } cracked on the dimpler. } } I have managed to get two samples into and out of the PIPS. Of course the } "perfect" sample took a suicide leap from between the jaws of my tweezers } just as I was loading it into the specimen holder of the microscope...so } I'll never know just how perfect it was. The second sample was amorphous } at the thin areas and I suspect that (1.) I may not have removed all the } glue from the sample, or (2.) maybe the sample was too thick and sputter } was redeposited onto the sample. } } Either way I'm stumped and I would sure welcome some advise. } } Thanks for your time. } Dorrance } }
} From Microscopy-request-at-sparc5.microscopy.com Thu Apr 15 13:57:33 1999
} Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1999 13:26:59 -0400 } To: Larry {mishot-at-itsa.ucsf.edu} , {microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com} } From: Barbara Foster {mme-at-map.com} } Subject: Re: Student Microscopes } } Hi, } } Bottom line: there is no comparison. While the two sound similar in } functionality, the optical and electronic resolution and contrast are not } even in the same universe. Then we could talk about image size, transfer } speed, etc. } } We have a unique and challenging situation rising to critical level here: } As microscopists, we need to know how our instruments work (do you know } that most pathologists, for example, don't even know what Koehler } illumination is, yet alone how to do it?!) as well as the intricacies of } our own scientific disciplines. Now we also need to become fluent in the } electronics behind cameras and all the hardware/software issues involved i } computer technologies. Sorry guys, but as much as the manufacturers are } trying to make things simple and "transparent to the user", we need at } least a basic understanding of the principles behind each of the component } in our systems. I am in the process of writing an article on "Microscopy } for the Next Millenium" and the research for that article has pointed up } this need, in spades! } } For those of you who could use a refresher on basic principles in } microscopy and digital imaging, a number of these issues are addressed in } "Optimizing Light Microscopy". Details are on our website. } } As always, } Barbara Foster } }
Barbara, I couldn't agree with you more. I work in the cathodoluminescence area and am amazed to see how many potential users understand all about color videos and associated computer wizardry but when you start to talk about the beam power hitting the sample and possible implications of heating and sample deterioration, they don't know what I'm talking about. And when you bring up beam power per unit area (beam power density) it can really draw a blank. It's too easy to accept that everything is fine just because a pretty picture emerges. The same thing occurs in mass spectroscopy. A set of notes on Fundamentals of Mass Spectroscopy that I wrote back in the mid 1980s make almost no mention of computers but they do discuss the details of electron impact and why one often uses a 70 electron volt energy for the electron beam, etc.; Many users are astonished that they might need to worry about occasionally checking or, heaven forbid, setting such variables. But almost universally when people do see this basic physics information available in a readable format in these notes, they are very receptive and seize upon it.
Don Marshall
Donald J. Marshall Relion Industries P.O. Box 12 Bedford, MA 01730 Ph: 781-275-4695 FAX: 781-271-0252 email dmrelion-at-world.std.com
Cathodoluminescence, mass spectroscopy, electron beam technology "A weed is a flower out of place."
(Please note: Do not send email with attachments to this address. Instead, send it to donbarlen-at-aol.com. Thank you.)
I have not been able to track down the Mattel microscpe yet. It is not on their website, the local Toys R Us store does not have it and the Mattel Merchandising Manager does not return my calls. I assume this is another example of publicity preceding product. I saw press releases in the San Francisco Examiner newspaper some time ago (?March) and last week in the new issue of Advanced Imaging. When I locate the actual product I'll post more information.
Larry D. Ackerman Lily & Yuh Nung Jan Laboratories Howard Hughes Medical Institute UCSF, Box 0725, Rm U226 533 Parnassus Ave. San Francisco, CA 94143
Absolutely no disc cutter. Nor or at most just a little bit dimpler. A disc-grind holder will work. Specifically, you grind any irregular piece down to as close to a thickness of {=20um as possible with the help of the holder. Break it using, for example, a hammer. Pick up a decent piece or several pieces with maximum diameter(s) {3mm, and glue it(them) to a(several) single-slot grid(s) using, say, regular SEM carbon paint or silver paint. And then put the specimen on your PIPS miller. Usually, you should mill for {10 hours. } 10 hour milling time may quite possibly indicate a preparation failure. There is another method called small-angle-cleavage method you may want to try. But that's a territory of Dr. Walck Scott ("Walck. Scott D." {walck-at-ppg.com} ). You can contact him directly. Good luck.
-cy
On Thu, 15 Apr 1999, McLean, Dorrance wrote:
} Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1999 12:07:33 -0600 } From: "McLean, Dorrance" {dmclea-at-sandia.gov} } To: "'Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com'" {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} } Subject: FW: TEM Samples of Titania } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } ---------- } } From: McLean, Dorrance } } Sent: Thursday 715, 24199997 8:37 AM } } To: 'Microscopy Listserver' } } Subject: TEM Samples of Titania } } } } Dear All, } } } } I'm in need of some advice regarding a sample I've been asked to prepare. } } The sample is Ti O2 and I have been trying to get a good thin sample for } } viewing in the TEM. } } } } So far I've had a lot of cracking during disc cutting and dimpling. I've } } learned that it's better to thin the sample to about 300 microns prior to } } using the disc cutter and I'm getting good results with that. I then thin } } the sample to around 150 microns using diamond films. (only from the } } backside as there is a film on the sample.) I have also found from trial } } and error that the Bronze wheel on the dimpler causes too much damage to } } the sample so I've tried thinning with the Felt polishing wheel and } } diamond paste but it's hard to measure the dimple progress. I have } } stopped thinning at around 30-40 microns as the thinner samples have all } } cracked on the dimpler. } } } } I have managed to get two samples into and out of the PIPS. Of course the } } "perfect" sample took a suicide leap from between the jaws of my tweezers } } just as I was loading it into the specimen holder of the microscope...so } } I'll never know just how perfect it was. The second sample was amorphous } } at the thin areas and I suspect that (1.) I may not have removed all the } } glue from the sample, or (2.) maybe the sample was too thick and sputter } } was redeposited onto the sample. } } } } Either way I'm stumped and I would sure welcome some advise. } } } } Thanks for your time. } } Dorrance } } } } } }
Whoever finds one of these new wunderkund toys-- please post an image on your website so we all can observe what kind of image the next generation of microscopists is seeing.....
} I have not been able to track down the Mattel microscpe yet. It is not on } their website, the local Toys R Us store does not have it and the Mattel } Merchandising Manager does not return my calls. I assume this is another } example of publicity preceding product. I saw press releases in the San } Francisco Examiner newspaper some time ago (?March) and last week in the } new issue of Advanced Imaging. When I locate the actual product I'll post } more information. } } } Larry D. Ackerman } Lily & Yuh Nung Jan Laboratories } Howard Hughes Medical Institute } UCSF, Box 0725, Rm U226 } 533 Parnassus Ave. } San Francisco, CA 94143 } } (415) 476-8751 FAX (415) 476-5774 } mishot-at-itsa.ucsf.edu
--------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Steven Barlow, Associate Director EM Facility/Biology Department San Diego State University 5500 Campanile Drive San Diego CA 92182-4614 phone: (619)594-4523 fax: (619) 594-5676 email: sbarlow-at-sunstroke.sdsu.edu website: http://www.sci.sdsu.edu/emfacility/
Chairman, Educational Outreach subcommittee promoting access to microscopes Microscopy Society of America http://www.msa.microscopy.com/
I have a Brinkmann AS2 microscope I would like to know more about. It appears to be Leitz or a copy of one. Every thing on it has matching serial numbers and the oculars are marked 10x pl. It looks like it was made in the late 50's or early 60's. Talking to Brinkmann they say it was made for them by Zeiss. Talking to Ziess they say they never made scopes for anybody but themselves. It does say made in Germany.
The field is very flat and I don't see any distortion on the edge so I expect the pl mean plan optics. The oil immersion lens is a 160 100/0/1.3.
Pictures or it are at www.couger.com/auction/scope.
I bought the scope because I have a triocular head that fits it.
If anyone could help me with more information about the scope or copy of a manual I would pay unreasonable copying and shipping cost.
Thanks Gordon
Gordon Couger gcouger-at-couger.com www.couger.com/gcouger Stillwater, OK 405 624-2855 GMT -6:00
Email removal 800-771-2003, Monday thru Friday 8-5 Pacific Time
IMMEDIATELY INCREASE YOUR SITES EXPOSURE
Traffic Accelerator Will Submit Your
Web Site To Over 900 Search Engines,
Directories, & Indices
For A Cost Of Only $ 14.95 (*)
100% Money Back Guarantee
Call us toll free at (800) 771-2003 in the USA and Canada or outside the USA at (916) 771-4739 Be sure to mention Traffic Accelerator when you call.
04/15/99 (*) We submit your site MONTHLY to over 900 search engines, directories and indices for a total cost of just $14.95 per month. Minimum 12 month term required.
Actually, the brand and model of SEM has some degree of influence over the depreciated value of the scope. For example: Hitachi: 500, 520, 570 are boat anchors. Hitachi: 800, 900 are FE scopes and are more modern. Hitachi: 2960 and 3000+ are really more modern and can include the Nature option and are very good scopes.
A JEOL 840 series is good.
Philips? maybe a XL40FE. But as with any field emission scope, one must be willing to put up with the extra grief of FE over LaB6. Yet, there is an image intensity benefit. It is a tradeoff.
gg
At 10:03 PM 4/15/99 , you wrote: } -- [ From: Garber, Charles A. * EMC.Ver #3.1 ] -- } } The point you make here, of course, is quite correct. Our fifteen year old } Model 840, set up and working, in our laboratory, has far more value to us } than what is showing on our books. } } With regard to the depreciation of AMRAY instrumentation, it sounds like } those instruments might be depreciating faster than say, JEOL or Philips } equipment. } } Chuck } -------- REPLY, Original message follows -------- } } } Date: Thursday, 15-Apr-99 06:17 PM } } } } From: Dr. Gary Gaugler \ Internet: (gaugler-at-calweb.com) } } To: Garber, Charles A. \ Internet: (cgarber-at-2spi.com) } } } } Subject: Re: Value of SEM } } } } At 12:12 AM 4/15/99 , you wrote: } } } -- [ From: Garber, Charles A. * EMC.Ver #3.1 ] -- } } } } } } Hi Gary: } } } } } } I think that you have to make some distinction between the a) depreciated } } } value vs. b) market value. There two can be very much different. } } } } } } We depreciate most of our equipment over five years, our computers we } } } depreciate even faster. After five years it has zero value on our books. } } } } But if you wanted to purchase it from us, we would seek to charge you } full } } } market value. And if it meant there was some recovery of earnings, then } we } } } would pay taxes on those recovered earnings. } } } } } } But that itself have meaning only if the company has earnings on which } taxes } } } have to be paid. If a firm is operating at a loss, then when they } recover } } } those funds, they do not pay any taxes. And even a highly profitable } } } company like DuPont or IBM often times try very aggressively to sell } their } } } depreciated equipment for as much as they can get for it, and to whatever } } } degree they might recover assets, they pay their taxes, but are still } better } } } off than they would be had they just given it away. } } } } } } I do know however of certain companies that will give away equipment } rather } } } than selling it, under the premise that if someone is injured at some } later } } } date, they would then have less exposure to those claims. } } } } } } Chuck } } } } } } Each company probably has a different cost/benefit scenario and thus a } } different view of the salvage value of a SEM at the end of the } depreciation } } period. Nevertheless, my point was that SEMs drop in value really fast. } And } } by about 6-8 years, they are near worthless in monetary terms. The cost } of } } takedown, setup and moving overshadow the actual cost of the machine. I } just } } bought an Amray 3600LEAP that is 1.5 years old for $150K when the new } price is } } $422K. I also bought an 8 year old Amray 1830 for $8K. In each case, the } cost } } of take down and setup by Amray is about $7K. The cost of moving is about } } $3500 each. So for the older unit, the handling and shipping is more than } cost } } of the instrument. } } } } } } Cheers, } } Gary Gaugler, Ph.D. } } } } -------- REPLY, End of original message -------- }
I am about to do some estimates of our SEMs resolution under different conditions. I am intending on using gold particles of varying size for this task. I intend to analyse the change in intensity as the beam traverses a particle. I am worried about the subjective nature of such a test and would like to find a more objective procedure. Can anyone advise on other methods?
Question: How can serial sections be picked up onto a formvar/carbon coated large slot grid? So far I have had problems with wrinkling of sections, sections drying down onto metal instead of remaining in the slot window.
Message somehow bounced back. I am re-sending it. Sorry if you receive a duplicate. A few more words:
If you just want to mill one side of the sample on your PIPS, the other side does need to be protected from re-deposition with a 3mm thin disc of mica (you can use your disc cutter his time). Mica has numerous layers. Peel a thin piece from the top with a pair of good twizers. Overall, Preparing a plan view specimen of this kind of material should not be as difficult as preparing Chinese foods.
Regarding the handling of the prepared specimens, great care is of course the 1st thing I can mention. There are some other tricks. But please excuse me for not being capable of describing them in English. You will get some sense after a while. Also, if possible try a specimen holder with a specimen screw cap instead of a specimen clamp. Good luck. Dont get too much frustrated.
-cy
---------- Forwarded message ----------
POSTDOCTORAL POSITION IN INTERFACE PHYSICS
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS, UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO
{smaller} A postdoctoral research associate position is currently available in the Interface Physics Group at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) to perform atomic scale analysis of interfaces and defects in semiconductor heterostructures. The successful candidate is expected to work closely with the MBE and microfabrication groups at UIC investigating a wide variety of technologically relevant systems (including II-VI, III-nitride, III-V, SiO/SiGeO, SiOxNy/SiGeOxNy and magnetic multilayers). =20
Research in the Interface Physics Group focuses on the use atomic resolution imaging and analytical techniques in electron microscopy, coupled with theoretical simulations, to determine the structure-property relationships at internal interfaces on the fundamental atomic scale. Current research programs involve ceramics, high-Tc superconductors and optoelectronic/high-power semiconducting materials and devices. The experimental facilities to perform this research are comprehensive: a JEOL 2010 Field-Emission STEM/TEM featuring a 1.4=C5 probe size, "drift free" stage, high-angle annular dark-field detector (Z-contrast), Gatan Imaging Filter, and Noran EDS; a VG HB501A Field-Emission dedicated STEM with EDS, EELS and Auger spectrometers; a JEOL 3010 conventional TEM with digital imaging capabilities and EDS; a JEOL 6320 Field-Emission SEM with EDS; and a JEOL JXA733 microprobe. In addition to the electron microscopes, specimen preparation facilities include a Gatan Duo-mill, Fischione precision ion-mill, SouthBay plasma cleaner and Leica Ultramicrotome.=20 The Interface Physics Group has a Silicon Graphics R10000 Power Indigo workstation with the Molecular Simulations' Cerius 2 package incorporating the CASTEP pseudopotential code. The physics department has additional workstations and access to the UIC Convex Exemplar Supercomputer and the National Center for Supercomputing Applications at UIUC. =20
Successful candidates will be recent Ph.D. graduates in physics, metallurgy, or materials science with a sound background in the relevant materials issues and an ambition to be part of a developing program pushing at the frontiers of interface physics. Please send a resume and publication list to Professor Nigel D. Browning at the address below. Prior experience in STEM or TEM is essential. =20 However, consideration will be based on the candidates overall potential for success in the field and applicants with prior experience in related fields are encouraged to apply. Positions are for one year initially, normally renewed for a second year with possibilities existing for further years. Salary is commensurate with experience.=20 UIC is an equal opportunity employer.
I have spoken with an executive from Mattel who said that the X3 microscopes will not be out on the market before the fall of 1999.
Carlton Bowers TECH TREK Mobile Research Laboratory (937) 222-2934
Subj: Re: Student Microscopes
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I have not been able to track down the Mattel microscpe yet. It is not on their website, the local Toys R Us store does not have it and the Mattel Merchandising Manager does not return my calls. I assume this is another example of publicity preceding product. I saw press releases in the San Francisco Examiner newspaper some time ago (?March) and last week in the new issue of Advanced Imaging. When I locate the actual product I'll post more information.
Larry D. Ackerman Lily & Yuh Nung Jan Laboratories Howard Hughes Medical Institute UCSF, Box 0725, Rm U226 533 Parnassus Ave. San Francisco, CA 94143
by hms1.med.harvard.edu (Post.Office MTA v3.5.2 release 221 ID# 0-58538U3500L600S0V35) with ESMTP id edu; Fri, 16 Apr 1999 10:42:50 -0400
Dear Colleagues:
I have received quite a few inquires regarding to our posting about the used equipment available at Dana Farber Cancer Institute. The following is the information I could gather about those items:
I. The side entry TEM (JEOL 100 CXII) was purchased in 1988 ( purchase price $145,500). This is equipped with all standard features with additional specimen rotation and tilt correction device. The top entry scope was purchased a little earlier. The JSM-35 CF scanning electron microscope was purchased in 1982 ( purchase price of $75,900). All three scopes have been maintained under service contracts directly with JEOL. II. The Polaron sputter coater was purchased in 1983 (purchase price $6,180) with film thickness monitor, gold/palladium annular target, digital temperature indicator, and specimen holders.
I do not have information as to the exact time and price when the other items were purchased other than their model numbers. The Reichert microtome was purchased probably about 7-8 years ago. The MT5000 is probably 4-5 years older. As I said, they are all in excellent working condition.
As I understood from our administration, the institute would like to sell these equipment although it is also possible some of these items will be donated to non-profit organizations if no bids are received. Final decision will be made by our administration. Since I do not have pricing information, please feel free to make your reasonable offers and I will forward them to the institute. I will speak to our administration about possible arrangements for the demonstration of the equipment if necessary.
Thank you for your inquiries. Please feel free to email me if you have further questions. Best regards,
There is a press release with a brief description and a poor picture of the unit at: http://www.hottoynews.com/mattel1.htm Scott
} } I have not been able to track down the Mattel microscpe yet. It is not on } their website, the local Toys R Us store does not have it and the Mattel } Merchandising Manager does not return my calls. I assume this is another } example of publicity preceding product. I saw press releases in the San } Francisco Examiner newspaper some time ago (?March) and last week in the } new issue of Advanced Imaging. When I locate the actual product I'll post } more information. } }
-------------------note: new mailing address---------------------- Scott Wight e-mail: scott.wight-at-nist.gov NIST 222/A113 W voice: 301-975-3949 100 Bureau Dr STOP 8371 | fax: 301-417-1321 Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8371 \|/ disclaimer: Any opinion expressed is my own and does not represent those of my employer.
Dear Gary, I certainly beg to differ. I would buy a Hitachi S-570 over a JEOL 840 of the same age any day. I did when I evaluated them new in 1986. The S-570 is still running perfectly and still meets spec easily. I have two S-570s, one recently purchased used. All the old Hitachi's run forever. You wrote:
} } Actually, the brand and model of SEM has some degree of influence over } the depreciated value of the scope. For example: } Hitachi: 500, 520, 570 are boat anchors. } Hitachi: 800, 900 are FE scopes and are more modern. } Hitachi: 2960 and 3000+ are really more modern and can include the Nature option } and are very good scopes. } } } A JEOL 840 series is good. } } Philips? maybe a XL40FE. But as with any field emission scope, one } must be willing to put up with the extra grief of FE over LaB6. Yet, there } is an image intensity benefit. It is a tradeoff. } } gg } 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 e-mail: mager-at-interchg.ubc.ca
I have made it a speciality of mine to study the performance of SEM all over the world. Running courses the first thing I need to know is how go= od is the instrument that I am using? For this you need a reliable standard=
that really tests the microscope. Any gold on carbon that I have used ha= s never been up to the task. It is quite possible to take photographs of this type of specimen and find that there is no difference in instrument performance from say 10 to 15kV, there must be a difference!
For this reason I developed a test specimen of my own which I have used f= or the past 18 years. The specimen is made up of polystyrene latex spheres that are allowed to dry from a liquid to form a solid white block. Durin= g the drying process, provided the latex preparation is free from contaminants, the spheres will deposit in an array that is of a square packing in one direction and hexagonal in the other. If a piece of the solid material is fractured, by pricking with a fine point, this opens up=
the internal structure of the compacted material, displaying the two type= s of array.
Having a very well defined structure the hexagonal arrays make a very goo= d subject for judging the performance of a scanning electron microscope. A= ny hexagonal area on the specimen is comparable with another set in the same=
orientation. Another advantage of this specimen is that the latex are of= a specific size which may act as an inbuilt calibration. In most cases of performance monitoring the operator simply needs to take a test picture a= t a specific magnification and use a comparative process to judge performance. The latex are a nominal 0.24um but when compacted in an arr= ay they are visibly reduced to about 0.2um.
Should the sample become damaged it is easily recovered by re coating or once again pricking it with a pin to open up new areas and then re coatin= g.
Making A Test Specimen
To convert the latex specimen into a high resolution test specimen a meta= l coating is required. A sputter coating will make the specimen conducting=
but further coats will build a sub structure on the surface of the sphere= s. The sub structure may be used for high resolution performance monitoring= . =
The level of sub structure desired will depend upon the capabilities of t= he instruments to be investigated. For instruments with a conventional tungsten source multi coating the latex with gold is satisfactory. For more advanced instruments the finer coating of gold-palladium may be more=
desirable.
The coating procedure depends upon the efficiency of the coater being use= d. Sputter coaters that use relatively high voltages (1 to 3kV) will requir= e the following procedure.
i. Set the coater at a 5cm target to specimen distance. ii. Sputter at 20mA, 1kV for one minute, wait one minute and repeat t= he process. iii. Coat for 4 one-minute periods and then check the specimen in the microscope. iv. If you need more coats, because you cannot see the metal, repeat the "coat and wait" procedure until the structure is satisfactory.
The more metal you put down the coarser the structure will be on the spheres. Low levels of coat will require better operating techniques in order to resolve the coat. Do not expect a conventional (W hairpin) instrument to be able to resolve less than 4 coats.
If you have a modern coating unit, which will be much more efficient at putting down the coat, use 10mA for 30 seconds per coat. Experimenting with coating procedures will enable you to tune the coating parameters an= d coating time to obtain the exact specimen that you require. For field emission instruments a gold-palladium coat, if carefully applied, will gi= ve you grains in the region of 8nm and a spacing of less than 1nm.
Operating Procedures
If you intend to push yourself and your microscope to near its limits the= re are some basic operating procedures that will be required. Firstly the specimen must be placed in the instrument and the high voltage must be switched on for at least 45 minutes prior to trying to work at high magnifications (} 30,000X). This period is required for the high voltage tank, and hence the high voltage, to reach stability. After this period the heat gained by the components is equal to the heat lost through the walls of the tank and the high voltage will be at its most stable.
Whilst stability is being achieved move the specimen to a short working distance ( {5mm) and set the instruments alignment to the best of your ability. Find areas of the specimen that are in the hexagonal array and flat to your view. A slight tilt of the array is not as good for comparison as is a perfectly flat surface; you may need to tune your specimen tilt slightly.
Hope this helps make your own and try it?
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
Chris asks ... } } } I am about to do some estimates of our SEMs resolution under } different conditions. I am intending on using gold particles } of varying size for this task. I intend to analyse the change } in intensity as the beam traverses a particle. I am worried } about the subjective nature of such a test and would like to } find a more objective procedure. Can anyone advise on other } methods? } } Chris Walker
The best method, or least subjective, would be to do a line scan perpendicular to a knife edge. This allows a measurement of signal intensity a function of distance, and you'd be able to quantifiably compare your different parameters by comparing the distance between two points ... e.g., at 20% maximum and 80% maximum.
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 have two older SEM/EDS systems for sale. Where do I advertise? How do I get the word out most effectively? Any suggestions welcome. Is there a Web site where one can post SEM's for sale?
Dear Listers, For those who may be interested in upgrading an existing EDX system to a Windows NT, PC-based system, check out the Quartz Imaging web site for their lastest announcement: www.quartzimaging.com. I've tried a demo system and it's excellent.
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 e-mail: mager-at-interchg.ubc.ca
I would once again like to tap the collective expertise (and my apologies for not thanking each of you each time you help me out)!
A researcher is trying to fix isolated mitochondria (rat brain, I think) that have been subjected to different treatments just before isolation. He expects to see different degrees of swelling. Being extremely conservative about data, I need to make sure the swelling we see is not due to osmotic stress, among other artifacts. Does anyone have a favorite recipe for isolated mitochondria? So far 2.5% glut in 0.1M cacodylate, postfixation with 1% OsO4 in cacodylate, and en bloc uranyl acetate in the 50% ethanol dehydration step seems adequate, but not great.
Thank you all in advance!
Aloha, Tina
No surf today. **************************************************************************** * 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* ****************************************************************************
If I understand you correctly, you want to measure the resolution of the image, i.e., the finest detail that can be resolved with the microscope, not its reproducibility or linearity.
Perhaps you can take a clue from the way this is done on TEMs:
On a TEM you acquire an image of an amorphous material. The Fourier Transform of the image is then either calculated or produced by using an optical diffractometer. This FT then shows the frequency distribution of the image. At the center you have the low frequency information, i.e., the slowly varying brighness changes, and the further out you go, the higher the frequencies. In a TEM, this information is modulated with the contrast transfer function, leading to rings of intensity. By including a little bit of crystalline material with a known lattice constant, this FT image can be calibrated and the radius determined, at which the information (or intensity in the FT image) disappears. This radius is the inversly proportional to the smallest distance that can be resolved.
For an SEM you will need a sample that shows structure or features around the expected resolution limit. Then take an image and calculate the FT. This is best done on a computer. Make sure, that the pixel size is at least a factor of two smaller than the expected resolution or you will see artifacts from pixelation.
The images from the SEM will not show the rings from the CTF, but by doing a radial integration of the FFT you should be able to determine the point, where the intensity in the FFT has gone down below a threshold. You can then use this graph as a measure of your resolution.
Good luck.
Michael
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 1675 Carr St., #105N Lakewood, CO 80215 phone: (888) FIND SIS (303) 234-9270 fax: (303) 234-9271 email: info-at-soft-imaging.com
} ---------- } From: Chris Walker[SMTP:chris.walker-at-physics.org] } Sent: Friday, April 16, 1999 1:30 PM } To: 'Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com' } Subject: SEM: Resolution tests } } ---------------------------------------------------------------------- } -- } 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 about to do some estimates of our SEMs resolution under different } } conditions. I am intending on using gold particles of varying size for } this } task. I intend to analyse the change in intensity as the beam } traverses a } particle. I am worried about the subjective nature of such a test and } would } like to find a more objective procedure. Can anyone advise on other } methods? } } Chris Walker }
Dear Chris, The best way to test resolution is to take your best picture at each operating condition and see how small a feature you can resolve. That is the definition of resolution. I actually examine the Polaroid negative with a 10X magnifyer and measure the smallest gap between gold particles on a carbon substrate that I can see (at about 50,000 or 100,000X mag.). Divide by the mag to get the resolution in nm. You need a sample with a variety of gold particle sizes on it. You wrote:
} } I am about to do some estimates of our SEMs resolution under different } conditions. I am intending on using gold particles of varying size for this } task. I intend to analyse the change in intensity as the beam traverses a } particle. I am worried about the subjective nature of such a test and would } like to find a more objective procedure. Can anyone advise on other } methods? } } Chris Walker } Best of luck, Mary Mary Mager Electron Microscopist Metals and Materials Engineering University of British Columbia 6350 Stores Road Vancouver, B.C. V6T 1Z4 CANADA tel: 604-822-5648 e-mail: mager-at-interchg.ubc.ca
Hi Sheila R. I happen to publish Microscopy Today, a publication which is sent 10 times a year to over 8,400 microscopists in the U.S. - each of which who has requested a no cost subscription. I do have an used equipment section - charging a modest $25 plus a dollar a word, with a $50 minimum. I also publish employment opportunities - also with modest rates. Kindly advise by return email should you be interested in this service. Others might comment to you on any value they may feel with my pub. Best, Don Grimes, Microscopy Today
Dear All: I have a question on the problem of Kevex EDS system which I have here since November, 1997. The system is with a thin window detector and attached to the Topcon SEM. The problem is that sometimes the peak position in a spectrum is found shifted around 300 eV downside from the right position. It happens anytime, even after calibration, or after acquiring data from standard specimen for the qualitative or quantitative analysis. The higher the energy is, the larger the amount of shifting is. The peak width stays thin but sometimes become broad. When I change the bias voltage of the detector from 500 to 450 or 400 V, the shifting is getting worse or better, without specific direction. Service man from the Kevex has been trying to solve the problem for seven or eight months, but still they could not find the source of problem. It could be FET in the detector, preamp, analyzer, cable, plug, or whatever. The most difficult thing is that the shifting problem does not happen all the time. It disappears all of a sudden and does not occur for a few days, and shows up again, driving me and service men crazy. Does any of you have experienced this kind of shifting problem? Could you figure out the cause of the problem? It is really a nuisance and I I want to get rid of it ASAP. Any information will be appreciated. Sincerely, Jondo Yun, Ph.D.Department of Inorganic Materials Engineering Electron Microscopy LaborotaryCenter for Instrumental AnalysisKyungnam University449 Weolyeong-dong, Masan, 631-701, Korea82-551-249-2697 (tel)82-551-248-5033 (fax)jdyun-at-hanma.kyungnam.ac.kr
It looks like something in the feedback loop is flaky. The fact that changing the detector bias sometimes affects the shift makes it look like something in the front end. The most obvious cause would be something wrong with the feedback capacitor in the JFET package, maybe a dust fiber flipping back and forth under the influence of charging. The feedback capacitor is on the order of 0.05 picofarads, so it wouldn't take much of a piece of lint to change the gain by 300 eV.
best regards mark
Mark W. Lund, PhD VP Engineering } } 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
"This is a YOUNG business...How can I tell you what YOUR job is when I don't know what MINE is?" --Pogo
Jundo wrote:
Dear All: I have a question on the problem of Kevex EDS system which I have here since November, 1997. The system is with a thin window detector and attached to the Topcon SEM. The problem is that sometimes the peak position in a spectrum is found shifted around 300 eV downside from the right position. It happens anytime, even after calibration, or after acquiring data from standard specimen for the qualitative or quantitative analysis. The higher the energy is, the larger the amount of shifting is. The peak width stays thin but sometimes become broad. When I change the bias voltage of the detector from 500 to 450 or 400 V, the shifting is getting worse or better, without specific direction. Service man from the Kevex has been trying to solve the problem for seven or eight months, but still they could not find the source of problem. It could be FET in the detector, preamp, analyzer, cable, plug, or whatever. The most difficult thing is that the shifting problem does not happen all the time. It disappears all of a sudden and does not occur for a few days, and shows up again, driving me and service men crazy. Does any of you have experienced this kind of shifting problem? Could you figure out the cause of the problem? It is really a nuisance and I I want to get rid of it ASAP. Any information will be appreciated. Sincerely, Jondo Yun, Ph.D.Department of Inorganic Materials Engineering Electron Microscopy LaborotaryCenter for Instrumental AnalysisKyungnam University449 Weolyeong-dong, Masan, 631-701, Korea82-551-249-2697 (tel)82-551-248-5033 (fax)jdyun-at-hanma.kyungnam.ac.kr
Mattel had made an error in my email address which delayed the following press release:
INTEL=AE PLAY=99: QX3=D4 COMPUTER MICROSCOPE*
Planned Availability: Fall 1999 Estimated Retail Price: $99.99 Platform: PC CD-ROM, Windows=AE95/Windows=D2 98** Audience: Ages 6 and older Product Description:
With the Intel Play QX3 Computer Microscope, children can magnify and display microscopic objects on their PC screens and then play with the images in creative ways. The microscope uses digital video imaging technology to let kids view, enlarge and save images of bugs, plants and other everyday objects. The microscope can also be removed from its base so children can explore the world around them. The software included with the microscope allows children to capture video and still images, as well as create time-lapse movies which they can share by printing, e-mailing or creating an on-screen show. =20
Bringing the microscopic world to life, the QX3 Computer Microscope allows children to view and manipulate everyday things with a fun, magnified perspective. Embarking on a voyage of discovery, children can use the microscope on the base to examine a prepared slide or anything else they have collected magnifying it on the computer. Children can also use the detachable hand-held viewer to look at an image such as ants, moldy cheese or even view the freckles on their own face! Children can let their imaginations run wild by combining and manipulating images in fun and wacky ways using colorizations and special effects. The QX3 Computer Microscope web site includes an on-screen reference guide which helps kids identify and analyze the bugs they've found.
Proving that creativity knows no limits, the QX3 Computer Microscope empowers children to save the images as a still photo, short video clips or time-lapse movies. The ultimate creative self-expression is making "shows" by sequencing and editing the captured images, adding music and sound effects. Children can also print posters, stickers and more. The=20 QX3 Computer Microscope includes the microscope and CD-ROM, as well as slides and specimen holders, plastic tweezers, an eye dropper, brine shrimp, brine shrimp food and user documents. # # #
**Microsoft and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S and/or other countries ***Intel is a registered trademark and Intel Play is a trademark of Intel Corporation
Larry D. Ackerman Lily & Yuh Nung Jan Laboratories Howard Hughes Medical Institute UCSF, Box 0725, Rm U226 533 Parnassus Ave. San Francisco, CA 94143
THREE MONTHS =46REE WITH OUR E-COMMERCE NOW-OR-NEVER PROMOTION 1999
You have been waiting for this since a long time. Sign up now and we waive the first THREE MONTHS of your monthly payments. NO UP =46RONT EXPENSES. NO HIDDEN COSTS. Get started NOW or NEVER!
=46or a limited time only! O=46=46ER EXPIRES APRIL 23TH 1999!!
Take a look at this incredible package. Here is what you get:
- Your own merchant account with one of the lowest rates in the industry - Accept VISA, MASTER, AMEX and DISCOVER - Direct deposit within 48 hrs into your checking account - Shopping Cart store front software with an easy to use web based interface - Real-Time Credit Card Processing software - Virtual terminal for phone/fax/mail orders - E-mail receipts - Recurring billing feature - Password generation for membership sites - Automatic batch closing - Address verification system (AVS) - Back office to 24/7 access account history - Installation included - Tech support included
All this and more for ONLY $54.95 per month* with NO MONEY DOWN!! And the =46IRST THREE MONTHS are absolutely =46REE. No tricks! Don't delay, respond today! Offer expires April 23th, 1999!
Request our free E-mail information by replying to: mailto:uhuh-at-atdot.org?subject=3DNow-or-never
If you wish to be removed from our mailing list reply to: mailto:grande-at-ireland.com?subject=3Dremove
Hi, I usually don't prepare the slot grids with the formvar/carbon film in the hole before picking up sections. Instead, I precoat the slot grids with formvar - making them somewhat hydrophobic - and then pick up the sections. The sections float in the hole. They are then laid down on formvar in holes of a "bridge" to dry down. The bridge is a bent aluminum structure that has holes drilled in it that a sheet of formvar is laid over. One collects the formvar floating on water with the bridge rather than laying grids on it. Once dry, the grids with sections can then be laid on the formvar suspended in the bridge holes, and carefully removed later (without tearing the formvar on the grid - takes some practice).
The bridges can be made, or ordered from one of the usual EM vendors.
On Fri, 16 Apr 1999 08:19:22 -0600 ckuzmiak-at-chuma.cas.usf.edu wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Colleagues ..... } } This one is out of my area of expertise... Please reply direct to } the sender... } } Email: ckuzmiak-at-chuma.cas.usf.edu } Name: Carolyn Kuzmiak } School: USF } } Question: How can serial sections be picked up onto a formvar/carbon } coated large slot grid? So far I have had problems with wrinkling of } sections, sections drying down onto metal instead of remaining in the } slot window. } } --------------------------------------------------------------------------- } }
******************************************** John P. Shields Center for Ultrastructural Research 151 Barrow Hall University of Georgia Athens, GA 30602-2403 (706)542-4080 jpshield-at-arches.uga.edu ********************************************
Dear sir i am Dr s.k. jatty associated with the r&d division of the cement group of The A.C.C. ltd, mumbai, india working on the field of cement and concrete microscopy.
I would like to have some information about the laboratories and institutios all obver world working inthis particular field. Hope u will reply positively.
------------------------------------------------- FUNDAMENTALS AND APPLICATIONS OF LIGHT MICROSCOPY ------------------------------------------------- June 20-25,1999, Wellesley College, Wellesley Massachusetts
A 5-day hands-on course for achieving the maximum information from light microscopy. The course will cover the principals of light microscopy, contrast techniques for the microscope, adjustments of the microscope for optimum contrast and resolution, image capture and interpretation of images in terms of light-matter interactions. A full range of reflected and transmitted light microscopes, as well as contrast equipment, will be provided for use by the students. Students are encouraged to bring their own samples for exploration.
Organized by McCann Imaging For further information: see web page at www.microscopyed.com For course brochure, contact Mary McCann, McCann Imaging 161 Claflin Street Belmont MA 02478 e-mail: mccanns-at-tiac.net Phone (617)-484-7865
Tina Carvalho wrote: } } I would once again like to tap the collective expertise (and my apologies } for not thanking each of you each time you help me out)! } } A researcher is trying to fix isolated mitochondria (rat brain, I think) } that have been subjected to different treatments just before isolation. } He expects to see different degrees of swelling. Being extremely } conservative about data, I need to make sure the swelling we see is not } due to osmotic stress, among other artifacts. Does anyone have a favorite } recipe for isolated mitochondria? So far 2.5% glut in 0.1M cacodylate, } postfixation with 1% OsO4 in cacodylate, and en bloc uranyl acetate in the } 50% ethanol dehydration step seems adequate, but not great. } Dear Tina, We have had good luck with high-pressure freezing. We have examined unstained, frozen-hydrated mitos on the 400 kV instrument here. Although this procedure requires instruments not available at all facilities, I expect to get minimal artefact. Since we are a NIH resource, investigators can use our facilities for free, so if your colleague wants to try this, but doesn't have access to the requisite equipment, (s)he can apply to use our resource by accessing our web site, www.wadsworth.org/bmirr Yours, Bill Tivol
In a message dated 4/19/99 6:10:52 AM Hawaiian Standard Time, { { } Email: ckuzmiak-at-chuma.cas.usf.edu } Name: Carolyn Kuzmiak } School: USF, writes: } } Question: How can serial sections be picked up onto a formvar/carbon } coated large slot grid? So far I have had problems with wrinkling of } sections, sections drying down onto metal instead of remaining in the } slot window. } }
A technique I have used is to pick the secions out of the water trough using a thin loop (I made mine of .008 gold/paladium wire for no better reason than that is what I had in the lab!). The loop should have a diameter of less than 3mm. 2mm works well.
If the section ribbon is teased away from the knife edge the loop can be lowered from the top and will pick up a "film" of water plus sections.
A slot grid, with a formvar/carbon support film is used. The grid needs to be held firmly during the transfer process of the secions from the loop. I actually use an old Hitachi specimen holder where the grid is secured on top of a 3mm dia peg with a retaining cap. This kind of setup can easily be made in the workshop. The grid can also be held by the adhesive applied to "gridsticks" (available from EM supply companies).
The loop is lowered onto the filmed surface of the grid and the water drop with sections transfers readily to the support film.
Treating the filmed grids with poly-L-lysine beforehand also helps. ( Apply a drop of .01% poly-L-lysine to the filmes surface of the grid. After 5 mins blot off with filter paper applied to edge of grid. Allow grid to dry at room temperature or more quickly in an oven at 60 degrees centigrade.)
Does anybody have ever used BALTEC RES 100 for TEM (or SEM) specimen preparation? any comment ? I am carrying out a comparison with PIPS (Gatan) and LAMP 1010 (Fischione) in order to select the equipement to be purchased by my institute. We need it to prepare inorganic samples for TEM observations, mainly Materials Science research activities.
Any kind of information will be very useful. Thank You all in advance, Edoardo Bemporad
Does anybody have ever used BALTEC RES 100 for TEM (or SEM) specimen preparation? any comment ? I am carrying out a comparison with PIPS (Gatan) and LAMP 1010 (Fischione) in order to select the equipement to be purchased by my institute. We need it to prepare inorganic samples for TEM observations, mainly Materials Science research activities.
Any kind of information will be very useful. Thank You all in advance, Edoardo Bemporad
-----Original Message----- } From: THE A.C.C. - RCD - THANE [mailto:rd3-at-bom3.vsnl.net.in] Sent: Monday, April 19, 1999 4:34 PM To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com
Dear sir i am Dr s.k. jatty associated with the r&d division of the cement group of The A.C.C. ltd, mumbai, india working on the field of cement and concrete microscopy.
I would like to have some information about the laboratories and institutios all obver world working inthis particular field. Hope u will reply positively.
kindly mail me " jattysk-at-hotmail.com"
thanking you with regards
Dr s.k.jatty
Dr. Jatty,
I suggest contacting the International Cement Microscopy Association, 1206 Coventry Lane, Duncanville, TX 75137, USA. Membership is free, and meetings are held in the spring once a year at a North American city. This organization covers all aspects of cement and concrete microscopy.
George Polkowski Lab R&D Center Saudi Aramco Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
1. Measuring resolution by measuring the wave-form across an edge is=
not very constructive in the real world. Designed to monitor spot size,=
with the assumption that the resolution attainable is similar to the smallest spot, this technique is messy and in no way does it develop in a= n operator for the correct procedures to attain maximum performance.
Visual indications of performance or lack of it are very important when operating at the limits of the instrument at a particular kV. Using "normal" images for performance testing helps the operator develop a feel=
for the instrument, thereby sensing that they could use a smaller spot size, or a higher emission current, a better astigmatism correction or better focus. Not only do you test the instrument but you also test and develop the operator. Reasons why the South African Microscopical Societ= y are looking at a basic "quality" procedure for EM nation wide.
2. The TEM method of using an optical diffractometer is very interesting. I have used it many times for TEM and it would work for SEM=
negatives, one problem is that the biggest users of SEM are in industry a= nd few will have access to a diffractometer.
Just a few thoughts on an interesting but to many rarely discussed question, or is it?
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
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } Does anybody have ever used BALTEC RES 100 for TEM (or SEM) specimen } preparation? any comment ? I am carrying out a comparison with PIPS (Gatan) } and LAMP 1010 (Fischione) in order to select the equipement to be purchased } by my institute. We need it to prepare inorganic samples for TEM } observations, mainly Materials Science research activities. } } Any kind of information will be very useful. Thank You all in advance, } Edoardo Bemporad
Dear Edoardo Bemporad,
we use the BAL-TEC RES 100 about one year and mainly for TEM sample preparation of semiconductor heterostructures (SiC/Si, AlN/Si, ...). But I have no experiences with the Gatan and the Fischione equipment. What kind of information are useful for you about the RES 100?
Dr. Jatty, The International Cement Microscopy Association has a web site at http://www.cemmicro.org/ Greg
-- ================================================================== Greg Strout Electron Microscopist, University of Oklahoma WWW Virtual Library for Microscopy: http://www.ou.edu/research/electron/www-vl/ e-mail: gstrout-at-ou.edu Opinions expressed herein are mine and not necessarily those of the University of Oklahoma ==================================================================
Our lab is removing the basement membrane from sheets of tissue containing Bruch's membrane. We want to verify that the basement membrane has been removed. We would like to do this by labeling pieces for the presence of basement membrane. Positive label would indicate unsuccessful removal. Is there a specific label for basement membrane that would not label underlying material such as the collagen of Bruch's membrane?
I have following recipe to mix the four components for EPON 812. For 25grs we use 11.556 g Epikot 7.125 g Dodecanylsuccinateanhydride, 6.275 g Methylnodicanhydride and 0.375 g DMP-30 (2,4,6 Triphenol)
Well, anyone who uses other formulas to mix Epon or do you agree with my
formula? I would be happy to receive other propositions to mix Epon or any further information on this stuff. It is the first time I try Epon while using the 3-component ARALDITE normally.
I am looking to buy a used EDX specimen holder for a JEOL 1200EX or EXII. If you have one that you haven't used and are willing to part with, please e-mail me at: jfb-at-uidaho.edu
On Mon, 19 Apr 1999 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.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } In a message dated 4/19/99 6:10:52 AM Hawaiian Standard Time, { { } } Email: ckuzmiak-at-chuma.cas.usf.edu } } Name: Carolyn Kuzmiak } } School: USF, writes: } } } } Question: How can serial sections be picked up onto a formvar/carbon } } coated large slot grid? So far I have had problems with wrinkling of } } sections, sections drying down onto metal instead of remaining in the } } slot window. } } } } A technique I have used is to pick the secions out of the water trough using } a thin loop (I made mine of .008 gold/paladium wire for no better reason than } that is what I had in the lab!). The loop should have a diameter of less than } 3mm. 2mm works well. } } If the section ribbon is teased away from the knife edge the loop can be } lowered from the top and will pick up a "film" of water plus sections. } } A slot grid, with a formvar/carbon support film is used. The grid needs to be } held firmly during the transfer process of the secions from the loop. I } actually use an old Hitachi specimen holder where the grid is secured on top } of a 3mm dia peg with a retaining cap. This kind of setup can easily be made } in the workshop. The grid can also be held by the adhesive applied to } "gridsticks" (available from EM supply companies). } } The loop is lowered onto the filmed surface of the grid and the water drop } with sections transfers readily to the support film. } } Treating the filmed grids with poly-L-lysine beforehand also helps. ( Apply a } drop of .01% poly-L-lysine to the filmes surface of the grid. After 5 mins } blot off with filter paper applied to edge of grid. Allow grid to dry at room } temperature or more quickly in an oven at 60 degrees centigrade.) } } Hope this helps. } } Ted Dunn } Maui, Hawaii } Hi,
Very good ideas! I do it mostly the same way, but I don't use a bridge. It also works if you do not coat the "pick-up grid" with formvar. In order to hold the final, filmed- with- formvar grid steady when transferring the section from the water drop, the grid can be clamped into a reverse forceps (I have 5 of them). The grids in the five forceps can be laid down or put into a holder after the water is drawn off with a filter paper (or not - the grids can just be allowed to dry). One has to try it out, because depending on the embedment and the specimen one method may be more liable to cause wrinkling than another. Another very helpful idea is to use boat water which has been treated by sitting in one of the Pella cups meant for this purpose. Using this water prevents the sections to pedal around in the boat and mixed up. If the sections are irreplaceable, etc and are due to make you rich and famous, then another method may be in order. Trim a HUGE block face. Section one section at a time, and pick up each section seperately on a seperate grid. Tedious, but won't we do to become rich and famous? Bye, Hildy Crowley {hcrowley-at-du.edu}
Our laboratory is planning to buy a print processor. Can anyone give us a recommendation? We would like something simple like the ancient Ilford type which is fast and easy. We can fix prints at a later date seperately. I would so much appreciate anyone's comments with their hands-on experience.
I agree that it would be very unusual for an SEM site to have an optical bench for optical diffractometry. But as I mentioned in my posting, this should also work by acquiring the image on a computer (everybody has digital image acquisition on the SEM, right? If not, contact us. So much for a plug. See disclaimer below) and calculating the Fourier Transform of the image. Then you have to do the radial integration and you should be able to judge the resolution. Using optical diffraction is better as it includes more information from a negative, so for doing it on a computer, you want an image as big as possible (min. 2K x 2K). Whether this also works with images scanned from Polaroids I don't know.
I hope, this helps.
Michael
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 1675 Carr St., #105N Lakewood, CO 80215 phone: (888) FIND SIS (303) 234-9270 fax: (303) 234-9271 email: info-at-soft-imaging.com
******************************************************* Disclaimer: Soft Imaging System produces and sells image acquisition and processing systems. We therefore have a vested interest in some of the items mentioned above. *******************************************************
} ---------- } From: Steve Chapman[SMTP:PROTRAIN-at-CompuServe.COM] } Sent: Tuesday, April 20, 1999 12:55 AM } To: American } Subject: SEM Resolution } } ---------------------------------------------------------------------- } -- } 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 } ---------------------------------------------------------------------- } -. } } } The few comments posted pose interesting points. } } 1. Measuring resolution by measuring the wave-form across an edge } is } not very constructive in the real world. Designed to monitor spot } size, } with the assumption that the resolution attainable is similar to the } smallest spot, this technique is messy and in no way does it develop } in an } operator for the correct procedures to attain maximum performance. } } Visual indications of performance or lack of it are very important } when } operating at the limits of the instrument at a particular kV. Using } "normal" images for performance testing helps the operator develop a } feel } for the instrument, thereby sensing that they could use a smaller } spot } size, or a higher emission current, a better astigmatism correction or } better focus. Not only do you test the instrument but you also test } and } develop the operator. Reasons why the South African Microscopical } Society } are looking at a basic "quality" procedure for EM nation wide. } } 2. The TEM method of using an optical diffractometer is very } interesting. I have used it many times for TEM and it would work for } SEM } negatives, one problem is that the biggest users of SEM are in } industry and } few will have access to a diffractometer. } } Just a few thoughts on an interesting but to many rarely discussed } question, or is it? } } 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 } }
Senior Research Technician*- Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation = Imaging Facility =20 The newly formed Imaging Core Facility at the Oklahoma Medical Research = Foundation is seeking a research technician with a BS/BA degree in life = sciences (minimum) and a background in preparatory methods for light = and/or electron microscopy. Candidates should be able to carry out = standard specimen fixation, embedding, sectioning and staining = techniques. Prior experience in mammalian tissue processing and some = knowledge of histological methods would be helpful but are not required. = Salary will be commensurate with experience. The successful applicant = will receive further training on the TEM, laser scanning confocal = microscope and other instruments. Please submit a Curriculum Vitae and = names and addresses of three references to:
Stephen Fields, Ph.D. Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation Program in Molecular and Cell Biology 825 NE 13th St. Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-7245 (office) 405-271-3153 (fax) steve-fields-at-omrf.ouhsc.edu
*Applicants must be capable of a full range of body positions and = movements including, but not limited to, standing, walking, sitting, = climbing, bending/stooping, squatting, twisting, and reaching. Moreover, = fine motor skills and sense of touch are necessary to carry out the many = procedures associated with the job, some of which could be dangerous = without full or nearly full motor and sensory attributes, including = hearing and vision.=20
I am looking into options for visible microspectrophotometry, and would appreciate your suggestions. A system could be added to one of our microscopes (Olympus BX60 or BH2), or adapted to our Nicolet FT-IR spectrometer/Spectra-Tech microscope.
Recommendations from satisfied users of either option, or another, will be appreciated.
The following are comments that I gave to Edoardo Bemporad with several items added. It thought that it might be useful to this crowd since there is not a lot of experience out there with the RES100 ion mill.
I assume that you would like my recommendations with respect to the Bal-Tec ion mill. I like it very much. I am getting very good samples. There are things that the RES 100 can do that the other ion mills can not. In particular, the RES100 can coat non-conducting samples with a sputter coating quite easily and can also etch samples. These last two things become very important if you have a reasonably good SEM. I have also done a little ion polishing of SEM samples that were examined in a high resolution SEM with good results.
The capability of imaging the sample for alignment is very significant for me because most of my samples are cross sections of glass samples and they fluoresce under the mill. With every sample, I can routinely check the ion mill alignment if I want to. The RES100 has the ability to capture the digital image of the fluorescence and superimpose it on the image. This allows you to see when shadowing of the center of the sample occurs due to the rim of the dimple. This then defines the minimum milling angle that you can use.
I have found that the alignment of the guns are extremely good over time. I can say that I have not had the same experience with the limited use that I have had with a PIPS system. I use the RES100 to sputter coat carbon onto my glass samples so that I can use them in a FEG-TEM. (If I coat them with my normal evap carbon coater, they contaminate because it is a dirty diffusion pumped system.) It could be set up to sputter coat other materials quite easily.
There are areas for improvement in the mill and Bal-Tec is very receptive to good suggestions. They have made a number of corrections or improvements suggested by me.
The low-angle stage works well, but I have dropped some samples while milling. I have found that this is less of a problem if I am careful and make sure that my samples are less than 100 um in total thickness. (Around 90 um works very well.) Bal-Tec is aware of this and as I understand it are looking at alternative designs for the low angle stage. We also had some problems with the rotation motor early on, but they did a redesign of the motor mount that fixed the problem and have had no problems since.
I bought the RES100 because at the time, it was only one of two instruments that had the ability to terminate with a Faraday cup. This feature works well. However, I find that the image processing termination feature of the RES100 is much more sensitive and fine tunable than the PIPS. Again, they made a few modifications to this portion of the software after some comments by me and others that significantly improved it. It would be able to set up silicon, for example, when it becomes optically transparent in the red. It looks like it is very possible to use image processing to terminate optically transparent samples. I showed them some image processing steps that could do this, but I don't know if they will implement it or not. I thought that they were interested in this.
Programming the ion milling is fairly straightforward. I would like to the ion milling history that a sample goes through recorded better. It is also not easy to perform milling from the substrate side on both sides of the sample like the PIPS instrument does. It is doable, but only with one gun at a time. The best way to do it is by cycling the same gun on top and bottom of the sample and rocking the sample back and forth (without rotation) with an angle of 30-35. Since you can't yet loop the program, you have to brute force it by copying two lines of the program and pasting them many times.
There is a learning curve to the use of the instrument that is a little longer than the other ion mills that I have used. I think that this is so because the design and philosophy of the instrument is different than others.
I have used the PIPS instrument and am familiar with the Fischione instrument.
Given the choice between the three instruments, I would buy the RES100 again if I had to make the decision tomorrow because of its versatility. However, I understand that the ion mill South Bay Technology sells (IV-3?) now has the Faraday termination option and I would like to check that and compare it to the RES100.
Overall, I am quite pleased with my system and the service that I received from Bal-Tec.
-Scott
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Glass Technology Center 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."
BookWhere? is a powerful software package that runs on the Microsoft Windows Operating System and allows the user to search remote databases for published material of interest.
Link to this site is available on www.coleoptera.org in the directory {Software house} .
Hundreds of library catalogues and other types of information databases can be searched via the Internet using BookWhere? The software comes with a pre-configured list of available hosts and databases making access to this universe of information easy and convenient.
The Essential Research Tool
SINGLE INTERFACE: This single interface is your window on global libraries. BROADCAST SEARCHING: Fast, direct, simultaneous access to remote databases. COMPREHENSIVE SOURCES: Select library catalogues from built in lists organized by name, location or type. HYPERLINK SEARCHES: Hyperlink to a second level search directly from retrieved records. ANALYZE RESULTS: Customize the analysis window for grouping records by various keys. Jump to a subset instantly. EASY TO USE: Easy-to-use Windows-based interface. EXPORT RECORDS: Supports ALL popular bibliographic citation management packages. Transfer records directly to ProCite and Reference Manager. MARC RECORDS: Supports the display and export of MARC records for use in library automation systems
link to this site is available on www.coleoptera.org directory {Software house} .
Keep care and be of good cheer.
Regards
(name) Vratislav Richard Eugene Maria John Baptiste (surname) of Bejsak (Bayshark)-Collorado-Mansfeld
http://www.coleoptera.org Coleoptera - Australia, Tenebrionidae of World (incl. Lagriinae, Alleculinae)
University of Sydney The Wentworth Bldg., P.O.Box 62 NSW 2006 AUSTRALIA phone : +61 414 540 465 e-mail: vratislav-at-bigfoot.com ricardo-at-ans.com.au (before Ricardo-at-compuserve.com and ricardo-at-login.cz )
Only after the last tree has been cut down, only after the last river has been poisoned, only after the last fish has been caught, only then will you find that money can not be eaten.' CREE INDIAN PROPHECY.
Michael Reiner wrote I have following recipe to mix the four components for EPON 812. For 25grs we use 11.556 g Epikot 7.125 g Dodecanylsuccinateanhydride, 6.275 g Methylnodicanhydride and 0.375 g DMP-30 (2,4,6 Triphenol)
Well, anyone who uses other formulas to mix Epon or do you agree with my
formula? I would be happy to receive other propositions to mix Epon or any further information on this stuff. It is the first time I try Epon while using the 3-component ARALDITE normally.
Dear Michael Reiner,
for Epon 812 with WPE 157 we use
52,3 g Epon 23,0 g MNA 23,0 DDSA 1,5g DMP30 or 2,5 g BDMA
best wishes Anne Heller
Dr. Anne Heller Arbeitsgruppe Elektronenmikroskopie Institut fuer Botanik (210) Universitaet Hohenheim Garbenstr.30 D-70593 Stuttgart Tel.0049-711-459-2180 Fax 0049-711-459-3355
We calculate for each bottle of Epon 812(or EMBed 812). Most commercially available epoxy resins sold today give the "Weight for Epoxy Equivalent" of the Epon component. The "WPE" is listed on the bottle for each batch you buy. This value for Epon 812 usually varies between 140-180. If the same resin consistency is to be maintained, formulation of the resin must change to compensate for the varying WPE's of the resin. This can be done by varying the amount of hardener(anhydride) For example, the weight of the anhydride used can be determined from the following formula:
weight of anhydride= (weight of resin/WPE) x anhydride equivalent x anhydride/epoxy ratio
WPE is determined from label on bottle. anhydride equivalent = molecular weight of DDSA (Dodecenyl Succinic Anhydride) = 226.0 NMA (Nadic Methyl Anhydride)=178
Ratio of anydride/epoxy = ratio of molar concentrations of anhydride to epoxy Luft's original 1961 mixture that gave optimal cutting qualities for Epoxy 812 (also known as Epon or EMBed 812) was 0.7 A/E.
Example: If you wish to use 100 grams of Epon resin with a WPE of 160, how much DDSA and NMA would you need to achieve an A/E of 0.7?
DDSA weight = (100/160) x 266 x 0.7 = 116.4 grams NMA weight = (100/160) x 178 x 0.7 = 77.87 grams
You would combine 100 grams of Epon with 116.4 grams of DDSA and then 77.87 grams NMA with 100 grams of Epon. (note that you end up with 200 grams of Epon at the end) Mix these well and add DMP-30 at a 1-3% ratio (we usually use 1%) And of course, we cut the amount to fit in a 30 ml syringe for storage and ease of use.
Good luck. john
******************************************** John P. Shields Center for Ultrastructural Research 151 Barrow Hall University of Georgia Athens, GA 30602-2403 (706)542-4080 jpshield-at-arches.uga.edu ********************************************
On Tue, 20 Apr 1999 16:32:52 +0200 Michael Reiner {a2811111-at-smail.Uni-Koeln.DE} wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Dear microscopists: } } I have following recipe to mix the four components for EPON 812. } For 25grs we use } 11.556 g Epikot } 7.125 g Dodecanylsuccinateanhydride, } 6.275 g Methylnodicanhydride } and 0.375 g DMP-30 (2,4,6 Triphenol) } } Well, anyone who uses other formulas to mix Epon or do you agree with my } } formula? } I would be happy to receive other propositions to mix Epon or any } further information on this stuff. } It is the first time I try Epon while using the 3-component ARALDITE } normally. } } Thank you for hints and tips, } keep trying ... } } Michael Reiner }
Sorry, I forgot to add the Epon/araldite info. If you are using an Epon/araldite formulation, go by the amounts listed in the kit. If you lost this, you can contact any of the suppliers and they are usually kind enough to mail that info. I tend to stick with my "usual and customary" amount for this (as I am a naturally lazy person):
Embed 812: 25 grams or 25 ml Araldite 502: 16 grams or 15 ml DDSA: 48 grams or 55 ml DMP 30: 1.6 gram or 1.5-2 ml
I'm sure that there are others that have a more precise or different rendering of this formula.
******************************************** John P. Shields Center for Ultrastructural Research 151 Barrow Hall University of Georgia Athens, GA 30602-2403 (706)542-4080 jpshield-at-arches.uga.edu ********************************************
Hi all! I could do with a bit of serious technical advice from someone with experience in preparing diffraction crystals. Basically, it goes like this. I've pillaged the diffracting crystals from an old Phillips spectrometer that we have sitting in the basement. Inside were LiF, LiF220, Ge, PET and TAP on their nice Al backing plates attached with dollops of silicon (?) rubber sealant. Because of the exorbitant price of replacing diffraction crystals for our JEOL 'probe, particularly TAP at ca. R40,000 each, I thought that it might be a cunning ploy to remove these from their backings and cut them to size. I could get several and if they work that would be great. Not only would it sort out our TAP problem but also extend our choice of crystals to use. I have located a diamond wire saw with which I could do the cutting. However, there are certain other things that spring to mind for which help from those who actually prepare these things would be greatly appreciated. I appreciate that those who produce these for the JEOL 'probes would rather I bought new ones from them. Sorry guys, but our lab can't afford it with the current state of the Rand. 1) Is the diamond saw good enough for this kind of work? 2) TAP appears particularly fragile, is there a way to minimise flaking? 3) I guess lubricant should be avoided, but if it is possible to use one, what should be used for which crystal type?
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Cheers, Malc. Dr MP Roberts Department of Geology Rhodes University Grahamstown 6140 South Africa Tel: +27 46 6038316 Fax: +27 46 6229715 ******************************* "If God had meant birds to fly, he would have given them engines" Anon.
For those of you who have not yet used microspectrophotometry, it is a great way to add optical and chemical information to our microscopy imaging. Spectroscopy and Microscopy are converging technologies; that convergence was strongly visible at this year's PITTCON meeting. (For details, write me or see the May issue of American Lab, "Focus on Microscopy" column)
But back to Jamie's questions: Leica and Zeiss both make fully integrated UV-Vis microspectrophotometers, with the necessary software for spectral manipulation. In terms of add-ons, there are now 2-3 companies, but I would have to do research to dig them out. The only one I have current data on is a company run by Felix Brogna called Optical Technologies. They are located in Hawthorne, NY (just north of White Plains) and can be reached at 914-592-1900. While I know that there are at least 2 other companies, I cannot find their data in my current files.
Optical Technologies has two devices: a manual spectrometer (you dial in the wavelengths) and a computer controlled one (via RS232 cable). Both sell for around $10K or less (prices may have risen since I last spoke to them) but they provide good value for money. As I remember, they also had a focusable pinhole to eliminate stray light.... a very desirable feature.
If you have not had much experience in microspectrophotometry, might I suggest Horst Piller's book Microscope Photometry, ISBN 3-540-08094-5; Spring Verlag, publisher, 1977. If you can't get it on the open market, call Irv Toplin at Zeiss and see if he can track down a copy either here in Thornwood or in Germany. I used to be one of two microspectrometry field specialists with Zeiss and found this book valuable. It stresses the importance of a stablized light source (if not available from your manufacturer, see Mel Dekker at Optiquip), aperturing, optical and statistical errors, etc.
Also interesting: A book edited by Michael Morris and put out by Marcel Dekker. My copy is not here today, so I can't give you the complete information but I think the title is Spectroscopic and Microscopic Imaging of the Chemical State. While the first chapter on microscopy is a bit weak (Dr. Morris and I have discussed that), the rest of the book is great.
Caveat: I have no commercial interest in any of these products, only an interest in promoting better use of microscopy in general.
Hope that all this helpful.
Best regards
Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater productivity.
125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} ****************************************************** MME is America's first national consortium providing customized on-site workshops in all areas of microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis.
At 03:56 PM 4/20/99 -0400, James Martin wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Malc asks ... } } } Hi all! } I could do with a bit of serious technical advice } from someone with experience in preparing diffraction crystals. } ... } I've pillaged the diffracting crystals from an old Phillips } spectrometer that we have sitting in the basement. ...
I have to wonder if these crystals could be used with the JEOL Rowland circle?? ... a focussing issue, whereby the xtal surface curvature is focussed on the opposite side of the circle.
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/
Hi Richie, Quartz & Silice is now a part of the French conglomerate Saint-Gobain.
best regards, mark
Mark W. Lund, PhD VP Engineering } } 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
"This is a YOUNG business...How can I tell you what YOUR job is when I don't know what MINE is?" --Pogo
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Dear microscopists: } } I have following recipe to mix the four components for EPON 812. } For 25grs we use } 11.556 g Epikot } 7.125 g Dodecanylsuccinateanhydride, } 6.275 g Methylnodicanhydride } and 0.375 g DMP-30 (2,4,6 Triphenol) } } Well, anyone who uses other formulas to mix Epon or do you agree with my } } formula? } I would be happy to receive other propositions to mix Epon or any } further information on this stuff. } It is the first time I try Epon while using the 3-component ARALDITE } normally. } } Thank you for hints and tips, } keep trying ... } } Michael Reiner } } } Hi, When trying something new with embedding media, it might be best to go to a formulation which has been existence for 30 years - the formulations by Luft. These formulations have been used for millions of embedments with success. Look in any TEM textbook and you will find them. The "medium hard" formulation is a favorite of pathologists, because it is versatile and will embed many samples satisfactorily. By the way - It is not necessary to weigh out epoxides. Use disposable syringes for measuring accurately. You will not be able to detect a difference in block properties between monomers carefully weighed and carefully measured. I have data to support this. Hildy Crowley {hcrowley-at-du.edu}
I have a Hitachi 2500C, S/N 32001622-5303, with a Large Stage C and I am looking for a computer controllable stage controller. Do you have one that is available or do you know where I can obtain one. I would prefer an RS 232 interface but that is not absolutely necessary. I am also looking for a video converter to put the picture on the WEB like an Web Cam. I also have a Sigma system # 20400, customer #8294-01. I would also like to put the X-ray maps on the web in real time. I have also sent this message to Hitachi and Kevex and will be posting it on some other Web pages.
Dennis Coad Boeing Huntsville Central Labs Lead MS: JW-56 (256) 461-2976
} -----Original Message----- } From: ckuzmiak-at-chuma.cas.usf.edu [SMTP:ckuzmiak-at-chuma.cas.usf.edu] } Sent: Friday, April 16, 1999 10:19 AM } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: How can serial sections be picked up } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Colleagues ..... } } This one is out of my area of expertise... Please reply direct to } the sender... } } Email: ckuzmiak-at-chuma.cas.usf.edu } Name: Carolyn Kuzmiak } School: USF } } Question: How can serial sections be picked up onto a formvar/carbon } coated } large slot grid? So far I have had problems with wrinkling of sections, } sections drying down onto metal instead of remaining in the slot window. } } -------------------------------------------------------------------------- } - [MORETZ,DR,ROGER TX BIPUS]
Jumping in a little late, the technique I use is not totally unlike the that described by Hildegarde Crowley, but may be sufficiently so to justify the response.
I use the reverse action, anti-capillary forceps--the #5 style to hold the slotted grid, pre-coated with formvar and carbon. Using the anti-capillary forceps upside down allows you to hold the grid at an angle. This additional angle provides greater flexibility in bringing the grid under the sections, attaching the first section to the support film and drawing the grid and ribbon onto the grid along the length of the slot. Repulsion of the grid and the ribbon can be eliminated or at least controlled by zapping each grid (just prior to immersion in the boat) with a Zerostat. I have also used a demagnetizing coil (purchased from Ladd many, many years ago) to reduce the repulsive interactions. The other thing I have used to control placement of the ribbon and to ensure attachment to the grid over the slot is the use of a lash to manipulate the ribbon. Those are difficult to come by unless you have long lashes.
This technique sounds (and I guess it is) tedious, but I have used it to successfully section over 500um through an amyloid plaque--over 700 grids in all, and the only sections lost were when the forceps tips perforated a slot during staining!
Thanks to all of you who replied to my query about differentiating apotosis from necrosis in TEM. I really appeciate it! The replies are attached below. In addition to the references give, I also found useful Voume 46 of Methods in Cell Biology; Cell Death, edited by Lawrence .M. Schwartz and Barbara A. Osborne.
As it turns out, the cells I was looking at are neither apototic nor necrotic, but now appear to have a strange disorder. But that's another story...
The replies:
Differentiating apoptosis and necrosis morphologically is based primarily upon nuclear changes, although there are characteristic cytoplasmic changes as well. In general (note the wiggle words), necrotic cells swell and lyse, whereas apoptotic cells shrink and fragment. Chromatin in apoptotic cells forms electron-dense crescents at the nuclear envelope, then breaks up. Apoptotic cells fragment into "apoptotic bodies" that may contain bits of chromatin. A good place to see characteristic ultrastructural changes of apoptosis is in lymphoid tissues, where lymphocytes die via apoptosis and then are phagocytosed by resident macrophages (the ones that are sometimes called "tingible body macrophages" because of the staining properties of the apoptotic cell remnants in them.)
Differenting apoptosis from necrosis is a tricky deal. Apoptotic cells may undergo secondary necrosis, during which they swell and lyse. So, just because you see necrotic cells doesn't mean that they didn't die apoptotically. Like everything else, it's complicated; there is a continuum of change with apoptosis and necrosis at opposite poles and a lot of stuff in between!
There are lots of good reviews on this topic. The Aug 28, 1998 issue of Science had a special section on apoptosis, and on page 1302, there is a series of three electron micrographs of neurons undergoing apoptosis. One of the first reviews of the subject contains the best collection of micrographs I've found - "Cell death: the significance of apoptosis" in the International Review of Cytology 68:251-306, 1980. Another good review was in Amer J of Pathol 146:3-15, 1995. The title is "Apoptosis, oncosis, and necrosis: an overview of cell death."
Jane Fagerland
There's lots of stuff on t.e.m. of apoptosis in vertebrate cells (it's very popular in HIV, cancer, inflammation response etc) and much of it indicates visible nuclear changes but relative stability of cytoplasm compared with necrosis.
There was a review article (as a good starting point): Microscopical Study of Cell Death via Apoptosis by S. Verhaegen in MIcroscopy and Analysis, January 1998 pp5-7
But you could do a reference or citation 'trawl' on the authors: Kerr, J.F.; Wyllie, A.H. or Currie
Malcolm Haswell
In response to your question, I did some necrosis versus apoptosis questions concerning a mycobacterium ulcerans toxin question we had here, and two papers that were particularly helpful distinguishing the two were from Scanning Microscopy Vol. 10, No. 1, 1996 pages227-237,by E. Falcieri, et al, Different Approaches to the study of Apoptosis, and in the same journal, by Dini et al, pages 239-252, an article entitled Recognition and Phagocytosis of Apoptotic Cells.
Beth Fischer
Apoptosis: the molecular basis of cell death - Current Communications in Cell and Molecular Biology 3. L. D. Tomei and F. O. Cope editors. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press 1991
Cell Death in Biology and Pathology. I.D. Bowen and R.A. Lockshin ed. Chapman and Hall publs.
John (Keoni) Hardy
The most "conventional" way to detect apoptosis is to look for DNA fragmentation using in situ hybridization probes. I would not recommend that you go down that path unless you really need this technique to work in your lab. There are many in situ probes available to detect apoptotic cells if you do decide this is what you want. The DNA fragmentation that occurs during apoptosis will produce "patterns" in the nuclear chromatin which researchers have used to identify apoptotic cells. However, this has the same pitfalls as other morphologic characterizations (mostly in proving this is what you are looking at).
You might try looking for ways to detect cytoplasmic cytochrome c or activated caspases (not easy yet).
Here are some reviews to read: Baker et al, 1996 Oncogene 12:1-9. Lincz, 1998 Immuno.and Cell Bio. 76:1-19. Van Engeland et al, 1998 Cytometry 31:1-9 Solary et al 1998 Cell Bio. and Toxicol 14:121-132. Green & Reed 1998 Science 281:1309-1312 Dickson 1998 Trends Biotechnol 16:339-342 Cai et al 1998 Biochem. Biophys Acta 1366:151-165. O'Brian 1998 J. Gen virol 79:1833-1845. Granville et al 1998 Lab Invest 78:839-913 Kuan and Passaro 1998 Arch Surg 133:773-775.
Paul Webster
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* ****************************************************************************
We have a Debben stage on our Hitachi 2460N. It works well for us and has a RS-232 interface. Ours is interfaced to a Link ISIS EDS system. I would not care to program such a thing by myself. (I am getting too old for it.)
I would be interested in what you hear about putting the video on the web. I have played around a little with it myself, but keep running out of time. Other responsibilities keep calling.
The x-ray maps could be put on line in pseudo real time if the Kevex saves files to a standard imaging format and supports an FTP server (i.e., it is standard Windows 95 OS). We use Microsoft's Personal Web Server the WarFTP FTP server to offer up files in particular directories. We save the files in a format that others can view and/or retrieve, and they are available as soon as we hit the Save button. You can check us out at WWW.MARL.IASTATE.EDU and see for yourself. BTW, JPG and GIF formats are best for this applications. Your clients would need to set up a helper application to view TIFF files, plus the files get big, fast.
At 11:30 AM 4/21/1999 -0500, you wrote: } } I have a Hitachi 2500C, S/N 32001622-5303, with a Large Stage C and I am } looking for a computer controllable stage controller. Do you have one that } is available or do you know where I can obtain one. I would prefer an RS 232 } interface but that is not absolutely necessary. I am also looking for a } video converter to put the picture on the WEB like an Web Cam. I also have a } Sigma system # 20400, customer #8294-01. I would also like to put the X-ray } maps on the web in real time. I have also sent this message to Hitachi and } Kevex and will be posting it on some other Web pages. } } Dennis Coad } Boeing Huntsville } Central Labs Lead } MS: JW-56 } (256) 461-2976
---------------------------------------------------- Warren E. Straszheim 23 Town Engineering Iowa State University Ames IA, 50011-3232
The Northern California Society for Microscopy will hold a Biomaterials Symposium on May 6th at Roche Biosciences in Palo Alto. A complete program is attached for those interested in attending. The symposium will begin at 1:00 p.m.
A social hour is scheduled for 5:45 followed by a Mexican Fiesta dinner featuring chicken and beef fajitas and cheese enchiladas, black beans and Spanish rice. The cost of the dinner is $15.00 for members and $7.50 for students. Reservations should be made by May 3rd. Contact Greg Lum to make your reservation. Telephone (415) 338-1091 or email glum-at-sfsu.edu
Photo contest: Remember to bring a micrograph for consideration for the cover of our directory 'Scope'. The NCSM council will act as judges and the winner will receive $100.00
Vendors are invited to bring brochures and other information describing their products. Vendors, please remember to bring a one-sheet advertisement to be included in the new 'Scope'.
All attendees are encouraged to bring a buddy to the meeting.
The Northern California Society for Microscopy will hold a Biomaterials Symposium on May 6th at Roche Biosciences in Palo Alto. A complete program is attached for those interested in attending. The symposium will begin at 1:00 p.m.
A social hour is scheduled for 5:45 followed by a Mexican Fiesta dinner featuring chicken and beef fajitas and cheese enchiladas, black beans and Spanish rice. The cost of the dinner is $15.00 for members and $7.50 for students. Reservations should be made by May 3rd. Contact Greg Lum to make your reservation. Telephone (415) 338-1091 or email glum-at-sfsu.edu
Photo contest: Remember to bring a micrograph for consideration for the cover of our directory 'Scope'. The NCSM council will act as judges and the winner will receive $100.00
Vendors are invited to bring brochures and other information describing their products. Vendors, please remember to bring a one-sheet advertisement to be included in the new 'Scope'.
All attendees are encouraged to bring a buddy to the meeting.
The Northern California Society for Microscopy will hold a Biomaterials Symposium on May 6th at Roche Biosciences in Palo Alto. A complete program is attached for those interested in attending. The symposium will begin at 1:00 p.m.
A social hour is scheduled for 5:45 followed by a Mexican Fiesta dinner featuring chicken and beef fajitas and cheese enchiladas, black beans and Spanish rice. The cost of the dinner is $15.00 for members and $7.50 for students. Reservations should be made by May 3rd. Contact Greg Lum to make your reservation. Telephone (415) 338-1091 or email glum-at-sfsu.edu
Photo contest: Remember to bring a micrograph for consideration for the cover of our directory 'Scope'. The NCSM council will act as judges and the winner will receive $100.00
Vendors are invited to bring brochures and other information describing their products. Vendors, please remember to bring a one-sheet advertisement to be included in the new 'Scope'.
All attendees are encouraged to bring a buddy to the meeting.
The Northern California Society for Microscopy will hold a Biomaterials Symposium on May 6th at Roche Biosciences in Palo Alto. A complete program is attached for those interested in attending. The symposium will begin at 1:00 p.m.
A social hour is scheduled for 5:45 followed by a Mexican Fiesta dinner featuring chicken and beef fajitas and cheese enchiladas, black beans and Spanish rice. The cost of the dinner is $15.00 for members and $7.50 for students. Reservations should be made by May 3rd. Contact Greg Lum to make your reservation. Telephone (415) 338-1091 or email glum-at-sfsu.edu
Photo contest: Remember to bring a micrograph for consideration for the cover of our directory 'Scope'. The NCSM council will act as judges and the winner will receive $100.00
Vendors are invited to bring brochures and other information describing their products. Vendors, please remember to bring a one-sheet advertisement to be included in the new 'Scope'.
All attendees are encouraged to bring a buddy to the meeting.
The Northern California Society for Microscopy will hold a Biomaterials Symposium on May 6th at Roche Biosciences in Palo Alto. A complete program is attached for those interested in attending. The symposium will begin at 1:00 p.m.
A social hour is scheduled for 5:45 followed by a Mexican Fiesta dinner featuring chicken and beef fajitas and cheese enchiladas, black beans and Spanish rice. The cost of the dinner is $15.00 for members and $7.50 for students. Reservations should be made by May 3rd. Contact Greg Lum to make your reservation. Telephone (415) 338-1091 or email glum-at-sfsu.edu
Photo contest: Remember to bring a micrograph for consideration for the cover of our directory 'Scope'. The NCSM council will act as judges and the winner will receive $100.00
Vendors are invited to bring brochures and other information describing their products. Vendors, please remember to bring a one-sheet advertisement to be included in the new 'Scope'.
All attendees are encouraged to bring a buddy to the meeting.
The Northern California Society for Microscopy will hold a Biomaterials Symposium on May 6th at Roche Biosciences in Palo Alto. A complete program is attached for those interested in attending. The symposium will begin at 1:00 p.m.
A social hour is scheduled for 5:45 followed by a Mexican Fiesta dinner featuring chicken and beef fajitas and cheese enchiladas, black beans and Spanish rice. The cost of the dinner is $15.00 for members and $7.50 for students. Reservations should be made by May 3rd. Contact Greg Lum to make your reservation. Telephone (415) 338-1091 or email glum-at-sfsu.edu
Photo contest: Remember to bring a micrograph for consideration for the cover of our directory 'Scope'. The NCSM council will act as judges and the winner will receive $100.00
Vendors are invited to bring brochures and other information describing their products. Vendors, please remember to bring a one-sheet advertisement to be included in the new 'Scope'.
All attendees are encouraged to bring a buddy to the meeting.
The Northern California Society for Microscopy will hold a Biomaterials Symposium on May 6th at Roche Biosciences in Palo Alto. A complete program is attached for those interested in attending. The symposium will begin at 1:00 p.m.
A social hour is scheduled for 5:45 followed by a Mexican Fiesta dinner featuring chicken and beef fajitas and cheese enchiladas, black beans and Spanish rice. The cost of the dinner is $15.00 for members and $7.50 for students. Reservations should be made by May 3rd. Contact Greg Lum to make your reservation. Telephone (415) 338-1091 or email glum-at-sfsu.edu
Photo contest: Remember to bring a micrograph for consideration for the cover of our directory 'Scope'. The NCSM council will act as judges and the winner will receive $100.00
Vendors are invited to bring brochures and other information describing their products. Vendors, please remember to bring a one-sheet advertisement to be included in the new 'Scope'.
All attendees are encouraged to bring a buddy to the meeting.
The Northern California Society for Microscopy will hold a Biomaterials Symposium on May 6th at Roche Biosciences in Palo Alto. A complete program is attached for those interested in attending. The symposium will begin at 1:00 p.m.
A social hour is scheduled for 5:45 followed by a Mexican Fiesta dinner featuring chicken and beef fajitas and cheese enchiladas, black beans and Spanish rice. The cost of the dinner is $15.00 for members and $7.50 for students. Reservations should be made by May 3rd. Contact Greg Lum to make your reservation. Telephone (415) 338-1091 or email glum-at-sfsu.edu
Photo contest: Remember to bring a micrograph for consideration for the cover of our directory 'Scope'. The NCSM council will act as judges and the winner will receive $100.00
Vendors are invited to bring brochures and other information describing their products. Vendors, please remember to bring a one-sheet advertisement to be included in the new 'Scope'.
All attendees are encouraged to bring a buddy to the meeting.
The Northern California Society for Microscopy will hold a Biomaterials Symposium on May 6th at Roche Biosciences in Palo Alto. A complete program is attached for those interested in attending. The symposium will begin at 1:00 p.m.
A social hour is scheduled for 5:45 followed by a Mexican Fiesta dinner featuring chicken and beef fajitas and cheese enchiladas, black beans and Spanish rice. The cost of the dinner is $15.00 for members and $7.50 for students. Reservations should be made by May 3rd. Contact Greg Lum to make your reservation. Telephone (415) 338-1091 or email glum-at-sfsu.edu
Photo contest: Remember to bring a micrograph for consideration for the cover of our directory 'Scope'. The NCSM council will act as judges and the winner will receive $100.00
Vendors are invited to bring brochures and other information describing their products. Vendors, please remember to bring a one-sheet advertisement to be included in the new 'Scope'.
All attendees are encouraged to bring a buddy to the meeting.
Michael Reiner wrote ================================================ I have following recipe to mix the four components for EPON 812. For 25grs we use 11.556 g Epikot 7.125 g Dodecanylsuccinateanhydride, 6.275 g Methylnodicanhydride and 0.375 g DMP-30 (2,4,6 Triphenol)
Well, anyone who uses other formulas to mix Epon or do you agree with my formula? I would be happy to receive other propositions to mix Epon or any further information on this stuff. It is the first time I try Epon while using the 3-component ARALDITE normally. ================================================ The trade name Epon® is owned by Shell Chemical. Until approximately 1970, Shell produced a product called Epon 812 and was widely used through EM-land . But at about that date, Shell announced the discontinuation of Epon 812. Shell continues to make other Epon resin grades but unfortunately, none seem to have value for applications in EM.
There is now a range of Epon "substitutes". Most of the major EM suppliers of consumables and supplies have their own "brand" of this substitute. However, they do not come from the same source. And they might come close to approximating the original Epon (in some respects some of them might be superior in terms of infiltration) but they are not identical, either with respect to the original Epon or with regard to the variety of different "substitutes".
So I make this comment, which I hope is not considered out of place, because if indeed someone did have some of the original Epon 812 left in bottles (some claim to still be working off a stock pile they purchased nearly thirty years ago), it may or may not be performing as it would have in 1970. And since workers today are probably using "substitutes", if precise formulaes are going to be stated to the fourth and fifth significant figures , then probably it would be appropriate to state precisely which "substitute" is being used for the resin component.
In our own laboratory at least, we are constantly changing the formula where we are seeking to end up with a hardness more appropriate for specific samples. So in our case, the "formula" can vary by some considerable amount
WASHINGTON (AP) - A single-celled microbe large enough to be seen with the naked eye has been found by researchers sampling ocean dredgings in the South Atlantic.
The bacterium - as big as the period at the end of this sentence - is the largest ever identified.
The microbe, discovered near Namibia, lives by absorbing sulfur and nitrates, and it swells as the chemicals are stored inside its cell walls, researchers report in a study published today in the journal Science.
The biggest of the bacteria is 0.75 millimeter, according to a report by Science.
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, who made the discovery, said the microbes form chain-like colonies that tend to glow from the absorbed nitrates.
``They look like a thin string of pearls,'' said the scientists, who named the new microbe Thiomargarita namibiensis, which means ``Sulfur Pearl of Namibia.''
``If the largest Thiomargarita was a blue whale,'' Science said in a statement, ``then an ordinary bacterium would be a bit smaller than a newborn mouse.''
In this analogy, the largest previously known bacterium ``would be about as big as a lion,'' about 100 times smaller than Thiomargarita, Science reports. The previous record holder was Epulopiscum fishelsoni, a microbe found in the gut of surgeonfish.
Max Planck researchers said the bacteria live in an environment with high levels of hydrogen sulfide, conditions that are toxic to most other forms of life.
The scientists said Thiomargarita is found in great concentrations in Namibian coastal sediments that contain high levels of toxic sulfide.
If we could use these in dumps and what have you it could do a lot.
Gordon
Gordon Couger gcouger-at-couger.com www.couger.com/gcouger Stillwater, OK 405 624-2855 GMT -6:00
CMP Cient=EDfica and Philips are holding a joint colloquium on Microscopy an= d Materials Analysis in Madrid on 26th May 1999. The colloquium is aimed at all Microscopists and analysts working on both materials and biological applications. The object is to discuss new techniques and instrumentation that will aid us in characterisation, and technologies that can speed up sample preparation.
Working languages will be Spanish & English.
=46or more details see www.cmp-cientifica.com or e-mail me direct.
MAMAS will be meeting at NIST on Tuesday, May 18, 1999 from 10:30am until 3:00pm. There will be coffee and doughnuts and two speakers. All are welcome. See below for details.
Hope to see you there, -- John Henry
John Henry J. Scott NIST Microanalysis Research Group http://www-sims.nist.gov/Division/Contacts.html
ANNOUNCEMENT ------------
Mid-Atlantic Microbeam Analysis Society (MAMAS) Meeting
at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Gaithersburg, MD
on
Tuesday, May 18, 1999 10:30am -- 3:00pm
Lecture Room D, Administration Building
10:30am: Coffee and Doughnuts
10:45am: Dave Wollman, NIST (Boulder) "Microcalorimeter EDS with 3 eV Energy Resolution"
Noon: Lunch
1:15pm: Jan S. Iwanczyk and Bradley E. Patt, Photon Imaging, Inc. "High Count Rate and High Energy Resolution Silicon Drift Detectors for X-Ray Microanalysis"
directions to the NIST campus can be obtained from the NIST website at: http://www.nist.gov/public_affairs/maps/nistmaps.html
for more information, contact John Henry Scott (NIST): (301) 975-4981 (301) 417-1321 FAX email: johnhenry.scott-at-nist.gov
Hello to everyone, A colleague just called me with a very interesting question. Does anyone know of a way to assess the possible leakiness of blood vessels in skin samples from archived tissue. This tissue was not formalin fixed, so antigenic sites should be fine.
Ramin Rahbari PARKE-DAVIS Pharmaceutical Research Pathology and Experimental Toxicology 2800 Plymouth Road Ann Arbor, MI 48105 Office (734) 622-3383 Fax (734) 622-5001 Ramin.Rahbari-at-WL.COM
The discussion regarding WPE values for the Epon substitues was basically correct. WPE values used to be very important for creating blocks of a standard set of mechanical and chemical properties during the time when Shell Epon WPE values ranged between 142 and 165. The same formulation used without taking these differences into account made enormous difficulties in the 60's or as long as labs used the Shell product. If anyone today is buying a substitute which varies significantly from batch to batch in WPE values, I urge them to change suppliers immediately. Not all substitutes are created identically. Some contain dilutents, plasticicers, Araldite, etc. All this is proprietary information. It cannot be said that one substitute is better than any other. It is important to stick to one substitute, learn its characteristics, and make adjustments. Should anyone have a problem with the mechanical or chemical characteristics of an 812 substitue, please contact me at {hcrowley-at-du.edu} . I have an entire notebook full of formulations based on WPE values dating from a time when I was faced with an extremely difficult embedding problem. I may have some valuable information. Bye, Hildy Crowley University of Denver Denver, CO
I have a broken Varian 30 L/s ion pump that needs repair or replacement/exchange. Anyone have any experience with reputable firms that perform this service? Would appreciate hearing about sources.
I have question concerning cleaning of white ceramic insulator inside electron gun of TEM JEOL 2000FX. As a consequence of electric charges thereare brown traces on the surface of insulator. Does anybody has experience how to remove these traces and what cleaning solution (e.g. aceton, methanol or something else) to use. Thank you very much.
Yours sincerely
Peter Makroczy
Dept. of Mat.Science
Technical University of Kosice
Slovak Republic
makroczy-at-tuke.sk
-- Peter Makroczy Technical University of Kosice Department of Materials Science Park Komenskeho 11 042 00 Kosice Slovak Republic E-mail: makroczy-at-tuke.sk Tel.: +421 95 602 25 40 Fax.: +421 95 633 27 23
On Fri, 23 Apr 1999 08:47:25 +0200 Peter Makroczy {makroczy-at-tuke.sk} wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Dear microscopists, } } I have question concerning cleaning of white ceramic insulator inside } electron gun of TEM JEOL 2000FX. As a consequence of electric charges } thereare brown traces on the surface of insulator. Does anybody has } experience how to remove these traces and what cleaning solution (e.g. } aceton, methanol or something else) to use. Thank you very much. } } Dear Peter,
We have successfully cleaned these by rubbing with alumina powder (Al2O3) in alcohol as a paste on a tissue or cloth. However, it is important that you remove all traces of the alumina powder when you have finished.
Unless it is a very small mark which is easily accessible we would completely dismantle the gun and work on the insulator alone. After cleaning off the insulator marks wipe and blow off any excess powder with a clean gas supply (N2 from a cylinder not compressed air which usually has oil in it). Then wash it in alcohol in an ultrasonic bath changing the alcohol at least 3 times.
If there are a lot of discharge marks or they are very bad then grit blast it to clean it instead of rubbing with alumina paste. Wash it thoroughly afterwards as described.
Sometimes it is not possible to clean out very deep discharge tracks and the insulator needs to be replaced.
If you are dubious about carrying this out I know that JEOL(UK) clean customers guns by this method when reconditioning them. I am also fairly certain that they would recondition yours (but I don't know the cost).
Good luck, Ron
---------------------- Ron Doole Dept. of Materials, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford. OX1 3PH. ron.doole-at-materials.ox.ac.uk
Never found any solvent for my similar stains. On my Etec, they have to be rather bad to cause a problem. Anyway, I did clean the glazed porcelain insulator (to a degree) using 1/4 micron diamond paste and a small, high speed felt wheel ("Dremel Tool"). Followed with UT in detergent/warm water, water rinse, isopropanol rinse, blow dry w/N2. This was the first serious cleaning in 15 years. Never could determine any performance difference - only cosmetic.
} From Microscopy-request-at-sparc5.microscopy.com Thu Apr 22 20:02:53 1999 } } Date: Thu, 22 Apr 1999 16:33:28 -0700 } To: MSA listserver {Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com} } From: "Dr. Gary Gaugler" {gaugler-at-calweb.com} } Subject: Ion pump repair sources? } } ---------. } } } I have a broken Varian 30 L/s ion pump that needs repair } or replacement/exchange. Anyone have any experience } with reputable firms that perform this service? Would } appreciate hearing about sources. } } Cheers, } Gary Gaugler, Ph.D. } } Gary, From your email address, I assume you are located in the US. I think that Duniway stockroom has an excellent reputation in this area. They can be contacted at 1-800-446-8811 or at www.duniway.com. They are located in Mountain View, CA but with the excellent UPS and Fedex and other services we enjoy nowadays it makes little difference where they are, once we have gone to the trouble of boxing up the item. Suggest you post a summary of your responses.
Don Marshall
Donald J. Marshall Relion Industries P.O. Box 12 Bedford, MA 01730 Ph: 781-275-4695 FAX: 781-271-0252 email dmrelion-at-world.std.com
Cathodoluminescence, mass spectroscopy, electron beam technology "A weed is a flower out of place."
(Please note: Do not send email with attachments to this address. Instead, send it to donbarlen-at-aol.com. Thank you.)
Hello everyone. I'm looking for a diamond scribing attachment for old Zeiss compound scopes that was used to score areas on slides. It attached to the objective ring like a lens, and when you found the object of interest, you swung this scribe around and turned it to etch a circle at that spot. The one I have used was in Mel Fuller's lab at UGA, but it disappeared when he retired (sound familiar?). It could be adjusted for any diameter circle. It may not necessarily be specific for a Zeiss: that was the scope I used it on. I can't remember the labels or markings on it now. It was extremely useful for flat-embedded material that was to be cut out and glued to blank BEEMs for sectioning.
If you know where I can find one, let me know how to purchase it.
******************************************** John P. Shields Center for Ultrastructural Research 151 Barrow Hall University of Georgia Athens, GA 30602-2403 (706)542-4080 jpshield-at-arches.uga.edu ********************************************
The matter of cleaning parts from the vacuum systems of electron microscopes, including ceramic insulators and the interiors of electron gun chambers, is discussed in some detail on pp. 69 - 75 of my book 'Vacuum Methods in Electron Microscopy' (see: http://swww.2spi.com/catalog/books/book48.html and http://www.bookshop.co.uk/portland/).
A procedure we have found to be satisfactory for cleaning the guns of TEMs operating at accelerating voltages up to 200 kV is as follows: Rub the interior of the gun chamber and the ceramic insulator with lint-free, grease-free cloth pads that have been dipped in a thick slurry of reagent grade isopropyl alcohol and either finely ground calcium carbonate powder or the common 0.05 micrometer grade of aluminum oxide metallographic polishing powder. After all areas are cleaned in this way they are wiped repeatedly with clean pads moistened only with isopropyl alcohol to remove the polishing powder. Then all surfaces, corners,and joints are blasted with a clean, dry gas blaster to remove any residual particles. The insulator and interior of the gun should be heated with a clean hair dryer to remove as much residual surface moisture as possible just before the gun is reassembled.
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 I recall, the first commercial model TEM produced by RCA was called the model EMB. (Model EMA was an experimental model that was never sold) I believe this model was introduced sometime around 1940. I took my first electron micrographs on the second one of these instruments sold. It was located in the laboratory of Prof. Robley Williams, in the Physics Department here at the U. of Mich. There is a brief discussion of this model, and a picture of it on p. 205 of the First Edition of Cecil Hall's book, 'Introduction to Electron Microscopy'. McGraw-Hill, 1953.
According to Hall, RCA introduced it's model EMU microscope in 1944. A picture of this instrument is shown on p.206 of the above book. The RCA model EMU2 looked the same as the EMU, shown in this picture. I know, because i did a lot of work on one of these instruemnts in the laboratory of Dr. Thomas Francis, in the School of Public Health here at the Univ. of Mich.
After the EMU2 model, and starting with model EMU3, RCA changed over to an more user-friendly design which was carried through in the EMU4 instruemnts with little modification. A picture of an RCA EMU3 microscope is shown on p.179 of the Second Edition of Hall's book (1966). I don't know exactly when the EMU3 microscopes were introduced, but it was sometime in the early 1950s. RCA went out of the business of producing electron microcopes in 1969. Again, I know, because I was President of EMSA that year, and had the sad task of dealing with this at our annual meeting that year. I believe the current model at that time was the EMU4, so it was probably introduced sometime shortly after 1966.
This is the best info I can come up with off-hand. Somewhere I have a page from an RCA bulletin showing all their instruments and giving dates of production, but I don't seem to be able to find it among the clutter in my office. However, If you want more detailed info, I'll go through my files at home and see if I can find it there. However, It is likely that you have an EMU or EMU2 model (they look alike). I'd be very surprised if any of the EMBs are still in existance.
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
Has anyone made a biprism for a TEM using a drawn SiO_2 coated with Au?
I am looking for ideal fibre thickness, heat source that was used (which gases & flame temperature) and for any tips on how to make them. The current suggestions that I have heard are an H_2 and O_2 torch to get the temperature up to aroung 2000 K, but these gases can be quite hazardous to work with.
I would really appreciate any advice.
Thanks, Jon
-- ***************************************** Jonathan Barnard
Microstructural Physics, H.H.Wills Physics Laboratory, University of Bristol, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TL.
I experienced last year the same problem with the electron gun of my JEOL 2000FX. The brown traces are provoqued by the discharges inside the freon gas. To clean these traces, don't use any solution because the ceramic is porous and after opening the gun, you will have to purge several times the atmosphere of the gun because of the oxygen and the water vapor contained in the air. For this reason it is not recommended to put solution on the ceramic. To clean the ceramic, we used a stick of ceramic like an eraser. After removing the main part of the brown traces, we cleaned with a tissue with alcohol and put the gun into a furnace at 100=B0C for some hours. Then we remount the gun, after we had cleaned the metallic chamber from the traces of discharges (white spots on the steel) with POL paste. You should fill the atmosphere of the gun with nitrogen and purge two or three times and finally fill the gun chamber with freon or SF6. To evacuate the gun there is a valve behind the microscope near the pressure gauge of the gun. You can find the position to use if you look into the manual. This is to clean the ceramic part that is in the freon atmosphere (were the polarisation resistances are located) if you want to clean the ceramic part inside the column, it is more complicated because you don't have access to all electrodes.
That's all! But for us this cleaning was not sufficiant and we had to exchange the gun that was fortunatelly under contract.
Eric LEROY Dr. Laboratoire de Chimie Metallurgique des Terres Rares UPR 209 - CNRS Groupe des Laboratoires de Thiais 2-8, rue Henri Dunant 94320 THIAIS cedex
Dear Peter, I would recommend you ask the JEOL service engineers first. The only time I tried to clean the insulator on a TEM gun, I tried Wenol metal polish first. This removes some of the diffusion pump oil deposit, but did not get off the brown marks, so I next tried a diamond paste (6 micron). That did work. Remove this thoroughtly with several washes of clean ethanol. You wrote:
} } Dear microscopists, } } I have question concerning cleaning of white ceramic insulator inside } electron gun of TEM JEOL 2000FX. As a consequence of electric charges } thereare brown traces on the surface of insulator. Does anybody has } experience how to remove these traces and what cleaning solution (e.g. } aceton, methanol or something else) to use. Thank you very much. } } } Yours sincerely } } } Peter Makroczy } 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 e-mail: mager-at-interchg.ubc.ca
Peter- I have used Micro-90 for the past couple years with good results. manufactured by: International Products Corp. PO Box 70, Bulington, NJ 08016-0070, USA phone: 609-386-8770 UK Branch: 1 Church row, Chislehurst, Kent BR7 5PG, United Kingdom Phone: 0181-467-8944 -Mike
On Fri, 23 Apr 1999, Peter Makroczy wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Dear microscopists, } } I have question concerning cleaning of white ceramic insulator inside } electron gun of TEM JEOL 2000FX. As a consequence of electric charges } thereare brown traces on the surface of insulator. Does anybody has } experience how to remove these traces and what cleaning solution (e.g. } aceton, methanol or something else) to use. Thank you very much. } } } Yours sincerely } } } Peter Makroczy } } Dept. of Mat.Science } } Technical University of Kosice } } Slovak Republic } } makroczy-at-tuke.sk } } -- } Peter Makroczy } Technical University of Kosice } Department of Materials Science } Park Komenskeho 11 } 042 00 Kosice } Slovak Republic } E-mail: makroczy-at-tuke.sk } Tel.: +421 95 602 25 40 } Fax.: +421 95 633 27 23 } } } }
The consensus is correct. Duniway is a good place for pump repair and exchange. They charge $495 for an exchange and it is essentially next day if a like model is in stock. Otherwise they repair the unit they receive. They have the same Varian 30 L/s pump I have in stock so I should receive the exchange unit on Monday or Tuesday.
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Jon:
We use an H2/O2 torch for blowing quartz fibers to make biprisms. I believe most other practitioners in the field do the same.
Check out "Practical aspects of electron holography", D. C. Joy et al, Ultramicroscopy 51(1993) 1-14 for further tips. It is a good idea to examine the fiber in the SEM after it is mounted and coated (we do a simple Au-Pd sputter coating), to assure that it is smooth, uniform, and the correct diameter. It takes practice, and there are many techniques for blowing and collecting fibers. Finally, our health and safety guys made us build a special hood with proper ventilation before we were allowed to perform this operation. You may want to check things out in this area at your place...
Best wishes,
Larry PS I'll send you a reprint...
} } } Has anyone made a biprism for a TEM using a drawn SiO_2 coated with Au? } } I am looking for ideal fibre thickness, heat source that was used (which } gases & flame temperature) and for any tips on how to make them. } The current suggestions that I have heard are an H_2 and O_2 torch to } get the temperature up to aroung 2000 K, but these gases can be quite } hazardous to work with. } } I would really appreciate any advice. } } Thanks, Jon } } -- } ***************************************** } Jonathan Barnard } } Microstructural Physics, } H.H.Wills Physics Laboratory, } University of Bristol, } Tyndall Avenue, } Bristol BS8 1TL. } } 0117 928 9000 ext 8750 } } *****************************************
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 have 2 suggestions that may be of interest to you:
1) MicroDrill The MicroDrill is a small drill that fits into the objective port of your=
microscope and uses the rack system on your microscope to turn it into a micro drill press. You can either "drill" holes (60u) or "scribe" circle= s of diameters from 500 to 1500 microns. The drill is battery operated. T= he drill mounts into a 36 TPI and 0.8" diameter opening. If you have anothe= r size, we can work out an adapter.
2) MicroMarker The MicroMarker is a small inked marker that will fit in place of your standard objectives in the light microscope and comes in a kit with 3 colors. There is one kit for 33mm long objectives and one kit for 45mm long objectives. They will make a circle with a 0.07" ID. =
If you would like more inforamtion, please contact me off-line.
Best regards-
David Henriks South Bay Technology, Inc. 1120 Via callejon San Clemente, CA 92673 USA
Hello everyone. I'm looking for a diamond scribing attachment for old Zeiss compound =
scopes that was used to score areas on slides. It attached to the =
objective ring like a lens, and when you found the object of interest, =
you swung this scribe around and turned it to etch a circle at that =
spot. The one I have used was in Mel Fuller's lab at UGA, but it =
disappeared when he retired (sound familiar?). It could be adjusted for =
any diameter circle. It may not necessarily be specific for a Zeiss: =
that was the scope I used it on. I can't remember the labels or =
markings on it now. It was extremely useful for flat-embedded material =
that was to be cut out and glued to blank BEEMs for sectioning.
If you know where I can find one, let me know how to purchase it.
******************************************** John P. Shields Center for Ultrastructural Research 151 Barrow Hall University of Georgia Athens, GA 30602-2403 (706)542-4080 jpshield-at-arches.uga.edu ********************************************
Try the great folks at Duniway http://www.duniway.com
I don't have experience with a 30 l/s pump, but the pumps with smaller flanges have to be cut apart and then rewelded, which limits the number of times they can be rebuilt.
best regards mark
Mark W. Lund, PhD VP Engineering } } 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
"This is a YOUNG business...How can I tell you what YOUR job is when I don't know what MINE is?" --Pogo
The M & M '99 Golf Tournament is scheduled for July 31, 1999 in the Columbia River Gorge outside Portland. Space is limited to the first 50 players. Please send you golf reservation forms in as soon as possible. If you do not have a registration form you may call 877-MSA-MAS-1 (877-672-6271)and ask for one, or you may e-mail me at Ladd Research (jarnott-at-ladd.cc) with a fax number and I can fax you a registration form. This is going to be our best tournament yet, so hurry to get your slot.
Thanks, John Arnott Chairman -- LADD RESEARCH 13 Dorset Lane Williston, VT 05495 TEL 1-800-451-3406 (US) or 1-802-878-6711 (anywhere) FAX 1-802-878-8074 e-mail ladres-at-worldnet.att.net web site http://www.ladd.cc
I was asked to post this for a friend.=A0 Please reply directly to him = at the e-mail below as he is not part of this listserver.=A0 Thank-you!
Marisa
---------------
I am looking for information on any training program that would include = TEM sample preparation. I am mostly interested in the wedge polishing = technique.
I have recently acquired an old PGT IMIX EDS system. It appears the hard drive in the Sparc 1 system is dead. I am told a replacement is nowhere to be found. Is there anyone out there who could help me locate a replacement drive? If not a drive, does anyone have a computer and analyzer for sale which is compatible with a PGT Prism digital spectrometer? Michael Ingram Rodel, Inc Polishing Lab 451 Bellevue Rd Newark, DE 19713 (302) 366-0500, ext.: 2545
Can someone recommend a good instructional video for light microscopy suitable for a graduate laboratory?
Thanks,
Susan A. Fugett
Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science Phone: 612-625-8803 University of Minnesota 612-625-0808 421 Washington Ave SE Fax: 612-626-7246 Minneapolis, MN 55455 Email: fugett-at-cems.umn.edu
Peter: My Hitachi engineer taught me to use acetone to wipe this ceramic insulator. I have never had very stubborn deposits, so I do not know what additional cleanig would be suitable in that case.
Maureen Petersen
} Dear microscopists, } } I have question concerning cleaning of white ceramic insulator inside } electron gun of TEM JEOL 2000FX. As a consequence of electric charges } thereare brown traces on the surface of insulator. Does anybody has } experience how to remove these traces and what cleaning solution (e.g. } aceton, methanol or something else) to use. Thank you very much. } } } Yours sincerely } } } Peter Makroczy } } Dept. of Mat.Science } } Technical University of Kosice } } Slovak Republic } } makroczy-at-tuke.sk } } -- } Peter Makroczy } Technical University of Kosice } Department of Materials Science } Park Komenskeho 11 } 042 00 Kosice } Slovak Republic } E-mail: makroczy-at-tuke.sk } Tel.: +421 95 602 25 40 } Fax.: +421 95 633 27 23
************************************************************************ Maureen Petersen Department of Plant Pathology 1453 Fifield Hall University of Florida
LATE BREAKING POSTER SESSION AT MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS '99
Microscopy and Microanalysis '99 will feature a poster session composed of presentations of newly acquired data or analyses which were unavailable for submission by the February 15 deadline. A short, half page abstract describing the studies is required. The abstract should include: Title, Authors, Authors affiliation, and a Brief Description of the studies. The description should include the Aim of the studies, a short characterization of the Methods, and a brief account of the Results and their Importance. Abstracts should be e-mailed or faxed to the program chair, Jay Jerome, at jjerome-at-wfubmc (email) or 336-716-6174 (fax). Abstracts may be submitted immediately but must be received by June 25, 1999. Abstracts will be reviewed by members of the program committee. A limited number of poster boards are available and preference will be given to early submissions. Abstract authors will be notified of acceptance of their abstracts no later than July 1 (earlier for early submissions).
Additional Information on M&M'99 can be found on the meeting WWW Site
---------------------------------------------- - AKA: W. Gray Jerome, Ph.D. - - Department of Pathology - - Wake Forest University School of Medicine - - Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1092 - - Ph: 336-716-4972, 336-716-2675 - - Fax: 336-716-6174 - - E-mail: jjerome-at-wfubmc.edu - ----------------------------------------------
John, The item is called " Object marker with diamond" and is a Zeiss item # 462960 and was $960 in the 1991 catalog.I find it very useful. Russ, Xerox
-----Original Message----- } From: John Shields [mailto:jpshield-at-arches.uga.edu] Sent: Friday, April 23, 1999 9:08 AM To: msa listserver
Hello everyone. I'm looking for a diamond scribing attachment for old Zeiss compound scopes that was used to score areas on slides. It attached to the objective ring like a lens, and when you found the object of interest, you swung this scribe around and turned it to etch a circle at that spot. The one I have used was in Mel Fuller's lab at UGA, but it disappeared when he retired (sound familiar?). It could be adjusted for any diameter circle. It may not necessarily be specific for a Zeiss: that was the scope I used it on. I can't remember the labels or markings on it now. It was extremely useful for flat-embedded material that was to be cut out and glued to blank BEEMs for sectioning.
If you know where I can find one, let me know how to purchase it.
******************************************** John P. Shields Center for Ultrastructural Research 151 Barrow Hall University of Georgia Athens, GA 30602-2403 (706)542-4080 jpshield-at-arches.uga.edu ********************************************
As the manufacturer of the "MicroDrill" a microscope marking tool, I feel that I should point out one of its limitiations that was not mentioned in David Henriks reply to John Sheilds.
Unlike the earlier Zeiss product, scribes made with the "MicroDrill" are not continuously adjustable for size. Individual bits of the desired scribe diameter must be substituted into its chuck to achieve various scribe sizes.
SUMMER I 1999 COURSE ANNOUNCEMENT - Transmission Electron Microscopy (BIO. 221-Section BA)
NASSAU COMMUNITY COLLEGE, Garden City, Long Island, New York
A five week, Summer Session I 1999 semester, course in Biological Transmission Electron Microscopy is being offered by the Biology Department of Nassau Community College. This is a 4 credit course offered four days per week (Monday through Thursday) between the hours of 8:00 am and NOON. Classes will begin on May 24 and end on June 24, 1999.
This is a "hands-on" course emphasizing biological specimen preparation, ultra-thin sectioning involving block trimming, glass knifemaking and operation of the ultramicrotomes (Sorvall MT-2B and LKB Ultrotome III), thick and ultra-thin section mounting and contrast staining (UA and Pb citrate), grid support films (formvar, carbon), student operation of the TEM (Hitachi HS-8, Philips EM 300) and production of electron micrographs through the process of black & white photography, and electron micrograph analysis. Students will work on a chosen sample(s) with the goal of producing a portfolio of high quality TEM photomicrographs of that sample(s).
The course is widely transferrable and the cost per credit is reasonable at $86 per credit (for Nassau County residents or New York State residents with a certificate of residency).
More information about the Bio-Imaging Center at NCC, course descriptions and syllabi, and the beginnings of a student gallery of EM photomicrographs is available at our web site. The URL is {http://www.sunynassau.edu/webpages/biology/becks.htm} .
Interested individuals should register as soon as possible since the course is limited to a total enrollment of ten (10) students.
If you have further questions, you should e-mail me directly at the address below.
For information about mail or telephone registration (Dial-a-Course) point your browser to http://www.sunynassau.edu/courses/sum99/sum99.htm. Telephone registration is only available until April 29, 1999 (between the hours of 2:30 pm to 7:00 pm) The phone numbers are (516) 572-7131 or 7372 or 7425.
Stephen J. Beck Associate Professor Bio-Imaging Center/Electron Microscopy Department of Biology Nassau Community College Garden City, NY 11530 Voice Mail: (516) 572-7829 Email: {becks-at-sunynassau.edu} URL: {http://www.sunynassau.edu/webpages/biology/becks.htm}
Leitz also made the same item you are talking about that would screw into a standard nosepiece. This may still be available. if you are interested in something to do the same thing that leave a ink circle around the area then I would check with Nikon rep. this does the same thing at a fraction of the cost, Maybe $200 or so opposed to $500 or $600. I may be wrong on my estimates but it is a siginificant difference. Diamond scriciber opposed to ink???
This item is used by cytologist to mark areas of interest on slides typically typically with say 10x objective then move up to 40x high dry...
Good luck
C. Passione -----Original Message----- } From: Gillmeister, Russ {RGillmeister-at-sdms.usa.xerox.com} To: 'John Shields' {jpshield-at-arches.uga.edu} Cc: 'MSA' {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com}
} Can someone recommend a good instructional video for light microscopy } suitable for a graduate laboratory? } You'll find a good CD-ROM reviewed in the Project MICRO bibliography; URL below. It's Pagliaro et al., "Microscopy Tutor" It's definitely university level & is described in MICRO to discourage precollege teachers from ordering it.
Thjere's a recent 15 minute video on Koehler illumination: Matsudaira, "Getting Started", from the Using Microscopy series. It's from Cogito, www.cogitomedia.com & is distributed by Academic Press.
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/PMHomePage.html Intertidal invertebrates: http://www.fortbragg.k12.ca.us/AG/PCI/pci.html
If indeed the "Ink" Objective Marker is suitable for the application. Nikon still has them... #79032 and the List Price is $137.00. They are RMS thread and refillable with various ink colors.
Regards,
Larry Kordon Nikon, Inc. Columbia, Maryland nikon-at-jagunet.com
Cono Passione 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } John, } } Leitz also made the same item you are talking about that would screw into a } standard nosepiece. } This may still be available. if you are interested in something to do the } same thing that leave a ink circle around the area then I would check with } Nikon rep. this does the same thing at a fraction of the } cost, Maybe $200 or so opposed to $500 or $600. I may be wrong on my } estimates but it is a } siginificant difference. Diamond scriciber opposed to ink??? } } This item is used by cytologist to mark areas of interest on slides } typically typically with say } 10x objective then move up to 40x high dry... } } Good luck } } C. Passione } -----Original Message----- } } From: Gillmeister, Russ {RGillmeister-at-sdms.usa.xerox.com} } To: 'John Shields' {jpshield-at-arches.uga.edu} } Cc: 'MSA' {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} } Date: Friday, April 23, 1999 9:14 PM } Subject: RE: searching for special lens } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } } 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 } } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } } } John, The item is called " Object marker with diamond" and is a Zeiss item } # } } 462960 and was $960 in the 1991 catalog.I find it very useful. Russ, Xerox } } } } -----Original Message----- } } } From: John Shields [mailto:jpshield-at-arches.uga.edu] } } Sent: Friday, April 23, 1999 9:08 AM } } To: msa listserver } } Subject: searching for special lens } } } } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } } 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 everyone. } } I'm looking for a diamond scribing attachment for old Zeiss compound } } scopes that was used to score areas on slides. It attached to the } } objective ring like a lens, and when you found the object of interest, } } you swung this scribe around and turned it to etch a circle at that } } spot. The one I have used was in Mel Fuller's lab at UGA, but it } } disappeared when he retired (sound familiar?). } } It could be adjusted for } } any diameter circle. It may not necessarily be specific for a Zeiss: } } that was the scope I used it on. I can't remember the labels or } } markings on it now. It was extremely useful for flat-embedded material } } that was to be cut out and glued to blank BEEMs for sectioning. } } } } If you know where I can find one, let me know how to purchase it. } } } } ******************************************** } } John P. Shields } } Center for Ultrastructural Research } } 151 Barrow Hall } } University of Georgia } } Athens, GA 30602-2403 } } (706)542-4080 } } jpshield-at-arches.uga.edu } } ******************************************** } } } } } }
We have to reluctantly part with our Zeiss (Leo) 902 TEM with Integrated Electron Energy Spectrometer, to make way for a new TEM. Any one interested in acquiring it can get in touch with me directly through E-mail (mvp2-at-cornell.edu). Information on the 902 is provided below:
ZEISS (LEO) 902 TEM. The unit is in excellent condition and is equipped with: integral EELS prism and spectrometer and recorder, for both one and two dimensional (quantitative) EELS imaging, a low light level (SIT) video camera and monitor, a motorized goniometer stage capable of specimen tilt through 120 degrees, and full rotation; motorized specimen movement, and a plate camera. Date acquired 10/01/89 Original cost of the unit $235,750 The unit has been under service contract since it was installed.
Dear nestor please forward this message to microscopy :
Dear netter,
All my post to microscopy was rejected and I and/or my provider (what is very small company) have been unjustify accused as a source of spam, please be so kind and send to me directly if you have similar problem.
Is there any chance to punish individuals for this accusation?. Is it custom in america that you can be taken into jail for pederesty or muder only that you have similar (not same) name or address to some criminal?
Keep care and be of good cheer.
Regards
(name) Vratislav Richard Eugene Maria John Baptiste (surname) of Bejsak (Bayshark)-Collorado-Mansfeld
http://www.coleoptera.org Coleoptera - Australia, Tenebrionidae of World (incl. Lagriinae, Alleculinae)
University of Sydney The Wentworth Bldg., P.O.Box 62 NSW 2006 AUSTRALIA phone : +61 414 540 465 e-mail: vratislav-at-bigfoot.com ricardo-at-ans.com.au (before Ricardo-at-compuserve.com and ricardo-at-login.cz )
Only after the last tree has been cut down, only after the last river has been poisoned, only after the last fish has been caught, only then will you find that money can not be eaten.' CREE INDIAN PROPHECY.
Your accuser was text in your header. No individual per say. Your Email contained information which matched to the automatic filter in the listserver. This is something that everyone has to put up with to protect the greater good of the ListServer community. There are a number of checks and balances that have been put into the system over the years to minimize SPAM/JUNK Mail and Viruses. Your message got flag as a POTENTIAL source, it was stopped after you replied as per the instructions it subsequently was passed through to the list after HUMAN review. Yes this caused a delay in your posting, however, the number of Undesireable messages stopped by the filter is far greater than the few that are delayed. If you do not understand or appreciate this I am sorry, but you need to realize that thousands of people can be affected by inappropriate information in the Email. Maintaining and monitoring postings even if it is only by a software program is the appropriate thing and prudent job to do in today's environment.
If you wish to submit anyone's name to your lawyers it should be me as the ListServer SysOp. I am solely responsible for the installing and maintaining the filter as well as operating the server. I have setup the key word lists and I edit and maintain them. There are no other persons involved.
I accidentally ran into part of a Nova show on a PBS station showing some very interesting micro videos of cells, micro animals, and parasites, colorized SEMs, and fiber optic close-ups of insects and caterpillars. The series of 3 shows is called Odyssey of Life. I don't know if it is current issue Nova, but I think the pictures would interest many on the list. I missed the 1st show, saw part of the second. The 3d show is an interview with the maker, the person who made some fascinating human embryo pictures some years back.
Leonard Corwin Research Chemist Fort Dodge Animal Health Princeton, NJ 08543-0400
} } It is all attitude, } } } This is an actual job application someone submitted at a McDonald's } fast-food establishment AND THEY HIRED HIM! } (editor's note: If they hire this guy, I am SURE they would hire any of } us!!) } } } } NAME: Greg Bulmash } } DESIRED POSITION: Reclining. HA But seriously, whatever's available. If I } was in a position to be picky, I wouldn't be applying here in the first } place. } } DESIRED SALARY: $185,000 a year plus stock options and a Michael Ovitz } style severance package. If that's not possible make an offer and we can } haggle. } } EDUCATION: Yes. } } LAST POSITION HELD: Target for middle management hostility. } } SALARY: Less than I'm worth. } } MOST NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT: My incredible collection of stolen pens and } post-it notes. } } REASON FOR LEAVING: It sucked. } } HOURS AVAILABLE TO WORK: Any. } } PREFERRED HOURS: 1:30-3:30 p.m., Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. } } DO YOU HAVE ANY SPECIAL SKILLS?: Yes, but they're better suited to a more } intimate environment. } } MAY WE CONTACT YOUR CURRENT EMPLOYER?: If I had one, would I be here? } } DO YOU HAVE ANY PHYSICAL CONDITIONS THAT WOULD PROHIBIT YOU FROM LIFTING UP } TO 50 LBS?: Of what? } } DO YOU HAVE A CAR?: I think the more appropriate question here would be "Do } you have a car that runs?" } } HAVE YOU RECEIVED ANY SPECIAL AWARDS OR RECOGNITION?: I may already be a } winner of the Publishers Clearinghouse Sweepstakes. } } DO YOU SMOKE?: Only when set on fire. } } WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE DOING IN FIVE YEARS?: Living in the Bahamas with } a fabulously wealthy super model who thinks I'm the greatest thing since } sliced bread. Actually, I'd like to be doing that now. } } DO YOU CERTIFY THAT THE ABOVE IS TRUE AND COMPLETE TO THE BEST OF YOUR } KNOWLEDGE?: No, but I dare you to prove otherwise. } } SIGN HERE: Scorpio with Libra rising.
-- End original message --
best regards, Bob Robert Schoonhoven Laboratory of Molecular Carcinogenesis and Mutagenesis Dept. of Environmental Sciences and Engineering University of North Carolina CB#7400 Chapel Hill, NC 27599 Phone office 919-966-6343 Lab 919-966-6140 Fax 919-966-6123
**Suppose you were an idiot... And suppose you were a member of Congress ... But I repeat myself.-Mark Twain**
Thank you for many hints and formulations on Epon embedding. Now I know that I have to try out a few paths. However , meanwhile I=B4m aware of that the method of trial and error is possibly the most important basic technique in embedding business. In this case, I think I will use the formula that is traded from generation to generation in our lab (see my first mail ref. to Epon ..). Bye, Michael Reiner
To all compmed and histonet and microscopy members:
I goofed big time and I'm sorry about sending the non-related humor e-mail it was NOT intentional but I hit the wrong send key. please forgive...... now I gotta tell my boss to ignore my e-mail...
best regards, Bob Robert Schoonhoven Laboratory of Molecular Carcinogenesis and Mutagenesis Dept. of Environmental Sciences and Engineering University of North Carolina CB#7400 Chapel Hill, NC 27599 Phone office 919-966-6343 Lab 919-966-6140 Fax 919-966-6123
**Suppose you were an idiot... And suppose you were a member of Congress .. But I repeat myself.-Mark Twain**
As a subscriber to the ListServer, I would like to express my appreciationn and support for all your efforts to minimize the SPAM/JUNK mail and viruses we receive.
Gill Bond New Mexico Tech
On Mon, 26 Apr 1999, Nestor J. Zaluzec 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Ricardo } } Your accuser was text in your header. No individual per say. } Your Email contained information which matched to the automatic filter in the } listserver. This is something that everyone has to put up with } to protect the greater good of the ListServer community. There } are a number of checks and balances that have been put into the } system over the years to minimize SPAM/JUNK Mail and Viruses. } Your message got flag as a POTENTIAL source, it was stopped } after you replied as per the instructions it subsequently was passed } through to the list after HUMAN review. Yes this caused a delay } in your posting, however, the number of Undesireable messages } stopped by the filter is far greater than the few that are delayed. } If you do not understand or appreciate this I am sorry, but you need } to realize that thousands of people can be affected by inappropriate } information in the Email. Maintaining and monitoring postings } even if it is only by a software program is the appropriate thing } and prudent job to do in today's environment. } } If you wish to submit anyone's name to your lawyers it should be } me as the ListServer SysOp. I am solely responsible for the installing } and maintaining the filter as well as operating the server. I have setup the } key word lists and I edit and maintain them. There are no other } persons involved. } } } Nestor } } } } } }
Dear Mr. Martin, S.E.E. manufactures turn-key microspectrophotometers for the UV, visible, and NIR regions. Our website is located at http://www.see-incorp.com . Please feel free to contact me if you have questions. Sincerely, Paul
-- Dr. Paul Martin S.E.E. Incorporated 801 Mahler Road Suite G Burlingame, CA 94010 USA
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 Nestor, } } As a subscriber to the ListServer, I would like to express my } appreciationn and support for all your efforts to minimize the SPAM/JUNK } mail and viruses we receive. } } Gill Bond } New Mexico Tech } } On Mon, 26 Apr 1999, Nestor J. Zaluzec 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 } } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } } } Ricardo } } } } Your accuser was text in your header. No individual per say. } } Your Email contained information which matched to the automatic filter in the } } listserver. This is something that everyone has to put up with } } to protect the greater good of the ListServer community. There } } are a number of checks and balances that have been put into the } } system over the years to minimize SPAM/JUNK Mail and Viruses. } } Your message got flag as a POTENTIAL source, it was stopped } } after you replied as per the instructions it subsequently was passed } } through to the list after HUMAN review. Yes this caused a delay } } in your posting, however, the number of Undesireable messages } } stopped by the filter is far greater than the few that are delayed. } } If you do not understand or appreciate this I am sorry, but you need } } to realize that thousands of people can be affected by inappropriate } } information in the Email. Maintaining and monitoring postings } } even if it is only by a software program is the appropriate thing } } and prudent job to do in today's environment. } } } } If you wish to submit anyone's name to your lawyers it should be } } me as the ListServer SysOp. I am solely responsible for the installing } } and maintaining the filter as well as operating the server. I have setup the } } key word lists and I edit and maintain them. There are no other } } persons involved. } } } } } } Nestor } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } Hi,
I am amazed and grateful for the filter that Nestor manages. About every day I swear at AOL when I find my personal computer full of obnoxious messages. Why can't AOL be as good as Nestor in firewalling rot? Sincerely, Hildy Crowley
We are in the process of sifting through information on digital TEM = cameras and have been concentrating on systems from Gatan, Advanced = Microscopy Techniques (AMT) and Soft Imaging Systems. I would = appreciate feedback from experienced users on your degree of = satisfaction with any of the camera systems from these companies (i.e. = resolution, acquisition software, customer support, etc.). Thanks for = your help.
Steve
Stephen Fields, Ph.D. Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation 825 N.E. 13th Street Oklahoma City, OK 73104 Office Phone: (405) 271-7245 Fax: (405) 271-3153 steve-fields-at-omrf.ouhsc.edu
} I accidentally ran into part of a Nova show on a PBS station showing } some very interesting micro videos of cells, micro animals, and } parasites, colorized SEMs, and fiber optic close-ups of insects and } caterpillars. The series of 3 shows is called Odyssey of Life. I don't } know if it is current issue Nova, but I think the pictures would } interest many on the list. I missed the 1st show, saw part of the } second. The 3d show is an interview with the maker, the person who } made some fascinating human embryo pictures some years back. } } } Leonard Corwin } Research Chemist } Fort Dodge Animal Health } Princeton, NJ 08543-0400
Leonard -
Here'sthe description of the third tape that appears in the Project MICRO bibliography (URL below):
Nilssen, L. 1996 The Photographer's Secrets 1 hour, $19.95 from WGBH Boston Video, P.O.Box 2284, South Burlington, VT, 05407, 800-255-9424. Lennart Nilssen is famous for his beautiful images of human development. This is part three of the Nova series Odyssey of Life (or part 4 of the series The Wonder of Life) It explains his use of SEM and other imaging tools that blur the line between microscopy and macrophotography; it will be particularly interesting for budding microscopists. All ages.
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/PMHomePage.html Intertidal invertebrates: http://www.fortbragg.k12.ca.us/AG/PCI/pci.html
The Quebec Chapter of the Microscopical Society of Canada is proud t= o announce:
3-Day Workshop covering all aspects of VARIABLE PRESSURE Scanning Electron Microscopy. The guest speaker is Dr. David Joy and he will cover the following topics:
Introduction to Variable Pressure S= EM Beam Interaction with Solids SE electron Imaging BSED Imaging VPSEM Imaging X-ray work in Variable Pressure Mode Lab. Sessions ... Since the number of participants is very limited we strongly advise interested people to act quickly.
DATE: August 24-26 WHERE: Varennes just south-east of Montr=E9al, QC., Canada
WORKSHOP on VARIABLE PRESSURE SEM Guest Speaker : Dr. David C. Joy
For more Information please contact : Dr. Pierre Hovington, (IREQ) ovington-at-ireq.ca , = 450 652-8125 fax: 450 652-8424
Hi there, Nigel Unwin did this in the '70s using a strand of spider silk. He picked up a spider on an aperture (don't know what species, but it was in Cambridge) and dangled it so a strand fell across the centre of the aperture. Then he coated it with gold.
The original reference is in Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung Vol 29 A (1974) pp 158-163 and was also printed as a Philips Applications bulletin EM 95 Dec 1974.
***************************************************** Mel Dickson, Deputy Director. Electron Microscope Unit, University of New South Wales. Sydney NSW 2052 Australia
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Ricardo } } Your accuser was text in your header. No individual per say. } Your Email contained information which matched to the automatic filter in the } listserver. This is something that everyone has to put up with } to protect the greater good of the ListServer community. There } are a number of checks and balances that have been put into the } system over the years to minimize SPAM/JUNK Mail and Viruses. } Your message got flag as a POTENTIAL source, it was stopped } after you replied as per the instructions it subsequently was passed } through to the list after HUMAN review. Yes this caused a delay } in your posting, however, the number of Undesireable messages } stopped by the filter is far greater than the few that are delayed. } If you do not understand or appreciate this I am sorry, but you need } to realize that thousands of people can be affected by inappropriate } information in the Email. Maintaining and monitoring postings } even if it is only by a software program is the appropriate thing } and prudent job to do in today's environment. } } If you wish to submit anyone's name to your lawyers it should be } me as the ListServer SysOp. I am solely responsible for the installing } and maintaining the filter as well as operating the server. I have setup the } key word lists and I edit and maintain them. There are no other } persons involved. } } } Nestor
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
In the last 2 1/2 years, I have been working with muscle tissue and blood buffy coats from dogs infected with Hepatozoonosis. Part of my PhD study is to morphologically detail the asexual stages of the parasite, Hepatozoon americanum which is responsible for canine hepatozoonosis in North America. Based on the literature, other researchers believe the parasite lives in neutrophils; however based on preliminary TEM work, I am certain these parasite dwell in a "transformed" or " altered" macrophage. I am aware that normal macrophages and neutrophils can be easily differentiated based on there ultrastructural characteristics; however, since these cells are transformed due to the parasite's existence in the cytoplasm, the basic characteristics of the cell have changed; therefore, I am interested in finding a method which will positively identify the cell in question. Currently with light microscopy , I have tried with no success immunohistochemistry and enzyme histochemistry. Thus, my question is: Does anyone have a working TEM marker or TEM method for positively differentiating dog macrophages from neutrophils other than by their basis ultrastructural characteristics? I would appreciate any comments or suggestions.
Dear Listservers, Does anyone have a reference or simple method for quantifying viruses in solution? A colleague has a suspension which needs to be quantified. One assay technique detects a concentration of 10 (E10) per ml while a second assay technique detects a concentration of 10 (E11) per ml. I wonder if the error involved with quantification by EM would be too great to shed any light on the problem. I expect the best option would involve negative staining. Thankyou.
John Brealey Queen Elizabeth Hospital EM Unit Adelaide South Australia }
We have just installed a CM200 FEG TEM/STEM and EDS.
Does anyone know what are the best conditions (Gun lens/extraction voltage/spot sizes/C1 and C2 aperture sizes etc etc) for performing high spatial resolution microanalysis?
We are trying to look at chemically heterogenous particles which are only a few nanometres in size {smaller} . {/smaller}
I am looking for an inexpensive microscope 5X to 100 X and would probably settle for a monocular. Changing oculars is not a problem.
It is for photography. I have a 4X5 Leintz camera and a 35mm Ziess with a front reflex attachment so a vertical ocular would be ideal.
It is for personal use so the cosmetics are not very important. The optics are important. I have a pretty good range of lighting equipment so lights are not necessary.
If you have any thing that might be of interest to me please email me. I am looking to spend less than $250.00.
I realize that I probably won't be able to get everything I want in one scope.
thanks Gordon
Gordon Couger gcouger-at-couger.com www.couger.com/gcouger Stillwater, OK 405 624-2855 GMT -6:00
-----Original Message----- } From: Stan, Pat, Robert, Peter, and Angus Hansen [mailto:sehansen-at-bellatlantic.net] Sent: Monday, April 26, 1999 8:10 PM To: rschoonh-at-sph.unc.edu Cc: COMPMED-at-LISTSERV.AALAS.ORG; histonet; Microscopy ListServ
Anyone have a surplus Reichert/Leica FC4E or parts? ..or know of one available? I would like to find some back up parts and equipment and sources. Also are there othere cryo-ultramicrotomes for TEM uses other than RMC, Microstar and Leica? Also accessories? Also are tere any ultra-cryo type list servers? Jeff Day/ 'JD'
___________________________________________________________________ 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]
John: Mix 1 drop of virus solution and 1 drop of a suitable size latex solution of known and reasonably similar concentration as the unknown. The latex spheres concentrations are fairly accurately known in terms of percent w/v. This, for a certain size latex spheres can be calculated and diluted to achieve the required particle number concentration.
If greater accuracy is required the concentration of the latex stock solution can be checked in one of the electronic particle sizing/ counting instruments (eg. Coulter counter). Coated grids are applied to the mixed drop and in the case of small particles, this is negatively stained.
Disclaimer: ProSciTech provides the largest range of latex particles in small volumes (mostly 5ml) from 0.1um to 20um in 12 sizes. Applications and concentration versus size conversions and other data is online, linked to page S2, which is accessed from "Contents". 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 *****
} } http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.ht } ml } Quantification of viruses in solution. } } Dear Listservers, Does anyone have a reference or simple } method for } quantifying viruses in solution? A colleague has a } suspension which needs } to be quantified. One assay technique detects a } concentration of 10 } (E10) per ml while a second assay technique detects a } concentration of 10 } (E11) per ml. I wonder if the error involved with } quantification by } EM would be too great to shed any light on the problem. I } expect the best } option would involve negative staining. Thankyou. } } John Brealey } Queen Elizabeth Hospital } EM Unit Adelaide South Australia } } } }
Hi, There were a debate on the list a few month ago about anti-vibration table (home made systems and commercial ones). If anybody has collected the emails related to that, could he forward them directly to me. Thanks for your help! Cecile Dr. Cecile Prouteau School of Metallurgy & Materials The University of Birmingham Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT UK E-mail : c.prouteau-at-bham.ac.uk tel : (UK=44)- (0)121 414 5170 fax : (UK=44)- (0)121 414 5232
Question: I am a relative novice at microscopy and have the task of trying to freeze-substitute samples containing large amounts of fat in the form of fat droplets (size range between sub-micron to approx. 10 microns) for TEM. Although I can produce reasonable results for semi-thin sections for LM, the fixatives (combinations of glutaraldehyde, OsO4, RuO4, and UA) and solvents (acetone and methanol) I have used do not fix the fat sufficiently for ultra-thin sectioning. (I have also varied the substitution and fixation periods from two days to over a week with little success). Can anybody suggest a fixative/solvent regime which will fix and dehydrate, but not mobilize, the fat? I have good indications that methanol and ethanol are redistributing the fat considerably at -90C, even after three days osmication. Sample preparation also requires the temperature to remain below -25C until polymerization. Any suggestions would be welcome! Regards, Nick Johnson
Nick.B.Johnson-at-Unilever.com
Dr. N. Johnson, Structural Analysis, Unilever Research, Colworth House, Beds, U.K.
We have a Hitachi S-520 SEM installed in 1983. Lately, we have experienced instability problems in the SEM and I'm not sure what to do. The Hitachi S-520 SEM has a single rotary pump, single diffusion pump and Pirani gauge. On initial pumping and warm-up, the SEM gets down to high vacuum (reading 10uA) quite normally in about 20min. On applying HT (20kV), everything appears normal for approximately 80min, then, suddenly the HT switches itself off and the vacuum gauge rises to 15uA in 30sec and then falls back to10uA in 2min. If the slightest gun emission current is applied when the SEM says it's ready, the HT instantly switches itself off. I have cleaned the filament assembly, anode and gun chamber around the anode. However, I have not cleaned the insulator at the top of the gun chamber. The Pirani gauge is clean and the diffusion pump is not too hot. Any advice would be much appreciated and gratefully received. Thankyou.
John Brealey Queen Elizabeth Hospital EM Unit Adelaide South Australia
Steve, We have two AMT systems with 2K x 2K Kodak Megaplus cameras coupled to a Kodak XLS8600 printer and a Codonics (Kodak) NP1600 printer. We just upgraded to Windows NT with a few minor glitches which for the most part have been resolved. We have been very satisifed with the results as have our customers. The support is very good as is the reliability. I have no experience with the Gatan or SIS cameras. Russ, Xerox
-----Original Message----- } From: Steve Fields [mailto:steve-fields-at-omrf.ouhsc.edu] Sent: Monday, April 26, 1999 3:42 PM To: 'Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com'
We are in the process of sifting through information on digital TEM cameras and have been concentrating on systems from Gatan, Advanced Microscopy Techniques (AMT) and Soft Imaging Systems. I would appreciate feedback from experienced users on your degree of satisfaction with any of the camera systems from these companies (i.e. resolution, acquisition software, customer support, etc.). Thanks for your help.
Steve
Stephen Fields, Ph.D. Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation 825 N.E. 13th Street Oklahoma City, OK 73104 Office Phone: (405) 271-7245 Fax: (405) 271-3153 steve-fields-at-omrf.ouhsc.edu
Try the May '97 Microscopy Today, pg. 20 (Microscopy 101):
Quantitation of Virus Particles by Negative Staining for TEM by Robert Alain, Institut Armand-Frapplier
Phil
} } Quantification of viruses in solution. } } Dear Listservers, Does anyone have a reference or simple method for } quantifying viruses in solution? A colleague has a suspension which needs } to be quantified. One assay technique detects a concentration of 10 } (E10) per ml while a second assay technique detects a concentration of 10 } (E11) per ml. I wonder if the error involved with quantification by } EM would be too great to shed any light on the problem. I expect the best } option would involve negative staining. Thankyou. } } John Brealey } Queen Elizabeth Hospital } EM Unit Adelaide South Australia } }
****be famous! send in a tech tip or question*** Philip Oshel Technical Editor, Microscopy Today PO Box 620068 Middleton, WI 53562 Voice: (608) 833-2885 Fax: (608) 836-1969 (please make sure my name is on any fax) oshel-at-terracom.net
I am submitting this for the person above. Please reply to her.
} I have a question concerning the measurement of the hyphe of the fungi } Aspergillus oryzae in a agar matrix. } We have grown the fungi in a agarmatrix, then we make thin coupes and put them } under the microscope. then we want to measure the amount of fungi in a certain } volume of agarmatrix. We make pictures of the coupes and try to work on it } with the computer programe 'Adobe Photoshop'. The problem we encounter is that } the colour inside the hyphe is the same as the colour of the agarmatrix, the } only thing we do see is the wall of the hyphe. So we would like to colour the } inside of the hyphe, so we can differentiate between inside and outside the } hyphe. Using fluorchromen to colour the inside gives us the problem that it } only colours certain parts (for instance living or dead) of the hyphe. } -So i am looking for a dye that can colour all inside of the hyphe if it is } possible. } -Or a dye that colours the cell wall very clearly } -Or a stain that colours the agarmatrix without colouring the fungi. } } Thank you very much for any tips you might have } } greetings Marjolein } } } } 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
This is a good job for a grad student / post doc. You should run through the calculations of probe size vs Cs & Cc. Then do the physical measurments of probe size vs beam current and create yourself a operational / working curves. The expt. measurements are always slightly different than the theoretical, but the calculations will put you in the right general area.
We did this for the VG here at ANL, you can see the results in the AAEM Electronic Notebook, and/or look at the Proc. of Microscopy & Microanalysis '98 Atlanta pge 386.
If you go to the notebook (http://tpm.amc.anl.gov/NJZ/AAEMNoteBook.html) do a search for the key words: FEG, brightness, VOA Current
Nestor
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
sorry for the flood but you asked for it. The followin e-mails contain the most recent discussions via e-mail as I am a year behind in the Tips & Tricks archives. There is also another discussion archived at the Tips & Tricks site you may be interested in. Point your browser to
http://www.biotech.ufl.edu/~emcl
follow the Tips & Tricks link and look in the Light Microscopy section.
Our whole site is under renovation so please bear with me for the next month or so while I get it finished. Comments, suggestions, and contributions are always welcome.
} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} { GO GATORS Scott D. Whittaker 218 Carr Hall EM Technician Gainesville, FL 32610 University Of Florida ph 352-392-1184 ICBR EM Core Lab fax 352-846-0251 sdw-at-biotech.ufl.edu http://www.biotech.ufl.edu/~emcl/ The home of " Tips & Tricks "
The New England Society for Microscopy will hold its Sixteenth Annual Spring Symposium at Marine Biological Laboratories, Woods Hole, Massachusetts on May 7 & 8, 1999. In addition to our scientific presentations, this year's Symposium=
will feature PROEJCT MICRO, the new Great Explorations in Math and Scienc= e Program designed to introduce Microscopy to elementary- and middle school-aged students. If you are interested in participating in this exciting new program, be sure to register and join us for dinner on Frida= y evening. =
PRIZES for Best Poster, Best Student Poster, and Best Photo-As-Art will also be awarded. If you're interested in submitting your poster for judging, please contact Dr. Changmo Sung at Changmo_Sung-at-uml.edu. =
PROGRAM Friday, May 7th
12:00 pm Registration: Swope Center
1:00 pm Welcome: Lillie Auditorium
Session I Chairperson: Doug Taatjes, UVM
1:05 pm Laser Scanning Cytometry as an Imaging System Ed Luther, Senior Scientist - Biology, CompuCyte Corporation, Cambridge, MA
1:45 pm Focused Ion Beam Microscopy: The New Kid on the Block Dr. David Casey, Senior Scientist, Micrion Corp, Peabody, MA
2:25 pm Membrane Fusion Machinery in Cells Dr. Bhanu Jena, Dept. of Surgery and Biomedical Eng., Yale University, New Haven, CT
3:05 pm Afternoon Break Coffee served in Lillie 103
Session II Chairperson: Tony Garratt-Reed, M.I.T.
3:20 pm Multi-technique Characterization of Emissive Coatings on Electrod= es Dr. Chris Peters, Senior Project Engineer R & D, Osram Sylvania, Beverly, MA
4:00 pm Microscopic Approach to the Study of Pancreatic Islets Dr. Thomas Jetton, Ergo Scientific, Inc., Cambridge, MA
4:40 pm Advances in Microanalysis: A Look at the Past, Present and Future=
Dr. William Hardy, CEO, Princeton Gamma Tech, Princeton, NJ
5:30 pm Cocktails and Dinner: Swope Center
7:30 pm Project Micro "Festival" Meigs Room, Swope Center Dr. Burton E. Goodrich, Jr., Executive Director, South Coast Educational Collaborative Janet E. Goodrich, Principal, Miscoe Hill Elementary School, Mendon, MA
Saturday, May 8th
7 to 8:00 am Breakfast: Swope Center
Session III Chairperson: Eben Oldmixon, HSPH =
8:30 am The Use of Electron Microscopy in the Characterization of Carbon Deposits Paul Anderson, Chemistry Department, Northeastern University, Boston, MA
9:10 am Confocal Microscopy of Nuclear Envelope Breakdown Dr. Mark Terasaki, Asst. Prof., Dept. of Physiology, UCONN Health=
Ctr., Farmington, CT
10:00 am Commercial Exhibits and Posters: Swope Center Coffee and doughnuts will be served
12:30 pm Presentation of Poster and Photos-As-Art Awards and Door Prizes: =
Poster Area, Swope Center
1:00 pm Lunch with Short Tour of MBL: Swope Center =
2:00 pm 2-hour Discovery Cruise aboard the R/V Patriot II Tickets must be reserved in advance
Register Today! Contact L. Kirstein at NESM-at-compuserve.com. Registratio= n Deadline will be extended to April 30th. =
SILENT AUCTION, OCEANOGRAPHY CRUISE, POSTER AWARDS, DOOR PRIZES =
I am looking for a CCD camera and image capture card for use with a standard Zeiss light microscope. I've been looking all over and I can't find any cameras designed for this use. Can anyone help me out with the name of a vendor or a website?
I recall reading somewhere a long time ago about special fixation procedures for non-conductive samples that are hard to adequately coat. I seem to remember tannic acid being involved. Does this ring a bell with anybody out there?
Specifically, we are processing pig intestine samples for SEM and are having problems with charging on the microvilli. We have repeatedly coated the samples with Au/Pd, but the problems persist. Perhaps there's a specialized processing technique that can help?
Thanks in advance. Randy
Randy Tindall Electron Microscope Core College of Veterinary Medicine University of Missouri - Columbia Phone: 573-882-8304
Dear Mel, } } Does anyone know what are the best conditions (Gun lens/extraction } voltage/spot sizes/C1 and C2 aperture sizes etc etc) for performing high } spatial resolution microanalysis? } You want to minimize both x-rays generated up-column (primarily at the condenser apertures) and those generated by scattered, possibly multiply scattered, electrons interacting in the specimen and detector areas. The former will depend on the the composition of the apertures, and is lessened by the use of low-z materials. We installed an aluminum C1 aperture for this reason, and we obtained some ~1 mm thick Be disks with 100 um holes for use as C2 apertures. The aluminum C1 works very well, but the Be C2 has charging problems from the surface oxide. Our best results for spatial resolution were not spectacular, but since the high-voltage scope is used for thick specimens where the beam will spread within the specimen, we were not too concerned. You want to have a high enough voltage that beam spread and multiple scattering within the spe- cimen are minimized, but you need to consider the efficiency of your shielding as a function of voltage. I suggest using calculations to arrive at a proposed optimum and experimenting with the relevant parameters to find the true optimum. } } We are trying to look at chemically heterogenous particles which are only } a few nanometres in size. } Will you be able to get sufficient signal from one of these so that the background produced by excitation of the rest of the specimen by stray radiation is small in comparison? Do you want to characterize the hetero- geneity within a single particle? Good luck. Yours, Bill Tivol
Thanks to you all, It's been great help Cecile Dr. Cecile Prouteau School of Metallurgy & Materials The University of Birmingham Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT UK E-mail : c.prouteau-at-bham.ac.uk tel : (UK=44)- (0)121 414 5170 fax : (UK=44)- (0)121 414 5232
Dear Listpeople: Is it possible to cut reasonable quality longitudinal sections of rat molar undecalcified tooth between 100 nm to 0.1 mm with a diamond or sapphire knife? Does it perhaps require special circumstances and equipment? They will be used in immunocytochemical labeling for TEM. Thank you, Lauri
Dr. Lauri J. Pelliniemi, M.D. Telephone +358-2-3337312 University of Turku Kiinamyllynkatu 10 Internet e-mail lauri.pelliniemi-at-utu.fi FIN-20520 Turku FINLAND. Europe http://www.utu.fi/med/em/personne.html
Dear Mel, When you do EDS on STEM, you use the same sort of conditions as an SEM. Small aperature and higher condensor lens setting will give you better spacial resolution, but at the cost of x-ray count rate. On a thin sample you may only have a hundred counts per second or less, so count times may get long You wrote: } } We have just installed a CM200 FEG TEM/STEM and EDS. } } Does anyone know what are the best conditions (Gun lens/extraction voltage/spot sizes/C1 and C2 aperture sizes etc etc) for performing high spatial resolution microanalysis? } } We are trying to look at chemically heterogenous particles which are only a few nanometres in size. } ***************************************************** } Mel Dickson, } Deputy Director. } Electron Microscope Unit, } University of New South Wales. } Sydney NSW 2052 Australia } } Phone (+612) 9385-6383 } Fax (+612) 9385-6400 } Website {http://srv.emunit.unsw.edu.au} } ***************************************************** 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 e-mail: mager-at-interchg.ubc.ca
} } } "Bartlett, Jeanine" {jqb7-at-cdc.gov} 04/27 6:41 AM } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
As did I!
-----Original Message----- } From: Stan, Pat, Robert, Peter, and Angus Hansen [mailto:sehansen-at-bellatlantic.net] Sent: Monday, April 26, 1999 8:10 PM To: rschoonh-at-sph.unc.edu Cc: COMPMED-at-LISTSERV.AALAS.ORG; histonet; Microscopy ListServ
On Tue, 27 Apr 1999, Chris Bradley wrote:
} I am looking for a CCD camera and image capture card for use with a standard Zeiss light } microscope. I've been looking all over and I can't find any cameras designed for this } use. Can anyone help me out with the name of a vendor or a website?
???? Pretty much SOP today and all over the Web.*. Check Edmunds or McCrone. Also, any C-mount camera can easily be adapted to your microscope tube. The grabber cards are ubiquitous as well.
However, let me suggest you start the other way 'round. Define your application needs and decide on the software first. Then, choose grabber and camera from the supported list. Otherwise, you may buy something which won't give you what you need.
Method 1: To determine virus in solution is to do a plaque assay. Keep = diluting viral stock until there is approxamitely 1 virus per ml and = infect cell cultures with it. This determine infective particles.
Method 2: Ref. is Sharp, D.G., 1974. Proceedings of 32nd Annual = Meeting of EMSA. Clayton's Publishing Division, p. 264-265.=20
Method 3: McCombs, R.M., Benyesh-Melnick, M. and Brunschwig, J.P. 1966 = Biophysical studies of vesicular stomatitis virus. J. Bacteriol. = 91:803-812
The suggestion of using latex spheres is ok but has one major flaw in the = technique, Do the sphere's and viral particles stick to the grid in equal = proportions????? probably not.
In my experence, I am able to dectect down to 1 x 10 e6 particles per ml. = using method 2 above.
Best of luck,
Ed
Edward P. Calomeni Dept Pathology - EM Lab 3000 Arlington Ave. Toledo, OH 43614
} } } "Nestor J. Zaluzec" {zaluzec-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com} 04/26 9:38 PM } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America=20
On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html=20=
Dear Listservers, Does anyone have a reference or simple method for quantifying viruses in solution? A colleague has a suspension which needs to be quantified. One assay technique detects a concentration of 10 (E10) per ml while a second assay technique detects a concentration of 10 (E11) per ml. I wonder if the error involved with quantification by EM would be too great to shed any light on the problem. I expect the best option would involve negative staining. Thankyou.
John Brealey Queen Elizabeth Hospital EM Unit Adelaide South Australia }
Randy, check this reference: Murakami, T (1973) A revised tanin-osmium = method for non coated sem specimens. Arch. Hist. Jap 36(3) 189-. Or = what I think is superior, the OTOTO method of Robert Kelley which uses = thiocarbohydrazide as a ligand to bind more osmium to the surface. = Hayat has this technique in one of his SEM method volumes and Kelley's = original citation is in Ultrastructure Research 45 (1973) 254-258.
Hank Adams Integrated Microscopy Core Cell Biology Baylor College of Medicine
Nick: I am more of a novice than you, and would GREATLY appreciate any tips you get on this. ( In fact would any *experienced* lab like to do this work for me for a fee?) I am doing something similar, a suspension of 15 micron liposome aggregates containing vegetable oils.
I don't have the answer. I presume osmication or rutheniation should be done extensively at room temp or preferably *above* (37C), before dehydration. A method using imidazole was highly recommended to me, as better than extended osmication, see reference below. I do expect that freeze-substitution is the way to go for dehydration. Acetone is known to extract fewer phospholipids than do the alcohols; it may be better for nonpolar lipids as well. Just keep it well-chilled.
Angermuller S, Fahimi HD, Histochem J 1982 Sep;14(5):823-35, Imidazole-buffered osmium tetroxide: an excellent stain for visualization of lipids in transmission electron microscopy. (nb: in PubMed just now I hit the "related articles" button and found a few interesting articles http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin-post/Entrez/query?db=m&form=6&uid=6182131&dopt=m&dispmax=100 )
I hired a local EM tech to work on this and was disappointed with the results, so hope you do find a method that works, and that you can let me know. For your smaller particles, presumably you can use cryo TEM with an energy loss filter and avoid fixing entirely, but I can't with my large aggregates
Good luck Richard
} } } Nick B Johnson {Nick.B.Johnson-at-unilever.com} 04/27/99 05:13am } } } Question: I am a relative novice at microscopy and have the task of trying to freeze-substitute samples containing large amounts of fat in the form of fat droplets (size range between sub-micron to approx. 10 microns) for TEM. Although I can produce reasonable results for semi-thin sections for LM, the fixatives (combinations of glutaraldehyde, OsO4, RuO4, and UA) and solvents (acetone and methanol) I have used do not fix the fat sufficiently for ultra-thin sectioning. (I have also varied the substitution and fixation periods from two days to over a week with little success). Can anybody suggest a fixative/solvent regime which will fix and dehydrate, but not mobilize, the fat? I have good indications that methanol and ethanol are redistributing the fat considerably at -90C, even after three days osmication. Sample preparation also requires the temperature to remain below -25C until polymerization. Any suggestions would be welcome! Regards, Nick Johnson
Nick.B.Johnson-at-Unilever.com
Dr. N. Johnson, Structural Analysis, Unilever Research, Colworth House, Beds, U.K.
We had AMT install their 12-bit system that uses a Hammamatsu camera. I'm using a Lexmark laser printer for everyday prints. but have access to a multitude of other printers on our network. Though we have no dye-sub printer, excellent results have been achieved with premium inkjet photo paper and inkjet printers.
AMT's reputation among vendors and users, performance of instrumentation, and price were all major considerations. Subsequent interaction after installation has been very good, too. One other reason for going to AMT was the non-interest by GATAN.
Overall, the system has more than lived up to expectations. I don't miss the darkroom one bit.
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Steve, We have two AMT systems with 2K x 2K Kodak Megaplus cameras coupled to a Kodak XLS8600 printer and a Codonics (Kodak) NP1600 printer. We just upgraded to Windows NT with a few minor glitches which for the most part have been resolved. We have been very satisifed with the results as have our customers. The support is very good as is the reliability. I have no experience with the Gatan or SIS cameras. Russ, Xerox
-----Original Message----- } From: Steve Fields [mailto:steve-fields-at-omrf.ouhsc.edu] Sent: Monday, April 26, 1999 3:42 PM To: 'Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com'
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
We are in the process of sifting through information on digital TEM cameras and have been concentrating on systems from Gatan, Advanced Microscopy Techniques (AMT) and Soft Imaging Systems. I would appreciate feedback from experienced users on your degree of satisfaction with any of the camera systems from these companies (i.e. resolution, acquisition software, customer support, etc.). Thanks for your help.
Steve
Stephen Fields, Ph.D. Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation 825 N.E. 13th Street Oklahoma City, OK 73104 Office Phone: (405) 271-7245 Fax: (405) 271-3153 steve-fields-at-omrf.ouhsc.edu
id PAA24629; Tue, 27 Apr 1999 15:19:40 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: {3.0.3.32.19990427162046.006fc9bc-at-biotech} X-Sender: gwe-at-biotech X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Light Version 3.0.3 (32)
Regarding TEM of fat, I might suggest two possible approaches. One would be to use a hydrophobic resin like Lowicryl HM-20 or HM-11. It might even serve as the substitution media. Another thought is to freeze dry the samples and embedd them in resin directly . One could also expose the sample, after drying, to osmium vapors from the crystals in order to keep things anhydrous. I would recommend a resin that can tolerate a little water, like Epon or its equivalent, or a methacrylate based resin.
Would using freeze-fracture EM give the results you are after??
Fats and lipids are a nightmare for EM.
Greg Erdos 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
Has anyone out there managed to add transmitted-light illumination to the optical microscope of a JEOL 840? I'd appreciate hearing from you.
thanks
Ritchie
Ritchie Sims Phone : 64 9 3737599 ext 7713 Department of Geology Fax : 64 9 3737435 The University of Auckland email : r.sims-at-auckland.ac.nz Private Bag 92019 Auckland New Zealand
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I have located two good prospects for CCD cameras which do not need to be tethered to a computer. They are:
Olympus DP10 - uses a smart card to record images. Has a built in LCD panel for formatting your image and a keypad for interacting with the programming. You can print directly from the camera if desired. Resolution: 1280x1024. Price ~$3000
Fugi HC-300Z: does not have built in LCD panel so it is helpful to attach a small monitor for setting up your formatting, etc. Downloads images directly to a ZIP disk. Has small keypad for interfacing with software. Resolution: 1280 x 1000. Price ~$4000
Both mount using standard C-mounts. They may need a relay lens. They can be used on a copy stand with a standard camera lens.
Kodak also makes a microscope tube adapter for use with one of their consumer cameras. Does not appear to give the quality that the above ones do and is tethered to a computer, as are SPOT cameras, etc. Also, most of the other available cameras are substantially more expensive ( most are "cooled") although they may perform better under low light.
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
Chris Bradley wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Hi everyone, I am looking for information about selected area electron channelling technique which is used for strain measurement of crystalline materials. I have read few articles but I do not have any idea about what size sample should be prepared, what kind of backscatter dedector do i need etc. If anybody who has experience with that technique please inform me. Thanks
} Olympus DP10 - uses a smart card to record images. Has a built in LCD } panel for formatting your image and a keypad for interacting with the } programming. You can print directly from the camera if desired. Resolution: } 1280x1024. Price ~$3000
If it records on SmartMedia, one does not need a frame grabber with it. I use a Lexar SmartMedia (parallel-port) reader. It functions like a removeable disc drive permitting one to read/write the SM. It cost me $37.
} Fugi HC-300Z: does not have built in LCD panel so it is helpful to attach } a small monitor for setting up your formatting, etc. Downloads images } directly to a ZIP disk. Has small keypad for interfacing with software. } Resolution: 1280 x 1000. Price ~$4000
Again. No grabber.
} Kodak also makes a microscope tube adapter for use with one of their } consumer cameras.
Also, it (DC-120) retains its non-removeable lens and has poorer resolution.
Consider also the Pixera and the MicroVision in this class of camera.
What all of these do NOT permit is the use of real-time image processing software. All processing is done post hoc. If this is OK in one's application, fine. Otherwise, one must consider a separate camera + grabber.
How are you coating your specimens? The common approach is to place the specimen in the chamber and to let the coater get on with the task? Microvilli are difficult to coat if you use this method and if this is followed by the common observation at 20kV then I can understand why the samples charge.
Try this coating method.
1) Set the sample at approx 45deg in the coater with a working distance of 5cms 2) With a coater that indicates kV on its variable control set this = at the lowest level at which a plasma will strike (probably ~800 volts) and then tune for 20mA. If the coater has a deposition control set it at 10m= A. 3) Coat for one minute 4) Tilt the sample in exactly the opposite direction and repeat.
Try it out at 10kV
5) If not quite good enough - run the coater to obtain the best vacu= um that you can and then try to strike a plasma without gas being introduced= , or at worst the very minimum of gas - coat for one minute with the sample=
flat.
To improve your microscopes performance at the lower kV be sure to have a= t least 100uA emission current with a Japanese instrument (W) with Philips=
50uA(W) and a WD of less than 10mm. If you can not obtain these curren= t levels you need to place the filament nearer the cap.
Hope this helps?
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
Sorry to hear you are having problems but I am afraid high voltage is wha= t we call in the trade a "standard fault" on the otherwise superb S520.
Not being on the spot it is of course very difficult. Any fall off in vacuum level is likely to trip the high voltage, however I am inclined to=
tell you to look at the gun area. Inside the gun casing are the connections between the gun components and the high voltage cable. These=
connections in time break down and give a wide variety of problems; this = is 90% likely to be the problem! I do not recall many vacuum funnies on 520= s.
Just as a test, run the instrument up at a lower kV (say 2 or 5kV) and s= ee if the fault is identical. If the fault changes we prove that the fault = is high voltage related, then you go to the area I have outlined.
This area of the gun is sealed, but if that is where the problem is you have three routes (1) have a go yourself when we can give you step by ste= p instructions. (2) Get the local agent to sort it out. (3) Look around t= o see if there is a company nearby that specialises in high voltage repairs=
Well, I hope we have helped, remember a motto "if a man built it a man ca= n fix it", no offence to the ladies as man is used in the generic sense.
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
We routinely use a variant of Mallick & Wilsons ( IITRI/SEM 1975; 259-264) OTOTO (osmium -thiocarbohydrazide) technique for cochlea specimens (organ of Corti - inner ear) which have a very convoluted shape and are extremely difficult to sputter coat. The wash must be thorough, including the neck, rim and cap of the specimen vial; any trace of TCH or OsO4 remaining will form a precipitate when the other reagent is added. We have also successfully used the osmium-tannic acid method but prefer the former for very convoluted specimens. One advantage of this method over sputter coating is that it permits subsequent redissection and SEM observation without recoating and/or embedding for TEM examination (e.g., Hunter-Duvar IM, Mount RJ (1978). The organ of Corti following ototoxic antibiotic treatment. Scanning Electron Micros/1978/II., 423-430).
O-T-O-T-O SUMMARY
- fix, postfix OsO4 - 1% aq TCH 20 min. with agitation - wash well - 1% aq OsO4 2 hr. with agitation - wash well - 1% aq TCH 20 min. with agitation - wash well - 1% aq OsO4 2 hr. with agitation - wash well - dehydrate - CPD
"Tindall, Randy D." wrote:
} I recall reading somewhere a long time ago about special fixation procedures } for non-conductive samples that are hard to adequately coat. I seem to } remember tannic acid being involved. Does this ring a bell with anybody out } there? } } Specifically, we are processing pig intestine samples for SEM and are having } problems with charging on the microvilli. We have repeatedly coated the } samples with Au/Pd, but the problems persist. Perhaps there's a specialized } processing technique that can help?
--
Richard J. Mount Auditory Science Laboratory, Department of Otolaryngology & Brain and Behaviour Division/Research Institute The Hospital for Sick Children Toronto, Ontario, Canada (416) 813-6551; Fax (416) 813-8456 http://www.sickkids.on.ca/HSCWeb/Otolaryngology/Otoalias/Earhome1.htm
Hello John: } "The suggestion of using latex spheres is ok but has one } major flaw in the technique, Do the sphere's and viral } particles stick to the grid in equal proportions????? } probably not."
Maybe you are right, but I doubt it, especially for small particles like virus. When touching a coated grid repeatedly against a drop of virus solution and part blotting it, the aim is to retain a thin film of the aqueous solution. This dries down and the particles adhere. This is my "model" for just applying an aqueous solution. I would expect that the loss of particles, latex or virus would be small and similar.
When negatively staining particles, those particles are mixed in a metallic solution. After that solution has dried down the particles are actually embedded in the metallic film. Differential retention of particles? . . . . I doubt it very much. It should also be noted that latex spheres have been used for decades to estimate/count particles in EM. Maybe all that data was wrong, but it seems rather more likely that some of those authors did their home work.
I have no hard data on this, but intuitively, with many years of negative staining experience I would be most surprised if this was otherwise. Particle retention during negative staining seems such an obvious problem, somebody is sure to have studied it. Please tell me if I am wrong. 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, April 28, 1999 4:11 AM, Ed Calomeni [SMTP:ecalomeni-at-mco.edu] wrote:
} } Hi John, } } Method 1: To determine virus in solution is to do a plaque } assay. Keep diluting viral stock until there is } approxamitely 1 virus per ml and infect cell cultures } with it. This determine infective particles. } } Method 2: Ref. is Sharp, D.G., 1974. Proceedings of } 32nd Annual Meeting of EMSA. Clayton's Publishing } Division, p. 264-265. } } Method 3: McCombs, R.M., Benyesh-Melnick, M. and } Brunschwig, J.P. 1966 Biophysical studies of vesicular } stomatitis virus. J. Bacteriol. 91:803-812 } } The suggestion of using latex spheres is ok but has one } major flaw in the technique, Do the sphere's and viral } particles stick to the grid in equal proportions????? } probably not. } } In my experence, I am able to dectect down to 1 x 10 e6 } particles per ml. using method 2 above. } } Best of luck, } } Ed } } Edward P. Calomeni } Dept Pathology - EM Lab } 3000 Arlington Ave. } Toledo, OH 43614 } } 419-383-3484 } 419-383-3066 (fax) } ecalomeni-at-mco.edu } } Edward P. Calomeni } Dept Pathology - EM Lab } 3000 Arlington Ave. } Toledo, OH 43614 } } 419-383-3484 } 419-383-3066 (fax) } ecalomeni-at-mco.edu } } } } } "Nestor J. Zaluzec" {zaluzec-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com} } } } } 04/26 9:38 PM } } } } } Quantification of viruses in solution. } } Dear Listservers, Does anyone have a reference or simple } method for } quantifying viruses in solution? A colleague has a } suspension which needs } to be quantified. One assay technique detects a } concentration of 10 } (E10) per ml while a second assay technique detects a } concentration of 10 } (E11) per ml. I wonder if the error involved with } quantification by } EM would be too great to shed any light on the problem. I } expect the best } option would involve negative staining. Thankyou. } } John Brealey } Queen Elizabeth Hospital } EM Unit Adelaide South Australia } } } } } }
Hello Ritchie: Some years ago I too was pushed about by some geologists who could not adapt to a perfectly good atomic number (backscattered) image. I know that compromise transmitted light scopes exist on some WD probes. The 840 was not designed for it. To be useful you require double polarisers; there is insufficient room near the centre of the stage, you require interlocks (no light with SE detector on), the carbon coating kills polarised images. The more you look at the possibility the more problems you will find. If you persist you eventually obtain crummy light microscope images. Non microprobe specialist geologist users often mistake the provided scope (on WD systems) as a weak attempt to provide a light microscope to view the specimen - not so. Its real function is to locate and focus the beam spot using a fluorescent mineral and to calibrate working distance through the low depths of field of the light scope. Use BS to find your way around the specimen. At times that is difficult, but marking slides with India ink and some rough drawings can overcome that. Better still, if available make digital images of your areas of interest and display those on a monitor when locating spots for analyses. There are several ways of "killing that particular cat", installing a transmitted light scope is rather grizzly. 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, April 28, 1999 6:18 PM, Ritchie Sims [SMTP:r.sims-at-auckland.ac.nz] wrote: } } } Hello, All } } Has anyone out there managed to add transmitted-light } illumination to } the optical microscope of a JEOL 840? } I'd appreciate hearing from you. } } thanks } } Ritchie } } } Ritchie Sims Phone : 64 9 3737599 ext 7713 } } Department of Geology Fax : 64 9 3737435 } The University of Auckland email : } r.sims-at-auckland.ac.nz } Private Bag 92019 } Auckland } New Zealand }
For an exhaustive review, visit "Curtin's Short Courses in Digital Photography": http://www.shortcourses.com/index.htm
In particular, view Curtin's "Book1: A Short Course in Digital Photography", with emphasis on Chapter 2: The Foundations of Digital Imaging (http://www.shortcourses.com/chapter02.htm) and Chapter 3: Digital Cameras (http://www.shortcourses.com/chapter03.htm)
Another excellent review/tutorial can be found at Sound Vision Incorporated's, "How Digital Cameras Work" (http://www.soundvisioninc.com/howdcw.htm) which deals with the technical nitty gritty and recommendations of camera types based on application needs.
Happy reading and hope this helps.
Best regards,
Walt Bobrowski Subcellular Pathology Parke-Davis Research 2800 Plymouth Road Ann Arbor, MI 48105
The important issue for any microscope is the availability of a phototube with C-mount from Zeiss which is used to attach the camera to the microscope. Any CCD with a C-mount should be OK.
As for image capture cards, there are a number of frame grabbers on the market. One decision you need to make here is whether to go with a digital camera which has a frame grabber on-board or to go to an analog camera with the frame grabber mounted in your computer. I'd suggest that you talk to a local system integrator (if you send me specifics on your location, I may be able to recommend a contact or two).
Two quick suggestions: Media Cybernetics has a complete system available (from camera to board to cables to software ... sort of "imaging in a box "). Just remember, you still need the Zeiss coupler or something similar (Diagnostic Instruments has great C-mounts with zoom focus).
Details are available the websites of these respective companies. Call/email me if you have any trouble finding them.
CAVEAT: MME has no commercial interest in any of these companies.
Best regards, Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater productivity.
125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} ****************************************************** MME is America's first national consortium providing customized on-site workshops in all areas of microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis.
At 10:12 AM 4/27/99 -0500, Chris Bradley wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
The New England Society for Microscopy will hold its Sixteenth Annual Spring Symposium at Marine Biological Laboratories, Woods Hole, Massachusetts on May 7 & 8,1999. In addition to our scientific presentations, this year's Symposium will feature PROEJCT MICRO, the new Great Explorations in Math and Science Program designed to introduce Microscopy to elementary- and middle school-aged students. If you are interested in participating in this exciting new program, be sure to register and join us for dinner on Friday evening. =
PRIZES for Best Poster, Best Student Poster, and Best Photo-As-Art will also be awarded. If you're interested in submitting your poster for judging, please contact Dr. Changmo Sung at Changmo_Sung-at-uml.edu.
A COMMERCIAL TABLE-TOP EXHIBIT is scheduled for Saturday morning from 10a= m to 12:30pm. =
The deadline for Exhibitor Registration has been extended to April 30th. =
Reserve your table now. The Spring Symposium always has a strong membership turnout and the Saturday Exhibition promises to be packed. =
Please double check to make sure you have registered so you do not miss this opportunity to visit old friends and make important new contacts. =
=
PROGRAM Friday, May 7th
12:00 pm Registration: Swope Center
1:00 pm Welcome: Lillie Auditorium
Session I Chairperson: Doug Taatjes, UVM
1:05 pm Laser Scanning Cytometry as an Imaging System Ed Luther, Senior Scientist - Biology, CompuCyte Corporation, Cambridge, MA
1:45 pm Focused Ion Beam Microscopy: The New Kid on the Block Dr. David Casey, Senior Scientist, Micrion Corp, Peabody, MA
2:25 pm Membrane Fusion Machinery in Cells Dr. Bhanu Jena, Dept. of Surgery and Biomedical Eng., Yale University, New Haven, CT
3:05 pm Afternoon Break Coffee served in Lillie 103
Session II Chairperson: Tony Garratt-Reed, M.I.T.
3:20 pm Multi-technique Characterization of Emissive Coatings on Electrod= es Dr. Chris Peters, Senior Project Engineer R & D, Osram Sylvania, Beverly, MA
4:00 pm Microscopic Approach to the Study of Pancreatic Islets Dr. Thomas Jetton, Ergo Scientific, Inc., Cambridge, MA
4:40 pm Advances in Microanalysis: A Look at the Past, Present and Future=
Dr. William Hardy, CEO, Princeton Gamma Tech, Princeton, NJ
5:30 pm Cocktails and Dinner: Swope Center
7:30 pm Project Micro "Festival" Meigs Room, Swope Center Dr. Burton E. Goodrich, Jr., Executive Director, South Coast Educational Collaborative Janet E. Goodrich, Principal, Miscoe Hill Elementary School, Mendon, MA
Saturday, May 8th
7 to 8:00 am Breakfast: Swope Center
Session III Chairperson: Eben Oldmixon, HSPH =
8:30 am The Use of Electron Microscopy in the Characterization of Carbon Deposits Paul Anderson, Chemistry Department, Northeastern University, Boston, MA
9:10 am Confocal Microscopy of Nuclear Envelope Breakdown Dr. Mark Terasaki, Asst. Prof., Dept. of Physiology, UCONN Health=
Ctr., Farmington, CT
10:00 am Commercial Exhibits and Posters: Swope Center Coffee and doughnuts will be served
12:30 pm Presentation of Poster and Photos-As-Art Awards and Door Prizes: =
Poster Area, Swope Center
1:00 pm Lunch with Short Tour of MBL: Swope Center =
2:00 pm 2-hour Discovery Cruise aboard the R/V Patriot II Tickets must be reserved in advance
Register Today! Contact L. Kirstein at NESM-at-compuserve.com. Registratio= n Deadline will be extended to April 30th. =
SILENT AUCTION, OCEANOGRAPHY CRUISE, POSTER AWARDS, DOOR PRIZES =
I have used this tissue processor for several years with good results, only draw back seem to do with resin polymerization in the vials if the protocol is for an extended period of time. -Mike
On Tue, 27 Apr 1999 msteglic-at-notes.mdacc.tmc.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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } I am currently looking at the EMS Lynx tissue processor and would like any } feedback from anyone currently using one } } (Do you like it?, Does it function as it should? Are there any drawbacks to } the unit? etc..). } } Does anyone know if there is a lab in the Houston area using one? } } Also does anyone know of any other tissue processor available for EM } processing? } } Mannie Steglich } U. T. M. D. Anderson Cancer Center } Houston, TX. } } } }
Hi guys, I need recommendation for 3D/deconvolution software, which will be able to run on NT. Thanks, --Ciprian ________________________________________________________________ Ciprian A. Almonte Phone: (412) 648-9796 Center for Biologic Imaging FAX: (412) 648-8330 University of Pittsburgh URL:http://sbic6.sbic.pitt.edu Pittsburgh, PA 15261 USA mailto:calmonte-at-pitt.edu ________________________________________________________________
We are consolidating our EM unit and must relutantly part ways with an exceptional H-600 Hitachi EM scope.
You may contact me directly through the e-mail address: rmonahan-at-caregroup.harvard.edu
or by phone at: 617-667-5777
Basic information on the instrument follows: Hitachi H-600 TEM The instrument is in excellent condition. It has been under service agreement with Hitachi.It has been used by a single experienced electron micriscopist to do strictly biological work.
Rita Monahan-Earley Senior Electron Microscopist Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Harvard Medical School 330 Brookline Ave Boston,Mass. 02215 USA E-mail:rmonahan-at-caregroup.harvard.edu Phone:617-667-5777
} Well, I hope we have helped, remember a motto "if a man built it a man can } fix it", no offence to the ladies as man is used in the generic sense. }
And keep in mind Mott's Law of Recursive Repair, which states that "In order to fix anything, you always have to fix something else first."
I have found this to be widely applicable, from software to old houses. Especially old houses...
} Dear All, } } We are in the market for a new sputter coater. We need a robust, } simple to use (i.e. student-proof) instrument for routine gold or Au/Pd } coating of biological samples. I would prefer to avoid micro-processor } controlled units (who's going to repair the circuit boards in 10 years?). } Does anyone have any advice, etc., etc.? } } 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
Randy: I agree with Hank Adams on the OTOTO method, and have used Bob Kelley's method with great success for many years. The first critical part of the method is using a specific thiocarbohydrazide (not all suppliers/lots are equal), and doing the "wash" process for purifying the TCH just prior to use. The second critical step for success is being compulsive about the wash/time cycle in the published method. Any slighting of either of these steps can result in most unsatisfactory results. The conditions in the microscope are also critical, and I have obtained excellent results with the OTOTO method in both W filament SEMs at 10 to 30 kV as well as LaB6 and FESEMs at 1 to 2 kV. Hope this helps.
Roger Moretz Dept of Toxicology Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Ridgefield, CT
The comments above reflect my own experience and opinions.
} -----Original Message----- } From: Tindall, Randy D. [SMTP:TindallR-at-missouri.edu] } Sent: Tuesday, April 27, 1999 12:26 PM } To: 'microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com' } Subject: SEM: Fixation for non-conductive samples } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 recall reading somewhere a long time ago about special fixation } procedures } for non-conductive samples that are hard to adequately coat. I seem to } remember tannic acid being involved. Does this ring a bell with anybody } out } there? } } Specifically, we are processing pig intestine samples for SEM and are } having } problems with charging on the microvilli. We have repeatedly coated the } samples with Au/Pd, but the problems persist. Perhaps there's a } specialized } processing technique that can help? } } Thanks in advance. } Randy } } } Randy Tindall } Electron Microscope Core } College of Veterinary Medicine } University of Missouri - Columbia } Phone: 573-882-8304 }
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Steve, We have a Gatan 791 MSC for our CM120. It takes lovely pictures. It did take me some time to master the art of acquiring the images. I took the Gatan class they offer in the spring, and it is definitely worth taking. Dr. Barbara Armbruster works in the California office and she took the time to help me work out my initial problems. She is a wonderful teacher. Let me know if you would like to see some images (pathology lab). Peggy Harger-Allen EM lab - VA Medical Center 317-554-0000x2392 harger-allen-at-indianapolis.va.gov
via smtpd (for sparc5.microscopy.com [206.69.208.10]) with SMTP; 28 Apr 1999 21:09:56 UT Received: from ptag2 (ptag2.pt.cyanamid.com [141.173.51.2]) by igate.cyanamid.com (8.9.3/8.9.3) with ESMTP id OAA02519 for {Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.com} ; Wed, 28 Apr 1999 14:55:10 -0400 (EDT) Received: from ccmail.pt.Cyanamid.COM by pt.Cyanamid.COM (PMDF V5.1-9 #28913) id {01JAKJV6624W8X67N9-at-pt.Cyanamid.COM} for Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.com; Wed, 28 Apr 1999 14:55:05 EDT
I need to examine some dissolution-recrystallization processes at temperatures in the 100-200 deg C range by transmitted light. I am looking for a way of making a cell, perhaps by gluing a metal washer with a hole of 3-4 mm onto a slide 26 x 26 mm to fit in a hot stage. I don't know if epoxy will withstand both heat and solvent. For another hotstage application, I once tried water glass for glass-to-glass, but it outgassed badly above 100 deg C.
I would appreciate any suggestions for other cements or from vendors with an all-glass cell, total height { 2 mm, cell ID 1-4 mm (round or rectangular), fittable on to or cut-downable to 26 x 26 mm.
Leonard Corwin Research Chemist Fort Dodge Animal Health Princeton, NJ 08543-0400
At 12:03 PM 4/27/99 GMT+1200, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Hi, I am trying to find a frame grabber that is able to grab images from a CCD camera and SEM(Amray 1830). The CCD camera is used for process monitoring through an optical microscope(Questar QM-100). A VCR is used to record the process on tape. After the process, sample is transfered into SEM chamber and I need to grab a few static images where particular features are found. Anyone has experience in this?
I need a copy of an old file called MSmouse.COM for an application that emulates this driver to reverse a mouse cursor on a DOS environment. The hard disk that had it crashed and the new computer does not have a 5 inch drive. Any idea of where I can get a copy will be appreciated.
*Disclaimer: Whatever... is not Tulane opinion! Cesar D. Fermin, Ph.D. Professor of Pathology & Otolaryngology web:[ http://www.tmc.tulane.edu/ferminlab/] or [http://www.tmc.tulane.edu/imaging/] Internet: [cfermin-at-mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu] 1430 Tulane Ave/SL79 New Orleans, La 70112-2699 Fax 504 587-7389, Voice 584-2521, Main Office 588-5224
There are many different systems on the market today, and they differ tremendously. You can purchase cameras that transfer the images serially, through a frame grabber, or by use of a different medium. Resolution and dynamic range of the cameras is an issue. What kind of software you need and the kind of support you expect.
For example: if you need high resolution images, you may have to consider a 3-chip TV camera or a digital color camera. For the latter you need to decide, if you can live with a low refresh rate or "offline" use (Images transferred to computer serially or by "sneaker net") or if you need a live image. If the cameras are too expensive, you may be able to acquire neighboring, overlapping images and do a multiple image montage with a less expensive camera, but that requires the appropriate software. Is it important to have automatically calibrated images? Do you need stage control, now or perhaps later? It is probably best to talk to other people who have image capture systems. Of course, as we sell those, we are happy to talk to you, too.
I would start, as Kalman Rubinson suggests, by defining the parameters for the system. Once you have done that, call a few vendors and discuss it with them. Depending on what they sell, they will suggest one or the other solution. That will help you narrow down the specs. I am sure, most vendors are happy to discuss this with you, I know, we would. Once you have narrowed down your choice, you can ask for quotes for similar systems and see, what the prices are.
If you need more help, give me a call or send me an email.
Michael Bode
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 1675 Carr St., #105N Lakewood, CO 80215 phone: (888) FIND SIS (303) 234-9270 fax: (303) 234-9271 email: info-at-soft-imaging.com
******************************************************* Disclaimer: Soft Imaging System produces and sells image acquisition and processing systems. We therefore have a vested interest in some of the items mentioned above. *******************************************************
} -----Original Message----- } From: Exchange Administrator } Sent: Wednesday, April 28, 1999 12:30 PM } To: Michael Bode } Subject: FW: CCD Camera and Image capture card } } } } ---------- } From: Kalman Rubinson[SMTP:kr4-at-is2.nyu.edu] } Sent: Tuesday, April 27, 1999 12:24 PM } To: Chris Bradley } Cc: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: Re: CCD Camera and Image capture card } } ---------------------------------------------------------------------- } -- } 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 } ---------------------------------------------------------------------- } -. } } } On Tue, 27 Apr 1999, Chris Bradley wrote: } } } I am looking for a CCD camera and image capture card for use with a } standard Zeiss light } } microscope. I've been looking all over and I can't find any cameras } designed for this } } use. Can anyone help me out with the name of a vendor or a website? } } ???? Pretty much SOP today and all over the Web.*. Check } Edmunds or McCrone. Also, any C-mount camera can easily be } adapted to your microscope tube. The grabber cards are } ubiquitous as well. } } However, let me suggest you start the other way 'round. } Define your application needs and decide on the software } first. Then, choose grabber and camera from the supported } list. Otherwise, you may buy something which won't give } you what you need. } } Kal } }
Dear Microscopists I have a client who wants to use SEM to image the surface of corneas looking at scars after laser treatment. Any ideas on preparation, etc?? TIA Alan N Hall Laboratory for Microscopy and Micro-Analysis NWII Building University of Pretoria Pretoria 0002 Republic of South Africa Tel: +27-12-420 3896(Office) +27-12-420 2075(Laboratory) Fax: +27-12-362 5150
We are seeking to replace our stock of these, and e-mail enquiries to the company themselves have got nowhere. So (a) does anyone know a supplier, and (b) is there an alternative? We have used this type because it is the only organic material for filter membranes that can stand up to Xylene at 120^C, and the anodisc alumina filters in our catalogues are all too small in pore size.
Thanks in advance,
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 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 | +------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Can anyone tell me if there is a Canadian equivalent to the US. Project Micro and if so where I can find information or contact person? Thanks
Debbie Lietz Electron Microscopy Suite Department of Biology Trent University Peterborough, Ontario K9J 7B8 Telephone: (705)748-1486 Fax: (705) 748-1205 email: dlietz-at-trentu.ca
Have you tried a silver metal membrane? I believe these would be a suitable substitute. The company I am familiar with is Osmonics. A silver metal membrane with your required pore size can be found on their website at:
http://www.osmonics.com/products/Page2.htm
Hope this is helpful,
David Bell Scientist Electron Microscopy Lab Millipore Corporation 80 Ashby Road Bedford, MA 01730 (781) 533-2108
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Kal, Thanks for your comments. I did not originate this thread but have been looking for a general purpose digital camera for our multi-user facility for a few months. We have good high resolution video cameras and associated computer-enhancement capabilities and s-VHS recorders for live cell use so do not need video cameras. I find that fluorescence use is down as users turn to more confocal use. Thus our need for low light cameras is decreasing.
What I see is users who want to take a few images from a stereo microscope or light microscope and do not want to shoot a whole roll. So they do not document as much as they should. Addition of a relatively inexpensive digital camera may fill the need when the $10,000 for a more versatile camera + framegrabber+computer is not available. If funds are not a concern, the tendancy is often to go with the most versatile instruments one can find. However sometimes this leads to excess features, many of which are not needed and never used, and a waste of precious $$.
Also, recently there has been a call for cameras for student use in classes. For this purpose, we need multiple cameras but certainly do not want to designate a computer for each one and, again, cost is very important. Hopefully the two non-tethered camera I mentioned are just the beginnings of new offerings for this type of instrument.
I would appreciate hearing further comments from users (not venders) of these specific cameras and also would like to hear about other potential cameras to serve these needs (again from users rather than venders....I would appreciate the real on-the-job plus and minuses, not just the specifications).
Debby
--------------------------------------
} Olympus DP10 - uses a smart card to record images. Has a built in LCD } panel for formatting your image and a keypad for interacting with the } programming. You can print directly from the camera if desired. Resolution: } 1280x1024. Price ~$3000
If it records on SmartMedia, one does not need a frame grabber with it. I use a Lexar SmartMedia (parallel-port) reader. It functions like a removeable disc drive permitting one to read/write the SM. It cost me $37.
} Fugi HC-300Z: does not have built in LCD panel so it is helpful to attach } a small monitor for setting up your formatting, etc. Downloads images } directly to a ZIP disk. Has small keypad for interfacing with software. } Resolution: 1280 x 1000. Price ~$4000
Again. No grabber.
} Kodak also makes a microscope tube adapter for use with one of their } consumer cameras.
Also, it (DC-120) retains its non-removeable lens and has poorer resolution.
Consider also the Pixera and the MicroVision in this class of camera.
What all of these do NOT permit is the use of real-time image processing software. All processing is done post hoc. If this is OK in one's application, fine. Otherwise, one must consider a separate camera + grabber.
Kal
RFC822 header -----------------------------------
RECEIVED: from SF_Database by POP_Mailbox_-1286883292 ; 27 APR 99 18:53:24 UT Received: from IS2.NYU.EDU by mailcenter.btny.purdue.edu with SMTP (QuickMail Pro Server for MacOS 1.1.2); 27-Apr-1999 18:53:20 -0500 Received: from localhost (kr4-at-localhost) by is2.nyu.edu (8.8.8/8.8.7) with SMTP id TAA09208; Tue, 27 Apr 1999 19:53:41 -0400 (EDT) Date: Tue, 27 Apr 1999 19:53:41 -0400 (EDT) From: Kalman Rubinson {kr4-at-is2.nyu.edu} To: Debby Sherman {sherman-at-btny.purdue.edu} cc: "message to: MSA list" {microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} Subject: RE: CCD camera and capture card In-Reply-To: {iss.2c27.37262849.ad7f2.1-at-scribe.cc.purdue.edu} Message-ID: {Pine.OSF.3.95.990427194804.7537A-100000-at-is2.nyu.edu} MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
Are you looking to acquire images from a CCD camera AND an SEM, or is it one or the other?
} From your description ("a VCR is used to record...") I assume, that you are using an analog CCD camera. There are many frame grabbers on the market that will digitize these signals. Just look for "frame grabber" on the net, or give me a call.
If you wish to acquire images digitally from the SEM, the choice narrows down considerably, unless you only wish to use the SEM TV signal. In this case the same as for the TV camera applies. If you wish to acquire high resolution images from the SEM, you need some form of "active" or "passive" SEM interface. The reason is, that it is impossible to use TV standards (for example NTSC or PAL) for high resolution, slow scan images. So you need different hardware. As far as I know (perhaps I am wrong, in this case I apologize) we are the only ones that have "active" and "passive" acquisition boards that work as add-ons to our frame grabber. In other words, you can, with the appropriate software and hardware, use our frame grabber to acquire both TV signals AND control or synchronize to an SEM. Please give me a call if you neeed more information, or send me an email. If you want to check out our web site, look for "Grabbit" (our frame grabber) and "ADDA" (our SEM interface).
Michael Bode
******************************************************* Disclaimer: Soft Imaging System produces and sells image acquisition and processing systems. We therefore have a vested interest in some of the items mentioned above. *******************************************************
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 1675 Carr St., #105N Lakewood, CO 80215 phone: (888) FIND SIS (303) 234-9270 fax: (303) 234-9271 email: info-at-soft-imaging.com web: www.soft-imaging.com
} ---------- } From: Tong Wang[SMTP:tong-at-jlab.org] } Sent: Wednesday, April 28, 1999 4:39 PM } To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: frame grabber for SEM } } ---------------------------------------------------------------------- } -- } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of } America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to } ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help } http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } ---------------------------------------------------------------------- } -. } } } Hi, I am trying to find a frame grabber that is able to grab images } from a } CCD camera and SEM(Amray 1830). The CCD camera is used for process } monitoring through an optical microscope(Questar QM-100). } A VCR is used to record the process on tape. After the process, sample } is } transfered into SEM chamber and I need to grab a few static images } where } particular features are found. Anyone has experience in this? } } }
} I need a copy of an old file called MSmouse.COM for an application that } emulates this driver to reverse a mouse cursor on a DOS environment. The } hard disk that had it crashed and the new computer does not have a 5 inch } drive. Any idea of where I can get a copy will be appreciated.
Unfortunately, I deleted your earlier message but from Jim's response, it looks like your geologists need a combination of two techniques which are less than compatible. Not being very experienced with EM, I can't comment on the stages available, but in other applications (i.e., going from a fluorescence microscope to an FT-IR microscope), we have used finder stages which gave us the ability to exactly locate a specific feature then move it to the other microscope and find that feature again. If this were the case, your geologists could do their conventional polarized light analysis then move the system to the electron microscope for other imaging and analysis.
Hope this is helpful. Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater productivity.
125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} ****************************************************** To find out what was new in microscopy at Pittcon, see "Focus on Microscopy", American Lab, May 1999
At 10:47 PM 4/28/99 +1000, Jim J Darley wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
The best way to keep an equal proportion of latex beads and virus particles is to centrifuge the mixing (well mixed) directly on a grid. For this, I use a Beckman Airfuge Ultracentrifuge with a A-100 rotor. The technique consist to mix a part of virus particles and a part of latex bead with a known concentration. Place in an Airfuge 200 µL-tube with a Formvar-carbon coated grid in the bottom. Centrifuge at 120 000 g (20 psi) during 5 min. Recuperate the grid, dry it, stain and finally count virus and beads in a TEM and compare the concentration of beads with concentration of virus particles see: - Alain, R et al., J. Virol. Meths, 16 (1987), p. 209-216 - Alain, R, Microscopy today, may, issue #97-4, D.Grimes Ed., (1997) p. 20
Robert Alain ********************************************************** Robert Alain, M.Sc. Microscopie électronique INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier-Microbiologie et Biotechnologie 531 boul. des Prairies Laval, Québec CANADA H7N 4Z3 Tel: (450)687-5010 ext#4388 Fax: (450)686-5626 e-mail: Robert.alain-at-INRS-iaf.uquebec.ca Http://www.iaf.uquebec.ca/iaf/recherche/viro/me.html **********************************************************
We are seeking vendors to provide some ocular micrometers (Olympus and Lietz eyepieces) as follows:
(1) grid configuration, divided into 400 squares (i.e., 20 x 20) (2) grid configuration, divided into 100 squares (10 x 10)
It is highly desirable to have the divisions numbered in the x-y directions.
Thanks.
#################################################################### John J. Bozzola, Ph.D., Director Center for Electron Microscopy 750 Communications Drive - MC 4402 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 ####################################################################
Dear Bob, I recently acquired a Denton Desk II coater and etcher as part of a larger, used equiment purchase and I'm very pleased with it. It is much simpler to use than my very old Hummer was, very simple to operate and automatic enough for students. I just post a few lines of instructions on the wall behind it and everyone has had a good coat in 30 sec. so far. I like the simple target, which a flat gold sheet, which means that you don't have to get ripped off for a special target when it is consumed. I have been pleasantly surprised. I don't see any micro-processor control, just solenoid and relay. The system leaks the pump back to vacuum when you turn it off, so you don't suck oil vapours back into the chamber, something I could never teach students to do. You wrote: } } } Dear All, } } } } We are in the market for a new sputter coater. We need a robust, } } simple to use (i.e. student-proof) instrument for routine gold or Au/Pd } } coating of biological samples. I would prefer to avoid micro-processor } } controlled units (who's going to repair the circuit boards in 10 years?). } } Does anyone have any advice, etc., etc.? } } } } Bob } } } } } } Dr. Robert R. Wise } } Department of Biology and Microbiology } } University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh } } Oshkosh, WI 54901
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 e-mail: mager-at-interchg.ubc.ca
I am an experienced electronics design engineer who wants to take on building something a bit more challenging in his garage: A scanning Electron Microscope.
I already have information on building diffusion pumps ( although more information is always welcome ), and I have info. on construction and testing of high vacuum apparatus.
The electronics will be straightforward enough.
What I need is help on electron optics. Are there any "beginners guide to designing electron optics" or "A home made SEM: how I did it" books out there? Can anyone suggest how I get from undergraduate physics to SEM design ( I learn well from books )?
Dear John, We've been using eyepiece reticules from Klarman Rulings, POB 4795, Manchester, NH 03108, (800)252-2401. They are not expensive, available in any diameter with a wide range of styles, and accurate.
Glen
Glen MacDonald Research Scientist Hearing Research Laboratories of the Virginia Merrill Bloedel Hearing Research Center Box 35-7923 University of Washington Seattle, WA 98195-7923 (206) 616-4156 glenmac-at-u.washington.edu
On Thu, 29 Apr 1999, 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 seeking vendors to provide some ocular micrometers (Olympus and } Lietz eyepieces) as follows: } } (1) grid configuration, divided into 400 squares (i.e., 20 x 20) } (2) grid configuration, divided into 100 squares (10 x 10) } } It is highly desirable to have the divisions numbered in the x-y directions. } } Thanks. } } } #################################################################### } John J. Bozzola, Ph.D., Director } Center for Electron Microscopy } 750 Communications Drive - MC 4402 } 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 } #################################################################### } } } }
Thanks, Greg, I'll consider these lines of thinking. We have tried going from acetone into HM-20 (I think that's what was used; it was over a year ago), not sure how it would work directly, have to look into that. I'm pessimistic about the membrane connections holding up after freeze-drying and then re-wetting with resin. Will see if I can read up on what's been done.
We have done freeze-fracture-etch but the details I want to see (connections between membranes) do not show up for various reasons with that technique. I guess something to look into is the possibility of cryo TEM with energy filtering and 3-d reconstruction, but my specimens are so thick (~15 micron diameter) that, as I understand it, it's too thick for the usual technique so maybe I'd have to see if this could be done with HVEM. Thanks again for your suggestions Richard p.s. Fats and lipids are a nightmare for lots of things, but that's my job. I vividly remember a biochem professor trashing one of my class proposals because they're hard to work with. That's what makes it interesting!
} } } Greg Erdos {gwe-at-biotech.ufl.edu} 04/27/99 12:20pm } } } Regarding TEM of fat, I might suggest two possible approaches. One would be to use a hydrophobic resin like Lowicryl HM-20 or HM-11. It might even serve as the substitution media. Another thought is to freeze dry the samples and embedd them in resin directly . One could also expose the sample, after drying, to osmium vapors from the crystals in order to keep things anhydrous. I would recommend a resin that can tolerate a little water, like Epon or its equivalent, or a methacrylate based resin.
Would using freeze-fracture EM give the results you are after??
Fats and lipids are a nightmare for EM.
Greg Erdos 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
I have just been asked to submit budget numbers for a replacement SEM. We have a DS-130 with tungsten filament. I have not been keeping up on the latest and greatest and I would like to hear from end users who have recently purchase a SEM. Our needs are almost all related to inorganic and metallurgical samples. Thanks for your time.
Bruce Kaye
Dockyard Laboratory Pacific (DL(P)) Building 199 Dockyard PO Box 17000 Stn Forces Victoria BC V9A 7N2 CANADA (250) 363-2514 Fax: (250) 363-2856 Email: bruce.kaye-at-edrd.dnd.ca
I did a TEM in high school....many years ago. It was based on an RCA EMU. The cost today of a fine SEM platform is about $5K. With that, you get console, column, turbo, roughing pump, etc., etc. I would not imagine that any current efforts at trying to achieve what has already been achieve would be worth more than self gratification. If that is your goal, go for it. If you really want to see what a SEM can do and want to improve on it, get a good column and start working on digital controls and capture. That avoids reinventing the wheel and truly is where the future is as I see it.
} } } The last few times I"ve made up a section-staining solution of uranyl } acetate, (J.E.M.Techniques 16,81(1990)), an abundant brown precipitate } forms within the syringe in a day or two. It usually stays fine for at least a month or even more. } I've tried both a glass syringe and a polypro syringe with similar }
I want to buy an used SEM. I'm looking now on a Hitachi S-530 model. Is there someone that can give me their experience with that SEM model ? What I should look to make the best deal ? Thank you.
I want to buy a DIAMS to grabbe image from a SEM, from a optical microscope, and from a stereoscope. I'm evaluating now the Quartz PCI system from Quartz Imaging Corporation, and the Clemex Acquisition and R'Kive System from Clemex Company. Is there someone that can give me their experience with those DIAMS model ? Thank you.
I remember that someone asked about slide markers recently. If you look on EBAY the internet auction site there is one for sale. It is a Leitz diamond marker and the item# is 95912618. The price so far is $50 but it has an unknown reserve.
It is difficult to add something to Steve has told. But I have pricked my ears after your words that the diffusion pump is not too hot. The point is that diffusion pump works only, when its bottom is too hot, and top is too cold. If the diffusion pump does not pump, any HV turning on can led to glow discharge and to overloading of HV supply unit. Pirani gauge is too rough meter and requires often adjustment to estimate vacuum.
Regards. Victor Sidorenko, ANTRON, Moscow, Russia.
Renata Korzyniewski wrote:
} Dear Listservers, } } We have a Hitachi S-520 SEM installed in 1983. Lately, we have experienced } instability problems in the SEM and I'm not sure what to do. The Hitachi } S-520 SEM has a single rotary pump, single diffusion pump and Pirani } gauge. On initial pumping and warm-up, the SEM gets down to high vacuum } (reading 10uA) quite normally in about 20min. On applying HT (20kV), } everything appears normal for approximately 80min, then, suddenly the HT } switches itself off and the vacuum gauge rises to 15uA in 30sec and then } falls back to10uA in 2min. If the slightest gun emission current is } applied when the SEM says it's ready, the HT instantly switches itself } off. I have cleaned the filament assembly, anode and gun chamber around } the anode. However, I have not cleaned the insulator at the top of } the gun chamber. The Pirani gauge is clean and the diffusion pump is } not too hot. Any advice would be much appreciated and gratefully } received. Thankyou. } } John Brealey Queen Elizabeth Hospital EM Unit Adelaide South Australia }
EuroFE '99 is a forum to bring together interested parties in the field of Field Emission Technologies. There is also a strong emphasis on links with other display technologies such as LCD's, Light Emitting Polymers and Phosphors. The aims of this Workshop are to:
Present the activity of each group in Europe working in Field Emission (FE) research and related areas. Present the EuroFE network to the Scientific Community and Brussels and enhance its activity. Initiate, through this meeting, groups with several partners in order to present projects to Brussels. Enhance the participation of companies in the EuroFE Network and EU programs. Exchange knowledge & initiate collaboration between groups either Institutes or Companies (manufacturing joint ventures, collaborative research, development activities, etc.). Allow important student participation.
The scientific programme will cover the whole spectrum of Field Emission research and related areas including keynote lectures, oral presentations, posters and a product/instrument exhibition. Topics of interest will be for example:
Field Emission device characterisation (surface analysis, etc.) Industrial applications (Flat panel displays, etc.) Field Emission from diamond, DLC and nanotubes FE simulation and modelling FE microwave applications Novel cathodes - technology and fundamentals Other related areas (phosphors, new materials, novel devices, LCD, etc.)
For further information please see http://www.cmp-cientifica.com/EuroFE/eurofe99.htm Or contact me direct.
Renata Korzyniewski 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 Listservers, } } We have a Hitachi S-520 SEM installed in 1983. Lately, we have experienced } instability problems in the SEM and I'm not sure what to do. The Hitachi } S-520 SEM has a single rotary pump, single diffusion pump and Pirani } gauge. On initial pumping and warm-up, the SEM gets down to high vacuum } (reading 10uA) quite normally in about 20min. On applying HT (20kV), } everything appears normal for approximately 80min, then, suddenly the HT } switches itself off and the vacuum gauge rises to 15uA in 30sec and then } falls back to10uA in 2min. If the slightest gun emission current is } applied when the SEM says it's ready, the HT instantly switches itself } off. I have cleaned the filament assembly, anode and gun chamber around } the anode. However, I have not cleaned the insulator at the top of } the gun chamber. The Pirani gauge is clean and the diffusion pump is } not too hot. Any advice would be much appreciated and gratefully } received. Thankyou. } } John Brealey Queen Elizabeth Hospital EM Unit Adelaide South Australia
Hi Renata or John, Do you know if your diffusion pump has a full charge of oil? I've seen this type of vacuum behavior when the charge gets low. Things start out pumping fine, but then the system gets all of the oil up in the pump and on the side-walls. It stops pumping until some of that oil makes it back to the sump where it is re-boiled. A short burst of pumping occurs.
Might be an easier thing to check than tearing apart potted HV components for starters.
Ken Converse owner Quality Images third party SEM service Delta, PA
EMBO Practical Course on Biophysical and Mathematical Approaches to Cell Biology
4 July - 17 July 1999 -at- EMBL, Heidelberg, Germany
ORGANIZERS: Ernst H.K. Stelzer, Michael Way, J.K. Heinrich H=F6rber
The links between physics and cell biology are becoming more and more important. In many instances it is no longer sufficient to test a model quantitatively. Many processes such as microtubule dynamics (i.e. the microtubule assembly and disassembly) have only been understood since a) = the in vitro system was sufficiently well developed, b) a mathematical model that describes the events became available, and c) the events could be recorded, analyzed and compared with the model. This course is aimed fir= st of all at researchers working in the life sciences who wish to improve th= eir mathematical background and move into a more direct use of physics for quantitative biology. They wish to acquire a mathematical/physical framework for their biological system of interest and need to know how to verify it in a quantitative manner. However, another equally important group of attendees has a background in mathematics and/or physics and wis= hes to understand the problems of working with biological systems in a quantitative manner. One of the main objectives of this EMBO course is t= o improve the communication between biologists and physicists.
Speakers from the Americas and Europe including the staff at EMBL (Boulin= , Dotti, Eaton, Florin, Gonz=E1lez, Griffiths, H=F6rber, Hyman, Karsenti, N= ilsson, Pepperkok, Simons, Stelzer, Vernos, Way, Zerial) will introduce students = to: microtubule dynamics, determining growth shrinkage/rates, generating microtubule patterns, molecular motors, mechanisms of neuronal plasma membrane asymmetry, microtubule organization during development, complex membrane organelles, chromosome movement at mitosis, mitotic spindle assembly, distributions of proteins along exocytic pathway, surface polar= ity in epithelial cells, actin cytoskeleton and cell motility, membrane traff= ic in eukaryotic cells, cell polarity in Drosophila, single molecule force measurements, molecular mechanics. Further topics may be added.
The deadline for applications is 15 May 1999. The organizers will select the students. Their decision is final. Industry applications will be considered. The course participants will come from all over Europe. The selected students will be informed by 21 May 1999. The main selection criteria are: degree in natural sciences, exposure to modern cell biology for at least one year, research is related to progress in biology, and th= e ability to convince the organizers of an interest in this course by CV an= d covering letter. Students will not be exclusively post-doctoral.
Applications should be sent in printed or electronic form to: Dr. Ernst H= .K. Stelzer, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Cell Biology and Biophysics Programme, Meyerhofstrasse 1, D-69117 Heidelberg, Germany. stelzer-at-embl-heidelberg.de, fax +49 (6221) 387306. http://www.embl-heidelberg.de/ExternalInfo/stelzer/Courses/CellBiologyBio= phy sics
Sincerely Yours E. Stelzer
Dr. Ernst H.K. Stelzer EMBL-Heidelberg Light Microscopy Group Cell Biophysics Programme Meyerhofstrasse 1 D-69117 Heidelberg Postfach 10.2209 D-69012 Heidelberg Germany Phone +49-6221-387 354 Fax +49-6221-387 306
I'd like to find a used SEM. Since I currently have an ISI, an old SX-30 or 40 would be perfect, as I have quite a bit of ISI apparatus. I'm certainly willing to switch manufacturers if I can find a good small to medium size scope.
If any of you have a SEM in your garage that you hoped to bring back online someday, but are being nagged to get rid of it, this is your chance to make a big dent in the spring cleaning! Please make a proposal to jbest-at-elmdas.com, and not the list server. Thank You.
Jianli, Try cooling the sample slowly in liquid N2 and then lightly scribing the surface under the liquid N2 with a diamond scribe. This may flake off the film in small areas providing an edge for scanning. Make sure the adjacent film is not delaminated as this would give a false reading. Also the surface should be cleaned to remove lose particles e.g. CO2 snow cleaning works great for this. Good luck. Russ Xerox
-----Original Message----- } From: Jianli Wang [mailto:jiwang4-at-mail.vt.edu] Sent: Thursday, April 29, 1999 5:02 PM To: spm-digest-anal-at-bbfm.di.com
************************************************************** THE UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS
DEPARTMENT OF MATERIALS, SCHOOL OF PROCESS, ENVIRONMENTAL AND MATERIALS ENGINEERING.
RESEARCH OPPORTUNITY IN HIGH SPATIAL RESOLUTION MATERIALS CHARACTERISATION
RESEARCH FELLOW
The above HEFCE-funded post is available from October 1 1999 for a fixed period of three years to commission, support and apply an optimized, analytical field emission transmission electron microscope for materials analysis to a wide range of materials projects based at Leeds and in regional institutions.
Applicants should have a PhD in physical/engineering sciences and research experience in Materials, Physics or Chemistry involving particularly Transmission Electron Microscopy and Microanalysis.
Salary: Research Staff Grade 1A (stlg15,735 - stlg23,651 p.a.) according to qualifications and relevant experience.
Application forms and further particulars may be obtained from:
Ms Joy Bielby, Department of Materials, School of Process, Environmental and Materials Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, United Kingdom.
In all enquiries please quote the reference number 062-069-004-027
Informal enquiries on the post should be directed to Dr R. Brydson (email: mtlrmdb-at-leeds.ac.uk)
Closing date for applications 24 July 1999
Towards Equal Opportunities. **************************************************************
_____________________________ Dr. Rik Brydson, University Research Fellow, Electron Optical Unit, Department of Materials, School of Process, Environmental and Materials Engineering University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, U.K.
We recently acquired a digital camera from Advanced Microscopy Techniques (AMT) and are extremely pleased with it. AMTs model 12-HR uses a Hammamatsu camera, custom lens and AMTs own software. The camera has an electronic shutter and manages better than 10 frames per sec at lower illumination than most users would use by eye on the fluorescent screen. Sharpness is excellent, and indeed publication quality. Support and vendor interaction are simply outstanding - it is hard to imagine it being any better. This is in stark contrast to the treatment our institution has received from Gatan - who says that since they pitch in a few hundred dollars to support our local microscopy group that it should be sufficient support for the local users!
Software: Admittedly, Gatans software is a mature package, whereas the AMT software is undergoing rapid revisions. However, the AMT software works perfectly and meets all of our needs - as biologists in a busy core facility. If we had chosen Gatan, each of our users would need to spend nearly $600 apiece just to view the extra image data. With AMT they can see their image as well as all recorded data (voltage, mag, comments, etc) with any tiff file reader.
There are several other reasons why I would buy AMT over Gatan any day, but it would be best if you contacted me off-line. I am sure just what I have said here is going to ruffle a few Gatan feathers.
Regards, Jim
-------------------------------------------------- James F. Sanzo, Ph.D. Codirector, Biomedical Imaging Core Laboratory B-110 Richards Building University of Pennsylvania 36th and Hamilton Walk Philadelphia, PA 19104-6085 Voice: (215) 898-6730 Fax: (215) 573-2259
You don't say where you are located, but a few hours on the phone should be able to locate a free or cheap microscope sitting on somebody's loading dock. Repairing somebody else's design might not be what you are interested in, but in this case you at least don't need to build your own pump, chamber, high voltage power supply, etc.
But, if you want to go the other way and see what can be done from scratch that is fun too. Most of the literature on the technology you are trying to duplicate is pre-1970, so the on-line literature searches won't be much help. There is a lot of practical knowledge of electron optics in the Review of Scientific Instruments and the old Journal of Scientific Instruments. The old electron optics books such as Klemperer can be useful if you don't get bogged down in the details.
As for a gun, cutting off the neck of a crt, and using the video scanning coils would be a good place to start.
Or maybe better, get a vidicon based tv camera and take off the window.
best regards mark
Mark W. Lund, PhD VP Engineering } } 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
"This is a YOUNG business...How can I tell you what YOUR job is when I don't know what MINE is?" --Pogo
} Hi guys, } I need recommendation for 3D/deconvolution software, which will be able to run on NT.
Ciprian A. Almonte Center for Biologic Imaging
Mr. Almonte,
The appropriate product we would suggest you use would be VayTek. Our suggestion is for you to check our web site www.i-cubeinc.com Then we can provide you with a specific recommendation.
Regards
Barry Dudley
-- ************************************************************ B.T. DUDLEY I-CUBE www.i-cubeinc.com Ph 1-888-77-I-CUBE 301-858-0505 301-858-0615 (Fax) I-CUBE is a Systems Integrator and Value Added Reseller of image analysis and image processing products for scientific and industrial applications. We provide a single source for imaging products, using a consultative selling approach I-CUBE 2411 Crofton Lane; Suite 14A; Crofton; Maryland; 21114 ************************************************************
The Minnesota Microscopy Society will hold its annual Spring Symposium on May 13th in the Sheraton Midway Hotel (midway between St. Paul and Minneapolis). Full details of the meeting can be found on our website http://resolution.umn,edu/MMS/ but the highlights are as follows:
MMS Spring Symposium: Latest Trends in Microscopy Thursday, May 13, 1999
Location: Sheraton Midway Hotel, located at the intersection of I94 and Hamline Avenue.
Program
8:00 - 9:00 Registration with refreshments 9:00 - 9:45 Microcalorimeter EDS with 3 eV Energy Resolution David A. Wollman, NIST 9:45 - 10:30 Innovations in Energy-Dispersive X-ray Microanalysis John J. Friel, PGT 10:30 - 11:15 Break and Vendor Displays 11:15 - 12:00 Recent Advances in Microwave Assisted Specimen Processing: Rapid Preparation of Biological Specimens for Correlative Confocal and Electron Microscopy. Mark A. Sanders, U of M 12:00 - 1:00 Lunch Provided 1:00 - 1:30 MMS Business Meeting 1:30 - 2:15 Application of SEM Diffraction to Phase Identification Pat Camus, NORAN 2:15 - 3:00 Break and Vendor Displays 3:00 - 3:45 Imaging Mechanisms in Dynamic Force Microscopy of Polymers Greg D. Haugstad, U of M
Reservation/ Cost: Registration is $50 for members, $60 for non-member (this includes a one year membership fee). To make reservations, please contact Mike Coscio at 612-514-1331, or by e-mail at mike.coscio-at-medtronic.com.
__________________ Stuart McKernan stuartm-at-tc.umn.edu Microscopy Specialist Office:(612) 626-7594 CIE Characterization Facility, University of Minnesota Desk: (612) 624-6009 100 Union Street S. E., Minneapolis, MN 55455 Lab: (612) 624-6590
I would be interested in hearing about the value of service contracts. Our SEM (Hitachi S-3100H) is about 2.5 years old and has been operating without problems. If I operated without a service contract, handling all preventitive maintenance myself, am I begging for trouble? Those of you who don't operate with a service contract have you found the cost of emergency services so expensive that a service contract would have been preferable? Do you find the service difficult to get without a contract? Are the parts that would need replacing terribly expensive (more than the cost of the service contract)? As the instrument gets older is there a greater concern? Is my concern about the cost of the service contract unwarranted?
Thanks.
David Rose W.L. Gore & Associates 297 Blue Ball Road Elkton, MD 21921
Dear Marc, I have used the Quartz PCI system for some years and it should be able to do everything you want to do. I only have two SEM's and a TWAIN flat-bed scanner on mine, but the icons and tools for video cameras, digital cameras and other devices are all there and active all the time. I know others who use SEM and video acquisition iinto the same system and it works perfectly. The database allows you to organize all the images and search for them by job, session, job or any search string you like. I have over 2800 images in my database from two SEM's and the scanner. You wrote:
} } I want to buy a DIAMS to grabbe image from a SEM, from a optical } microscope, and from a stereoscope. I'm evaluating now the Quartz PCI } system from Quartz Imaging Corporation, and the Clemex Acquisition and } R'Kive System from Clemex Company. Is there someone that can give me } their experience with those DIAMS model ? Thank you. } } Marc Montreuil } Lachine (Qu=E9bec) Canada } 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 e-mail: mager-at-interchg.ubc.ca
Start your own 1-900 business or Adult Web Site Business!
People are making $$$ week, after week in the 1-900 business. We'll teach you all of our incredible secrets that will take your new exciting business to a whole new level!
It's The Simplest and Most Exciting Business You Could Ever Start!
*You'll use our "state" of the art equipment! *You'll use our "Live 1 on 1 Psychics" & "Chat Line" girls! *You'll use our incredible Date Line program(s)!
No chargbacks! Quick payouts! No expertise needed!
Complete programs start at only $99 (no additional charges)
The only thing you'll have to do is advertise! This is an excellent turnkey business.
We also have excellent turnkey programs if you want to own your own "top" of the line adult web site.
ACT NOW!!!
=46or a free color brochure: reply to: mailto:v195-at-mailme.net?subject=3Dbrochure
Your idea can be considered as a part of mine one about global knowledge base as self-growing unified searching source of information. It is described at my homepage, link in signature. It is in baby state still, and I would be glad to receive comments from anyone in the list on how to move it further.
Dmitri.
} Hi all, some toughts: } } a database containing user manuals for a range of older popular microscopes } would be a very good idea, especially since the purchase of a second hand } microscope is usualy the only way for an amateur microscopist to get hold of } a decent microscope at a (more or less) reasonable price. That's why I have } put some Reichert Zetopan manuals on my website. } } In the best case scenario this service should be easy accesible and free if } at all possible. If that isn't possible a small fee could be asked to cover } the costs. } } But it isn't simple: } } I don't think that the large manufacturers would like to support this idea, } as it isn't in their short-term intrests to support users of second-hand } equipment, they rather like to sell new gear (one example: I know from a } very reliable German source, that Zeiss has, after the "wende", destroyed } large stocks of spare parts for older "Eastern-German Zeiss } manufactureres"). I think they see it the wrong way: I can't imagine much } amateurs who spend the exorbitant prices the large manufactureres ask for } their products, at least I wouldn't... } } And, unfortunally, as far as I know, the manufacturers are the owners of the } copyrights of their manuals, so we're stuck here, that would be the first } problem to be solved... } } After that: finding someone to coordinate the project, finding the manuals } and scan those (can't be much of a problem I suppose), finding a server to } host the documents and finding some people to do investigations regarding } brands, models, serial numbers... to match manuals and models/versions... } } I would like to volunteer for such a project... } } Hello Royal microscopical society (England), Microscopy Society of America, } German microscopy clubs, Micscape Magazine, manufacturerers...? } } Yvan Lindekens.
__________________________________________ Dmitri V. Sokolov, Doctor Course student Research Center for Interface Quantum Electronics, Hokkaido University, North 13, West 8, Kitaku, Sapporo 060, Hokkaido, Japan Phone 81-11-706-7174 Fax 81-11-716-6004 http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Campus/1314 AOL Instant Messenger FalconDot ICQ 9418072 __________________________________________
I' m thinking to do double staining with peroxidase-DAB AND gold particles with silver enhancement in cultured cells (pre-embbeding treatment and I will use Epon). Do you know if it is possible? Do you have any reference about this technique? I will be very grateful for any information
Sincerely
Francisco Javier Hernandez-Blazquez IARC-WHO Unit of Multistage Carcinogenesis 150 Cours Albert Thomas 69372 - Lyon France fhernandez-at-iarc.fr Telephone: (33) 472738536 Fax: (33)472738442
is there any nice SEM pictures of beetles on WEB? I would like to create link from www.coleoptera.org to some nice image sites...
Keep care and be of good cheer.
Regards
(name) Vratislav Richard Eugene Maria John Baptiste (surname) of Bejsak (Bayshark)-Collorado-Mansfeld
http://www.coleoptera.org Coleoptera - Australia, Tenebrionidae of World (incl. Lagriinae, Alleculinae)
University of Sydney The Wentworth Bldg., P.O.Box 62 NSW 2006 AUSTRALIA phone : +61 414 540 465 e-mail: vratislav-at-bigfoot.com ricardo-at-ans.com.au (before Ricardo-at-compuserve.com and ricardo-at-login.cz )
Only after the last tree has been cut down, only after the last river has been poisoned, only after the last fish has been caught, only then will you find that money can not be eaten.' CREE INDIAN PROPHECY.
Incoming mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.37 / Virus Database: 30 - Release Date: 6.4.1999
Two major international databases of entomological and agricultural literature are now available for free on WWW---
you can find both on www.coleoptera.org in directory {Coleoptera Bibliography} and in first subdirectory {Search}
Keep care and be of good cheer.
Regards
(name) Vratislav Richard Eugene Maria John Baptiste (surname) of Bejsak (Bayshark)-Collorado-Mansfeld
http://www.coleoptera.org Coleoptera - Australia, Tenebrionidae of World (incl. Lagriinae, Alleculinae)
University of Sydney The Wentworth Bldg., P.O.Box 62 NSW 2006 AUSTRALIA phone : +61 414 540 465 e-mail: vratislav-at-bigfoot.com ricardo-at-ans.com.au (before Ricardo-at-compuserve.com and ricardo-at-login.cz )
Only after the last tree has been cut down, only after the last river has been poisoned, only after the last fish has been caught, only then will you find that money can not be eaten.' CREE INDIAN PROPHECY.
Incoming mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.37 / Virus Database: 30 - Release Date: 6.4.1999
At 12:18 PM 4/30/99 , you wrote: } } Dear List, } } I would be interested in hearing about the value of service contracts. Our SEM } (Hitachi S-3100H) is about 2.5 years old and has been operating without } problems. If I operated without a service contract, handling all preventitive } maintenance myself, am I begging for trouble? Those of you who don't operate } with a service contract have you found the cost of emergency services so } expensive that a service contract would have been preferable? Do you find the } service difficult to get without a contract? Are the parts that would need } replacing terribly expensive (more than the cost of the service contract)? As } the instrument gets older is there a greater concern? Is my concern about the } cost of the service contract unwarranted? } } Thanks. } } David Rose } W.L. Gore & Associates } 297 Blue Ball Road } Elkton, MD 21921 } }
A good question and one that is difficult to answer. There are many possibilities.
It is true that as scopes age, as with any instrument, something can go terribly wrong. A pump can fail, lens coil can short out, driver blows up, CRT dies, etc. Depending on the particular scope and what type of source it uses, there is probably some crossover point where it makes sense to have the contract. For example, if you have a system running field emission, then the cost to replace the emitter is about $3500 just for the emitter. A LaB6 would run about $550 and W about $20. The cost of the annual contract would include the cost of replacing the emitter whether it actually needed replacement or not. If the emitter did not fail, you lost money. If it did, maybe you broke even. You probably just did not lose as much.
Suppose an ion pump fails or needs overhaul. This can cost between $500 and $1000. A mechanical pump rebuild/repair is about $350. Apertures are cheap and are simply consumables. The pumps will eventually need repair and overhaul. With normal use and reasonalble care, that is probably at the 4-6 year time point.
What I found works for me is to set aside about 1/4 of the annual maintenance contract cost in a separate account. I perform the PM myself. Then, if I need factory or independent service help, I have a pool to pay for it. And it does not hurt to have a factory or independent expert come in once in awhile just to check the system over and do some of the more exotic cleaning and alignment chores. These people generally charge straight time plus travel. some independents only charge for on-the-job time. The going rates seem to be about $125-$175 per hour. Most jobs tend to run around 4 hours.
If your system is really unreliable or you are not able to perform most of the PM functions yourself, then I would think that the maintenance contract is a good idea...either with the factory or an independent.
parts don't seem to be a problem. It is true that as systems get older it can be more difficult to obtain parts. However, this depends on the brand and what it is that needs replaced. The major items that need replacement and more or less industry standards. Like Edwards or Alcatel mechanical pumps. Varian ion pumps, etc. O-rings are widely available. It would seem that an item must be very scope specific to become an issue of availability. Within 5-7 years of a scope coming out, parts don't seem to be a problem. My early Amray is still supported by Amray.
We are seeking to replace our stock of these, and e-mail enquiries to the company themselves have got nowhere. So (a) does anyone know a supplier, and (b) is there an alternative? We have used this type because it is the only organic material for filter membranes that can stand up to Xylene at 120^C, and the anodisc alumina filters in our catalogues are all too small in pore size. =================================================== We (e.g. SPI Supplies) have offered the SPI Silver Membrane filters since 1976. They might be an acceptable alternative to the other mentioned choices. They are available in a number of different pore sizes including your desired 0.8 um. They are inert to xylene or just about any other organic solvent for that matter. You can get full information on our website given below. They handle more or less like other membrane filters including the fact they can be critical point dried.
While the expense per membrane is higher than most polymer membranes, depending on what you are collecting, if strictly organic, exposure to an oxygen plasma etcher can usually regenerate them for further use with other samples, something you could not do with polymeric membranes.
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: www.2spi.com ############################ ==================================================
we have to analyse by TEM magnetic samples coming from steel industry. The first tries we made in the TEM (LEO 912 Omega) were really not successfull, and we have no experience with this kind of samples.
Does anyone know how to handle magnetic samples in a TEM?
Many thanks in advance, Nathalie _________________________________________________
Dr. Nathalie Bozzolo Laboratoire d'Analyse des Materiaux Centre de Recherche Public - Centre Universitaire 162a, avenue de la Faiencerie L-1511 Luxembourg tel : (352)46 66 44 402 fax : (352)46 66 44 400 e-mail : Nathalie.Bozzolo-at-crpcu.lu _________________________________________________
I truly appreciate all of you MSA list members taking the time to respond to my query about the old version of MSmouse.com driver. I was able to resurrect the old computer and discovered a bad RAM socket as main culprit. I will be able to copy the file from there to a new machine this week. Much appreciated and gracias!
*Disclaimer: Whatever... is not Tulane opinion! Cesar D. Fermin, Ph.D. Professor of Pathology & Otolaryngology web:[ http://www.tmc.tulane.edu/ferminlab/] or [http://www.tmc.tulane.edu/imaging/] Internet: [cfermin-at-mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu] 1430 Tulane Ave/SL79 New Orleans, La 70112-2699 Fax 504 587-7389, Voice 584-2521, Main Office 588-5224
have fun... sigh... I certainly have a lot more respect for the pioneers of EM who got all those nice photos of steel in the 50's.
Since the sample is likely to be a low carbon steel, you will probably find that the surface is covered with an oxide film which obscures any structure inside the sample. Even storing the samples in a vacuum desiccator did not prevent the formation of the oxide layers. Immediately before putting the sample in the scope, I have used a Fischione plasma cleaner running pure argon to clean this oxide layer off the surface. You may be able to briefly sputter in an ion mill to do the same.
One of the more frustrating aspects of doing EM on magnetic samples is that every time you move the sample (especially tilt), you will find it necessary to reset your current centering. I will often define one of the DF channels to be my bright-field condition so that I can easily reset my illumination tilt. (If readjusting the BF tilt is easy on your scope, this may not be an issue for you.) Otherwise, just remember that patience is a virtue.
Good luck, Henk
At 10:05 AM 5/3/99 +0200, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Hendrik O. Colijn colijn.1-at-osu.edu Campus Electron Optics Facility Ohio State University (614) 292-0674 http://web.ceof.ohio-state.edu Murphy's Law: "If anything can go wrong, it will." Commentary: "Murphy was an optimist."
I'm not quite sure if you got problems in sample prep or analysis 'cause magnetic material samples usually are not only tough to prepare but also tough to be analyzed. The following is just two tips:
1. Demagnetization This may work well only for hard magnets. Soft magnetic materials are easily magnetized anyway and therefore demagnetization wont help much. 2. ALWAYS turn off the objective lens while you are loading your specimen into the TEM.
As for analysis, that's at least a 3 credit 600 level course. You may want to see cells, walls, precipitates in hard magnets, or you may want to see anti-phase-boundaries in soft magnets and therefore superlattices, or most probably you may want to see magnetic domains and therefore you may even want to modify your TEM with special pole pieces, etc. etc. For functional multilayers, there are a bunch of other stories.
Good luck.
-cy
On Mon, 3 May 1999, Nathalie Bozzolo wrote:
} Date: Mon, 3 May 1999 10:05:53 +0200 (MET DST) } From: Nathalie Bozzolo {bozzolo-at-crpcu.lu} } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: TEM on magnetic samples } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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, } } we have to analyse by TEM magnetic samples coming from steel industry. } The first tries we made in the TEM (LEO 912 Omega) were really not successfull, } and we have no experience with this kind of samples. } } Does anyone know how to handle magnetic samples in a TEM? } } Many thanks in advance, Nathalie } _________________________________________________ } } Dr. Nathalie Bozzolo } Laboratoire d'Analyse des Materiaux } Centre de Recherche Public - Centre Universitaire } 162a, avenue de la Faiencerie } L-1511 Luxembourg } tel : (352)46 66 44 402 } fax : (352)46 66 44 400 } e-mail : Nathalie.Bozzolo-at-crpcu.lu } _________________________________________________ } } }
I work for a NASA contractor whose job it is to design and construct experimental packages for use in space. Currently we are designing a package which will make use of a Leica microscope to be flown aboard the International Space Station.
My question regards the use of immersion oil in conjunction with an objective. We have purchased an objective designed to be used as such, and it's operation is understandable on ground. What I need to know is if there is any one who has done any rersearch into the wetting properties of these types of oils, such that when we try to deploy them in space we can wet the surfaces of interest, i.e. the sample slide, and the objective? The necessity for this type of information becomes evident when you realize that there will be no gravity to assist in the deployment of the oil droplet.
Any assistance in the this matter would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance
Our lab owns a tem (philips 420, 15 years old) and a sem (nanolab le21000 = 12-15 years old) and we never had a service contract on any of them...raiso= n it is too expensive...
I believe that if you do basic maintenance such as oil change, filament = change...etc.... and you train and watch carefully people that are using = the instruments you should not run into deep trouble... I have compagny maintenance when I encounter a problem that I am unable to = solve and some of them are simply handle by the phone,=20 and since I have been working here (for the past 10 years), it cost me a = fraction of the cost of a contract service.... we now own a new SEM and intend to do exactly the same thing.
Hope this will help,=20
Diane Montpetit Electron microscopy lab Agriculture Canada Food research center St-Hyacinthe, Qu=E9bec Canada
Dear Aley, Because it is easy to slightly over-saturate the filament, I always run at just under the saturation point. Also, the saturation point actually creeps down as the filament ages, so check it, reset it and recentre it every hour for the first five hours or so of the new filament's life. The vacuum condition is also important. My filaments last an average of one month (100 hrs.) At 02:38 PM 02/05/99 +0300, you wrote: } Hello everyone, } } What is the average lifetime of a hair-pin tungsten filament? } We have a JEOL-840A SEM which we operate at 20 KV, and which we run at } asturation (on average) for ~ 7 hours everyday 5 days a week. For the } past several years, filaments used to last 6 weeks or longer, but } recently, the filament is burning out every 5 - 7 days! What could be } the reasons for this, and what are the solutions? } Many thanks. } } Aley El-Shazly } Department of Earth Sciences } College of Science } Sultan Qaboos University } POBox 36, Al-Khod PC 123 } Oman } e-mail: aley-at-squ.edu.om } 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 e-mail: mager-at-interchg.ubc.ca
} My question regards the use of immersion oil in conjunction with an } objective. We have purchased an objective designed to be used as such, and } it's operation is understandable on ground. What I need to know is if there } is any one who has done any rersearch into the wetting properties of these } types of oils, such that when we try to deploy them in space we can wet the } surfaces of interest, i.e. the sample slide, and the objective? The } necessity for this type of information becomes evident when you realize } that there will be no gravity to assist in the deployment of the oil droplet. }
Dear John, I have not studied the properties of immersion oil, but from what I've seen, the oil will wet both the glass of the slide and the parts of the lens. This property is a function of the composition of the oil and the microscope parts and will be independent of gravitation. That is, once the oil is in contact with the slide and the scope, it will form much the same contact angles as it does in an earth- bound lab. I suggest filling a syringe with the oil. On the space station, when examining a specimen on a slide place the lens near the slide. The distance should be somewhat smaller than the size of a droplet being expelled from the syringe. Place the syringe near the end of the lens and slowly express a drop of oil. When the drop makes contact with the slide and lens, it should wet both. Continue until the appropriate amount of oil is on the lens and slide. Good luck. Yours, Bill Tivol
Sounds interesting. I have no real experience in this matter but just a few things I thought about: Oil should work regarding stickiness but the surface tension may be a problem. Have you considered using the 63X/1.2 water immersion objective from Leica. I've heard it's really good and it will be less greasy:-) The surface tension of water will make it easy to control the droplet. If one equip the scope with both objective one can always see. I think there is a good 100X water objective from Leica as well.
Regards
Lars
____________________________________________________________ Lars Bjork,PhD
Dept of Immunology Dept. of Biology Wenner-Gren Institute Sect. for Cell & Mol. Biology Stockholm University Pharmacia & Upjohn S-106 91 Stockholm S-112 87 Stockholm SWEDEN SWEDEN
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Gentlemen, } } I work for a NASA contractor whose job it is to design and construct } experimental packages for use in space. Currently we are designing a } package which will make use of a Leica microscope to be flown aboard the } International Space Station. } } My question regards the use of immersion oil in conjunction with an } objective. We have purchased an objective designed to be used as such, and } it's operation is understandable on ground. What I need to know is if there } is any one who has done any rersearch into the wetting properties of these } types of oils, such that when we try to deploy them in space we can wet the } surfaces of interest, i.e. the sample slide, and the objective? The } necessity for this type of information becomes evident when you realize } that there will be no gravity to assist in the deployment of the oil droplet. } } Any assistance in the this matter would be greatly appreciated. } Thank you in advance } } John } John Eustace } Optical Physicist } Dynacs Engineering } 2001 Aerospace Parkway } Brookpark, Ohio 44142 } Ph (216) 977 - 1244 } Fax (216) 977 - 1269 } }
} } What is the average lifetime of a hair-pin tungsten filament? } } We have a JEOL-840A SEM which we operate at 20 KV, and which we run at } } asturation (on average) for ~ 7 hours everyday 5 days a week. For the } } past several years, filaments used to last 6 weeks or longer, but } } recently, the filament is burning out every 5 - 7 days! What could be } } the reasons for this, and what are the solutions? } } Many thanks.
Check the vacuum first. We had a long term problem with ~30 hours filament lifetime on a XL30/tmp. Tried all sorts of other fixes first. Replacing the gun o-ring fixed the problem and we are now up to ~160 hours. The gun o-ring is the cheapest fix, easy to do. Should have tried that first.
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 work on magnetic samples here and one of the primary methods we use to handle them is to reduce the volume of material as much as possible. This includes making the disks smaller than 3 mm (2.3 mm is another standard) and keeping them thin. I believe one technique has been to punch out a 1mm disk of the steel, and insert it into a 3mm disk of another material with a 1mm hole punched out. If you have questions about that technique, please contact me "offline" and I'll put you in touch with one of my colleagues. A more difficult sample prep method that has been around for some time is the "window" electropolishing technique. This method, outlined in many microscopy texts (Williams and Carter, for example), results in a small sample volume. It takes practice but can yield good results.
Additionally, we have ordered our microscopes with "extra strength" objective stigmator coils. If you will do many of these samples, perhaps they can be retrofitted (is that a word?) into your LEO.
Best of luck.
Cheers, JSV
*************************** John S. Vetrano Pacific Northwest National Laboratory MSIN P8-16 P.O. Box 999 Richland, WA 99352 USA Phone: (509)372-0724 Fax: (509)376-6308 Email: mailto:john.vetrano-at-pnl.gov
---------- } From: bozzolo-at-crpcu.lu Sent: Monday, May 3, 1999 12:05 AM To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com
Dear colleagues,
we have to analyse by TEM magnetic samples coming from steel industry. The first tries we made in the TEM (LEO 912 Omega) were really not successfull, and we have no experience with this kind of samples.
Does anyone know how to handle magnetic samples in a TEM?
Many thanks in advance, Nathalie _________________________________________________
Dr. Nathalie Bozzolo Laboratoire d'Analyse des Materiaux Centre de Recherche Public - Centre Universitaire 162a, avenue de la Faiencerie L-1511 Luxembourg tel : (352)46 66 44 402 fax : (352)46 66 44 400 e-mail : Nathalie.Bozzolo-at-crpcu.lu _________________________________________________
Couldn't you duck the issue and use high/dry objectives instead? These offer VERY good optics without the necessity for immersion oil.
Ann Lehman Trinity College Hartford CT
-----Original Message----- } From: John Eustace [mailto:John.Eustace-at-lerc.nasa.gov] Sent: Monday, May 03, 1999 9:15 AM To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com
Gentlemen,
I work for a NASA contractor whose job it is to design and construct experimental packages for use in space. Currently we are designing a package which will make use of a Leica microscope to be flown aboard the International Space Station.
My question regards the use of immersion oil in conjunction with an objective. We have purchased an objective designed to be used as such, and it's operation is understandable on ground. What I need to know is if there is any one who has done any rersearch into the wetting properties of these types of oils, such that when we try to deploy them in space we can wet the surfaces of interest, i.e. the sample slide, and the objective? The necessity for this type of information becomes evident when you realize that there will be no gravity to assist in the deployment of the oil droplet.
Any assistance in the this matter would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance
The usual problem with the kind of samples you might get from a steel = company is that normal TEM-size disk samples made by jet electropolishing interact = so strongly with the objective lens (OL) magnetic field that they grossly = deflect the electron beam off axis and cause high image astigmatism. Moreover, = the beam axial alignment and astigmatism change each time the sample is tilted = (or sometimes even translated). In addition, thin foil areas tend strongly = to align normal to the lens axis, and will bend to maintain this alignment whan = you attempt to tilt the sample. What usually happens during tilting is, = just as you're approaching the orientation or diffraction condition you wanted, = the sample area reorients itself. This is a semi-reversable process, but = after you tilt back and forth a few times, the sample tends to become deformed = and worthless. In really severe cases of sample-OL field interaction, the = sample can be ripped out of the holder or will reorient the holder tilt = mechanism so the holder cannot be withdrawn without scratching the OL polepieces. = If this happens, don't try to remove the holder. Just turn off the OL, open = the OL chamber, and carefully free the stuck parts. In any case, you'll want = to make sure your sample is firmly held before inserting the sample holder. = The infamous 'j-ring' holder clips (c-shaped spring clips) in certain = holders are prone to losing magnetic samples and should be avoided. Screw-down = holder mechanisms are best. =20
OK. So what to do. Use the least amount of magnetic material you can = in the sample. Make the samples as thin as possible by reducing the sheet = thickness before punching disks for jet thinning. Disk samples 30-50 =B5m thick = can be used in most microscopes with foolproof sample mounting if you realign beam = tilts and correct OL astigmatism each time the sample is tilted. Many = microscopes increase the beam deflection range in the darkfield mode, so I = typically use one of the darkfield channels for magnetic sample work. Also, it's a good = idea to switch off the OL before inserting the sample holder. On some = microscopes, you can also increase the range of stigmator strength, but that's extreme. = Just remember to align the microscope beforehand with a nonmagnetic sample. = Also, your co-workers will appreciate it if you restore normal settings when = you finish. =20
In some cases, you might want to take the idea of minimizing magnetic = sample sizes further. A colleague working with radioactive samples has = developed the technique of punching out a 1 mm diameter disk sample and fastening it = into an annular disk of nonmagnetic material (usually 316 stainless steel) = before jet electropolishing the center. (I'll send the reference to you if I can = find it.) For much greater sample reduction, I have had success window-thinning = sheet samples (see standard references on TEM sample preparation for details) = and cutting off thin shards sandwich between two grids. In this case, = sample/OL interaction was almost nil. Good luck
Larry Thomas Mechanical and Materials Engineering Washington State University Pullman, WA 99352 USA
thomas-at-mme.wsu.edu tel: 509 372-0793 ---------- From: bozzolo-at-crpcu.lu Sent: Monday, May 3, 1999 1:05 AM To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com Subject: TEM on magnetic samples
The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of = America=20 To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to = ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com On-Line Help = http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html = -----------------------------------------------------------------------.=
Dear colleagues,
we have to analyse by TEM magnetic samples coming from steel industry. =
The first tries we made in the TEM (LEO 912 Omega) were really not successfull,=20 and we have no experience with this kind of samples.
Does anyone know how to handle magnetic samples in a TEM?=20
Many thanks in advance, Nathalie _________________________________________________
Dr. Nathalie Bozzolo Laboratoire d'Analyse des Materiaux Centre de Recherche Public - Centre Universitaire 162a, avenue de la Faiencerie L-1511 Luxembourg tel : (352)46 66 44 402 fax : (352)46 66 44 400 e-mail : Nathalie.Bozzolo-at-crpcu.lu _________________________________________________
Dear Sir/Madam, I am conducting experimental studies on surfactants. I would like to know if the temperature and concentration phase diagram of teepol is available. If it is please tell me where. Thanking You, Yours Sincerely, Geetha Basappa.
****************************************** Dr Geetha Basappa, Project Associate, Physics Department, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India.
Aley, Check your upper & lower gun cylinder walls area for a faint bluish-gray tint(tungsten oxide). You could have a slight vacuum leak. You would probably never see the leak, it being so far away from any vacuum gauge. Good luck.
Gary M. Easton, Pres. Scanners Corporation ----- Original Message ----- } From: Mary Mager {mager-at-interchange.ubc.ca} To: aley {aley-at-squ.edu.om} Cc: {Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com} Sent: Monday, May 03, 1999 11:39 AM
Mary Mager 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 Aley, } Because it is easy to slightly over-saturate the filament, I always run at } just under the saturation point. Also, the saturation point actually creeps } down as the filament ages, so check it, reset it and recentre it every hour } for the first five hours or so of the new filament's life. The vacuum } condition is also important. My filaments last an average of one month (100 } hrs.) } At 02:38 PM 02/05/99 +0300, you wrote: } } Hello everyone, } } } } What is the average lifetime of a hair-pin tungsten filament? } } We have a JEOL-840A SEM which we operate at 20 KV, and which we run at } } asturation (on average) for ~ 7 hours everyday 5 days a week. For the } } past several years, filaments used to last 6 weeks or longer, but } } recently, the filament is burning out every 5 - 7 days! What could be } } the reasons for this, and what are the solutions? } } Many thanks. } } } } Aley El-Shazly } } Department of Earth Sciences } } College of Science } } Sultan Qaboos University } } POBox 36, Al-Khod PC 123 } } Oman } } e-mail: aley-at-squ.edu.om } } } 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 } e-mail: mager-at-interchg.ubc.ca
Aley, With a sudden drop in filament life, as you describe, and assuming that you are treating your microscope the same as always, I would look for a vacuum leak in the immediate area of the gun. It could be a single lint fiber causing enough degradation of your vacuum to shorten your filament life as you descibe. Have you opened anything either on the back side of the gun (around thge stanpipe to the DP) or down on the column (fimal apertures, beam current probe, isolation valve)? If you have, that is the first place I would look.
Ken Converse owner Quality Images third party SEM service Delta, PA
Diane Montpetit wrote ... } } Our lab owns a tem (philips 420, 15 years old) and a sem } (nanolab le21000 12-15 years old) and we never had a service } contract on any of them...raison it is too expensive... } } ...
This is my viewpoint as well ... HOWEVER, I am a firm believer in finding the money (by whatever means possible) to cover a service contract for the two years after the initial warranty period. If anything is going to go wrong it will generally happen during this time period. This also gives the facility manager and technicians the time to become acquainted with the little idiosyncracies of the intrument with the help of those who are most aware.
... my $0.02 :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/
Dear Listers, I am searching for an old JEOL 100SX TEM which could be used for parts. I would appreciate any leads. Thank you and please contact me at my address rather than on the list. Alex Greene SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTATION SERVICES, INC. PMB - 499 1807 West Slaughter Lane #200 Austin, Texas 78748-6200 Phone: 512/282-5507 Fax: 512/280-0702
At a recent MSA meeting (within the last 5 years or so) there was a session on microscopes in the classroom that featured something affectionately referred to as a 'Scope on a Rope'.
It was a video camera tethered to a TV with a built in light source and medium mag. All you did was hold it up to something and a magnified picture appeared on the TV.
Of course, now that I need to know more about it, I can't find any references. Anyone remember it or have an idea of where to start looking?
As always, thanks a million.
Jonathan Krupp Microscopy & Imaging Lab University of California Santa Cruz, CA 95064 (831) 459-2477 jmkrupp-at-cats.ucsc.edu
Has anyone had any experience with phycoerythrin-conjugated antibodies and fluorescence microscopy? I'm specifically interested in hearing whether there are any "anti-fade" reagents that work well with PE. Although I've heard that PE antibodies don't work well with fluorescence microscopy, I don't have a choice of conjugates, unfortunately! Any help would be much appreciated!
Rizwan Haq Ontario Cancer Institute Toronto, Ontario Canada haqr-at-oci.utoronto.ca
Using Ultramicrotomy in Materials Science - September 21-24, 1999
This is the most comprehensive course in sample preparation via ultramicrotomy. Given by a four recognized experts in ultramicrotomy over four full days. The curriculum covers topics of knife and resin selection; sectioning strategies for metals, composites, thin films, glasses, ceramics, fibers, powders and polymers to mention just a few. There are comprehensive morning lectures and lab sessions all afternoon. This is a results oriented course, students get all the time they need to succeed at each step. Most students say it is the best course of any kind they have attended.
Lodging, tuition, meals, and materials are all covered in the fee of $1950 (only transportation excluded). Lectures and lodging are at the beautiful resort, Lodge on the Desert, below the Santa Catalina mountains. Lab sessions are at the RMC/Ventana's Tucson laboratory. For more information please contact Steve Miller, tel: 520-903-9366, SMiller-at-Ventanamed.com or see our web site at RMC-Scientific.com/microtomes/
} John Eustace wrote: } } } My question regards the use of immersion oil in conjunction with an } } objective. We have purchased an objective designed to be used as such, and } } it's operation is understandable on ground. What I need to know is if there } } is any one who has done any rersearch into the wetting properties of these } } types of oils, such that when we try to deploy them in space we can wet the } } surfaces of interest, i.e. the sample slide, and the objective? The } } necessity for this type of information becomes evident when you realize } } that there will be no gravity to assist in the deployment of the oil droplet. } } } John,
There is also a water immersion lens. It does not have as large an aperture as a oil immersion lens. But the water is a lot less noxious stuff to be floating around in the air than oil.
It won/t wet out as well as oil but spilled water is of little consequence in a weightless environment.
Water immersion should work for most experiments and you can always put the oil lens in if it is needed.
Gordon
Gordon Couger gcouger-at-couger.com www.couger.com/gcouger Stillwater, OK 405 624-2855 GMT -6:00
At 02:38 PM 02/05/99 +0300, you wrote: } Hello everyone, } } What is the average lifetime of a hair-pin tungsten filament? } We have a JEOL-840A SEM which we operate at 20 KV, and which we run at } asturation (on average) for ~ 7 hours everyday 5 days a week. For the } past several years, filaments used to last 6 weeks or longer, but } recently, the filament is burning out every 5 - 7 days! What could be } the reasons for this, and what are the solutions? } Many thanks. } } Aley El-Shazly } Department of Earth Sciences } College of Science } Sultan Qaboos University } POBox 36, Al-Khod PC 123 } Oman } e-mail: aley-at-squ.edu.om
I get about 50 hours of life from a standard W filament. I can get over 225 hours life from an Energy Beam Sciences SG filament. A good vacuum is very important no matter which filament make you use. I use an ion pump routinely and switch back and forth between W and LaB6.
I'm not sure which type filament your Jeol uses but here are the two types that are available for Jeol:
I did double labelling of whole retinal tissue years ago. The method came from the refs below. It was fairly easy, though it was necessary to be rigorous with controls (as in any double labelling). I didn't persevere as fixation wasn't great and labelling intensity was low. I could probably have improved it, but didn't feel it was worth it. The papers below had (from memory; I no longer have the originals) good results.
Sako H, et al (1986) Simultaneous detection of B-cells and T-cells by a double immunohistochemical technique using immunogold-silver staining and the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method. Histochemistry 86:1-4
van den Pol AN (1985) Silver-intensified gold and peroxidase as dual ultrastructural immunolabels for pre- and postsynaptic neurotransmitters. Science 228: 332-5
van den Pol AN (1986) Tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactive neurons throughout the hypothalamus receive glutamate decarboxylase immunoreactive synapses: a double pre-embedding immunocytochemical study with particulate silver and HRP. J Neurosci 6:877-91
van den Pol AN, Smith AD and Powell JF (1985) GABA axons in synaptic contact with dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra: double immunocytochemistry with biotin-peroxidase and protein A-colloidal gold. Brain Res 348:146-54
Chan J, Aoki C and Pickel VM (1990) Optimization of differential immunogold-silver and peroxidase labelling with maintenance of ultrastructure in brain sections before plastic embedding. J Neurosci Methods 33:113-27
Demonstration of two antigens using a novel combination of immunogld-silver staining and immunoenzymatic labelling. J Histochem. Cytochem. 38:307-13
Krenacs T, Laszik Z and Dobo E. (1989) Application of immunogold-silver staining and immunoenzymatic methods in multiple labelling of human pancreatic Langerhans islet cells. Acta Histochem. 85:79-85
Diana van Driel Department of Clinical Ophthalmology Sydney University GPO Box 4337 Sydney NSW AUSTRALIA 2001
Does anyone out there in cyber space have a control board (90014438-611) = for an LKB 2188 NOVA Ultratome. We are quite willing to pay for it as = our ultratome is now off the air. Any suggestions would be gratefully = received.
Terry A Robertson
=20 Dr Terry Robertson (PhD) Senior Research Fellow Department of Pathology University of Western Australia Nedlands 6907
Hi All, I have two boxes of brand new JEOL E-type filaments here. I have no idea what they are doing in the lab: there has never been an instrument that uses these in the vicinity. Anybody have a use for them? Cheers, Malc. Dr MP Roberts Department of Geology Rhodes University Grahamstown 6140 South Africa Tel: +27 46 6038316 Fax: +27 46 6229715 ******************************* "If God had meant birds to fly, he would have given them engines" Anon.
I guess you will have a mass of replies on this one?
It is my experience, working around the world, that filament life almost=
seems more important in many laboratories than the quality of the final image ;-).
What sets the filament life?
1. The magnification level and the kV you wish to use - as you go higher in magnification (} 20,000X) you need to work with a better formed=
probe with as many electrons as possible. Therefore high magnification means on a JSM 840 100 to 120 uA of current, more current means less life= ? =
If you are running to attain true surface images you will find the gun is=
far less efficient at {10kV so the filament life will fall as you drive t= he filament even harder to get the emission current up. Low magnification( {5,000X), when the instrument is not really being used very=
hard at all, the filaments should go on for ever (see later).
2. The way you saturate and align - a wave form is the best method a= s a wide variety of people all come to the same conclusion with this method= . =
However as the filament thins with use, requiring less current, you shoul= d be rechecking your version of saturation and alignment each time you swit= ch the kV on and after each kV change. Then we come on to under saturating!= =
Fine if you run at very low magnifications and do basic x-ray analysis, b= ut do not complain when your images are not so good, poor source production equals poor image production as the final beam spot mimics the source!.
3. The vacuum level - you may fudge your saturation or find excuses for running at a low emission current but the vacuum system cannot be fudged. The life of a filament is directly related to the vacuum level i= n the gun chamber, the better the vacuum the better the filament life! A dirt gun chamber will also "spoil" the gun vacuum so a clean chamber is also important. Remember vacuum gauges tend to be a long way from the gu= n and do not represent its vacuum! JSM840 has the advantage of using an exchange airlock which should give a very good column vacuum.
4. The quality of the filaments - having worked for a number of manufacturers we found from time to time we were supplied from the factor= y with poor quality filaments. They seemed to be made up of wire plus rubbish and they only lasted about 10 hours making a mess of the cathode and gun chamber. We heard about some problems but you will be surprised how few boxes came back. Standard practice should be NEVER use a complet= e box of filaments if they are working well, always save two. When you hav= e a new box of filaments, where the first one gives a poor filament life, u= se one more and work with particular care. If this life too is poor fit one=
of your "good box" filaments and try again. "Good box" filament gives go= od life - problem =3D new box of filaments. "Good box" filament gives poor = life - problem =3D gun vacuum.
5. How you measure it - if you run an instrument that has a meter fitted to the filament on switch you soon learn that even if the instrume= nt is "on" for seven hours a day the actual filament time is far short of that! Many checks have shown that in a seven hour day the filament is unlikely to be on for more than half the time with a single specimen exchange system. With a multi user facility, with operator changes, the filament time is reduced even further. X-ray analysis is the biggest ti= me consumer as people leave the filament on when playing with their spectrum= . =
HT on makes sense filament on costs money!
So to answer the question what is a good filament life? Well it depends
SEM } 50,000X a pointed filament will last about 10-15 hours a V about 20-= 30 hours ~20,000X a V about 30-40 hours {5,000X a V about 40-60 hours EDX a V in excess of 60 hours
TEM it is a different game as we do not drive the gun hard under many applications and to make cross over easy to recognise we run slightly und= er saturated. So TEM depending on application and instrument age 70 hours plus.
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 afraid that I didn't see the original posting on this, so I am relying to this reply.
I find it interesting that this thread should run concurrent to a thread regarding the value of service contracts. You often don't kow what you may be missing...
A simple tungsten filament should work for around 80 hours of use. If you are getting less than this, you are either operating the filament at too high a temperature or there are vacuum leaks in your system that permit air at a location that reduces the vacuum in the gun. The major gun seal is opened when replacing filaments and should be checked. A typical SEM vacuum system puts the pumps at one end of the volume being evacuated and the electron gun at the other end. Small leaks in the gun, or in the standpipe that evacuates the gun, can have enhanced effects on the filament life. The standpipe is often the culprit. This is the vacuum connection between the specimen chamber and the electron gun that is provided to enhance the pumpdown of the gun and prevent the gun being pumped down through the column and its apetures.
The standpipe o-ring seals at the specimen chamber and the gun are often a weak point in design. Manufacturers have used a variety of seal designs at both the chamber and gun that often are marginal at best. Another, insiduous source of problems are the seals at the secondary electron detector, EDS detector or other chamber ports. Since they are often near the standpipe opening to the specimen chamber, they to can lead to poor gun vacuum.
If your instrument has a gun translation system, this should also be checked. The gun translation provides for the mechanical adjustment of the position of the electron gun, usually through opposing set screw adjustments at the top of the electron column. Many, if not most, recent model instruments have electronic controls, rather than mechanical controls, that don't present this problem.
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-sem.com
-----Original Message----- } From: Dr. Gary Gaugler {gary-at-gaugler.com} To: MSA listserver {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com}
John - your concerns are unfounded. Modern immersion fluids are essentially non-toxic and they adhere because of extreme surface tension makes them quite sticky and that would not change outside gravity. They are also essentially non-drying and would last in a reduced atmosphere with no appreciable drying. In a clean environment the medium need only be wiped off occasionally. In gravity or with g-forces applied, a hanging drop could move, but that is unlikely to apply in space and during blast-off presumably no oil would be on the objective. If there was concern about the drop of immersion oil being dislodged, I would recommend Cargille's Type NVH with high viscosity of 21,000cST , this type is used for inclined and inverted optics. The drop will never fall off, but it is harder to wipe off. Sure you can do away with oil immersion, but in light microscopy this will lower top resolution attainable.
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 Monday, May 03, 1999 11:15 PM, John Eustace [SMTP:John.Eustace-at-lerc.nasa.gov] wrote: } } Gentlemen, } } I work for a NASA contractor whose job it is to design and } construct } experimental packages for use in space. Currently we are } designing a } package which will make use of a Leica microscope to be } flown aboard the } International Space Station. } } My question regards the use of immersion oil in } conjunction with an } objective. We have purchased an objective designed to be } used as such, and } it's operation is understandable on ground. What I need to } know is if there } is any one who has done any rersearch into the wetting } properties of these } types of oils, such that when we try to deploy them in } space we can wet the } surfaces of interest, i.e. the sample slide, and the } objective? The } necessity for this type of information becomes evident } when you realize } that there will be no gravity to assist in the deployment } of the oil droplet. } } Any assistance in the this matter would be greatly } appreciated. } Thank you in advance } } John } John Eustace } Optical Physicist } Dynacs Engineering } 2001 Aerospace Parkway } Brookpark, Ohio 44142 } Ph (216) 977 - 1244 } Fax (216) 977 - 1269
I'm doing strange observations on a group of tiny mites and I have found that they are able to produce fine drops of idrophobic substance ("saliva" ?) when they are immersed in oil. I have tried some types of oil but "immersion oil for microscopy (ordinary use) nd =3D 1.516 at 23=B0C produced= by Olympus optical Co., LTD" is the only one in which it happens.
My knowledge about the composition of this oil was that it is produced from cedar. So, I tested condensate cedar oil but the mite died soon (after 30 minutes) without any dropplets visible.
My question is:
What is the exact composition of the immersion oil?
Thanks for all help.
dr Enrico de Lillo Istituto di Entomologia agraria - Universit=E0 Bari - Italy tel. +39 080 5443105 fax +39 080 5442876 email: delillo-at-agr.uniba.it http://193.204.185.103/de_lillo.htm
Ann Lehman says: } Couldn't you duck the issue and use high/dry objectives instead? These } offer VERY good optics without the necessity for immersion oil.
Hmm, could you explain how to duck the issue of theoretical impossibility to achieve N.A. greater than 1.0 in the air, with the consequent effects on resolution and meaningful magnification? Also, all other conditions equal, immersion objectives tend to beat dry ones when resolution and magnification are important - so "VERY good" becomes "MUCH better" with oil... High/dry is likely to be 40x to 63x... Oil is likely to be 90x to 100x...
Or have you seen a "very good" high/dry 100x na=1.0 objective?
John, you may need oil-on-oil, i.e. placing the oil-drop on the top condenser lens to oil the specimen slide to the condenser, and oil-drop on the cover-slip to oil the front lens of the objective to the cover-slip. Otherwise your resolution will suffer.
In zero-G your oil droplet will probably just stay a ball so you'd have to "squash" it over the surface to be oiled... This is my rough guess... I'd really like to hear the "actual" solution you eemploy. -- Regards, Uri uri-at-watson.ibm.com -=-=-=-=-=-=- {Disclaimer}
Have solid-state annular BSE detectors for 15kv+ SEM applications attained true TV-rate performance in recent times? If so, could a manufacturer be mentioned, please?
I can't speak for the 'Scope on a Rope, but I saw an interesting all-in-one device from Cole Parmer at PITTCON. It is a digital microscope system which has a 4 MB smart card for collecting images and a 2"liquid crystal screen. It has its own set of lenses (30x comes standard; 1x, 50x, 100x, and 200x also available) so it can act as a traveling microscope for field use but also connects directly to a microscope via a C mount. It also has an adapter kit for interface with a PC or MAC. While not inexpensive, it is a neat package.
Cole-Parmer can b reached at 800-323-4340 or www.coleparmer.com.
I look forward to hearing more about 'Scope on a Rope.
CAVEAT: MME has no financial interest in this product.
Best regards, Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater productivity.
125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} ****************************************************** MME is America's first national consortium providing customized on-site workshops in all areas of microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis.
At 03:39 PM 5/3/99 -0700, Jon Krupp wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
} At a recent MSA meeting (within the last 5 years or so) there was a session } on microscopes in the classroom that featured something affectionately } referred to as a 'Scope on a Rope'. } } It was a video camera tethered to a TV with a built in light source and } medium mag. All you did was hold it up to something and a magnified picture } appeared on the TV. } } Of course, now that I need to know more about it, I can't find any } references. Anyone remember it or have an idea of where to start looking? } } As always, thanks a million.
Jon Krupp
Hi, Jon. I believe Carolina Biological sells it. You can get info from Bill & Cindy Henk of Louisiana (check the MSA membership list), who presented it at MSA. It's quite expensive, so the Ken-A-Vision version (Insights, listed on the MICRO page under "microscope suppliers" is one source) is more popular for precollege use. But it must be mounted on a microscope. } Caroline
Caroline Schooley Educational Outreach Coordinator Microscopy Society of America Box 117, 45301 Caspar Point Road Caspar, CA 95420 Phone/FAX (707)964-9460 Project MICRO: http://www.msa.microscopy.com/ProjectMicro/PMHomePage.html Intertidal invertebrates: http://www.fortbragg.k12.ca.us/AG/PCI/pci.html
Check out the following web site. Richard Sherman is the patent holder, sells the guns, and can give you reprints of the articles. (Look in JVST circa 1992 for them.) His Email address is co2clean-at-aol.com
A colleague of mine works on primary cortical cultures. When she does immunocytochemistry on them she usually uses indirect (immunofluorescence) method, which works well. When she uses fluorescence labeled avidin-biotin method and she gets extremely high background. I have looked at the controls. The non specific binding is as bright as the specific one. I have never worked with cultures. Could there be endogenous biotin in them? Or would you have any other suggestions on what could be the cause and what can one do to prevent this? Thanking you in advance for your input, 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
Is there a blocking step used in either procedure. When I was doing IHC on TC we used to routinely block, whether it was with a serum or a detergent such as Tween 20. We had success with blocking and felt the background was just a cell culture thing, but were thankful that it was virtually eliminated.
Mary Sr. Lab Tech Bone Marrow Transplant Medical College of Wisconsin Mary_M-at-bmt.mcw.edu
On Tue, 4 May 1999, Barry, Lilith wrote:
} Date: Tue, 4 May 1999 14:48:00 -0400 } From: "Barry, Lilith" {Lilith.Barry-at-nrc.ca} } To: Histonet {histonet-at-Pathology.swmed.edu} , } microscopy {microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com} } Subject: Tissue culture background } } A colleague of mine works on primary cortical cultures. When she does } immunocytochemistry on them she usually uses indirect (immunofluorescence) } method, which works well. When she uses fluorescence labeled } avidin-biotin method and she gets extremely high background. I have looked } at the controls. The non specific binding is as bright as the specific one. } I have never worked with cultures. Could there be endogenous biotin in them? } Or would you have any other suggestions on what could be the cause and what } can one do to prevent this? } Thanking you in advance for your input, } 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 }
I am to prepare samples for TEM from Au 38at% Ni 100um. thick foil.
I will be using a Fischione polisher.
Does anyone have a polishing solution for this alloy?
Thanks in advance
Fred Pearson
******************************************************** Fred Pearson Brockhouse Institute for Materials Research McMaster University 1280 Main St. West Hamilton, Ontario Canada L8S 4M1
I have a paper from Bernie Kestel at Argonne National Lab which describes=
the use of a non-acid electrolyte for thinning Au with the South Bay Technology Model 550 Jet Polisher. The recipe is for his BK-2 solution a= s follows:
The sample polished was annealed, polycrystalline gold and it was thinned=
at -55 degrees C with a potential at 150V at one half the maximum electrolyte flow rate. I believe the Fischione unit only goes up to 120V= , so you may need to adjust the recipe to account for the lower voltage. =
I have been presented with a new challenge and I need to be brought up to speed on a few things.
I need to help some biochemists look at something they call liposomes. Actually they call them SR vesicles and BR vesicles, sensory and bacterial rhodopsin vesicles. This is what I know: The liposomes are in 4M salt, they are supposed to be something like 15 nm in dia. and all they want to know is whether they are intact spheres or broken fragments. Previously they had someone look at them using freeze fracture, but that person is no longer available and we do not have freeze fracture available here.
They suggested negative staining, but they are short on references and advice. I was just going to dive in and do a simple negative stain with UA, but thought I better look for help wherever I can get it.
I am not sure about a couple of things. Does anyone have advice about how to apply the liposomes to the grid, I thought I would just drop some onto a formvar coated grid to start. The 15 nm size bothers me too. Seems small for our TEM and telling one little tiny blob from another little tiny blob is no fun for me.
Does anyone have advice about how the 4M salt will work out. I have visions of looking at salt boulders rather than liposomes. I asked about rinsing out the salt, but they say that will burst the liposomes.
Yes, I do remember a thread about liposomes here recently. Of course, as usual, I did not give it the attention it deserved given my new assignment. Perhaps someone could refresh my memory and clue me in.
Thanks
Jonathan Krupp Microscopy & Imaging Lab University of California Santa Cruz, CA 95064 (831) 459-2477 jmkrupp-at-cats.ucsc.edu
My company is considering to send out samples on a regular basis for EDS analysis with high spatial resolution (in the nm range). I would appreciate to be contacted direcly by email with referrals of analytical labs with FE-TEM or FE-STEM capabilities willing to offer this service.
Adsorption of Poly(2-vinylpyridine) Wormlike Polyelectrolyte Brushes on Mica Studied in-situ by MAC Mode(tm) AFM
U. Schmidt~, S. Prokhorova+, S.S. Sheiko+, M. Möller+, P. Dziezok*, M. Schmidt* ~Molecular Imaging / Roper Scientific, Sollner Str 61, D-81497 Munchen, Germany +Dept. of Organic Chemistry III, Univ. of Ulm, Albert Einstein Allee 11, 89069 Ulm, Germany. * Inst. of Physical Chemistry, Univ. of Mainz, Jakob-Wedler Weg 11, 55128 Mainz, Germany.
Bart Cannon 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, } } Have solid-state annular BSE detectors for 15kv+ SEM applications } attained true TV-rate performance in recent times? If so, could a } manufacturer be mentioned, please? } } Thanks. } } Bart Cannon
Bart, Either a Robinson Detector or a GW Electronics detector should work at TV rates. Anybody else have any candidates?
Ken Converse owner Quality Images third party SEM service Delta, PA
While on the filament "thread" (oops, a pun slipped in), I am wondering if someone can make recommendations for suppliers of LaB6 filaments for use in a Hitachi H-7100FA (hi res, small probe). Hitachi makes a wonderful assembly but it is getting pricey ($3,500) and we would like to explore other possibilities. The purse keeps getting smaller .....
Thanks, John
#################################################################### John J. Bozzola, Ph.D., Director Center for Electron Microscopy 750 Communications Drive - MC 4402 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 do agree with several of the respondents that, though filament life can be influenced by a number of factors, the most common cause of an abruptly decreasing life is likely to be poor vacuum. However, I do not recall anyone mentioning one of the simplest ways to check for this condition: by inspecting the tip of the expired filament under a low-power microscope (or use your SEM if you like to indulge in overkill).
Under optimal conditions, a filament's life is determined exclusively by the evaporation of the tungsten. Under optimal conditions (i.e., good vacuum and the filament drive current is not so high that the wire melts), the filament wire will gradually thin as the tungsten evaporates away. But because the thickness of the filament wire is not perfectly uniform and the temperature distribution is also not perfectly uniform, some parts of the filament wire will evaporate faster than others. Eventually, a localized region of the filament wire will have thinned enough so that it will become appreciably hotter than the rest of the filament, this causes the local rate of evaporation to accelerate even more -- the local thin spot has a higher resistance which makes it hotter, which makes it evaporate faster, which makes it thinner, which makes it hotter, etc. -- a regenerative process which quickly results in enough of a local "hot spot" to melt the tungsten and the filament breaks open at this point. The dynamics of filament construction are such that the regions just to either side of the apex of the "V" tip are naturally going to be a little thinner than the tip itself. Thus, when a filament expires "normally" (i.e., solely by evaporation) you will see that the break is on one of these legs -- the wire adjacent to the break will be noticeably thinned to a taper and there will likely be a small "ball" on either side of the break where the molten tungsten solidified. (A pair of large globs of tungsten with negligible thinning indicates that the filament was blown by a high current surge -- just the way a common fuse wire blows.)
Bad vacuum always produces a different kind of filament failure. This is because gas molecules in the gun will be ionized by collisions with the electron beam. The positive ions are accelerated towards the cathode and are focused into the filament tip. This impact sputters the tungsten tip and creates a crater. A filament which has failed because of poor vacuum, when inspected under a microscope, will look like someone took a bite out of the very tip of the "V". There is negligible thinning of the wire along the legs.
These effects are very easy to recognize with a small amount of practice and practice in doing so should really, at least in my opinion, be part of the training for anyone who operates a tungsten filament microscope (similar effects can also be observed for LaB6 filaments). ------ I do want to take a small exception to several of the statements that were made regarding altering the filament life by varying filament height, emission, magnification, kilovoltage, and the like. My objection is not that these statements are not in some sense true, but rather that they confuse cause and effect. Saying that dropping the filament height in the wehnelt will lengthen its life is sort of like stating that putting out-of-balance wheels on your car will result in better gas mileage -- it will -- because you will need to drive slower.
With a properly constructed and operated tungsten filament (i.e., assuming negligible gas sputtering), the rate of evaporation (and thus the life of the filament) are dictated solely by two factors: (1) the temperature of the filament; and (2) the thickness of the wire -- PERIOD. There are no other operational factors.
If you want long filament life, use filaments which have a somewhat thicker wire (many microprobes use this strategy) or simply run the filament at a lower temperature. So why doesn't everyone simply use thick filament wire and/or low temperature? Because these both result in sub-optimal optical performance. In other words, you have a choice: (a) operating your filament for high brightness and best resolution and accepting short filament life; or (b) operating at a lowered temperature for long filament life and accepting reduced source brightness and poorer imaging.
So why do so many microscopists state that they can alter their filament life by changing the height of the filament, changing the emission, altering the kV, etc.? Because these changes can shift the operating point at which "saturation" of the filament is achieved -- thus when the operator subsequently saturates the filament by adjusting the filament drive, he/she is actually changing the filament temperature. Thus, changing one of these parameters may in fact be a practical means of achieving longer filament life, but it is strictly a secondary effect. If you doubt this, I propose a simple experiment: instead of adjusting the filament drive so as to achieve saturation, instead maintain constant filament drive. If you do this, you will find that your filament lifetime is unaffected by any of these other operating conditions (though the quality of your imaging may well deteriorate unacceptably).
There is nothing magic about saturation. It was shown by Haine back in the '30s that the effect which we refer to as "saturation" is solely a function of the way in which the bias resistor circuit regulates the filament's emission. By varying the bias resistor, you can make the filament saturate at any temperature you please. Of course, you are still limited by the fundamental fact that a long-lived filament is a not-so-bright filament (no social commentary intended). But if a long filament life is more important than maximum image quality, then this is a good strategy.
I know these things have been discussed on this listserver before, but they seem to bear repeating in the context of the question which was asked and the discussion which has followed.
Many of my friends/clients have been waiting for me to say this so here goes -
"Just what do people get from an SEM which gives 100 hours filament life?= "
When I visit labs who need to get more from their SEM the problem always = is that they get 100+ hours life (by their means of measurement) and the images die at } 3,000X. The first thing we have to do is give them more current and throw away the filament life. As I have said so many times before "in some labs filament life is more important than image quality!"=
When I am abroad the fuel consumption of my car is amazing, it sits in th= e garage at home and does nothing, should I boast?
Come on guys lets start putting realistic figures on filament life rather=
than hours in a day and lets relate this to the maximum magnification we use and the lowest kV we use. Then and only then will we all have a base=
to work from!
Try this equation - multiply the actual filament on time by the thousand digits of the maximum magnification used and the emission current , then divide by the average kV you use. My typical customer would have a 6.7K value.
I think that would be interesting, anyone with other ideas?
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
I want to thank all of you who responded (on- and off-line) to my question about magnetic samples in the TEM. I got many usefull advises. I will keep all these messages, if anybody is interesting in getting a summary, just let me know!
Dr. Nathalie Bozzolo Laboratoire d'Analyse des Materiaux Centre de Recherche Public - Centre Universitaire 162a, avenue de la Faiencerie L-1511 Luxembourg tel : (352)46 66 44 402 fax : (352)46 66 44 400 e-mail : Nathalie.Bozzolo-at-crpcu.lu _________________________________________________
} From: "drose-at-wlgore.com"-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com Date sent: Tue, 4 May 1999 09:43:03 -0400
Greetings. This may be a bit out of the main-stream of our usual concerns but I have a question that many of us may share. In my microscopy lab we have an older model Sorvall Superspeed centrifuge, useful for all sorts of things. I have funds to purchase a new fixed angle rotor but cannot decide on a standard aluminum rotor or one of the new carbon fiber composite rotors. Does anyone have experience with the carbon fiber? No brand names need be involved, but do they have any hidden drawbacks compared to the standard? Anecdotes are welcome. Thank you in advance. Bill P.
I maintain the Tips & Tricks site, biologic archives of this listserver. You are correct there was a thread or two but I don't have them posted to web yet so here are the raw messages. If there is ever anything you need and it is not on the web site below, simply ask and I will search the unposted material. There are roughly 300 discussions not yet posted which exceeds what is posted. I will be addressing this in the next few months as the site gets a facelift. Sorry for the flood, but you asked for it
At 04:25 PM 5/4/1999 -0700, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} { GO GATORS Scott D. Whittaker 218 Carr Hall EM Technician Gainesville, FL 32610 University Of Florida ph 352-392-1184 ICBR EM Core Lab fax 352-846-0251 sdw-at-biotech.ufl.edu http://www.biotech.ufl.edu/~emcl/ The home of " Tips & Tricks "
Hello dear all! I am looking for any information on the microscope, called Grumhauser and on the person who made it. The spelling I have might be incorrect. Best regards, Dima My email address is la_dima-at-hotmail.com
_______________________________________________________________ Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com
BSE at TV bandwidths depends heavily on the performance of preamplifier following the detector. We've marketed a black-box add-on for a little over a decade, through one of the mainstream SEM manufacturers. The preamp offers full TV bandwidth at moderate gain, and 0.6 MHz (fuzzy TV) bandwidth at full gain, to allow real time viewing for positioning the sample.
Still wider band performance is possible, but it's been unclear whether there's a need for it - from here it looked like BSE was being supplanted by environmental detectors.
Jon - Liposomes will be invisible among all the salt crystals. I used to wash such isolates in an ammonium acetate solution. This is a volatile buffer and would sublime after application to the grid. However, you may get sufficiently clean (salt free) preparation by: 1 Apply and blot substrated grid repeatedly to liposome solution. 2 Blot 3 Apply to a series of drops of negative stain (try a couple different ones PTA, UA, ammonium molybdate) and blot in between. Its generally a good idea to use this simple method to obtain good distribution of particles. In this case, you need to eliminate the salt and that requires numerous apply and blot cycles. You could also let the grid float for a while on a drop of stain to allow dilution of the salt. Negative staining solutions do not cause osmotic shock - except when dealing with extreme halophiles.
When you finally see the image, don't be disappointed. Anything prepared by biochemists appears to microscopists as if prepared from a festering cadaver. Remaining salt is easily distinguished: its cubic. But how to judge those liposomes: are they uniform and intact? Its always a matter of degree and never a pretty sight. 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, May 05, 1999 9:26 AM, Jon Krupp [SMTP:jmkrupp-at-cats.ucsc.edu] wrote: } } I have been presented with a new challenge and I need to } be brought up to } speed on a few things. } } I need to help some biochemists look at something they } call liposomes. } Actually they call them SR vesicles and BR vesicles, } sensory and bacterial } rhodopsin vesicles. This is what I know: The liposomes are } in 4M salt, they } are supposed to be something like 15 nm in dia. and all } they want to know } is whether they are intact spheres or broken fragments. } Previously they had } someone look at them using freeze fracture, but that } person is no longer } available and we do not have freeze fracture available } here. } } They suggested negative staining, but they are short on } references and } advice. I was just going to dive in and do a simple } negative stain with UA, } but thought I better look for help wherever I can get it. } } I am not sure about a couple of things. Does anyone have } advice about how } to apply the liposomes to the grid, I thought I would just } drop some onto a } formvar coated grid to start. The 15 nm size bothers me } too. Seems small } for our TEM and telling one little tiny blob from another } little tiny blob } is no fun for me. } } Does anyone have advice about how the 4M salt will work } out. I have visions } of looking at salt boulders rather than liposomes. I asked } about rinsing } out the salt, but they say that will burst the liposomes. } } Yes, I do remember a thread about liposomes here recently. } Of course, as } usual, I did not give it the attention it deserved given } my new assignment. } Perhaps someone could refresh my memory and clue me in. } } Thanks } } Jonathan Krupp } Microscopy & Imaging Lab } University of California } Santa Cruz, CA 95064 } (831) 459-2477 } jmkrupp-at-cats.ucsc.edu } }
John - Don't know about that model Hitachi. We supply "normal" Lab6 cathodes (Kimball Physics), which I understand are as good as any and they are arguably the most robust. I and no doubt any supplier of LaB6 cathodes would love to sell those to Hitachi (or anybody) for less than 20% of your quoted price.
The difference is so large that I wonder. Do those cathodes have the same base as do Hitachi tungsten filaments? Do you know the size of the microflat atop the LaB6 cone? Normal are 15 square micrometers, I assume that for a high resolution TEM you probably would want that small flat. The larger flats, say 40 sq. micrometers are more suited to microprobes where long term stabillity is more important than is greatest brightness. The larger flats are more expensive. 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, May 05, 1999 12:01 PM, John J. Bozzola [SMTP:bozzola-at-siu.edu] wrote: } } } While on the filament "thread" (oops, a pun slipped in), I } am wondering if } someone can make recommendations for suppliers of LaB6 } filaments for use in } a Hitachi H-7100FA (hi res, small probe). Hitachi makes a } wonderful } assembly but it is getting pricey ($3,500) and we would } like to explore } other possibilities. The purse keeps getting smaller .... } } } Thanks, } John } } ########################################################## } ########## } John J. Bozzola, Ph.D., Director } Center for Electron Microscopy } 750 Communications Drive - MC 4402 } 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 } ###################################################### #### } ########## } }
Thanks for to those who reponded. Below is information on the CO2 Snow Gun.
--------------------------------- Applied Surface Technologies manufactures CO2 Snow Gun. They can be reached at 908-464-6675, email at co2clean-at-aol.com or on the www at www.co2clean.com.
There are many microscopy examples on the www site by using AFM or SEM. Please look at the site to look for similar applications.
If you need more information, just call or email.
--------------------------------- Check out the following web site. Richard Sherman is the patent holder, sells the guns, and can give you reprints of the articles. (Look in JVST circa 1992 for them.) His Email address is co2clean-at-aol.com
Jon, Freeze Fracture is the best answer considering the salt problem. The other alternative is cryo-TEM, best done with Leo/Zeiss energy filtering imaging. We neagtive stain liposomes just as we would any other sample for conventional TEM. What you see are little bubbles. We have also freeze-dried and shadowed or freeze dried and replicated. You may be able to get around the salt problem if you osmicate first. Just a guess. At 04:25 PM 5/4/1999 -0700, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
(a) told me about silver membrane filters, which I had not heard of before (b) reminded me of Gelman, who recommended their PTFE membranes.
As to which I use for which application, it's horses for courses!
And now the question: one has a scanned or digitally acquired micrograph. The background is a gently varying grey, with rather low contrast local features (blobs, bacteria, or whatever). The task is to Fourier transform, then filter out the lowest frequencies with a high-pass filter, leaving one with the features on a uniform grey background. One can then increase the contrast to make the features more prominent for printed reproduction. Is there software (Win 95) that can do this? (preferably inexpensive, though we could make arrangements to use plugins for Adobe Photoshop elsewhere, if necessary).
You can see an example of what I'm trying to do on:
http://www.reading.ac.uk/~spsolley/fourier.htm
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Robert H.Olley Phone: | | J.J.Thomson Physical Laboratory {direct line +44 (0) 118 9318572 | | University of Reading {University internal extension 7867 | | Whiteknights Fax +44 (0) 118 9750203 | | Reading RG6 6AF Email: R.H.Olley-at-reading.ac.uk | | England URL: http://www.reading.ac.uk/~spsolley | +------------------------------------------------------------------------+
I only worry about filament life if I have to change a filament too frequently. Normal operation would have the filament saturated fully. = If the image quality is unimportant and analysis is the main focus then the current is reduced slightly. Image quality is more important than a =A3= 10 filament which only takes a few minutes to swap ( We keep a spare assembl= y ready ).
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: Steve Chapman {PROTRAIN-at-CompuServe.COM} To: American {microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} is } that they get 100+ hours life (by their means of measurement) and the } images die at } 3,000X. The first thing we have to do is give them more } current and throw away the filament life. As I have said so many times } before "in some labs filament life is more important than image quality!= " } } When I am abroad the fuel consumption of my car is amazing, it sits in t= he } garage at home and does nothing, should I boast? } } Come on guys lets start putting realistic figures on filament life rathe= r } than hours in a day and lets relate this to the maximum magnification we } use and the lowest kV we use. Then and only then will we all have a bas= e } to work from! } } Try this equation - multiply the actual filament on time by the thousand } digits of the maximum magnification used and the emission current , then } divide by the average kV you use. My typical customer would have a 6.7K } value. } } I think that would be interesting, anyone with other ideas? } } 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 } }
} ... } } } While on the filament "thread" (oops, a pun slipped in), I am } wondering if } someone can make recommendations for suppliers of LaB6 } filaments for use in } a Hitachi H-7100FA (hi res, small probe). Hitachi makes a wonderful } assembly but it is getting pricey ...
I don't know about your SEM but we've had excellent performance and lifetimes using FEI cathodes, LaB6 and CeB6 ... see:
http://www.feibeamtech.com/lab6/lab6page.htm
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/
Is she using Thermanox coverslips to grow the cells on? If so, they exhibit bright autofluorescence. Don't know what the coating is. Ronnie Houston Cytochemistry & Molecular Pathology Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children Dallas, TX
Barry, Lilith wrote: } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } A colleague of mine works on primary cortical cultures. When she does } immunocytochemistry on them she usually uses indirect (immunofluorescence) } method, which works well. When she uses fluorescence labeled } avidin-biotin method and she gets extremely high background. I have looked } at the controls. The non specific binding is as bright as the specific one. } I have never worked with cultures. Could there be endogenous biotin in them? } Or would you have any other suggestions on what could be the cause and what } can one do to prevent this? } Thanking you in advance for your input, } 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
I looked in some FIM books for polishing solutions. I found one for gold that might work on your alloy.
for gold: equal volumes of conc. HNO3 and conc HCl, 1-10Vac
Note 10%(5-10Vdc)HCl will work for Ni (I also found 40% solution at 1-2Vdc) so this might work for your Au-Ni alloy.
-Scott
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Glass Technology Center 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: Fred Pearson To: microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
Hello Microscopists:
I am to prepare samples for TEM from Au 38at% Ni 100um. thick foil.
I will be using a Fischione polisher.
Does anyone have a polishing solution for this alloy?
Thanks in advance
Fred Pearson
******************************************************** Fred Pearson Brockhouse Institute for Materials Research McMaster University 1280 Main St. West Hamilton, Ontario Canada L8S 4M1
There is an old analog trick of unsharp masking which might give you a similar result. You make an out-of-focus contact print of your original negative, then sandwich the two together in your enlarger to make your final print. This effectively subtracts the low frequency background from the original image and adjusts the contrast of fine details in high-contrast images. My reference was Kodak Techbits 1990, issue 1 (pub # P-#-90-1).
You can mimic this analog technique by using a very large blurring kernal on the original and subtracting the blurred image from the original image. If necessary, you can multiply the blurred image by a constant to adjust the final intensity. You can also define a custom kernel to get something large enough to do what you want. This should help even out the background in your image.
Henk
At 03:17 PM 5/5/99 +0100, you wrote: } } } And now the question: one has a scanned or digitally acquired micrograph. } The background is a gently varying grey, with rather low contrast local } features (blobs, bacteria, or whatever). The task is to Fourier } transform, then filter out the lowest frequencies with a high-pass filter, } leaving one with the features on a uniform grey background. One can then } increase the contrast to make the features more prominent for printed } reproduction. Is there software (Win 95) that can do this? (preferably } inexpensive, though we could make arrangements to use plugins for Adobe } Photoshop elsewhere, if necessary). } } You can see an example of what I'm trying to do on: } } http://www.reading.ac.uk/~spsolley/fourier.htm } } +------------------------------------------------------------------------+ } | 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 | } +------------------------------------------------------------------------+ }
Hendrik O. Colijn colijn.1-at-osu.edu Campus Electron Optics Facility Ohio State University (614) 292-0674 http://web.ceof.ohio-state.edu "Progress does not consist in replacing a wrong theory with a right one. It consists of replacing a wrong theory with one that is more subtly wrong."
Looking for an old JEOL TEM 2000FX. Please let me know if someone has a clue of a place who want to give away their old TEM for free to a University (we will pay the frieght). A JEOL 2000FX TEM even if it is not in working order would be o.k. as we just need it for parts as a back-up for other TEM (same model) that we have.
Please reply directly on my e-mail: zur-at-mmae.engr.ucf.edu
Thank you.
Zia ur Rahman Electron Microscope Engineer University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Reply to: RE: Tissue culture background Dear Barry, This sounds like a case of the wrong blocking agent. From what you = describe, my guess is your colleague treats the cells with dilute serum (= BSA or FCS) prior to addition of the fluorescent marker. It also looks as = if she does not dilute the fluorescent avidin in blocking agent either. The reason for the strange result is that serum contains biotin-like = molecules. When applied to the cells it will stick all over and the = fluorescent avidin will bind to it giving high background). Try the = labeling protocol without blocking agents and see if there is a difference.= Alternative strategies include substituting a non-serum blocker (such as = cold-water fish skin gelatin) for the serum, or even using antibodies to = biotin as a replacement for the avidin. Biotin-like molecules are also = present in mitochondria. If the cells have an unusually large number of = mitochondria in them, then this too could give the "high background" = described. Regards, Paul Webster
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 http://www.hei.org/htm/aemi.htm
Barry, Lilith wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America =
id {2LL9JGKA} ; Wed, 5 May 1999 13:39:29 -0500 Message-ID: {D8F9EBE8536ED111920F00005A422A315A474A-at-commserver.srrc.usda.gov}
Fred makes a good point about examining the tip end of an "expired" tungsten filament. Besides indicating possible vacuum problems, the size of the metal ball at the tip of the filament (usually on the shorter tip) can also indicate user error during filament saturation.
} ---------- } From: Fred Schamber (personal)[SMTP:fhscham-at-sgi.net] } Sent: Tuesday, May 04, 1999 10:27 PM } To: Listserver, Microscopy } Subject: Re: filament life } } } I do agree with several of the respondents that, though filament life } can be influenced by a number of factors, the most } common cause of an abruptly decreasing life is likely to be poor } vacuum. However, I do not recall anyone mentioning one } of the simplest ways to check for this condition: by inspecting the tip } of the expired filament under a low-power } microscope (or use your SEM if you like to indulge in overkill). } } The dynamics of filament construction are such that the } regions just to either side of the apex of the "V" tip } are naturally going to be a little thinner than the tip itself. Thus, } when a filament expires "normally" (i.e., solely by } evaporation) you will see that the break is on one of these legs -- the } wire adjacent to the break will be noticeably thinned } to a taper and there will likely be a small "ball" on either side of the } break where the molten tungsten solidified. (A pair of } large globs of tungsten with negligible thinning indicates that the } filament was blown by a high current surge -- just the way } a common fuse wire blows.) } This "high current surge" can often be found with SEM's which have multiple users. Especially with older and less expansive instruments, the tip failure shape will indicate oversaturation by less experienced users. This is less of a problem with those instruments with "lockout" features where the primary user can set the filament saturation limits on the SEM.
} Bad vacuum always produces a different kind of filament failure. This } is because gas molecules in the gun will be ionized } by collisions with the electron beam. The positive ions are accelerated } towards the cathode and are focused into the } filament tip. This impact sputters the tungsten tip and creates a } crater. A filament which has failed because of poor } vacuum, when inspected under a microscope, will look like someone took a } bite out of the very tip of the "V". There is } negligible thinning of the wire along the legs. } } These effects are very easy to recognize with a small amount of practice } and practice in doing so should really, at least in } my opinion, be part of the training for anyone who operates a tungsten } filament microscope (similar effects can also be } observed for LaB6 filaments). } If the instrument does not have multiple users or new users, I would check for vacuum leaks as a possible cause of repeated filament failure.
Bruce F. Ingber Biologist- Electron Microscopy USDA-ARS, SRRC 1100 Robert E. Lee Blvd. New Orleans, LA 70124-4305
Hello!=A0=A0 We are looking for some help in choosing and/or finding an objective for our Nikon Diaphot scope.=A0 We use the scope (setup for epifluorescence microscopy) to measure the response of neurons to mechanical deformation as a model for traumatic brain injury.=A0 We currently use either Fura-2 (calcium) or Di-8-ANNEPS (membrane potential) to measure the cellular response while the mechanical injury is applied to the cells by a device that is attached to the microscope.=A0 The trouble we're having is that the cells are attached to an elastic membrane and they need to be in saline during the experiment.=A0 Since the microscope is inverted (it's a long story), we think the best way to image the cells is with a water immersion objective.=A0 However, our current objective is a 40X oil immersion and we are using it in liquid (not the ideal situation).=A0 We have funds for a new objective and we'd like your input as to what would be the best objective given our current hardware (old Nikon with 160 mm tube length) and device (cells must be immersed in saline and there is no coverslip) limitations. Another requirement is a long working distance since we need to be able to change the medium between the objective and the cells during an experiment.
What we think we need is a high magnification (40X or greater) fluor water immersion objective with a long working distance on the order of millimeters. We know that newer objectives are made to meet these needs but they do not fit our old scope. Do you have any ideas or recommendations for objectives?
Thanks in advance,
Donna M. Geddes GT/Emory Department of Bioengineering Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta Georgia, 30332
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I agree Steve.
I only worry about filament life if I have to change a filament too frequently. Normal operation would have the filament saturated fully. = If the image quality is unimportant and analysis is the main focus then the current is reduced slightly. Image quality is more important than a =A3= 10 filament which only takes a few minutes to swap ( We keep a spare assembl= y ready ).
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: Steve Chapman {PROTRAIN-at-CompuServe.COM} To: American {microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} is } that they get 100+ hours life (by their means of measurement) and the } images die at } 3,000X. The first thing we have to do is give them more } current and throw away the filament life. As I have said so many times } before "in some labs filament life is more important than image quality!= " } } When I am abroad the fuel consumption of my car is amazing, it sits in t= he } garage at home and does nothing, should I boast? } } Come on guys lets start putting realistic figures on filament life rathe= r } than hours in a day and lets relate this to the maximum magnification we } use and the lowest kV we use. Then and only then will we all have a bas= e } to work from! } } Try this equation - multiply the actual filament on time by the thousand } digits of the maximum magnification used and the emission current , then } divide by the average kV you use. My typical customer would have a 6.7K } value. } } I think that would be interesting, anyone with other ideas? } } 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 } }
Looking for an old JEOL TEM 2000FX. Please let me know if someone has a clue of a place who want to give away their old TEM for free to a University (we will pay the frieght). A JEOL 2000FX TEM even if it is not in working order would be o.k. as we just need it for parts as a back-up for other TEM (same model) that we have.
Please reply directly on my e-mail: zur-at-mmae.engr.ucf.edu
Thank you.
Zia ur Rahman Electron Microscope Engineer University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida
} We have a Sony DCR-TRV9 digital video camera recording. We would like to } be able to take the video stream, send it to a pc based computer, edit the } file, and grab individual frames and save them as separate files. Has } anyone out there got any suggestions? We'll also need a way to get the } video to the computer. We've tried frame grabbers but because there are } so many frames per seconds, it locks it up. The video is stored on an } Mini DV Digital Video Cassette. } Thanks in advance for any ideas. } } Robin Griffin } UAB } }
Here is the recipe for better performance, a 15 year old SEM is just a youngster!.
1. Use the wave form and the main peak (the one when heating the filament does not increase the signal level) do not undersaturate and ali= gn as accurately as you can
2. You do not say which SEM you have but if it has a bias control adjust the emission current to nearer 100uA. If you do not have a bias control half the distance between your filament and the front face of the=
cathode aperture. If the current is then 70 to 100 at saturation that is=
much better if not shorten the distance again.
3. Work at less than 15mm working distance.
4. Do not worry about how noisy the screen image is, concentrate on getting the best photograph. To do this reduce the spot size (screen goe= s dimmer) until the image when focussed and stigmated looks good on a mediu= m slow scan rate. With a noisy image focus and stigmate for maximum contrast, never stigmate on a directional image.
All this said simply increasing the emission current and shortening the W= D should be more than enough. If you let me know exactly which instrument you use I would be pleased to give specific instructions for that instrument.
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
We also have a Hitachi 7100FA, running with a LaB6 . We bought it with two Hitachi cathodes. When these were used we put in a Denka that we had sitting in a drawer - just the straight (M3?) hunk of crystal on a tungsten loop design - and it has worked very well indeed. In spite of being a completely different shape to the Hitachi crystal - short and fat rather than long and thin. We dont use the machine much for really high res work, so I couldnt say if the ultimate performance is different, but we routinely adjust the alignment using a TV camera and screen giving an 8 million X mag, and havent noticed a difference, and the stability has been very good. We always use the auto filament run up and are very conservative - 10 min in the morning, 5 min subsequently, the filament goes off at every specimen and camera change. The Denka performance surprised us, because on an SEM we have had consisitently much better experiences with the Kimball Physics cathode.. .. We cleaned and readjusted the height at about 600 hours, which is similar to what we did with the Hitachis. I dont know if we just dropped lucky with this Denka or what . Is the slow run-up what makes the difference? - so I'm still uncertain what to get when it gives up the ghost! I'd also appreciate hearing what other people's experience has been with LaB6s on the 7100.
regards Sally Stowe
Dr Sally Stowe Facility Coordinator Australian National University EM Unit Research School of Biological Sciences Box 475, ACT 2601, Canberra, Australia FAX 06 (0)2 6279 8525
} } } John J. Bozzola {bozzola-at-siu.edu} 5/05/99 12:00 } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
While on the filament "thread" (oops, a pun slipped in), I am wondering if someone can make recommendations for suppliers of LaB6 filaments for use in a Hitachi H-7100FA (hi res, small probe). Hitachi makes a wonderful assembly but it is getting pricey ($3,500) and we would like to explore other possibilities. The purse keeps getting smaller .....
Thanks, John
#################################################################### John J. Bozzola, Ph.D., Director Center for Electron Microscopy 750 Communications Drive - MC 4402 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 ####################################################################
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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } While on the filament "thread" (oops, a pun slipped in), I am wondering if } someone can make recommendations for suppliers of LaB6 filaments for use in } a Hitachi H-7100FA (hi res, small probe). Hitachi makes a wonderful } assembly but it is getting pricey ($3,500) and we would like to explore } other possibilities. The purse keeps getting smaller ..... } } Thanks, } John } } #################################################################### } John J. Bozzola, Ph.D., Director } Center for Electron Microscopy } 750 Communications Drive - MC 4402 } 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 } ####################################################################
John, I have a couple of customers who have had good luck with the Kimbal Physics LaB6 tips. They run in the vicinity of $500, last I knew, and they last a long time. They also are not nearly so sensitive to thermal stress as the competing mounting systems, so failure tends to be due to evaporation of the Lab6, not mount failure.
Barry Scientific in Massachusetts may be a little closer to deal with than Jim (sorry Jim!). Kimball no longer retails, but they are in New Hampshire.
Ken Converse owner Quality Images third party SEM service Delta, PA
My company deals in Refurbished Lab Equipment, however we do not do a large business in EM and I admit that I am not well versed in this field. I do from time to time come across used EMs of different brands & styles that I broker.
I do have a few related items in stock, i.e.: a Leica (Reichert) Super Nova Ultra Microtome.
If anyone is interested, please contact me for details.
Ford M. Royer Analytical Instruments, Ltd. 9921 13th Ave. N. Minneapolis, MN 55441 phone: (800) 565-1895, ext. 17 FAX: (612) 929-1895 email: froyer-at-bitstream.net Web Site: www.aibltd.com
Shalvoy, Richard B CHES 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'm looking for contact information for vendors of used equipment (ie my old } SEM). } } I'm sure they're out there but being pretty new to this area I'm not sure } where to find them. } } Richard Shalvoy } Arch Chemicals (formerly Olin Corporation) } Cheshire, CT
Are there any non volatile fixatives for animal and vegetable material for LM? I am an amateur with very serious asthma. Formaldehyde and formic acid both cause very serious reactions. I don't think it is formaldehyde but some of the less soluble stuff that is formed causing the problem. All my research shows that formaldehyde is too soluble to make it to the lungs. It reacts with the sinuses and throat before it gets to the lungs.
I can't really visualize something that isn't pretty volatile and reactive that would fix tissue. I see references to HgCl, picric acid, acetic acid. potassium permanganate and silver nitrate being used in fixing solutions. I am comfortable handling any of these and none of them cause me a big problem. But I only see them used in conjunction with an aldehyde. Can any one give me some alternatives to the ayldhydes?
While I had several hours of microbiology as an undergraduate the microscope was just one of the tools. With digital image capture and unexpected retirement it opens a whole new world to LM.
I find this list to be an outstanding resource. Nestor and the group do an outstanding job keeping on topic without being heavy handed. The group also seems to be spending a lot less of their employer's time on the net than in most groups. There will be no post during working hours and a flock of messages an evening. I guess that it being an industry mail list I would think twice before posting in working hours knowing that my next resume would probably go to some one on the list.
Thanks Gordon
Gordon Couger gcouger-at-couger.com 624 Cheyenne Stillwater, OK 74075-1411 405 624-2855 GMT -6:00 www.couger.com/gcouger
A discussion I was engaged in today relative to my last-night's posting suggests to me that there is a bit more to be said regarding the role of emission relative to filament life. There seems to be a common assumption that emission current plays a role in filament life. This is not true.
The typical heating power applied to a tungsten filament in an electron microscope is on the order of 6 watts (product of heater current times heater voltage). Since the filament is operating in a vacuum, this power can be dissipated via three routes: (1) heat conducted through the posts of the filament; (2) photons (light) radiated by the incandescent wire; and (3) energy carried off by emitted electrons (emission current). How large is the latter effect? A WRONG way to estimate this is to take the product of the emission current and the beam voltage. For example, when operating at 30 keV with 100 microamps of emission (a higher emission than most modern scopes use), you would come up with a dissipated power of 3 watts, which is appreciable. This is in fact the power which the gun assembly as a whole imparts to the beam, but it is irrelevant to the question of power dissipation by the filament. This is because that 30 keV of kinetic energy is imparted AFTER the electron leaves the filament.
In fact, an electron is "boiled off" the heated filament with a very low energy. There is actually a distribution of energies, depending on the temperature, but the average is about 1 eV. If one uses 1 eV as the electron energy, then at 100 microamps of emission the dissipated power being carried off through the emitted electons is only 100 microwatts. This is obviously insignificant relative to the five watts of heating power being applied to the filament. Thus, we can conclude that emission plays no role in the filament heat balance and thus does not affect filament life in any practical sense. Furthermore, since the energy at which the electrons leave the filament is independent of accelerating voltage, we also see clearly that the beam voltage plays no direct role in filament life.
So where does the heat go? It has been some years since I did this calculation, but I remember the conclusion that I obtained for one geometry -- heat conducted through the posts is about half of the heat radiated as light. This will, of course, depend considerably on the geometry specific to an instrument, and since I ignored a lot of the complexities of reflected light, etc., my computation was only an approximation, but I think it is safe to say that the radiated and conducted heat components are comparable in magnitude.
I think the reason that so many people believe that emission current is related to filament life is because if they "undersaturate" the filament they observe both a lower emission current and a longer filament life. But both of these are consequences of the fact that they have actually reduced the filament temperature, which is the controlling factor on filament evaporation rate.
We have a well-used but perfectly functional Hitachi S-450 SEM available to anyone who may have a use for it as spares or a fully functional instrument. Cost highly negotiable, transport your problem.
Tony Bruton Head, Centre for Electron Microscopy University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg Tel +27 (0)331 260 5155 Fax +27 (0)331 260 5776 website:http:www.nu.ac.za (departments} units) Email:bruton-at-emu.unp.ac.za postal address; Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209 KwaZulu-Natal South Africa
Synoptics were selling something called `Massram' literally that - a mass of RAM (memory) to allow continuous video to be captured to memory without the problems of access time to any disc storage device. The problem is that storing continuous video really eats up the memory (250Kb? per frame x 25 or 30 frames/sec x time of video sequence). It will be too expensive to buy for a one off but there are some out there somewhere. From memory Bath University in the UK had a system and offered a service but I don't know the cost.
Try Synoptics in the UK for contacts +44 (0) 1223 727100 or fax +44 (0) 1223 727101.
Good luck, Ron
On Wed, 5 May 1999 15:07:33 -0500 "rgriffin-at-eng.uab.edu"-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com wrote:
} } We have a Sony DCR-TRV9 digital video camera recording. We would like to } } be able to take the video stream, send it to a pc based computer, edit the } } file, and grab individual frames and save them as separate files. Has } } anyone out there got any suggestions? We'll also need a way to get the } } video to the computer. We've tried frame grabbers but because there are } } so many frames per seconds, it locks it up. The video is stored on an } } Mini DV Digital Video Cassette. } } Thanks in advance for any ideas. } } } } Robin Griffin } } UAB } } } } }
---------------------- Mr. R.C. Doole Department of Materials, University of Oxford. Parks Road, Oxford. OX1 3PH. UK. Phone +44 (0) 1865 273701 Fax +44 (0) 1865 283333 ron.doole-at-materials.ox.ac.uk
Does anybody out there know of a spare HT cable for a Siemens Elmiskop 102 TEM? I can't afford to buy a custom built new one, so my only real alternative is to try and track down a second hand one. Can anybody help?
I've used Denka, FEI and Kimball LaB6 emitters in my Jeol 2000. The Denka gave the best image quality but required to be run up very carefully. Out of 4 only one died of old age; the rest were destroyed by careless users, in spite of death threats from me. The FEI and Kimball emitters do not give quite such a good image, but they are really quite robust. I think the Kimball is slightly tougher than the FEI. I've caught people treating them worse than I would treat a tungsten filament, without any ill effects.
I have no financial interst in any of these suppliers.
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 am looking for informations about nitrogen quantitative analyses by WDX system and specially in biological samples. I am interested also to know the sensitivities (minimum detection limits) and what is the result with biological sample (matrix effect such absorption with about 40% of c and 15% of O). Many thanks in advances.
Didier
-------------------------------------------- Didier Le Thiec I.N.R.A. Centre de Recherches Forestieres Unite d'Ecophysiologie Forestiere Laboratoire de Pollution Atmospherique 54280 Champenoux - France
Thank you for responding to my question on tissue culture background. I don't think the background is because the fixation or the immuno method because I routinely use the same method on brain sections and do not get the same background. It isn't the coverslip autofluorescing either because one can see beautiful labeled structures in the cells except on the controls. So it has to be something specific about cortical cultures and the strept or neutravidin-biotin method. Do you have any other thoughts? 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
Ron: As I recall, Texas Memory offers something similar. See http://www.texmemsys.com/ -Mike
Ron Doole 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 Robin, } } Synoptics were selling something called `Massram' } literally that - a mass of RAM (memory) to allow continuous } video to be captured to memory without the problems of } access time to any disc storage device. The problem is that } storing continuous video really eats up the memory (250Kb? } per frame x 25 or 30 frames/sec x time of video sequence). } It will be too expensive to buy for a one off but there are } some out there somewhere. From memory Bath University in } the UK had a system and offered a service but I don't know } the cost. } } Try Synoptics in the UK for contacts +44 (0) 1223 727100 or } fax +44 (0) 1223 727101. } } Good luck, } Ron } } On Wed, 5 May 1999 15:07:33 -0500 } "rgriffin-at-eng.uab.edu"-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com wrote: } } } } We have a Sony DCR-TRV9 digital video camera recording. We would like to } } } be able to take the video stream, send it to a pc based computer, edit the } } } file, and grab individual frames and save them as separate files. Has } } } anyone out there got any suggestions? We'll also need a way to get the } } } video to the computer. We've tried frame grabbers but because there are } } } so many frames per seconds, it locks it up. The video is stored on an } } } Mini DV Digital Video Cassette. } } } Thanks in advance for any ideas. } } } } } } Robin Griffin } } } UAB } } } } } } } } } } ---------------------- } Mr. R.C. Doole } Department of Materials, } University of Oxford. } Parks Road, Oxford. OX1 3PH. UK. } Phone +44 (0) 1865 273701 } Fax +44 (0) 1865 283333 } ron.doole-at-materials.ox.ac.uk
Dear listers, Can anyone help me? I am trying to put a grant application together at very very short notice, and I need to find out the cost of a GOOD TEM. Not one that is the BMW of TEMs, more like an Alfa Romeo - if you know what I mean, and preferably one that has some sort of computerised image assistance with it. Thanks for your help in advance. Please email me as soon as humanly possible at
alex.black-at-nuigalway.ie
Thanks again.
Alex
__________________________________ Alexander Black Department of Anatomy National University of Ireland, Galway Republic of Ireland
via smtpd (for sparc5.microscopy.com [206.69.208.10]) with SMTP; 6 May 1999 20:19:17 UT Received: FROM toto.research.aa.wl.com BY akita.research.aa.wl.com ; Thu May 06 16:12:42 1999 Received: by toto.research.aa.wl.com with Internet Mail Service (5.5.2232.9) id {JNYX3544} ; Thu, 6 May 1999 16:12:41 -0400 Message-ID: {602B9620D104D2118E0A00805FBBC43602826DE0-at-redfox.research.aa.wl.com} {MICROSCOPY-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com}
I recommend you contact (if they don't contact you from monitoring this List) a few of the major EM suppliers, especially those from your area. An internet search for Philips, Hitachi, Zeiss, Jeol or any other brand (sorry to those I left out) should get you in contact with a willing sales representative who can work with your urgent time schedule. It will not be easy, since the features are many, and very specific to your lab research focus. Your general query to this list will only get you personal biases, and will likely mislead you more than help you.
Better yet, these companies can fax or express-mail you an official quote to include in your proposal.
Gregg Sobocinski Parke-Davis Pharmaceuticals Ann Arbor, Michigan USA Gregg.Sobocinski-at-wl.com
-----Original Message----- } From: ALEX BLACK [mailto:ALEXANDER.BLACK-at-NUIGALWAY.IE] Sent: Thursday, May 06, 1999 2:22 PM To: MICROSCOPY-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com
Dear listers, Can anyone help me? I am trying to put a grant application together at very very short notice, and I need to find out the cost of a GOOD TEM. Not one that is the BMW of TEMs, more like an Alfa Romeo - if you know what I mean, and preferably one that has some sort of computerised image assistance with it.
Thanks for your help in advance. Please email me as soon as humanly possible at
alex.black-at-nuigalway.ie
Thanks again.
Alex
__________________________________ Alexander Black Department of Anatomy National University of Ireland, Galway Republic of Ireland
I was a happy user of a plain and standard SEM Zeiss DSM 940, which gave = me nice shots. I work with systematics of sphecid wasps and used to photogra= ph uncoated specimens. I got my best pictures using BSE detection, although = our microscope has no detector for backscatering electrons. Now we have a bra= nd new machine, a LEO 440, with almost all acessories, including a BSE detector. However, I cannot acheive the same results that I got with the Zeiss SEM. As the LEO 440 is wholly automatized, its software do not allo= w me to make the same adjustments that I used in the Zeiss machine. I can u= se only SE detection, that gives me pictures of bugs with a methalic aspect, which is pretty but not usefull. So, let post you two questions. Why a go= t nice pictures in a SEM using a dection method without the proper detector= ? How I can get similar results in a fully coputer controled machine?
S=E9rvio T=FAlio Pires Amarante
serviopa-at-usp.br
Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de S=E3o Paulo Caixa Postal 42694-970 04299-970 S=E3o Paulo BRASIL
Steve Chapman responded to my recent posting with the suggestion that I am missing the point of filament "saturation" and included some further thoughts regarding his theory of how this relates to filament lifetime (quote appended). He concludes with an observation which suggests that "getting it right" in terms of understanding the mechanism is important to operting a SEM effectively. Consistent with that sentiment, I am going to launch into a fairly lengthy discussion of the phenomenon that we know as "saturation", since it is my experience that it is widely misunderstood. I'm also going to touch on some related subjects like the role of "brightness". But please be warned, this is NOT a brief posting. OK?
} I read with interest Fred's note but fear he has missed one important } feature of saturation? } } Saturation occurs when the aperture in the front of the cathode is filled } with electrons, generate more and they are unable to pass through therefore } no change in emission current. } } What affects this aperture? The physical size of the aperture and the bias } field. Apply more bias and the effective aperture size is reduced, } therefore the number of electrons needed to fill the aperture is reduced, } therefore the amount of heat required to produce the required number of } electrons for saturation is also reduced. Hence apply more bias you need } less heat you get a longer filament life as heat (oxidation and } evaporation) is the determining factor. } Steve's analysis is based on the perception that "saturation" is a fundamental electron-optical effect which limits the emission directly. For an electron microscope operated in the normal way, this is simply not the case.
The "kernel of truth" in Steve's argument is that there is indeed an effect of the kind he describes in what are referred to as "high perveance" guns. The effect is due to "space charge" effects encountered when there is a high density of electrons in front of the cathode. Since electrons repell each other, a sufficiently high density of electrons will effectively screen the cathode from the accelerating field, and indeed there will be the kind of effect he describes where you simply cannot add more electrons to the beam.
Unfortunately for his argument, that is not the regime in which electron microscopes operate by design. A microscope designer tries hard to stay away from this condition because the screening action defocuses the beam and increases the energy spread (the Boersch effect ) long before it appreciably limits the emission current. This effect becomes more important at low accelerating voltages since the electrons, being accelerated more slowly, can hang around in front of the filament tip longer. This is why you want to move the anode closer to the filament under low voltage imaging -- you want to increase the field gradient and get those electrons out of there as rapidly as possible. So it is in fact possible to operate an electron microscope under high-perveance conditions where there is a true space-charge "saturation" effect (set the filament way back, the anode at its furthest spacing, and crank the beam voltage way down). But this seriously degrades the imaging and, given any choice in the matter, you want to stay as far away from this operating condition as you can; this kind of aberrant situation is definitely not what people normally mean when they talk about a "saturated filament". So I will stand by my original assertion that the effect that we call "saturation" is simply a consequence of the common bias-resistor circuit, nothing more.
In the early days of electron microscopy, it was generally assumed that the "saturation" condition was something like what Steve describes -- you were "saturating" the phase space available for electrons. Haine soundly disproved this in a 1952 paper (in an earlier posting I erroneously referred to this as being published in 1938) [Haine & Einstein, Characteristics of the hot cathode electron microscope gun, British Journal of Applied Physics, Volume 3, p40, 1952]. On page 45 of this paper he states: "There has been some confusion in discussions on electron guns as to the effect of self-biasing (automatic biasing), the bias being obtained from the voltage drop across a resistance connected in series with the h.v. supply. With this type of biasing, an electron gun exhibits the property, frequently termed 'saturation,' whereby the current rises with temperature to a limiting value beyond which increase in temperature produces little increase in beam current. This has been attributed to the gun running into the space charge limited condition. That this is not so is readily seen when this type of bias is replaced by a variable independent bias; no such effect then takes place." He then goes on to prove his point with graphs. I personally have had extensive experience in working with an electron microscope gun equipped with a separate bias supply and can verify what he states -- there is no "saturation" effect without the bias resistor..
Let's look at the situation in detail (darn, I wish I had a blackboard!). Any electron optics reference will show you a figure of a self biased triode gun. The negative high voltage is connected directly to the wehnelt (grid) and thence to the filament (cathode) via the bias resistor. All current flowing from the filament must pass through the bias resistor, resulting in a voltage drop which makes the cathode more positive than the wehnelt. Thus, interposed between the cathode and the anode is the wehnelt which is at a somewhat more negative potential than the cathode, thus inhibiting the emission of the cathode's electrons. This creates a self regulating situation: any increase in emission current causes the bias to increase, thus choking off emission; a decrease in emission causes the bias to decrease, thus permitting greater emission. The effect is that a constant emission current is maintained, despite minor variations in filament temperature, cathode-tip geometry, and the like. This is a marvelous circuit -- both simple and highly effective with a near-instantaneous response. However, it is not unique to electron microscopy. Anyone old enough to have worked with vacuum tubes has seen it used for a constant current source and any idea about fancy optical effects is clearly not applicable there. To drive the point home: the effect which microscopists call "saturation" is nothing more than reaching the operating point in the emission current stabilization circuit established by the bias resistor -- there is no profound electron optical effect involved. Certainly it is not a matter of the electrons having "filled" a virtual "aperture" established by the bias field.
This may have some readers perplexed at this point. If the "knee" in the saturation curve is caused only by reaching the operating point in a simple emission stabilization circuit, why is this the best point to operate the gun? The most basic answer is: "because you would have to be an idiot to design a gun any other way"! Assuming you know the best conditions for imaging, why would you stabilize your emission current anywhere else?
Let's consider the way the wehnelt does its job of restricting cathode emission. The only reason that electrons can get past the negatively biased wehnelt at all is because the orifice in the wehnelt allows some of the anode's positive field to penetrate to the tip of the filament (the "zero equipotential"). When properly adjusted, there is a small circular region at the tip where electrons can escape to the anode -- everywhere else on the filament, the low energy electrons which are boiled off of it are repelled back into the filament. As the relative negative bias on the wehnelt increases, the anode field doesn't penetrate as far and the size of the emitting region on the filament tip shrinks so that fewer electrons can escape. As the bias decreases, the anode field penetrates further and the size of the emitting region increases, resulting in more emission. The objective of gun biasing is thus to select an emission region right at the tip of the filament. This is common knowledge covered in any optics text.
If you are controlling the bias with an independent voltage supply, you can completely cut off emission by applying a very high bias, or you can create a very high emission (up to the current limit of your supply) by setting the bias at a very low value. What you actually want to do, of course, is set the bias so that just the tip of the filament is able to emit. In this "independent bias" configuration, changing the filament temperature has no effect on the bias, and thus no effect on the position of the emitting region. Increasing the filament temperature causes the emission to increase without limit (and there is no "saturation" rolloff). In this kind of arrangement, it is really easy to understand the relationship of filament life and emission since both are direct consequences of filament temperature.
When you introduce the "self-biasing" resistor circuit, it gets a little more confusing since the effects are coupled. For one thing, you can't set the gun into a "cutoff" condition, because that would require an infinitely large bias resistance. For another thing, the relationship between filament temperature and emission current is different above and below the "saturation" knee. But the fact remains that you do establish a particular bias voltage value via this circuit and for the same bias value, you will get exactly the same emission as with "independent biasing". However, now in order to change the bias you either need to change the bias resistor (R) or to change the filament heating current so as to change the emission current (I) so as to effect the desired I*R drop (bias). But, if you have any sense at all, you select the bias resistor value such that the "saturation" knee occurs at a filament temperature which gives both a nice compact emission pattern AND an acceptable filament lfe. But this is a product of good design practice, not any kind of optical effect. Fortunately, this target is rather easy to hit.
As Steve has pointed out, the effect on the emission pattern of changing the bias can be readily observed on a TEM. This can also be seen on an SEM which is equipped with scanning coils in the gun. We provide this kind of "source imaging" feature on our Personal SEM(TM) and we train our users to use it to adjust the filament drive so as to achieve the most compact source emission pattern. With this tool, it is easy to demonstrate that if you mis-adjust the bias resistor, you can observe an emission "saturation" effect (emission current stops increasing as the filament temperature is increased) when the emission pattern is actually far from optimal. Typically, this occurs when the bias resistor is set too small and thus one has selected too large a region of the filament tip for emission.
So I hope that I have now clearly made my point that "saturating the gun" is just a technique we use to achieve an otherwise desireable result -- putting the microscope into a stable current configuration which we have set up to also provide the best imaging conditions. The notion of "saturation" per se is really without meaning for electron microscope optics. It's rather unfortunate that this term entered our vocabulary since it is quite misleading (maybe we should call it "stabilization"). But that is the term we are stuck with, it seems (kind of like my other pet peeve: Energy "Dispersive" Spectroscopy). =================
Steve's comments about the role of filament depth, kilovoltage, and anode spacing are generally sound advice, but when he speaks about "efficiency", he starts to blur the issue. As already noted, one wants to get the electrons away from the cathode as rapidly as possible so that there is a minimal space-charge effect. This is accomplished by maintaining a high field gradient in the gun and this can be accomplished by upping the acclerating voltage, moving the anode closer to the cathode, or moving the cathode closer to the wehnelt (you could also insert a separate "extraction" electrode in the gun as has been done on occassion [Yamazaki et al, 1984] and is effectively what is done in field emission guns). Note, however, that one's objective in doing this is not to generate more emission as such, but rather to improve the quality of the beam by overcoming the space charge "Boersch effect". In other words, you don't necessarily need more electrons, but more electrons going in the right direction.
When Steve speaks about the "efficiency of the gun", the implication is that the goal is to produce lots of electrons (emission). I doubt that this was his actual intent, since that would badly miss the point. When we speak of the "efficiency" of a gun, we are properly speaking about the ratio of "brightness" to total emission. The differentiation between emission and brightness seems to confuse a lot of people. I like to illustrate the difference by posing the following problem: suppose I take two people and offer a prize to the individual who can use a water hose to spray the maximum amount of water through a knothole 100 feet away. I then tell each contestant that they have a choice of two hoses, one with a discharge rate of 10 gallons per minute and the other with a discharge rate of 1 gallon per minute. The "foolish" contestant immediately opts for the higher flow rate, and quickly reliazes his error when I then hand him a hose which has a nozzle producing a fan-shaped stream -- although the flow rate is high, only a small fraction of it can be directed through the knothole. The more thoughtful contestant asks to see the shapes of the streams produced by the two hoses and chooses the lower-flow hose which happens to have a narrowly collimated stream -- and wins the contest. The point, of course, is that it is not how many electrons the gun produces, but rather how many can be directed through the electron optical system. We call this quality "brightness" -- it is the combined spatial and angular density of the beam. An ideally "bright" beam would be a non-divergent "pencil" of electrons which is very dense (the water hose analogy breaks down here since water isn't very compressible). Brightness is the quality which we should worry about (rather than emission current) because it dictates the quality of the image spot which we can form on the sample.
There is a well-known theory due to Langmuir in which he establishes the maximum brightness value for a thermionic (e.g., tungsten or LaB6) cathode. The variables are the emissivity of the cathode material, the accelerating voltage, and the temperature of the filament. So how does one design a gun to achieve this maximum brightness? Haine answered this question in that same paper referenced above. The answer is that over quite a wide range, you can achieve the Langmuir limit with a variety of gun designs. In particular, you can vary the size of the wehnelt opening and the spacing of the filament behind the wehnelt over wide ranges and still approach the Langmuir limit so long as you adjust the biasing appropriately. What does change, however, is the "efficiency" of the gun. By efficiency, he means the ratio of brightness to total emission. Returning to the "water through a knothole" example, you can imagine that the shapes of the two hose streams are such that either hose can deliver the absolutely maximum volume of water through the distant knothole at the operating pressure of the supply line (like achieving the Langmuir limit for a given beam energy with two different gun designs). But in this case, the lower volume hose does the job with much higher efficiency, and normally would be the preferred solution (unless we enjoy wasting water).
If the wehnelt opening is large and/or the filament set well back, then you will be able to achieve the Langmuir limit only by operating with a rather high emission current. Since there is really no advantage to having all of that wasted emission current (and some practical disadvantages) it is preferable to design the gun for high efficiency. SEMs today are generally designed for more efficient cathode operation than was the case in the past. By way of comparison, a 1970's vintage ETEC operated with a 200 microamp emission current, whereas most modern SEMs operate at 50 microamps or less. The highest efficiency is obtained by placing the filament tip close behind a small wehnelt aperture. But the closer the spacing, the higher the required bias and this can lead to unstable operation if pressed too far. A very small aperture makes precise alignment of the gun particularly critical. Thus, there are tradeoffs and the gun designer will try to weigh a whole lot of factors. The end user doesn't need to worry about these things. If the design and setup is proper, setting the filament to "saturation" will approximate the Langmuir brightness limit. =====================
I do have to take strong exception to Steve's statement that: "if you do not have enough [electrons] to start with you soon run out, hence poor signal levels and low magnification microscopy!" I'm sure that this isn't precisely what Steve meant to say, but I'm going to pick on the statement anyway, since a lot of people seem to think it is true. The important question isn't how MANY electrons you have to start with, but rather, how they are DISTRIBUTED in the beam. Lose sight of that fact and you can end up drawing some rather odd conclusions. For example, would you conclude that you are going to get better imaging with an old Etec with its 200 microamp emission current, or a modern cold field emitter where the emission is orders of magnitude smaller? Clearly, emission QUALITY is vastly more important than emission QUANTITY. I make this point emphatically because so many people seem to feel that anything they do to their microscope which increases the emission will somehow increase the image quality. Sometimes it is just the opposite. To make an extreme example, if you want tons of emission current, just drill out the hole in the end of your wehnelt to a half inch diameter -- LOTS of emission, but TERRIBLE imaging. =====================
This has gotten a bit off topic from the simple question of "filament life", and I hope that anyone who has stayed with me till here can pardon me for such a lengthy reply (but I did warn you). I do hope this lengthy diatribe helps to illustrate that though filament spacing and the like do have a relationship to gun performance and ultimately to filament life, these are actually secondary effects which represent design and/or operational decisions rather than fundamental optical considerations.
} } } I read with interest Fred's note but fear he has missed one important } feature of saturation? } } Saturation occurs when the aperture in the front of the cathode is filled } with electrons, generate more and they are unable to pass through therefore } no change in emission current. } } What affects this aperture? The physical size of the aperture and the bias } field. Apply more bias and the effective aperture size is reduced, } therefore the number of electrons needed to fill the aperture is reduced, } therefore the amount of heat required to produce the required number of } electrons for saturation is also reduced. Hence apply more bias you need } less heat you get a longer filament life as heat (oxidation and } evaporation) is the determining factor. } } With regard to the position of the filament the further it is away from the } cathode aperture the greater the affect of the bias field. Hence a long } filament to aperture distance is effectively increasing the bias field } requiring less electrons for saturation therefore less heat and a longer } filament life. } } The best instrument to use to see this in action is the TEM where we may } visualise the virtual source and may see the effects of bias on saturation. } } When we lower the kV the gun becomes less efficient due to the anode to } cathode distance being too great for the applied voltage and the resulting } field being less efficient in helping to create the virtual source. The } source is also affected by the higher residual bias field in most SEM which } throttles the cathode aperture still further. If you lower the kV and want } maximum efficiency you should move the filament forward to overcome the } bias field and raise the anode to increase the efficiency of the } anode-cathode field. } } Hope this helps, the truth is that even with field emission if you do not } start with a suitable emission current the potential for good quality } images is drastically reduced. Remember everything we do once the beam has } left the electron gun throws electrons away, if you do not have enough to } start with you soon run out, hence poor signal levels and low magnification } microscopy! } } The SEM is an exciting SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENT, understand it and it becomes } an amazing tool, mis understand and it becomes a super light microscope; } what a waste? } } 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 }
The problem that you outline is very common when people change instrument= s. Zeiss using a SE detector gives satisfactory BSE images, LEO using a BSE=
detector you do not like the image as much! =
Using the so called SE detector for BSE collection you may achieve a good=
signal but only with a large surface area detector. This signal also contains a shadow effect due to the specimen-detector geometry. Trying t= o use the LEO in the same way as the Zeiss will not work as the LEO SE detector has too small a surface area for this style of operation.
The LEO BSE detector being directly above the specimen will be free from shadows, unless you set it up in the TOPO mode, or move the BSE detector off axis sufficient to clear the beam path. Detector variations will be available to you in the DETECTOR menu under SELECT SIGNAL, either do not switch all the segments on or switch to the TOPO mode. Try operating at different WD to optimise the LEO specimen-detector geometry?
Another problem, as you work at very low magnifications, may be you do no= t have enough signal, out up the probe current? Also the bigger the spot t= he better under low mag BSE circumstances. Do not tell anyone I said this b= ut you may find you get a better image by running at the false peak often called the first peak of saturation. This gives you a bigger source and hence a larger final probe size.
Good luck
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
Regarding improving the performance of your Amray SEM the same rules appl= y as I passed on to Paula. (Sorry I do not have specific instructions for a=
1600 only an 1800 and I do not know how they compare?)
1. You need current - through higher emission levels
2. You need to saturate and align correctly to aid the above
3. You need to run in a minimum aberration condition - short working=
distance
4. Plus the following which are Basic SEM Adjustment Procedures
Image is Too Noisy?
1 Spot size is too small? 2 Emission current is too low? Variable aperture is too small? 4 Specimen position is not ideal - too far from the detector or tilted away from the =
detector? 5 High voltage is too low?
Resolution is Poor?
1 Spot size too large? 2 Working distance too long? 3 Final Aperture too large? 4 Emission current too low or saturation and alignment poor? 5 High voltage too low? 6 Image does not contain high resolution information? 7 Too much backscatter in the image (kV too high or specimen tilted=
towards the =
detector)?
Presentation of the Image is Poor?
1 Spot size incorrect, too small or too large? 2 Would tilt help present the information? 3 Have you the ideal WD? 4 Have you the correct kV for the job? 5 Have you the correct aperture (small) to obtain a good depth of field, do you need to =
move the specimen further away from the final lens? 6 Are you seeing a mixed SE/BSE image when you need a BSE or SE image. Lower =
the kV for the latter raise the kV for the former.
Hope this helps?
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
----------------------------------------------------------------- PHILADELPHIA SOCIETY FOR MICROSCOPY ----------------------------------------------------------------- AN AFFILIATE OF THE MICROSCOPY SOCIETY OF AMERICA and THE MICROBEAM ANALYSIS SOCIETY -----------------------------------------------------------------
MEETING NOTICE - SPECIAL EVENT: Thursday, May 13, 1999
METALLOGRAPHY AND THE STUDY OF THE JAPANESE SWORD
Michael R.Notis, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015
To be presented at The Egyptian Gallery, University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology Reception at 5:30 followed by Dinner at 6:30 and the talk at 7:30
This meeting is intended to be of interest to both microscopists and a more general audience. We encourage you to bring guests and spouses. Cosponsor: the Museum Applied Science Center for Archaeology (MASCA), University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Meeting Details
Location: The Egyptian Gallery, University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (map and directions enclosed). Parking is available behind the LRSM after 5:00 PM and in the parking lots indicated on the attached map.Cost of Dinner: Members and members spouses $20.00, Students $15,Non-Members $30. Schedule: 5:30 Social hour hosted by our meeting sponsor. Beer, wine, soda and munchies 6:30 Dinner Salad- Watercress, Belgian endive, apples, alfalfa sprouts and raspberry vinaigrette. Entree- Seared breast of chicken served with porcini and shiitake mushrooms, onions, scallions, ginger and garlic topped with a black bean sauce. Vegetarian entrees available upon request. Dessert- Tiramisu 7:30 TALK ----------------------------------------------------------------- Reservations
By E-Mail (preferred): Send your name and affiliation to PSM-RESERVATIONS-at-INAME.COM By Phone: Call Dr. John Reffner, 215-619-5283 I will reply to confirm all email reservations received. DEADLINE for RESERVATIONS is Noon, Monday May 10th. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Abstract
The ancient Japanese sword is a marvel of empirical technology and has become a well known example of the beauty of metals as an art form. The manufacturing process (religious ritual) through which the sword is made, the heat treatment it receives and the microstructure that is developed will all be described. By the late 19th and into the early 20th century, the first Japanese metallurgists were studying modern advances in metallographic techniques. Among them were K.Tawara and his student H.Tanimura. This connection between sword study and metallography led to interactions between Tanimura and C.S.Smith, whose own metallographic studies of ancient metal objects, including the Japanese sword, are well known. A group or important swords originally studied by Cyril Stanley Smith using light optical microscopy have been reexamined using scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy in order to better examine the microstructure and to perform microchemical analysis on the slag inclusions. The use of these newer methods for analysis demonstrates the power of microchemical analysis in combination with metallographic examination to extend our knowledge concerning these ancient swords and their fabrication. A VIDEO OF THE SWORD MAKING PROCESS WILL BE SHOWN
1. Take I-76 (Schuylkill Expressway) to the South Street; exit (left lane exit). From the west, it's the exit after 30th Street; from the east, the exit after University Avenue. Turn west (right from the west; left from the east) at the light at the top of the exit ramp. The Museum is on theleft past the next light. 2. From the PA Turnpike: Valley Forge Exit to I-76 (Schuylkill Expressway, east). Then follow directions in #1. 3. From the New Jersey Turnpike: Take Exit 3 to Walt Whitman Bridge. Once across, follow signs to I-76 (Schuylkill Expressway, west). Then follow directions in #1. 4. From I-95 North: Exit at Vine Street. Take Vine Street west to I-76. Stay in left lane. Take exit marked "To Airport" (a left U-turn). Take second exit (South Street). Then follow directions in #1. 5. From I-95 South: Just past Philadelphia Airport, follow signs toI-76. Once on I-76 follow directions in #1.
Parking lots (pay) are available behind the Museum, one block over the bridge off Convention Blvd (turn left). The Museum is on South Street, with its main entrance at the corner of 33rd and Spruce Streets. In addition, parking will be available at the usual location, and free parking for about 15 cars is available at the Sharpe Circle. Information on the Egyptian Gallery is available at
DENTON VACUUM- Three decades of manufacturing vacuum equipment for the preparation of specimens for electron microscopy.
PHILLIPS ELECTRON OPTICS, Phillips Electron Optics, part of FEI Company,is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the first commercial EM-100 TEM in 1949. We are setting the pace in electron microscopy for the new century with our latest TECNAI family of TEM's along with the XL Series SEM's and focused ion beam (FIB) systems.
EXCEL TECHNOLOGIES, INC. is a premier distributor of supplies andinstruments for industrial applications. Products include: EXTEC metallographic equipment and supplies, video imaging microscopes and products, a complete line of optical microscope products and micro-hardness testers. EXCEL maintains an extensive and computerized inventory that enables us to process and ship most orders within 24 hours. We strive to satisfy our customers with fast, efficient service as well as excellent technical assistance. With these qualities in mind, we would greatly appreciate the opportunity to fulfill your requirements. Please contact John Long at (610) 688-4440 and visit our website at www.extec.com
The Microscopy Society of America is also providing financial support for this meeting.
} You can mimic this analog technique by using a very large blurring kernal } on the original and subtracting the blurred image from the original image. } If necessary, you can multiply the blurred image by a constant to adjust } the final intensity. You can also define a custom kernel to get something } large enough to do what you want. This should help even out the background } in your image. } } Henk } } At 03:17 PM 5/5/99 +0100, you wrote: } } } } } } And now the question: one has a scanned or digitally acquired micrograph. } } The background is a gently varying grey, with rather low contrast local } } features (blobs, bacteria, or whatever). The task is to Fourier } } transform, then filter out the lowest frequencies with a high-pass filter, } } leaving one with the features on a uniform grey background. One can then } } increase the contrast to make the features more prominent for printed } } reproduction. Is there software (Win 95) that can do this? (preferably } } inexpensive, though we could make arrangements to use plugins for Adobe } } Photoshop elsewhere, if necessary).
You could look for the key-words 'median filter', 'blurring', 'non-linear filter'. NIH-Image might well have such filters. If not there are other free programs, such as Osiris: http://www.expasy.ch/www/UIN/html1/projects/osiris/osiris.html Image Tool: http://ddsdx.uthscsa.edu/dig/itdesc.html
You can find more software at the shareware-site: http://www.nsctoronto.com/nissei-sangyo/ftpsw.html
To use the median-filter do as Hendrik Colijn describes above. If the filter kernel is twice as big as the largest object in your image the filtered image will just show the smooth background. Subtract the filtered image (maybe scaled) from the original to get the objets on a flat background.
-- Philip Koeck Karolinska Institutet Dept. of Bioscience Novum S-14157 Huddinge Sweden Tel.: +46-8-608 91 86 Fax.: +46-8-608 92 90 Email: Philip.Koeck-at-csb.ki.se http://www_scem.csb.ki.se/pages/philip.html
There is one ethanol/ethylenglycol-based fixative on the market=20 (Kryofix/Merck No. 5211) which was developped and used as a substitut= e of =20 formaldehyde ("formalin") for routine preparation in a pathology/hist= ology lab=20 of M.E. Boon in Leyden (Belgium). Best results were obtained in=20 combination with microwave irradiation and in immunostaining. See= =20 references in the "Microwave cookbook of pathology. the art of micros= copic=20 visualization" from M.E. Boon and L.P. Kok, Coulomb Press Leyden. 3rd= =20 edition 1992. Best regards Bernward Laube University of Bielefeld Faculty of Biology Department Plant Morphology and Cell Ultrastructure Universit=84tsstrasse 25 Germany 33615 Bielefeld phone: +49 521 1065592 fax: +49 521 1066039 e-mail: b.laube-at-biologie.uni-bielefeld.de http://www.uni-bielefeld.de/biologie/Pflanzenmorphologie
Please unsubscribe the following id: srinivasan-at-alpha.caer.uky.edu Sincerely Ram Srinivasan Center for Applied Energy Research 2540 Research Park Drive Lexington, KY 40511 (606) 257 - 9695 (Off) (606) 223 - 7378 (Home)
There are several solutions out there for capture of video from DV format cameras. They include the following:
Bravado DV2000 DPS Spark Miro DV300 Fast DV Master Canopus DVRex-M1 Radius EditDV
All of these are video capture cards that usually include some video editing software designed to work with the card. The last suggestion from Radius has included within the package a program called MotoDV for video capture and I believe it will capture still frames. A lot depends upon how much you want to spend, what computer platform you are using, and the type of hard drive it writes to. For a 2:1 compression ratio (good quality video) you need a drive with a transfer rate of at least 10 Megabytes/sec. Your frame size will be about 333 kilobytes and you will need 1.67 Gigabytes of space for each minute of video. Not sure what your application requires for the still frames but there quality (such as for printing) may not be great.
http://www.videoguys.com/jump.htm
http://www.videotexsystems.com/
Try these WEB sites for more information. Hope this is helpful to you.
Regards
Roy Beavers Southern Methodist University Dept. of Geological Sciences Electron Microprobe Lab P.O. Box 750395 Dallas, Tx 75275 voice: 214-768-2756 fax: 214-768-2701 E-mail: rbeavers-at-mail.smu.edu
Do beware that the typical IDE HDD with an advertized data transfer rate of 33 Meg/sec cannot usually sustain that rate. For example, My WD 8G (UDMA) drive benchmarks in the area of 4 Meg/sec sustained. Depends on the drive, interface type, etc.
There are several solutions out there for capture of video from DV format cameras. They include the following:
Bravado DV2000 DPS Spark Miro DV300 Fast DV Master Canopus DVRex-M1 Radius EditDV
All of these are video capture cards that usually include some video editing software designed to work with the card. The last suggestion from Radius has included within the package a program called MotoDV for video capture and I believe it will capture still frames. A lot depends upon how much you want to spend, what computer platform you are using, and the type of hard drive it writes to. For a 2:1 compression ratio (good quality video) you need a drive with a transfer rate of at least 10 Megabytes/sec. Your frame size will be about 333 kilobytes and you will need 1.67 Gigabytes of space for each minute of video. Not sure what your application requires for the still frames but there quality (such as for printing) may not be great.
http://www.videoguys.com/jump.htm
http://www.videotexsystems.com/
Try these WEB sites for more information. Hope this is helpful to you.
Regards
Roy Beavers Southern Methodist University Dept. of Geological Sciences Electron Microprobe Lab P.O. Box 750395 Dallas, Tx 75275 voice: 214-768-2756 fax: 214-768-2701 E-mail: rbeavers-at-mail.smu.edu
[frequent skips; } delineates Fred's post, and } } delineates Steve's]
} Consistent with that sentiment, I am } going to launch into a fairly lengthy discussion of the phenomenon that } we know as "saturation", since it is my experience that it is widely } misunderstood.
} } Saturation occurs when the aperture in the front of the cathode is filled } } with electrons, generate more and they are unable to pass through } } therefore no change in emission current. } } } So I will stand by my original assertion that the } effect that we call "saturation" is simply a consequence of the common } bias-resistor circuit, nothing more. } } Haine in a 1952 paper on page 45 states: "...With this type of biasing, } an electron gun exhibits the property, frequently termed 'saturation,' } whereby the current rises with temperature to a limiting value beyond } which increase in temperature produces little increase in beam current." } } To drive the point home: the effect which } microscopists call "saturation" is nothing more than reaching the } operating point in the emission current stabilization circuit } established by the bias resistor -- there is no profound electron } optical effect involved. Certainly it is not a matter of the electrons } having "filled" a virtual "aperture" established by the bias field. } } What you actually want to do, of } course, is set the bias so that just the tip of the filament is able to } emit. In this "independent bias" configuration, changing the filament } temperature has no effect on the bias, and thus no effect on the } position of the emitting region.
} For another thing, the relationship } between filament temperature and emission current is different above and } below the "saturation" knee.
} But, if you have any sense at all, you select the bias } resistor value such that the "saturation" knee occurs at a filament } temperature which gives both a nice compact emission pattern AND an } acceptable filament lfe.
} As Steve has pointed out, the effect on the emission pattern of changing } the bias can be readily observed on a TEM. } } So I hope that I have now clearly made my point that "saturating the } gun" is just a technique we use to achieve an otherwise desireable } result -- putting the microscope into a stable current configuration } which we have set up to also provide the best imaging conditions. The } notion of "saturation" per se is really without meaning for electron } microscope optics.
Dear Fred, I realize that the situation is considerably different for the TEM from that for the SEM; however, what I have always heard and observed is that for low filament currents electron emission occurs only from some regions of the filament tip. This can be seen by imaging the filament at crossover, where it appears as an annulus. As the filament current is raised, additional regions of the tip begin to emit electrons, and the image of the filament becomes more uniform and smaller. As the filament current reaches a value such that all regions of the tip emit, the image has no dark regions. This is what I have called "saturation"; it makes sense from the standpoint that emission cannot occur from more than the complete tip area and, therefore, cannot increase with further increases in filament current. AFAIK, this has nothing to do with space charge, current stabilization, virtual apertures, or bias resistors, but with the temperature, geometry and work function of the tip. Are there two uses of "saturation"? Yours, Bill Tivol
First I would like to thank those who responeded to my earlier inquiry about the Lynx tissue processor. I have since received info on the RMC EMP 5160 tissue processor and would like any info anyone can give me on this processor, be it good or bad.
Instead of writing directly to disk, you can always write to a RAM buffer first. For (uncompressed) video you have 30fps and each frame is about 1/3 MB (640x480), so that's only 10MB/s. You can buy RAM boxes with multiple-GByte capacity -- Texas memory has such a box with 12GB of RAM and a 1.2GB/s bandwidth that would buffer about 20 minutes worth of (uncompressed) video -- you could then "drain" this memory to your IDE HDD at 4MB/s. At the high end, you could buy a box with 128GB to hold over 3 hours of video!
See: http://www.texmemsys.com/samsys.htm
-Mike O'Keefe
"White, Woody N" 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Do beware that the typical IDE HDD with an advertized data transfer rate of } 33 } Meg/sec cannot usually sustain that rate. For example, My WD 8G (UDMA) } drive } benchmarks in the area of 4 Meg/sec sustained. Depends on the drive, } interface } type, etc. } } Woody White
I have been working for a long time in the field of inorganic materials. Now I am getting into biomaterials and my first task is to determine porosity of a bone, I think I need some help. I guess that if I record images of the surface of the bone and apply sequential sectioning and image recording, I will be able to reconstruct the 3d characteristics of the object. I wonder if there is any software available to do the reconstruction or maybe someone can suggest some references where I could get started.
· 12 year old Industry leader featured in Success Mag; Time Mag. and Inc 500 !!!
· You will personally Work with # 1 team in USA.
· Turn-key system with multiple support partners.
· Breakthrough Hi-tech product (timing is everything).
· Market is fantastic and growing each day !!!
· Work from from your home or office, part-time or full-time.
· Expense paid vacations, business or pleasure.
· $800/mo. bonus car allowance !!!
· Start up funding available.
· You have the freedom to control your time and income.
CLICK THE LINK BELOW and enter your information and we will contact you with complete details. =================================================== "mailto:cyberprofit-at-flashmail.com"
Please include the following: Without this information we CAN NOT contact you. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Name { { { {====Important (remember to include) 2. Home OR work phone number { { { {====Important (remember to include) 3. The best time to contact you { { { {====Important (remember to include)
=================================================== To be added to our Remove list, reply to "mailto:optout-at-flashmail.com" with "remove in the subject heading.
I have been off-line for some time and may have missed relevant postings.
I have been asked to enquire about collecting digitised TEM and STEM images from the above microscope in order to improve the facility. The instrument dates from 1981. We are a little behind the times in this area so any information would be appreciated. Maybe pointers to the archives? Clues as to when this may have already been discussed !
Thanks in advance
Keith Ryan Marine Biological Association of the UK Citadel Hill Plymouth Devon PL9 9DR England
Firstly I have to say that when talking about improving performance I tak= e it for granted that people clean the column and gun components. My objec= t is always to move on from this point.
Now when we use a SEM at low magnifications ( {3,000X) the size of the pro= be encourages BSE to totally dominate the image particularly when using in excess of 10kV. This means that the SE detector collects a signal made u= p of direct SE, plus SE which are converted from BSE that hit the lens etc,=
plus line of site BSE (well documented in the literature).
When we view an image which contains high levels of SE it tends to be rather flat and devoid of high contrasts, the best sign of a BSE contribution is the formation of shadows. Lowering the kV we obtain an image that displays more of its SE content and less of the BSE content so=
this is the best way to analise the imaged information. =
To fully understand an unknown specimen use this procedure
1. Start at low kV ( {2kV) when you see the true specimen surface 2. Increase the kV until you see an change in the image form, now yo= u have increased the reaction volume to such an extent that the BSE start t= o dominate and you are now bringing in sub surface detail. 3. The higher the kV you use the greater the sub surface (BSE) contribution. 4. If as you go up in kV the image becomes more exciting (more detail?) this means that there is more sub surface data coming out by way=
of BSE. 5. If you go up in kV and the image becomes flat this means that the=
sub surface zones do not have much detail and the result will is a softening of the image.
(The ideal test specimen to demonstrate the above in action is a TEM specimen. I use a SPI carbon grating replica which I tack to a stub with=
the carbon side up. Take a look at different kV and blow your mind as yo= u see so much information goes missing when the kV goes up. Sure it is a very thin specimen but it is a great demonstration.)
It is for the above reasons that I frown upon those who insist on using 20kV plus for imaging, because most of the time their information is not = of the surface but of the sub surface. This is fine if you know what is happening, but most people do not understand the specimen-beam reactions and the way they relate to specimen-detector geometry.
Hope this helps?
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
Whilst I think people should change their scintillator every few years (y= ou clean your glasses don't you?) I have to say that, when experimenting wit= h signal and different types of scintillator material many years ago, the results did not push me too hard in this direction.
We found that a new scintillator gave a reading which very quickly fell a= nd then took an age (years) to drop to a level that one would consider was unacceptable.
Another area where we have had fun is that of photomultipliers, when the BSE signal from its detector is far stronger than the Everhart-Thornley detector its about time you changed it!
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
Please unsubscribe the following id: dpearson-at-coalpetrography.com
___________________________________________________________________________ Pearson Coal Petrography Inc., Pearson & Associates Ltd., 16130 Van Drunen Road, 4277 Houlihan Place, South Holland, Victoria, Illinois 60473 British Columbia V8N3T2 United States Canada
For program, flyers, abstract submission, and registration go to: http://online.sfsu.edu/~camicro/
2nd Announcement and Call for Papers 5th California Microscopy Colloquium The California State University & Northern California Society for Microscopy
Saturday, October 2, 1999 Business meeting for CSU delegates, Friday, October 1, 1999 Seven Hills Conference Center San Francisco State University
Early Registration Due August 2, 1999 Abstracts Due August 2, 1999 Abstracts will be published in the journal Microscopy Research and Technique
All fields of light and electron microscopy. Participants include scientists and students from academia and industry. Both platform and poster presentations are invited. Student posters and presentations are strongly encouraged with award of meritorious original papers/posters.
If you would like to contribute in one of the following areas, please contact: Remote Microscopy - Jeff Thompson (jthompso-at-csusb.edu) (909) 880-5315 Teaching Microscopy - Jon Krupp (jmkrupp-at-cats.ucsc.edu) (831) 459-2477 Sp. Prep. Technics & Video - Rick Bizzoco (rbizzoco-at-sunstroke.sdsu.edu) (619) 594-5396 with invited presentations by: David Blake - David Scharf - and others
Register Online (http://online.sfsu.edu/~camicro/) Early Registration Fees (before August 3rd): Regular Members - $25, Student - $10 Registration (From August 3rd to September 15th) : Regular - $35, Student - $20 Late Registration after September 16th & On Site) : Regular - $35, Student - $20 Lunch may not be included, depending on the date of your Late Registration.
or, in a pinch Greg Antipa Phone: (415) 338-2951 or EMail: antipa-at-sfsu.edu or FAX (415) 338-2295
Gregory A. Antipa Department of Biology San Francisco State University San Francisco CA 94132 Office/Lab (415) 338-2951 Email antipa-at-sfsu.edu FAX (415) 338-2295
Bill Tivol makes a good point when he asks whether there are two different meanings attached to the term "saturation" (see appended quote at end).
As Bill correctly observes, there is a real physical effect where the beam emission pattern can be observed to transition from a diffuse annulus (what we used to call a "smoke ring") into a nice compact disk. This can easily be observed on a TEM (or so I'm told -- I'm not a TEM guy and have only seen this illustrated in publications). But a phenomenon which looks very much the same can be observed on a SEM equipped with gun scanning coils -- I happen to like this feature a lot and have designed it into our SEM since I find it the most reliable way of optimizing the gun. (By the way, I am unaware of any practical differences between SEM guns and TEM guns other than is related to the differences required by the TEM's higher operating voltage -- the basic optical principles are the same.)
When you do look at the emission pattern in this way, as Bill has noted, you can clearly see what it is you are trying to achieve. When "undersaturated", the beam profile is "empty" in the center. If you look at a "line scan" through the pattern, the profile looks a bit like the letter "M" -- this is clearly not what you want. As the biasing is increased (accomplished in the self-biased gun by either increasing the filament temperature or by increasing the bias resistor) the pattern collapses into a disk. In cross section, this distribution is high in the center and falls off steeply to the edges -- looking very much like a gaussian distribution (though I have no proof that is actually its mathematical shape). This is the condition you are trying to achieve, and calling this "saturation" makes a lot of sense. So Bill is perfectly correct in noting that there is a second meaning to the term "saturation" which has real validity for tuning of the gun.
My problem with the term "saturation" is that it has been used to refer to at least three different phenomena: 1. The idea of saturating the emission "phase space" with electrons such that no more can be crammed into the beam (the "high perveance" condition I referred to yesterday) -- as near as I can figure out, this is what people thought was happening when they originally used the term "saturation" in electron microscopy since it does occur with other types of electron guns. 2. The coalescing of the emission into a compact pattern as the emission becomes restricted to the tip of the filament. 3. The "knee" in the emission curve in an auto-biased gun -- the point where measured emission current stops increasing as filament temperature is increased
The first effect just doesn't apply to an electron microscope, and the third effect is simply the manifestation of the auto-bias circuit (these are the two points I argued 'ad nauseum' in yesterday's posting). The second effect is both real, and desirable -- this is what we are trying to achieve when a microscopist "saturates" the gun. I don't have any trouble with calling this "saturation" (and usually do so myself) since it is a pretty good description of what one is visually observing. The problem is, unless you have a TEM, or a SEM equipped with "source imaging" (which is apparently not all that common), people tend to think that the third effect is due to one of the first two -- and this is just not so. This mistaken notion is what I was laboring to correct. But it was never my intention to dispute the fact that something very useful happens to the beam shape when you correctly adjust the biasing (effect #2). If your microscope is setup correctly, the auto-bias "knee" (effect #3) will occur in the vicinity of the compact source distribution (#2) and using the "knee" to saturate works just fine. But if one starts arbitrarily tinkering with filament spacing and the like so as to increase emission, extend filament life, etc., without understanding what is happening, effect #3 may not match effect #2 anymore and when the operator thinks that he/she has optimized the gun by "saturating the filament" via the emission curve knee, the emission pattern may actually be non-optimal.
To address Bill's remarks about the mechanism which results in this localization of the beam in the emission image, I'm now going to restrict myself to discussing effect #2 only -- and I'll call it 'saturation" since that's what we're used to.
What causes this 'saturation' of the emission distribution to occur? Or equivalently, why does one get the hollow-centered "smoke ring" type of pattern when the filament is "undersaturated"? Bill postulates that this is because electrons are only emitted from the periphery of the circular emitting region on the filament tip (i.e., the region selected by the biasing). I don't think this is quite correct since it is energetically possible for electrons to be emitted from anywhere within the "zero equipotential" region established by the wehnelt bias. Instead, the answer is related to the fact that biasing the wehnelt not only establishes the emitting region on the filament tip, but also creates an electrostatic lens which focuses the beam (I've ignored the focusing aspect thus far in the discussion since things were complicated enough without getting into this -- and my posts were already plenty long!).
But focusing does need to be introduced if we are going to understand the emission pattern since we need to be aware that what we are seeing in the "filament image" is not an image of the filament per se, but rather, an image of the "crossover" distribution, which is the point where the focused electrons from the filament converge to their smallest cross-section. (Someone may want to argue with me about this, since if you get into really undersaturated conditions, you can actually see structure on the filament tip. However, this is because the "crossover" is in effect a spatial image of the filament tip under these conditions. In the optical sense, the "object" you are looking at in a "filament image" is this crossover image, not the physical tip as such.) So just because we don't see any electrons in the center of this emission pattern does not mean that the filament is not emitting from its center -- it means that the focusing action is such that the center of the crossover pattern isn't getting electrons directed into it.
I again like to use a garden hose analogy to describe what is happening here. Imagine how you adjust the nozzle on your garden hose to move from a fan-shaped (open-centered) distribution to a compact stream. I visualize the bias on the wehnelt shaping the beam in a rather analogous fashion. The emission distribution image you observe is thus like observing the cross-section of the water stream at some distance from the nozzle. If you think about trying to direct the tightest possible stream of electrons down the optics of the column, you can then see why "saturating" the beam (in sense #2, of course) gives you the best imaging conditions. (I hasten to add the disclaimer that I NEVER want to be accused of claiming that a garden hose is a perfectly accurate model of gun dynamics -- just a useful visual metaphor for some phenomena.)
Two other related topics suggest themselves. One is the way that this "garden hose" model explains the phenomenon of "false peaks" which you obtain with a misaligned gun when you are trying to "saturate" by watching the specimen current. The second relates to the question of why the "compact distribution" condition is optimized when the emitting region is restricted to the filament's tip. However, I don't want to engage in another marathon post like yesterday's (the Bandwidth Conservation League will probably censure me as it is) and I also have no idea whether anyone but myself is interested in such arcane topics. So I will (for once) refrain.
Fred Schamber RJ Lee Instruments
====================== Bill Tivol wrote:
} Dear Fred, } I realize that the situation is considerably different for the TEM } from that for the SEM; however, what I have always heard and observed is } that for low filament currents electron emission occurs only from some } regions of the filament tip. This can be seen by imaging the filament at } crossover, where it appears as an annulus. As the filament current is } raised, additional regions of the tip begin to emit electrons, and the } image of the filament becomes more uniform and smaller. As the filament } current reaches a value such that all regions of the tip emit, the image } has no dark regions. This is what I have called "saturation"; it makes } sense from the standpoint that emission cannot occur from more than the } complete tip area and, therefore, cannot increase with further increases } in filament current. AFAIK, this has nothing to do with space charge, } current stabilization, virtual apertures, or bias resistors, but with } the temperature, geometry and work function of the tip. Are there two } uses of "saturation"? } Yours, } Bill Tivol }
Barry, Lilith wrote: } } Thank you for responding to my question on tissue culture background. I } don't think the background is because the fixation or the immuno method } because I routinely use the same method on brain sections and do not get the } same background. It isn't the coverslip autofluorescing either because one } can see beautiful labeled structures in the cells except on the controls. So } it has to be something specific about cortical cultures and the strept or } neutravidin-biotin method. Do you have any other thoughts? } 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
Hi Lilith, Have you ruled out the endogenous biotin? Either try a biotin block prior to your staining or try another detection method, which does not utilize biotin. Katri
Is there any significant differences in SEM filament saturation respective to W, LaB6 or field emission cathodes? If so, what are they and how should one treat these different electron sources?
TONS, yes the difference between W, LaB6 and an FEG "saturation" (lets s= ay source set up) is LARGE.
For your application LaB6 saturation should be carried out when the virtu= al source is being visualised as there are a number of peaks that you may us= e depending upon the work you wish to carry out, high brightness, medium resolution and high resolution. =
May I suggest you contact the supplier of your LaB6 cathodes and they are=
sure to be able to give you a sheet relating to saturation and good housekeeping for LaB6, you just cannot treat these sources like W, they a= re very sensitive! =
A LaB6 tip will become damaged by discharge (a W will usually not unless=
at TEM voltages) such that it may emit from more than one area. In order=
to prevent this you should run up the kV and filament very very slowly. =
This allows the gas emitted through these actions to be removed before th= e gun environment becomes suitable for discharge. W filaments will take al= l that you throw at them LaB6 I say again are very very sensitive but boy d= o you get some gains when they are up and running? Higher brightness less aberration therefore higher resolution and particularly at low kV.
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
Scanners Corporation has an opening for a Senior SEM Field Service Engineer. This position is for the Eastern U.S. region.
Job requirements are:
Minimum three years experience. Must have service experience on Cambridge, AMRAY,JEOL, or ISI(preferably Cambridge) Be able to work independently Have some rudimentary knowledge of EDS systems Have a good working knowledge of PC's
Scanners Corporation is one of the oldest and largest third party SEM service companies in the U.S.. We offer a full benefit package, above industry average salaries and commission. Please email or call for additional details. All replies will be kept in the strictest of confidence.
Contact: Gary M. Easton, Pres. Scanners Corporation 800-466-SCAN(7226)
I think a good starting-point could be the Reconstruction-Homepage with several references, software descriptions and links: http://biocomp.stanford.edu/3dreconstruction/index.html For basic information, maybe the following article is of help: http://www.videomicroscopy.com/Tutorials/3D%20Reconstruction/October%20hows% 20that%20work.htm I guess that for your task volume-renderer or ray-tracer software will be a better choice than surface-renderer. Some of the volume based programs are free, e.g. NIH-image for Mac (with integrated 3D functions) http://rsb.info.nih.gov/nih-image/ There is also a Windows version, called Scion-Image http://www.scioncorp.com/frames/fr_download_now.htm However, with such a complex structure like bone I would think about a way to use a confocal laser scanning microscope. This would avoid the problem of image alignement and you can use the integrated 3D-functions of the cLSM software. Maybe someone on the list does know a protocol for thick sectioning of bones and visualization with the LSM?
Best regards
Jens
} Hi everyone: } } I have been working for a long time in the field of inorganic materials. Now } I am getting into biomaterials and my first task is to determine porosity of } a bone, I think I need some help. I guess that if I record images of the } surface of the bone and apply sequential sectioning and image recording, I } will be able to reconstruct the 3d characteristics of the object. I wonder } if there is any software available to do the reconstruction or maybe someone } can suggest some references where I could get started. } } Thanks in advance } } } Hector Calderon
------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Jens Buecking Tel. +49-(0)421-218 3745 University of Bremen Fax. +49-(0)421-218 4620 Dep. of Biology Email jbueck-at-biologie.uni-bremen.de Leobener Str. - NW2 URL http://www1.uni-bremen.de/~jbueck/ D- 28359 Bremen (AG Prof. Dr. H. Witte) GERMANY
2tes Acarologisches Kolloquium in Bremen, 14.-16.10.99 http://www-user.uni-bremen.de/~acari/ -------------------------------------------------------------------
I've received a few replies to my inquiry about TV rate performance of solid-state vs. scintillator BSE detectors. Thank you.
It seems that the p-n type solid state BSE detectors are not quite up to the performance at TV rates of the scintillator types, but solid-state systems such as those provided by GW Electronics do provide good TV rate performance.
Bruce E. Brinson has informed me that micro-channel plate type BSE detectors also perform adequately at TV rate and much better at that rate than some p-n solid state type detectors he has used.
In my case, I was attempting to use an "in-my-lab" modified Robinson BSE detector system. My TV-rate performance was not good enough. The light pipe shape that I prepared for my ARL SEMQ's BSE system is far from optimum because of little available space for an "overhead" scintillator and a slightly remote location needed for the PMT.
Another modification performed a few days ago has now given good TV rate performance. A simple idea. Tricky to execute. I cored out the lens bore area of the plastic scintillator of the original and replaced that volume with a cerium doped YAG crystal. A much, much brighter scintillator material than the plastic. Better performance yet will be achieved with fiber optics instead of the solid plastic light pipe.
We use John Russ's Image Processing Tool Kit (Reindeer Games Inc.) that works as Photoshop plug-ins to do this sort of thing with collagen banding. I just work on the FT image as a greyscale using Photoshop tools to select or reject the parts of interest then do a inverse filtered FT. Very easy to work with. You can remove bands or enhance bands either way.
Bob Derm Imaging Center
On Wed, 5 May 1999, Robert H. Olley 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } First, thanks to all of you who either: } } (a) told me about silver membrane filters, which I had not heard of before } (b) reminded me of Gelman, who recommended their PTFE membranes. } } As to which I use for which application, it's horses for courses! } } And now the question: one has a scanned or digitally acquired micrograph. } The background is a gently varying grey, with rather low contrast local } features (blobs, bacteria, or whatever). The task is to Fourier } transform, then filter out the lowest frequencies with a high-pass filter, } leaving one with the features on a uniform grey background. One can then } increase the contrast to make the features more prominent for printed } reproduction. Is there software (Win 95) that can do this? (preferably } inexpensive, though we could make arrangements to use plugins for Adobe } Photoshop elsewhere, if necessary). } } You can see an example of what I'm trying to do on: } } http://www.reading.ac.uk/~spsolley/fourier.htm } } +------------------------------------------------------------------------+ } | 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 | } +------------------------------------------------------------------------+ } } }
There is a software package called EIKONA3D, developed by a company called AlphaTec Ltd., which is a 3D image processing and analysis package that provides special features and tools for working with image sequences/serial sections originated from microscopy (e.g. 3D image processing, image alignment, 3D reconstruction, 3D visualization, volume rendering, surface rendering, 3D registration,= etc.).
Further information and a free demo version of EIKONA3D are available through AlphaTec's web site: http://www.alphatecltd.com
Regards, Nikos Nikopoulos
At 02:04 =EC=EC 7/5/1999 -0500, you wrote: } } Hi everyone: } } I have been working for a long time in the field of inorganic materials.= Now } I am getting into biomaterials and my first task is to determine porosity= of } a bone, I think I need some help. I guess that if I record images of the } surface of the bone and apply sequential sectioning and image recording, I } will be able to reconstruct the 3d characteristics of the object. I wonder } if there is any software available to do the reconstruction or maybe= someone } can suggest some references where I could get started.=20 } } Thanks in advance } } } Hector Calderon }
I inquired about a classified section and was given the following response:
"There isn't a "classified" section, but you can post such a notice on the listserver. I hope that's helpful to you.
Cindy Clark MSA Administrator"
The message I want posted is as follows:
We are selling a Cambridge S100 SEM with an Energy Dispersive X-ray analysis attachment. We are looking for $5000 to $10,000 exclusive of shipping costs. Anyone interested please send e-mail to tpizzey-at-canspec.com.
We do not need to routinely capture TEM images with a digital camera, as is being discussed. It would be nice though to be able to scan negatives that are to be used for say publication or other presentation.
Is there a scanner available than can produce a high resolution image, i.e. suitable for publication?
Also, thanks to those who provided responses on basement membrane labeling.
After using our SEM's cold stage for the first time last week we have a few observations. The phenomenon which were demonstrated is with regards to cathodo-luminescence and backscatter emission, so I'll send this query to the list in two parts. I hope that someone will comment on our observations as to verify what is mysterious, and possibly explain what we are seeing.
We are examining the CL emission of quartz so as to study and possibly characterize features and textures with regards to source and history (e.g., if we were to examine a sandstone, we might be able to say the source of the qtz was metamorphic or igneous). This particular hydrothermal specimen we thought would be ideal for cold stage introduction because it had demonstrated marked areas of absolute absence of CL as well as otherwise. What we saw at low temperatures was a bit disappointing. Whereas the increase in CL intensity was very dramatic for temperatures {-100C, all of the features disappeared!!! It would be interesting to examine this phenemenon in color so as to evaluate whether the color becomes homogenous as well.
Lastly ... this particular qtz sample demonstrates a phenomenon of retaining an overprint of e-beam bombardment. That is, if we were to zoom in for a focus, a subsequent image capture would show us a small bright rectangle in the middle. This phenomenon is common, BUT it isn't demonstrated by every type of qtz. Has anyone correlated this "overprinting" with a type of qtz or possibly specimen preparation??
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 are looking for an old Philips 201. We currently have one we are using and since parts are a little hard to come by, we would like to find another one that could be purchased for parts. If you have one you would like to sell or donate, please contact me off list.
Thanks,
Michael D. Standing Microscopy Lab Brigham Young University P.O. Box 25181 Provo, UT 84602-5181
After using our SEM's cold stage for the first time last week we have a few observations. The phenomenon which were demonstrated is with regards to ... backscatter emission .. I hope that someone will comment on our observations as to verify what is mysterious, and possibly explain what we are seeing.
We are examining the CL emission of quartz and whereas BSE imaging is of little use, we do like to document our CL imagery with an accompanying BSE image. We never expected BSE imaging at cold temperatures to be any different, so we were surprised at what was demonstrated ... which was a marked increase in the topographic contribution to the BS emission. Our BS detector is the twin solid-state type where the BS signal acquired by both halves shows atomic number contrast and the difference signal shows topography. We were using a 25mm working distance so it is difficult to believe the cold stage cooled the pole-piece mounted detector. At temperatures less than -100C we couldn't see any Z contrast at all, even for MoS inclusions in the qtz vein!!! Even at temps near zero C the polishing defects were easily seen and didn't disappear 'til ambients temps were again achieved. I am not sure the Z information actually disappears, but the topo component definitely floods the signal and is impossible to remove withour sacrificing general contrast. It would first be interesting to know if someone else has seen this with both types of BS detectors ... i.e., the scintilator type (e.g., Robinson) as well.
I've never heard of anyone speaking of this phenomenon ... does anyone have any ideas or similar observations??
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/
Maybe your topographic information isn't changing (use SE at ambient and cold temps to check). But there could be a surface layer of ice which masks the atomic number contrast. You could also monitor x-ray counts at ambient and cold to see if there is a change.
: cooled the pole-piece mounted detector. At temperatures less : than -100C we couldn't see any Z contrast at all, even for MoS : inclusions in the qtz vein!!! Even at temps near zero C the : polishing defects were easily seen and didn't disappear 'til : ambients temps were again achieved. I am not sure the Z : information actually disappears, but the topo component definitely : floods the signal and is impossible to remove withour sacrificing : general contrast. It would first be interesting to know if someone : else has seen this with both types of BS detectors ... i.e., the : scintilator type (e.g., Robinson) as well. :
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 --------------------------------
Some where I seem to remember that phosphorus has enough of a radioactivity isotope to measure. Okstate built a scintillation counter that would hold a cow. You wouldn't need one nearly so bit but if phosphorus is correlated to density it would be an easy test.
While on the subject of bones I took some pictures of some rat bones being broken. It was the usual dietary calcium trial but some of the rats had been fed small amounts of vadium(sp). The rats fed vadium(sp) did not have any stronger bones than the corresponding rats in the test the only difference is while the bones broke at the same load they did not snap. The went through a very noticeable plastic deformation before separating.
I never saw any more about the research.
Gordon
Gordon Couger gcouger-at-couger.com 624 Cheyenne Stillwater, OK 74075-1411 405 624-2855 GMT -6:00 www.couger.com/gcouger
-----Original Message----- } From: info {info-at-zeus.csd.auth.gr} To: microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com {microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com}
Dear Hector,
There is a software package called EIKONA3D, developed by a company called AlphaTec Ltd., which is a 3D image processing and analysis package that provides special features and tools for working with image sequences/serial sections originated from microscopy (e.g. 3D image processing, image alignment, 3D reconstruction, 3D visualization, volume rendering, surface rendering, 3D registration, etc.).
Further information and a free demo version of EIKONA3D are available through AlphaTec's web site: http://www.alphatecltd.com
Regards, Nikos Nikopoulos
At 02:04 7/5/1999 -0500, you wrote: } } Hi everyone: } } I have been working for a long time in the field of inorganic materials. Now } I am getting into biomaterials and my first task is to determine porosity of } a bone, I think I need some help. I guess that if I record images of the } surface of the bone and apply sequential sectioning and image recording, I } will be able to reconstruct the 3d characteristics of the object. I wonder } if there is any software available to do the reconstruction or maybe someone } can suggest some references where I could get started. } } Thanks in advance } } } Hector Calderon }
I would very much appreciate the complete name of the journal Boll. Zool. Please, answer me not to the list. Thanks in advance.
Gabriel Adriano Rosa Area Microscopia Electronica, Depto. Cs. Biologicas Fac. de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires Ciudad Universitaria, 4 piso, Pab. II, CP 1428, Buenos Aires, ARGENTINA TE -(54-11)-4576-3349 e-mail micros-at-bg.fcen.uba.ar FAX (54-11)-4576-3384
I thought it was a nice touch when Nestor added the MSA plug to each of the posts and included the instructions for (un)subscribing. However, there has been a recent rash of unsubscription requests coming to the list by mistake. Apparently ones are not reading the instructions. The header plainly states that the requests are to be sent to
ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com
not to the list itself. They should have the subscription action included as the body in the form
By following these instructions, you can make the changes yourself. The only time Nestor (or the list) should have to be bothered by subscription requests is if a subscriber can no longer mail from the same address they subscribed under. In those cases, this list server (and most others) will require intervention to make sure the request is authentic. But for the majority of cases, I encourage those that wish to unsubscribe to read the header more closely. Nestor does enough for this list already.
Gatan DigitalMicrograph (DM) software can do precisely what you want to do with your images. They are all the standard features in DM. There are a large number of life science microscopists using DM. For further info, check out www.gatan.com, or send me an email.
Good luck!
Ming Pan Gatan, Inc.
} } } } And now the question: one has a scanned or digitally acquired micrograph. } } The background is a gently varying grey, with rather low contrast local } } features (blobs, bacteria, or whatever). The task is to Fourier } } transform, then filter out the lowest frequencies with a high-pass filter, } } leaving one with the features on a uniform grey background. One can then } } increase the contrast to make the features more prominent for printed } } reproduction. Is there software (Win 95) that can do this? (preferably } } inexpensive, though we could make arrangements to use plugins for Adobe } } Photoshop elsewhere, if necessary). } } } } You can see an example of what I'm trying to do on: } } } } http://www.reading.ac.uk/~spsolley/fourier.htm } } } } +------------------------------------------------------------------------+ } } | Robert H.Olley Phone: | } } | J.J.Thomson Physical Laboratory {direct line +44 (0) 118 9318572 | } } | University of Reading {University internal extension 7867 | } } | Whiteknights Fax +44 (0) 118 9750203 | } } | Reading RG6 6AF Email: R.H.Olley-at-reading.ac.uk | } } | England URL: http://www.reading.ac.uk/~spsolley | } } +------------------------------------------------------------------------+ } } } } } }
I am not an expert in this area but guess the procedure is as follows.
1. Use a fine metal polish to remove, by polishing, the aluminium a= nd phosphor from the old scintillator.
2. Clean with solvent the scintillator glass.
3. Mix a solution of phosphor in a solvent (?) with one or two drops=
of a plastic solution like formvar (to give strength). Ultrasonic this solution.
4. Place the scintillator in a beaker and pour onto it the phosphor solution. Cover but with a space for ventilation.
5. After some hours the solution will settle, decant off the excess and wait several days for the coating to dry.
6. Remove scintillator and if no defects are visible coat in a high vacuum, coating unit with a very thin layer of aluminium.
7. Check in microscope for efficiency.
8. If not good experiment with phosphor coating thickness and/or wit= h type of phosphor, P54 comes to mind(?)
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
Dear Gabriel and others, I have sent this to the list as some of this info is quite generally useful and not just for Gabriel's question.
Chemical abstracts service provides a list of the approved abbreviations for all the journals abstracted in "Chemical Abstracts" at http://info.cas.org/sent.html There is a list of biological journal abbreviations at: http://arachne.prl.msu.edu/journams/ and a list of journals in the ISI at: http://library.caltech.edu/admin/abbreviations/ although none of these have Boll. Zool.
Hope this helps
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Ian MacLaren Department of Experimental Physics Chalmers University of Technology S-412 96 G=F6teborg Sweden Tel: +46 31 772 36 33 FAX: +46 31 772 32 24 email: maclaren-at-fy.chalmers.se or: ianmaclaren-at-hotmail.com Research Group Homepage: http://fy.chalmers.se/microscopy/ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Gabriel Adriano Rosa wrote: } I would very much appreciate the complete name of the journal Boll. Zool. } Please, answer me not to the list. } Thanks in advance.
I am not in the biology sector, but I guess it should be Bull. Zool. - there is at least a journal named Raffles Bulletin of Zoology.
Joergen.
J. B. Bilde-Soerensen Senior Research Scientist, Ph. D. Materials Research Department Risoe National Laboratory DK-4000 Roskilde Denmark
I am trying to visualize by negative staining the attachment of phages to bacteria. However the bacteria shrink under the EM vacum, leaving an artefactual space between the negative stain and the cell wall which do not allow to take good pictures of the attached phages.
Here is the protocol I am using: I am using 2% uranyl acetate as the negative stain The cells are adsorbed to carbon coated formvar grids for 1 minute Excess is drained with filter paper The grids are floated in the negative stain for 1 minute Excess is drained with filter paper The grid goes into the TEM
I have tryed a few modifications such as fixing the material and mixing the stain with the bacteria suspension, but it did not work.
can anyone send further suggestions???
Sincerelly
Dr. A.P. Alves de Matos EM Unit, Pathology Department Curry Cabral Hospital Lisbon
Does anyone know the formula/ chemical name for an etchant called glyceregia? It is used to show carbonitrides in stainless steels for optical microscopy and I'ld like to know how to prepare some.
Im forwarding this message to the list. Hopefully someone in the states will be able to help.
Please email him direct at pwilsonarzu-at-Hotmail.com
} Dear Sir: } } I would like some information on buying a used electron microscope in the } United States. } } I would really appreciate any information you may have available. } } My e-mail: pwilsonarzu-at-Hotmail.com } } Thank you in advance, } } Philip E. Wilson
---------------------- Kevin Mackenzie Electron Microscope unit Dept Zoology University of Aberdeen Tillydrone avenue Aberdeen AB24 2TZ ----------------- Tel 01224 272847 Fax 01224 272396 email k.s.mackenzie-at-abdn.ac.uk
Hi everyone, I have heard of radiation damage to the specimens, and I'm curious how much beam current and current densities are there on the specimen in HREM imaging and nano-diffraction. Your replies are highly appreciated.
A search of the library here turned up "Bollettino di zoologia" published as vols. 1-62, 1930-1995, and since continued as the Italian Journal of Zoology.
Best regards,
Dan Luchtel, Ph.D. Professor University of Washington Environmental Health Box 357234 Seattle, WA 98195-7234
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Good day all, Does anyone have a schematic for a Coolwell chiller? Model # SE-075W C2?? I need some help to find out what the electronics are suppose to be? not what they are. Any help would be nice, since what I have heard they where bought out, and the holding company only wanted the name and management, so no tech help. Sincerly,
************************************************ Robert J. Derby New Mexico Institute of Technology Socorro, N.M. Phone - 505-835-5866 E-mail - rjderby-at-excite.com derby-at-nmt.edu ************************************************
_______________________________________________________ Get your free, private email at http://mail.excite.com/
} Some where I seem to remember that phosphorus has enough of a } radioactivity isotope to measure. Okstate built a scintillation counter } that would hold a cow. You wouldn't need one nearly so bit but if } phosphorus is correlated to density it would be an easy test. } Dear Gordon, Natural phosphorus is 100% P-31. The two radioactive isotopes are P-32 & P-33 with half-lives of 14 & 25 days, respectively. They both emit relatively high-energy beta-. Even so, the beta's would not make it to a scintillation counter if they originated in cow bones (assuming that the rest of the cow was still attached :-)). You are probably thinking of potassium, which has a significant amount of K-40. It is this isotope which gives a measurably larger dose of radiation from being inside a concrete building, as opposed to a wood building. Yours, Bill Tivol
We are one of the net's premier marketing and broker companies.
Look at some of the High Traffic Items we deliver! One of our products, "Personality Plus" you don't even have to be in business to use everyone on the net can have their own....
1. PREMIER MAILING SERVICE - Order any size mailing from us and we'll give you 50% more emails =46REE emails. Imagine the responses you coul= d get! Order 100,000 emails, we'll deliver 150,000! Order 500,000 emails, we'll deliver 750,000! Time limited offer! Available only for the next 14 days!
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
2. PERMALINKS - =46orget =46=46A's, classifieds, and search engines. Permalinks is the net's Newest and smartest way to advertise your site. Join the affliate members plan and get 5 links amonth for 12 months. ($1200 value). Permalinks is the best and here's why. (1) Permalinks are permanent Links. Your links remain on the page for a full month or 12 months is you are an affiliate member (2) Your links remain in the same position so people know where to find you (3) You can earn 50% commission and monthly cash bonuses as a full affiliate member, and here's the best part (4) Your links don't just appear on one page, they appear on all our reseller and affiliate member sites to. Join now and get 10% discount if you order within the next 14 days!
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
3. MASTERLISTS - The net's premier opt-in mailing list. Affiliate members can earn 50% commission and monthly cash bonuses, and since we do the mailing for you it is 100% safe! Join now and get 12 months access to our secret, password protected download site, packed with the latest marketing tools and info thatyou can download immediately. We add to this site monthly as new resources become available. Join now and get a 10% discount if you order within the next 14 days!
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
4. BANNER CLICK-THRU'S - Get guaranteed traffic to your site with our superior low cost banner click-thru's. You only pay for people who actually visit your site. Lowest prices on the net! Order within the next 14 days and get a 20% discount!
Want to know more about these incredible services?
} I am trying to visualize by negative staining the attachment of phages to } bacteria. } However the bacteria shrink under the EM vacum, leaving an artefactual } space between the negative stain and the cell wall which do not allow to } take good pictures of the attached phages. } } Here is the protocol I am using: } I am using 2% uranyl acetate as the negative stain } The cells are adsorbed to carbon coated formvar grids for 1 minute } Excess is drained with filter paper } The grids are floated in the negative stain for 1 minute } Excess is drained with filter paper } The grid goes into the TEM } } I have tryed a few modifications such as fixing the material and mixing the } stain with the bacteria suspension, but it did not work. } } can anyone send further suggestions??? } Dear A.P., I am most definitely not an expert on this. The protocol you're using is the same as I use in my work. Since the problem is with shrink- age, perhaps placing a few ul of bacterial suspension on the grid, air drying and placing it in a vacuum, then applying the UAc will prevent the problem. Of course, such treatment could induce artifacts--it is a pretty severe process--but it might still tell you what you want to know. Freeze-drying could be another way to go, but this can also pro- duce artifacts; I've seen the results when this was done to kidney, and it's not pretty. Good luck. Yours, Bill Tivol
Hello! I need a heater to keep mammalian cells warm while viewing them with a light microscope. I know there are various types avaiable but I'm not sure where to find them. Can anyone recommend a company that sells this sort of thing? Cheers, Jennifer
-- Jennifer Shuler, Ph.D. Director of Imaging Facility Adjunct Assistant Professor Biology Department, Box 7325 Wake Forest University Winston-Salem, NC 27109
Adam 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, } } Does anyone know the formula/ chemical name for an etchant called } glyceregia? It is used to show carbonitrides in stainless steels for } optical microscopy and I'ld like to know how to prepare some. } } Thank you, } } Adam Scott } } ascott1-at-engfac.uct.ac.za
Adam,
Please go to the http://www.kaker.com/mvd/vendors.html, there is a link to my free etchant's database. Bellow is search result:
Material: Wrought stainless steels (Fe) Type: Microetchant Method: Chemical etching Etchant (Electrolyte): 10 ml HNO3, 20 to 50 ml HCl, 30 ml glycerol (Glyceregia). Procedure: Mix HCl and glycerol thoroughly before adding HNO3. Discard before solution attains a dark orangr color. Immerse or swab specimen for a few seconds to a few minutes. Higher percentage of HCl minimizes pitting. Remarks: General structure. Reference: Metallography, Structures and Phase Diagrams, Metals Handbook, 8th Edition, Vol. 8, ASM (American Society for Metals), Metals Park, Ohio 44079, USA, 1973, p. 98.
Henrik
-- Henrik Kaker, Ph.D. SEM-EDS Laboratory Metal Ravne, Koroska cesta 14 Ravne, Slovenia, Phone: +386 602 21 131 Fax: +386 602 20 436 Mailto:Henrik.Kaker-at-guest.arnes.si http://www2.arnes.si/guest/sgszmera1/index.html
} -----Original Message----- } } Hello, } } Does anyone know the formula/ chemical name for an etchant called } glyceregia? It is used to show carbonitrides in stainless steels for } optical microscopy and I'ld like to know how to prepare some. } } Thank you, } } Adam Scott } } ascott1-at-engfac.uct.ac.za ------------------------------------------------------
Adam,
According to the ASM Metals Handbook, 8th Edition, Volume 8, page 98
"Glyceregia: 10ml HNO3, 20 to 50 ml HCL, 30 ml glycerol."
"Procedure: Mix HCL and glycerol thoroughly before adding HN03. Discard before solution attains a dark orange color. Immerse or swab specimen for a few seconds to a few minutes. Higher percentage of HCL minimizes pitting"
Hope this helps.
Neither TIMET nor William Giles assume any responsibility for the above quoted formula.
This is a follow-up on my query about fixing isolated mitochondria for TEM. First, thanks to all who responded. A summary of replies is below. We solved our immediate problem by fixing in 4% glutaraldehyde in 0.1M sodium cacodylate, r.t. for ca 30 min, and then into the fridge until the next morning. I followed with a fairly routine postfixation, dehydration, and embedding. We got good enough results to answer the first questions. However, there will be many more!
I would like to mine the collective expertise further. For the next step the client would like to localize calcium and, if possible, do some crude quantitation. From my background in neurophys I know this is tricky. Do any of you have a current favorite localization technique? In the (far distant) past I have used K-pyroantimonate to precipitate Ca with mixed results, and I can't find that particular recipe. New ideas would be enthusiastically received.
Soon I hope to have a better instrument to help in this and many other quests. We just installed a LEO (Zeiss) 912 AB TEM with integrated omega energy filter. What a beautiful instrument! What potential! How exciting! I wish I knew how to use it... I've only had it a couple of weeks and, while I can make the basic instrument work well, I still haven't had my "applications training" to learn how to use the energy filter for ESI, EELS, and all the really useful and fun stuff. I've tried to bull my way through the manuals and run on intuition, but that approach isn't working...
However, I am confident it will be useful for this kind of problem. I would be interested in striking up an e-mail penpal relationship with anyone else with this instrument.
We do not yet have a cryostage for it, and so looking at ultrarapidly cryofixed, unprecipitated ions is not yet a possibility.
Secondly, I would like to hear from anyone who might have an explanation and/or citations for the appearance of these isolated mitochondria that have been subjected to high Ca concentrations. We are seeing cup-shaped mitochondria (which I see in my inverts all the time), but the outer membrane on the side of the concavity is NOT concave, and is swollen outward. This wouldn't bother us so much, except it nags at me that there is something asymetrical about the mitochondria membranes that causes the inner and outer membranes to stay attached on one side and not on the other. Plus, sometimes the cristae are swollen and sometimes not. I would appreciate being pointed to appropriate literature, if any. My searches have not been very fruitful at this point. Control mitochondria processed at the same time do not exhibit this morphology.
Here is the summary of responses I received a few weeks ago:
Have you tried/considered fixing them in the last buffer they see before fixation? I always worry about isolation protocols....the mitos may look blah because of something they've been in during the isolation protocol, not because of your solutions. Now I try to at least match the final solution in the prep. As an example - organelles that have been purified through sucrose gradients are going to look like crap if they are taken from their sucrose and fixed in 0.1M any buffer! (Been there, done that...). And mitos are so fussy, anyway.......Investigators can be reticent about their preps. I'm sure you've had the, "Oh, didn't I tell you? These fractions are in 5M Tris" experience. Homicide doesn't seem to be a viable response :) ********************************************************** Yes I did, thanks. They looked really terrible! ********************************************************** A long time ago back in the mists of time I used to fix isolated cell fractions, mitochondrial, lysosomal, nuclear, gap junctions, etc.
We used a double fixative of cold Glutaraldehyde and Osmium Tetroxide mixed.
Reference as follows:-
Ultrastructure of Human Leukocytes after simultaneous fixation with Ultrastructure of Human Leukocytes after simultaneous fixation with Glutaraldehyde and Osmium Tetroxide and "post-fixation" in Uranyl Acetate. Hirsch, J.G. & Fedorko, M.E. (1968) J.Cell. Biol. 38, 615.
This excellent for cell suspensions and fractions. The fixative is mixed on ice and used immediately after mixing. Fixation also on ice. Fixation time for a small pellet about 30 minutes.
I used this method a lot at one time and can thoroughly recommend it. But, only for suspensions and cell pellets. Not for solid tissue.
Membranes are well defined, swelling/shrinkage artefacts are not a problem. ******************************************************************* We have had good luck with high-pressure freezing. We have examined unstained, frozen-hydrated mitos on the 400 kV instrument here. Although this procedure requires instruments not available at all facilities, I expect to get minimal artefact. ******************************************************************
Mahalo to you all- 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* ****************************************************************************
You better check on the polishing step with someone who knows for sure. If there is a conductive coating on the glass under the phosphor (and I'm sure there is), such as tin oxide or indium tin oxide, you'll probably take that off too. The thin aluminum on top of the phosphor protects the phosphor and is not used as the applied voltage contact. Hard rubbing without the abrasive will not take the coating off the glass. A product like Soft Scrub might do the trick for you, but again, I would double check before I would risk it.
You have to be careful in Steve's step 5. If you cause the water solution to move too much, you can get a wavy coating. One trick that I used when making transparent screens, is to run a small diameter tube into the container that the plate being coated was place down to the bottom of the bottom. I would then tape the tube to the outside and attach a syringe to the bottom. The syringe was below the bottom of the container with the tube and syringe full. When it was time to decant the liquid, I pulled the plunger and started a siphon into a beaker. It took a while because the tubing was so small, but it worked fine.
Another addition that you can put in the solution is potassium silicate. (Sometimes this is called liquid glass.) It helps to bond the phosphor to the glass. Sorry, but I can't remember how much to put in. It was only a few percent.
-Scott
---------- } From: Steve Chapman To: de Lillo Enrico; American -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
I am not an expert in this area but guess the procedure is as follows.
1. Use a fine metal polish to remove, by polishing, the aluminium and phosphor from the old scintillator.
2. Clean with solvent the scintillator glass.
3. Mix a solution of phosphor in a solvent (?) with one or two drops of a plastic solution like formvar (to give strength). Ultrasonic this solution.
4. Place the scintillator in a beaker and pour onto it the phosphor solution. Cover but with a space for ventilation.
5. After some hours the solution will settle, decant off the excess and wait several days for the coating to dry.
6. Remove scintillator and if no defects are visible coat in a high vacuum, coating unit with a very thin layer of aluminium.
7. Check in microscope for efficiency.
8. If not good experiment with phosphor coating thickness and/or with type of phosphor, P54 comes to mind(?)
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
First, try the company from which you purchased your microscope. Secondly, BioOptechs has great stages for live cell work. Finally, there are several manufacturers for warming stages. Visit either www.mwrn.com or the microscopy society site (www.msa.microscopy.com) for vendors. Email me if you have trouble finding contact information.
Best regards Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater productivity.
125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} ****************************************************** MME is America's first national consortium providing customized on-site workshops in all areas of microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis.
At 02:34 PM 5/11/99 -0400, Jennifer Waters wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
} I am trying to visualize by negative staining the attachment of phages to } bacteria. } However the bacteria shrink under the EM vacum, leaving an artefactual } space between the negative stain and the cell wall which do not allow to } take good pictures of the attached phages. } } Here is the protocol I am using: } I am using 2% uranyl acetate as the negative stain } The cells are adsorbed to carbon coated formvar grids for 1 minute } Excess is drained with filter paper } The grids are floated in the negative stain for 1 minute } Excess is drained with filter paper } The grid goes into the TEM } } I have tryed a few modifications such as fixing the material and mixing the } stain with the bacteria suspension, but it did not work. } } can anyone send further suggestions??? }
You can freeze-dry the negative stains. Look for the papers of N.V. Nermut e.g. in the Proc 5th European Congress on Electron Microscopy 1972 page 236. ***************************************************** Mel Dickson, Deputy Director. Electron Microscope Unit, University of New South Wales. Sydney NSW 2052 Australia
Has anyone had success in staining wax in a rubber matrix? Either optical or electron contrast methods would be of interest, particularly those for SEM. Thanks for your thoughts.
Hi all, Boll.Zool. stands for Bollettino di Zoologia, now known as "The Italian Journal of Zoology". Here's their website: http://www.uniroma1.it/bau/uzi/itjz.htm
Glyceregia formula =3D 10 ml HNO3 + 20 to 50 ml HCl + 30 ml glycerine (ref.: ASM Metal Handbook, Desk Edition, page 35.35)
Marc Montreuil Rolls-Royce Canada
Adam a =E9crit:
} -----------------------------------------------------------------------= - } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------= =2E } } Hello, } } Does anyone know the formula/ chemical name for an etchant called } glyceregia? It is used to show carbonitrides in stainless steels for } optical microscopy and I'ld like to know how to prepare some. } } Thank you, } } Adam Scott } } ascott1-at-engfac.uct.ac.za
-----Original Message----- } From: William Tivol {tivol-at-wadsworth.org}
} Dear Gordon, } Natural phosphorus is 100% P-31. The two radioactive isotopes } are P-32 & P-33 with half-lives of 14 & 25 days, respectively. They both } emit relatively high-energy beta-. Even so, the beta's would not make } it to a scintillation counter if they originated in cow bones (assuming } that the rest of the cow was still attached :-)). } You are probably thinking of potassium, which has a significant } amount of K-40. It is this isotope which gives a measurably larger dose } of radiation from being inside a concrete building, as opposed to a wood } building.
Bill,
I always did have trouble mixing up P & K when it was listed in any format but N-P-K in fertilizer.
If we wanted to measure P-32 or 33 we would have to drop the cow in the whole cow grinder. They have one that will grind up a cow hide, hair, guts and all for finding out what actually makes up a cow. It wouldn't be very useful for estimating bone destiny but the K-40 might if it is correlated to bone density. It would probably give skewed results for a lot of the world due to Chernoble and nuclear testing.
Gordon
Gordon Couger gcouger-at-couger.com 624 Cheyenne Stillwater, OK 74075-1411 405 624-2855 GMT -6:00 www.couger.com/gcouger
Bacteria are a bit thick for negative staining. Changing the stain concentration helps a little. The rule is that thick specimens appear better with a lower concentration of stain, say 2%. Thin specimens are better with a lower concentration, say 0.5%. You may get better appearance trying different staining solutions, PTA or Ammonium molybdate are good candidates. Don't grow cultures on a shaker, many flagella drop off and even fimbria may suffer.
This is a difficult subject for negative staining because you require both, bacteria and flagella in one picture. Much prettier images can be obtained with shadow casting. 1 Apply bacteria solution to the face of substrated grid. (apply and blot lightly several times to obtain better distribution) Drying would leave too much debris and salts, so use a volatile buffer to wash and maintain molarity. 2 Apply and blot bacteria coated grid repeatedly to a 0.1 M solution of ammonium acetate. 3 After air drying, angle (or rotary) shadow) grid in a vacuum evaporator using fine grain evaporating material. (simultaneous C/Pt or if available high resolution Cr coater as used for FESEM)
Another alternative: If the equipment is available would be FESEM of bacteria and flagella and this could be supplemented with an image of negatively stained flagella only, taken in TEM.
Its a little challenging project, but some nice images could result. Cheers Jim Darley ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Phone +61 7 4774 0370 Fax: +61 7 4789 2313 Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes ********************** www.proscitech.com.au *****
} I am trying to visualize by negative staining the attachment of phages to } bacteria. } However the bacteria shrink under the EM vacum, leaving an artefactual } space between the negative stain and the cell wall which do not allow to } take good pictures of the attached phages. } } Here is the protocol I am using: } I am using 2% uranyl acetate as the negative stain } The cells are adsorbed to carbon coated formvar grids for 1 minute } Excess is drained with filter paper } The grids are floated in the negative stain for 1 minute } Excess is drained with filter paper } The grid goes into the TEM } } I have tryed a few modifications such as fixing the material and mixing the } stain with the bacteria suspension, but it did not work. } } can anyone send further suggestions???
you can try to adsorb your bacteria/phage mixture onto carbon film, freshly prepared onto cleaved mica. Just cut out a small piece of the carbon film, a little bit smaller than your grid diameter. Put it in the sample solution under a 45=B0 angle and the carbon film will float from the mica. Take care that not all the carbon film floats of the mica! Let the samples adsorb for about 30 sec or 1 min depending on the optical density of your sample. Take the piece of mica back from the solution; the carbon film will reattach to the mica. Rinse in TE-buffer (Tris-EDTA buffer, 20 mM Tris, 1 mM EDTA,. pH 7.0)several times. Subsequentely, float the entire carbon film on 4% aqueous uranyl acetate, leave it for 10 sec and then pick up the carbon film with your grid. Soak access staining solution to such an extent that the surface of the grids is just wet; than immediately dry the grid under a lamp. You can also try to vary the amount of staining solution residing on the grid, i.e. to perform a "deep" stain and a "shallow" stain. Good luck. Manfred
At 12:50 11.05.99 +0100, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America=20 the } stain with the bacteria suspension, but it did not work. } } can anyone send further suggestions??? } } } Sincerelly } } Dr. A.P. Alves de Matos } EM Unit, Pathology Department } Curry Cabral Hospital } Lisbon } } } } }
Although the formulation for GLYCEREGIA is not the same as that for for making Nitroglycerine, nevertheless mixtures of alcohols (and other organics) with nitric acid need to be handled with care.
In the present case, I would not expect an explosion, but as in Henrik Kaker's reply, these mixtures can turn a dark orange colour. This is a warning that there may be a runaway reaction impending - generally the stuff boils over with copious quantities of brown nitric oxide gas being given off. The quantity of HCl in the mixture should prevent that happening too suddenly, but DO work in a fume cupboard and DON'T leave such a mixture around unattended.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Robert H.Olley Phone: | | J.J.Thomson Physical Laboratory {direct line +44 (0) 118 9318572 | | University of Reading {University internal extension 7867 | | Whiteknights Fax +44 (0) 118 9750203 | | Reading RG6 6AF Email: R.H.Olley-at-reading.ac.uk | | England URL: http://www.reading.ac.uk/~spsolley | +------------------------------------------------------------------------+
I obtained quite good results on E.coli with T4 phage by fixing in 2.5% glutaraldehyde, washing and then staining with about 1% sodium silicotungstate. There were no gaps and staining was good enough to visualise bacteria and fine structure of phage. I used sodium silicotungstate because it seems OK for both bacteria and viruses and seems better behaved than PTA or molybdate and I usually find that uranyl acetate can be very unpredictable in terms of quality and consistency and doesn't keep well.The reason I fixed wasn't to improve preservation - it was just so I could do a time-scale for the infection cycle to produce sections and negative stains
It was over 10 years ago and it's just my opinion, anyway.
Malcolm Haswell Electron Microscopy School of Sciences Fleming Building University of Sunderland SUNDERLAND SR1 3SD Tyne and Wear UK
Tel (0191) 515 2872 e-mail: malcolm.haswell-at-sunderland.ac.uk
---------- } From: jim-at-proscitech.com.au To: A.P. Alves de Matos Cc: 'microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.c
teria are a bit thick for negative staining. Changing the stain concentration helps a little. The rule is that thick specimens appear better with a lower concentration of stain, say 2%. Thin specimens are better with a lower concentration, say 0.5%. You may get better appearance trying different staining solutions, PTA or Ammonium molybdate are good candidates. Don't grow cultures on a shaker, many flagella drop off and even fimbria may suffer.
This is a difficult subject for negative staining because you require both, bacteria and flagella in one picture. Much prettier images can be obtained with shadow casting. 1 Apply bacteria solution to the face of substrated grid. (apply and blot lightly several times to obtain better distribution) Drying would leave too much debris and salts, so use a volatile buffer to wash and maintain molarity. 2 Apply and blot bacteria coated grid repeatedly to a 0.1 M solution of ammonium acetate. 3 After air drying, angle (or rotary) shadow) grid in a vacuum evaporator using fine grain evaporating material. (simultaneous C/Pt or if available high resolution Cr coater as used for FESEM)
Another alternative: If the equipment is available would be FESEM of bacteria and flagella and this could be supplemented with an image of negatively stained flagella only, taken in TEM.
Its a little challenging project, but some nice images could result. Cheers Jim Darley ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Phone +61 7 4774 0370 Fax: +61 7 4789 2313 Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes ********************** www.proscitech.com.au *****
} I am trying to visualize by negative staining the attachment of phages to bacteria. However the bacteria shrink under the EM } vacum, leaving an artefactual space between the negative stain and the cell wall which do not allow to } take good pictures of the attached phages. } } Here is the protocol I am using: } I am using 2% uranyl acetate as the negative stain The cells are adsorbed to carbon coated formvar grids for 1 minute } Excess is drained with filter paper The grids are floated in the negative stain for 1 minute Excess is drained with filter paper } The grid goes into the TEM } } I have tryed a few modifications such as fixing the material and mixing the stain with the bacteria suspension, but it did not work. } } can anyone send further suggestions???
I have had good results by mixing a drop of1% phosphotungsic acid (PTA) with an equal amount of my liquid bacterial culture on a glass slide, and drying about 0.5 mucroliters of this mixture on a formvar coated grid. You can eliminate distracting salt crystals by first gently centrifuging the bacteria (4 minutes at 5K rpm in an epindorf microcentrifuge) and resuspending the pellet in distilled water. You may not get away with this and still have phages adhering to the cells, but you could try before or after adding the phages. Good luck.
I have always made my lead citrate according to Reynold's original protocol starting with lead nitrate and sodium citrate. Somebody borrowed my bottle of lead nitrate and never returned it but I have a fresh bottle of granular lead citrate. I know there is a modification of Reynold's that starts with lead citrate. Does anyone have the formula and/or opinion on whether it is any different than the original. Thanks, Tom
Thomas E. Phillips, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Biological Sciences Director, Molecular Cytology Core Facility
3 Tucker Hall Division of Biological Sciences University of Missouri Columbia, MO 65211-7400 (573)-882-4712 (voice) (573)-882-0123 (fax)
The protocol I have used in the past is to hold the grid in forceps, apply about 10-20 ul of bacterial suspension for 1 min, and then draw off with filter paper. I then apply 20 ul of 2% aqueous phosphotungstic acid, leave on about 10 sec. and draw off and air-dry. You may have to fool around with the dilution of the bacterial suspension, so it's not too thick. Good luck.
Mary McKee
On Tue, 11 May 1999, A.P. Alves de Matos 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 collegues } } I am trying to visualize by negative staining the attachment of phages to } bacteria. } However the bacteria shrink under the EM vacum, leaving an artefactual } space between the negative stain and the cell wall which do not allow to } take good pictures of the attached phages. } } Here is the protocol I am using: } I am using 2% uranyl acetate as the negative stain } The cells are adsorbed to carbon coated formvar grids for 1 minute } Excess is drained with filter paper } The grids are floated in the negative stain for 1 minute } Excess is drained with filter paper } The grid goes into the TEM } } I have tryed a few modifications such as fixing the material and mixing the } stain with the bacteria suspension, but it did not work. } } can anyone send further suggestions??? } } } Sincerelly } } Dr. A.P. Alves de Matos } EM Unit, Pathology Department } Curry Cabral Hospital } Lisbon } } } }
HREM data is fairly easy to work out. We would generally use a 2 second exposure at 300k to 500k times mag. For our film (at 400kV) 20pA/cm2 gives the correct exposure. Ignoring the beam absorbed by the specimen, which should be thin for HREM, this works out at around 2x10^7 to 5x10^7 A/m2 on the specimen (assuming my maths is OK). This should be a reasonable estimate of the current density on the specimen. The beam area would typically be of the order of 0.3um to 1um diameter (approx. 10^-12 to 10^-13 m2).
Nano diffraction is much more variable - it depends on the type of electron gun, probe size, probe defocus, energy spread, etc. However, as a guide we can get a current of 1nA into a spot of 1nm for a FEG which is claimed to be 100 times brighter than a LaB6.
I hope this helps.
Regards, Ron
On Tue, 11 May 1999 09:35:09 -0500 (CDT) WENTAO QIN {s987041-at-jinx.umsl.edu} wrote: } } Hi everyone, } I have heard of radiation damage to the specimens, and I'm curious } how much beam current and current densities are there on the specimen in } HREM imaging and nano-diffraction. Your replies are highly appreciated. } } Wentao } }
---------------------- Mr. R.C. Doole Department of Materials, University of Oxford. Parks Road, Oxford. OX1 3PH. UK. Phone +44 (0) 1865 273701 Fax +44 (0) 1865 283333 ron.doole-at-materials.ox.ac.uk
Call Frank Haze, 800-367-5665. He can furnish you with whatever information is available for your Coolwell chiller. He also has coolant fluid still available. Good luck!
I have been using an HP Scanjet 4c which is about 4 years old and has a resolution of 300dpi. I find that this gives excellent results when printed on my Codonics 1600 dye sub printer. In fact I have found that scanning in at 150 to 200 dpi is sufficent in most cases and results in files of 1/2 the size of a 300dpi file. I may be mistaken but I believe the resolution of most prints in journals is 75 to 125 dpi, so if you scan in at 200 and send them an electronic version, that should suffice.
If you need photographic quality prints, there are numerous printers (ie Epson, HP, etc) that rivel photographs. My only complaint is the paper they use is far from being similar to actual photographic paper.
I am working on making AFM topography and phase images of a series of polymer samples which are made up of varying amounts of polycarbonate, polypropylene and mostly (} 80%) ABS. I have some nice images already (soon to be on our web site) but want to improve the quality. I also want to look at the bulk regions by using cryo-microtomy to create a nice flat face for imaging. Can someone share their experiences with these types of samples and any tips on the microtomy technique (best temperatures, etc.)? I also plan to use plasma etching to see if that will clean up the surface.
Thanks in advance.
Robert J. Plano Staff Analyst, SPM Services Surface Science Labs (650)962-8767, ext. 742
Dear Tom, The formula you are looking for is that of Venable, J. M., and Coggeshall, R. (1965). A simplified lead citrate stain for use in electron microscopy. J. Cell Biol. 25, 407. Add 0.01-0.04 g of lead citrate and 0.1 ml of 10 N NaOH to 10 ml distilled water to a screw-topped vial. Use distilled water that has been freshly boiled for at least 5 min. to ensure solutions are CO2-free. The mixture should be sonicated or vigorously shaken until the lead citrate is dissolved. Centrifuge before use. Use stain immediately. Usual staining time is 1-5 min. My experience is that this formula is much more intense than Reynolds (1963) lead citrate formula. This is helpful for getting more contrast from Spurrs resin sections for which I use 0.035g of lead citrate and stain for 5 -7 min. Word of caution: this stain is very sensitive to CO2. Thus to avoid precipitation make fresh each time of use and keep staining times short, and rinse well in CO2-free distilled water.
} I know there is a modification of Reynold's that starts with } lead citrate. Does anyone have the formula and/or opinion on whether it is } any different than the original.
I think the one you are looking for is the formulation described by Venable and Coggeshall (1965) (J.Cell.Biol. 25, 407-408). I haven't checked the original reference but in our notes the instructions are: weigh out 0.02g lead citrate, add 10ml distilled water followed by 0.1ml 10M NaOH. Shake vigorously until the solution is clear. Allow to stand for at least 30 mins and do not agitate the bottle.
It is also important not to use any of the staining solution from close to the bottom of the bottle.
We used this stain for a while many years ago but reverted to Reynolds which we have found to be less prone to contamination.
I seem to remember that there is another formulation using lead citrate as the starting material, by Sato, I think, but I cannot find it right now!
Regards
Robin
} } 3 Tucker Hall } Division of Biological Sciences } University of Missouri } Columbia, MO 65211-7400 } (573)-882-4712 (voice) } (573)-882-0123 (fax) }
Robin H Cross Director : EM Unit, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa R.Cross-at-ru.ac.za (or eurc-at-giraffe.ru.ac.za) tel: +27 46 603 8168 - fax: +27 46 622 4377 http://www.ru.ac.za/emu/index.htm
This has possibly been covered so I'll apologise in advance.
Does anyone out there know of a method to accurately determine the thickness of carbon films used on TEM grids? EELS is a possibility but I was looking for a more direct measurement eg using an SPM.
Thanks very much.
Colin Veitch
Instrumentation Scientist Electron Microscopy Textile and Material Technology Group CSIRO Textile and Fibre Technology PO Box 21, BELMONT, Vic. 3216. Australia.
Hello Malcolm and other involved in this discussion
} I obtained quite good results on E.coli with T4 phage
It will always be difficult to optimize negative stain for both viruses and bacteria because they are so different in size and density. For those who would like to see what I mean have a look at some results from one of our recent Microbiology undergrad practicals (http://www.ru.ac.za/emu/im4301.htm) - low res pictures, I'm afraid (can't afford a slow scan CCD camera!) but they do illustrate how the staining conditions vary for the different structures involved.
Regards
Robin
Robin H Cross Director : EM Unit, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa R.Cross-at-ru.ac.za (or eurc-at-giraffe.ru.ac.za) tel: +27 46 603 8168 - fax: +27 46 622 4377 http://www.ru.ac.za/emu/index.htm
I have been looking at some digital cameras for optical microscopy that "integrate". I would have called it "frame averaging" or "pixel averaging", but it appears to be the same image pre-processing technique. Specifically, I saw an "Optronics" camera and it seemed to be able to process low light levels as low as many dark field situations without the memory affects seen on low lux type cameras. Has anyone had any experience with this particular trade name? I am looking for service and dependability technical issues. Also any similar cameras? Please respond to my email. I don't want to flood the server with this issue,especially if any comments are slightly critical or complimentary and appear commercially biased. I don't mind commercial responses. I believe they are a real necessary technical component of this and all issues. Vendors are some of the best and most motivated technical resources we have available to us.(..but that's another subject...)
(I have no commercially beneficial interest in any cameras except the benefits of my laboratory applications, that is I do not sell them. "I am not spam."....did I cover this?)
jeffrey/ 'JD'
___________________________________________________________________ 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 have been looking at some digital cameras for optical microscopy that "integrate". I would have called it "frame averaging" or "pixel averaging", but it appears to be the same image pre-processing technique. Specifically, I saw an "Optronics" camera and it seemed to be able to process low light levels as low as many dark field situations without the memory affects seen on low lux type cameras. Has anyone had any experience with this particular trade name? I am looking for service and dependability technical issues. Also any similar cameras? Please respond to my email. I don't want to flood the server with this issue,especially if any comments are slightly critical or complimentary and appear commercially biased. I don't mind commercial responses. I believe they are a real necessary technical component of this and all issues. Vendors are some of the best and most motivated technical resources we have available to us.(..but that's another subject...)
(I have no commercially beneficial interest in any cameras except the benefits of my laboratory applications, that is I do not sell them. "I am not spam."....did I cover this?)
jeffrey/ 'JD' Email: WA5EKH-at-juno.com
___________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]
Dear Microcopists: I am doing HREM image simulation to compare my HREM image obtained by Philips EM 300 FEG. The parameters needed for calculation are: spherical aberration coeffienct (Cs), Gaussin defocus ("DELTA" for the Defocus spread ), beam convergent semiangle. I appreciate it if any one can give me the numbers of these three parameters for EM 300 FEG microscope. Thank you in advance.
You really need to measure these yourself as they do vary from 'scope to 'scope. I would first get hold of an amorphous Ge sample and do a tilted series of high resolution images for equal and opposite beam tilts (make sure the tilts are calibrated). If you take four tilts +/- X and +/- Y directions you can extract C_s. Using a higher number of tilts you can extract the third order aberration coefficient of your objective lens as well. Here are some references that may help you:
1: Measurement of the spherical aberration coefficient of TEMs by beam tilt induced image displacement: A.J.Koster & A.F. deJong: Ultramicroscopy 38 (1991) pp235-240
2:Improved methods for the determination of the spherical aberration coefficient in HREM from micrographs of an amorphous object: W.M.J.Coene & T.J.J.Denteneer: Ultramicroscopy 38 (1991) pp 225-233
3:Three fold astigmatism in HREM: O Krivanek Ultramicroscopy 55 (1994) pp419-433
4:A spherical aberration corrected 200 keV TEM M Haider, H Rose, S Uhlemann, E Scwann, B Kabius & K Urban Ultramicroscopy 75 (1998) pp53-60
Number 4 is definitely worth a look since it has some nice pictures to demonstrate.
-- ***************************************** Jonathan Barnard
Microstructural Physics, H.H.Wills Physics Laboratory, University of Bristol, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TL.
Tom, Oops. I gave you the wrong amount for lead. I should proof my own messages more carefully. It's 0.04 gms of lead citrate , not .4 like I previously said. Also if you place sodium hydroxide pellets around the perimeter of the staining dish it will absord the CO2.
I only dream about 300 keV FEG TEMs, so I don't have the numbers right handy. If you don't get them from the list, you might want to get a hold of J. C.H. Spence's book (Experimental High Resolution Electron Microscopy( Amazon says it's out of print)). As I recall there are step by step procedures for determining at least some of these values. A test sample like a holey gird that has seen a few seconds in an Au sputter-coater will help too.
cheers, John MSU
} Dear Microcopists: } I am doing HREM image simulation to compare my HREM image obtained by } Philips EM 300 FEG. The parameters needed for calculation are: } spherical aberration coeffienct (Cs), Gaussin defocus ("DELTA" for the } Defocus spread ), beam convergent semiangle. } I appreciate it if any one can give me the numbers of these three parameters } for EM 300 FEG microscope. Thank you in advance. } } DAI Jiyan } IMRE
I would like to thank those who send any information about the complete name of the journal Boll. Zool. I would also like to tell that it was not a missprint and that the journal=B4s name is Bolletino di Zoologia now known as The Italian Journal o= f Zoology (Ital. J. Zool.) since 1996. Bye.
Gabriel Adriano Rosa Area Microscopia Electronica, Depto. Cs. Biologicas Fac. de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires Ciudad Universitaria, 4 piso, Pab. II, CP 1428, Buenos Aires, ARGENTINA TE -(54-11)-4576-3349 e-mail micros-at-bg.fcen.uba.ar FAX (54-11)-4576-3384
Hi All, We have a Zeiss TEM. Normally when the filament is first switched on with both current and heating knobs are turned to mininimum the voltage indicator shoots up to 2V then immeadiatly starts going down to 1.3-1.4V within no more than 2 minutes, then we start raising the voltage by turning the heating knob until the voltage meter reads between 1.5-1.6V (the recomended voltage stated in the manual). Recently though we have been noticing that the voltage shoots up to 2.2V and stays there for several minutes then starts coming down very slowly and settles at more than 1.6V!!... Needless to say that we have also been burning too many filaments too quickly!! The filament lives have been no more than 10-15hours. We would appreciate any hints or suggestions on why would this happen. We are suspecting an electric problem in the filament control circuitry. Thank you.
NORAN Instruments, Middleton, WI, is a manufacturer of microscopy and microanalysis instrumentation and detectors. Check out our Web site at {www.noran.com} to see what kinds of products we are involved in.
NOTE: For some unknown reason, the software engineering position(s) I am describing here are not posted in the career opportunities section of our Web site, but I do know there is a pressing need. There are also positions open for the following (which are posted there): Mechanical Design Engineer; Detector Assembly Technician; Detector Test/Assembly Technician; Customer Support/Application Specialist; Service Engineer.
NORAN is actively seeking qualified software engineers or senior software engineers to support existing products (which are both UNIX and NT-based), and to assume a role in new product development. Mostly C and C++ programming at present. Familiarity with scientific programming in the areas of microscopy, imaging, microanalysis, or spectroscopy would be a definite plus.
NORAN is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Benefits and compensation are excellent!
Middleton is a beautiful suburb of Madison, and considered by many to be one of the choicest communities in this area. Madison itself has been named as the best place to live in America. Situated between two large lakes offering many recreational opportunities, Madison is replete with many nice parks and educational institutions (including the main University of Wisconsin campus), among other attractions, which contribute to an excellent overall quality of life.
If you or someone you know are qualified for and interested in any of these positions, please contact: Human Resources NORAN Instruments 2551 West Beltline Highway Middleton, WI 53562-2697 Phone: (608)831-6511 FAX: (608)836-7224 Or send your resume to me personally and I will gladly forward it to HR for you.
-------------------------------------------------- Timothy G. Moeller | NORAN Instruments Inc., Sr. Software Engineer | a ThermoSpectra company {tmoeller-at-noran.com} | {www.noran.com} -------------------------------------------------- DISCLAIMER: The statements and opinions expressed here are my own, and may not represent those of my employer, NORAN, nor of its parent, ThermoSpectra.
We routinely use lead citrate as described in a method by Venable and Coggeshall (1965) in J.Cell Biol.,25: 407 . It is quick to make up and always clean as long as you only use it on the day of making. We keep pre weighed portions of lead citrate ( 0.1 to 0.4 gm) in 10 ml specimen tubes When we need the stain we add 1 ml of N1 sodium hydroxide , wait a few minutes for the lead citrate to dissolve and add 9 ml of distilled water. Use only carbonate free NaOH and fresh distilled water.
Regards
John Manston John Manston Electron Microscope Unit Division of Biomedical Sciences Queen Mary and Westfield College University of London Mile End Road London E1 4NS Tel +171 982 6961 Fax +181 983 0613
We have a Aeiss 10A for sale. Duke University Equipment Appraisal Office and appraised it at $10K. Address at bottom. S Miller
On Thu, 15 Apr 1999, Peter Jordan wrote:
} Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1999 22:26:29 -0700 } From: Peter Jordan {emsi-at-pe.net} } To: EM Listserver {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} } Subject: Used Zeiss 10C } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Dear All: } I am still looking to buy a used Zeiss 10 TEM. There must be one out } there for sale. Please let me know. Thanks. } Peter Jordan, EMSI } } }
Sara E. Miller, Ph. D. P. O. Box 3020 Duke University Medical Center Durham, NC 27710 Ph: 919 684-3452 FAX: 919 684-8735
since you requested information through email, we will send you information about our high resolution digital light microscope cameras that way. If anybody else is interested in getting this information, please give us a call or contact us otherwise.
A technical note: Integrating is not necessarily the same as frame or pixel averaging. Frame or Pixel averaging means, that the camera acquires several frames and they are averaged on the frame grabber or the computer. Integration means, that the camera integrates the light on the chip by allowing longer exposure times.
Michael
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 1675 Carr St., #105N Lakewood, CO 80215 phone: (888) FIND SIS (303) 234-9270 fax: (303) 234-9271 email: info-at-soft-imaging.com
} ---------- } From: c j day[SMTP:wa5ekh-at-juno.com] } Sent: Tuesday, May 11, 1999 3:37 PM } To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: Integrating Digital Cameras? } } ---------------------------------------------------------------------- } -- } 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 been looking at some digital cameras for optical } microscopy that "integrate". I would have called it "frame averaging" } or } "pixel averaging", but it appears to be the same image pre-processing } technique. Specifically, I saw an "Optronics" camera and it seemed } to } be able to process low light levels as low as many dark field } situations } without the memory affects seen on low lux type cameras. Has anyone } had } any experience with this particular trade name? I am looking for } service } and dependability technical issues. Also any similar cameras? Please } respond to my email. I don't want to flood the server with this } issue,especially if any comments are slightly critical or } complimentary } and appear commercially biased. I don't mind commercial responses. I } believe they are a real necessary technical component of this and all } issues. Vendors are some of the best and most motivated technical } resources we have available to us.(..but that's another subject...) } } (I have no commercially beneficial interest in any cameras except the } benefits of my laboratory applications, that is I do not sell them. "I } am } not spam."....did I cover this?) } } jeffrey/ 'JD' } } ___________________________________________________________________ } 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] }
There are a few companies working on making CMOS (rather than = CCD-based) digital cameras which are perfect for the type of integrated solutions = that you describe.=A0 Unfortunately, the technology will only be ready for = the end of this year/beginning of 2000.=A0 If I were you, I would wait before investing, as it is predicted that digital cameras will take a big leap forward.=A0 Our company, Symagery Microsystems, is working on a chip = called the VCA1280.=A0 You can see the specs on our website at = www.symagery.com.=A0 We do not make the cameras themselves, but the following companies are = working on making CMOS cameras using our chip (I hope): Optronics (www.optronics.se), Wintriss, Xillix, SMD, Costar/JAI.
Hope this helps with your research.=A0 If you have any further = questions please do not hesitate to contact me.
-----Original Message----- } From: c j day [ mailto:wa5ekh-at-juno.com {mailto:wa5ekh-at-juno.com} ] Sent: May 11, 1999 5:59 PM To: microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com
Dear DAI Jiyan,
You can measure all three parameters or use accepted values. Cs depends on the polepiece. Nominal values for the CM300 are 0.65mm for the UT lens, 1.2mm for the ST, and 2.0mm for the T lens. Delta depends on Cc, high-voltage ripple and beam energy spread. Nominal values for Cc are 1.5mm UT, 1.5mm ST, and 2.0 for the T lens. You can measure the effective energy spread with a GIF or PEELS. Then a good estimate of delta is given by DELTA (in Angstroms) = 10 x Cc (in mm) x EnergySpread (ppm RMS). The EnergySpread is in parts-per-million (ppm) and is the Root-Mean-Square -- not the Full-Width-at-Half-Maximum value given by the GIF or PEELS measurement. You can use EnergySpread (ppm RMS) = EnergySpread (ppm FWHM)/2.335. For example, if you measure a FWHM energy spread of 1.0eV on a 300keV TEM, it is equivalent to1.0eV/300,000keV = 3.33 ppm FWHM. Then this is equal to 1.43 ppm RMS. Then the delta is 10 x 1.5 x 1.43 = 21.4 Angstrom. Since there is a small contribution from the lens current ripple, the final figure would be about 25 Angstrom. Beam-convergence depends of condenser lens defocus and condenser aperture. Easily measured by viewing the diffraction pattern of a known test structure with the illumination set as for imaging. For our CM300FEG/UT we use Cs = 0.65mm, delta = 25 A, alpha (convergence) = 0.35 milliradian.
A table of Cs and Cc values is given in Ultramicroscopy 47 (1992) 282-297. Measurement of alpha is also explained in Acta Cryst. 31 (1975) 307-310.
A good way to learn how to use image simulation is to attend the NCEM Summer School on Computing for HREM. Go to http://ncem.lbl.gov/ and click on "Summer School".
-Mike
DAI Jiyan 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 Microcopists: } I am doing HREM image simulation to compare my HREM image obtained by } Philips EM 300 FEG. The parameters needed for calculation are: } spherical aberration coeffienct (Cs), Gaussin defocus ("DELTA" for the } Defocus spread ), beam convergent semiangle. } I appreciate it if any one can give me the numbers of these three parameters } for EM 300 FEG microscope. Thank you in advance. } } DAI Jiyan } IMRE
Dear colleagues, We want to hire a suitable person for the Central Facility for Electron Microscopy at the Center for Materials Research and Analysis at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). The salary will at least likely be in the range of the mid $30k's and is dependent on experience. The medical, dental and retirement benefits package is substantial and includes subsidized tuition for employees to take UNL courses. (BTW, Lincoln is growing, has low unemployment, is great for families, has a good range of live music, dance and theater, and has very good public and other schools.) The Facility provides user-access for ~60 faculty plus their students and other researchers. The Facility includes a JEOL 2010 TEM, a JEOL 840A SEM and a VG HB501 field-emission STEM, along with a full range of accessories, specimen preparation equipment, computers and darkroom. Some development of new research instrumentation is in progress for mapping of magnetic materials and more development is planned for the Facility. You can find out more about the Facility on our web site (that does need a little work) at URL: http://www.unl.edu/CMRAcfem/ Thanks for passing on the word, Brian Robertson
Analyze/characterize materials using electron microscopy, materials preparation and computer instrumentation. Supervise/train students, faculty and visiting researchers utilizing these methods. Bachelor's with major in physical science, engineering or related field plus three years experience in the operation, repair or design of electron microscopes or other scientific instrumentation. Master's preferred. Must have excellent computer and interpersonal/communication skills. TEM, SEM, x-ray diffraction or materials sample preparation experience preferred. Excellent benefits. Submit cover letter, resume and names, addresses and telephone numbers of three professional references to Professor Brian Robertson, CMRA, N104 Walter Scott Engineering Center, UNL, Lincoln, NE 68588-0656 or e-mail brobertson-at-unl.edu. Review of resumes will begin June 1. Position will remain open until a suitable candidate is found. UNL is committed to AA/EEO and ADA/504. If you require accommodation, please call (402) 472-7886.
*********************************************************** Assoc. Prof. Brian W. Robertson Department of Mechanical Engineering and Center for Materials Research and Analysis University of Nebraska-Lincoln, N124 WSEC, 17th & Vine Sts., Lincoln, NE 68588-0656, USA ** Office 402 472 8308; FAX 472 1465; Labs 472 8762 and 472 5498 **
I don't want to start a thread of "CMOS vs. CCD" here, that probably belongs to a newsgroup or a different listserver, but I want to respond quickly to one posting regarding CMOS cameras. If you want to respond to this posting, please send me email directly and don't respond to the listserver:
CMOS technology is definitely something to watch, it promises higher integration of the sensor and the electronics, which will evetually lead to less expensive cameras. On the other hand, CCD technology has been around for more than 20 years and is a mature technology with proven quality.
CMOS will be targeted first at the consumer market with inexpensive cameras. Whether these cameras and sensors will be sufficient for scientific equipment remains to be seen.
While I think, there is a tremendous potential in CMOS cameras, I personally think that a good CCD camera is the best choice at the moment. If you can afford to wait for a year or two, the situation may change, but for now, I'd go with CCD.
Michael
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 1675 Carr St., #105N Lakewood, CO 80215 phone: (888) FIND SIS (303) 234-9270 fax: (303) 234-9271 email: info-at-soft-imaging.com
} ---------- } From: Marisa Ahmad[SMTP:mahmad-at-semiconductor.com] } Sent: Thursday, May 13, 1999 10:49 AM } To: 'MSA listserver' } Cc: Brigitte Smiley } Subject: FW: Integrating Digital Cameras? } } ---------------------------------------------------------------------- } -- } 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 } ---------------------------------------------------------------------- } -. } } } Jeffrey, } } There are a few companies working on making CMOS (rather than } CCD-based) } digital cameras which are perfect for the type of integrated solutions } that } you describe. Unfortunately, the technology will only be ready for } the end } of this year/beginning of 2000. If I were you, I would wait before } investing, as it is predicted that digital cameras will take a big } leap } forward. Our company, Symagery Microsystems, is working on a chip } called } the VCA1280. You can see the specs on our website at } www.symagery.com. We } do not make the cameras themselves, but the following companies are } working } on making CMOS cameras using our chip (I hope): Optronics } (www.optronics.se), Wintriss, Xillix, SMD, Costar/JAI. } } Hope this helps with your research. If you have any further questions } please do not hesitate to contact me. } } Brigitte Smiley } } brigitte-at-symagery.com {mailto:brigitte-at-symagery.com} } } } } -----Original Message----- } } From: c j day [ mailto:wa5ekh-at-juno.com {mailto:wa5ekh-at-juno.com} ] } Sent: May 11, 1999 5:59 PM } To: microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } Subject: Integrating Digital Cameras? } } } From: WA5EKH-at-juno.com } } I have been looking at some digital cameras for optical } microscopy that "integrate". I would have called it "frame averaging" } or } "pixel averaging", but it appears to be the same image pre-processing } technique. Specifically, I saw an "Optronics" camera and it seemed } to } be able to process low light levels as low as many dark field } situations } without the memory affects seen on low lux type cameras. Has anyone } had } any experience with this particular trade name? I am looking for } service } and dependability technical issues. Also any similar cameras? Please } respond to my email. I don't want to flood the server with this } issue,especially if any comments are slightly critical or } complimentary } and appear commercially biased. I don't mind commercial responses. I } believe they are a real necessary technical component of this and all } issues. Vendors are some of the best and most motivated technical } resources we have available to us.(..but that's another subject...) } } (I have no commercially beneficial interest in any cameras except the } benefits of my laboratory applications, that is I do not sell them. "I } am } not spam."....did I cover this?) } } jeffrey/ 'JD' } Email: WA5EKH-at-juno.com } } } ___________________________________________________________________ } You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. } Get completely free e-mail from Juno at } http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html } {http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html} } or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866] } } }
Mid-$30K? Is this for real? Is this the going rate for SEM specialists? That is about 1/4 of what I would consider. There must be some subtle differentiation of what is expected from such positions vs. the qualifications and experience of others in the field. Am I the only one shocked about this?
} JOB ANNOUNCEMENT BELOW -- PLEASE POST } } Dear colleagues, } We want to hire a suitable person for the Central Facility for Electron } Microscopy at the Center for Materials Research and Analysis at the } University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). The salary will at least likely be in } the range of the mid $30k's and is dependent on experience. The medical, } dental and retirement benefits package is substantial and includes } subsidized tuition for employees to take UNL courses. (BTW, Lincoln is } growing, has low unemployment, is great for families, has a good range of } live music, dance and theater, and has very good public and other schools.) } The Facility provides user-access for ~60 faculty plus their students and } other researchers. The Facility includes a JEOL 2010 TEM, a JEOL 840A SEM } and a VG HB501 field-emission STEM, along with a full range of accessories, } specimen preparation equipment, computers and darkroom. Some development } of new research instrumentation is in progress for mapping of magnetic } materials and more development is planned for the Facility. You can find } out more about the Facility on our web site (that does need a little work) } at URL: http://www.unl.edu/CMRAcfem/ } Thanks for passing on the word, } Brian Robertson } } ********************************************************** } Job Announcement: } } MATERIALS MICROSCOPY RESEARCH SPECIALIST } } UNL Center for Materials Research and Analysis } } Analyze/characterize materials using electron microscopy, materials } preparation and computer instrumentation. Supervise/train students, } faculty and visiting researchers utilizing these methods. Bachelor's with } major in physical science, engineering or related field plus three years } experience in the operation, repair or design of electron microscopes or } other scientific instrumentation. Master's preferred. Must have excellent } computer and interpersonal/communication skills. TEM, SEM, x-ray } diffraction or materials sample preparation experience preferred. Excellent } benefits. Submit cover letter, resume and names, addresses and telephone } numbers of three professional references to Professor Brian Robertson, } CMRA, N104 Walter Scott Engineering Center, UNL, Lincoln, NE 68588-0656 or } e-mail brobertson-at-unl.edu. Review of resumes will begin June 1. Position } will remain open until a suitable candidate is found. UNL is committed to } AA/EEO and ADA/504. If you require accommodation, please call (402) 472-7886. } } } *********************************************************** } Assoc. Prof. Brian W. Robertson } Department of Mechanical Engineering } and Center for Materials Research and Analysis } University of Nebraska-Lincoln, N124 WSEC, } 17th & Vine Sts., Lincoln, NE 68588-0656, USA } ** Office 402 472 8308; FAX 472 1465; Labs 472 8762 and 472 5498 **
****************************************************************************** You have been carefully selected to receive the following as a person interested in opportunities based upon your previous Internet postings or visits to one of our affiliate web sites. If you have received this message in error, please accept our apology as a responsible e-mailer. However, this is a ONE-TIME only announcement and is not intended as a SPAM letter, therefore you need not reply. You are automatically moved to our remove list. Again, if you are not interested, we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience. Thank you. ******************************************************************************
Dear Friend,
You can earn $50,000 or more in next the 90 days sending e-mail. Seem impossible? Read on for details.
"AS SEEN ON NATIONAL TV"
Thank you for your time and interest. This is the letter you've been reading about in the news lately. Due to the popularity of this letter on the Internet, a major nightly news program recently devoted an entire show to the investigation of the program described below to see if it really can make people money.
The show also investigated whether or not the program was legal. Their findings proved once and for all that there are absolutely no laws prohibiting the participation in the program. This has helped to show people that this is a simple, harmless and fun way to make some extra money at home.
The results of this show have been truly remarkable. So many people are participating that those involved are doing much better than ever before. Since everyone makes more as more people try it out, its been very exciting to be a part of lately. You will understand once you experience it.
HERE IT IS BELOW:
*** Print This Now For Future Reference ***
The following income opportunity is one you may be interested in taking a look at. It can be started with VERY LITTLE investment and the income return is TREMENDOUS!!!
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ If you would like to make at least $50,000 in less than 90 days ! Please read the enclosed program...THEN READ IT AGAIN!!! $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
THIS IS A LEGITIMATE, LEGAL, MONEY MAKING OPPORTUNITY.It does not require you to come into contact with people, do any hard work, and best of all, you never have to leave the house except to get the mail. If you believe that someday you'll get that big break that you 'vebeen waiting for, THIS IS IT! Simply follow the instructions, andyour dreams will come true. This multi-level e-mail order marketingprogram works perfectly...100% EVERY TIME.
E-mail is the sales tool of the future. Take advantage of this non-commercialized method of advertising NOW!!! The longer you wait, the more people will be doing business using e-mail. Get your piece of this action!!!
MULTI-LEVEL MARKETING (MLM) has finally gained respectability. It is being taught in the Harvard Business School, and both Stanford Research and the Wall Street Journal have stated that between 50% and 65% of all goods and services will be sold through multi-level methods by the mid to late 1990's. This is a Multi-Billion Dollar industry and of the 500,000 millionaires in the U.S., 20% (100,000) made their fortune in the last several years in MLM. Moreover, statistics show 45 people become millionaires everyday through Multi-Level Marketing.
You may have heard this story before, but over the summer Donald Trump made an appearance on the David Letterman show. Dave asked him what he would do if he lost everything and had to start over from scratch. Without hesitating, Trump said he would find a good network marketing company and get to work. The audience started to hoot and boo him. He looked out at the audience and dead-panned his response: "That's why I'm sitting up here and you are all sitting out there!"
The enclosed information is something I almost let slip through my fingers. Fortunately, sometime later I re-read everything and gave somethought and study to it. My name is Johnathon Rourke. Two years ago, the corporation I worked at for the past twelve years down-sized and my position was eliminated. After unproductive job interviews, I decided to open my own business. Over the past year, I incurred many unforeseen financial problems. I owed my family, friends and creditors over $35,000. The economy was taking a toll on my business and I just couldn't seem to make ends meet. I had to refinance and borrow against my home to support my family and struggling business. AT THAT MOMENT something significant happened in my life and I am writing to share the experience in hopes that this will change your life FOREVER FINANCIALLY!!!
In mid December, I received this program via e-mail. Six month's prior to receiving this program I had been sending away for information on various business opportunities. All of the programs I received, in my opinion, were not cost effective. They were either too difficult for me to comprehend or the initial investment was too much for me to risk to see if they would work or not. One claimed that I would make a million dollars in one year...it didn't tell me I'd have to write a book to make it!
But like I was saying, in December of 1997 I received this program. I didn't send for it, or ask for it, they just got my name off a mailing list.THANK GOODNESS FOR THAT!!! After reading it several times, to make sure I was reading it correctly, I couldn't believe my eyes. Here was a MONEY MAKING PHENOMENON. I could invest as much as I wanted to start, without putting me further into debt. After I got a pencil and paper and figured it out, I would at least get my money back. But like most of you I was still a little skeptical and a little worried about the legal aspects of it all. So I checked it out with the U.S. Post Office (1-800-725-2161 24-hrs) and they confirmed that it is indeed legal! After determining the program was LEGAL and NOT A CHAIN LETTER, I decided "WHY NOT."
Initially I sent out 10,000 e-mails. It cost me about $15 for my time on-line. The great thing about e-mail is that I don't need any money for printing to send out the program, and because all of my orders are fulfilled via e-mail, my only expense is my time. I am telling you like it is I hope it doesn't turn you off, but I promised myself that I would not "rip-off" anyone, no matter how much money it made me.
In less than one week, I was starting to receive orders for REPORT #1 By January 13, I had received 26 orders for REPORT #1. Your goal is to "RECEIVE at least 20 ORDERS FOR REPORT #1 WITHIN 2 WEEKS. IF YOU DON'T, SEND OUT MORE PROGRAMS UNTIL YOU DO!" My first step in making $50,000 in 90 days was done. By January 30, I had received 196 orders for REPORT #2. Your goal is to "RECEIVE AT LEAST 100+ ORDERS FOR REPORT #2 WITHIN 2 WEEKS. IF NOT, SEND OUT MORE PROGRAMS UNTIL YOU DO. ONCE YOU HAVE 100 ORDERS, THE REST IS EASY, RELAX, YOU WILL MAKE YOUR $50,000 GOAL." Well, I had 196 orders for REPORT #2, 96 more than I needed. So I sat back and relaxed. By March 1, of my e-mailing of 10,000, I received $58,000 with more coming in every day.
I paid off ALL my debts and bought a much needed new car. Please take time to read the attached program, IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE FOREVER!! ! Remember, it won't work if you don't try it. This program does work , but you must follow it EXACTLY! Especially the rules of not trying to place your name in a different place. It won't work and you'll lose out on a lot of money! In order for this program to work, you must meet your goal of 20+ orders for REPORT #1, and 100+ orders for REPORT #2 and you will make $50,000 or more in 90 days. I AM LIVING PROOF THAT IT WORKS!!!
If you choose not to participate in this program, I am sorry. It really is a great opportunity with little cost or risk to you. If you choose to participate, follow the program and you will be on your way to financial security. If you are a fellow business owner and are in financial trouble like I was, or you want to start your own business, consider this a sign. I DID!
Sincerely, Johnathon Rourke
A PERSONAL NOTE FROM THE ORIGINATOR OF THIS PROGRAM:
By the time you have read the enclosed program and reports, you should have concluded that such a program, and one that is legal, could not have been created by an amateur.
Let me tell you a little about myself. I had a profitable business for 10 years. Then in 1979 my business began falling off. I was doing the same things that were previously successful for me, but it wasn't working. Finally, I figured it out. It wasn't me, it was the economy. Inflation and recession had replaced the stable economy that had been with us since 1945.I don't have to tell you what happened to the unemployment rate... because many of you know from first hand experience. There were more failures and bankruptcies than ever before.
The middle class was vanishing. Those who knew what they were doing invested wisely and moved up. Those who did not, including those who never had anything to save or invest, were moving down into the ranks of the poor. As the saying goes, "THE RICH GET RICHER AND THE POOR GET POORER." The traditional methods of making money will never allow you to "move up" or "get rich", inflation will see to that.
You have just received information that can give you financial freedom for the rest of your life, with "NO RISK" and "JUST A LITTLE BIT OF EFFORT." You can make more money in the next few months than you have ever imagined. I should also point out that I will not see a penny of this money, nor anyone else who has provided a testimonial for this program. I have already made over 4 MILLION DOLLARS!I have retired from the program after sending thousands and thousands of programs.
Follow the program EXACTLY AS INSTRUCTED. Do not change it in any way . It works exceedingly well as it is now. Remember to e-mail a copy of this exciting report to everyone you can think of. One of the people you send this to may send out 50,000...and your name will be on everyone of them!
Remember though, the more you send out the more potential customers you will reach.
So my friend, I have given you the ideas, information, materials and opportunity to become financially independent. IT IS UP TO YOU NOW!
"THINK ABOUT IT"
Before you delete this program from your mailbox, as I almost did, take a little time to read it and REALLY THINK ABOUT IT. Get a pencil and figure out what could happen when YOU participate. Figure out the worst possible response and no matter how you calculate it, you will still make a lot of money! You will definitely get back what you invested. Any doubts you have will vanish when your first orders come in. IT WORKS!
Jody Jacobs, Richmond, VA
HERE'S HOW THIS AMAZING PROGRAM WILL MAKE YOU THOUSANDS OF DOLLAR$
INSTRUCTIONS:
This method of raising capital REALLY WORKS 100% EVERY TIME. I am sure that you could use up to $50,000 or more in the next 90 days. Before you say "BULL... ", please read this program carefully.
This is not a chain letter, but a perfectly legal money making opportunity. Basically, this is what you do: As with all multi-level businesses, we build our business by recruiting new partners and selling our products. Every state in the USA allows you to recruit new multi-level business partners, and we offer a product for EVERY dollar sent. YOUR ORDERS COME BY MAIL AND ARE FILLED BY E-MAIL, so you are not involved in personal selling. You do it privately in your own home, store or office. This is the GREATEST Multi-Level Mail Order Marketing anywhere.
This is what you MUST do:
1. Order all 4 reports shown on the list below (you can't sell them if youdon't order them). -- For each report, send $5.00 CASH, the NAME & NUMBER OF THE REPORT YOU ARE ORDERING, YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS, and YOUR NAME & RETURN ADDRESS (in case of a problem) to the person whose name appears on the list next to the report. MAKE SURE YOUR RETURN ADDRESS IS ON YOUR ENVELOPE IN CASE OF ANY MAIL PROBLEMS! -- When you place your order, make sure you order each of the four reports. You will need all four reports so that you can save them on your computer and resell them. -- Within a few days you will receive, via e-mail, each of the four reports. Save them on your computer so they will be accessible for you to send to the 1,000's of people who will order them from you.
2. IMPORTANT DO NOT alter the names of the people who are listed next to each report, or their sequence on the list, in any way other than is instructed below in steps "a" through "f" or you will lose out on the majority of your profits. Once you understand the way this works, you'll also see how it doesn't work if you change it. Remember, this method has been tested,and if you alter it, it will not work. a. Look below for the listing of available reports. b. After you've ordered the four reports, take this advertisement and remove the name and address under REPORT #4. This person has made it through the cycle and is no doubt counting their $50,000! c. Move the name and address under REPORT #3 down to REPORT #4. d. Move the name and address under REPORT #2 down to REPORT #3. e. Move the name and address under REPORT #1 down to REPORT #2. f. Insert your name/address in the REPORT #1 position.
Please make sure you COPY ALL INFORMATION, every name and address, ACCURATELY!
3. Take this entire letter, including the modified list of names, and save it to your computer. Make NO changes to the instruction portion of this letter.
Your cost to participate in this is practically nothing (surely you can afford $20). You obviously already have an Internet connection and e-mail is FREE!
There are two primary methods of building your downline:
METHOD #1: SENDING BULK E-MAIL
Let's say that you decide to start small, just to see how it goes, and we'll assume you and all those involved send out only 2,000 programs each. Let's also assume that the mailing receives a 0.5% response. Using a good list the response could be much better. Also, many people will send out hundreds of thousands of programs instead of 2,000. But continuing with this example, you send out only 2,000 programs. With a 0.5% response, that is only 10 orders for REPORT #1. Those 10 people respond by sending out 2,000 programs each for a total of 20,000. Out of those 0.5%, 100 people respond and order REPORT #2. Those 100 mail out 2,000 programs each for a total of 200,000. The 0.5% response to that is 1,000 orders for REPORT #3. Those 1,000 send out 2,000 programs each for a 2,000,000 total. The 0.5% response to that is 10,000 orders for REPORT #4. That's 10,000 $5 bills for you. CASH!!! Your total income in this example is $50 + $500 + $5,000 + $50,000 for a total of $55,550!!! REMEMBER FRIEND, THIS IS ASSUMING 1,990 OUT OF THE 2,000 PEOPLE YOU MAIL TO WILL DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING AND TRASH THIS PROGRAM! DARE TO THINK FOR A MOMENT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF EVERYONE, OR HALF SENT OUT 100,000 PROGRAMS INSTEAD OF 2,000. Believe me, many people will do justthat, and more! By the way, your cost to participate in this is practically nothing. You obviously already have an Internet connection and e-mail is FREE!!! REPORT #2 will show you the best methods for bulk e-mailing, tell you where to obtain free bulk e-mail software and where to obtain e-mail lists.
METHOD #2 - PLACING FREE ADS ON THE INTERNET
Advertising on the internet is very, very inexpensive, and there are HUNDREDS of FREE places to advertise. Let's say you decide to start small just to see how well it works. Assume your goal is to get ONLY 10 people to participate on your first level. (Placing a lot of FREE ads on the Internet will EASILY get a larger response.) Also assume that everyone else in YOUR ORGANIZATION gets ONLY 10 downline members. Follow this example to achieve the STAGGERING results below:
1st level--your 10 members with $5.......................................$50 2nd level--10 members from those 10 ($5 x 100)..................$500 3rd level--10 members from those 100 ($5 x 1,000)...........$5,000 4th level--10 members from those 1,000 ($5 x 10,000).....$50,000 THIS TOTALS ----------} $55,550
Remember friends, this assumes that the people who participate only recruit 10 people each. Think for a moment what would happen if they got 20 people to participate! Most people get 100's of participants! THINK ABOUT IT! For every $5.00 you receive, all you must do is e-mail them the report they ordered. THAT'S IT! ALWAYS PROVIDE SAME-DAY SERVICE ON ALL ORDERS! This will guarantee that the e-mail THEY send out with YOUR name and address on it will be prompt because they can't advertise until they receive the report!
AVAILABLE REPORTS
*** Order Each REPORT by NUMBER and NAME *** Notes: -- ALWAYS SEND $5 CASH (U.S. CURRENCY) FOR EACH REPORT. CHECKS NOT ACCEPTED. -- ALWAYS SEND YOUR ORDER VIA FIRST CLASS MAIL. -- Make sure the cash is concealed by wrapping it in at least two sheets of paper. On one of those sheets of paper, include: (a) the number & name of the report you are ordering, (b) your e-mail address, and (c) your name & postal address.
PLACE YOUR ORDER FOR THESE REPORTS NOW:
REPORT #1
----------------------------------------------------------------- "The Insider's Guide to Advertising for Free on the Internet" ORDER REPORT #1 FROM: J. Grainger Via del Perugino, 5 40139 Bologna, Italy ----------------------------------------------------------------- REPORT #2 "The Insider's Guide to Sending Bulk E-mail on the Internet" ORDER REPORT #2 FROM: D. Clark P.O. Box 685 Grangeville, Idaho 83530 ----------------------------------------------------------------- REPORT #3 "The Secrets to Multilevel Marketing on the Internet" ORDER REPORT #3 FROM: Peter Gooijer Galileistraat 33 5621 AE Eindhoven The Netherlands ----------------------------------------------------------------- REPORT #4 "How to become a Millionaire utilizing the Power of Multilevel Marketing and the Internet" ORDER REPORT #4 FROM: J. Russ 8034 Linda Vista Rd. # 1M San Diego, Ca 92111 ----------------------------------------------------------------
About 50,000 new people get online every month!
******* TIPS FOR SUCCESS ******* -- TREAT THIS AS YOUR BUSINESS! Be prompt, professional, and follow the directions accurately. -- Send for the four reports IMMEDIATELY so you will have them when the orders start coming in because: When you receive a $5 order, you MUST send out the requested product/report. -- ALWAYS PROVIDE SAME-DAY SERVICE ON THE ORDERS YOU RECEIVE. -- Be patient and persistent with this program. If you follow the instructions exactly, your results WILL BE SUCCESSFUL! -- ABOVE ALL, HAVE FAITH IN YOURSELF AND KNOW YOU WILL SUCCEED!
******* YOUR SUCCESS GUIDELINES ******* Follow these guidelines to guarantee your success:
If you don't receive 20 orders for REPORT #1 within two weeks, continue
advertising or sending e-mails until you do. Then, a couple of weeks later you should receive at least 100 orders for REPORT#2. If you don 't, continue advertising or sending e-mails until you do. Once you have received 100 or more orders for REPORT #2, YOU CAN RELAX, because the system is already working for you, and the cash will continue to roll in!
THIS IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER: Every time your name is moved down on the list, you are placed in front of a DIFFERENT report. You can KEEP TRACK of your PROGRESS by watching which report people are ordering from you. If you want to generate more income, send another batch of e-mails or continue placing ads and start the whole process again! There is no limit to the income you will generate from this business!
Before you make your decision as to whether or not you participate in this program. Please answer one question. DO YOU WANT TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE? If the answer is yes, please look at the following facts about this program:
1. You are selling a product which does not Cost anything to PRODUCE, SHIP OR ADVERTISE. 2. All of your customers pay you in CASH! 3. E-mail is without question the most powerful method of distributing information on earth. This program combines the distribution power of e-mail together with the revenue generating power of multi-level marketing. 4. Your only expense--other than your initial $20 investment--is your time! 5. Virtually all of the income you generate from this program is PURE PROFIT! 6. This program will change your LIFE FOREVER.
ACT NOW!Take your first step toward achieving financial independence. Orderthe reports and follow the program outlined above--SUCCESSwill be yourreward.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
PLEASE NOTE: If you need help with starting a business, registering a business name, learning how income tax is handled, etc., contact your localoffice of the Small Business Administration (a Federal Agency) 1-800-827-5722 for free help and answers to questions. Also, the InternalRevenue Service offers free help via telephone and free seminars aboutbusiness tax requirements. Your earnings are highly dependant on youractivities and advertising. The information contained on this site and in the report constitutes no guarantees stated nor implied. In the event that it is determined that this site or report constitutes a guarantee of any kind, that guarantee is now void. The earnings amounts listed on this site and in the report are estimates only. If you have any questions of the legality of this program, contact the Office of Associate Director for Marketing Practices, Federal Trade Commission, Bureau of Consumer Protection in Washington, DC.
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Remove at rhobbs12-at-yahoo.com /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
****************************************************************************** You have been carefully selected to receive the following as a person interested in opportunities based upon your previous Internet postings or visits to one of our affiliate web sites. If you have received this message in error, please accept our apology as a responsible e-mailer. However, this is a ONE-TIME only announcement and is not intended as a SPAM letter, therefore you need not reply. You are automatically moved to our remove list. Again, if you are not interested, we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience. Thank you. ******************************************************************************
Dear Friend,
You can earn $50,000 or more in next the 90 days sending e-mail. Seem impossible? Read on for details.
"AS SEEN ON NATIONAL TV"
Thank you for your time and interest. This is the letter you've been reading about in the news lately. Due to the popularity of this letter on the Internet, a major nightly news program recently devoted an entire show to the investigation of the program described below to see if it really can make people money.
The show also investigated whether or not the program was legal. Their findings proved once and for all that there are absolutely no laws prohibiting the participation in the program. This has helped to show people that this is a simple, harmless and fun way to make some extra money at home.
The results of this show have been truly remarkable. So many people are participating that those involved are doing much better than ever before. Since everyone makes more as more people try it out, its been very exciting to be a part of lately. You will understand once you experience it.
HERE IT IS BELOW:
*** Print This Now For Future Reference ***
The following income opportunity is one you may be interested in taking a look at. It can be started with VERY LITTLE investment and the income return is TREMENDOUS!!!
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ If you would like to make at least $50,000 in less than 90 days ! Please read the enclosed program...THEN READ IT AGAIN!!! $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
THIS IS A LEGITIMATE, LEGAL, MONEY MAKING OPPORTUNITY.It does not require you to come into contact with people, do any hard work, and best of all, you never have to leave the house except to get the mail. If you believe that someday you'll get that big break that you 'vebeen waiting for, THIS IS IT! Simply follow the instructions, andyour dreams will come true. This multi-level e-mail order marketingprogram works perfectly...100% EVERY TIME.
E-mail is the sales tool of the future. Take advantage of this non-commercialized method of advertising NOW!!! The longer you wait, the more people will be doing business using e-mail. Get your piece of this action!!!
MULTI-LEVEL MARKETING (MLM) has finally gained respectability. It is being taught in the Harvard Business School, and both Stanford Research and the Wall Street Journal have stated that between 50% and 65% of all goods and services will be sold through multi-level methods by the mid to late 1990's. This is a Multi-Billion Dollar industry and of the 500,000 millionaires in the U.S., 20% (100,000) made their fortune in the last several years in MLM. Moreover, statistics show 45 people become millionaires everyday through Multi-Level Marketing.
You may have heard this story before, but over the summer Donald Trump made an appearance on the David Letterman show. Dave asked him what he would do if he lost everything and had to start over from scratch. Without hesitating, Trump said he would find a good network marketing company and get to work. The audience started to hoot and boo him. He looked out at the audience and dead-panned his response: "That's why I'm sitting up here and you are all sitting out there!"
The enclosed information is something I almost let slip through my fingers. Fortunately, sometime later I re-read everything and gave somethought and study to it. My name is Johnathon Rourke. Two years ago, the corporation I worked at for the past twelve years down-sized and my position was eliminated. After unproductive job interviews, I decided to open my own business. Over the past year, I incurred many unforeseen financial problems. I owed my family, friends and creditors over $35,000. The economy was taking a toll on my business and I just couldn't seem to make ends meet. I had to refinance and borrow against my home to support my family and struggling business. AT THAT MOMENT something significant happened in my life and I am writing to share the experience in hopes that this will change your life FOREVER FINANCIALLY!!!
In mid December, I received this program via e-mail. Six month's prior to receiving this program I had been sending away for information on various business opportunities. All of the programs I received, in my opinion, were not cost effective. They were either too difficult for me to comprehend or the initial investment was too much for me to risk to see if they would work or not. One claimed that I would make a million dollars in one year...it didn't tell me I'd have to write a book to make it!
But like I was saying, in December of 1997 I received this program. I didn't send for it, or ask for it, they just got my name off a mailing list.THANK GOODNESS FOR THAT!!! After reading it several times, to make sure I was reading it correctly, I couldn't believe my eyes. Here was a MONEY MAKING PHENOMENON. I could invest as much as I wanted to start, without putting me further into debt. After I got a pencil and paper and figured it out, I would at least get my money back. But like most of you I was still a little skeptical and a little worried about the legal aspects of it all. So I checked it out with the U.S. Post Office (1-800-725-2161 24-hrs) and they confirmed that it is indeed legal! After determining the program was LEGAL and NOT A CHAIN LETTER, I decided "WHY NOT."
Initially I sent out 10,000 e-mails. It cost me about $15 for my time on-line. The great thing about e-mail is that I don't need any money for printing to send out the program, and because all of my orders are fulfilled via e-mail, my only expense is my time. I am telling you like it is I hope it doesn't turn you off, but I promised myself that I would not "rip-off" anyone, no matter how much money it made me.
In less than one week, I was starting to receive orders for REPORT #1 By January 13, I had received 26 orders for REPORT #1. Your goal is to "RECEIVE at least 20 ORDERS FOR REPORT #1 WITHIN 2 WEEKS. IF YOU DON'T, SEND OUT MORE PROGRAMS UNTIL YOU DO!" My first step in making $50,000 in 90 days was done. By January 30, I had received 196 orders for REPORT #2. Your goal is to "RECEIVE AT LEAST 100+ ORDERS FOR REPORT #2 WITHIN 2 WEEKS. IF NOT, SEND OUT MORE PROGRAMS UNTIL YOU DO. ONCE YOU HAVE 100 ORDERS, THE REST IS EASY, RELAX, YOU WILL MAKE YOUR $50,000 GOAL." Well, I had 196 orders for REPORT #2, 96 more than I needed. So I sat back and relaxed. By March 1, of my e-mailing of 10,000, I received $58,000 with more coming in every day.
I paid off ALL my debts and bought a much needed new car. Please take time to read the attached program, IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE FOREVER!! ! Remember, it won't work if you don't try it. This program does work , but you must follow it EXACTLY! Especially the rules of not trying to place your name in a different place. It won't work and you'll lose out on a lot of money! In order for this program to work, you must meet your goal of 20+ orders for REPORT #1, and 100+ orders for REPORT #2 and you will make $50,000 or more in 90 days. I AM LIVING PROOF THAT IT WORKS!!!
If you choose not to participate in this program, I am sorry. It really is a great opportunity with little cost or risk to you. If you choose to participate, follow the program and you will be on your way to financial security. If you are a fellow business owner and are in financial trouble like I was, or you want to start your own business, consider this a sign. I DID!
Sincerely, Johnathon Rourke
A PERSONAL NOTE FROM THE ORIGINATOR OF THIS PROGRAM:
By the time you have read the enclosed program and reports, you should have concluded that such a program, and one that is legal, could not have been created by an amateur.
Let me tell you a little about myself. I had a profitable business for 10 years. Then in 1979 my business began falling off. I was doing the same things that were previously successful for me, but it wasn't working. Finally, I figured it out. It wasn't me, it was the economy. Inflation and recession had replaced the stable economy that had been with us since 1945.I don't have to tell you what happened to the unemployment rate... because many of you know from first hand experience. There were more failures and bankruptcies than ever before.
The middle class was vanishing. Those who knew what they were doing invested wisely and moved up. Those who did not, including those who never had anything to save or invest, were moving down into the ranks of the poor. As the saying goes, "THE RICH GET RICHER AND THE POOR GET POORER." The traditional methods of making money will never allow you to "move up" or "get rich", inflation will see to that.
You have just received information that can give you financial freedom for the rest of your life, with "NO RISK" and "JUST A LITTLE BIT OF EFFORT." You can make more money in the next few months than you have ever imagined. I should also point out that I will not see a penny of this money, nor anyone else who has provided a testimonial for this program. I have already made over 4 MILLION DOLLARS!I have retired from the program after sending thousands and thousands of programs.
Follow the program EXACTLY AS INSTRUCTED. Do not change it in any way . It works exceedingly well as it is now. Remember to e-mail a copy of this exciting report to everyone you can think of. One of the people you send this to may send out 50,000...and your name will be on everyone of them!
Remember though, the more you send out the more potential customers you will reach.
So my friend, I have given you the ideas, information, materials and opportunity to become financially independent. IT IS UP TO YOU NOW!
"THINK ABOUT IT"
Before you delete this program from your mailbox, as I almost did, take a little time to read it and REALLY THINK ABOUT IT. Get a pencil and figure out what could happen when YOU participate. Figure out the worst possible response and no matter how you calculate it, you will still make a lot of money! You will definitely get back what you invested. Any doubts you have will vanish when your first orders come in. IT WORKS!
Jody Jacobs, Richmond, VA
HERE'S HOW THIS AMAZING PROGRAM WILL MAKE YOU THOUSANDS OF DOLLAR$
INSTRUCTIONS:
This method of raising capital REALLY WORKS 100% EVERY TIME. I am sure that you could use up to $50,000 or more in the next 90 days. Before you say "BULL... ", please read this program carefully.
This is not a chain letter, but a perfectly legal money making opportunity. Basically, this is what you do: As with all multi-level businesses, we build our business by recruiting new partners and selling our products. Every state in the USA allows you to recruit new multi-level business partners, and we offer a product for EVERY dollar sent. YOUR ORDERS COME BY MAIL AND ARE FILLED BY E-MAIL, so you are not involved in personal selling. You do it privately in your own home, store or office. This is the GREATEST Multi-Level Mail Order Marketing anywhere.
This is what you MUST do:
1. Order all 4 reports shown on the list below (you can't sell them if youdon't order them). -- For each report, send $5.00 CASH, the NAME & NUMBER OF THE REPORT YOU ARE ORDERING, YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS, and YOUR NAME & RETURN ADDRESS (in case of a problem) to the person whose name appears on the list next to the report. MAKE SURE YOUR RETURN ADDRESS IS ON YOUR ENVELOPE IN CASE OF ANY MAIL PROBLEMS! -- When you place your order, make sure you order each of the four reports. You will need all four reports so that you can save them on your computer and resell them. -- Within a few days you will receive, via e-mail, each of the four reports. Save them on your computer so they will be accessible for you to send to the 1,000's of people who will order them from you.
2. IMPORTANT DO NOT alter the names of the people who are listed next to each report, or their sequence on the list, in any way other than is instructed below in steps "a" through "f" or you will lose out on the majority of your profits. Once you understand the way this works, you'll also see how it doesn't work if you change it. Remember, this method has been tested,and if you alter it, it will not work. a. Look below for the listing of available reports. b. After you've ordered the four reports, take this advertisement and remove the name and address under REPORT #4. This person has made it through the cycle and is no doubt counting their $50,000! c. Move the name and address under REPORT #3 down to REPORT #4. d. Move the name and address under REPORT #2 down to REPORT #3. e. Move the name and address under REPORT #1 down to REPORT #2. f. Insert your name/address in the REPORT #1 position.
Please make sure you COPY ALL INFORMATION, every name and address, ACCURATELY!
3. Take this entire letter, including the modified list of names, and save it to your computer. Make NO changes to the instruction portion of this letter.
Your cost to participate in this is practically nothing (surely you can afford $20). You obviously already have an Internet connection and e-mail is FREE!
There are two primary methods of building your downline:
METHOD #1: SENDING BULK E-MAIL
Let's say that you decide to start small, just to see how it goes, and we'll assume you and all those involved send out only 2,000 programs each. Let's also assume that the mailing receives a 0.5% response. Using a good list the response could be much better. Also, many people will send out hundreds of thousands of programs instead of 2,000. But continuing with this example, you send out only 2,000 programs. With a 0.5% response, that is only 10 orders for REPORT #1. Those 10 people respond by sending out 2,000 programs each for a total of 20,000. Out of those 0.5%, 100 people respond and order REPORT #2. Those 100 mail out 2,000 programs each for a total of 200,000. The 0.5% response to that is 1,000 orders for REPORT #3. Those 1,000 send out 2,000 programs each for a 2,000,000 total. The 0.5% response to that is 10,000 orders for REPORT #4. That's 10,000 $5 bills for you. CASH!!! Your total income in this example is $50 + $500 + $5,000 + $50,000 for a total of $55,550!!! REMEMBER FRIEND, THIS IS ASSUMING 1,990 OUT OF THE 2,000 PEOPLE YOU MAIL TO WILL DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING AND TRASH THIS PROGRAM! DARE TO THINK FOR A MOMENT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF EVERYONE, OR HALF SENT OUT 100,000 PROGRAMS INSTEAD OF 2,000. Believe me, many people will do justthat, and more! By the way, your cost to participate in this is practically nothing. You obviously already have an Internet connection and e-mail is FREE!!! REPORT #2 will show you the best methods for bulk e-mailing, tell you where to obtain free bulk e-mail software and where to obtain e-mail lists.
METHOD #2 - PLACING FREE ADS ON THE INTERNET
Advertising on the internet is very, very inexpensive, and there are HUNDREDS of FREE places to advertise. Let's say you decide to start small just to see how well it works. Assume your goal is to get ONLY 10 people to participate on your first level. (Placing a lot of FREE ads on the Internet will EASILY get a larger response.) Also assume that everyone else in YOUR ORGANIZATION gets ONLY 10 downline members. Follow this example to achieve the STAGGERING results below:
1st level--your 10 members with $5.......................................$50 2nd level--10 members from those 10 ($5 x 100)..................$500 3rd level--10 members from those 100 ($5 x 1,000)...........$5,000 4th level--10 members from those 1,000 ($5 x 10,000).....$50,000 THIS TOTALS ----------} $55,550
Remember friends, this assumes that the people who participate only recruit 10 people each. Think for a moment what would happen if they got 20 people to participate! Most people get 100's of participants! THINK ABOUT IT! For every $5.00 you receive, all you must do is e-mail them the report they ordered. THAT'S IT! ALWAYS PROVIDE SAME-DAY SERVICE ON ALL ORDERS! This will guarantee that the e-mail THEY send out with YOUR name and address on it will be prompt because they can't advertise until they receive the report!
AVAILABLE REPORTS
*** Order Each REPORT by NUMBER and NAME *** Notes: -- ALWAYS SEND $5 CASH (U.S. CURRENCY) FOR EACH REPORT. CHECKS NOT ACCEPTED. -- ALWAYS SEND YOUR ORDER VIA FIRST CLASS MAIL. -- Make sure the cash is concealed by wrapping it in at least two sheets of paper. On one of those sheets of paper, include: (a) the number & name of the report you are ordering, (b) your e-mail address, and (c) your name & postal address.
PLACE YOUR ORDER FOR THESE REPORTS NOW:
REPORT #1
----------------------------------------------------------------- "The Insider's Guide to Advertising for Free on the Internet" ORDER REPORT #1 FROM: J. Grainger Via del Perugino, 5 40139 Bologna, Italy ----------------------------------------------------------------- REPORT #2 "The Insider's Guide to Sending Bulk E-mail on the Internet" ORDER REPORT #2 FROM: D. Clark P.O. Box 685 Grangeville, Idaho 83530 ----------------------------------------------------------------- REPORT #3 "The Secrets to Multilevel Marketing on the Internet" ORDER REPORT #3 FROM: Peter Gooijer Galileistraat 33 5621 AE Eindhoven The Netherlands ----------------------------------------------------------------- REPORT #4 "How to become a Millionaire utilizing the Power of Multilevel Marketing and the Internet" ORDER REPORT #4 FROM: J. Russ 8034 Linda Vista Rd. # 1M San Diego, Ca 92111 ----------------------------------------------------------------
About 50,000 new people get online every month!
******* TIPS FOR SUCCESS ******* -- TREAT THIS AS YOUR BUSINESS! Be prompt, professional, and follow the directions accurately. -- Send for the four reports IMMEDIATELY so you will have them when the orders start coming in because: When you receive a $5 order, you MUST send out the requested product/report. -- ALWAYS PROVIDE SAME-DAY SERVICE ON THE ORDERS YOU RECEIVE. -- Be patient and persistent with this program. If you follow the instructions exactly, your results WILL BE SUCCESSFUL! -- ABOVE ALL, HAVE FAITH IN YOURSELF AND KNOW YOU WILL SUCCEED!
******* YOUR SUCCESS GUIDELINES ******* Follow these guidelines to guarantee your success:
If you don't receive 20 orders for REPORT #1 within two weeks, continue
advertising or sending e-mails until you do. Then, a couple of weeks later you should receive at least 100 orders for REPORT#2. If you don 't, continue advertising or sending e-mails until you do. Once you have received 100 or more orders for REPORT #2, YOU CAN RELAX, because the system is already working for you, and the cash will continue to roll in!
THIS IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER: Every time your name is moved down on the list, you are placed in front of a DIFFERENT report. You can KEEP TRACK of your PROGRESS by watching which report people are ordering from you. If you want to generate more income, send another batch of e-mails or continue placing ads and start the whole process again! There is no limit to the income you will generate from this business!
Before you make your decision as to whether or not you participate in this program. Please answer one question. DO YOU WANT TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE? If the answer is yes, please look at the following facts about this program:
1. You are selling a product which does not Cost anything to PRODUCE, SHIP OR ADVERTISE. 2. All of your customers pay you in CASH! 3. E-mail is without question the most powerful method of distributing information on earth. This program combines the distribution power of e-mail together with the revenue generating power of multi-level marketing. 4. Your only expense--other than your initial $20 investment--is your time! 5. Virtually all of the income you generate from this program is PURE PROFIT! 6. This program will change your LIFE FOREVER.
ACT NOW!Take your first step toward achieving financial independence. Orderthe reports and follow the program outlined above--SUCCESSwill be yourreward.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
PLEASE NOTE: If you need help with starting a business, registering a business name, learning how income tax is handled, etc., contact your localoffice of the Small Business Administration (a Federal Agency) 1-800-827-5722 for free help and answers to questions. Also, the InternalRevenue Service offers free help via telephone and free seminars aboutbusiness tax requirements. Your earnings are highly dependant on youractivities and advertising. The information contained on this site and in the report constitutes no guarantees stated nor implied. In the event that it is determined that this site or report constitutes a guarantee of any kind, that guarantee is now void. The earnings amounts listed on this site and in the report are estimates only. If you have any questions of the legality of this program, contact the Office of Associate Director for Marketing Practices, Federal Trade Commission, Bureau of Consumer Protection in Washington, DC.
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Remove at rhobbs12-at-yahoo.com /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
****************************************************************************** You have been carefully selected to receive the following as a person interested in opportunities based upon your previous Internet postings or visits to one of our affiliate web sites. If you have received this message in error, please accept our apology as a responsible e-mailer. However, this is a ONE-TIME only announcement and is not intended as a SPAM letter, therefore you need not reply. You are automatically moved to our remove list. Again, if you are not interested, we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience. Thank you. ******************************************************************************
Dear Friend,
You can earn $50,000 or more in next the 90 days sending e-mail. Seem impossible? Read on for details.
"AS SEEN ON NATIONAL TV"
Thank you for your time and interest. This is the letter you've been reading about in the news lately. Due to the popularity of this letter on the Internet, a major nightly news program recently devoted an entire show to the investigation of the program described below to see if it really can make people money.
The show also investigated whether or not the program was legal. Their findings proved once and for all that there are absolutely no laws prohibiting the participation in the program. This has helped to show people that this is a simple, harmless and fun way to make some extra money at home.
The results of this show have been truly remarkable. So many people are participating that those involved are doing much better than ever before. Since everyone makes more as more people try it out, its been very exciting to be a part of lately. You will understand once you experience it.
HERE IT IS BELOW:
*** Print This Now For Future Reference ***
The following income opportunity is one you may be interested in taking a look at. It can be started with VERY LITTLE investment and the income return is TREMENDOUS!!!
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ If you would like to make at least $50,000 in less than 90 days ! Please read the enclosed program...THEN READ IT AGAIN!!! $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
THIS IS A LEGITIMATE, LEGAL, MONEY MAKING OPPORTUNITY.It does not require you to come into contact with people, do any hard work, and best of all, you never have to leave the house except to get the mail. If you believe that someday you'll get that big break that you 'vebeen waiting for, THIS IS IT! Simply follow the instructions, andyour dreams will come true. This multi-level e-mail order marketingprogram works perfectly...100% EVERY TIME.
E-mail is the sales tool of the future. Take advantage of this non-commercialized method of advertising NOW!!! The longer you wait, the more people will be doing business using e-mail. Get your piece of this action!!!
MULTI-LEVEL MARKETING (MLM) has finally gained respectability. It is being taught in the Harvard Business School, and both Stanford Research and the Wall Street Journal have stated that between 50% and 65% of all goods and services will be sold through multi-level methods by the mid to late 1990's. This is a Multi-Billion Dollar industry and of the 500,000 millionaires in the U.S., 20% (100,000) made their fortune in the last several years in MLM. Moreover, statistics show 45 people become millionaires everyday through Multi-Level Marketing.
You may have heard this story before, but over the summer Donald Trump made an appearance on the David Letterman show. Dave asked him what he would do if he lost everything and had to start over from scratch. Without hesitating, Trump said he would find a good network marketing company and get to work. The audience started to hoot and boo him. He looked out at the audience and dead-panned his response: "That's why I'm sitting up here and you are all sitting out there!"
The enclosed information is something I almost let slip through my fingers. Fortunately, sometime later I re-read everything and gave somethought and study to it. My name is Johnathon Rourke. Two years ago, the corporation I worked at for the past twelve years down-sized and my position was eliminated. After unproductive job interviews, I decided to open my own business. Over the past year, I incurred many unforeseen financial problems. I owed my family, friends and creditors over $35,000. The economy was taking a toll on my business and I just couldn't seem to make ends meet. I had to refinance and borrow against my home to support my family and struggling business. AT THAT MOMENT something significant happened in my life and I am writing to share the experience in hopes that this will change your life FOREVER FINANCIALLY!!!
In mid December, I received this program via e-mail. Six month's prior to receiving this program I had been sending away for information on various business opportunities. All of the programs I received, in my opinion, were not cost effective. They were either too difficult for me to comprehend or the initial investment was too much for me to risk to see if they would work or not. One claimed that I would make a million dollars in one year...it didn't tell me I'd have to write a book to make it!
But like I was saying, in December of 1997 I received this program. I didn't send for it, or ask for it, they just got my name off a mailing list.THANK GOODNESS FOR THAT!!! After reading it several times, to make sure I was reading it correctly, I couldn't believe my eyes. Here was a MONEY MAKING PHENOMENON. I could invest as much as I wanted to start, without putting me further into debt. After I got a pencil and paper and figured it out, I would at least get my money back. But like most of you I was still a little skeptical and a little worried about the legal aspects of it all. So I checked it out with the U.S. Post Office (1-800-725-2161 24-hrs) and they confirmed that it is indeed legal! After determining the program was LEGAL and NOT A CHAIN LETTER, I decided "WHY NOT."
Initially I sent out 10,000 e-mails. It cost me about $15 for my time on-line. The great thing about e-mail is that I don't need any money for printing to send out the program, and because all of my orders are fulfilled via e-mail, my only expense is my time. I am telling you like it is I hope it doesn't turn you off, but I promised myself that I would not "rip-off" anyone, no matter how much money it made me.
In less than one week, I was starting to receive orders for REPORT #1 By January 13, I had received 26 orders for REPORT #1. Your goal is to "RECEIVE at least 20 ORDERS FOR REPORT #1 WITHIN 2 WEEKS. IF YOU DON'T, SEND OUT MORE PROGRAMS UNTIL YOU DO!" My first step in making $50,000 in 90 days was done. By January 30, I had received 196 orders for REPORT #2. Your goal is to "RECEIVE AT LEAST 100+ ORDERS FOR REPORT #2 WITHIN 2 WEEKS. IF NOT, SEND OUT MORE PROGRAMS UNTIL YOU DO. ONCE YOU HAVE 100 ORDERS, THE REST IS EASY, RELAX, YOU WILL MAKE YOUR $50,000 GOAL." Well, I had 196 orders for REPORT #2, 96 more than I needed. So I sat back and relaxed. By March 1, of my e-mailing of 10,000, I received $58,000 with more coming in every day.
I paid off ALL my debts and bought a much needed new car. Please take time to read the attached program, IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE FOREVER!! ! Remember, it won't work if you don't try it. This program does work , but you must follow it EXACTLY! Especially the rules of not trying to place your name in a different place. It won't work and you'll lose out on a lot of money! In order for this program to work, you must meet your goal of 20+ orders for REPORT #1, and 100+ orders for REPORT #2 and you will make $50,000 or more in 90 days. I AM LIVING PROOF THAT IT WORKS!!!
If you choose not to participate in this program, I am sorry. It really is a great opportunity with little cost or risk to you. If you choose to participate, follow the program and you will be on your way to financial security. If you are a fellow business owner and are in financial trouble like I was, or you want to start your own business, consider this a sign. I DID!
Sincerely, Johnathon Rourke
A PERSONAL NOTE FROM THE ORIGINATOR OF THIS PROGRAM:
By the time you have read the enclosed program and reports, you should have concluded that such a program, and one that is legal, could not have been created by an amateur.
Let me tell you a little about myself. I had a profitable business for 10 years. Then in 1979 my business began falling off. I was doing the same things that were previously successful for me, but it wasn't working. Finally, I figured it out. It wasn't me, it was the economy. Inflation and recession had replaced the stable economy that had been with us since 1945.I don't have to tell you what happened to the unemployment rate... because many of you know from first hand experience. There were more failures and bankruptcies than ever before.
The middle class was vanishing. Those who knew what they were doing invested wisely and moved up. Those who did not, including those who never had anything to save or invest, were moving down into the ranks of the poor. As the saying goes, "THE RICH GET RICHER AND THE POOR GET POORER." The traditional methods of making money will never allow you to "move up" or "get rich", inflation will see to that.
You have just received information that can give you financial freedom for the rest of your life, with "NO RISK" and "JUST A LITTLE BIT OF EFFORT." You can make more money in the next few months than you have ever imagined. I should also point out that I will not see a penny of this money, nor anyone else who has provided a testimonial for this program. I have already made over 4 MILLION DOLLARS!I have retired from the program after sending thousands and thousands of programs.
Follow the program EXACTLY AS INSTRUCTED. Do not change it in any way . It works exceedingly well as it is now. Remember to e-mail a copy of this exciting report to everyone you can think of. One of the people you send this to may send out 50,000...and your name will be on everyone of them!
Remember though, the more you send out the more potential customers you will reach.
So my friend, I have given you the ideas, information, materials and opportunity to become financially independent. IT IS UP TO YOU NOW!
"THINK ABOUT IT"
Before you delete this program from your mailbox, as I almost did, take a little time to read it and REALLY THINK ABOUT IT. Get a pencil and figure out what could happen when YOU participate. Figure out the worst possible response and no matter how you calculate it, you will still make a lot of money! You will definitely get back what you invested. Any doubts you have will vanish when your first orders come in. IT WORKS!
Jody Jacobs, Richmond, VA
HERE'S HOW THIS AMAZING PROGRAM WILL MAKE YOU THOUSANDS OF DOLLAR$
INSTRUCTIONS:
This method of raising capital REALLY WORKS 100% EVERY TIME. I am sure that you could use up to $50,000 or more in the next 90 days. Before you say "BULL... ", please read this program carefully.
This is not a chain letter, but a perfectly legal money making opportunity. Basically, this is what you do: As with all multi-level businesses, we build our business by recruiting new partners and selling our products. Every state in the USA allows you to recruit new multi-level business partners, and we offer a product for EVERY dollar sent. YOUR ORDERS COME BY MAIL AND ARE FILLED BY E-MAIL, so you are not involved in personal selling. You do it privately in your own home, store or office. This is the GREATEST Multi-Level Mail Order Marketing anywhere.
This is what you MUST do:
1. Order all 4 reports shown on the list below (you can't sell them if youdon't order them). -- For each report, send $5.00 CASH, the NAME & NUMBER OF THE REPORT YOU ARE ORDERING, YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS, and YOUR NAME & RETURN ADDRESS (in case of a problem) to the person whose name appears on the list next to the report. MAKE SURE YOUR RETURN ADDRESS IS ON YOUR ENVELOPE IN CASE OF ANY MAIL PROBLEMS! -- When you place your order, make sure you order each of the four reports. You will need all four reports so that you can save them on your computer and resell them. -- Within a few days you will receive, via e-mail, each of the four reports. Save them on your computer so they will be accessible for you to send to the 1,000's of people who will order them from you.
2. IMPORTANT DO NOT alter the names of the people who are listed next to each report, or their sequence on the list, in any way other than is instructed below in steps "a" through "f" or you will lose out on the majority of your profits. Once you understand the way this works, you'll also see how it doesn't work if you change it. Remember, this method has been tested,and if you alter it, it will not work. a. Look below for the listing of available reports. b. After you've ordered the four reports, take this advertisement and remove the name and address under REPORT #4. This person has made it through the cycle and is no doubt counting their $50,000! c. Move the name and address under REPORT #3 down to REPORT #4. d. Move the name and address under REPORT #2 down to REPORT #3. e. Move the name and address under REPORT #1 down to REPORT #2. f. Insert your name/address in the REPORT #1 position.
Please make sure you COPY ALL INFORMATION, every name and address, ACCURATELY!
3. Take this entire letter, including the modified list of names, and save it to your computer. Make NO changes to the instruction portion of this letter.
Your cost to participate in this is practically nothing (surely you can afford $20). You obviously already have an Internet connection and e-mail is FREE!
There are two primary methods of building your downline:
METHOD #1: SENDING BULK E-MAIL
Let's say that you decide to start small, just to see how it goes, and we'll assume you and all those involved send out only 2,000 programs each. Let's also assume that the mailing receives a 0.5% response. Using a good list the response could be much better. Also, many people will send out hundreds of thousands of programs instead of 2,000. But continuing with this example, you send out only 2,000 programs. With a 0.5% response, that is only 10 orders for REPORT #1. Those 10 people respond by sending out 2,000 programs each for a total of 20,000. Out of those 0.5%, 100 people respond and order REPORT #2. Those 100 mail out 2,000 programs each for a total of 200,000. The 0.5% response to that is 1,000 orders for REPORT #3. Those 1,000 send out 2,000 programs each for a 2,000,000 total. The 0.5% response to that is 10,000 orders for REPORT #4. That's 10,000 $5 bills for you. CASH!!! Your total income in this example is $50 + $500 + $5,000 + $50,000 for a total of $55,550!!! REMEMBER FRIEND, THIS IS ASSUMING 1,990 OUT OF THE 2,000 PEOPLE YOU MAIL TO WILL DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING AND TRASH THIS PROGRAM! DARE TO THINK FOR A MOMENT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF EVERYONE, OR HALF SENT OUT 100,000 PROGRAMS INSTEAD OF 2,000. Believe me, many people will do justthat, and more! By the way, your cost to participate in this is practically nothing. You obviously already have an Internet connection and e-mail is FREE!!! REPORT #2 will show you the best methods for bulk e-mailing, tell you where to obtain free bulk e-mail software and where to obtain e-mail lists.
METHOD #2 - PLACING FREE ADS ON THE INTERNET
Advertising on the internet is very, very inexpensive, and there are HUNDREDS of FREE places to advertise. Let's say you decide to start small just to see how well it works. Assume your goal is to get ONLY 10 people to participate on your first level. (Placing a lot of FREE ads on the Internet will EASILY get a larger response.) Also assume that everyone else in YOUR ORGANIZATION gets ONLY 10 downline members. Follow this example to achieve the STAGGERING results below:
1st level--your 10 members with $5.......................................$50 2nd level--10 members from those 10 ($5 x 100)..................$500 3rd level--10 members from those 100 ($5 x 1,000)...........$5,000 4th level--10 members from those 1,000 ($5 x 10,000).....$50,000 THIS TOTALS ----------} $55,550
Remember friends, this assumes that the people who participate only recruit 10 people each. Think for a moment what would happen if they got 20 people to participate! Most people get 100's of participants! THINK ABOUT IT! For every $5.00 you receive, all you must do is e-mail them the report they ordered. THAT'S IT! ALWAYS PROVIDE SAME-DAY SERVICE ON ALL ORDERS! This will guarantee that the e-mail THEY send out with YOUR name and address on it will be prompt because they can't advertise until they receive the report!
AVAILABLE REPORTS
*** Order Each REPORT by NUMBER and NAME *** Notes: -- ALWAYS SEND $5 CASH (U.S. CURRENCY) FOR EACH REPORT. CHECKS NOT ACCEPTED. -- ALWAYS SEND YOUR ORDER VIA FIRST CLASS MAIL. -- Make sure the cash is concealed by wrapping it in at least two sheets of paper. On one of those sheets of paper, include: (a) the number & name of the report you are ordering, (b) your e-mail address, and (c) your name & postal address.
PLACE YOUR ORDER FOR THESE REPORTS NOW:
REPORT #1
----------------------------------------------------------------- "The Insider's Guide to Advertising for Free on the Internet" ORDER REPORT #1 FROM: J. Grainger Via del Perugino, 5 40139 Bologna, Italy ----------------------------------------------------------------- REPORT #2 "The Insider's Guide to Sending Bulk E-mail on the Internet" ORDER REPORT #2 FROM: D. Clark P.O. Box 685 Grangeville, Idaho 83530 ----------------------------------------------------------------- REPORT #3 "The Secrets to Multilevel Marketing on the Internet" ORDER REPORT #3 FROM: Peter Gooijer Galileistraat 33 5621 AE Eindhoven The Netherlands ----------------------------------------------------------------- REPORT #4 "How to become a Millionaire utilizing the Power of Multilevel Marketing and the Internet" ORDER REPORT #4 FROM: J. Russ 8034 Linda Vista Rd. # 1M San Diego, Ca 92111 ----------------------------------------------------------------
About 50,000 new people get online every month!
******* TIPS FOR SUCCESS ******* -- TREAT THIS AS YOUR BUSINESS! Be prompt, professional, and follow the directions accurately. -- Send for the four reports IMMEDIATELY so you will have them when the orders start coming in because: When you receive a $5 order, you MUST send out the requested product/report. -- ALWAYS PROVIDE SAME-DAY SERVICE ON THE ORDERS YOU RECEIVE. -- Be patient and persistent with this program. If you follow the instructions exactly, your results WILL BE SUCCESSFUL! -- ABOVE ALL, HAVE FAITH IN YOURSELF AND KNOW YOU WILL SUCCEED!
******* YOUR SUCCESS GUIDELINES ******* Follow these guidelines to guarantee your success:
If you don't receive 20 orders for REPORT #1 within two weeks, continue
advertising or sending e-mails until you do. Then, a couple of weeks later you should receive at least 100 orders for REPORT#2. If you don 't, continue advertising or sending e-mails until you do. Once you have received 100 or more orders for REPORT #2, YOU CAN RELAX, because the system is already working for you, and the cash will continue to roll in!
THIS IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER: Every time your name is moved down on the list, you are placed in front of a DIFFERENT report. You can KEEP TRACK of your PROGRESS by watching which report people are ordering from you. If you want to generate more income, send another batch of e-mails or continue placing ads and start the whole process again! There is no limit to the income you will generate from this business!
Before you make your decision as to whether or not you participate in this program. Please answer one question. DO YOU WANT TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE? If the answer is yes, please look at the following facts about this program:
1. You are selling a product which does not Cost anything to PRODUCE, SHIP OR ADVERTISE. 2. All of your customers pay you in CASH! 3. E-mail is without question the most powerful method of distributing information on earth. This program combines the distribution power of e-mail together with the revenue generating power of multi-level marketing. 4. Your only expense--other than your initial $20 investment--is your time! 5. Virtually all of the income you generate from this program is PURE PROFIT! 6. This program will change your LIFE FOREVER.
ACT NOW!Take your first step toward achieving financial independence. Orderthe reports and follow the program outlined above--SUCCESSwill be yourreward.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
PLEASE NOTE: If you need help with starting a business, registering a business name, learning how income tax is handled, etc., contact your localoffice of the Small Business Administration (a Federal Agency) 1-800-827-5722 for free help and answers to questions. Also, the InternalRevenue Service offers free help via telephone and free seminars aboutbusiness tax requirements. Your earnings are highly dependant on youractivities and advertising. The information contained on this site and in the report constitutes no guarantees stated nor implied. In the event that it is determined that this site or report constitutes a guarantee of any kind, that guarantee is now void. The earnings amounts listed on this site and in the report are estimates only. If you have any questions of the legality of this program, contact the Office of Associate Director for Marketing Practices, Federal Trade Commission, Bureau of Consumer Protection in Washington, DC.
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Remove at rhobbs12-at-yahoo.com /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-} We have a Zeiss TEM. Normally when the filament is first switched on with } both current and heating knobs are turned to mininimum the voltage indicator } shoots up to 2V then immeadiatly starts going down to 1.3-1.4V within no more } than 2 minutes, then we start raising the voltage by turning the heating knob } until the voltage meter reads between 1.5-1.6V (the recomended voltage stated in } the manual). } Recently though we have been noticing that the voltage shoots up to 2.2V and } stays there for several minutes then starts coming down very slowly and settles } at more than 1.6V!!... Needless to say that we have also been burning too many } filaments too quickly!! The filament lives have been no more than 10-15hours. } We would appreciate any hints or suggestions on why would this happen. We } are suspecting an electric problem in the filament control circuitry. Thank } you.
I have seen this happen in other filaments and I and a couple of EE's are at a loss to explain it. The solution we came up wiht was to use a current controlled power supply and slowly bring up the current insted of the voltage. You may have to switch power supplies when the heater is up to temperature.
Good luck Gordon
Gordon Couger gcouger-at-couger.com 624 Cheyenne Stillwater, OK 74075-1411 405 624-2855 GMT -6:00 www.couger.com/gcouger
----------------------------------------------------. } } } Mid-$30K? Is this for real? Is this the going rate for SEM } specialists? That is about 1/4 of what I would consider. } There must be some subtle differentiation of what is expected } from such positions vs. the qualifications and experience of } others in the field. Am I the only one shocked about this? }
We have graduates with experience in electrical engineering technology graduating for 50k & 60 K my sun is still fishing he is probably going to take a lower paid job to get into embed systems but has passed up 70k as a system admin. He does have 10 years experience in the field. All but the 50K kid are older and have some real work behind them. Last I heard the 60K was the top at the university. It annoys some of the engineers that look at EET as where you go when you can't cut engineering.
Gordon
Gordon Couger gcouger-at-couger.com 624 Cheyenne Stillwater, OK 74075-1411 405 624-2855 GMT -6:00 www.couger.com/gcouger
Sres MSA: Dado que mi tema de investigaci=F3n es el an=E1lisis de propiedades mec=E1nicas de pol=EDmeros semicritalinos, necesitar=EDa contactarme con alguna persona que pueda informarme sobre estudios de microestructura de los mismos.Desde ya muchas gracias.=20 Ing elena Brandaleze.
Judging from last summer's C&E News salary survey (7/27/98) $35k is about right for a new BS chemist. The average salary for 10 years experience goes up to $48k. The MS person that they prefer will cost substantially more however - $45-55k.
Now a second question is whether they'll be happy with a new BS in this position - I think not, but as in many things you do get what you pay for.
Richard Shalvoy Arch Chemicals (formerly Olin Corporation) Cheshire, CT
-----Original Message----- } From: Dr. Gary Gaugler [mailto:gary-at-gaugler.com] Sent: Thursday, May 13, 1999 10:59 PM To: MSA listserver
Keep in mind that this is a university doing the hiring in a field where (at least in biological EM positions) people tend to enjoy their work. Also, my first job at a university only had a 7.5 hour workday. I agree that it's disappointing, but they figure someone with minimal graduate work/experience receiving full medical, tuition reimbursement, 4 weeks of vacation, and the casual atmosphere of a university, they can get away with it. Especially for someone with minimal prior experience.
I'm not trying to justify it, just trying to offer a window into how they are thinking. They will likely fill the position with some willing individual looking for that extra job experience and generous vacation time.
Gregg Sobocinski Parke-Davis Pharmaceuticals Ann Arbor, Michigan USA Gregg.Sobocinski-at-wl.com
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
} ********************************************************** } Job Announcement: } } MATERIALS MICROSCOPY RESEARCH SPECIALIST } } UNL Center for Materials Research and Analysis } } Analyze/characterize materials using electron microscopy, materials } preparation and computer instrumentation. Supervise/train students, } faculty and visiting researchers utilizing these methods. Bachelor's with } major in physical science, engineering or related field plus three years } experience in the operation, repair or design of electron microscopes or } other scientific instrumentation. Master's preferred. Must have excellent } computer and interpersonal/communication skills. TEM, SEM, x-ray } diffraction or materials sample preparation experience preferred. Excellent } benefits. Submit cover letter, resume and names, addresses and telephone } numbers of three professional references to Professor Brian Robertson, } CMRA, N104 Walter Scott Engineering Center, UNL, Lincoln, NE 68588-0656 or } e-mail brobertson-at-unl.edu. Review of resumes will begin June 1. Position } will remain open until a suitable candidate is found. UNL is committed to } AA/EEO and ADA/504. If you require accommodation, please call (402) 472-7886. }
We are to begin the process of using tripod polishing for preparing TEM samples, and request vendors to contact me with regards to types of polishers available, style, cost, ease of use.
I also welcome users of this method to comment online (or email directly) as to the ease of use and technique of sample preparation, since our lab has not gone this route before.
thanks in advance
Fred
******************************************************** Fred Pearson Brockhouse Institute for Materials Research McMaster University 1280 Main St. West Hamilton, Ontario Canada L8S 4M1
This is similar to what I make and I do SEM, TEM, LM and immuno. at LM and TEM levels for an animal research lab at UTSW in Dallas. I have over 15 years of experience, a MS, and the position I hold is considered a non-tenure, PhD position. This is reality for working in academia in the midwest (I should mention I started out at the U of MN, where I was paid alot less.). Why do I stay? Cost of living here is low, so you can live on it and I like the field so much I'm getting a PhD in neuroscience to continue to grow in it.
Karen Pawlowski Sr. Research Assoc. UT Southwestern, Dallas, TX PhD candidate, UT Dallas, Dallas, TX
On Thu, 13 May 1999, Dr. Gary Gaugler 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Mid-$30K? Is this for real? Is this the going rate for SEM } specialists? That is about 1/4 of what I would consider. } There must be some subtle differentiation of what is expected } from such positions vs. the qualifications and experience of } others in the field. Am I the only one shocked about this? } } } } } JOB ANNOUNCEMENT BELOW -- PLEASE POST } } } } Dear colleagues, } } We want to hire a suitable person for the Central Facility for Electron } } Microscopy at the Center for Materials Research and Analysis at the } } University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). The salary will at least likely be in } } the range of the mid $30k's and is dependent on experience. The medical, } } dental and retirement benefits package is substantial and includes } } subsidized tuition for employees to take UNL courses. (BTW, Lincoln is } } growing, has low unemployment, is great for families, has a good range of } } live music, dance and theater, and has very good public and other schools.) } } The Facility provides user-access for ~60 faculty plus their students and } } other researchers. The Facility includes a JEOL 2010 TEM, a JEOL 840A SEM } } and a VG HB501 field-emission STEM, along with a full range of accessories, } } specimen preparation equipment, computers and darkroom. Some development } } of new research instrumentation is in progress for mapping of magnetic } } materials and more development is planned for the Facility. You can find } } out more about the Facility on our web site (that does need a little work) } } at URL: http://www.unl.edu/CMRAcfem/ } } Thanks for passing on the word, } } Brian Robertson } } } } ********************************************************** } } Job Announcement: } } } } MATERIALS MICROSCOPY RESEARCH SPECIALIST } } } } UNL Center for Materials Research and Analysis } } } } Analyze/characterize materials using electron microscopy, materials } } preparation and computer instrumentation. Supervise/train students, } } faculty and visiting researchers utilizing these methods. Bachelor's with } } major in physical science, engineering or related field plus three years } } experience in the operation, repair or design of electron microscopes or } } other scientific instrumentation. Master's preferred. Must have excellent } } computer and interpersonal/communication skills. TEM, SEM, x-ray } } diffraction or materials sample preparation experience preferred. Excellent } } benefits. Submit cover letter, resume and names, addresses and telephone } } numbers of three professional references to Professor Brian Robertson, } } CMRA, N104 Walter Scott Engineering Center, UNL, Lincoln, NE 68588-0656 or } } e-mail brobertson-at-unl.edu. Review of resumes will begin June 1. Position } } will remain open until a suitable candidate is found. UNL is committed to } } AA/EEO and ADA/504. If you require accommodation, please call (402) 472-7886. } } } } } } *********************************************************** } } Assoc. Prof. Brian W. Robertson } } Department of Mechanical Engineering } } and Center for Materials Research and Analysis } } University of Nebraska-Lincoln, N124 WSEC, } } 17th & Vine Sts., Lincoln, NE 68588-0656, USA } } ** Office 402 472 8308; FAX 472 1465; Labs 472 8762 and 472 5498 ** } } Cheers, } Gary Gaugler, Ph.D. } } }
Sres MSA: Dado que mi tema de investigaci=F3n es el an=E1lisis de propiedades mec=E1nicas de pol=EDmeros semicritalinos, necesitar=EDa contactarme con alguna persona que pueda informarme sobre estudios de microestructura de los mismos.Desde ya muchas gracias.=20 Ing elena Brandaleze.=20
Elena Brandaleze asks whether there is anyone who can provide information on studies of the microstructure of semicrystalline polymers. She works on the mechanical properties of the same.
At 05:50 AM 5/14/99 , you wrote: } Gary: Where are all the 120K jobs. I might want one. } }
They are in Silicon Valley and all over California. These are senior positions. Junior and journey positions gross about $65K-$90K, plus benefits. A brand new person might start at $50K.
Nebraska and academia. Yep. Now I understand the low amount. Perhaps based on cost of living, it is not so bad. Cost of living here in CA is certainly higher. So hopefully, the compensation is relative and commensurate.
Just for your info, we have one of the best junior colleges in the country (and one of the few) that train and produce SEM techs. San Joaquin Delta College, Stockton CA has an excellent program and a fine reputation. With tons of biotech, microelectronics and materials companies all over the place, there are ample opportunities for people to get a start and to move up. Most companies would like people to have a BS but they really want someone who can do the job. They need results, not credentials.
Judy Murphy, who leads the Microscopy Technology Center at San Joaquin Delta College is on this list-server so if anyone has any questions about their program, I'm sure she would be glad to answer them.
My recommendation is to get someone to help you set up your lab and that can come in, spend a couple of days, and show you how to do it. I taught myself from the literature and it was a painful process. Once I could do it, then it was easy for me to show others how to do it. You should also get the literature from the MRS series of TEM sample prep books on how to do it and pay particular attention to Ron Anderson group's works. Number three has a fairly detailed outline of how to do it by John Benedict, Ron Anderson and Stanley Klepeis, MRS Vol 254, 121.
You should seriously consider the South Bay Technology course that is periodically taught. SBT has a very good relationship with Ron Anderson and since his group developed and taught the world the technique, I highly recommend that you contact them.
-Scott
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Glass Technology Center 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: Fred Pearson To: microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
Hello
We are to begin the process of using tripod polishing for preparing TEM samples, and request vendors to contact me with regards to types of polishers available, style, cost, ease of use.
I also welcome users of this method to comment online (or email directly) as to the ease of use and technique of sample preparation, since our lab has not gone this route before.
thanks in advance
Fred
******************************************************** Fred Pearson Brockhouse Institute for Materials Research McMaster University 1280 Main St. West Hamilton, Ontario Canada L8S 4M1
This can end up being a very lengthy discussion for the listserver and I don't know your level of expertise with ultramicrotomy so I will keep this very brief. Please feel free to contact me or our applications staff directly for more detail.
You will need to be concerned with the Tg of each phase, their size and relative volumes in the sample. If the ABS phase is 80% and the other phases are not too different in Tg then start at 10-15 degrees above the ABS Tg.
If possible trim before putting in the Ultramicrotome, section at 100nm first to see how it behaves, keep the block face small (less than 1mm). You can try large faces later.
You are looking for consistent sections (no skips), no curling, no chip or flakes. You should see highly specular finish and relatively flat sections. There are a host of remedies for each variation, I will not try to put them all here. If you can get to 70nm you should have a good SPM sample.
Curling or skipping usually means sectioning too warm or a dull knife. Chips or flakes, with or instead of sections means one or more phases are too cold (glassy). Adjust temperature only a few degrees at a time.
A point that some people miss is that the back side of the sections are usually smoother than the front ( the block face which becomes the next section face). If the best you are able to do still shows some chatter try to hold a section face down and do your SPM on the back side.
We are a commercial manufacturer of Ultramicrotomes and cryo attachments to fit nearly all ultramicrotomes. We run a Materials Science Ultramicrotomy Course each Fall which addresses SPM sample preparation. Please see our web site for details.
www.Ventanamed.com Look for RMC button Steve Miller Director of North American Sales Ventana EM Products Group Ventana Medical Systems, Inc. 3450 S. Broadmont Tucson, AZ 85713 Direct phone: 520-205-4118 Fax: 520-903-0132
-----Original Message----- } From: Robert Plano [mailto:RPLANO-at-cea.com] Sent: Wednesday, May 12, 1999 3:51 PM To: 'spm-at-di.com'; 'Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com'
Greetings.
I am working on making AFM topography and phase images of a series of polymer samples which are made up of varying amounts of polycarbonate, polypropylene and mostly (} 80%) ABS. I have some nice images already (soon to be on our web site) but want to improve the quality. I also want to look at the bulk regions by using cryo-microtomy to create a nice flat face for imaging. Can someone share their experiences with these types of samples and any tips on the microtomy technique (best temperatures, etc.)? I also plan to use plasma etching to see if that will clean up the surface.
Thanks in advance.
Robert J. Plano Staff Analyst, SPM Services Surface Science Labs (650)962-8767, ext. 742
You are not the only one shocked about this. Looking at the figure as low as Mid-$30K, I would say there is something seriously not quite right. These days a simple graduate in computer programming with 2-3 years experience easily gets a starting salary of $50k+ and as they go ahead with few more years of experience, they quickly move into the scale of $70k-80k and crosses $100k within a span of well less than 10 years of career.
- Is there something going wrong with microscopists and SEM/TEM engineers? - Is Mid-$30k fair to expect for electron microscopists (3 years experienced) who maintains the equipment as well? - What if they have 12 -15 years of experience? - Is $60k max (typically at Universities) is fair that these gorgeous people are expected to get max. in their lifetime? - Is that what the people who are the backbone for running and maintaining research facilities are supposed to rewarded with?
I mean just compare it with professionals with same qualifications and experience in other fields. In my personal opinion, there is something not quite right and needs to be re-assessed.
Zia ur Rahman University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida
At 07:59 PM 5/13/1999 -0700, you wrote:
} Mid-$30K? Is this for real? Is this the going rate for SEM } specialists? That is about 1/4 of what I would consider. } There must be some subtle differentiation of what is expected } from such positions vs. the qualifications and experience of } others in the field. Am I the only one shocked about this? } } } } } JOB ANNOUNCEMENT BELOW -- PLEASE POST } } } } Dear colleagues, } } We want to hire a suitable person for the Central Facility for Electron } } Microscopy at the Center for Materials Research and Analysis at the } } University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). The salary will at least likely be in } } the range of the mid $30k's and is dependent on experience. The medical, } } dental and retirement benefits package is substantial and includes } } subsidized tuition for employees to take UNL courses. (BTW, Lincoln is } } growing, has low unemployment, is great for families, has a good range of } } live music, dance and theater, and has very good public and other schools.) } } The Facility provides user-access for ~60 faculty plus their students and } } other researchers. The Facility includes a JEOL 2010 TEM, a JEOL 840A SEM } } and a VG HB501 field-emission STEM, along with a full range of accessories, } } specimen preparation equipment, computers and darkroom. Some development } } of new research instrumentation is in progress for mapping of magnetic } } materials and more development is planned for the Facility. You can find } } out more about the Facility on our web site (that does need a little work) } } at URL: http://www.unl.edu/CMRAcfem/ } } Thanks for passing on the word, } } Brian Robertson } } } } ********************************************************** } } Job Announcement: } } } } MATERIALS MICROSCOPY RESEARCH SPECIALIST } } } } UNL Center for Materials Research and Analysis } } } } Analyze/characterize materials using electron microscopy, materials } } preparation and computer instrumentation. Supervise/train students, } } faculty and visiting researchers utilizing these methods. Bachelor's with } } major in physical science, engineering or related field plus three years } } experience in the operation, repair or design of electron microscopes or } } other scientific instrumentation. Master's preferred. Must have excellent } } computer and interpersonal/communication skills. TEM, SEM, x-ray } } diffraction or materials sample preparation experience preferred. Excellent } } benefits. Submit cover letter, resume and names, addresses and telephone } } numbers of three professional references to Professor Brian Robertson, } } CMRA, N104 Walter Scott Engineering Center, UNL, Lincoln, NE 68588-0656 or } } e-mail brobertson-at-unl.edu. Review of resumes will begin June 1. Position } } will remain open until a suitable candidate is found. UNL is committed to } } AA/EEO and ADA/504. If you require accommodation, please call (402) 472-7886. } } } } } } *********************************************************** } } Assoc. Prof. Brian W. Robertson } } Department of Mechanical Engineering } } and Center for Materials Research and Analysis } } University of Nebraska-Lincoln, N124 WSEC, } } 17th & Vine Sts., Lincoln, NE 68588-0656, USA } } ** Office 402 472 8308; FAX 472 1465; Labs 472 8762 and 472 5498 ** } } Cheers, } Gary Gaugler, Ph.D. } } } }
} -} We have a Zeiss TEM. Normally when the filament is first switched on } with } } both current and heating knobs are turned to mininimum the voltage } indicator } } shoots up to 2V then immeadiatly starts going down to 1.3-1.4V within no } more } } than 2 minutes, then we start raising the voltage by turning the heating } knob } } until the voltage meter reads between 1.5-1.6V (the recomended voltage } stated in } } the manual). } } Recently though we have been noticing that the voltage shoots up to 2.2V } and } } stays there for several minutes then starts coming down very slowly and } settles } } at more than 1.6V!!... Needless to say that we have also been burning too } many } } filaments too quickly!! The filament lives have been no more than } 10-15hours. } } We would appreciate any hints or suggestions on why would this happen. } We } } are suspecting an electric problem in the filament control circuitry. } Thank } } you. } } Gordon Cougar wrote: } I have seen this happen in other filaments and I and a couple of EE's are } at a loss to explain it. The solution we came up wiht was to use a current } controlled power supply and slowly bring up the current insted of the } voltage. } You may have to switch power supplies when the heater is up to temperature. } } Good luck } Gordon
Gordon has a good point. Also recall a recent post that suggested the use of "good" and "bad" filaments. That is, once you have a batch of filaments that are good, don't use up all of them...save a couple. Then, get a new batch, use them, and decide if they too are good. Then, when a batch performs differently than the previous good ones, you can verify that the earlier good ones are still good or that there is a vacuum leak (the post was based on filament lifetime and vacuum quality).
So, have you changed filament suppliers or gotten a new batch of filaments recently?
The nature of filaments is that their resistance is lowest when cold. As they heat, their resistance increases. Thus, for a given applied voltage, the circuit current will be highest at first, then decrease as the filament heats up. In a circuit where the current limiter is the filament (most circuits are this way), the circuit is generally constant voltage, not constant current.
What you are seeing is counter to what I would think is normal for sure. The only filament-based reason for the voltage to shoot up is if the filament's resistance shot up. That seems hard to explain. However, that the steady state voltage is higher than before could indicate a batch of filaments with higher intrinsic resistance. Without seeing the circuit diagram of the filament supply section, it is hard to make a qualified recommendation on it or even to speculate. Since the filament is at high potential, there are many novel methods that manufacturers use to achieve this and to supply an isolated filament current.
You might also check that the filament is well seated, the terminals are tight and all associated connections are tight.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Modern surfers use PC boards. You can too at http://photoweb.net ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
OK OK can we move this "debate" off the list? It has been pointed out that academic salaries are low compared to industry (always have been, always will be), that people in certain fields (e.g., engineers - why not use MDs for a real eye-opener?!) make more than those from other fields (e.g., biologists) at all levels of experience, that salaries in any position fluctuate with location, and that academics are generally not satisfied with their salaries (once they discover how much others are making!). I think that covers all the bases.... OOPS I forgot the gender comparision - maybe someone can throw in one final thought-provoking message along those lines.
Rob Palmer Academic
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
At 09:19 AM 5/14/99 , you wrote: } Welcome to our world!!! This is pretty much the going rate...sad, isn't } it? For biological microscopists, too. Techs don't get paid very well. } } Tamara Howard } CSHL }
Yeah...very sad and perplexing. Microscopy and EM is not at all a trivial undertaking. Especially if one is looking for useful results. TEM work is even more challenging from what I have seen. I am on the SEM side.
While I admit that I am not 100% a microscopist (it is a means to another end), I am awed by the pool of expertise out there. I don't claim to be an expert by any stretch and I appreciate the free flow of information on this list-server and the one-on-one communications.
I know that there are well-paying tech jobs out there--my brother had several. But even he jumped ship for software work. I suppose that pay is geographically based and contorted by supply and demand. I can also understand low pay in an academic instutution where non-academia is viewed differently. Nevertheless, expertise is not something that just happens. Maybe "You get what you pay for" applies here? In Northern CA, and especially Silicon Valley, EM techs make good wages. And they are in demand. Unfortunately, at both U.S. Coasts, the semiconductor business seems to be imploding. In this respect, I'm like a vulture, waiting for a great deal on a recent SEM being dumped by a company. But for jobs, the only bright spot appears to be biotech.
There is also a vocational institute in Madison Wisconsin that teaches electron microscopy. The graduates of this program are well trained in SEM, TEM, AFM, FIB, materials and biological prep, etc. For more information contact Glenn Boda at (608) 246-6254 or Michael Kostrna at (608) 246-6762.
A textbook editor is looking for a micrograph. He isn't a list subscriber, so please contact him directly.
} ...the image we need as given to us from the chapter editor: } } A picture of aluminum atoms from a scanning tunneling microscope. The } individual atoms of aluminum should appear as dots. The individual atoms } in } the photograph may be accentuated by adding color so that it is easier } to see } them. This image would be used in an upcoming high school Science } textbook.
} Andy Christiansen } Photo Researcher } Holt, Rinehart and Winston } achristiansen-at-hrw.com
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/PMHomePage.html Intertidal invertebrates: http://www.fortbragg.k12.ca.us/AG/PCI/pci.html
I know there have been some discussions on this listserver in the past about computer sign up systems for electron microscopes. Are there any new programs out there? We are working on a web-based instrument sign up program to replace our existing sign up/microscope accounting system. The old system is not Y2K friendly. Besides the Universty of Minnesota, is there any other group which has a working web-based system?
John C. Wheatley Lab Manager Arizona State University Center for Solid State Science PSA-213 BOX 871704 Tempe, AZ 85287-1704
Actually this salary range is not as low as you would think.. I have a M.S. degree and 5 years of EM experience and it took a while for me to find a job in EM throughout the country.. I was applying for jobs that were offering $25K to start as a salary and some were more depending on what part of the country you were looking in... I ended up in Seattle at a job for $32K with benefits to start... I am now currently in Los Angeles at UCLA Medical Center and the salary here is quite a bit more than in Seattle.. But that is outweighed due to the high cost of just living here...So the salary for this job is not as bad as one might think...
==========================
} You are not the only one shocked about this. Looking at the figure as low } as Mid-$30K, I would say there is something seriously not quite right. } These days a simple graduate in computer programming with 2-3 years } experience easily gets a starting salary of $50k+ and as they go ahead with } few more years of experience, they quickly move into the scale of $70k-80k } and crosses $100k within a span of well less than 10 years of career. } } - Is there something going wrong with microscopists and SEM/TEM engineers? } - Is Mid-$30k fair to expect for electron microscopists (3 years } experienced) who maintains the equipment as well? } - What if they have 12 -15 years of experience? } - Is $60k max (typically at Universities) is fair that these gorgeous } people are expected to get max. in their lifetime? } - Is that what the people who are the backbone for running and maintaining } research facilities are supposed to rewarded with? } } I mean just compare it with professionals with same qualifications and } experience in other fields. In my personal opinion, there is something not } quite right and needs to be re-assessed. } } Zia ur Rahman } University of Central Florida, } Orlando, Florida } } } At 07:59 PM 5/13/1999 -0700, you wrote: } } } Mid-$30K? Is this for real? Is this the going rate for SEM } } specialists? That is about 1/4 of what I would consider. } } There must be some subtle differentiation of what is expected } } from such positions vs. the qualifications and experience of } } others in the field. Am I the only one shocked about this? } } } } } } } } } JOB ANNOUNCEMENT BELOW -- PLEASE POST } } } } } } Dear colleagues, } } } We want to hire a suitable person for the Central Facility for Electron } } } Microscopy at the Center for Materials Research and Analysis at the } } } University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). The salary will at least likely be in } } } the range of the mid $30k's and is dependent on experience. The medical, } } } dental and retirement benefits package is substantial and includes } } } subsidized tuition for employees to take UNL courses. (BTW, Lincoln is } } } growing, has low unemployment, is great for families, has a good range of } } } live music, dance and theater, and has very good public and other schools.) } } } The Facility provides user-access for ~60 faculty plus their students and } } } other researchers. The Facility includes a JEOL 2010 TEM, a JEOL 840A SEM } } } and a VG HB501 field-emission STEM, along with a full range of accessories, } } } specimen preparation equipment, computers and darkroom. Some development } } } of new research instrumentation is in progress for mapping of magnetic } } } materials and more development is planned for the Facility. You can find } } } out more about the Facility on our web site (that does need a little work) } } } at URL: http://www.unl.edu/CMRAcfem/ } } } Thanks for passing on the word, } } } Brian Robertson } } } } } } ********************************************************** } } } Job Announcement: } } } } } } MATERIALS MICROSCOPY RESEARCH SPECIALIST } } } } } } UNL Center for Materials Research and Analysis } } } } } } Analyze/characterize materials using electron microscopy, materials } } } preparation and computer instrumentation. Supervise/train students, } } } faculty and visiting researchers utilizing these methods. Bachelor's with } } } major in physical science, engineering or related field plus three years } } } experience in the operation, repair or design of electron microscopes or } } } other scientific instrumentation. Master's preferred. Must have excellent } } } computer and interpersonal/communication skills. TEM, SEM, x-ray } } } diffraction or materials sample preparation experience preferred. Excellent } } } benefits. Submit cover letter, resume and names, addresses and telephone } } } numbers of three professional references to Professor Brian Robertson, } } } CMRA, N104 Walter Scott Engineering Center, UNL, Lincoln, NE 68588-0656 or } } } e-mail brobertson-at-unl.edu. Review of resumes will begin June 1. Position } } } will remain open until a suitable candidate is found. UNL is committed to } } } AA/EEO and ADA/504. If you require accommodation, please call (402) } 472-7886. } } } } } } } } } *********************************************************** } } } Assoc. Prof. Brian W. Robertson } } } Department of Mechanical Engineering } } } and Center for Materials Research and Analysis } } } University of Nebraska-Lincoln, N124 WSEC, } } } 17th & Vine Sts., Lincoln, NE 68588-0656, USA } } } ** Office 402 472 8308; FAX 472 1465; Labs 472 8762 and 472 5498 ** } } } } Cheers, } } Gary Gaugler, Ph.D. } } } } } } } } }
We have a researcher who would like to use the technique of Green and Linstead (Protoplasma (1990) 158:33-38) for making a mold, then a cast of plant shoot apices. They reference dental impression polymers from Kerr UK Ltd., Peterborough, UK. I may have missed it but I didn't find it (or the likes) in the half-dozen mainstream microscopy suppliers' catalogs we have on hand.
Can anyone suggest a source for these products? It would probably be easiest and fastest if we could get a supplier in the USA.
Thanks in advance for any help you can give.
+++++++++++++++++ Dale A. Callaham Senior Microscopist, Stuck Jar Lid Opener, Odd Job Bear Central Microscopy Facility The University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA 01007 ------------------------- Phone 413-545-3751 FAX 413-545-3243 email dac-at-bio.umass.edu
I am looking for an objective aperture for a Hitachi H-9000 (UHV) TEM with sizes of 10,20,30 & 50 microns. Any suggestions about suppliers -- we can supply dimensions.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Laurence Marks Department of Materials Science and Engineering Northwestern University fax: (847) 491-7820 mailto:l-marks-at-nwu.edu http://www.numis.nwu.edu ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hi, The subject line says all: I am using LM to look at sections embedded with Spurr's, and I would like to know its refractive index. Haven't been able to track it down on the web or through my vendor.
Thanks, Jill
------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Jill L. Schmidt Phone: (206) 685-1926 University of Washington FAX: (206) 543-0275 Oceanography Box 357940 e-mail: jills-at-ocean.washington.edu Seattle, WA 98195-7940 http://www.ocean.washington.edu/people/grads/jills/Schmidt.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi, I would like to initiate a discussion with someone about the following specific questions, but I don't want to bog down the list. If you can help, please reply directly to me.
First of all, I'm not much of a microscopist and becoming more experienced in order to work on a particular problem: where are bacteria located on undisturbed sand grains. I embed "undisturbed" samples with Spurr's (after staining), cut (very) thick sections (0.5 mm) and look at them with fluorescence microscopy (100 x oil objective).
I would like to look at the sections without using cover slips for the following reasons:
1) Reduced sample preparation time if I am looking "into" the sample rather than right at the surface. I don't have to be as careful in preparing the surface, and can worry less about the polishing compounds becoming embedded in the resin.
2) I have actually found better results ("better images" to my eye) looking into the sample, and this confuses me. The resin itself is autofluorescent, and the DAPI-stained bacteria are brighter still. Could it be that by placing resin between the "focal plane" (quotes because I'm not sure if it's the correct term) and the objective that I am attenuating some of the light with the resin, and therefore can see the contrast between the bacteria and the resin better? I have found that stopping down the diaphragm near the light source helps too.
Now, I know that if the resin does not have the same refractive index as glass+oil, it will lead to distortion. My question is, does it matter for my purposes: I am _not_ looking at the size of the bacteria, just presence/absence. I am tracing the sediment-grain edges (I have a digital camera hooked up to the microscope). Wouldn't the distortion merely affect the apparent width of the grain broundary, rather than the shape (pattern) of the grain outline itself? The grains are 50-200 micrometer in diameter, i.e. a whole grain will not typically be within a field of view.
I am mainly after a record of where the bacteria are located on grain edges, and am not in need of an exact visual representation. I am would rather have large sample sizes (thus the desire for reduced prep time) rather than high precision because I want to be able to treat the results (bacterial position compared with pore width) statistically. I want to be able to publish these results, and don't want to proceed ahead with what just "works best" if it doesn't make any sense.
In searching the archives, I came across someone's lament about the lack of curricula for microscopy and I completely agree! I am at a major research university and there are no classes given on light microscopy.
One other question is: we have a 100x oil objective NA 1.25 (Zeiss) with a collar that adjusts from .8 - 1.25. The microscope owner _thinks_ this is to adjust for different refractive indexes of the specimen. I can see that it functions as an aperature, and because it goes up to 1.25 is seems that it would be related to NA. I can't understand why someone would want a lower NA, unless it would increase the "depth of field". Any ideas? Do you control NA and refractive index the same way?
Thanks for any help you can give me, Jill ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Jill L. Schmidt Phone: (206) 685-1926 University of Washington FAX: (206) 543-0275 Oceanography Box 357940 e-mail: jills-at-ocean.washington.edu Seattle, WA 98195-7940 http://www.ocean.washington.edu/people/grads/jills/Schmidt.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Reply to: Re: Electron Microscopy Position Available = Immediately An interesting topic that I hope will be explored in a little more detail, = is not so much how microscopists are paid (which is usually too little) = but what is expected of them. In addition to knowing evey preparation = technique and piece of equipment, we have to know how to fix the equipment,= teach students and post-docs and figure out ways to fund the facility. = No problem.
The really dangerous aspect to this is that quite often the head of the EM = lab is expected to provide a data collection and image interpretation = service for the majority of users. Although I am sure everyone feels able = to do this, for microscopy (and in particular electron microscopy) to = continue to grow, it is important that individual researchers become = responsible for their own specimen preparation, data collection and = results interpretation. Not knowing the technology is no longer a good = excuse to avoid the work. =
On the subject of pay, I always thought that the low initial salaries = being offered were to cover the risk involved with new hires. The true = story could only be that once settled in the salary actually rose to a = comfortable level! =
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 http://www.hei.org/htm/aemi.htm
Karen S Pawlowski wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America =
} TEM levels for an animal research lab at UTSW in Dallas. I have over 15 } years of experience, a MS, and the position I hold is considered a } non-tenure, PhD position. This is reality for working in academia in the } midwest (I should mention I started out at the U of MN, where I was paid } alot less.). Why do I stay? Cost of living here is low, so you can live = } on it and I like the field so much I'm getting a PhD in neuroscience to } continue to grow in it. } } Karen Pawlowski } Sr. Research Assoc. UT Southwestern, Dallas, TX } PhD candidate, UT Dallas, Dallas, TX } } On Thu, 13 May 1999, Dr. Gary Gaugler 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 } } -----------------------------------------------------------------------.=
} } = } } = } } Mid-$30K? Is this for real? Is this the going rate for SEM } } specialists? That is about 1/4 of what I would consider. } } There must be some subtle differentiation of what is expected } } from such positions vs. the qualifications and experience of = } } others in the field. Am I the only one shocked about this? } } = } } = } } = } } } JOB ANNOUNCEMENT BELOW -- PLEASE POST } } } } } } Dear colleagues, } } } We want to hire a suitable person for the Central Facility for = Electron } } } Microscopy at the Center for Materials Research and Analysis at the } } } University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). The salary will at least likely = be in } } } the range of the mid $30k's and is dependent on experience. The = medical, } } } dental and retirement benefits package is substantial and includes } } } subsidized tuition for employees to take UNL courses. (BTW, Lincoln is } } } growing, has low unemployment, is great for families, has a good range = of } } } live music, dance and theater, and has very good public and other = schools.) = } } } The Facility provides user-access for ~60 faculty plus their students = and } } } other researchers. The Facility includes a JEOL 2010 TEM, a JEOL 840A = SEM } } } and a VG HB501 field-emission STEM, along with a full range of = accessories, } } } specimen preparation equipment, computers and darkroom. Some = development } } } of new research instrumentation is in progress for mapping of magnetic } } } materials and more development is planned for the Facility. You can = find } } } out more about the Facility on our web site (that does need a little = work) } } } at URL: http://www.unl.edu/CMRAcfem/ = } } } Thanks for passing on the word, } } } Brian Robertson } } } } } } ********************************************************** } } } Job Announcement: } } } } } } MATERIALS MICROSCOPY RESEARCH SPECIALIST } } } } } } UNL Center for Materials Research and Analysis } } } } } } Analyze/characterize materials using electron microscopy, materials } } } preparation and computer instrumentation. Supervise/train students, } } } faculty and visiting researchers utilizing these methods. Bachelor's = with } } } major in physical science, engineering or related field plus three = years } } } experience in the operation, repair or design of electron microscopes = or } } } other scientific instrumentation. Master's preferred. Must have = excellent } } } computer and interpersonal/communication skills. TEM, SEM, x-ray } } } diffraction or materials sample preparation experience preferred. = Excellent } } } benefits. Submit cover letter, resume and names, addresses and = telephone } } } numbers of three professional references to Professor Brian Robertson, } } } CMRA, N104 Walter Scott Engineering Center, UNL, Lincoln, NE 68588-= 0656 or } } } e-mail brobertson-at-unl.edu. Review of resumes will begin June 1. Posit= ion } } } will remain open until a suitable candidate is found. UNL is = committed to } } } AA/EEO and ADA/504. If you require accommodation, please call (402) = } 472-7886. } } } } } } } } } *********************************************************** } } } Assoc. Prof. Brian W. Robertson } } } Department of Mechanical Engineering } } } and Center for Materials Research and Analysis } } } University of Nebraska-Lincoln, N124 WSEC, } } } 17th & Vine Sts., Lincoln, NE 68588-0656, USA } } } ** Office 402 472 8308; FAX 472 1465; Labs 472 8762 and 472 5498 ** } } = } } Cheers, } } Gary Gaugler, Ph.D. } } = } } = } } = } } } } } RFC822 header } ----------------------------------- } } Received: from Sparc5.Microscopy.Com [206.69.208.10] by mailhouse.hei.= org } (SMTPD32-4.07) id A18E691011E; Fri, 14 May 1999 13:03:26 PST } Received: (from daemon-at-localhost) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.= 11) = } id IAA02338 for dist-Microscopy; Fri, 14 May 1999 08:40:47 -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 IAA02333 for = } "MicroscopyFilteredEmail-at-msa.microscopy.com"; Fri, 14 May 1999 08:40:16 -= 0500 } Received: from poteidaia.utdallas.edu (poteidaia.utdallas.edu = } [129.110.10.1]) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) with ESMTP id = IAA02322 for = } {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} ; Fri, 14 May 1999 08:40:03 -0500 } Received: from apache.utdallas.edu (kna101-at-apache.utdallas.edu [129.110.= 16.9]) } by poteidaia.utdallas.edu (8.9.1/8.9.1/null-3.5) with ESMTP id IAA14724;=
} Fri, 14 May 1999 08:42:30 -0500 (CDT) } Received: from localhost (kna101-at-localhost) } by apache.utdallas.edu (8.9.1/8.9.1) with SMTP id IAA01748; } Fri, 14 May 1999 08:42:29 -0500 (CDT) } X-Authentication-Warning: apache.utdallas.edu: kna101 owned process = doing -bs } Date: Fri, 14 May 1999 08:42:29 -0500 (CDT) } From: Karen S Pawlowski {kna101-at-utdallas.edu} } To: "Dr. Gary Gaugler" {gary-at-gaugler.com} } cc: MSA listserver {Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com} } Subject: Re: Electron Microscopy Position Available Immediately } In-Reply-To: {4.1.19990513195604.009dc490-at-pop.calweb.com} } Message-ID: {Pine.GSO.3.96.990514083332.1144A-100000-at-apache.utdallas.edu} =
Working together with process engineers and laser designers, we aim to improve the performance of current generation high power lasers and to develop the next.
If you are at, or near the end of a PhD thesis in microscopy (TEM), preferably in the semiconductor area, and are looking to widen your horizons in the world of industry, this could be for you.
A basic knowledge of german is essential.
If you are interested please contact our Human Resources Manager, Teresa Eichholzer, Binzstrasse 17, 8045 Zurich, Switzerland, or by e-mail at teresa.eichholzer-at-uniphasele.com
For further information please visit our website at http://www.uniphase.com.
-----Mensaje original-----De: Antonio Molina {ifrm111-at-if.csic.es} Para: Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com {Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com} Fecha: viernes 14 de mayo de 1999 17:06Asunto: LM, SEM (may be TEM or AFM) - Ice cristal size and shape: how to do it Dear microscopists, I am interested in measuring the size, shape, growth, dynamics of recrystallization, etc, of ice, contained in a variety of foods, and generated through different freezing processes (different freezing speeds, hydrostatic pressure, antifreezers). I wonder which could be the easier way to obtain quantitative data. I am considering light microscopy with a cryostage, but I don't know if I will be needing special optics (will phase contrast or polarisation help?). I am also starting to do experiments on cryo-SEM, but I am frightened of altering the ice distribution of my sample, if I cool it further. If you have come across with this problem, your comments could be very useful to me. Thanks, Antonio D. Molina-Garcia Inst. del Frio, CSIC 28040 Madrid SPAINPhone (+34) 91 5445607 (+34) 91 5492300 Fax (+34) 91 5493627E-mail : ifrm111-at-if.csic.es http://www.csic.es/ifrio/ingind.htm
} Date: Fri, 14 May 1999 10:57:51 +0000 } To: "Shalvoy, Richard B CHES" {RBShalvoy-at-archchemicals.com} } From: Lou Solebello {microls1297-at-mindspring.com} } Subject: RE: Electron Microscopy Position Available Immediately } X-Attachments: A:\loucv98.doc; } In-Reply-To: {39E38D236504D211B2BD00805FE616BF3DF9F6-at-ealt-exc-02.corp.olin.com} } } Thats about where I was in my last position. A similar, yet less comprehensive survey of microscopist salaries by Microscopy Today put the AVERAGE national salary for an MS degreed microscopist in all fields with 10+ yrs experience at $57,000 per year. One has to consider that this is an average, across all ecomomic demographics from a college par timer to a CEO. } } Would they be happy with a BS chemist out of school for $35k? probably not.....who is going to teach him, be his mentor? They are expecting too much for too little which makes an excellent recipe for disaster. The level of responsibility and knowledge they are expecting is way out of line for the compensation. } } I almost am embarrased at what I was earning in my last position, and I am considered to be "Senior level". I was earning $46,000/yr prior to benes which worked out to be about $60k/yr with benes. That however is my fault for not being savy enough business wise to research what I was worth. But, I didnt view it that way. Naive as it may sound, I too honesty in compensation for granted because I do not take advantage of others. Besides, I was doing what I love to do, which I cannot put a dollar amount on. A quick glance at my CV (attached) clearly shows that I am not average, but a good deal above average as a microanalyst. You might also be surprised to know that I earned less than that at well known prestigious microanalytical company where I had been for close to 10 yrs. That should dispel quite a few myths people have about the earnings of scientists that company....they are lower than you would expect. I have also worked with others making in the six digit range, and simply was amazed because they completely lacked the intelligence or expertise that would normally be warranted for that salary level. In fact, they shouldnt have been making a technicians salary. } } I thank you for humoring my dissertation on this subject, but I believe that everyone in the scientific community should be alarmed and discuss this topic mor openly. We wonder why there is scientific fraud, and many people have a negative opinion of scientists?, or why companies have been taking the attitudes they have? It is self promulgated by those same companies who are blind to their own errors, but have egos too big to admit it, and need to protect and justify their own high six digit figures. I personally do not like unions, but I strongly believe that if scientists do not do something about the situation, we will be our own demise by simply not acknowledging the problem. } } Lou Solebello } At 07:02 AM 5/14/99 -0500, you wrote: } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Not all jobs in California pay as much as Gary says. I'm at UCB and don't make anywhere near that much (and I've been doing this for 17 years). Maybe in Silicon Valley in the semiconductor business, but not in academia. I guess academic technicians are underpaid all over the states. Unfortunately, it's very expensive to live in to SF bay area unless you live east about an hour drive.
But we know what we're in for when we take the job. So I guess it's a case of let the technician beware.
Paula :-)
} At 05:50 AM 5/14/99 , you wrote: } } Gary: Where are all the 120K jobs. I might want one. } } } } } } They are in Silicon Valley and all over California. These } are senior positions. Junior and journey positions gross } about $65K-$90K, plus benefits. A brand new person might } start at $50K. }
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
Friends of mine with similar degrees and experience in other fields have second cars, vaction homes and boats. I have a 13 year old Honda. Of course, if she gets accepted, my daughter will go to BU for four years, tuition free 8-)
Ron ----- Original Message ----- } From: Robert J. Palmer Jr. {rjpalmer-at-utkux.utcc.utk.edu} ,Snip} - } maybe someone can throw in one final thought-provoking message along those } lines. } } Rob Palmer } Academic } } } Gordon, } } } } You are not the only one shocked about this. Looking at the figure as low } } as Mid-$30K, I would say there is something seriously not quite right. } } These days a simple graduate in computer programming with 2-3 years } } experience easily gets a starting salary of $50k+ {snip}
Henrik Kaker wrote: ============================================= I'm looking e-mail address of Graticules Limited from UK. ============================================== Try the following:
Mr. Brian Kyte General Manager Pyser Ltd./Graticules E-mail: BrianKyte-at-debscom.demon.co.uk
Yes, this is the same Brian Kyte formerly associated with VG Microtech and Polaron and Bio-Rad.
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: www.2spi.com ############################ =======================================================
I am editing some early papers of Sigmund Freud from the years before he turned to the mind. He published several papers in the 1870s and 1880s on his microscopical work, mainly on the nervous system of lower vertebrates.
He refers to some lenses, stains and fixation techniques I'm familiar with and some I'm not familiar with. For instance, he mentions Hartnac lenses of various numbers and serum iodide.
Does anyone know the state of microscopy during this period? Is there a person familiar with this era or book that might list the various stains, etc. in use? Does anyone know how to translate the Hartnac numbers into something meaningful to us? I suppose they refer to what we call power. Even general information such as what was visible and what not, whether artificial light or only sunlight was used, etc. would be helpful. He does not name the microscope he uses so we have to surmise what what available and standard.
Any help will be greatly appreciated and acknowledged.
- Larry Kunstadt, PhD The Psychoanalytic Institute New York University Medical Center
Kerr Specialties as a water soluble wax http://www.kerrcasting.com/Product/English/Wax/Sol-u-wax.htm It melts at 140 F and will dissolve in water. Would this have a use in embedding with out having to fully clear the subject. It will clear a lot faster after it is sliced than before. Just a thought.
Gordon
Gordon Couger gcouger-at-couger.com 624 Cheyenne Stillwater, OK 74075-1411 405 624-2855 GMT -6:00 www.couger.com/gcouger
We are also considering developing a web-based reservation system, and I think many others would also be interested what other labs are doing in this area. I would be interested in learning of any software which is freely available or low cost and open source.
We are in the very early stages of modifying an open source (Perl) web-calender and scheduling system to suite our needs. The reference url is: http://curiosityshoppe.tierranet.com/framecal/index.shtml
I found this and a few others by searching the web with I believe was combinations of ("resource" and "scheduling" and "calenders")
If we develop a system based on FrameCal or something else we will make it freely available as licensing permits.
Of course, if someone else has a suitable system available freely or at low cost it would save us development time and costs.
} 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 know there have been some discussions on this listserver in the past
} about computer sign up systems for electron microscopes. Are there any new } programs out there? We are working on a web-based instrument sign up } program to replace our existing sign up/microscope accounting system. The } old system is not Y2K friendly. Besides the Universty of Minnesota, is } there any other group which has a working web-based system? } } John C. Wheatley } Lab Manager } Arizona State University } Center for Solid State Science } PSA-213 } BOX 871704 } Tempe, AZ 85287-1704 } } Phone: (602) 965-3831 } FAX: (602) 965-9004 } John.Wheatley-at-ASU.Edu
At 01:22 PM 5/14/99 , you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Try Energy Beam Sciences
http://www.ebsciences.com
800.992.9037
They offer a wide assortment of apertures and also strip apertures for TEMs custom made to order. Not sure if they support Hitachi.
I would like to invite you to opening Image gallery of cartoons on www.coleoptera.org .
I am wonder if someone would like to put SEM nice picture of beetles to Image gallery.
Keep care and be of good cheer.
Regards
Ricardo
Only after the last tree has been cut down, only after the last river has been poisoned, only after the last fish has been caught, only then will you find that money can not be eaten.' CREE INDIAN PROPHECY.
Incoming mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.37 / Virus Database: 30 - Release Date: 6.4.1999
L. D. Marks 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 an objective aperture for a } Hitachi H-9000 (UHV) TEM with sizes of 10,20,30 & 50 } microns. Any suggestions about suppliers -- we } can supply dimensions. } } ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ } Laurence Marks } Department of Materials Science and Engineering } Northwestern University } fax: (847) 491-7820 } mailto:l-marks-at-nwu.edu } http://www.numis.nwu.edu } ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Dear Mr. Marks,
Ladd Research has been drilling apertures for EM use for the last forty plus years and we would be very happy to quote you on this. Please contact me directly and we can compare notes on sizes and give you a price. Since we drill ourselves we can give you a choice on hole sizes if you wish to vary from the norm.
Sincerely,
JD Arnott President
-- LADD RESEARCH 13 Dorset Lane Williston, VT 05495 TEL 1-800-451-3406 (US) or 1-802-878-6711 (anywhere) FAX 1-802-878-8074 e-mail ladres-at-worldnet.att.net web site http://www.ladd.cc
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Hi, I would like to initiate a discussion with someone about the following specific questions, but I don't want to bog down the list. If you can help, please reply directly to me.
First of all, I'm not much of a microscopist and becoming more experienced in order to work on a particular problem: where are bacteria located on undisturbed sand grains. I embed "undisturbed" samples with Spurr's (after staining), cut (very) thick sections (0.5 mm) and look at them with fluorescence microscopy (100 x oil objective).
I would like to look at the sections without using cover slips for the following reasons:
1) Reduced sample preparation time if I am looking "into" the sample rather than right at the surface. I don't have to be as careful in preparing the surface, and can worry less about the polishing compounds becoming embedded in the resin.
2) I have actually found better results ("better images" to my eye) looking into the sample, and this confuses me. The resin itself is autofluorescent, and the DAPI-stained bacteria are brighter still. Could it be that by placing resin between the "focal plane" (quotes because I'm not sure if it's the correct term) and the objective that I am attenuating some of the light with the resin, and therefore can see the contrast between the bacteria and the resin better? I have found that stopping down the diaphragm near the light source helps too.
Now, I know that if the resin does not have the same refractive index as glass+oil, it will lead to distortion. My question is, does it matter for my purposes: I am _not_ looking at the size of the bacteria, just presence/absence. I am tracing the sediment-grain edges (I have a digital camera hooked up to the microscope). Wouldn't the distortion merely affect the apparent width of the grain broundary, rather than the shape (pattern) of the grain outline itself? The grains are 50-200 micrometer in diameter, i.e. a whole grain will not typically be within a field of view.
I am mainly after a record of where the bacteria are located on grain edges, and am not in need of an exact visual representation. I am would rather have large sample sizes (thus the desire for reduced prep time) rather than high precision because I want to be able to treat the results (bacterial position compared with pore width) statistically. I want to be able to publish these results, and don't want to proceed ahead with what just "works best" if it doesn't make any sense.
In searching the archives, I came across someone's lament about the lack of curricula for microscopy and I completely agree! I am at a major research university and there are no classes given on light microscopy.
One other question is: we have a 100x oil objective NA 1.25 (Zeiss) with a collar that adjusts from .8 - 1.25. The microscope owner _thinks_ this is to adjust for different refractive indexes of the specimen. I can see that it functions as an aperature, and because it goes up to 1.25 is seems that it would be related to NA. I can't understand why someone would want a lower NA, unless it would increase the "depth of field". Any ideas? Do you control NA and refractive index the same way?
Thanks for any help you can give me, Jill ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Jill L. Schmidt Phone: (206) 685-1926 University of Washington FAX: (206) 543-0275 Oceanography Box 357940 e-mail: jills-at-ocean.washington.edu Seattle, WA 98195-7940 http://www.ocean.washington.edu/people/grads/jills/Schmidt.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I am looking for an objective aperture for a Hitachi H-9000 (UHV) TEM with sizes of 10,20,30 & 50 microns. Any suggestions about suppliers -- we can supply dimensions.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Laurence Marks Department of Materials Science and Engineering Northwestern University fax: (847) 491-7820 mailto:l-marks-at-nwu.edu http://www.numis.nwu.edu ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Reply to: Re: Electron Microscopy Position Available Immediately An interesting topic that I hope will be explored in a little more detail, is not so much how microscopists are paid (which is usually too little) but what is expected of them. In addition to knowing evey preparation technique and piece of equipment, we have to know how to fix the equipment, teach students and post-docs and figure out ways to fund the facility. No problem.
The really dangerous aspect to this is that quite often the head of the EM lab is expected to provide a data collection and image interpretation service for the majority of users. Although I am sure everyone feels able to do this, for microscopy (and in particular electron microscopy) to continue to grow, it is important that individual researchers become responsible for their own specimen preparation, data collection and results interpretation. Not knowing the technology is no longer a good excuse to avoid the work. On the subject of pay, I always thought that the low initial salaries being offered were to cover the risk involved with new hires. The true story could only be that once settled in the salary actually rose to a comfortable level!
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 http://www.hei.org/htm/aemi.htm
Karen S Pawlowski 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Dr. Gaugler, } } This is similar to what I make and I do SEM, TEM, LM and immuno. at LM and } TEM levels for an animal research lab at UTSW in Dallas. I have over 15 } years of experience, a MS, and the position I hold is considered a } non-tenure, PhD position. This is reality for working in academia in the } midwest (I should mention I started out at the U of MN, where I was paid } alot less.). Why do I stay? Cost of living here is low, so you can live } on it and I like the field so much I'm getting a PhD in neuroscience to } continue to grow in it. } } Karen Pawlowski } Sr. Research Assoc. UT Southwestern, Dallas, TX } PhD candidate, UT Dallas, Dallas, TX } } On Thu, 13 May 1999, Dr. Gary Gaugler 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 } } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } } } Mid-$30K? Is this for real? Is this the going rate for SEM } } specialists? That is about 1/4 of what I would consider. } } There must be some subtle differentiation of what is expected } } from such positions vs. the qualifications and experience of } } others in the field. Am I the only one shocked about this? } } } } } } } } } JOB ANNOUNCEMENT BELOW -- PLEASE POST } } } } } } Dear colleagues, } } } We want to hire a suitable person for the Central Facility for Electron } } } Microscopy at the Center for Materials Research and Analysis at the } } } University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). The salary will at least likely be in } } } the range of the mid $30k's and is dependent on experience. The medical, } } } dental and retirement benefits package is substantial and includes } } } subsidized tuition for employees to take UNL courses. (BTW, Lincoln is } } } growing, has low unemployment, is great for families, has a good range of } } } live music, dance and theater, and has very good public and other schools.) } } } The Facility provides user-access for ~60 faculty plus their students and } } } other researchers. The Facility includes a JEOL 2010 TEM, a JEOL 840A SEM } } } and a VG HB501 field-emission STEM, along with a full range of accessories, } } } specimen preparation equipment, computers and darkroom. Some development } } } of new research instrumentation is in progress for mapping of magnetic } } } materials and more development is planned for the Facility. You can find } } } out more about the Facility on our web site (that does need a little work) } } } at URL: http://www.unl.edu/CMRAcfem/ } } } Thanks for passing on the word, } } } Brian Robertson } } } } } } ********************************************************** } } } Job Announcement: } } } } } } MATERIALS MICROSCOPY RESEARCH SPECIALIST } } } } } } UNL Center for Materials Research and Analysis } } } } } } Analyze/characterize materials using electron microscopy, materials } } } preparation and computer instrumentation. Supervise/train students, } } } faculty and visiting researchers utilizing these methods. Bachelor's with } } } major in physical science, engineering or related field plus three years } } } experience in the operation, repair or design of electron microscopes or } } } other scientific instrumentation. Master's preferred. Must have excellent } } } computer and interpersonal/communication skills. TEM, SEM, x-ray } } } diffraction or materials sample preparation experience preferred. Excellent } } } benefits. Submit cover letter, resume and names, addresses and telephone } } } numbers of three professional references to Professor Brian Robertson, } } } CMRA, N104 Walter Scott Engineering Center, UNL, Lincoln, NE 68588-0656 or } } } e-mail brobertson-at-unl.edu. Review of resumes will begin June 1. Position } } } will remain open until a suitable candidate is found. UNL is committed to } } } AA/EEO and ADA/504. If you require accommodation, please call (402) } 472-7886. } } } } } } } } } *********************************************************** } } } Assoc. Prof. Brian W. Robertson } } } Department of Mechanical Engineering } } } and Center for Materials Research and Analysis } } } University of Nebraska-Lincoln, N124 WSEC, } } } 17th & Vine Sts., Lincoln, NE 68588-0656, USA } } } ** Office 402 472 8308; FAX 472 1465; Labs 472 8762 and 472 5498 ** } } } } Cheers, } } Gary Gaugler, Ph.D. } } } } } } } } } } } RFC822 header } ----------------------------------- } } Received: from Sparc5.Microscopy.Com [206.69.208.10] by mailhouse.hei.org } (SMTPD32-4.07) id A18E691011E; Fri, 14 May 1999 13:03:26 PST } Received: (from daemon-at-localhost) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) } id IAA02338 for dist-Microscopy; Fri, 14 May 1999 08:40:47 -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 IAA02333 for } "MicroscopyFilteredEmail-at-msa.microscopy.com"; Fri, 14 May 1999 08:40:16 -0500 } Received: from poteidaia.utdallas.edu (poteidaia.utdallas.edu } [129.110.10.1]) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) with ESMTP id IAA02322 for } {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} ; Fri, 14 May 1999 08:40:03 -0500 } Received: from apache.utdallas.edu (kna101-at-apache.utdallas.edu [129.110.16.9]) } by poteidaia.utdallas.edu (8.9.1/8.9.1/null-3.5) with ESMTP id IAA14724; } Fri, 14 May 1999 08:42:30 -0500 (CDT) } Received: from localhost (kna101-at-localhost) } by apache.utdallas.edu (8.9.1/8.9.1) with SMTP id IAA01748; } Fri, 14 May 1999 08:42:29 -0500 (CDT) } X-Authentication-Warning: apache.utdallas.edu: kna101 owned process doing -bs } Date: Fri, 14 May 1999 08:42:29 -0500 (CDT) } From: Karen S Pawlowski {kna101-at-utdallas.edu} } To: "Dr. Gary Gaugler" {gary-at-gaugler.com} } cc: MSA listserver {Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com} } Subject: Re: Electron Microscopy Position Available Immediately } In-Reply-To: {4.1.19990513195604.009dc490-at-pop.calweb.com} } Message-ID: {Pine.GSO.3.96.990514083332.1144A-100000-at-apache.utdallas.edu} } MIME-Version: 1.0 } Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII } Errors-to: Microscopy-request-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } X-UIDL: 907884271 } Status: U }
by accessone.com (8.8.5/8.8.5/PIH) id FAA05570; Sun, 16 May 1999 05:55:45 -0700 (PDT) Received: from Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (sparc5.microscopy.com [206.69.208.10]) by accessone.com (8.8.5/8.8.5/PIH) with SMTP id OAA16303 for {cannonmp-at-accessone.com} ; Fri, 14 May 1999 14:45:44 -0700 (PDT) Received: (from daemon-at-localhost) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) id OAA07280 for dist-Microscopy; Fri, 14 May 1999 14:32:33 -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 OAA07269 for "MicroscopyFilteredEmail-at-msa.microscopy.com"; Fri, 14 May 1999 14:32:00 -0500 Received: from serval.noc.ucla.edu (smtp.ucla.edu [169.232.10.57]) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) with ESMTP id OAA07258 for {microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} ; Fri, 14 May 1999 14:31:45 -0500 Received: from PC#240 ([149.142.249.27]) by serval.noc.ucla.edu (8.9.1a/8.9.1) with SMTP id MAA01810 for {microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} ; Fri, 14 May 1999 12:34:12 -0700 (PDT) Message-Id: {199905141934.MAA01810-at-serval.noc.ucla.edu} X-Sender: biology-at-pop.ben2.ucla.edu X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Pro Version 4.0.1 X-Priority: 1 (Highest)
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Actually this salary range is not as low as you would think.. I have a M.S. degree and 5 years of EM experience and it took a while for me to find a job in EM throughout the country.. I was applying for jobs that were offering $25K to start as a salary and some were more depending on what part of the country you were looking in... I ended up in Seattle at a job for $32K with benefits to start... I am now currently in Los Angeles at UCLA Medical Center and the salary here is quite a bit more than in Seattle.. But that is outweighed due to the high cost of just living here...So the salary for this job is not as bad as one might think...
==========================
} You are not the only one shocked about this. Looking at the figure as low } as Mid-$30K, I would say there is something seriously not quite right. } These days a simple graduate in computer programming with 2-3 years } experience easily gets a starting salary of $50k+ and as they go ahead with } few more years of experience, they quickly move into the scale of $70k-80k } and crosses $100k within a span of well less than 10 years of career. } } - Is there something going wrong with microscopists and SEM/TEM engineers? } - Is Mid-$30k fair to expect for electron microscopists (3 years } experienced) who maintains the equipment as well? } - What if they have 12 -15 years of experience? } - Is $60k max (typically at Universities) is fair that these gorgeous } people are expected to get max. in their lifetime? } - Is that what the people who are the backbone for running and maintaining } research facilities are supposed to rewarded with? } } I mean just compare it with professionals with same qualifications and } experience in other fields. In my personal opinion, there is something not } quite right and needs to be re-assessed. } } Zia ur Rahman } University of Central Florida, } Orlando, Florida } } } At 07:59 PM 5/13/1999 -0700, you wrote: } } } Mid-$30K? Is this for real? Is this the going rate for SEM } } specialists? That is about 1/4 of what I would consider. } } There must be some subtle differentiation of what is expected } } from such positions vs. the qualifications and experience of } } others in the field. Am I the only one shocked about this? } } } } } } } } } JOB ANNOUNCEMENT BELOW -- PLEASE POST } } } } } } Dear colleagues, } } } We want to hire a suitable person for the Central Facility for Electron } } } Microscopy at the Center for Materials Research and Analysis at the } } } University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). The salary will at least likely be in } } } the range of the mid $30k's and is dependent on experience. The medical, } } } dental and retirement benefits package is substantial and includes } } } subsidized tuition for employees to take UNL courses. (BTW, Lincoln is } } } growing, has low unemployment, is great for families, has a good range of } } } live music, dance and theater, and has very good public and other schools.) } } } The Facility provides user-access for ~60 faculty plus their students and } } } other researchers. The Facility includes a JEOL 2010 TEM, a JEOL 840A SEM } } } and a VG HB501 field-emission STEM, along with a full range of accessories, } } } specimen preparation equipment, computers and darkroom. Some development } } } of new research instrumentation is in progress for mapping of magnetic } } } materials and more development is planned for the Facility. You can find } } } out more about the Facility on our web site (that does need a little work) } } } at URL: http://www.unl.edu/CMRAcfem/ } } } Thanks for passing on the word, } } } Brian Robertson } } } } } } ********************************************************** } } } Job Announcement: } } } } } } MATERIALS MICROSCOPY RESEARCH SPECIALIST } } } } } } UNL Center for Materials Research and Analysis } } } } } } Analyze/characterize materials using electron microscopy, materials } } } preparation and computer instrumentation. Supervise/train students, } } } faculty and visiting researchers utilizing these methods. Bachelor's with } } } major in physical science, engineering or related field plus three years } } } experience in the operation, repair or design of electron microscopes or } } } other scientific instrumentation. Master's preferred. Must have excellent } } } computer and interpersonal/communication skills. TEM, SEM, x-ray } } } diffraction or materials sample preparation experience preferred. Excellent } } } benefits. Submit cover letter, resume and names, addresses and telephone } } } numbers of three professional references to Professor Brian Robertson, } } } CMRA, N104 Walter Scott Engineering Center, UNL, Lincoln, NE 68588-0656 or } } } e-mail brobertson-at-unl.edu. Review of resumes will begin June 1. Position } } } will remain open until a suitable candidate is found. UNL is committed to } } } AA/EEO and ADA/504. If you require accommodation, please call (402) } 472-7886. } } } } } } } } } *********************************************************** } } } Assoc. Prof. Brian W. Robertson } } } Department of Mechanical Engineering } } } and Center for Materials Research and Analysis } } } University of Nebraska-Lincoln, N124 WSEC, } } } 17th & Vine Sts., Lincoln, NE 68588-0656, USA } } } ** Office 402 472 8308; FAX 472 1465; Labs 472 8762 and 472 5498 ** } } } } Cheers, } } Gary Gaugler, Ph.D. } } } } } } } } }
no creo que seamos muchos los que hablamos espanhol en esta lista, te recomendaria que escribieras en Ingles y asi ampliar tus posibilidades de obtener ayuda.
Elena,
I dont think that many of us speak spanish, I will recommend you to write in english, increasing, in this way, your possibilities of obtainig help from this list.
saludos
Gary=20 EPhD Trondheim, Norway.
On Tue, 27 Apr 1999, Elena Brandaleze wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America= =20 } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } =20 } =20 } Sres MSA: } Dado que mi tema de investigaci=F3n es el an=E1lisis de propiedades } mec=E1nicas de pol=EDmeros semicritalinos, necesitar=EDa contactarme con } alguna persona que pueda informarme sobre estudios de microestructura de } los mismos.Desde ya muchas gracias.=20 } =09=09=09=09Ing elena Brandaleze. } =20
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Hi, The subject line says all: I am using LM to look at sections embedded with Spurr's, and I would like to know its refractive index. Haven't been able to track it down on the web or through my vendor.
Thanks, Jill
------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Jill L. Schmidt Phone: (206) 685-1926 University of Washington FAX: (206) 543-0275 Oceanography Box 357940 e-mail: jills-at-ocean.washington.edu Seattle, WA 98195-7940 http://www.ocean.washington.edu/people/grads/jills/Schmidt.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
} Date: Sun, 16 May 1999 14:42:53 +0000 } To: Paul Webster {pwebster-at-mailhouse.hei.org} } From: Lou Solebello {microls1297-at-mindspring.com} } Subject: Re: Electron Microscopy Position Available Immediately } In-Reply-To: {199905142059.PAA08933-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com} } } What is expected of an electron microscopist, or ANY microscopist for that matter (and I use that term loosely....there are a lot people who carry the title but are nothing more than a user), is DIRECTLY relate to what they get paid. } } The amount of responsibility that we microscopist take on relative to other professionals in other fields is a great deal under compensated. We are expected to know everything there is about our individual discipline as well as all other aspects of microscopy. We are expected to deliver THE ANSWER nearly immediately at a low cost. We are expected to know how to assemble and dissasemble our instruments and fix them at the same cost and rate. We are looked upon sourly when we say "cant be done" as if we are inferior or lying. We are expected to handle samples that potentially are extremely hazardous to our health.....the danger of many unknowns on the consulting level are unknown until we discover what we are analyzing. We are expected to write SOP's, develop QA/QC manuals, submitt contract bids, obtain grant funding, supervise people, be walking encyclopedia, be able to read client minds, maintain proficiency in round robins and regulatory complance audits, be an MBA and business wiz, and work 60 hours a week on salary if required at a moments notice. } } That is the real point that I have been trying to get across to others on this list server. We are GROSSLY underpaid considering our responsibilities, level of education and experience. The only thing that keeps most of us in these positions is the fact that we love our work. Nobody said life was fair.... } } At 02:06 PM 5/14/99 -0700, you wrote: } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
John writes ... } } } I know there have been some discussions on this listserver in the past } about computer sign up systems for electron microscopes. Are there any new } programs out there? We are working on a web-based instrument sign up } program to replace our existing sign up/microscope accounting system. The } old system is not Y2K friendly. Besides the Universty of Minnesota, is } there any other group which has a working web-based system?
There is an interesting wwweb based calendar for individuals and groups at
Tired of expensive e-commerce software, set up fees and leasing contracts? Here is the deal: You host your site with us and you get free E-Commerce, including a merchant account, real-time software and shopping cart.
If you rather staying with your current hosting company you still can get the same deal. Check it out first and make an informed decision.
You have never seen a package deal like this before:
- Your own merchant account with one of the lowest rates in the industry - Accept VISA, MASTER, AMEX and DISCOVER - Direct deposit within 48 hrs into your checking account - Shopping Cart store front software with an easy to use web based interface - Real-Time Credit Card Processing software - Virtual terminal for phone/fax/mail orders - E-mail receipts - Recurring billing feature - Password generation for membership sites - Automatic batch closing - Address verification system (AVS) - Back office to 24/7 access account history - 50 MB (megabytes) of disk space - 10 GB (gigabyte) of data transfer per month - 15 POP3 E-mail accounts - Unlimited alias E-mail addresses - Your own E-mail server - Live web site statistics - Unlimited =46TP uploads - Anonymous =46TP - Telnet access (UNIX) - CGI directory for your own scripts - Site control panel - Installation included - Tech support included
All this and more for ONLY $69.95 per month and a one time set up fee of $149.00.
NO LEASING, NO LONG TERM COMMITMENT. YOU CAN CANCEL ANYTIME.
Request our free E-mail information by replying to: mailto:hhbk-at-mailme.net?subject=3DE-PACKAGE
********************************************************************* Remove at mailto:vicerop-at-yahoo.com?subject=3Dremove *********************************************************************
OK, we are going to give you the power! You have worked with other companies or heard the sad tales of woe from frustrated networkers. What if you could put together the ideal network marketing company? What characteristics would you build into your company? How would you treat your distributors? Let's see...
1) =46irst you'd need products that people want, need, can afford, giv= e
results, and are in demand. This is a must. (What if you had products with 9 years of extensive double blind studies, worked in seconds or minutes, and affordable! What if you could add products announced on CNN and weight loss products that really work! Naw!! Really?? This is only a dream, right?!)
2) What if in addition to other products IN DEMAND, you had an absolutely DELICIOUS nutritional snack bar. (What if this nutritional bar had 3 major medical health benefits and it contained: 1) Live enzymes with digestive capabilities and studies to prove that it aids in the prevention and the reversal of any degenerative disease including cancer, 2) Micro nutrients that have been proven to prevent and reduce the risk of cancer dramatically and actually has the endorsement of The National Cancer =46oundation,
3) The only nutritional snack bar in the industry to be registered with the =46DA and have a drug code right on the label. All this and=
still be amazingly delicious and filling! This couldn't possibly be for real, could it?!?)
3) Then, you would want a company who would be willing to expose these products thru the media, at their cost: TV and radio commercials, newspapers, talk shows, etc., to help you get the word out. Offer people the chance to purchase products thru an 800 number while viewing or listening to the advertisement. (I haven't seen anything like this before! Could you just imagine!)
4) Then you would want your ideal company to let you share in the sales generated from this media exposure. Imagine what kind of volume this
national exposure would generate. (What company would do this? We had nothing to do with these sales! This would be radical!)
5) Wouldn't it be great if we were given the names and addresses of the people who ordered product this way, so that we could follow-up with the customer to either sell more product as needed or introduce him or her to our ideal business opportunity. That would take care of our distributors having to constantly be finding their own qualified leads. (Companies now let us find our own leads, they follow-up with these people and THEY pocket the proceeds!)
6) You would want your company's compensation plan structured in such a way that we wouldn't need hundreds or even thousands in our downline before we start earning a decent check. Most people cannot do this. (True, but who's going to tell you this when you start?)
7) Wouldn't it be great if we could share in the successes of other distributors, and not just those that are in our downline. We would want everybody to be successful, not just some. (Nope - all we can do is admire the others' success!)
Yes, wouldn't it be great if a company like this existed? One that confronted all the major drawbacks in this industry and actually solved them....a company that was built by distributors, for distributors... . a company that would want it's distributors to be successful....wouldn 't it be great?
Introducing the nation's first and only Wave5 company, a company that has done all that and more! =46or more information about this unprecedented business opportunity -- please email:
mailto:TheSolution-at-mymail.com?subject=3Dmore_info or mailto:TheSolution_5-at-altavista.net?subject=3Dmore_info
now for complete details. You now have the power to achieve your goals!
******************************************************** To be removed from our mailing list, please send an email to mailto:glarge99-at-yahoo.com?subject=3Dremove ********************************************************
Well folks.... I screwed up and during a reprogramming of the Junk Mail Filter managed to muck up the works. I did not notice that the "Listserver" Mail was off-line and inoperative until this evening ~ 10pm, since the rest of my mail was operating fine.
I hope you all enjoyed your present of "peaceful" day.
If you tried posting a message and it was rejected or you just did not see it, then just try again. I think all is back to the status quo.
Cheers... Nestor Your Friendly Neighborhood SysOp.
PS
Hmmm.. I wonder how many people noticed ? Naw.. I won't ask..
We have some spare equipment to dispose of to a good home, all in good working order.
Prices are negotiable, but you will have to collect.
1. De Vere 504 enlarger
2. Durst M35 colour enlarger
3. LKB knifemaker 7800 series (sensible offers on this one please)
4. Reichert OM U3 ultramicrotome
Hurry while stocks last!
Pete
Peter Bond Plymouth Electron Microscopy Unit University of Plymouth Drake Circus Plymouth Devon UK PL4 8AA Tel/Fax: 01752 233092 email: pbond-at-plymouth.ac.uk
A colleague of mine needs to replace an old keyboard for a Tracor Nothern TN 5500 EDS system. Does anyone have one to sell trade or give away. Please contact Charlie Cooney -at- CBC-at-post.queensu.ca Thank you Paul Nolan
I am looking for individuals interested in cryoplaning techniques (using a cryoultramicrotome to produce blocks with a very flat surface and examining this surface in a cryo-SEM). Please contact me back-channel if interested.
Best regards, Steven E. Slap, Vice-President ******************************************* Energy Beam Sciences, Inc. The Laboratory Microwave Company Adding Brilliance to Your Vision http://www.ebsciences.com {http://www.ebsciences.com} *******************************************
Wyeth-Ayerst Research, a major division of Fortune 100 American Home Products Corporation, has an opportunity at our pharmaceutical research facility in Chazy, New York for a Scientist in our Investigatory Pathology group.
JOB TITLE: Scientist II, JOB# C5780 DEPARTMENT: Investigatory Pathology LOCATION: Chazy, NY HR REPRESENTATIVE: B. Hebert HOURS: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. POSITION REPORTS TO: Dr. Laura Patrone, Senior Research Scientist I
EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: BS/BA degree in Biology, Biochemistry, or science related field or MS degree in science related field.
EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: BS/BA candidates must have a minimum of 4 years experience developing immunohistological assays in an industrial, hospital or highly specialized academic setting; MS candidates must have a minimum of 2 years relevant pharmaceutical laboratory experience, or 2 years experience in a highly specialized relevant academic environment.
OTHER SKILLS REQUIRED: Additional histomorphological skills required; must have excellent oral and written communication skills as well as excellent interpersonal and organizational skills; some travel may be required.
PRINCIPAL DUTIES OF POSITION: Scientist II will perform immunohistochemistry and associated techniques, develop new panels of tests to characterize tissues and differentiate cell types; will provide technical support for method development in morphologic analytical techniques; perform data interpretation and assist in report writing; review literature for new technologies to expand and enhance research capabilities; will provide technical support for regulatory pathology area; will also perform departmental and facility support functions as needed (e.g., inventory, scheduling, purchasing).
Interested candidates must contact the Human Resources Representative: Barbara Hebert Office of Human Resources Wyeth-Ayerst Research 641 Ridge Road Chazy, NY 12921 Phone (518) 846-6237
Available - Balzers 360M Freeze Fracture System, 1970 vintage. Complete with E-Beam Pt-C gun, evaporative C electrodes, QSD-201D quartz crystal thickness monitor, commutator unit, and timer for C electrodes. Also included is extra EVM-052A E-Beam power supply, extra GA-1 control unit, extra ODP, extra main valve, extra baseplate, microtome, and feedthroughs, and many extra sample holders, feedthroughs, tools, etc. Must move immediately for best offer. Robert J. Munn rjmunn-at-ucdavis.edu
I am looking for a method to visualize the somata of live epithelial cells. I plan to inject these cells intracellularly, using a micropipette. What I need is a stain with the following characteristics: 1) it can be injected intracellularly via a micropipette, preferably using intophoresis. 2) it is NOT fluorescent 3) it is visible without the need to further process the tissue. This last point is important because I need to watch the injection under the LM and be able to tell when the cell is filled. --E. Peterson Ellengene H. Peterson Neurobiology Program & Department of Biological Sciences Ohio University Athens, OH 45701 740 + 593-2111 (tel) 740 + 593-0355 (fax) peterson-at-ohiou.edu
Select the online scheduler; username=guest, password=guest. You will be able to make reservations on the instrument "Dummy".
Unfortunately not all web browsers are created equal. You can use Navigator 4 (or higher) or IE 4 (or higher) on a PC, but only IE 4 (or higher) on a Mac. (It is a Java compatibility problem). You will also have to accept a cookie so that the server can recognize the platform you are running on.
cheers, Henk
At 06:15 PM 5/16/99 -0700, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Hendrik O. Colijn colijn.1-at-osu.edu Campus Electron Optics Facility Ohio State University (614) 292-0674 http://web.ceof.ohio-state.edu Murphy's Law: "If anything can go wrong, it will." Commentary: "Murphy was an optimist."
Hi everyone, First of all I would like to thank Dr. Simkin from Michigan University forthe information about Electron Channelling. I am going to get in touch with him. This time my question is about jet polishing solution of copper and copper and zinc alloys. Actually i found a solution that is sixty percent phosphoric acid and deionized water but the problem is that it is hard to get rid of that solution from the surface of specimen after you are done with jet polishing. If anybody has some idea about how to clean the surface after jet polishing i really appreciate it. Thanks
I'm looking for any input on the quality of Russian made LOMO (Leningrad Optical and Mechanical Organization) microscopes. Specifically the Biolam, Polam models and the stereomicroscope marketed here in the US.
I would be interested to hear from anyone who has experience using these scopes and commenting on quality of optics, mechanical, illumination,etc. Although you get alot for your money, I'm concerned about service, spare parts, and future support.
Much appreciated.
{italic} {color} {param} 8080,0000,0000 {/param} Raymond Nip, RRT, RCP
I would like to begin by telling you I work for and represent a manufacturer, Allied High Tech Products, Inc. We manufacture the MultiPrep=99 system.
The MultiPrep is a semi-automatic tool used for many applications including TEM sample preparation using the wedge technique. The MultiPrep's= =20 capabilities include parallel polishing, precise angle polishing (0.02 degree increments), site-specific polishing or any combination thereof. It provides reproducible results by eliminating inconsistencies between users. When using the MultiPrep only the specimen is in contact with the abrasive, eliminating the problem of excessive wear of the hand tool's feet, and unwanted faceting of your specimen. In fact, by using the MultiPrep, you can completely eliminate the need for hand-held polishing tools.
The MultiPrep allows you to set an angle and polish through the angle without it changing, and monitors the amount of material that has been removed from the sample (real time during the polishing operation) in 1-micron increments. =20
The MultiPrep system sells for $11,775.00 plus the accessories that are necessary for your individual applications. =20
The other applications of the tool are preparation of SEM cross sections, TEM sample Prep, Pre-FIB thinning, parallel polishing and de-layering of semiconductor devices or thin section preparation and backside sample preparation for semiconductor devices for emission spectroscopes.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact me, send mail to mailto:info-at-alliedhightech.com, or visit our web site at http://www.alliedhightech.com.=20
We also have an new 12 page brochure that can be emailed to you in a PDF format. It can be sent via snail mail too.
Thank you,
Ed Hirsch
} Hello } } We are to begin the process of using tripod polishing for preparing } TEM samples, and request vendors to contact me with regards to } types of polishers available, style, cost, ease of use. } } I also welcome users of this method to comment online (or email directly) } as to the ease of use and technique of sample preparation, since our lab } has not gone this route before. } } thanks in advance } } Fred } } } } } } ******************************************************** } Fred Pearson } Brockhouse Institute for Materials Research } McMaster University } 1280 Main St. West } Hamilton, Ontario=20 } Canada L8S 4M1 } } } email: eoptics-at-mcmaster.ca } phone: (905) 525-9140 ext. 24609 } fax: (905) 521-2773 } ******************************************************** } } } ************************************************* Edward A. Hirsch Product Application Specialist Allied High Tech Products 2376 East Pacifica Place Rancho Dominguez, CA 90220 ph: (919) 846-9628 vm:(800)675-1118 x245 fx: (310)762-6808 http://www.alliedhightech.com *************************************************
I have a JEOL JWS 7515 in England that need to be de-installed. This is a Critical Demension SEM. Does anyone have a lead on independent service companies that can do this type of work?
Regards,
Earl Weltmer Scanservice Corporation Third Party SEM Service USA
START ACCEPTING CREDIT CARDS & WATCH YOUR PRO=46ITS INCREASE 30-50%!
WE SPECIALIZE IN HELPING: * INTERNET * STORE=46RONT * HOMEBASED OR * MAIL ORDER BUSINESSES
BEGIN PROCESSING O=46 YOUR APPLICATION =46OR ONLY $9.95 WHEN YOU CALL BY MAY 21st
NO APPLICATION =46EE NO PROGRAMMING =46EE
CALL TODAY 1-888-264-9272 OUR BUSINESS HOURS ARE 9:00 A.M. TO 6:00 P.M. MST
*************************************************** CLICK ON mailto:nottank-at-uymial.com?subject=3Dremove ***************************************************
START ACCEPTING CREDIT CARDS & WATCH YOUR PRO=46ITS INCREASE 30-50%!
WE SPECIALIZE IN HELPING: * INTERNET * STORE=46RONT * HOMEBASED OR * MAIL ORDER BUSINESSES
BEGIN PROCESSING O=46 YOUR APPLICATION =46OR ONLY $9.95 WHEN YOU CALL BY MAY 21st
NO APPLICATION =46EE NO PROGRAMMING =46EE
CALL TODAY 1-888-264-9272 OUR BUSINESS HOURS ARE 9:00 A.M. TO 6:00 P.M. MST
*************************************************** CLICK ON mailto:nottank-at-uymial.com?subject=3Dremove ***************************************************
Hi, Zia: The OL coil is OK for three reason: 1. you have told me that you found a short so that the OL coil was unconnected to the connector. It was meaning you found out the reason why the OL coil is open. 2. If the OL coil was broken or short inside, the OL resistance would be changed. But you know 5.2 ohms is OK. 3. The insulation of OL coil is relative with high voltage and the temperature of the OL coil only. If you keep it below 80 C degree, you can test it by DC power supply and flow 10 amps currents in 10 minutes . In fact, you have get right way and go on please . I do not know why you can not receive my e-mail and you can call me 65-8743253 ( office phone) at 9:00 pm Singapore time. Good luck! Regards Tiejun
to add a comment on the answers you've already got concerning your request on measurements of optical parameters for HRTEM simulation... Mike O'Keefe's answer is acceptable as a first try. If you want to measure some values more accurately (especially the Cs), just refer to the literature quoted by Jonathan Barnard. However, there is a little problem with the Cs measurement from HRTEM diffractograms obtained from an amorphous thin film ; the usual method assumes that the specimen behaves like a pure weak-phase object, which is generally not fulfilled : there is a phase shift due to the propagation of electrons throughout the object, which leads to a breakdown of the 'potential projection' hypothesis, which may lead to false values of defoci and Cs... To get more details on this problem raised by J.M. Gibson (Ultramicrosc., 1994), check the work below (where the complete reference from J.M.G. is also recalled) :
"Quantitative analysis of HRTEM images from amorphous materials. I : about the estimation of Cs and df from HRTEM diffractograms", H.S. BAIK, T. EPICIER, E. VAN CAPPELLEN, Eur. Phys. J. AP 4, 11-26, (1998)
As a consequence of the approach developed within this paper, you can also estimate rather precisely the other parameters (delta and alpha) if you know precisely the structure (and the thickness) of the amorphous film you're using for your measurement ; the treatment is however somewhat tedious, but it works (we have applied it successfully to such measurements for a JEOL2010F and a CM200FEG).
Good luck,
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Thierry EPICIER, GEMPPM, umr CNRS 5510, INSA de LYON, Bat 502, 20, Av. Einstein, F69621 VILLEURBANNE CEDEX FRANCE
I need to characterise the microstructure and composition of soft electroceramic film(PZT) by using FEGTEM. When I put the specimen in to the beam path, I observed that there was a very strong interaction between the electron beam and specimen which can clearly be seen to be badly charged. I have been advised to coat carbon or gold on the surface of the specimen. I would like to know if there any other methods which could be used to avoid this charging problem? Do you have any further ideas or methods for this sort of material to prepare a specimen which is suitable for high resolution image and electron energy loss spectroscopy? Currently, I use a method of ion thinning by Gatan DuoMill and PIPS.
Dear members: I have placed an order for a dimpler and precision coring tool made by VCR company several months ago and am now waiting for their shipping. But I was told that VCR was bancrupt or will be sold by other company. I worry about the quality of the product and A/S. Could any of you send me the right story what is going on there? Any information will be appreciated. Best wishes, Jondo YunDepartment of Inorganic Materials EngineeringCenter for Instrumental AnalysisKyungnam University449 Weolyeong-dong, Masan, 631-701, Korea82-551-249-2697 (tel)82-551-248-5033 (fax)jdyun-at-hanma.kyungnam.ac.kr
A quick question: we have some blood samples which were received in "Trump's Fixative", described as phosphate-buffered gluteraldehyde and paraformaldehyde, pH 7.2. So far we've been unable to locate any reference to Trump's in any of our literature.
I expect it's perfectly fine to proceed with regular phosphate buffer washes, then postfixation, but thought I would check with collective microscopy mind out there first.
Earl Weltmer wrote: =============================================== I have a JEOL JWS 7515 in England that need to be de-installed. This is a Critical Dimension SEM. Does anyone have a lead on independent service companies that can do this type of work? ============================================== You can find listings for third party SEM service firms in the UK on our website URL http://www.2spi.com/hot-service5.html
This is part of our website directory of third party service providers on equipment in the microscopy and microanalysis world.
Either one of them could probably do what you want to have done.
Chuck
Disclaimer: We have no financial interest in either firm, both have good reputations, so far as we know.
=================================================== 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: www.2spi.com ############################ ==================================================
I have noticed that some non-conductors can be put into the microscope without the objective aperture and they can set up a steady state where they do not charge. Once you put the objective aperture in they continually charge. I recently noticed on a GaN on sapphire substrate imaged in a 120 kV machine where this behavior is reversed, i.e. charges without the aperture in and does not when it is in.
I have had some success with the small angle cleavage technique with glass substrates without coating. Most times the sample will not charge without coating, but some times it will. I try to minimize the amount of material potentially exposed to the beam by putting the silver epoxy as close to the tip area as possible.
However, I am using a 120kV machine for most of the time and I need to carbon coat to keep the glass from softening. I have less of a problem with this in a 200kV machine. I believe that there is more heating in the sample at 120kV than 200kV because more current is being deposited into the sample at the lower voltage. At higher voltages more electrons pass through the sample.
Incidentally, when I do coat with carbon, I can get by with about 200 A on each side. You can get away with about 400 A on one side but there are other reasons why I need to coat on both sides. This thickness is about the minimum for me to prevent softening of the glass. I think that you can get away with only about 200 A or less on just one side if your sample doesn't have this problem. There was a question some time ago that I asked when I first started working with glass about whether it matters if you coat just one side or two and if you coat one side does it matter if it is towards the beam. I think that you get a little better performance with the coating towards the beam, especially if the beam is exposed to any thick parts of the sample at lower magnifications.
These observations are all based on a limited experience of a little over a year on glass samples.
-Scott
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Glass Technology Center 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: P.Wang To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
Hi all
I need to characterise the microstructure and composition of soft electroceramic film(PZT) by using FEGTEM. When I put the specimen in to the beam path, I observed that there was a very strong interaction between the electron beam and specimen which can clearly be seen to be badly charged. I have been advised to coat carbon or gold on the surface of the specimen. I would like to know if there any other methods which could be used to avoid this charging problem? Do you have any further ideas or methods for this sort of material to prepare a specimen which is suitable for high resolution image and electron energy loss spectroscopy? Currently, I use a method of ion thinning by Gatan DuoMill and PIPS.
That is the way we do it all the time. You can find info on Trumps at this site by searching for such.
http://www.biotech.ufl.edu/~emcl/tips.html
At 08:23 AM 5/19/1999 -0500, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Don't you get Calcium Phosphate precipitates forming if you fix in a phosphate buffered aldehyde solution???
} A quick question: we have some blood samples which were received in "Trump's } Fixative", described as phosphate-buffered gluteraldehyde and } paraformaldehyde, pH 7.2. So far we've been unable to locate any reference } to Trump's in any of our literature. } } I expect it's perfectly fine to proceed with regular phosphate buffer } washes, then postfixation, but thought I would check with collective } microscopy mind out there first. 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 65211-7400 (573)-882-4712 (voice) (573)-882-0123 (fax)
} From September 1999 there will be a 2 year post-doc position available in the electron microscopy group (Department of Physical Chemistry) at the University of Mainz, Germany. At present the group has 2 electron microscopes and a well-equipped specimen preparation laboratory. In September 1999 a new 300 kV Philips Tecnai 30 Electron Microscope with FEG and GIF will be installed. Applications from physicists and chemists with Ph.D experience in electron microscopy and a sound background in electron energy loss spectroscopy are welcome.
Please send applications to
Dr. I.G. Voigt-Martin Inst. f. Physikalische Chemie Jacob Welder Weg 11 55099 Mainz
Responding to the message of {4.1.19990518173013.030d9100-at-pop.er6.eng.ohio-state.edu} from "Hendrik O. Colijn" {colijn.1-at-osu.edu} :
} Feel free to check out our site. } } http://www.ceof.ohio-state.edu }
I tried, but it doesn't seem to like the single most popular browser/platform combination at our University - Netscape Navigator running on Mac OS.
__________________ Stuart McKernan stuartm-at-tc.umn.edu Microscopy Specialist Office:(612) 626-7594 CIE Characterization Facility, University of Minnesota Desk: (612) 624-6009 100 Union Street S. E., Minneapolis, MN 55455 Lab: (612) 624-6590
Hi, I am looking for a low magnification oil immersion objective. I look at two scales in my work -- I use 100x oil for locating bacteria and 25x for the sediment grains they are attached to, and I need to be able to go back and forth. I do not need a high NA. This is for a Zeiss Universal, non-infinity corrected. From what I gather, older Leitz and perhaps olympus objectives are interchangeable. Thanks if you can help, Jill
------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Jill L. Schmidt Phone: (206) 685-1926 University of Washington FAX: (206) 543-0275 Oceanography Box 357940 e-mail: jills-at-ocean.washington.edu Seattle, WA 98195-7940 http://www.ocean.washington.edu/people/grads/jills/Schmidt.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OK, I know asking this question of the group may seem strange, but this is the most densely populated area of microscopy wisdom in the universe and I need your global perspective.
I am the only person in a small EM lab that serves a primarily undergraduate campus. I am part of the technical staff, I am not a faculty member. We have doctorate programs and a few researchers using TEM, but no materials science types and no professional schools. I guess our TEM might be used 300 to 500 hrs/yr sometimes less, never more.
We have a JEOL 100B circa 1975. For most of our applications, it works fine. I have a whole other microscope to use for parts and a clever service provider who may be able to keep this thing going for a long time. In a darkened room, it is hard to tell it from a more modern instrument based on the images seen on the screen. When the lights go on, it looks 24 years old.
Recently a new faculty member asked when are we getting a new TEM, one with digital imaging. I choked, said I would check into it. So here are a few questions I need help with and I hope for some kindness and understanding in your replies. I do need your replies because as the only real EM person here I could use your help.
I have never gone out looking for $$ for a new microscope. Where does one look? Could we justify $$ based on our level of usage? What do you think? What are the criteria used by funding agencies when evaluating requests. Could you share you experiences?
Suppose we can't get the $$ for a whole new TEM. Would I be crazy to try to get $$ to equip our current TEM (remember 24 years old) with an add on digital camera? The ports are there and it could be done, but I'm not sure it is a good idea.
I hope you can give me some leads and encouragement. Most of the burden of doing this job will fall on me. Although often supportive in casual discussions, I don't expect much help from anyone else here.
Thanks
Jonathan Krupp Microscopy & Imaging Lab University of California Santa Cruz, CA 95064 (831) 459-2477 jmkrupp-at-cats.ucsc.edu
I have looked in our archives and have found 2 solutions that Bernie Kest= el from Argonne National Lab has developed for copper which may be of use. =
This work was done with our Model 550 single vertical jet electropolisher=
so references to jet height would be unique to our system. The other parameters may need to be adjusted slightly depending on the type of jet polisher you are using. =
Recipe #2 150 ml HNO3 350 ml ethanol 40 ml butyl cellosolve
Temp: -20 degrees C Jet height: 3.9mm Pump setting: 2.5 Volts: 40 Current: 75mA NOTES: excellent polish. Lower temperature result in an uneven foil surface.
I hope this information helps. If I can be of any additional assistance,=
} } } } } 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 Ozgul Keles } ------------------------------------------------------------------------=
The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America =
Hi everyone, First of all I would like to thank Dr. Simkin from Michigan University forthe information about Electron Channelling. I am going to get in touch=
with him. This time my question is about jet polishing solution of copper and copper and zinc alloys. Actually i found a solution that is sixty percent=
phosphoric acid and deionized water but the problem is that it is hard t= o get rid of that solution from the surface of specimen after you are done with=
jet polishing. If anybody has some idea about how to clean the surface after jet polishing i really appreciate it. =
Does your current TEM meet the department's needs?
You said: "no materials science types and no professional schools." are you into biological TEM, engineering or physics?
A bit more information is needed to help you on the technicality.
As for age, I am not sure it is such a problem. We have a Philips EM400 (120 keV) bought back in 1984 (I think- I was 11 at the time!), which despite its age is fantastic to work with. The success of this machine is that we have always had a service contract with Philips on it. If your machine is fine at the moment why don't you get a good service contract, and maybe spend some money on retro fitted equipment, for example CCD camera for digital imaging.
If you need to extend the TEM capability you may want to invest in a second hand machine ($10,000's) that will be a bit more adaptable. If you want to do this, then I am sure someone will suggest a web page, so that you can have a look at the current price ranges. A safer bet is to contact a reputable TEM manufacturer (Philips, Jeol, Hitachi, .etc) and ask for a contact and ask if they will support it.
I am afraid you are going to have to do a bit of research about this, so it may take a couple of weeks to get an idea as to what your options are. If you do this you should find yourself with a TEM that is well supported (if things do go wrong), should be a delight to use and be at a good price. However if you don't you could end up with something that is a waste of cash, frustrating to use and out of date.
Good luck, Jon
P.S. I know at present Philips are taking a lot of orders for their new Tecnai's (fully integrated computer/TEM), so you may find that there are a lot of second hand TEMs being advertised over the next few years.
-- ***************************************** Dr Jonathan Barnard
Microstructural Physics, H.H.Wills Physics Laboratory, University of Bristol, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TL.
In a message dated 5/19/99 2:25:49 PM EST, jmkrupp-at-cats.ucsc.edu writes:
{ { I guess our TEM might be used 300 to 500 hrs/yr sometimes less, never more.
We have a JEOL 100B circa 1975. For most of our applications, it works fine. I have a whole other microscope to use for parts and a clever service provider who may be able to keep this thing going for a long time. In a darkened room, it is hard to tell it from a more modern instrument based on the images seen on the screen. When the lights go on, it looks 24 years old.
Recently a new faculty member asked when are we getting a new TEM, one with digital imaging. I choked, said I would check into it. So here are a few questions I need help with and I hope for some kindness and understanding in your replies. I do need your replies because as the only real EM person here I could use your help.
I have never gone out looking for $$ for a new microscope. Where does one look? Could we justify $$ based on our level of usage? What do you think? What are the criteria used by funding agencies when evaluating requests. Could you share you experiences?} }
The decision to buy another instrument would depend entirely on need for additiona; features. Sounds as though the current instrument works well for your current needs. However, you might consider upgrading to a more recent instrument with additional features - but look for a used EM. There always seems to be used EMs available at excellent prices.
{ {Suppose we can't get the $$ for a whole new TEM. Would I be crazy to try to get $$ to equip our current TEM (remember 24 years old) with an add on digital camera? The ports are there and it could be done, but I'm not sure it is a good idea.} }
If you have the ports then why not. So long as you have a good resolution image coming down the column then you can do what you want with it in terms of image storage.
The Department of Microscopy and Microanalysis at Abbott Laboratories i= s recruiting a senior level microscopist for its Materials Science group.=
Requirements include a Ph.D. in Materials Science, Chemistry, or relate= d field, and a working knowledge of most of the following instrumentation= : TEM, SEM, EDXS, XPS/SIMS, AFM, and light microscopy methods (polarized light= , fluorescence, and confocal microscopy). Familiarity with spectroscopic=
techniques such as FTIR and a strong background in physical and analyti= cal chemistry are desirable. Experience with biological systems would be = highly advantageous.
We are looking for a team player with excellent interpersonal skills an= d the ability to readily adjust to rapidly changing priorities. The successf= ul candidate will seek out and learn new technologies as needed to solve problems related to pharmaceutical and healthcare products. The abili= ty to communicate clearly, both verbally and in writing, is essential.
Essential job functions: Independently design and carry out experiments to evaluate materials specimens by microscopic and microanalytical techniques. Develop methods using multidisciplinary approaches. Interpret data and effectively communicate results. Review data and reports for scientific integrity and clarity. Mentor career development of junior scientists. Present data at scientific meetings and publish in peer-reviewed journa= ls. Provide technical and scientific leadership.
The Department of Microscopy and Microanalysis provides corporate-wide support in materials and biological microscopy to all Abbott Laboratori= es divisions. The facility houses two TEMs (a Philips CM12 STEM and a LEO= 910), two SEMs (a Philips XL30 and AMRAY 1830i), three EDXS systems, a BioRad= MRC 1024 UV confocal scanning laser microscope, a Digital Nanoscope III AFM= with Bioscope, a Physical Electronics 5600 XPS/SIMS, and the usual assortmen= t of light microscopes and sample preparatory equipment.
For further information, please contact:
Jane A. Fagerland, Ph.D. Abbott Laboratories D45M/AP31 200 Abbott Park Rd. Abbott Park IL 60064-6202
Hello dear all! I am looking for any information on the microscope, called Grumhauser and on the person who made it. The spelling I have might be incorrect. Best regards, Dima My email address is la_dima-at-hotmail.com
_______________________________________________________________ Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com
You can test the reservation system by logging in as user=guest, password=guest. You can make reservations on the "dummy" machine. During the couse of writing the software, we discovered that not all web browsers are created equal. There seem to be some major differences in the level of Java support. Anyway, on a Mac you need IE 4.0 or higher, on a PC you need IE 4.0 or Navigator 4.0 or higher Mac Navigator doesn't work yet.)
Our system is running on a WinNT PC using Microsoft Access as a database backend. The front end was done with MS InterDev 6.0 and Borland JBuilder 2.0.
At 10:33 AM 5/15/99 -0500, you wrote: } } } We are also considering developing a web-based reservation system, and I } think many others would also be interested what other labs are doing in } this area. I would be interested in learning of any software which is } freely available or low cost and open source. } } We are in the very early stages of modifying an open source (Perl) } web-calender and scheduling system to suite our needs. The reference url } is: } http://curiosityshoppe.tierranet.com/framecal/index.shtml } } I found this and a few others by searching the web with I believe was } combinations of ("resource" and "scheduling" and "calenders") } } If we develop a system based on FrameCal or something else we will make } it freely available as licensing permits. } } Of course, if someone else has a suitable system available freely or at } low cost it would save us development time and costs. } } Jim Mabon } } } } } } I know there have been some discussions on this listserver in the past } } } about computer sign up systems for electron microscopes. Are there any } new } } programs out there? We are working on a web-based instrument sign up } } program to replace our existing sign up/microscope accounting system. } The } } old system is not Y2K friendly. Besides the Universty of Minnesota, } is } } there any other group which has a working web-based system? } } } } John C. Wheatley } } Lab Manager } } Arizona State University } } Center for Solid State Science } } PSA-213 } } BOX 871704 } } Tempe, AZ 85287-1704 } } } } Phone: (602) 965-3831 } } FAX: (602) 965-9004 } } John.Wheatley-at-ASU.Edu } } } Hendrik O. Colijn colijn.1-at-osu.edu Campus Electron Optics Facility 116 W. 19th Ave. (614) 292-0674 "Nothing is as inevitable as a mistake whose time has come."
I have some crystals of a drug in aqueous suspension. They clump together. I would like to disperse the crystals. Sonication is about the only way I can think of to do it. Any ideas? If sonication, for how long should I do it (about 0.3 ml volume) and how long would it be likely to last before it all clumps again? I should add that I can't add anything to the solution and I don't know the chemistry of the drug!
Thanks, Diana
Diana van Driel Department of Clinical Ophthalmology Sydney University GPO Box 4337 Sydney NSW AUSTRALIA 2001
At 12:10 PM 5/19/99 , you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Consider other than a new scope. Digitize your existing scope for a fraction of the cost of a new scope. A good source is http://www.elmdas.com
They make a nice computer control and image analysis package at a decent price. POC is John Best.
One- or two-year POST-DOC position available at the Electron Microscopy for Materials Science (EMAT) group of the University of Antwerp, RUCA, Belgium. Do visit our website for more info on the working of the group (http://wcc.ruca.ua.ac.be/EMAT).
The position is part of a European TMR network (9/98 - 9/02) on Phase Transitions in Crystalline Solids and is open to inhabitants of member states of the European Community or associated countries. The network is a collaboration between experimental and theoretical groups all working on the understanding of microstructures resulting from phase transitions in solids (see also http://www.dmsa.unipd.it/tmr/). Subprojects on martensitic transformations in alloys, twinning in oxides, thin films structures etc. have already been chosen. The candidate should have a large experience in different TEM techniques for the characterisation of atomic and microstructures. The position is open as of October 1, 1999. Salary starts at 1.500 Euro (scholarship, no taxes deducted), depending on experience.
If you are interested or like more information, please contact Dr. D. Schryvers (tel.: 32-3-2180247, fax: 32-3-2180257, e-mail: schryver-at-ruca.ua.ac.be)
!!!!! NEW SERVER !!!!
DO CHECK MY E-MAIL ADDRESS: schryver-at-ruca.ua.ac.be (replies to old mails, e.g. from before March 15, will not work anymore!)
*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=* *=* *=* *=* Dr. D. Schryvers *=* *=* Electron Microscopy for Materials Research (EMAT) *=* *=* University of Antwerp, RUCA *=* *=* Groenenborgerlaan 171 *=* *=* B-2020 ANTWERP *=* *=* Belgium *=* *=* tel: 32-3-2180247 *=* *=* fax: 32-3-2180257 *=* *=* e-mail: schryver-at-ruca.ua.ac.be *=* *=* homepage: http://www.ruca.ua.ac.be/EMAT *=* *=* *=* *=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*
One- or two-year POST-DOC position available at the Electron = Microscopy for Materials Science (EMAT) group of the University of = Antwerp, RUCA, Belgium. Do visit our website for more info on the = working of the group (http://www.ruca.ua.ac.be/EMAT).
The position is part of a joint project between EMAT and the = photographic company Agfa-Gevaert (3/99 - 3/01) on new photographic = materials and is open to inhabitants of member states of the European = Community or associated states. The candidate should have a large = experience in different TEM techniques for the characterisation of = atomic and microstructures. The position is immediately available. = Salary starts at =B1 1.500 Euro (after tax deduction), depending on = experience.
If you are interested or like more information, please contact Dr. D. = Schryvers (tel.: 32-3-2180247, fax: 32-3-2180257, e-mail: = schryver-at-ruca.ua.ac.be)
!!!!! NEW SERVER !!!!
DO CHECK MY E-MAIL ADDRESS: schryver-at-ruca.ua.ac.be (replies to old = mails, e.g. from before March 15, will not work anymore!)
*=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* Dr. D. Schryvers *=3D* *=3D* Electron Microscopy for Materials Research (EMAT) *=3D* *=3D* University of Antwerp, RUCA *=3D* *=3D* Groenenborgerlaan 171 *=3D* *=3D* B-2020 ANTWERP *=3D* *=3D* Belgium *=3D* *=3D* tel: 32-3-2180247 *=3D* *=3D* fax: 32-3-2180257 *=3D* *=3D* e-mail: schryver-at-ruca.ua.ac.be *=3D* *=3D* homepage: http://www.ruca.ua.ac.be/EMAT *=3D* *=3D* *=3D* *=3D*=3D*=3D*=3D*=3D*=3D*=3D*=3D*=3D*=3D*=3D*=3D*=3D*=3D*=3D*=3D*=3D*= =3D*=3D*=3D*=3D*=3D*=3D*=3D*=3D*=3D*=3D*=3D*=3D*
I have just started trying a different approach on our intranet. The intranet runs on Microsoft BackOffice 2.5 and includes Exchange Server 4.0. I have setup mailboxes for our HRTEM and Ion Mill and hope to make use of the group scheduling and calendaring (is that a word?) functions of Exchange to achieve the same end. Client side software will be Exchange client / Outlook 97. Users can book by sending appointment requests to the mailboxes which can be set to automatically accept / suggest free time slots. I know this has access restricted only to our intranet unlike web based programs, but then at present we do not have scientists outside the organization directly booking resources. At present I am trying to get over the problem of compatibility: exchange client users do not have access to the outlook calendar and outlook users have chosen not to use schedule 97 as default calendar. If there are others using this method, I would like to hear from them as well as about web based programs.
--- R Divakar PMS, IGCAR, Kalpakkam 603102, India ----
This is a repeat of an earlier message that might not have made it. ;)
I have three (3) Osram UV bulbs that were used in an older, large, stand-alone UV lamp (The box is labeled: OSRAM Quecksilber-Hochstdruck-Lampe HBO 200W) If you need more info, or have need of these contact me direct. Thanks, john
******************************************** John P. Shields Center for Ultrastructural Research 151 Barrow Hall University of Georgia Athens, GA 30602-2403 (706)542-4080 jpshield-at-arches.uga.edu
We have a system that we have just implemented (Actually my colleague=20 Corinna Wauchope did it) that uses Filemaker Pro to book instrument=20 time, track our user information, keep the instrument logbooks and=20 bill our users. It is working quite well now. We plan to put it on=20 the Web when we have all the glitches ironed out and all the=20 instruments included on it and whenCorinna has some spare time to do=20 the necessary Web stuff ( :-) ).
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Please note new FAX number.
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) 763-2282 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"
I run an EM lab at a small private college using a 1968 Hitachi Hu 125E and an old 1970 ETEC autoscan. !00% biological TEM & SEM, very few beam hours per year, no fees, no hassel. I've got spares in the closet, do 100% of my own service ~ with some help from my friends (THANKS to Allen Sampson).
Currently, I have said no to the question "buy a new scope", because what we have now has been working for 10 years, plus the money is not there. I feel that one is tied into a service contract with the purchase of a new instrument because of the complexity. If a new scope were purchased, no longer can you fix it with a relay, vacuum tube, or spare parts in the closet. Someday I will change my mind as the avaliability of parts dwindles and frustration levels go up.
I know our situation will not go on forever, and feel that planning for a new scope, service contract and in-house support should take place long before the old scopes become more trouble than they are worth. Your facutly members will have to be the ones to write grants to NSF programs and private foundations. Within the grant writing process, the questions that you ask will get answered as support either builds or dies for new instrumentation.
Robert
} } OK, I know asking this question of the group may seem strange, but this is } the most densely populated area of microscopy wisdom in the universe and I } need your global perspective. } } I am the only person in a small EM lab that serves a primarily } undergraduate campus. I am part of the technical staff, I am not a faculty } member. We have doctorate programs and a few researchers using TEM, but no } materials science types and no professional schools. I guess our TEM might } be used 300 to 500 hrs/yr sometimes less, never more. } } We have a JEOL 100B circa 1975. For most of our applications, it works } fine. I have a whole other microscope to use for parts and a clever service } provider who may be able to keep this thing going for a long time. In a } darkened room, it is hard to tell it from a more modern instrument based on } the images seen on the screen. When the lights go on, it looks 24 years } old. } } Recently a new faculty member asked when are we getting a new TEM, one with } digital imaging. I choked, said I would check into it. So here are a few } questions I need help with and I hope for some kindness and understanding } in your replies. I do need your replies because as the only real EM person } here I could use your help. } } I have never gone out looking for $$ for a new microscope. Where does one } look? Could we justify $$ based on our level of usage? What do you think? } What are the criteria used by funding agencies when evaluating requests. } Could you share you experiences? } } Suppose we can't get the $$ for a whole new TEM. Would I be crazy to try to } get $$ to equip our current TEM (remember 24 years old) with an add on } digital camera? The ports are there and it could be done, but I'm not sure } it is a good idea. } } I hope you can give me some leads and encouragement. Most of the burden of } doing this job will fall on me. Although often supportive in casual } discussions, I don't expect much help from anyone else here. } } Thanks } } Jonathan Krupp } Microscopy & Imaging Lab } University of California } Santa Cruz, CA 95064 } (831) 459-2477 } jmkrupp-at-cats.ucsc.edu
Robert Fitton Luther College Department of Biology 700 College Drive Decorah, IA 52101
Voice 319-387-1559 FAX 319-387-1080
Enjoy a visit to our website: http://www.luther.edu/dept/bio.htm
There have been several questions recently concerning the status of VCR Group. I have heard many rumors and a lot of talk "around the water cooler". I would like to dispel any rumors and clarify the situation. South Bay Technology and VCR Group have come to an agreement that will ensure the continuation of the VCR Group product line. The VCR products are being incorporated into the South Bay Technology line of products an= d will be manufactured and marketed by South Bay Technology, Inc. Althoug= h VCR Group, Inc. will no longer exist, that does not mean that the product= s will die or that support for existing customers will not be available.
We are in the process of transferring VCR operations and manufacturing to=
our corporate offices in San Clemente, CA. We expect to be fully operational by June 1 and will be able to fulfill orders shortly thereafter. Please be assured that we are here and available to support your VCR products and will be well into the future. In addition, to ensure a smooth transition, South Bay Technology has hired Vince Carlino, President of VCR Group.
As communications with VCR have been spotty over the past few months, I would encourage anyone with any questions about the VCR Group or products to contact me immediately with the relevant details. I will ensure that your order or problem is dealt with promptly=
and that your order is shipped within a realistic timeframe.
I thank you for this opportunity to set the record straight and I welcome=
all of our new VCR customers to the South Bay Technology family - I will look forward to hearing from you!
Best regards-
David Henriks Vice President
South Bay Technology, Inc. TEL: 800-728-2233 (tollfr= ee in the USA) 1120 Via Callejon +1-949-492-260= 0 San Clemente, CA 92673 USA FAX: +1-949-492-1499
Randi We use Trump's fixative for routine TEM analysis of surgical pathology specimens or surgical biopsies. Basically it is 4% formaldehyde and 1% glutaraldehyde in phosphate buffer. One reference available is Arch. Pathol Lab Med 100:405, 1976, this is a comparison of several fixatives, If I can help 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
Steven, I'm sure you are aware there is a room temperature equivalent to your message, but I want to make sure that others on the Listserver don't conclude that cryosectioning is the only way to do this. For many materials, e.g. softer metals and some polymers, one can section smoothly at RT with a normal microtome and diamond knife. For many other polymers (and most biological materials), a smooth surface is produced at RT, but smearing distorts the shape of structural features. For harder crystalline materials, e.g. steels or intermetallics, a surface usually is produced which is microscopically rough to a degree dependent on the shear/brittle fracture details of the system, no matter what the temperature. Even more complex is the case for embedded ceramic/mineral particulate, fibers and the like, where the critical dimension seems to be size. Such features a few microns or less in diameter tend to section smoothly at either cryo or RT, but much larger, and they start to section with a rough surface (which still might furnish much useful information, of course).
I am encountering a growing number of microtomy workshop students, both private and public sector, who are using sectioning as a prelude to scanned probe studies, as well as optical, SEM and TEM. Thus the SPM community would do well to consider what is meant by a 'smooth' or 'rough' specimen surface in terms of what types of information can be collected realistically from one extreme to the other.
Tom Malis Group Leader - Characterization Materials Technology Laboratory Natural Resources Canada (Govt. of Canada) 568 Booth St., Ottawa, Canada ph. 613-992-2310 FAX 613-992-8735 email: malis-at-nrcan.gc.ca
} ---------- } From: Slap, Steven[SMTP:SSlap-at-ebsciences.com] } Sent: May 18, 1999 10:34 AM } To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } Subject: cryoplaning } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 fellow microscopists, } } I am looking for individuals interested in cryoplaning techniques (using } a cryoultramicrotome to produce blocks with a very flat surface and } examining this surface in a cryo-SEM). Please contact me back-channel } if interested. } } Best regards, } Steven E. Slap, Vice-President } ******************************************* } Energy Beam Sciences, Inc. } The Laboratory Microwave Company } Adding Brilliance to Your Vision } http://www.ebsciences.com {http://www.ebsciences.com} } ******************************************* } } }
Maybe someone has already suggested this to you, but if digital imaging is the only thing you lack, the cheap (but effective) way to go might be to invest in a good quality scanner. You scan in the negatives you shoot on your present instrument and you have instant digital images, plus an archival, high quality film backup in your originals. This will cost a fraction of adding on digital capabilities to your scope, especially if you already have a decent computer to run it from.
I am a big advocate of capturing images on film, then manipulating those images digitally. Highest quality, lower cost, and platform/software independent archiving of images. My two cents.
OK, I know asking this question of the group may seem strange, but this is the most densely populated area of microscopy wisdom in the universe and I need your global perspective.
I am the only person in a small EM lab that serves a primarily undergraduate campus. I am part of the technical staff, I am not a faculty member. We have doctorate programs and a few researchers using TEM, but no materials science types and no professional schools. I guess our TEM might be used 300 to 500 hrs/yr sometimes less, never more.
We have a JEOL 100B circa 1975. For most of our applications, it works fine. I have a whole other microscope to use for parts and a clever service provider who may be able to keep this thing going for a long time. In a darkened room, it is hard to tell it from a more modern instrument based on the images seen on the screen. When the lights go on, it looks 24 years old.
Recently a new faculty member asked when are we getting a new TEM, one with digital imaging. I choked, said I would check into it. So here are a few questions I need help with and I hope for some kindness and understanding in your replies. I do need your replies because as the only real EM person here I could use your help.
I have never gone out looking for $$ for a new microscope. Where does one look? Could we justify $$ based on our level of usage? What do you think? What are the criteria used by funding agencies when evaluating requests. Could you share you experiences?
Suppose we can't get the $$ for a whole new TEM. Would I be crazy to try to get $$ to equip our current TEM (remember 24 years old) with an add on digital camera? The ports are there and it could be done, but I'm not sure it is a good idea.
I hope you can give me some leads and encouragement. Most of the burden of doing this job will fall on me. Although often supportive in casual discussions, I don't expect much help from anyone else here.
Thanks
Jonathan Krupp Microscopy & Imaging Lab University of California Santa Cruz, CA 95064 (831) 459-2477 jmkrupp-at-cats.ucsc.edu
Biological Measurements and Forces in MAC Mode™ AFM Stuart Lindsay, Wenhai Han, and Yanzhang Liu; ASU
Biological force measurements and the AFM Protein unfolding may play a vital role in protein function (Soteriou, Clarke et al. 1993). Last year, Rief et al. (Rief, Gautel et al. 1997) demonstrated that the AFM could be used to follow the unfolding of a single protein molecule trapped between the AFM probe and a gold surface
I have a colleague who would like to label antibodies for fluorescence for use in leaves, but would like an alternative to fluorescein. I believe Molecular Probes has quite a selection... are there some in particular that users have been happy with?
thanks in advance for your help shea
Dr. S. Shea Miller Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Eastern Cereal and Oilseed Research Centre 2068 K.W. Neatby Bldg Central Experimental Farm Ottawa, Ontario Canada K1A 0C6 email: millers-at-em.agr.ca phone: 613-759-1760 fax: 613-759-1701 ! !
} -----Original Message----- } From: Howard Fielding } Sent: Monday, May 17, 1999 1:25 PM } To: 'microscopy-at-msa.microscopy.com' } Subject: Electron Microscope For Sale } } Our firm has a ISI Electron Microscope, model DS 130 C for sale. Any } interested parties may call Howard Fielding at 800 992 7844 ext 304 for } information or respond via e-mail to hfielding-at-mayflower-sac.com. We have } acquired this device from a warehouse customer who has defaulted on } storage charges and can make a very attractive price to prospective } purchasers.
Does anyone know if in situ's can be done on epoxy embedded sections? If yes, does the tissue have to be treated any differently during fixation and embedding?
Thanks for all the interest, but the bulbs have already found a good home. We are also looking to get rid of some vacuum tubes (assorted sizes and manufacturers). All free for the cost of shipping. Spring cleaning, y'know? john
******************************************** John P. Shields Center for Ultrastructural Research 151 Barrow Hall University of Georgia Athens, GA 30602-2403 (706)542-4080 jpshield-at-arches.uga.edu
I am interested in exploring the feasibility of jet propane freezing our samples to minimize artifacts from ice formation, but am having a hard time finding a facility that has a rig. Any contact pointers would be very much appreciated, as would any clues on techniques used to minimize phase separation caused by the formation of ice. We are currently plunging our samples (colloidal dispersions) in liquid propane, but the size of the ice artifacts are on the order of our particle size.
I have been watching this discussion closely as I too am working with an antiquated scope, a 1975 Philips 201. I work only with clinical specimens, almost no research, and primarily muscle, nerve and renal biopsies. The 201 is functioning quite well also due in part to a master "Mr. Fixit". We have even more in common. I have a 201 parts scope sitting right next to my primary scope. I have sold the pathologists I do EM for on digital imaging, but due to tight purse strings am not going to be able to do what I would like to do. So, now to my question. I have been looking into the scanning possibilities and would love all the input you all could give me. I am looking to scan the standard Kodak 4489 negatives. What scanners are good for this? What price range am I looking at? Thanks in advance for all your input.
Douglas C. Rennie Electron microscopy lab coordinator University of Nebraska Medical Center Omaha Nebraska (402) 559-7729
We have an immediate opening in our facility for specialist in materials characterization. Areas of application include SEM/EDS, mProbe and ESCA/XPS. Background in inorganic chemistry, AA & ICAP are also desirable.
Breim Engineering is a laboratory environment that applies these techniques to metallurgical, materials characterization and failure analysis. Reply to: dlpark1-at-briemeng.com
********************************************************************** Donald L. Parker Briem Engineering, Inc 4134 Rider Trail North Earth City, MO 63045 [314] 298-3773, direct ext #27 FAX [314] 298-7097 **********************************************************************
We have a Hitachi HU12A to give away. It is a complete system with manuals. It is located at the Health Science Campus of USC in Los Angeles, CA. For additional information please email me, and I will get back to you asap. Thanks
At 09:36 AM 5/21/99 , you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Agfa Arcus II does 600x1200 dpi and runs about $850. The UMAX Powerlook III does 1200x2400 dpi and runs about $1200. Both do a good job. Higher resolution is good and the UMAX has a bit higher D range.
I need to find a light source, either a mirror or an electric lamp for several monocular light microscopes (Leitz). What would be the cost? Is there a generic brand that would work? Thanks for any suggestions!
Barbara Plowman Univ. of the Pacific School of Dentistry email: Bplowman-at-uop.edu
We are planing to immuno-gold label the melanocytes of equine melanoma. If you know of any commercial or non-commercial source of specific antibodies against melanocytes (such as Ab against melanosomes) please let us know. We would really appreciate that.
Regards
-Majid Ghoddusi
........................................................................... ........................................................................... ...... Majid Ghoddusi, PhD Centre for Microscopy & Microanalysis and Division of Veterinary Pathobiology & Anatomy The University of Queensland Qld 4072 Australia
To all who have replied to my inquiry, I want to thank you for being open and candidly sharing your experiences and expertise with an amateur like myself. It has been extremely helpful in clarifying my concerns.
I continue to welcome any additional input or comments.
YES! YOU CAN SAVE INTEREST & BUILD EQUITY WITHOUT THE HASSLE OF REFINANCING!
Let us show you how enrolling in our Biweekly Mortgage Payoff Acceleration Program will save you $$$ and build equity up to 3 times faster!!
*NO REFINANCING! *NO QUALIFYING OR APPRAISALS! *NO CREDIT REPORTS OR CLOSING COSTS! *NO CHANGING LENDERS OR CONTRACTS! *NO HASSLES! JUST SAVINGS!
HERE IS HOW THE...
Mortgage Payoff Acceleration Program
WORKS!!
Every two weeks, one half of your monthly payment is electronically debited from the bank account of your choice and deposited into your new bank account. This account is specifically created for your mortgage payments.
ALL FUNDS IN THE NEW ACCOUNT ARE FDIC INSURED!
} From your new account, once each month your full mortgage payment (plus any extra funds you have authorized) is forwarded to your lender on or before the due date. Once each year all the extra funds in the new account are forwarded to your lender as a principal reduction payment. This is usually an amount equal or greater than one full mortgage payment.
THOSE EXTRA YEARLY PRINCIPAL PAYMENTS ARE THE MAGIC!
Did you realize that if you are paying off a $100,000 mortgage at 10% fixed interest for more than 30 years, you will have paid your bank a grand total of $316,000!!
THAT IS OVER $200,000 IN INTEREST CHARGES ALONE!!
Enrolling in our program now will allow you (or anyone) to realize incredible savings on ANY TYPE of current mortgage WITHOUT refinancing...qualifying...appraisals...credit reports...high fees!
ENJOY THESE BENEFITS NOW!
*Save tens of thousands of dollars. *Reduce the term of your loan 9 to 12 years. *Build equity up to 3 times faster. *Increase your net worth. *Get the benefits of a new mortgage without having to qualify. *Make paying your mortgage easier and automatic.
Q & A
Q. How do I know my money and payments are safe?
A. ALL accounts involved in the Mortgage Payoff Acceleration Program are FDIC insured up to the maximum allowable!
Q. How much will I save?
A. That will depend on how much you have borrowed and how long you have had your loan. But, we have had cases where people have actually been able to SAVE more than the ENTIRE purchase price of their home!!
Q. Can't I just refinance at a lower rate?
A. You absolutely should refinance if your interest rate is at least 2% higher than current rates! And you would even save more $$$ by applying this program to your new loan! And always remember to be aware of excessive charges and closing costs!
Q. Why do I need you? I can just make that extra payment myself.
A. We all only know too well that is easier said than done. We have has clients who have tried and sure they were good for a month and sometimes three or four and even up to a year. But invariably when it comes time to make that extra payment you have been saving for...the car needs new tires, the holidays or a special birthday are around the corner...there just always seems to be something. So let us help you help yourself!
Q. Will the Mortgage Payoff Acceleration Program work if there is a prepayment penalty?
A. Yes! Prepayment penalties are rare these days and even on loans that originated before 1983, generally a homeowner may reduce the principal up to 20% annually without a penalty.
Q. My mortgage is over 5 years old. Am I too late?
A. Although the savings will not be as dramatic as if you had started earlier, there is still money to be saved! Let us prove it!
Mortgage Payoff Acceleration Program can also be used for autos, boats, recreational vehicles and most other loans!
WHY PAY MORE THAN YOU HAVE TO FOR ANYTHING?!
To receive your FREE MORTGAGE ANALYSIS please provide us with the following information:
First Name:____________________________________ Last Name:____________________________________ Address:______________________________________ City:__________________________________________ State:_________________________________________ Zip Code:______________________________________ Home Telephone:______________________________ Work Telephone:_______________________________ Best Time To Call: __Evening __Daytime __Mornings E-mail Address:_________________________________ Type of Loan: __Home __Auto __RV __Other Original Loan Amount:____________________________ Original Loan Term:______________________________ Type of Interest: ___Variable ___Fixed Original Interest Rate:____________________________ Current Interest Rate:____________________________ Date Loan Issued:_______________________________ Date of First Payment:____________________________ Monthly Payment (Principal + Interest):______________
Our representative will contact you within 24 to 48 hours of your submission.
The standard enrollment fee for the Mortgage Payoff Acceleration Program is either 1% of our clients savings or $600.00 whichever is less!
FOR A LIMITED TIME OUR INTERNET SPECIAL ENROLLMENT FEE IS 1% OR $299.00! WHICHEVER IS LESS!
Checks, Money Orders, Visa & MasterCard are Accepted!
CREATIVE CAPITAL FUNDING P.O. BOX 8196 NEWPORT BEACH, CA 92659 (888) 341-4118 TOLL FREE (949) 733-7808 FAX (949) 760-9036
Without throwing the cat too heartily amongst the pigeons I would value your considered comment on the virtues of LVSEM against ESEM in a multi-user mainly biological EM facility.
Obviously I have investgated the subject as thoroughly as I can but there is nothing like a touch of personal experience to enrich this information for us,
Please send your responses directly to me by return or to bruton-at-emu.unp.ac.za. Our website (still under construction) address is provided beliow if you would like to know a little more about us.
I look forward to hearing your views.
Tony Bruton Head, Centre for Electron Microscopy University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg Tel +27 (0)331 260 5155 Fax +27 (0)331 260 5776 website:http:www.nu.ac.za (departments} units) Email:bruton-at-emu.unp.ac.za postal address; Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209 KwaZulu-Natal South Africa
Hi All: I am looking for a third party company that can offer me a service contract on a Philips 430 ST. Thank you so much for your ongoing assistance.
I recently bought a new (now discontinued) Wild M7S stereo Microscope, which included as part of the package a Wild model 10446174 trinocular phototube - this is the latest white version, 100% observation or 100% photo, built-in double iris diaphragm, 37mm photo port. This last part is driving me nuts, since all my photo equipment requires a 38mm photo port. Boring the phototube out to 38mm is not an option. What is an option is trading this to someone for an older black version with the 38mm photo port. The version that I have fits the M3 and M7, as well as all the current Leica stereo microscopes (MS5, MZ6, MZ8, etc.) - anything Wild or Leica except the M5 (this takes a different size, and they will not interchange). If you have a 38mm Wild phototube and are interested in becoming compatable with all of the new Leica digital and video adapters (which are 37mm, or so I understand), let me know and perhaps we can work out something.
Can anybody tell who are suppliers of gold-labelled Tumour Necrosis factor ? I don't seem to able to find anything in the catalogues I have at hand.
Thanks in advance
Cathy Gillespie
Cathy Gillespie Head Electron Microscopy/Histology/FACS Facility John Curtin School of Medical Research Australian National University Canberra Australia
Our Kevex 8000 system won't talk to an external computer and we would like to do peak to background analysis on spectra we have and will collect. It appears that Quantex will not give us straight P/B. Suggestions on how to proceed will be appreciated.
Dear Richard, I feel that it would be impossible to do in-situ hybridisation on conventional fixed and epoxy-embedded sections. There occur a few severe problems :
1.) Fixation: If you use conventional aldehyde-fixation, proteins as well= as nucleic acid will be crosslinked heavily and binding sites for your in-si= tu will be deleted
2.) Postfixation: Osmium will even increase the cross-linking and should = be avoided in any case
3.) Embedding: Using conventional hydrophobic epoxy resins you archive va= st three-dimensional cross linking of proteins, nucleic acids, amino-acids .= . Your in-situ probe will not have any access to binding sites.
If you have too much time/manpower or in situ hybridisation in absolutely necessary for your work you could try it with the following hints but I wouldn=B4t expect too much:
a) use a "soft" fixation (e.g. 2-4% Formaldehyd) b)don=B4t use osmium nor uranyl acetate c) don=B4t use epoxy resins, try more hydrophilic resins (e.g. LR-White o= r LR-Gold or the Lowicryls if you aren=B4t frightened of their toxic potential...) d) improve contrast of sections: strong postfixation and staining (why no= t including osmium)of sections after in-situ labelling
Another trial would be to try Ultracryotomy of cryo-protected deep frozen tissue (Tokaysu technique). But this will cost you a lot of equipment, ti= me and motivation ...
Good luck, with best regards Michael Reiner
Michael Reiner Department of Anatomy University of Cologne Germany e-mail: a2811111-at-smail.uni-koeln.de
Richard Gardiner schrieb:
} -----------------------------------------------------------------------= - } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Does anyone know if in situ's can be done on epoxy embedded sections? } If yes, does the tissue have to be treated any differently during } fixation and embedding? } } Richard Gardiner
Thanks very much to all who responded to my query about Trump's fixative. Got what I needed to finish processing the samples on hand.
Learned a couple of interesting things in the process: apparently there are two versions of Trump's---the standard one with paraformaldehyde and gluteraldehyde, and another one using formalin. The latter is probably a histology fixative, I guess. The other neat thing to know is that several people described Trump's as an excellent storage fixative. One person even said they'd had specimens in Trump's for nine years, with no noticeable deterioration!! (Don't try this at home folks?)
Anyway, thanks again. As usual, the list came through.
Dear Dr. Gauler, We got copy of your message and we wonder why you did not get in touch with our representative or with the field engineer in charge of your area. Eventually you can get in touch directly with us visiting our site www.leo.de We should like to help you to solve your problem, and to do that we need some information. Please, let us know: How long ago have been made the last service on the penning gauge. What is the vacuum reached in the column when the separation valve is closed. Where did you get the filaments you are using. How long ago did you get them. It could be helpful to know the serial number of your EM 10.
It may be that you have a vacuum problem or that something is wrong with your wolfram filaments. The all data we ask are useful for us to know the exact configuration of your microscope as well as to rebuild its all technical history. We are waiting for your answer in order to solve your problem. Thanks in advance for your cooperation.
LEO COE-TEM / Marco Arienti Carl-Zeiss Strasse, 56 D-73446 Oberkochen
Greetings to the Microscopy list. As a relatively new member of the list, this is my first request for help. I would like to know if is possible to obtain image of dendritic cells detected by elettron microscope. Furthermore if you know an internet site whit some informations related to these cells. Thanking you all in advance,
I would appreciate advice on the best way to obtain grain size statistics from a TEM image. Is there any software that will do this? Since we will be starting with a print from a TEM negative, are there any special scanner capabilities that are required? Any other suggestions on this process would also be appreciated.
Thank you for taking time to consider this request.
Sincerely,
Mick Thomas --------------------------------
Mick Thomas UHV-STEM Laboratory E-1 Clark Hall Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14853
-----Original Message----- } From: Fagerland,Jane [mailto:jane.a.fagerland-at-abbott.com] Sent: Wednesday, May 19, 1999 5:59 PM To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com Cc: Ulrich,Roger
The Department of Microscopy and Microanalysis at Abbott Laboratories is recruiting a senior level microscopist for its Materials Science group.
Requirements include a Ph.D. in Materials Science, Chemistry, or related field, and a working knowledge of most of the following instrumentation: TEM, SEM, EDXS, XPS/SIMS, AFM, and light microscopy methods (polarized light, fluorescence, and confocal microscopy). Familiarity with spectroscopic techniques such as FTIR and a strong background in physical and analytical chemistry are desirable. Experience with biological systems would be highly advantageous.
We are looking for a team player with excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to readily adjust to rapidly changing priorities. The successful candidate will seek out and learn new technologies as needed to solve problems related to pharmaceutical and healthcare products. The ability to communicate clearly, both verbally and in writing, is essential.
Essential job functions: Independently design and carry out experiments to evaluate materials specimens by microscopic and microanalytical techniques. Develop methods using multidisciplinary approaches. Interpret data and effectively communicate results. Review data and reports for scientific integrity and clarity. Mentor career development of junior scientists. Present data at scientific meetings and publish in peer-reviewed journals. Provide technical and scientific leadership.
The Department of Microscopy and Microanalysis provides corporate-wide support in materials and biological microscopy to all Abbott Laboratories divisions. The facility houses two TEMs (a Philips CM12 STEM and a LEO 910), two SEMs (a Philips XL30 and AMRAY 1830i), three EDXS systems, a BioRad MRC 1024 UV confocal scanning laser microscope, a Digital Nanoscope III AFM with Bioscope, a Physical Electronics 5600 XPS/SIMS, and the usual assortment of light microscopes and sample preparatory equipment.
For further information, please contact:
Jane A. Fagerland, Ph.D. Abbott Laboratories D45M/AP31 200 Abbott Park Rd. Abbott Park IL 60064-6202
Be very, very careful concerning "software for grain size measurement from TEM images." Because grains seen in the TEM often contain dislocations, twins, stacking faults, high preferred orientation, etc; as well as having every shade of grey from B to W; ^ ANY ^ video-input/scanning based "automatic" grain size measuring machine will produce suspicious results. I didn't say they don't produce a "number," just that the "number" has little correlation with grain size. The human eye can easily see grains in a TEM image; machines can't.
What we do is measure the maximum diameter (chord) of about 200 grains in a series of TEM images using a digitizer. After entering the image's magnification into the PC connected to the digitizer, we 'click-on' each end of each grain's max chord. The PC calculates the chord length. When we think we have measured enough grains, we tell the PC to calculate the grain size. It calculates both the normal and lognormal grain sizes from the chord lengths (equations and correction factors from Shuckher's chapter in DeHoff & Rhines "Quantitative Microscopy"), tests which one better represents the measured distribution and tests whether we really have measured enough grains. Assuming it doesn't tell us to measure more grains, the computer plots a grain size histogram, overlays it with the calculated distribution for an eye-ball check, and reports all the normal and lognormal parameters (telling us which parameters are best). Besides using the human eye-brain for doing what it does best (judgement) and the computer for doing what it does best (crunching), the method as described beats automated systems time-wise (from walking in with an image to walking out with data), which we consider funny.
Having said all of this, I realise time marches on and things might have improved. If anyone out there has an automated machine that can measure grain size on my collection of images they are welcome try. They are: An 'easy' Mo grain size with no internal structure--just b/w grains; Cu grains with sharp b/w twins; ceramic grains with dislocation tangles and b/w gradation in the grains; An Al film with high preferred orientation such that neighbouring, similarly oriented, grains have nearly the same shade of grey; and a horrible duplex Cu distribution with a b/w gradiant across the image, twins, and dislocations.
Ron Anderson, IBM, Hopewell Jct., New York, USA. anderron-at-us.ibm.com
IBM Analytical Services; http://www.chips.ibm.com/services/asg
Mick wrote:
Fellow microscopists,
I would appreciate advice on the best way to obtain grain size statistics from a TEM image. Is there any software that will do this? Since we will be starting with a print from a TEM negative, are there any special scanner capabilities that are required? Any other suggestions on this process would also be appreciated.
Thank you for taking time to consider this request.
Sincerely,
Mick Thomas --------------------------------
Mick Thomas UHV-STEM Laboratory E-1 Clark Hall Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14853
If your 8000 has a printer, it is likely it will have (?) a 4 port serial card. The OSys "copy" command can be used to send a file out this port which can be received by a PC in the serial capture mode. Another option I have used is to equip a PC with a SCSI card and a drive like that used on the 8000 (I am now using Syquests, was using Bernoullii 44s previously). Using the program "RTCOPY" files saved in RT-11 format cam be copied into dos/windows on the pc.
EDS spectra can be saved as individual (ASCII - Lotus delineated) files using the command "SAV/EXT" and be exported using the above information. It will be up to Lotus / Excel or the like to do the P/B calculations. Alternately, you could save the raw spectrum, strip the background, then save the background subtracted version. the difference between them would yield the bkgn.
If memory serves: A simple alternate approach, if you only have 4 elements (8 windows max), is to paint "windows" (like selecting for external dot map) on the elements and adjacent background area. Save the window file, then recall/print windows. Intergals contained in each window should be printed.
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Our Kevex 8000 system won't talk to an external computer and we would like to do peak to background analysis on spectra we have and will collect. It appears that Quantex will not give us straight P/B. Suggestions on how to proceed will be appreciated.
by mail.mdacc.tmc.edu (8.8.5/8.8.5) with SMTP id LAA00748 for {Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com} ; Tue, 25 May 1999 11:46:25 -0500 (CDT) Received: by utm-notes-m2.mdacc.tmc.edu(Lotus SMTP MTA v1.2 (600.1 3-26-1998)) id 8625677C.005D1064 ; Tue, 25 May 1999 11:56:30 -0500 X-Lotus-FromDomain: MDACC To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com Message-ID: {8625677C.005C19C7.00-at-utm-notes-m2.mdacc.tmc.edu}
Douglas
I am currently getting good results wioth an older HP ScanJet 4c with a transparency adaptor attached to it. Unfortunatly, the transparency adaptor cost more than the Scanjet did in the first place.
Both of these pieces are over 3 years old and I am sure that there are newer, better and cheeper scanners with transparency adaptors on the market today.
Mannie steglich Tech Dir Path E M Lab M D Anderson Cancer Center
Does anyone out there know of an epoxy for TEM use that does not soften substantially at temperatures up to 500C? We want to do a high-temperature straining experiment but don't have too much material and would like to use a 3mm disk as the gauge with bits glued to the end for the 'grips'. Also, it would need to cure at less than 150C so we don't alter the microstructure before we start the test.
Thanks in advance.
Cheers, JSV *************************** John S. Vetrano Pacific Northwest National Laboratory MSIN P8-16 P.O. Box 999 Richland, WA 99352 Phone: (509)372-0724 Fax: (509)376-6308 Email: mailto:john.vetrano-at-pnl.gov
We've just started acquiring digital 16 bit x-ray radiographs.
1) Is it worth doing 16 bit radiographs or will 8 bit do? 2) The images are HUGE! Also, much of our processing software only works well with 8 bit. Would converting from 16 to 8 bit be acceptable? If you don't for x-ray, please give your opinion for normal microscopy work.
Dear Jacob, We have done this on our Kevex 8000 and we just marked Windows of equal size on the peak and background regions and then read off the Integral of the Window (lower right-hand of the screen) after the count and copied it down manually. Clumsy, but it worked. You wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
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 e-mail: mager-at-interchg.ubc.ca
I agree with Ron, that grain measurements on TEM images are very hard to do and one should not trust fully automatic measurements just because they are done by a computer. The reasons are the contrast mechanisms in a TEM. Bend conours, orientation contrast, dislocations and other effects can lead to artifacts that can easily be interpreted as grain boundaries or confuse software with grains of different intensity levels.
However, we have developed software to analyze grains in SEMs, where we also have to deal with grains of different intensity. While I cannot promise that it will work on your TEM images in an automatic fashion, I would like to offer you a trial. Send me a couple of your images and I will try if the software can be used to measure the grain sizes. The software does intercept techniques, similar to what Ron describes, as well as fully planimetric measurements. It also offers a semiautomatic mode for grain boundary reconstruction, which might be useful in this case.
Again, send me those images and I'll give it a try.
Michael
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 1675 Carr St., #105N Lakewood, CO 80215 =================================== phone: (888) FIND SIS (303) 234-9270 fax: (303) 234-9271 email: mailto:info-at-soft-imaging.com web: http://www.soft-imaging.com ===================================
} ---------- } From: } "anderron-at-us.ibm.com"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com[SMTP:"anderron-at-us.ibm.com" } -at-sparc5.microscopy.com] } Sent: Tuesday, May 25, 1999 9:22 AM } To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: Re: Software for grain size statistics } } ---------------------------------------------------------------------- } -- } 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 } ---------------------------------------------------------------------- } -. } } } Mick, } } Be very, very careful concerning "software for grain size measurement } from TEM } images." Because grains seen in the TEM often contain dislocations, } twins, } stacking faults, high preferred orientation, etc; as well as having } every shade } of grey from B to W; ^ ANY ^ video-input/scanning based "automatic" } grain size } measuring machine will produce suspicious results. I didn't say they } don't } produce a "number," just that the "number" has little correlation with } grain } size. The human eye can easily see grains in a TEM image; machines } can't. } } What we do is measure the maximum diameter (chord) of about 200 grains } in a } series of TEM images using a digitizer. After entering the image's } magnification into the PC connected to the digitizer, we 'click-on' } each end of } each grain's max chord. The PC calculates the chord length. When we } think we } have measured enough grains, we tell the PC to calculate the grain } size. It } calculates both the normal and lognormal grain sizes from the chord } lengths } (equations and correction factors from Shuckher's chapter in DeHoff & } Rhines } "Quantitative Microscopy"), tests which one better represents the } measured } distribution and tests whether we really have measured enough grains. } Assuming } it doesn't tell us to measure more grains, the computer plots a } grain size } histogram, overlays it with the calculated distribution for an } eye-ball check, } and reports all the normal and lognormal parameters (telling us which } parameters } are best). Besides using the human eye-brain for doing what it does } best } (judgement) and the computer for doing what it does best (crunching), } the method } as described beats automated systems time-wise (from walking in with } an image to } walking out with data), which we consider funny. } } Having said all of this, I realise time marches on and things might } have } improved. If anyone out there has an automated machine that can } measure grain } size on my collection of images they are welcome try. They are: An } 'easy' Mo } grain size with no internal structure--just b/w grains; Cu grains with } sharp b/w } twins; ceramic grains with dislocation tangles and b/w gradation in } the grains; } An Al film with high preferred orientation such that neighbouring, } similarly } oriented, grains have nearly the same shade of grey; and a horrible } duplex Cu } distribution with a b/w gradiant across the image, twins, and } dislocations. } } } Ron Anderson, IBM, Hopewell Jct., New York, USA. } anderron-at-us.ibm.com } } IBM Analytical Services; http://www.chips.ibm.com/services/asg } } } Mick wrote: } } Fellow microscopists, } } I would appreciate advice on the best way to obtain grain size } statistics } from a TEM image. Is there any software that will do this? Since we } will } be starting with a print from a TEM negative, are there any special } scanner } capabilities that are required? Any other suggestions on this process } would also be appreciated. } } Thank you for taking time to consider this request. } } Sincerely, } } Mick Thomas } -------------------------------- } } Mick Thomas } UHV-STEM Laboratory } E-1 Clark Hall } Cornell University } Ithaca, NY 14853 } } Phone: 607-255-0650 } Fax: 607-255-7658 } e-mail: mgt3-at-msc.cornell.edu } } } } }
I believe I have the required software which can DO automatic GRAIN SIZING! (let us see the response to that... :)
However can it do exactly what you what have in mind ALL the time and automatically?
For that I would reserve judgment until I have seen an image what you are attempting to qualify.
Mr. Anderson has brought up a number of points that need to be kept in mind. I especially like the selective method of analysis - with the computer being used where it helped and not where it could/would not (be it time or method dependent).
} If anyone out there has an (should I add SEMI-? until I have seen the images) automated } machine that can measure grain size on my collection of images they are welcome try.
I accept your challenge and raise you =85.
Possibly the best way forward would be for both of you to send me "typical" images (of the best possible quality) and what you would like to measure. I can then see if the software can do what is required and send you (and who ever else may be interested) the results.
Barry T. Dudley DUDLEY-at-I-CUBEinc.com
PS - The software I have in mind is called Vision Gauge.
-- ************************************************************ B.T. DUDLEY I-CUBE http://www.i-cubeinc.com Ph 1-888-77-I-CUBE 301-858-0505 301-858-0615 (Fax) I-CUBE is a Systems Integrator and Value Added Reseller of image analysis and image processing products for scientific and industrial applications. We provide a single source for imaging products, using a consultative selling approach I-CUBE 2411 Crofton Lane; Suite 14A; Crofton; Maryland; 21114 ************************************************************
It is not an epoxy but we have used `Autostick' a high temperature adhesive (up to 1100 C) which will stick to keyless surfaces, eg. polished foils. I don't have the details to hand but if you need them let me know and I'll try to hunt them down.
Ron
} Does anyone out there know of an epoxy for TEM use that does not soften } substantially at temperatures up to 500C? We want to do a high-temperature } straining experiment but don't have too much material and would like to use a } 3mm disk as the gauge with bits glued to the end for the 'grips'. Also, it } would need to cure at less than 150C so we don't alter the microstructure before } we start the test.
---------------------- Mr. R.C. Doole Department of Materials, University of Oxford. Parks Road, Oxford. OX1 3PH. UK. Phone +44 (0) 1865 273701 Fax +44 (0) 1865 283333 ron.doole-at-materials.ox.ac.uk
} } To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } } Subject: TEM Availability? } } Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii } } Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit } } } } } I would appreciate information on availability of a used CM12/CM200 } } electron } } microscope. The ideal "candidate" would be equipped with a STEM unit, } } EDS, } } PEELS, CCD camera and located, preferably, in the U.S. Individual } } attachments listed would be considered as well. Please contact me off } } line } } if you can provide assistance in locating this equipment. } } } } Bob Roberts } } EM Lab Services, Inc. } } Tempe, Az 85282 } } } } }
I was visiting a colleague of mine and we discovered a cache of "obsolescent" computer goodies:
AMDEK Laserdrive 1 Hayes Smartmodem 2400 Spin Rite 3.1 (some kind of disk repair utility for PC) WordPerfect 5.1 upgrade for PC 20 boxes or so of 5.25 inch disks, most unopened, some disk boxes, etc.
Anyone want this stuff? I'd hate to pitch it if someone can use it. Contact me via e-mail and I'll despatch it appropriately. If more than one person wants it I'll divvy it up somehow...
*Earn $2000 - $5000 weekly-starting within 1-4 weeks *78% Profit Paid Daily *No Selling *No Risk Guarantee *Work from home, No overhead, or employees. *High Tech Training & Support *Not MLM, 100x more profitable *Multibillion Dollar Travel Industry
The most incredible part of our business is that ALL MY CLIENTS CALL ME!
DO YOU QUALI=46Y =46OR OUR MENTOR PROGRAM? ACCEPTING ONLY 12 NEW ASSOCIATES
This is not a hobby! Serious Inquires Only!!
24 Hour Toll =46ree Message 1-888-248-6850
If your an entrepreneur or have always wanted to be your own BOSS, read on. We supply state-of-the-art training and a support system that allows you to work your business from your home with just a phone- without cold calling. DO NOT CALL ME I=46 YOU ARE LOOKING =46OR A "GET RICH QUICK" SCHEME or some extra cash or if you're lazy. We are only looking for =46OCUSED serious entrepreneurs. (PT/=46T) with the DESIRE to improve their lifestyle immediately.
If you would like to be removed from our mailing list please reply to: mailto:rinkdd-at-ccnmail.com?subject=3Dremove
Any Vulgarity will be filtered and your request for removal will be deleted!
Fellow Microscopists, We are presently measuring particle size and position by LM on small particles dispersed over a large area. This is accomplished by a frame by frame raster. We are in the process of upgrading our system to accomplish this. My question concerns the possibility of using a linear CCD array and scanning the sample under the array to cover our area of interest. This would involve specialized software to interact with the stage control and some dynamic particle identification scheme. Has anyone out there in microland attempted any similar procedure. Russ Gillmeister Xerox
Emitech make three types of cold stages two of these are also preparation stages. The stages suit most, if not all SEMs. You can read up on these in our online on page E10D. We are making additon to this page and more complete info will be up within a week. Please note that ProSciTech distribute these instruments in Australasia (south of Singapore) only. For agents elsewhere see Emitech's email contact on page E10. 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
-----Original Message----- } From: Marisa Ahmad [SMTP:mahmad-at-semiconductor.com] Sent: Wednesday, 26 May 1999 01:30 To: 'MSA listserver'
Looking for parts for a Zeiss OpMi-1 stereomicroscope. Please contact me off-list. Thank you.
James Martin Director of Analytical Services & Research Williamstown Art Conservation Center http://members.tripod.com/~James_Martin/dasrhome.htm
Research Scientist in Chemistry Williams College (www.williams.edu) http://members.tripod.com/~James_Martin
I have been using FITC-dextran as a permeability marker in rabbit aorta. I have tried using molecular weights of 10,000 and 70,000 separately. The tissue was immersion fixed in glutaraldehyde and post-fixed in 1% potassium ferrocyanate mixed with osmium tetroxide. The result was disappointing. I have not been able to find any dextran-ferrocyanate deposits between any gap junctions nor glycogen. Would anyone have any suggestions what else I can try? I have used horse radish peroxidase and know that it worked but cost was a major issue. Thank you for any help offered.
Fanny Chu
Mark Elliott, PhD Research Associate UBC-Pulmonary Research Lab St. Paul's Hospital Vancouver, BC Canada V6Z 1Y6 604-631-5351 (FAX)
The Science Illustration program here needs help learning about the features available and criteria to use when selecting a set of stereo microscopes for their students. They are about to purchase 10 scopes to be used by graduate level science illustration students. They think they need drawing tubes/camera lucida systems and want to provide their students with the opportunity to have drawing experience using a 'real' microscope.
So, all you Rembrandts and Picasso's out there, here is your chance to help out some talented and devoted artists. Send me your advice and I will forward it to them. Help them make an informed decision that will keep them a fan of microscopy.
Thanks
Jonathan Krupp Microscopy & Imaging Lab University of California Santa Cruz, CA 95064 (831) 459-2477 jmkrupp-at-cats.ucsc.edu
Remember the size of the files in bytes will be the x-size times the y-size times 1 for 8-bit images and 2 for 16-bit images. So by going to 8-bit images you could cut your file size in half. However, more gains might be made by reducing your x and y resolution. (You did not mention what resolution you are using.) How much do you really need? Images over 1024x1024 are not very useful unless you are digitally magnifying them to see the details.
16-bit imaging is helpful if you have a wide range of gray scale. You can concentrate on bright areas of the image and adjust the brightness and contrast locally to see the details you want without having the gray level steps showing up. At 16-bit (256 gray levels) you will almost certainly see the steps after much less contrast enhancement.
You might want to keep your original image "as is" and pull out smaller regions that can be enhanced and save those enhanced files as 1024x1024 8-bit images. I venture to guess that the aggregate size of those "region of interest" images would be much less than your original.
At 01:39 PM 5/25/1999 -0500, you wrote: } We've just started acquiring digital 16 bit x-ray radiographs. } } 1) Is it worth doing 16 bit radiographs or will 8 bit do? } 2) The images are HUGE! Also, much of our processing software only works } well with 8 bit. Would converting from 16 to 8 bit be acceptable? If you } don't for x-ray, please give your opinion for normal microscopy work.
I am looking for eyepiece reticles/graticles for a Nikon SMZ-10 dissecting scope. In my catalogs I can find the most common diameters (19 and 21 mm), which are too small for my eyepiece, which measures about 24 mm inner diameter.
thanks in advance
Steve
--------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Steven Barlow, Associate Director EM Facility/Biology Department San Diego State University 5500 Campanile Drive San Diego CA 92182-4614 phone: (619)594-4523 fax: (619) 594-5676 email: sbarlow-at-sunstroke.sdsu.edu website: http://www.sci.sdsu.edu/emfacility/
Chairman, Educational Outreach subcommittee promoting access to microscopes Microscopy Society of America http://www.msa.microscopy.com/
Dear Microscopists, We would like to get a UPS for our TEM to bridge the gap between the instant there is a loss of power and the time when the backup generator takes over (a minute or so??). We have some information about APC and Tripp Lite UPS units, but we are concerned that their experience is limited to computer applications. We would like information on the types of UPS employed by EM users. We would also appreciate suggestions on how to chose the appropriate size. The power consumption of our TEM is about 3 kilowatts (instuction manual). Many Thanks in advance. Vachik Hacopian
I am pretty sure what you have in mind can be done, but what advantages do you think this would provide? For example, we have software that interfaces with stage controllers and allows you to do exactly what you want without having to develop new software. We do so by controlling the stage, set up a raster for image acquisition, then automatically move the stage, acquire an image, montage the images and do the analysis on them. Alternatively you can evaluate the image separately. For accurate statistics you need to set up the acquisition withput overlap in the latter case.
Unless there is an advantage for using a linescan CCD array (is there?) I would consider using off-the-shelf parts. Of course, I have a vested interest in this, as we are selling them, but I am sure there are other vendors out there as well.
Michael
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 1675 Carr St., #105N Lakewood, CO 80215 =================================== phone: (888) FIND SIS (303) 234-9270 fax: (303) 234-9271 email: mailto:info-at-soft-imaging.com web: http://www.soft-imaging.com ===================================
******************************************************* Disclaimer: Soft Imaging System produces and sells image acquisition and processing systems. We therefore have a vested interest in some of the items mentioned above. *******************************************************
} ---------- } From: Gillmeister, Russ[SMTP:RGillmeister-at-sdms.usa.xerox.com] } Sent: Wednesday, May 26, 1999 7:37 AM } To: 'MSA' } Subject: Particle Analysis } } ---------------------------------------------------------------------- } -- } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of } America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to } ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help } http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } ---------------------------------------------------------------------- } -. } } } Fellow Microscopists, } We are presently measuring particle size and position by LM on small } particles dispersed over a large area. This is accomplished by a frame } by } frame raster. We are in the process of upgrading our system to } accomplish } this. My question concerns the possibility of using a linear CCD } array and } scanning the sample under the array to cover our area of interest. } This } would involve specialized software to interact with the stage control } and } some dynamic particle identification scheme. Has anyone out there in } microland attempted any similar procedure. } Russ Gillmeister } Xerox }
The graticule usually sits losely on a ledge within the ocular. So one mm less than the inner tube diameter is acceptable, three appears a bit much. Graticules are frequently made to order and the non standard sizes just cost a little more. Our info is online on page S3. I am happy to acknowledge that other suppliers likewise would be able to procure other sizes. 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
-----Original Message----- } From: Steve Barlow [SMTP:sbarlow-at-sunstroke.sdsu.edu] Sent: Thursday, 27 May 1999 06:19 To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
Dear members,
I am working in KRISS(korea research institute of standards and science) and studying micoelectromechanical systems characterization by home-built photothermal microscopy and calibrated atomic force microscope. I am seeking to find infrared microscope( not FTIR) which views temperature differences of micromechanical systems specimen at roomtemperature with a resolution of micrometer. Also I am seeking infrared detector array which can be used to make infrared microscopy.
=09As there have been several enquiries for details of=20 high temperature adhesive I am posting details to the list=20 rather than direct replies.
I originally used Autostick some 25 years ago and now=20 discover that I am no longer able to obtain it. The last=20 time I needed any I used the `Sensor and heating cement'=20 from Oxford Instruments (Fax +44 1865 393333 - part no TGZ=20 0005 costs about =A36 for 50 gm pot). This seemed to be very=20 similar and was successful in my use of sitcking heating=20 elements onto a hot stage. It does dry in air but needs to be outgassed before use in=20 the microscope to prevent contamination.
=09I believe that the original manufacturer of=20 Autostick was Cotronics Corporation of Brooklyn, NY 11235.=20 They have advertised high temp resins (up to 700F) and=20 cements (up to 3000F) as late as 1992 but in pint or quart=20 quantities. They did not include Autostick in the catalogue=20 but had a larger range of cements for even higher=20 temperatures.
Regards, Ron
I have no financial interest in either company.
---------------------- Mr. R.C. Doole Department of Materials, University of Oxford. Parks Road, Oxford. OX1 3PH. UK. Phone +44 (0) 1865 273701 Fax +44 (0) 1865 283333 ron.doole-at-materials.ox.ac.uk
E. Fjeld Co., Inc. has been manufacturing custom stages for Amray, JEOL, = and Hitachi SEM's for over 20 years. I have purchased several of their custom stages or stage accessories over the last 15 years and have been delighte= d with the performance. They are located at 3 Executive Park Drive, North Billerica, MA and their telephone number is (978)667-1416. Mark Reynolds,= VP of manufacturing, is a good listener and very helpful guide through the design and manufacture of whatever stage or SEM add-on you may be interes= ted in.
Regards,
/richard
-----Original Message----- } From: Marisa Ahmad [mailto:mahmad-at-semiconductor.com] Sent: Tuesday, May 25, 1999 11:30 AM To: 'MSA listserver'
Who out there makes custom stages for SEM's (specifically JEOL)?=A0 Pleas= e contact me if you do, or know of anyone who does.=A0 Thank-you!
Robert, In situ cleaning is probably not a viable procedure. I would think if someone would build a jig for supporting the cantilever then Co2 cleaning may be a viable, off line solution. The greater concern may be how the tips may survive the thermal shock. Russ Gilmeister Xerox
-----Original Message----- } From: Co2clean-at-aol.com [mailto:Co2clean-at-aol.com] Sent: Thursday, May 27, 1999 8:22 AM To: spm-at-di.com
Hi,
You can try G-1 epoxy which is heat curing epoxy designed for high temperature application. Gatan produces this epoxy. The price in the UK is around =A370. Studies at GATAN indicate, a technical information of G-1 said, that G-1 bound interfaces remain intact in a TE= M hot stage at temperatures in excess of 1000 C.
Good Luck.
P Wang Department of Engineering Materials University of Sheffield Sir Robert Hadfield Building Mappin Street Sheffield S1 3JD UK Tel: 0114 222 5973(O) 0114 222 5519(L) Fax: 0114 222 5943 E-mail: p.wang-at-sheffield.ac.uk
we want to embedd a small sample of polysulphone, but metacrylate changes the sample. Epoxide resins are also not possible, because we want to dissolve away the resin after cutting. Are any resins or embedding materials known, which are practicable for our effort?
Kind regards
Rainer Ziel
------------------------------------------------------------- Dipl.-Phys. Rainer Ziel Acordis Research GmbH Obernburg ACR-O/RMG-EM 63784 Obernburg Germany
At 03:28 PM 5/27/99 +0100, you wrote: } } Hi, } } You can try G-1 epoxy which is heat curing epoxy designed for=20 } high temperature application. Gatan produces this epoxy.
Gatan *SELLS* the epoxy. It bears a strong resemblance to EpoTek 353ND. =20
The price in=20 } the UK is around =A370. Studies at GATAN indicate, a technical=20 } information of G-1 said, that G-1 bound interfaces remain intact in a TEM= =20 } hot stage at temperatures in=20 } excess of 1000 C.=20 } } Good Luck. } } P Wang } Department of Engineering Materials } University of Sheffield } Sir Robert Hadfield Building } Mappin Street } Sheffield S1 3JD } UK } Tel: 0114 222 5973(O) } 0114 222 5519(L) } Fax: 0114 222 5943 } E-mail: p.wang-at-sheffield.ac.uk
Hendrik O. Colijn colijn.1-at-osu.edu Campus Electron Optics Facility Ohio State University=09 (614) 292-0674 http://web.ceof.ohio-state.edu Murphy's Law: "If anything can go wrong, it will." Commentary: "Murphy was an optimist."
I'm looking for a small wafer of Ge. Something in the order of 1/2 to 1" in diameter would do. I want to use it as a target and sputter it in my BalTec ion mill to make a Ge film. I don't really care how pure it is or if it is polycrystalline. Does anybody have a small piece that they could spare?
-Scott
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Glass Technology Center Guys Run Rd. (packages) P. O. Box 11472 (letters) Pittsburgh, PA 15238-0472
I assume that you tried Gatan's G1 (same as Epoxy Technologies EPO-TEK 353ND) If I remember right, Gatan rates this up to 500C, but I think that people have pushed it higher for heating experiments in the TEM.
Check out Fiore and Herring's paper in the first MRS TEM sample Prep series book (MRS vol 115, p125). They use Ceramabond 569 from Aremco.
-Scott
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Glass Technology Center 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: Vetrano, John S To: 'Microscopy Listserver' -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
Hi all;
Does anyone out there know of an epoxy for TEM use that does not soften substantially at temperatures up to 500C? We want to do a high-temperature straining experiment but don't have too much material and would like to use a 3mm disk as the gauge with bits glued to the end for the 'grips'. Also, it would need to cure at less than 150C so we don't alter the microstructure before we start the test.
Thanks in advance.
Cheers, JSV *************************** John S. Vetrano Pacific Northwest National Laboratory MSIN P8-16 P.O. Box 999 Richland, WA 99352 Phone: (509)372-0724 Fax: (509)376-6308 Email: mailto:john.vetrano-at-pnl.gov
Does anyone know how I can contact Virtual Laboratories (distributor of Desktop Microscopist). Their web-site is gone, and their phone has been disconnected. I am looking for a Mac-based version of the Electron Diffraction Database to link with DM. Thanks in advance.
Jim Cole
Jim Cole Argonne National Laboratory-West PO Box 2528 Idaho Falls, ID 83403-2528 (208) 533-7165 Fax (208) 533-7863
Thank you for the proofreading, Woody. You are correct that I meant that at the lower 8-bit, 256-gray-level resolution that steps in brightness would begin to appear after relatively little contrast enhancement.
At 07:35 AM 5/27/1999 -0500, "White, Woody N" {Woody.N.White-at-mcdermott.com} wrote: } Hello Warren, } } Good answer, but could you have meant 16 bit is 65.5K and 8 bit is 256 } levels? } ..Or did I miss something? Woody } } SNIP } steps showing up. At 16-bit (256 gray levels) you will almost certainly see } the steps after much less contrast enhancement. } SNIP
Hi All: I am trying to digitize and capture images from my 845 JEOL SEM. Has anyone done this themselves? What issues do I need to worry about? What capture cards are best? I am looking to do this with off-the-shelf components. Thanks and regards,
} ---... } } Good answer, but could you have meant 16 bit is 65.5K and 8 bit is 256 } levels? ..Or did I miss something? Woody } } SNIP } steps showing up. At 16-bit (256 gray levels) you will almost } certainly see } the steps after much less contrast enhancement. } SNIP }
Computer displays are not capable of displaying 65.5 gray levels. You are manipilating 65.5k gray levels but the display hardware is still showing you only 8bit grays. This fact doesn't take anything away from the fact you manipulate 16bit grays with better control, resulting in less gray level posterization.
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/
A major reason for using 16-bit grayscale images (or 12-bit ones from today's 36-bit color flatbed scanners for that matter) is for image processing before converting the images to 8 bits (256 grays) for printing. Applying a series of image processing operations such as background subtraction, filtering, and brightness/contrast adjustments to an 8-bit image causes posterization (loss of gray levels) seen as stairstepped contrast in the image. This problem arises from doing integer math starting with only 256 numbers. Processing images at 16 bits avoids these problems.
Several common image processing programs have 16-bit capabilities. Photoshop 5 is one. It allows tonal adjustments at 16 bits and can be extended with third-party plug-ins to allow filtering (e.g., unsharp masking) at 16 bits. After processing, you can easily convert to 8 bits. Another feature of Photoshop worth a microscopist's understanding is using adjustment layers to process 8-bit images with minimal data losses.
As to the suggestion to decrease file sizes by cutting the image resolution to 1024 x 1024 pixels, this is OK for final processed images but will eliminate the possibility of later magnifying the images to observe fine details. Saving files with a compressed format such as JPEG will greatly reduce file sizes without affecting the resolution or greatly affecting the grayscale information content. There may also be file compression methods applicable for 16-bit images, but I'm not familiar with any.
My suggestion would be to acquire and process for background leveling, sharpening and tonal correction at 16 bits, then convert to 8 bits and archive at full pixel resolution, possibly in a compressed format such as JPEG to save space.
---------- From: Warren E Straszheim Sent: Wednesday, May 26, 1999 12:12 PM To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com Subject: Re: 8 bit versus 16 bit images
------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
Remember the size of the files in bytes will be the x-size times the y-size times 1 for 8-bit images and 2 for 16-bit images. So by going to 8-bit images you could cut your file size in half. However, more gains might be made by reducing your x and y resolution. (You did not mention what resolution you are using.) How much do you really need? Images over 1024x1024 are not very useful unless you are digitally magnifying them to see the details.
16-bit imaging is helpful if you have a wide range of gray scale. You can concentrate on bright areas of the image and adjust the brightness and contrast locally to see the details you want without having the gray level steps showing up. At 16-bit (256 gray levels) you will almost certainly see the steps after much less contrast enhancement.
You might want to keep your original image "as is" and pull out smaller regions that can be enhanced and save those enhanced files as 1024x1024 8-bit images. I venture to guess that the aggregate size of those "region of interest" images would be much less than your original.
At 01:39 PM 5/25/1999 -0500, you wrote: } We've just started acquiring digital 16 bit x-ray radiographs. } } 1) Is it worth doing 16 bit radiographs or will 8 bit do? } 2) The images are HUGE! Also, much of our processing software only works } well with 8 bit. Would converting from 16 to 8 bit be acceptable? If you } don't for x-ray, please give your opinion for normal microscopy work.
I need to colorize some SEM photos (digital). I have Adobe Photo Deluxe Home Version but I hear that CorrelDraw or Adobe Photo Shop might be better. What does everyone else use? If anyone has any special techniques to share I'd love to hear them.
I have a microscope lens for our Agema (recently bought out by FLIR) Thermovision 900 Infrared Camera with spatial resolution of 25 microns but a MFOV (Measurement Field of View) of 250 microns. In other words, although I can see 25 micron objects, the temperature measurement is from a much larger area. I'm not sure if there are any IR microscopes out there that are much better.
Also, Barnes used to make infrared microscopes. I believe they're now QFI - try http://www.quantumfocus.com/
I am working in KRISS(korea research institute of standards and science) and studying micoelectromechanical systems characterization by home-built photothermal microscopy and calibrated atomic force microscope. I am seeking to find infrared microscope( not FTIR) which views temperature differences of micromechanical systems specimen at roomtemperature with a resolution of micrometer. Also I am seeking infrared detector array which can be used to make infrared microscopy.
by mailhub.iastate.edu (8.9.3/8.9.3) with SMTP id SAA00465 for {Microscopy-at-msa.microscopy.com} ; Thu, 27 May 1999 18:02:39 -0500 (CDT) Message-Id: {4.1.19990527175423.00986e20-at-pop-2.iastate.edu} X-Sender: wesaia-at-pop-2.iastate.edu X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Pro Version 4.1
Our JEOL 840A has been digitized for years. I think there are already connections inside to take active control of the beam. We ended up with another panel to sort out the control signals since we had a LeMont Scientific image analyzer, a Kevex Delta EDS, and a JEOL add-on imaging system all with the ability to take control of the beam.
Currently, the LeMont is gone and the Kevex has been replace by an IXRF Systems EDS box which we now use to digitize images. It works well.
We also have a Quartz PCI passive system down the hall on our Hitachi 2460N. It works real well but is a bit pricy. It should work just as well on the JEOL.
While you might be able to do the work yourself using off-the-shelf parts (or get a grad student to do it (or maybe you are a grad student)), you probably don't want to. I have done a fair amount of hardware and software work in my time, but I am losing my stomach for it as I get older. The system I might create probably would lack much compared to the commercial units available.
So much for my 2 cents worth. Hope it helped.
Warren
At 01:38 PM 5/27/1999 -0500, you wrote: } } Hi All: } I am trying to digitize and capture images from my 845 JEOL SEM. Has } anyone done this themselves? What issues do I need to worry about? } What capture cards are best? I am looking to do this with off-the-shelf } components. } Thanks and regards, } } Mike Coviello } UT Arlington }
This position is open for applicants who live or would like to live in Israel.
This position is for an engineer in the Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) group and involves all phases of TEM support. Responsibilities include planning analytical strategies, TEM specimen preparation, TEM imaging and microanalysis, report writing, interfacing with other engineers and customers, communicating results, and supervising workflow duties necessary to keep the lab running smoothly.
Applicants should be self-motivated and capable of working with minimal supervision. The successful candidate should have a Ph.D. or MS degree in Materials Science, Physics or equivalent, with university training in TEM imaging and diffraction theory and practice, EDX and EELS theory and practice, familiarity with microelectronics specimen preparation, and familiarity with microelectronics device operation and construction. Ability to work in a team oriented environment and good communication skills are critical.
Contact Information:
Mitzi L. Ryerson - F18 Materials Analysis Group Leader F18 Intel Electronics, LTD. email - mitzi.l.ryerson-at-intel.com outside Israel number - 011-972-7-666-6217 voicemail within Israel number - 07-666-6217 voicemail
This is an opportunity to assume significant responsibilities with Mineral Technologies, an international resource and technology-based organization that develops and produces performance enhancing mineral products.
You'll be involved in a diverse range of short/long-term projects and solve complex problems using electron microscopy and microchemical analysis of minerals and industrial products.
Duties involve providing/directing chemical and physical analyses of routine and complex samples: issuing oral/written technical reports of investigations, including creative conclusions and interpretations to solve technical problems. You'll also ensure that records are legal and
correct, and ensure a safe working environment that complies with EHS regulations; maintain continuous dialogue with customers and analytical services group members; actively support a total quality philosophy and help develop/implement a ISO Guide 25.
B.S. in Physical Science or Engineering required. Chemistry/Microscopy preferred. Must have at least 6 years of chemical analysis/microscopy, preferably in a service environment. Strong people, computer and oral/written skills essential.
We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package, opportunities to assume significant responsibilities and strong growth potential. For consideration, mail/fax resume with salary requirements to:
Gary Duckwall, HR Manager Minerals Technologies, Inc. 640 N. 13th Street Easton, PA 18042 Fax: 610-250-3210
Diane Ciaburri wrote: ================================================= I need to colorize some SEM photos (digital). I have Adobe Photo Deluxe Home Version but I hear that CorrelDraw or Adobe Photo Shop might be better. What does everyone else use? If anyone has any special techniques to share I'd love to hear them. ================================================== There is a product called "Spectrum Color" and you can find full details on it on the SPI Supplies website at URL http://www.2spi.com/catalog/software/spectrum-2.html
It is very low cost and very effective.
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: www.2spi.com ############################ ==================================================
Assuming that the internal hooks exist, as Warren notes, or can be obtained from the manufacturer, as in some Hitachi units, then a home grown device requires 2 channels of D/A and one of A/D. The D/As should be 16 bit devices though 14 is probably adequate. The A/D should be at least 8. Note that A/D speed is not a crucial variable since you can sit as long as you need to on a single point. (Though other dwell considerations obviously apply.)
Sorry if this seems to state the obvious. The hardware isn't the problem, it is the time to get it working satisfactorily.
Rich } } } Our JEOL 840A has been digitized for years. I think there are already } connections inside to take active control of the beam. We ended up with } another panel to sort out the control signals since we had a LeMont
} Dear all, } } we want to embedd a small sample of polysulphone, but metacrylate changes } the sample. Epoxide resins } are also not possible, because we want to dissolve away the resin after } cutting. Are any resins or embedding materials known, which are } practicable for our effort? } } Kind regards } } Rainer Ziel } } ------------------------------------------------------------- } Dipl.-Phys. Rainer Ziel } Acordis Research GmbH Obernburg } ACR-O/RMG-EM } 63784 Obernburg } Germany } } Tel: +49 (0) 6022 / 81-2645 } Fax: +49 (0) 6022 / 81-2896 } E-mail: Rainer.Ziel-at-AkzoNobel.com } } } } }
} Does anyone know how I can contact Virtual Laboratories (distributor of } Desktop } Microscopist). Their web-site is gone, and their phone has been } disconnected. I am looking } for a Mac-based version of the Electron Diffraction Database to link with } DM. } Thanks in advance. } } Jim Cole
Jim and all,
Maybe you tried the old web address at Rt66.com. They moved ISP and are now at http://www.easystreet.com/~lacuna/FrontPage.new/FrontPage.html It took me a bit of web searching to find this out for ourselves a few months ago.
By the way, maybe those who maintain lists of www addresses for microscopy companies (e.g. EMYP at Lausanne and Nestor's list at ANL) should update this link.
Anyway, I hope this helps.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Ian MacLaren Department of Experimental Physics Chalmers University of Technology S-412 96 G=F6teborg Sweden Tel: +46 31 772 36 33 FAX: +46 31 772 32 24 email: maclaren-at-fy.chalmers.se or: ianmaclaren-at-hotmail.com Research Group Homepage: http://fy.chalmers.se/microscopy/ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
} } My suggestion would be to acquire and process for background leveling, } sharpening and tonal correction at 16 bits, then convert to 8 bits and archive } at full pixel resolution, possibly in a compressed format such as JPEG to save } space. } From: Warren E Straszheim
Once you have decimated the data either by lowering the resolution or the number of bits you can never get it back. CD ROM's are cheap so I save as much data as I can. It has proved very worth while if I have to go back and fix something later. For the same reason I always save the data in a raw format just as it comes from the source.
Gordon
Gordon Couger gcouger-at-couger.com 624 Cheyenne Stillwater, OK 74075-1411 405 624-2855 GMT -6:00 www.couger.com/gcouger
} From: RCHIOVETTI-at-aol.com } Received: from RCHIOVETTI-at-aol.com (3950) } by imo23.mx.aol.com (IMOv20) id 8GTGa11104; } Wed, 26 May 1999 20:50:16 -0400 (EDT) } Message-ID: {85f34a05.247df0c7-at-aol.com} } Date: Wed, 26 May 1999 20:50:15 EDT } Subject: Re: eyepiece reticles/graticles } To: sbarlow-at-sunstroke.sdsu.edu, microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } MIME-Version: 1.0 } Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" } Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit } X-Mailer: AOL 3.0 16-bit for Windows sub 38
} } Hi Steve, } } My favorite company for rulings, reticles, stage micrometers, etc. is as } follows: } } Klarmann Rulings, Inc. } P.O. Box 4795 } Manchester, NH 03108 } Tel. (800) 252-2401 } Fax (603) 424-0970 } http://www.reticles.com } } They have every kind of ruling and reticle imaginable, all sizes, custom } ones } as well, and if you need it, they can provide scales which are traceable to } NIST. } } Cheers, } } Bob } ****************************** } Robert (Bob) Chiovetti, Ph.D. } Microimaging Technologies, Inc. } Tucson, Arizona USA } Tel./Fax (520) 546-4986 } rchiovetti-at-aol.com } Manufacturers' Representatives } Systems Integrators } Analog & Digital Imaging Systems } Clinical & Research Microscopy } Cytology/Histology/Pathology/EM } *******************************
Hi. I would like to get 0.5% ruthenium tetroxide in ETHANOL for my freeze substition experiment. Does anybody know where I can get it? I appreciate if somebody can provide the information about where I can get ruthenium tetroxide solution (in ethanol) or ruthenium tetroxide crystal. Thanks.
At 03:29 PM 5/27/99 -0700, you wrote: } } Several common image processing programs have 16-bit capabilities. } Photoshop 5 } is one. It allows tonal adjustments at 16 bits and can be extended with } third-party plug-ins to allow filtering (e.g., unsharp masking) at 16 bits.
I certainly agree as to the necessity of keeping as much image depth as possible during the various processing steps. I would like to know what plug-ins will allow 16-bit manipulations? I've got John Russ's IP toolkit, but those only seem to work on 8-bit images.
} possibility of later magnifying the images to observe fine details. Saving } files with a compressed format such as JPEG will greatly reduce file sizes } without affecting the resolution or greatly affecting the grayscale information } content. There may also be file compression methods applicable for 16-bit
I would hesitate to use JPEG for pre-presentation images. Although the eye will often not see the degradation in JPEG images, it is definitely there. The various IP algorithms will sometimes enhance the JPEG artifacts. e.g. Try running an edge filter in a JPEG. You will see the squares that JPEG creates during the compression process ( I can send you a powerpoint slide illustrating this!)
That said, I often use JPEG compression after all my processing is done and I have my image set to its final size and resolution. Unless you enlarge the image, the eye won't see most of the JPEG artifacts.
Cheers, Henk
Hendrik O. Colijn colijn.1-at-osu.edu Campus Electron Optics Facility Ohio State University (614) 292-0674 http://web.ceof.ohio-state.edu "The wise are pleased when they discover truth, fools when they discover falsehood."
I have inherited an OLD International Equipment Co. IEC CTF microtome cryostat Model# AB4757, minus documentation and chucks. It is apparently in working order, but its previous users are no longer around. If anyone knows where I could obtain parts and a manual, please let me know. Thanks in advance. Regards,
Andrew Ochalski, Microscopy Technician, University of Ottawa Dept. of Biology, Room 108, Gendron Bldg. 613-562-5800 x6343
Here's an interesting note from kodak. Basically they are saying that for digital images one of the biggest advantages (now they are selling a film scanner here) of this scanner is that you can store (or archive) your images on FILM and then scan them only when you need them. So the big boys in digital imaging, are actually agreeing with some thing we as microscopists have been saying for awhile: The best archiving of images is actually on FILM (which we know has a life expectancy of over 165 years).
Taken from: http://www.kodak.com/cluster/global/en/service/faqs/faq1035.shtml
1.What is a film drive? The KODAK ADVANTIX Film Drive FD 300 is a desktop scanner designed to scan film in Advanced Photo System (APS) film cassettes.
The name "film drive" indicates a new technological concept that uses the film cassette as an image storage device. Rather than take valuable space storing image data on the computer's hard drive, Zip, Jazz drives, or floppy drives, the `film drive' scans APS film,DIGITIZES THE IMAGE FOR CURRENT WORK, AND THE IMAGE DATA REMAINS ON THE FILM IN THE CASSETTE.
Richard E. Edelmann, Ph.D. Electron Microscopy Facility Supervisor 352 Pearson Hall Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056 Ph: 513.529.5712 Fax: 513.529.4243 E-mail: edelmare-at-muohio.edu
Interestingly, we asked that question on our Cell Biology survey this past December. The results were a staggering 46 % of the total population (495 microscopists) said that they use Adobe Photoshop. When the data is analyzed in terms of the number of responses to that particular question (it was part of a special section on image analysis, so not everyone answered), the number jumps to a whopping 86%! Guess that answers your question.
Best regards, Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater productivity.
125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} ****************************************************** MME is America's first national consortium providing customized on-site workshops in all areas of microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis.
At 04:52 PM 5/27/99 -0500, diane.a.ciaburri-at-gdds.com"-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Time is drawing near for finalizing the next issue of MSAs newsletter, "The MSA Bulletin" (the listserver would not let me use the title in the subject line, since it thinks it is apparently full of Bull). If you have anything that you would like to see included in this version of the MSA Newsletter, (and thereby prove the computer wrong) I need to have it in my possession by June 4th.
You can submit material to me electronically (preferred) or by hardcopy at the address shown below.
Thank you for your attention,
__________________ Stuart McKernan stuartm-at-tc.umn.edu Microscopy Specialist Office:(612) 626-7594 CIE Characterization Facility, University of Minnesota Desk: (612) 624-6009 100 Union Street S. E., Minneapolis, MN 55455 Lab: (612) 624-6590
} } } } } 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 "Ian MacLaren" } Jim and all,
Maybe you tried the old web address at Rt66.com. They moved ISP and are now at http://www.easystreet.com/~lacuna/FrontPage.new/FrontPage.html It took me a bit of web searching to find this out for ourselves a few months ago.
By the way, maybe those who maintain lists of www addresses for microscopy companies (e.g. EMYP at Lausanne and Nestor's list at ANL) should update this link.
Anyway, I hope this helps.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Ian MacLaren Department of Experimental Physics {
} ...Saving files with a compressed format such as JPEG...
JPEG is a very lossy algorithm. Even at a "high" quality setting, a good deal of information will be lost. Resolution will be noticeably reduced, and grayscale values will be changed enough that the image will be unsuitable for some modes of processing and many types of digital analysis. LZW compression, while not providing as small a file size as JPEG, is lossless, as are the algorithms applied to images in Photoshop's native format.
Thanks to all those who responded to my question on scanning EM negatives. UMAX seems to be most commonly used.
I would like to ask a few more questions.
1. A person here who has done some negative scanning found the biggest problem not to be resolution, but grey scale replication. Is reproduction likely to be similar for most scanners, or are some better than others?
2. The Agfa DuoScan has been suggested to us here, though no one mentioned it on the server. I wondered if anyone had experience with it.
3. Ideally, we would like something that can also do a good job on 35mm slides, is reasonably easy to use and is not too slow.--(not asking for much!). I know there are some nice 35mm scanners, but are flat bed scanners able to do both sizes well?
Hi All, We are looking for a sample holder capable of rotational and tilt movements, thats fits on a Zeiss 10 TEM. Would be very gratefull to hear from anyone who has one or has leads to a used or new one. Thank you.
The plug-ins I was referring to are the Deep Bit Filters from ImageExpress (http://www.scanprep.com/). You can get a trial copy of the filters from their webside.
Must admit I probably went too far recommending JPEG compression for archival images. I wouldn't want to mislead anyone about the losses involved. In Robin's case of 16-bit x-ray images, I could easily imagine 50MB or larger files that would "quickly" fill a CD.
Larry
---------- From: Hendrik O. Colijn Sent: Friday, May 28, 1999 6:30 AM To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com; Thomas, Larry Subject: RE: 8 bit versus 16 bit images
Hi Larry,
At 03:29 PM 5/27/99 -0700, you wrote: } } Several common image processing programs have 16-bit capabilities. } Photoshop 5 } is one. It allows tonal adjustments at 16 bits and can be extended with } third-party plug-ins to allow filtering (e.g., unsharp masking) at 16 bits.
I certainly agree as to the necessity of keeping as much image depth as possible during the various processing steps. I would like to know what plug-ins will allow 16-bit manipulations? I've got John Russ's IP toolkit, but those only seem to work on 8-bit images.
} possibility of later magnifying the images to observe fine details. Saving } files with a compressed format such as JPEG will greatly reduce file sizes } without affecting the resolution or greatly affecting the grayscale information } content. There may also be file compression methods applicable for 16-bit
I would hesitate to use JPEG for pre-presentation images. Although the eye will often not see the degradation in JPEG images, it is definitely there. The various IP algorithms will sometimes enhance the JPEG artifacts. e.g. Try running an edge filter in a JPEG. You will see the squares that JPEG creates during the compression process ( I can send you a powerpoint slide illustrating this!)
That said, I often use JPEG compression after all my processing is done and I have my image set to its final size and resolution. Unless you enlarge the image, the eye won't see most of the JPEG artifacts.
Cheers, Henk
Hendrik O. Colijn colijn.1-at-osu.edu Campus Electron Optics Facility Ohio State University (614) 292-0674 http://web.ceof.ohio-state.edu "The wise are pleased when they discover truth, fools when they discover falsehood."
Shanling Shi wrote: ================================================= Hi. I would like to get 0.5% ruthenium tetroxide in ETHANOL for my freeze substitution experiment. Does anybody know where I can get it? I appreciate if somebody can provide the information about where I can get ruthenium tetroxide solution (in ethanol) or ruthenium tetroxide crystal. Thanks. ================================================== RuO4 is quite explosive. Indeed a relatively small amount when it goes off can be quite devastating. One precious metals supplier (in the USA) about twenty five years ago, had some go off while in their storage facility and it caused quite a mess and a huge amount of damage.
Polysciences at one time offered it as a solution in chloroform, however I don't know if they are still doing that or not. It was quite unstable in this form as well, however.
Because of the extreme explosive hazard, there are major restrictions on shipping the material in solid crystals form. I have been out of touch with the shipping aspect of the problem so I can't not speak with authority on today's regulations. Even if it could be shipped,we ourselves would have to give it a careful look in terms of the potential liability exposure should some kind of accident occur.
We have had reports of users of our ruthenium tetroxide kits generating the tetroxide, and then collecting some of the vapors on a cold finger suspended over the aqueous solution. Once a given amount was collected, it was then immersed in carbon tetrachloride, warmed slightly, and the result was a carbon tet solution. I don't know about the solubility of RuO4 in ethanol, but if there was some solubility, then I presume an alcohol solution could be prepared in a similar way.
More information about ruthenium tetroxide and its dangers 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: www.2spi.com ############################ ==================================================
} Must admit I probably went too far recommending JPEG compression for archival } images. I wouldn't want to mislead anyone about the losses involved. In } Robin's case of 16-bit x-ray images, I could easily imagine 50MB or larger } files that would "quickly" fill a CD. } } Larry
We don't know how long silver images will last at least 150 years or more. You can view them with out any hardware and you can always scan them in again when computer get more powerful. Nearly everybody is set up to handle them.
They do take up more space then digital but you can always get to them and they will always be compatible. A 4X5 negitive stores a lot more information than you can scan in.
IMHO Gordon
Gordon Couger gcouger-at-couger.com 624 Cheyenne Stillwater, OK 74075-1411 405 624-2855 GMT -6:00 www.couger.com/gcouger
I recently had to re-order Ruthenium powder and my less than exhaustive search and interview with an msds and the manufacturer found no mention or link to the explosive nature that I'd heard about here. The received the order by Fed X the next morning. It may be that this particular compound is not as unstable. Please help me by sending me a reference to this 'explosive risk'. The powder is very hydroscopic and must be kept desiccated, I believe. I'll look up the source and post next week. Jeff Day/'JD'
We have just started to use PhotoShop LE after previously using Adobe Photo Deluxe Home Version. It appears to be fairly easy to use.
J. Roy Nelson Material Testing Lab. Pennington, NJ
Hi all! I need to colorize some SEM photos (digital). I have Adobe Photo Deluxe Home Version but I hear that CorrelDraw or Adobe Photo Shop might be better. What does everyone else use? If anyone has any special techniques to share I'd love to hear them.
Thanks to all who answered my plead for MSmouse. That problem is resolved. The same computer (can not operate old video boards with PII or PIII processors!), is now really sick. It is a tower with magitronic BIOS and generic 486/66 mother board and Intel processor. The RAM sockets are defective and there may be a crack on the mother board. I need at least 3 ISA 16 bits slots and 2 8 bits. The slots should NOT extend over the microprocessor because the boards need sitting low and extend the entire length of the mother board. If anyone has information on how to obtain similar or equivalent mother board please let me know. Additionally, someone may have an old 486 like it collecting dust and I would like to have it. Call me if you do. Thanks.
*Disclaimer: Whatever... is not Tulane opinion! Cesar D. Fermin, Ph.D. Professor of Pathology & Otolaryngology web:[ http://www.tmc.tulane.edu/ferminlab/] or [http://www.tmc.tulane.edu/imaging/] Internet: [cfermin-at-mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu] 1430 Tulane Ave/SL79 New Orleans, La 70112-2699 Fax 504 587-7389, Voice 584-2521, Main Office 588-5224
Who built the first TEM in North America? Dr. Anderson of Washington State university built one in 1935, but I have heard that a university in Torono may have had one before WSU. Toronto is usually credited with the first microscope in 1939, but the microscope on display in the museum at WSU is dated 1935. Thanks, Will Garrett ssrs396-at-wsu.edu
Postdoctoral Position Available: For the further development of a low temperature AFM. The cryo-AFM is near completion, but additional modifications are necessary. The structure and interaction of molecules will be studied with cryo-AFM. Candidates are preferred to have experience in instrument design and scanning probe microscopy. Good candidates with experience in other relevant areas will also be considered. The completion of the doctoral degree is necessary. The starting date is 1 August, 1999. Please send CV with a list of publications and description of research experience to: Prof. G. Dietler Institut de Physique de la Matiere Condensee (IPMC), BSP Universite de Lausanne CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland Tel +41 21 692 3663 Fax +41 21 692 3635 Email Giovanni.Dietler-at-ipmc.unil.ch http://www.unil.ch/ipmc/docs/gd/index.html
Giovanni Dietler Institut de Physique de la Matiere Condensee Universite de Lausanne CH-1015 Lausanne Switzerland Phone: (+41) 21 692 3663 Fax : (+41) 21 692 3635 Email: Giovanni.Dietler-at-ipmc.unil.ch
Will, The first North American TEM was designed by Albert Prebus and James Hillier in the Dept. of Physics at the University of Toronto over the 1937-38 Christmas holidays and was built during the first four months of 1938. This info is from a great commemorative article by U.M. Franklin, G.C. Weatherly, and G.T. Simon in 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 August 1-9, 1978, edited by J.M. Sturgess. Other good sources for TEM development are EARLY HISTORY OF THE ELECTRON MICROSCOPE by L. Marton, San Francisto Press, CA, 1968 and Reviews of Modern Physics, Vol. 59(3), July 1987. Enjoy! Bob Santoianni Electron Microscopy Laboratory Emory University Hospital Atlanta, GA
} } } William R Garrett {ssrs396-at-mail.wsu.edu} 05/30/99 03:04am } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Who built the first TEM in North America? Dr. Anderson of Washington State university built one in 1935, but I have heard that a university in Torono may have had one before WSU. Toronto is usually credited with the first microscope in 1939, but the microscope on display in the museum at WSU is dated 1935. Thanks, Will Garrett ssrs396-at-wsu.edu
May I ask why you need 5 ISA slots? That sounds like you have a lot of "legacy" cards, which you mey be able to replace. 5 ISA slots are not easy to come by. Most Pentium and higher computers have a few PCI slots and 2 or 3 ISA slots. An "industrial" PC may provide a solution, but as posted below, that won't be cheap. Can you perhaps replace some of the ISA cards with PCI cards?
If you are looking for Motherboards, I would suggest you look at some = of the vendors and manufacturers websites. They usually have dimensions = and pictures of the boards posted. That way you can also make sure, that = you can plug in full size cards. Check out the ATX boards. They are smaller and tend not to place parts behind the slots.=20
******************************************************* Disclaimer: Soft Imaging System produces and sells image acquisition=20 and processing systems. We therefore have a vested interest in some of the items mentioned above. *******************************************************
-----Original Message----- } From: Exchange Administrator=20 Sent: Tuesday, June 01, 1999 6:12 AM To: Michael Bode
Mortherboard with 5 ISA slots ist not usual in commercial PCs . You = have to looked for in the market of industrial PC. Here you have the web of a supplier www.indcompsrc.com Tlf. (619) 677 0877 Fax: 619 677 0897 . Anyway, prices of industrial computers are much higher than commercial ones and 486 motherboards could be not easy to find. May be it=B4s worthy for you to get a new motherboard with Pentium/AMD 200/333 Mhz and that supports DIMM 100 Mhz RAM.
JL Bello FNMT Email: jlbello-at-fnmt.es c/ Jorge Juan 106 28009 Madrid Spain ----- Original Message ----- } From: Cesar D. Fermin Ph.D. {cfermin-at-mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu} To: Users Distirubute to list {Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com} Sent: Sunday, May 30, 1999 1:57 AM
I am preparing a list of Mike Stobbs's publications and conference abstracts for a memorial issue of Ultramicroscopy but a few are proving very elusive. If you can supply any extra details of the following items, I shall be most grateful. Please reply to hawkes-at-cemes.fr
1. Stobbs, W.M. TEM approaches to the characterisation of interfaces and multilayers Les Houches NATO & French IoP, March 1986 [All details of this meeting wanted, were there proceedings?]
2. Stobbs, W.M. TEM techniques for the atomic level characterisation of nanometre scale multilayers, ICSCM, Montpellier, June 1987 [What was "ICSCM"? Were there proceedings? Is this Stobbs paper in them?]
3. Stobbs, W.M. The use of TEM for the characterisation of inhomogeneities NATO Summer School on Inhomogeneities, Cambridge 1987. [Any details welcome]
4. Stobbs, W.M. New TEM methods for the characterisation of interfaces SERC LDS Discussion Meeting, May 1987 [Is there any record of this meeting?]
5. Stobbs, W.M. The use of TEM for the assessment of interphase boundaries Interfaces and Ledges Symposium, TMS, Indianapolis 1989 [Any details welcome]
6. Richards, C.G. and Stobbs, W.M. Moir=E9 method for the measurement of misfits "Lattice distortions", J=FClich, April 1974. [Any extra details welcome]
JL writes .... } } } Motherboard with 5 ISA slots is not usual in commercial PCs } ...
I since replaced a older Pentium mobo with a new PC100 mobo, and it was quite difficult to find one with 3 ISA slots. When it come to replacing mobos which have cards needed for intrumentation, I can well imagine your needs ... but 5 ISA slots?? Are you sure you can't buy new cards which are not dedicated to instrumentation which would go into AGP and PCI slots??? (e.g. video, modem, ethernet ...)
(... BTW, the mobo I found was an ASUS P2B which can still be found on the market ... but it has been discontinued with the P2B-F (2 ISA slots) ...)
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/
The members of the listserver have been wonderfully helpful in the past, and I'm hoping someone can come to my aid again.
We have a Philips 430 being installed in our lab, and it turns out we need to get into the high-tension tank - which means I need more SF6, (needless to say, on a rather limited budget). I have three questions. First, is there anyone out there who has any SF6 they don't want (perhaps left over from a machine they don't have any more) that we could buy off them? Second, where is the best/most economical commercial source to buy SF6 from? Third, what grade of SF6 is it that is used in these applications?
I would really appreciate your input on this. Many thanks in advance.
Gill
Dr Gillian M. Bond Department of Materials & Metallurgical Engineering New Mexico Tech Socorro, NM 87801
Ah yes... the famous Haefely tank SF6 dump. Every time you pull the cable from the HT tank, you dump the load of SF6. Fortunately, the new HT tanks manufactured by Philips remain sealed upon removing the cable.
Philips specifies 99.9% SF6 for the tanks. This purity is unavailable as a standard grade in the U.S. You can purchase commercial grade (99.8%) or instrument grade (99.99%) SF6. The commercial grade SF6 runs about half the price of the instrument grade. I have heard of people using the commercial grade successfully. However, Philips MAY not honor a warranty or service contract if you use the lower grade of SF6. So far, they haven't responded to my queries on the subject.
I just purchased a K-size (115 lb, I think) cylinder and was quoted the following prices for instrument grade:
Praxair $4750 (a "preferred" supplier price for the university!) AGA $2750
cheers, Henk
At 11:25 AM 6/1/99 -0600, you wrote: } } Hi everyone, } } The members of the listserver have been wonderfully helpful in the past, } and I'm hoping someone can come to my aid again. } } We have a Philips 430 being installed in our lab, and it turns out we need } to get into the high-tension tank - which means I need more SF6, (needless } to say, on a rather limited budget). I have three questions. First, is } there anyone out there who has any SF6 they don't want (perhaps left over } from a machine they don't have any more) that we could buy off them? } Second, where is the best/most economical commercial source to buy SF6 } from? Third, what grade of SF6 is it that is used in these applications? } } I would really appreciate your input on this. Many thanks in advance. } } Gill } } Dr Gillian M. Bond } Department of Materials & Metallurgical Engineering } New Mexico Tech } Socorro, NM 87801 }
Hendrik O. Colijn colijn.1-at-osu.edu Campus Electron Optics Facility Ohio State University (614) 292-0674 http://web.ceof.ohio-state.edu Murphy's Law: "If anything can go wrong, it will." Commentary: "Murphy was an optimist."
Dear Gillian, We use SF6 in both our IVEM and HVEM. The manufacturers reccommend the highest (instrument?) grade, but we find that use of a lower grade is OK. Two caviats are that our IVEM is a JEOL, so the gaps etc. may be different and lower grade SF6 may not work with the Phillips set-up, and there is a gas handling plant on the HVEM with a loop for circulating the SF6 through filters which remove particulates, water, and other impur- ities. The gas handling plant can also liquify and store much more than the 12 large cy- linders of SF6 it takes to fill our tanks. I definitely reccommend such a unit given the very large price increases in SF6. Good luck. Yours, Bill Tivol
I had the 'pleasure' of upgrading an OEM computer with lots of required legacy cards. Not only did the hardware need to remain supported, but the antiquated OS as well (OS/2 v1.3 from Microsoft). The cards that could be switched to PCI were (network, video). I still needed a 4 ISA slot motherboard. These can be found. The industrial path is certainly viable, and a good choice for easy conversion. There are also ISA bus extension boxes which work fine (add 4-8 full length slots to any motherboard with 1 ISA slot).
Keep in mind also that if you decide to upgrade your motherboard to a Pentium level processor that even if you can replace some of the legacy cards with PCI cards to reduce the ISA slot requirement, the BIOS may not support your ISA cards. Several important factors to consider and features to look for in the BIOS and motherboard are:
Support for a Memory Hole between 15-16M if memory mapping is needed (ISA cards don't map above this, and some BIOSs don't support this)
Make sure that in addition to the long cards not hitting the CPU and cooler, a deep skirt on the card does not hit other board components. This is harder to judge without trying it out. (If your case can accomodate the height, short ISA extension cards could raise them enough.
Control of the ISA clock in the BIOS is another thing to look for. That way you can upgrade to a decent processor and still run the legacy cards at 8 MHz.
Don't rely on the (ISA) card manufacturer to know anything about the card. If it is more than a generation old it has likely been forgotten about and is unsupported. If they do tell you anything, doubt it. Same for resellers of the motherboard knowing anything about the ISA slots - they likely won't. Go somewhere to look at the motherboard and read the manual to see if it will do the job.
The BIOS from AWARD was found to be particularly complete with regard to the above concerns. Computers from HP are particularly lacking in this area.
Good luck.
Jeffrey R. Kingsley, Ph.D. Analytical Fellow, Evans Sunnyvale Charles Evans & Associates 240 Santa Ana Ct. Sunnyvale, CA 94086
I had the 'pleasure' of upgrading an OEM computer with lots of required legacy cards. Not only did the hardware need to remain supported, but the antiquated OS as well (OS/2 v1.3 from Microsoft!). The cards that could be switched to PCI were (network, video). I still needed a 4 ISA slot motherboard. These can be found. The industrial path is certainly viable, and a good choice for easy conversion. There are also ISA bus extension boxes which work fine (add 4-8 full length slots to any motherboard with 1 ISA slot).
Keep in mind also that if you decide to upgrade your motherboard to a Pentium level processor that even if you can replace some of the legacy cards with PCI cards to reduce the ISA slot requirement, the BIOS may not support your ISA cards. Several important factors to consider and features to look for in the BIOS and motherboard are:
Support for a Memory Hole between 15-16M if memory mapping is needed (ISA cards don't map above this, and some BIOSs don't support this)
Make sure that in addition to the long cards not hitting the CPU and cooler, a deep skirt on the card does not hit other board components. This is harder to judge without trying it out. (If your case can accomodate the height, short ISA extension cards could raise them enough.
Control of the ISA clock in the BIOS is another thing to look for. That way you can upgrade to a decent processor and still run the legacy cards at 8 MHz.
Don't rely on the (ISA) card manufacturer to know anything about the card. If it is more than a generation old it has likely been forgotten about and is unsupported. If they do tell you anything, doubt it. Same for resellers of the motherboard knowing anything about the ISA slots - they likely won't. Go somewhere to look at the motherboard and read the manual to see if it will do the job.
The BIOS from AWARD was found to be particularly complete with regard to the above concerns. Computers from HP are particularly lacking in this area.
Good luck.
Jeffrey R. Kingsley, Ph.D. Analytical Fellow, Evans Sunnyvale Charles Evans & Associates 240 Santa Ana Ct. Sunnyvale, CA 94086
Responses came from a good cross section of the microscopy community. Individuals included professional microscopists, dealers, service and technical people, hobbyists. Some selected comments follow:
If you are looking for very inexpensive, solid construction, a little bit old fashioned microscope, the LOMO's microscope may be the choice.
Optically, and mechanically, the best of what comes out of the factory is not bad. But with used zeiss, leitz, wild, and even american optical 'scopes out there
in the market, why would one want to buy LOMO?
They do indeed seem to be a lot of microscope for the buck - but only if you are willing to put up with the problems you cited - I'd buy one for my personal use.
The optics seemed to be OK if a little dated - they were not up to a new Nikon 800 standards. But then they cost only about 1/10th as much. If price is your biggest hurdle you probably can't do better but be prepared to have a few hassels getting everything right.
I have a LOMO Biolam Researcher. I paid $950 for it and no scope I've
seen comes close to it for less than $4000. The old design Zena condenser
is fabulous.
As a dealer of LOMO Microscopes I can assure you the availability of
service and parts since the exclusive importer (LOMO America, Chicago,
IL) stocks parts and services the instruments.
The quality (mechanical) is good with some "rough edges" = could be
refined in some parts. The optical quality is very good, however some
designs are from the 50ties. The company is refining constantly.
They are basically good scopes at bargain prices!
Mechanically it is horrible, but I am the only user, and know its quirks. Optically it is great, as long as you don't mind post-war optical technology (e.g., no eye-popping binocular widefield).
{/smaller} {smaller} So, the bottom line is good micrsocopes , bad service.
******************************
} From the various input, my own {bold} {italic} personal {/italic} {/bold} conclusions are that:
1. Quality of scopes are variable. Quality control at the factory may be a problem. Optics are dated but good. Mechanical systems may be variable.
2. Be cautious. Check out the dealer. Get written warranties. Best to actually see the units in person at a dealer location and check everyting out before buying. Take it home yourself. Avoid shipping hassles and damage unless it is fully insured.
3. Depending on what you want to do, it may be better to pay a premium and have more dependable service.
4. Sounds like a good scope to have if money is the major hurdle. Get alot for your money. Good for the hobbyist looking for value for the dollar. On the other hand, there are many used scopes on the market made by well known manufacturers and reputable dealers that are readily available for service.
5. You can draw your own conclusions based on the comments above. I have not made up my mind about buying one yet. The jury is still out on this one.
Thanks again for all who have contributed to this dialogue.
{bold} {italic} This summary is neither an endorsement nor a complete review of LOMO scopes. List participants are encouraged to research this on their own and draw their own conclusions before committing $$$$. Thanks.
I just had someone inquire about short courses for light microscopy, especially including polarized light methods and principles. I know I saw some courses listed earlier but as I had no plans to attend, I didn't keep notes.
The interested person is Dr. Elena Vittadini: email to: evittadini-at-smtp1.cultorfs.com !!!! Please reply to her directly since she is not on this list.
Thanks in advance for the help!
Dale Callaham
+++++++++++++++++ Dale A. Callaham Senior Microscopist, Stuck Jar Lid Opener, Odd Job Bear Central Microscopy Facility The University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA 01007 ------------------------- Phone 413-545-3751 FAX 413-545-3243 email dac-at-bio.umass.edu
I have seen some traffic here about various SEM digital capture. I don't really know where my "contribution" fits in, but rather than sit on something that may be useful, I will give a brief description and let interested individuals get back to me.
I have built an "adapter" for PASSIVE capture of SEM images on a JEOL JSM-5400 scanning microscope. It is pretty simple but does a pretty nice job (1920x1440 pixel images, or 640x480 pixel images). Since I figure that there are lots of this series of microscopes out there in low-end installations that, like our facility, would not otherwise have good digital imaging, I hope to share this if people are interested. My cost was { $250 ($200 for an off-the-shelf DMA card) plus a 100MHz Pentium computer: I built a small interface board. It would probably cost others a bit more, depending on how much they can do themselves. The concept might even be useful on some other types of machines - I think it is a very versatile system.
I have one full resolution TIFF image (the file format used) - 2.8Mb!!!! and some reduced size/resolution/compressed images also at our website:
http://www.bio.umass.edu/microscopy
(look for the "Image Gallery" link). Note: some browsers are not set up for viewing TIFF images so you may need to point yours to some viewing application. Otherwise choose "Save to File" and then view it outside of the browser.
Rather than tie up internet bandwidth with pages of info, I will be glad to reply to anyone interested, and try to help as best I can with my limited time. I know of one vendor who may be interested in setting these up for those who can't do it themselves, although the setup is very simple.
Cheers!
Dale Callaham
+++++++++++++++++ Dale A. Callaham Senior Microscopist, Stuck Jar Lid Opener, Odd Job Bear Central Microscopy Facility The University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA 01007 ------------------------- Phone 413-545-3751 FAX 413-545-3243 email dac-at-bio.umass.edu
Thank you all that answered my inquire on BSE with no BSE detector under = a LEO 440. The suggestion to set the collector bias to zero or negative wor= ked fine. I have just tried it, so only today I could test your suggestions.
S=E9rvio T=FAlio Pires Amarante
serviopa-at-usp.br
Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de S=E3o Paulo Caixa Postal 42694-970 04299-970 S=E3o Paulo BRASIL
} Will, } The first North American TEM was designed by Albert Prebus and James } Hillier in the Dept. of Physics at the University of Toronto over the } 1937-38 Christmas holidays and was built during the first four months of } 1938. This info is from a great commemorative article by U.M. Franklin, } G.C. Weatherly, and G.T. Simon in 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 August } 1-9, 1978, edited by J.M. Sturgess. } I have a snapshot of that U of Toronto 'scope which now resides in the Ontario Science Centre. If anyone is interested, I can provide a .tiff or something of it. (Warning: The esthetic appeal of the picture is somewhat marred by yours truly standing beside the scope:-))
F.C. Thomas MicroAnalysis Facility Geological Survey of Canada (Atlantic) Bedford Institute of Oceanography Dartmouth, Nova Scotia B2Y 4A2
McCrone Research Institute offers many courses on light microscopy incl= uding polarized light microscopy. More information is available on their web= page http://www.mcri.org/.
Regards,
Joe Neilly Abbott Laboratories D-45M, AP31 200 Abbott Park Rd. Abbott Park, IL 60064-6202 voice: (847)-938-5024 fax: (847)-938-5027 e-mail: joe.neilly-at-abbott.com =
We have the Ferrups unit from Best Power on several instruments. There are two things that I would keep in mind:
1. make sure that you have the capability to handle the power surges that come from motors switching on and off (ie, pumps and compressors). For Best Power, this is the DVR option.
2. make sure that your physical plant people RTFM when installing the unit. For example, Best requires grounding cable that is *at least* the same gauge as the hot and common wiring. This requirement is more stringent than the typical electrical code.
Hope this helps.
} Dear Microscopists, } We would like to get a UPS for our TEM to bridge the gap between the } instant there is a loss of power and the time when the backup generator } takes over (a minute or so??). We have some information about APC and Tripp } Lite UPS units, but we are concerned that their experience is limited to } computer applications. We would like information on the types of UPS } employed by EM users. We would also appreciate suggestions on how to chose } the appropriate size. The power consumption of our TEM is about 3 kilowatts } (instuction manual). } Many Thanks in advance. } Vachik Hacopian
-------------------------- John Bonevich NIST, Metallurgy, Stop 8554 100 Bureau Drive Gaithersburg, MD 20899 USA TEL: (301) 975-5428 FAX: (301) 975-4553
Dear Colleagues! I have the following problem: I don't know how to treat diffraction patterns from Quasi-Crystals. For example, is there analogue Bragg reflection formula in this case? I would be very thankful for references on any fruitful works about this problem.
Please send your message to my e-mail address: DOMAN-at-orm.irtm.kiae.ru
Thank you very much for attention to my question!
Alexandr Domantovsky Moscow, RRC "Kurchatov institute", Russia
Hi Gillian: We are also in the process of installing a Philips 430. I called around, and found a grade that meet Philips specs for $1417/110 lb cylinder (insulator grade 3) from BOC Gases -at- 800-262-4273 X1455 ask for Bob Korniche. I hope this helps. Regards,
Michael Coviello EM Lab Manager UT Arlington, Arlington, TX
Gillian Bond wrote:------------------------------------------------------------------------
} The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Hi everyone, } } The members of the listserver have been wonderfully helpful in the past, } and I'm hoping someone can come to my aid again. } } We have a Philips 430 being installed in our lab, and it turns out we need } to get into the high-tension tank - which means I need more SF6, (needless } to say, on a rather limited budget). I have three questions. First, is } there anyone out there who has any SF6 they don't want (perhaps left over } from a machine they don't have any more) that we could buy off them? } Second, where is the best/most economical commercial source to buy SF6 } from? Third, what grade of SF6 is it that is used in these applications? } } I would really appreciate your input on this. Many thanks in advance. } } Gill } } Dr Gillian M. Bond } Department of Materials & Metallurgical Engineering } New Mexico Tech } Socorro, NM 87801
} I have the following problem: I don't know how to treat diffraction } patterns from Quasi-Crystals. For example, is there analogue Bragg } reflection formula in this case? } I would be very thankful for references on any fruitful } works about this problem.
Dear Alexandr, I reccommend the article "High-resolution electron microscopy of quasicrystals" by Kenji Hiraga published in 1997 in Advances in Imaging and Electron Physics, Vol. 101, pp 37-98. There is a good introduction to quasiperiodic lattices and a section on electron diffraction which is clear and informative.
Greetings Friends, This was probably covered before, but I am having trouble getting freshly isolated myocytes to stick to Aclar. I'm willing to coat with laminin or Fibronectin etc. Does anyone have a tried and true protocol? or an arrow that points in the right direction? Hope to try this after a much needed vacation in the Northwoods of Wisconsin, so I won't be signing off during this time in order to receive replys. Thanks, Linda Fox lfox1-at-wpo.luc.edu
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FUNDAMENTALS AND APPLICATIONS OF LIGHT MICROSCOPY -- FOURTH ANNUAL SHORT COURSE ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- June 20-25,1999, Wellesley College Science Center, Wellesley Massachusetts
A 5-day hands-on course for achieving the maximum information from light microscopy. The course will cover the principals of light microscopy, adjustments of the microscope for optimumcontrast and resolution, image capture and interpretation of images in terms of light-matter interactions. Contrast techniques, including polarized light, differential interference contrast, phase contrast, Hoffman Modulation coutrast and fluorescence microscopy will be included. A full range of reflected and transmitted light microscopes, as well as contrast equipment, will beprovided for use by the students. Students are encouraged to bring their own samples for exploration.
Organized by McCann Imaging For further information: see http://www.microscopyed.com For course brochure, contact Mary McCann, McCann Imaging 161 Claflin Street Belmont MA 02478 e-mail: mccanns-at-tiac.net Phone (617)-484-7865 Fax: (617) 484-2490
As an alternative to going to McCrone, MME will develop a customized, on-site workshop in this area. Our webpage info is listed below.
Best regards,
Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater productivity.
125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} ****************************************************** MME is America's first national consortium providing customized on-site workshops in all areas of microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis.
At 07:36 AM 6/2/99 -0500, Neilly,Joseph wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
} } Dear Colleagues! } I have the following problem: I don't know how to treat diffraction } patterns from Quasi-Crystals. For example, is there analogue Bragg } reflection formula in this case? } I would be very thankful for references on any fruitful } works about this problem.
Hello Dr. Domantovsky, There are numerous papers in the literature on indexing quasicrystal diffraction patterns. Bear in mind there are several different types of quasicrystals (icosahedral phase, four different decagonal phases, octahedral phase, dodecagonal phase, etc...), each with their own indexing system. In fact for the icosahedral phase there are several different (yet equivalent) indexing schemes.
For the icosahedral phase, all of the diffraction peaks and zone axes can be indexed with three orthogonal vectors pointing to three perpendicular two-fold edge centers of an icosahedron (J. W. Cahn, D. Shechtman, and D. Gratias, J. Mat. Res. 11, 12 1986. and D. S. Rokhsar, N. D. Mermin, and D. Wright, Phys. Rev. 135, 5487 1987). If the icosahedron has edge length 2, then the coordinates of the five-fold vertices are given by the cyclic permutations of ( +-1 , +-tau , 0), where the irrational number tau is defined from the equation tau^2=tau+1. Alternatively, the icosahedral phase can be indexed with six independent vectors with integer indices. The particular choice for the six vectors is a matter of convention. Elser (Phys. Rev. B32, 4892 1985) chose to align the icosahedron with a five-fold axis along the z-axis, and chose the basis as the six vectors pointing toward the upper vertices of the icosahedron.
I hope that you find this information of use.
_____________________________________________________ Tyrone L. Daulton Director: Marine Geosciences - Electron Microscopy Center Physicist and Senior Electron Microscopist
Naval Research Laboratory Marine Geosciences Division (Code 7400) Stennis Space Center, MS 39529-5004
Job Opening at Intel: Sr.TEM Engineer/Materials Scientist Job Description and Responsibility: The successful candidate for this position will perform advanced imaging and microanalysis of Si-based integrated circuits using transmission electron microscopy and provide in-depth materials analysis and interpretation of the results for various processing related problems found in process development. A Ph.D. degree in Materials Science or Applied Physics is required for this position. The successful candidate should have a solid understanding of electron-solid interaction and basic knowledge of electron optics. The candidate should be experienced in utilizing TEM for various materials analysis and problem solving and should also have extensive knowledge and experience in x-ray energy-dispersive spectrometry and/or electron energy loss spectrometry. Some knowledge/experience in the area of semiconductor processing or electronic materials is highly preferred. Must possess good written and verbal communication skills and problem solving techniques. Able to work in a team environment. Work Site: Oregon Contact: Hiring Manager: Ma,Zhiyong Phone: (503)613-6480 Fax: (503)613-5907 Mailing Address: Intel Corporation Components Technology Development M/S: RA1-329 2501 NW 229th St. Hillsboro, OR 97124
If you find any technique to colorize the SEM images can you be so kind to share it with the list?
Gary.
On Thu, 27 May 1999 diane.a.ciaburri-at-gdds.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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } Hi all! } } I need to colorize some SEM photos (digital). I have Adobe Photo Deluxe Home } Version but I hear that CorrelDraw or Adobe Photo Shop might be better. What } does everyone else use? If anyone has any special techniques to share I'd love } to hear them. } } Thanks, } } Diane Ciaburri } }
Does anyone have a reliable "recipe" for preparing holey carbon grids. I'm using a glycerol-formvar mixture, however my holes are not very homogeneous in size and are very sparse. Maybe there's something I'm missing - any advice? Does anyone know if these solutions store well?
Your advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Minh ^_^
Minh, I find that the best recipe for holey grids is to order them already made from someone like EMS. They're not that expensive, especially if you consider what your time is worth. Mary Gail Engle Electron Microscopy & Imaging Facility University of Kentucky
At 06:09 PM 6/3/99 +0930, Trinh, Minh-Uyen - TRIMY002 wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Recently, graduates in physics or biophysics are encouraged to apply for a post doctoral position in the-state-of-the-art time-resolved imaging laboratory at Microcosm. The successful candidate will be part of a team developing photonics technologies for solid state and biomedical applications. Hands-on experience with femetosecond lasers, time-resolved and imaging instrumentation is essential. This position is only for US citizens.
Please fax or e-mail your resume to Dr. H. Malak. ________________________________________________________ Dr. Henryk Malak Director of Research Microcosm, Inc. | 9140 Guilford Road, Suite O |Columbia, MD 21046 Phone: (301) 725-2775, Fax: (301) 725-2941 Our web site is located at: http://www.microcosm.com {http://www.microcosm.com} ________________________________________________________
{html} We would like to post the following position on your list server. If you need any additional information, please let me know. Thank you. {br} {br} UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA {br} Advanced Materials Processing and Analysis Center {br} Faculty Position in Advanced Electron Microscopy {br} {br} As part of the partnership between the University of Central Florida and Lucent Technologies, a position in advanced electron microscopy of materials is expected to be available to begin Fall of 1999. The position will be within the Advanced Materials Processing and Analysis Center (AMPAC) at the level of a tenure-track Assistant Professor in Physics. Applicants should have a Ph.D. degree in Physics, Materials Science, or closely related field, and should have demonstrated expertise in atomic resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy, annular dark-field imaging, Z-contrast imaging, energy loss microscopy, analytical microscopy, and similar techniques. Send a copy of a current vita, including a research and teaching plan, along with a minimum of three letters of reference, to: {br} {br} {div align="center"} Dr. Vimal Desai, Director {br} AMPAC {br} University of Central Florida {br} 12424 Research Parkway {br} Suite 408 {br} Orlando, FL 32826 {br} {br} {/div} The University of Central Florida is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. Screening of applications will begin May 25 and remain open until position is filled. {br} {BR} {/html}
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Center for Microscopy and Microanalysis Department of Biological Sciences Bowling Green State University
Responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Center; maintaining equipment in operating order, scheduling and monitoring users of the facilities, participating in educational and research activities consistent with the University's mission, assisting faculty and staff in instrument use, performing contracted work for others, and organizing/conducting tours of the Center for student fieldtrips and site visits of grant funding agencies. Master of Science degree and 2 yrs. experience in the operation of maintenance of electron microscopes required. Full-time administrative staff position. Administrative Grade Level 14, minimum salary $32,348. Salary is commensurate with education and experience. Full benefit package available. Submit letter of application, resume, and names/addresses/telephone numbers of three professional references postmarked by June 18, 1999 to: Ofc. of Human Resources (Search S-036), 100 College Park Ofc. Bldg., Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403. BGSU is an EEO/AA employer/educator.
I have written a very mini-tutorial on using Photoshop for colorizing SEM images. It will appear in the June issue of Microscopy Today. I'm not giving away all my secrets, but it should give you a start! Why not use what you learn and challenge me in the Just For Fun contest that Microscopy Today is having at MSA in Portland in August? Do you think I can win First and Second prizes again?! You can subscribe to Microscopy Today at their web site http://www.microscopy-today.com and it's free.
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* ****************************************************************************
} Does anyone have a reliable "recipe" for preparing holey carbon grids. I'm } using a glycerol-formvar mixture, however my holes are not very homogeneous in } size and are very sparse. Maybe there's something I'm missing - any advice? } Does anyone know if these solutions store well? } } Your advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Dear Minh, We use 45 ml of actetone plus 45 ml of chloroform to which 0.2 g of formvar and between 0.82 and 1.5 ml 90% glycerine are added. The formvar is added to the CHCl3 and shaken until the formvar dissolves, then the acetone and glycerol are added and skaken vigorously for ~10 min. The mixture is sonicated for 5 min with a probe sonicator and must be used within a few hours or re-sonicated. If the mix is used immediately, I get a very large number of small holes (~2 um), and if the mix stands for ~1 hr, I get a large number of larger holes (~5 um). I almost always get "wall-to-wall" holes with very thin bars of formvar remaining. Good luck.
I always seem to have trouble floating the films off the slides; does anyone have any tips? Also, I'd like to get 10-20 um holes; any tips there?
Dear Bill, Thanks for your advice - much appreciated ^_^ Regarding the floating of films - I found it is important for the slides to have a clean/hydrophilic surface. If the slides are new, it is usually ok to just rinse the slide with a bit of detergent and wiping it dry with lint free tissue. However, if you don't have clean slides I find the following method for cleaning surfaces 100% successful - the film easily floats off (and if you're skilled enough you can float both sides off at the same time).
*Place slides in a beaker containing conc. HNO3 (~60%) and boil for 1 hr, rinse with copious amounts of Milli-Q water several times. *Rinse with a bit of detergent and wipe dry before dipping into mixture.
To get larger holes I presume you would need to add more glycerol to the mixture.
Regards, Minh T ^_^
-----Original Message----- From: William Tivol [SMTP:tivol-at-wadsworth.org] Sent: Friday, June 04, 1999 6:52 AM To: Trinh, Minh-Uyen - TRIMY002; microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com Subject: Re: TEM need help with preparing holey carbon grids
Trinh, Minh-Uyen - TRIMY002 wrote:
} Does anyone have a reliable "recipe" for preparing holey carbon grids. I'm } using a glycerol-formvar mixture, however my holes are not very homogeneous in } size and are very sparse. Maybe there's something I'm missing - any advice? } Does anyone know if these solutions store well? } } Your advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Dear Minh, We use 45 ml of actetone plus 45 ml of chloroform to which 0.2 g of formvar and between 0.82 and 1.5 ml 90% glycerine are added. The formvar is added to the CHCl3 and shaken until the formvar dissolves, then the acetone and glycerol are added and skaken vigorously for ~10 min. The mixture is sonicated for 5 min with a probe sonicator and must be used within a few hours or re-sonicated. If the mix is used immediately, I get a very large number of small holes (~2 um), and if the mix stands for ~1 hr, I get a large number of larger holes (~5 um). I almost always get "wall-to-wall" holes with very thin bars of formvar remaining. Good luck.
I always seem to have trouble floating the films off the slides; does anyone have any tips? Also, I'd like to get 10-20 um holes; any tips there?
Minh, For making holey carbon films, I use polystyrene films casted from glass slides the same way as formvar. Polystyrene films are easy to float them off after simple Kleenex cleaning of glass slides or mica sheets. ~0.25% w/v solution of polystyrene in amyl actate results in ~ silver film. Breathing once on a drying film will give you a whole range of diameters from a few nm to microns. Adding a few drops of water to polystyrene solution and sonication before casting will give you very reproducible and uniform holes. You can evaporate carbon onto filmed grids or onto films on slides followed by floating off carbon coated polystyrene films.
You can easily remove polystyrene by keeping the grids on a wire net or on a filter paper over the amyl acetate to have clean holey carbon films only.
Let me know if you need more details. Marek.
} Date: Fri, 4 Jun 1999 10:25:02 +0930 } From: "Trinh, Minh-Uyen - TRIMY002" {TRIMY002-at-students.unisa.edu.au} } Subject: Re: TEM need help with preparing holey carbon grids } To: "'William Tivol'" {tivol-at-wadsworth.org} , } "'Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com'" {Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com} } MIME-Version: 1.0 } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Dear all, Is there anybody out there using an Agfa Duoscan for TEM negatives?
Our lab has just bought one (the T2500) but the negative holder (60 by 90) does not quite fit our TEM negatives (64 by 88 mm).
What have others done about this? Manually adjusting the holder? Having a special holder made?
We would appreciate any ideas that you can share.
Yours sincerely
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Ian MacLaren Department of Experimental Physics Chalmers University of Technology S-412 96 G=F6teborg Sweden Tel: +46 31 772 36 33 FAX: +46 31 772 32 24 email: maclaren-at-fy.chalmers.se or: ianmaclaren-at-hotmail.com Research Group Homepage: http://fy.chalmers.se/microscopy/ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hello, we've been using the Duoscan for about 3 years now, and believe it or not, we use scotch tape to hold TEM as well as various other negs to the glass tray which comes with the scanner. The scotch tape holds them flat quite well, and not very much is needed. We've also had some succes placing the negatives on the glass tray and keeping them flat with an 8x10 sheet of glass on top. If this double glass is used you have to be very careful when scanning, as the Duoscan is great at picking up Newton's Rings.
Good Luck
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Adam Baker Carleton University Biology Department Email address: adbaker-at-ccs.carleton.ca ----------------------------------------------------------------------
I have a question regarding SEM/EPMA analysis. I cannot find information about EPMA analysis on the web. Can anyone tell me what it is? Is it an acronym for Electron Probe Microanalysis? Does anyone have any information on an EMAX3700 mounted on a Hitachi SEM. I have a customer who is asking about this, and would like to find out some information. ANY information would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
David Bell Scientist Electron Microscopy Lab Millipore Corporation 80 Ashby Road Bedford, MA 01730 (781) 533-2108
There ought to be something about EPMA on the web. There is a mailing list at microprobe-at-www.microanalysis.org, but I think you have to be subscribed to post to it. I can get you details.
You are right about the acronym. Often, it refers to wavelength-dispersive spectrometers with crytals instead of the energy-dispersive Si and Ge solid state detectors. But some can get sloppy with the nomenclature. (I still prefer to refer to EDS than to EDAX. Nothing against EDAX, the company, but I prefer not to give them free advertising.)
I am not familiar with EXAX3700. What does you client want to know or do? Do they want low detection limits, high resolution scans, etc.?
At 09:47 AM 6/4/1999 -0400, you wrote: } } Hi all, } } I have a question regarding SEM/EPMA analysis. I cannot find information } about EPMA analysis on the web. Can anyone tell me what it is? Is it an } acronym for Electron Probe Microanalysis? Does anyone have any information } on an EMAX3700 mounted on a Hitachi SEM. I have a customer who is asking } about this, and would like to find out some information. ANY information } would be greatly appreciated. } } Thanks in advance, } } David Bell } Scientist } Electron Microscopy Lab } Millipore Corporation
Here are some posts that may be helpful on the subject from my archives:
I know of two methods of preparing holey films. The first is to shake up a mixture of liquid soap and water and Collodion until it froths, then drop a drop or two on the surface of distilled water. Lay the grids on top of the Collodion layer, pick up with a filter paper, dry and carbon coat. Put the grids in a Jaffe washer with cloroform for 48 hours to remove the Collodion. The other method, if you have Nucleopore type filters, is to carbon coat a strip of Nucleopore filter film, place a square of the coated filter on the grid sitting on a nickel mesh on the surface of the Jaffe washer full of cloroform, wait 48 hours to dissolve the Nucleopore, dry grids. The holes in the Nucleopore will be now be holes in the carbon coat. I must admit I have not tried the first method myself, but someone in my lab did, years ago.
I use a method by Kuga and Brown from Philips Electron Optics Bulletin v126, p.19 (1989) to make lacy formvar grids. First a note of caution. I use dichloroethane as my solvent for the formvar resin. After having much difficulty in preparing my films, I was told that when exposed to light, dichloroethane slowly forms HCl in the solution. The HCl destroys the integrity of the formvar polymer. Solution: store the formvar solution in a brown bottle in a dark cabinet.
Method:
- I use 0.25% formvar solution in dichloroethane and freshly cleaved mica sheets as a substrate. The formvar lifts off the mica much easier than from glass microscope slides.
- Dip the mica into the formvar solution, wick off excess on a paper towel, then breathe heavily on the mica for about 5 seconds while it is still wet. The moisture in your breath condenses in the solution. Caution: Don't inhale!
- When the mica has dried, score the edges and float off on water.
- Place 200 mesh TEM grids on the floating film. The area with the best holes will appear milky.
- I then take saran wrap, stretch it tightly across the mouth of a small (~100ml beaker), and press it down at a slight angle onto the floating formvar film. The film will stick to saran wrap and you can easily pick it up off the surface of the water.
- After the film has mostly dried, pick up the grids from the saran wrap "drumhead" and place them on filter paper.
- The film will have many "pseudoholes" that have a thin residual film across them.
- Following the method of Kuga and Brown, by heating the film to about the T(g) temperature you can break these holes open. The time and temperature are critical. I place the bare filter paper in a small lab oven (not in a petri dish; it has too much thermal mass) at 110C for 12 minutes.
- I then coat both sides with carbon to stabilize the formvar lace.
I can easily make 50-100 grids in an hour (exclusive of the carbon coating). These grids make wonderful supports for looking at fine particulate dispersions.
Cheers, Henk Henk Colijn colijn.1-at-osu.edu OSU Campus Electron Optics Facility
The question of how to make holey carbon films came up on the list server two years ago. At that time John Gabrovsek (gabrovj-at-ccsmtp.ccf.org) gave the following reference: Baumeister & Seredynsky, Micron 1976, Vol 7, p. 49, and Jane Fagerland (fagerland.jane-at-igate.abbott.com)gave this one: Elsner, Proceedings, 29th EMSA Meeting, p. 460. Both methods were said to work satisfactorily. You might try contacting these people for more details.
Wilbur C. Bigelow, Prof. Emeritus Materials Sci. & Engr., University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2136 e-mail: bigelow-at-umich.edu;
Sara,
Here is a method I have used in the past. It's a hassle, believe me, but it usually works. It also makes you realize why purchasing holey films commercially costs so much---they're not easy to make.
1) If you can find it, purchase a product called "Victawet" (I believe Electron Microscopy Sciences carries it). This comes in very small vials and it lasts forever. It serves as a lubricant to release plastic films from glass slides in the following steps.
2) Get some high quality glass microscope slides. We have found that Esco brand slides work more reliably than any other kind. Don't know why. The ones with one frosted end are useful for keeping orientation.
3)Polish these slides until they gleam and show NO contamination upon close examination. Do this even if they are "precleaned".
4)Take a piece of Victawet about the size of a cooked grain of rice and put it in a tungsten basket in a vacuum evaporator. Arrange as many CLEAN glass slides around it facing the basket. A distance of several to many centimeters is fine----i.e., distance is not too critical. It may be possible to make a custom rack for this purpose out of plastic or metal---the material used should not outgas too much.
5) Pump down the evaporator and when high vacuum has been reached, gently increase current to the basket. At a certain point the victawet will start to melt and you will see a fog developing on the slides. (If you use too much current, the piece of victawet may jump out of the basket and you have to start over, so be patient.) This "fog" is what you want. No need to overdo it, a little bit will work fine.
6) Repeat Step 5 until you have as many slides as you need. Use a new piece of victawet for each batch. Store these slides in a container for later use, since they keep for a few weeks.
7) Get some formvar (some people use butvar) in 1,2 dichloroethane (ethylene dichloride). 0.5% or 0.25% usually works. You can order 1% and dilute it, too. Keep this solution in a dessicator. Water in the solution causes problems, so only open it when necessary and for as brief a time as possible. Pour this in a tube wide enough to hold a slide, to a depth just short of the frosted end of the slide. (You can conserve formvar by using a special tube with a constricted lower end. One product is called "Dip Miser" and I think it's sold by Ted Pella. We had a special dipping tube made by a glassblower from a regular glass cylinder fused with a very wide constricted bottom.)
8) Cover the top of the tube with the formvar with something so that the atmosphere inside becomes saturated with the evaporating dichloroethane.
9) Get a container big enough to hold water to a depth of several inches. It should be 8-10 inches in diameter for comfortable working. Fill it to the top with, preferably, double-distilled water.
10) Now you're ready. Take the victawet coated slides and polish them again. They should feel slippery. Clean them until they gleam. Clip the frosted end of the slide with something to hold it, like a paper clamp attached to a piece of wire, and put it in the formvar solution in the tube. Keep it there for about 5-10 seconds, then pull it up and let it drain INSIDE THE TUBE. Only leave the top of the tube uncovered while putting the slide in and taking it out, in order to keep the atmosphere saturated. While the slide is draining, keep something over the tube opening, allowing only enough opening for the wire. The length of time you let the slide drain determines the final thickness of the formvar film. Start at about 10 seconds. If you desire a thinner film, increase the draining time up to about 15-20 seconds. (This is why the atmosphere must remain saturated with dichloroethane inside the tube. If it is not, the formvar just dries with draining properly.)
11) To make the holes, expose the slide to moisture IMMEDIATELY upon removing the wet slide from the dipping tube. We would breathe on it, but passing it quickly over a bath of steaming water might do the same thing. The microdroplets of water in the steam or in your breath make the holes. To repeat, this must be done IMMEDIATELY before the slide has time to begin drying. This is also a good time for prayer, invocations to the ancestors, luck rabbit's feet, and anything else you might find effective in appeasing the gods of holey films.
12) Lean the coated slide up against something in a dust-free area to dry for at least two minutes.
13) Back to the basin of water---take a clean laboratory tissue paper and drag the surface of the water to rid it of oil and dust. You can also put a drop of collodion in amyl acetate on the water, let it form a film, then pick this up and discard it to clean the surface.
14) Take the slide and cut around the outside perimeter of the film with a clean razor blade or scalpel. Then take the slide and, holding the frosted end, SLOWLY dip it into the water. If all goes well, the victawet was good, and you have been virtuous recently, the film will separate from the slide and float on the surface of the water. (HINT: a friend of mine---thanks, Steve---discovered that heating the water really helps in releasing the film. Don't boil it, just warm it up.)
15) You can now take your clean TEM grids and place them carefully on the floating film. When you have enough, take another CLEAN glass slide (no need for victawet this time) and scoop the film up. This is tricky and hard to describe: the idea is to catch the end of the slide on the end of the floating film so that when the slide is pushed down into the water the film will be pulled down with it and against it. When you finish, the grids should be between the formvar film and the glass slide. Put it somewhere dust free to dry. When dry, you place the slides in a vacuum evaporator and coat them with 100-300 angstroms of carbon. Then, you can GENTLY AND CAREFULLY push on the edge of the grid to pop it loose from the film. At this point, you will hopefully have a carbon-coated holey film on a grid, ready for use.
Alternatively, you can use a "domino rack", a piece of metal with small holes in it and two bent ends that serve as legs (kind of like a little bench with holes a few millimeters larger than TEM grids). These can be purchased commercially, or made yourself if you can find the right kind of metal with holes. When the film is floating on the water, before putting the grids on it, slowly lower the CLEAN domino rack onto the film, which will adhere to it by surface tension. Lift it out and put it in a dust free place to dry. The result is formvar film covering a bunch of little holes. The grids are later set upon these films by placing a drop of double-distilled water on the film, placing the grid on the drop, and letting it dry down. The film with grids can then be carbon-coated, or you can coat the individual grids later.
I warned you. This is a good starting procedure and variations can be done at several points, depending upon your circumstances. Things can go wrong at any stage, affected by humidity especially. It's a frustrating procedure and I would welcome any suggestions for making it easier, but it does work if you're patient and willing to experiment a little. If you do get a batch to work, I suggest making a whole bunch at once while luck is with you. You may not be so fortunate next week.
Hope this helps. Let me know if you have any questions, and I'll try to help more.
Randy
Randy Tindall Electron Microscope Laboratory Box 3EML New Mexico State University Las Cruces, NM 88003
Larry D. Ackerman Lily & Yuh Nung Jan Laboratories Howard Hughes Medical Institute UCSF, Box 0725, Rm U226 533 Parnassus Ave. San Francisco, CA 94143
There has been some recent discussion about the desire to purchase ruthenium tetroxide and also to put it into an alcoholic solution. There was also a possible suggestion that it was being shipped by normal shipping channels used for hazmat materials. Or at least that was the way some had interpreted it to mean.
I contacted one of my friends who is a precious metals chemist and expert in this area, his response follows: ======================================= Regarding the hazards, ruthenium tetroxide consists of golden-yellow monoclinic prisms. It is very volatile, sublimes at room temperature. It should be handled in a hood only. Vapors will irritate the eyes and respiratory tract. mp 25.4 degrees. bp 40 degrees. It reacts explosively with alcohol and filter paper. Uses: Oxidizing agent similar to osmium tetroxide, but more difficult to handle. The solvents normally employed in OsO4 oxidations (either, benzene, pyridine) cannot be used because of their violent reaction with RuO4. Only CCl4 is recommended.
We are unaware of the legal aspects and transportation methods for shipping RuO4. Because of the high volatility shipment may not be possible. ===================================================== So the point is that this is a very dangerous material, I am unaware of anyone who is brave enough to sell the tetroxide form of ruthenium as crystals (of course, the dioxide, ruthenium red, the metal, etc., there is no problem) and in any case, one can not put it into alcohol safely, and CCl4 (carbon tetrachloride) seems to be the only solvent that can handle it safely.
After the first posting, I suggested a way, privately, to a few who asked, that one could collect small amounts of ruthenium and dissolve it in alcohol . However, in view of the above information, I want to retract even the suggestion that could be done.
I stand behind my original statement that this material can not be shipped safely, and that is why it is not available in crystal form. To my knowledge, those using ruthenium tetroxide in electron microscopy, are generating it from a kit such as is described on our URL http://www.2spi.com/catalog/chem/chem1c.html
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: spi3spi-at-2spi.com
Look for us! ############################ WWW: www.2spi.com ############################ ==================================================
There is still one hole remaining for sponsership at the annual golf tournament during the M & M meeting in Portland. Hole sponsership is $65.00. Each golfer will recieve a gift bag containing gifts from various sponsers including:
JEOL FEI EVEX DENTON HITACHI PELLA
Please contact John Arnott at Ladd (see below) as soon as possible to participate in this annual event schedueled for Aug. 1, 1999 in Portland. There are still a few slots open for players as well.
Thanks,
John Arnott -- LADD RESEARCH 13 Dorset Lane Williston, VT 05495 TEL 1-800-451-3406 (US) or 1-802-878-6711 (anywhere) FAX 1-802-878-8074 e-mail ladres-at-worldnet.att.net web site http://www.ladd.cc
Thanks for your comments. Actually, the client already has data and a report, and wanted to know more about the technique. From what I'm learning, though, the data looks more like elemental mapping than what I would expect for EPMA. It seems that whomever supplied the report is doing just as you suggested: being sloppy with the nomenclature. I think what they really want is for us to be able and willing to provide similar analysis in house, but before I jumped to any conclusions or agreed to anything, I thought I'd learn as much as possible about the "alleged" technique. If anyone is familiar with the specifics of the EMAX3700 system, I would appreciate getting some details.
Thanks again.
David Bell Scientist Electron Microscopy Lab Millipore Corporation 80 Ashby Road Bedford, MA 01730 (781) 533-2108
Warren E Straszheim {wesaia-at-iastate.edu} on 06/04/99 10:14:25 AM
To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com cc: (bcc: David Bell/NA/Millipore)
There ought to be something about EPMA on the web. There is a mailing list at microprobe-at-www.microanalysis.org, but I think you have to be subscribed to post to it. I can get you details.
You are right about the acronym. Often, it refers to wavelength-dispersive spectrometers with crytals instead of the energy-dispersive Si and Ge solid state detectors. But some can get sloppy with the nomenclature. (I still prefer to refer to EDS than to EDAX. Nothing against EDAX, the company, but I prefer not to give them free advertising.)
I am not familiar with EXAX3700. What does you client want to know or do? Do they want low detection limits, high resolution scans, etc.?
At 09:47 AM 6/4/1999 -0400, you wrote: } } Hi all, } } I have a question regarding SEM/EPMA analysis. I cannot find information } about EPMA analysis on the web. Can anyone tell me what it is? Is it an } acronym for Electron Probe Microanalysis? Does anyone have any information } on an EMAX3700 mounted on a Hitachi SEM. I have a customer who is asking } about this, and would like to find out some information. ANY information } would be greatly appreciated. } } Thanks in advance, } } David Bell } Scientist } Electron Microscopy Lab } Millipore Corporation
Dear All: Thank you for your assistance w/ the companies that offer independent service contracts for TEM. For anyone who is interested, I can forward the info to them. This forum is a great resource for all of us. Thanks
Regards, Mike Coviello EM Lab Manager Materials Science & Engineering UT Arlington Arlington, TX
I'd like to get input from any users who have evaluated the differences in the ease of use/quality of output of a passive vs. an active digital acquisition system add-on that is available from a multitude of vendors for upgrading analog SEM's. I would also invite recommendations of either type of system that you have purchased and are happy with. We would like to put the system on our JEOL 845 SEM. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Regards, Mike Coviello EM Lab Manager Materials Science & Engineering UT Arlington Arlington, TX
This is an advertisement for an imaging position. Nina Stromgren Allen
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Center for Cellular and Molecular Imaging (CMIF) Department of Botany North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina
Responsibilites include overseeing the day-to-day operation of a light microscopy facility, instructing and collaborating with investigators, participating in education activities including organizing and conducting tours of the facility and participating in microscopy course teaching in conjunction with a second technician in the facility. This requires detailed knowledge of laser scanning confocal microscopy, video microsopy and image analysis with computers, digital imaging methods and the use of Photoshop etc., computer networking, as well as high competence in microinjection methods. Some knowledge of computer programming is very desirable. Part of the job will involve participation in grant writing and research in the area of plant cell biology. Ph.D and a minimum of 2 years experience is required. Minimum salary is $35,000. Full benefit package is available. Applicants should submit their curriculum vitae and reprints with a cover letter to Dr. Nina S. Allen, Department of Botany, Box 7612, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7612 by June 18, 1999. Also please request that three professionals send reference letters to Dr. Nina S. Allen.
North Carolina State University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and operates under Affirmative Action Policy. The University strongly encourages all qualified applicants.
Nina Stromgren Allen Professor, Department of Botany; Director, Cellular and Molecular Imaging Facility Box 7612 North Carolina State University Raleigh, NC 27695-7612 Phone: 919-515-8382 (Office), 515-3525 (Lab), 515-2727 (Department Secretary) Fax: 919-515-3436
Dear colleagues, A few months ago I put up the question of how to quantify the instrument peak broadening of a x-ray diffractometer. I feel obliged to report the result.
I was put onto the NIST Standard Reference Material (SRM) #660 described in the very useful NIST's SRM web page at: http://ts.nist.gov/ts/htdocs/230/232/232.htm The specific web page for x-ray diffraction calibration standards is: http://ois.nist.gov/srmcatalog/tables/209-1.htm
The calibration material for line broadening is LaB6 in powder form (?).
Some suggested a single crystal wafer of Si and pointed out some problems to watch out for. According to my colleague, whom I was originally asking this question for, the peak broadening for a single crystal is not what he is after. He has polycrystalline specimens and he wants to determine the base or instrumental broadening without contributions due to the broadening from the thickness, grain size or internal stresses of the specimen. He was looking for a powder of a specific crystallite size, spread to certain thickness to satisfy the above criteria.
Thank you, for all of your contributions.
-- Steven Celotto Netherlands Institute of Metals Research (NIMR) Department of Applied Physics, University of Groningen Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands Ph: +31 50 363 4344 Fax: +31 50 363 4881 email: s.celotto-at-phys.rug.nl http://www.phys.rug.nl/mk/people/celotto/celotto.html http://www.nimr.nl/
Dave, The answer to your question is yes. I have usually seen reference to EMPA, electron microprobe analysis. A microprobe is not much more than an SEM with one or more wavelength spectrometers attached plus lots of expensive software. I'm not familiar with a EMAX3700. You may find some of the SEM vendors may be able to help you. Russ, Xerox
-----Original Message----- } From: "David_Bell-at-Millipore.com"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com [mailto:"David_Bell-at-Millipore.com"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com] Sent: Friday, June 04, 1999 9:47 AM To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
Hi all,
I have a question regarding SEM/EPMA analysis. I cannot find information about EPMA analysis on the web. Can anyone tell me what it is? Is it an acronym for Electron Probe Microanalysis? Does anyone have any information on an EMAX3700 mounted on a Hitachi SEM. I have a customer who is asking about this, and would like to find out some information. ANY information would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
David Bell Scientist Electron Microscopy Lab Millipore Corporation 80 Ashby Road Bedford, MA 01730 (781) 533-2108
A few months ago I asked about how to deal with magnetic specimens in the TEM. Recently another microscopist put up the same question. The series of books called Transmission Electron Microscopy by Williams and Carter give some good advice on pages 534 to 535 [Williams, D.B. and Carter, C.B, Transmission Electron Microscopy, No. 3, Imaging, Plenum, Press, 1996]. One good piece of advice they gave was to switch to aluminium specimens.
I have collated the advice I received and seen listed on the listserver, from what I have read and what experience I have gathered so far. What follows is a very brief summary and I can send the full information for those who are interested. I am interested in any further ideas or suggestions, so please inform me.
Suggestions for dealing with magnetic Fe specimens in the TEM:
1. Specimen preparation - minimise the amount of magnetic specimen in the microscope - Small flake specimens. - Window polishing technique - Tripod polishing - Self-supporting disks less than 50=B5m thick, 30=B5m is best. - Grinding down to 100-200=B5m - Chemical polish down to 30-50=B5m - Electropolish\ion-beam thin to perforation - 1mm disk of the steel is punched out, this is inserted into a 3mm disk of another material with a 1mm hole punched out.
2. In the microscope. - Do not use c-shaped spring clips, screw-down holder mechanisms are best. - Turn off the objective lens when: - Inserting the specimen - Moving to another cradle (if the holder has more than one) - Going through zero tilt - Removing the specimen probe. - Tilting in general for extreme problems when cradle will not tilt back. - Reduce the acceleration voltage -} reduces objective lens excitation -} reduces magnetic forces on specimen. - Increase the acceleration voltage -} increases momentum of electrons -} reduces deflection of electron beam. - Finding the eucentric height =96 - If by rotating back and forth the microscope goniometer, stick to one side of the zero tilt. - Use a non-magnetic sample to find the objective lens current for focus at eucentric height, place the magnetic sample in the microscope focus with the height control. Most modern microscopes now tell you what the current objective lens is for the eucentric height. - Aligning the microscope beforehand with a nonmagnetic sample and using a non-magnetic sample to get a firm idea where the transmitted beam should be on the screen (e.g. relative to the focus spot on the phosphor screen). - Use the dark-field mode - there is supposed to be more range in the beam deflection (and the bright-field settings will not set too far off for nonmagnetic specimen users). - Re-align the beam focus deflection compensators, current centre, voltage centre and objective stigmator whenever you have tilted or translated the specimen. Also, your co-workers will appreciate it if you restore normal settings when you finish. - The sample can be ripped out of the holder or will reorient the holder tilt mechanism so the holder cannot be withdrawn without scratching the OL polepieces. If this happens, don't try to remove the holder. Just turn off the OL, open the OL chamber, and carefully free the stuck parts.
For some of this I have cut & pasted from several emails. Thanks to those who replied to my question.
-- Steven Celotto Netherlands Institute of Metals Research (NIMR) Department of Applied Physics, University of Groningen Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands Ph: +31 50 363 4344 Fax: +31 50 363 4881 email: s.celotto-at-phys.rug.nl http://www.phys.rug.nl/mk/people/celotto/celotto.html http://www.nimr.nl/
On Friday, June 04, 1999 9:47 AM, "David_Bell-at-Millipore.com"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com [SMTP:"David_Bell-at-Millipore.com"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com] wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } } } Hi all, } } I have a question regarding SEM/EPMA analysis. I cannot find information } about EPMA analysis on the web. Can anyone tell me what it is? Is it an } acronym for Electron Probe Microanalysis? Does anyone have any information } on an EMAX3700 mounted on a Hitachi SEM. I have a customer who is asking } about this, and would like to find out some information. ANY information } would be greatly appreciated. } } Thanks in advance, } } David Bell } Scientist } Electron Microscopy Lab } Millipore Corporation } 80 Ashby Road } Bedford, MA 01730 } (781) 533-2108 }
David,
Yes, EPMA stands for electron probe microanalysis. I describe it a bit on our web page:
I am not familiar with the Hitachi system you mention. You might want to contact Hitachi in Gaithersburg, MD for info. If you want to know more about EPMA, there are books by K. Heinrich, S.J. Reed, and numerous others. There is also a separate society, The Microbeam Analysis Society, that has bunches of EPMA specialists.
Hope this helps,
Jim McGee
{} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} James J. McGee (jmcgee-at-sc.edu) Department of Geological Sciences University of South Carolina Columbia, SC 29208
Anyone interested in receiving a bid request form for acquiring our CAMECA Microprobe with:
3 ea. WDS spectrometers Regular & Biological Stage TN5000 converted to PC with software from Scripps Institute of Oceanography All Electronics Full set of manuals and documentation etc.
Please contact me based on information shown below:
Since I received several requests for the list of independents and because some direct e-mail was returned, I am sending them to the entire listserver community. If you are uninterested in this, please disregard this.
I received recommendations of independent EM service contractors who would offer a service contract on our Philips 430. I believe they said they would all service other brands.
1) Alex Green at Scientific Instrument Services out of Austin, TX. His number is 512-282-5507.
2) Vitaly Feingold out of Atlanta, vitalylazar-at-worldnet.att.net -at- 770-232-7785 or 770-605-6105.
3) Pesto Inc., P.O. Box 648, Gwynedd Valley, PA 19437-0648 215-699-6160 FAX 215-699-5275.
I hope this helps.
Regards and good luck, Mike Coviello EM Lab Manager Materials Science & Engineering UT Arlington Arlington, TX
In my electron microscopy laboratory I do not work with biological materials and hence have no biological specimens.
Many students and people interested in electron microscopy visit me from time to time and I would love to have some tissue sections to show them.
Would anyone out there be willing to send me a few grids that I could use? I would particularly like some sections of liver (my original area of study), kidney and skin.
If you contact me off-list I can let you have my address and FedEx number etc.
My early inquire on BSE with no BSE detector resulted in some suggestions that included sputter coating. Well, were we use to coat our specimens, when it is allowed, simply with gold; but I have heard that other methods could render better results. I guess that the gold coating could be regarded fine for temporary preparations, so it not lasts long and can be removed from the sample. However, gold coated specimens become useless if examined for long periods of time or in multiple SEM sessions. I heard that coating samples first with carbon and then with gold would result in long lasting preparations, which fits well in our purposes to preserve specimens in a entomological collection. My question is on what method is really the more appropriate and results in better images, both under BSE and SE scanning? And, what about gold/palladium coating, there are detectable differences between it and gold?
Thanks
Servio
S=E9rvio T=FAlio Pires Amarante serviopa-at-usp.br Museu de Zoologia - USP Caixa Postal 42 694 04299-970 Sao Paulo, SP BRASIL
I am an educator in a community college Medical Assistant program and have a an AO One Sixty microscope that is in need of condenser lens repair. Can anyone advise me of a company that might be able to help? I have been unable to locate any information from the web on the American Optical company that was at one time part of Warner-Lambert Technologies.
If you have any information please reply to: bphilpo-at-kirkwood.cc.ia.us
I have a University Safety Officer who has enquired about safety issues with regard to electron microscopy.
Can anybody recommend suitable books that cover both issues regarding the instrumentation itself and those relating to specimen preparation and handling?
Best regards,
-- Larry Stoter JEOL (UK) Ltd Silver Court, Watchmead, Welwyn Garden City, AL7 1LT, United Kingdom tel: +44-(0)1707-377117, fax: +44-(0)1707-373254, e-mail: larrys-at-jeoleuro.com
Bill Hatcher Lab Optical Service 20222 Avondale Road Abingdon VA 24210-6942 phone: 540-676-7280 (ask for Bill Hatcher)
I believe that this phone number is current, but if you have problems getting a hold of Bill, let me know. The area code may have changed.
I have used Bill for many years to refurbish my A/O Microscopes, and he is excellent.
Ford Royer Analytical Instruments (Refurbished Laboratory Equipment) 9921 13th Ave. N. Minneapolis MN 55441 (800) 565-1895 (612) 929-1865 fax
Ian Philpott 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 an educator in a community college Medical Assistant program and } have a an AO One Sixty microscope that is in need of condenser lens } repair. Can anyone advise me of a company that might be able to help? } I have been unable to locate any information from the web on the } American Optical company that was at one time part of Warner-Lambert } Technologies. } } If you have any information please reply to: } bphilpo-at-kirkwood.cc.ia.us } } Bev Philpott
In regards to Chuck Garber's series of messages on Ruthenium Tetroxide, please note that he specifically refers to the crystalline form. As he has indicated, sources variously indicate ruthenium tetroxide reacts "violently", "explosively", or "it may explode". Other vendors do sell ruthenium tetroxide in aqueous form if you don't want mess with Garber's kit.
My thanks to Chuck, though, for publicly noting the hazards of ruthenium tetroxide.
I was wondering if you might be able to give me some help on finding references for specific properties of gold that might be relevant for in-situ TEM work on amorphous carbon grids. Basically, I'd like to know about the following things:
Solubility of carbon in gold, esp. at high T Vapor pressure of both liquid and solid gold near the m.p. (1064 C) Wetting properties of liquid gold on both solid gold and amorphous carbon Phase diagram of gold
Any help you could give me would be greatly appreciated. Please send responses to me (phantom-at-owlnet.rice.edu), and I'll summarize to the list if there's interest in me doing so.
Thanks for your time.
Steven Robertson The Colvin Group phantom-at-owlnet.rice.edu nanonet-at-ruf.rice.edu http://www.owlnet.rice.edu/~phantom http://nanonet.rice.edu
I am not a user of digital aquisition systems for an SEM, but we produce them. So perhaps I can shed a little light on this issue. I am pretty sure that other manufacturers of these systems would agree with what I am saying below.
Passive systems:
Advantages Easy setup (there is usually no modification of the microscope necessary) Easy image acquisition. Since the digital system "listens" to the SEM signal, all you need to do usually is to tell it to record the image or freeze it. No interference with EDS systems
Disadvantages Cannot extend functionality of microscope, only provides digitization of SEM microscopes No other image size than available on SEM No acquisition of X-ray maps possible, because the system has no control over beam. No control over e-beam
Active systems
Advantages More versatile, since beam can be controlled by PC. Control of beam position and dwell time Possible to acquire digital X-ray maps (requires EDS system) Any image size possible, up to 4k x 4k (or higher with diminishing returns) Other scans possible (backward, sideways, whatever), providing more freedom for scan and measurements In combination with EDS system allows for combined morphological and chemical analysis (aquire image, find particles, move beam, acquire EDS data).
Disadvantages Installation more complicated may interfere with existing EDS beam control system
I am not sure, these are all the differences. There may be more. I would take a good look at what you want to accomplish with the digitizer. If all you want to do is to get the images into a PC, a passive system might do. If you think, you ever need beam control, I would look for an active system. Of course, our systems are upgradeable, and for a relatively small amount you can go from a passive system to an passive+active one, giving you all the advantages of either. I am sure, other vendors do the same. And once the acquisition channels are set up and defined, you can switch from passive to active, from fast scan to high-resolution scan to EDS acquistion by just pushing a button.
Michael
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 1675 Carr St., #105N Lakewood, CO 80215 =================================== phone: (888) FIND SIS (303) 234-9270 fax: (303) 234-9271 email: mailto:info-at-soft-imaging.com web: http://www.soft-imaging.com ===================================
******************************************************* Disclaimer: Soft Imaging System produces and sells image acquisition and processing systems. We therefore have a vested interest in some of the items mentioned above. *******************************************************
} ---------- } From: Michael Coviello[SMTP:COVIELLO-at-MAE.UTA.EDU] } Sent: Friday, June 04, 1999 1:01:50 PM } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: SEM-Passive vs. Active digital acquisition systems } Auto forwarded by a Rule } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Hi All:
I'd like to get input from any users who have evaluated the differences in the ease of use/quality of output of a passive vs. an active digital acquisition system add-on that is available from a multitude of vendors for upgrading analog SEM's. I would also invite recommendations of either type of system that you have purchased and are happy with. We would like to put the system on our JEOL 845 SEM. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Regards, Mike Coviello EM Lab Manager Materials Science & Engineering UT Arlington Arlington, TX
I've built and used both kinds, and while I agree with some of what Michael Bode says there are a couple of other points worth making
1. It certainly is possible to collect X-ray maps in passive mode. Depending on your multichannel analyzer you may be able to get 1, or several elements at once. 2. Many SEM scans are not perfectly linear. The manufacturers have presumably already tweaked their electronics so that the displayed images are correct, even if this means that the voltage driving the scan coils isn't linear. If you don't know what the nonlinearities are, it can be very difficult to set up an active system to get undistorted images. On the other hand, if the passive system is sitting on the display signals it doesn't care about this and the images come out right. 3. A really good passive system will even let you scan at high rates and average the values at each pixel, filling in the image as it can grab values (i.e., it reads X, Y and brightness and adds the values into memory, and after some time (perhaps 10 seconds is typical) the entire image is filled in with several readings everywhere and the software can divide everything down and give you a low noise image. This fast scanning capability can be very useful when you have charging problems. It is not easy to make an active system do that.
Servio is asking several questions basics to SEM specimen coating.
For conventional SEM sputter coating of Au is by far the most used. Au/Pd was shown many years ago to be slightly finer, but in practice its difficult to note any difference. Au/Pd targets tend to be more expensive because of greater assaying cost and the huge variety of target sizes has killed any economies of scale.
Carbon/graphite is an inferior conductor, but scatters well during evaporation, so specimens with complex structures are better covered. Carbon coatings are the choice material for microanalysis, but quite inferior for imaging since resolution greatly increases with the atomic number of the coating and also the A.N. of the specimen below the coating. A double coating with C/Au if fine, but a lot of trouble for little gain. These days using a lower accelerating voltage or sputtering the specimen twice from two sites are the better ways to prevent specimen charging.
Durability of the coating largely depends on: 1 Dry storage - get a sizeable desiccating cabinet. 2 Poor microscope vacuum conditions 3 Beam damage from an intense beam, this is only marginally related to coating quality. After WDS analysis, which requires high counts, a spot will be damaged regardless of coating material used.
If a coating is unsatisfactory another can be applied on top, if the specimen is used for medium or low power observation. "Thick" coatings obscure finest structures; its much like a dusting of snow on the ground leaves pebbles and other small features visible, whereas a metre of snow reveals only major topography. 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, June 05, 1999 1:33 PM, Servio Tulio Pires Amarante [SMTP:serviopa-at-usp.br] wrote:
} Dear all } } My early inquire on BSE with no BSE detector resulted in some suggestions } that included sputter coating. Well, were we use to coat our specimens, when } it is allowed, simply with gold; but I have heard that other methods could } render better results. I guess that the gold coating could be regarded fine } for temporary preparations, so it not lasts long and can be removed from the } sample. However, gold coated specimens become useless if examined for long } periods of time or in multiple SEM sessions. I heard that coating samples } first with carbon and then with gold would result in long lasting } preparations, which fits well in our purposes to preserve specimens in a } entomological collection. My question is on what method is really the more } appropriate and results in better images, both under BSE and SE scanning? } And, what about gold/palladium coating, there are detectable differences } between it and gold? } } Thanks } } Servio } } Servio Tulio Pires Amarante } serviopa-at-usp.br } Museu de Zoologia - USP } Caixa Postal 42 694 } 04299-970 } Sao Paulo, SP } BRASIL } }
Chao-ying Ni wrote: ================================================ I've heard that Au/Pd coating is more uniform and the particles in the film are smaller, which are beneficial especially to high resolution SEM.
-cy ================================================ This is almost certainly true for vacuum evaporated 60%Au/40% Pd vs. 100% Au (the alloy composition normally implied when mention is made of "Au/Pd"). The smaller grain size was first reported in the mid-1960's. But these were the days before sputter coaters. Or at least the days before sputter coating approaches were being used in the SEM laboratory (which did not really start until about 1972 or so).
Has anyone ever shown, however, that sputter coated Au/Pd results in a grain size that is smaller than sputter coated pure gold ? We ourselves tried some years ago to see if there was a difference but could not find any difference.
If this is true, then would not the use of the alloy result in longer sputtering times but without any real benefit? The metal value of the alloy is somewhat less than for a gold cathode of identical dimensions, but the fabrication charges to make the alloy are highter, so the final selling prices are not all that much different. However, if the sputter time for fragile and heat sensitive samples is increased, then this would be a drawback for use of the alloy.
If by "high resolution" you are referring to FESEM instruments, then the use of either gold or gold palladium, either in a conventional or ion beam sputter coater will, in terms of grain size, still fall short of several other alternatives, such as chromium coaters or osmium coaters.
Disclaimer: SPI Supplies is a manufacturer and distributor of conventional, chromium, as well as osmium coaters for SEM lab applications.
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: www.2spi.com ############################ ==================================================
On all of our microscopes with scanning we have fitted with ImageSlaves for digitisation. Polaroid and roll film recording are now historical in our lab.
These are passive acquisition boards which detect and digitise the video record signal.
They work very simply. On pressing the Photo record button the image is digitised. There is an auto save feature which makes the entire process extremely simple.
Pixel resolution is 1024 x 1024 maximum. I think they will record images at 12 bits.
U.S.A. Contact Jim Hilton Advanced Database Systems 7931 S. Broadway #322 Littleton CO 80122 U.S.A. Tel: + 1 303 761-5635 Fax: + 1 303 761-592 } } ***************************************************** Mel Dickson, Deputy Director. Electron Microscope Unit, University of New South Wales. Sydney NSW 2052 Australia
We have both in our lab. I find a few things to consider.
1) It is my impression is that the passive system yields a better image in the same amount of time. It seems the active system has a fair amount of overhead involved in positioning the beam. Thus only a fraction of the total time is spent collecting image data.
2) The active system affords a point-and-click x-ray analysis option. Since the computer system knows where the image came from, it can reposition the beam to locations in the image for x-ray collection. That is not easy or perhaps even possible when the computer is riding along. I have found this to be a very big aid to productivity.
3) The software implementation will have as much to do with satisfaction as does the technology. Both systems can be great or terrible depending on how well the software is written. You should try for a hands-on demo to see how the software "feels" before committing.
So we have and use both systems. If we only need an image (no x-rays), I use the passive system for better quality in less time. If I need to do x-ray analyses, I use the active system.
Good hunting.
At 02:01 PM 6/4/1999 -0500, you wrote: } Hi All: } } I'd like to get input from any users who have evaluated the differences } in the ease of use/quality of output of a passive vs. an active digital } acquisition system add-on that is available from a multitude of vendors } for upgrading analog SEM's. I would also invite recommendations of } either type of system that you have purchased and are happy with. We } would like to put the system on our JEOL 845 SEM. Any input would be } greatly appreciated. } } Regards, } Mike Coviello } EM Lab Manager } Materials Science & Engineering } UT Arlington } Arlington, TX } } }
Would You please review the below copy to post the group.
Hi Larry,
A good reference on EM safety is the book Electron Microscopy Safety = Handbook (2nd edition) by V. C. Barber and J. A. Mascorro. Published byb = San Francisco Press, Inc. =20 ISBN 0-911302-72-7
Some of EM supply houses carry this edition, or can be ordered from = publisher.
Best of Luck,
Ed } } } Larry Stoter {LPS-at-teknesis.demon.co.uk} 06/05 2:49 AM } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America=20
On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html=20=
I have a University Safety Officer who has enquired about safety issues with regard to electron microscopy.
Can anybody recommend suitable books that cover both issues regarding the instrumentation itself and those relating to specimen preparation and handling?
Best regards,
-- Larry Stoter JEOL (UK) Ltd Silver Court, Watchmead, Welwyn Garden City, AL7 1LT, United Kingdom tel: +44-(0)1707-377117, fax: +44-(0)1707-373254, e-mail: larrys-at-jeoleuro.c= om=20
Edward P. Calomeni Dept Pathology - EM Lab 3000 Arlington Ave. Toledo, OH 43614
Regarding the distortions: Normally the scan generator provides nothing but a linear saw-tooth voltage for the scanning in x and y direction. This is then fed into the scan amplifier, which takes care of getting the voltages right for the appropriate magnifications. Most systems that I know, and certainly ours, replace the scan generator, but not the scan amplifier. The manufacturers have to tweak the scan amplifier for the non-linearities, as they may be different for different mags. So by feeding the signal in BETWEEN generator and amplifier, we take advantage of any kind of tweaking the manufacturers have done. This means, that an active system does not really have to worry about the non-linearities.
Averaging: Of course you can average a number of images on a snapshot, say 128 frames. This can be done of course with active and passive systems. In active systems you have the additional option of increasing the dwell time to reduce noise, which is equivalent to changing the scan time on the microscope.
X-ray mapping: I agree, that it is possible to acquire X-ray maps with a passive system. If you have no active component in your system (neither digitizer nor EDS beam control) and the digitizer just looks at the video signals, you would have to scan at a very low rate and perhaps run multiple images for averaging and noise reduction. You would have to deal with image shifts between the exposures, etc. With an active system, you simply set the dwell time per pixel and have the system scan the area, acquiring SE or BSE images at the same time X-rays are counted (with a pulse counter in our case). So, if there is a shift during exposure, it will lead to slight distortions of both the SE image and the X-ray maps, but the distortions will be the same, so that the data can be correlated without problems.
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 1675 Carr St., #105N Lakewood, CO 80215 =================================== phone: (888) FIND SIS (303) 234-9270 fax: (303) 234-9271 email: mailto:info-at-soft-imaging.com web: http://www.soft-imaging.com ===================================
******************************************************* Disclaimer: Soft Imaging System produces and sells image acquisition and processing systems. We therefore have a vested interest in some of the items mentioned above. *******************************************************
} ---------- } From: "DrJohnRuss-at-aol.com"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com[SMTP:"DRJOHNRUSS-at-AOL.COM"-at-SPA RC5.MICROSCOPY.COM] } Sent: Saturday, June 05, 1999 5:41:20 PM } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: Re: RE: SEM-Passive vs. Active digital acquisition systems } Auto forwarded by a Rule } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I've built and used both kinds, and while I agree with some of what Michael Bode says there are a couple of other points worth making
1. It certainly is possible to collect X-ray maps in passive mode. Depending on your multichannel analyzer you may be able to get 1, or several elements at once. 2. Many SEM scans are not perfectly linear. The manufacturers have presumably already tweaked their electronics so that the displayed images are correct, even if this means that the voltage driving the scan coils isn't linear. If you don't know what the nonlinearities are, it can be very difficult to set up an active system to get undistorted images. On the other hand, if the
passive system is sitting on the display signals it doesn't care about this and the images come out right. 3. A really good passive system will even let you scan at high rates and
average the values at each pixel, filling in the image as it can grab values (i.e., it reads X, Y and brightness and adds the values into memory, and
after some time (perhaps 10 seconds is typical) the entire image is filled in with several readings everywhere and the software can divide everything down and give you a low noise image. This fast scanning capability can be very useful when you have charging problems. It is not easy to make an active
This person should be encouraged! Please help him out. Does anyone have the email or website for ISI, which I believe is now TOPCON?
Please respond DIRECTLY to Eric-at-fotherby.freeserve.co.uk Re, Scanning electron microscope. I have at home in my living area a scanning electron microscope which I have restored.
MODEL ISI SUPER 3A. ( sms 3a ) which is very similar to ISI MODEL 40. Manufactured FEB 1977. Serial number 510028. I purchased the SEM a couple of years ago from a army surplus depot --------however one part missing, the oil filled electron gun high voltage power supply / filament supply. I have converted a electron beam welder power supply, this works but I really need a circuit diagram of the original gun power supply, so I can find the values of bias resistance to use. I have obtained full service manuals of the SEM from two sources but in both cases the high voltage electron gun power supply details are missing------circuit diagram number N83HA08. The internet ( which I am new to ) points me in your direction, can you please advise ? any information is better than none! My address, 117, PEASEHILL, RIPLEY, DERBYSHIRE, DE5-3JN, My EMAIL ADDRESS, Eric-at-fotherby.freeserve.co.uk Thankyou. Yours faithfully, Eric Fotherby.
--------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Steven Barlow, Associate Director EM Facility/Biology Department San Diego State University 5500 Campanile Drive San Diego CA 92182-4614 phone: (619)594-4523 fax: (619) 594-5676 email: sbarlow-at-sunstroke.sdsu.edu website: http://www.sci.sdsu.edu/emfacility/
Chairman, Educational Outreach subcommittee promoting access to microscopes Microscopy Society of America http://www.msa.microscopy.com/
This is the list I have compiled. I hope the people who requested a copy, were not expecting dozens of companies. Since I received numerous requests for the list of independents and because some direct e-mail was returned, I am sending them to the entire listserver community. If you are uninterested in this, please disregard this.
I received recommendations of independent EM service contractors who would offer a service contract on our Philips 430ST. I believe they said they would all service other brands.
1) Alex Green at Scientific Instrument Services out of Austin, TX. His number is 512-282-5507.
2) Vitaly Feingold out of Atlanta, vitalylazar-at-worldnet.att.net -at- 770-232-7785 or 770-605-6105.
3) Pesto Inc., P.O. Box 648, Gwynedd Valley, PA 19437-0648 215-699-6160 FAX 215-699-5275.
I hope this helps.
Regards and good luck, Mike Coviello EM Lab Manager Materials Science & Engineering UT Arlington Arlington, TX
I have heard to grow Mo crystals on a TEM grid, I should burn a piece of Mo and pass a holey carbon grid through the smoke. Is this toxic? Can I use MoO3 powder in a crucible instead of a piece of foil?
} We have both in our lab. I find a few things to consider. } } 1) It is my impression is that the passive system yields a better image in } the same amount of time. It seems the active system has a fair amount of } overhead involved in positioning the beam. Thus only a fraction of the } total time is spent collecting image data. }
(etc.)
While any particular system may produce better or worse images than another, I don't believe there's any inherent magic in passive scanning that produces better images. I was involved in the design of an active system a few years ago, and we spent a great deal of time worrying about the issue of beam settling times and efficiency of sampling. Passive systems still have to be concerned with flyback settling times, for example, or the first few samples in the line will be trash. You have no idea where the beam is for some period of time at the beginning of each scan line; how long you have to wait depends on design choices by the EM manufacturer.
Probably the main determining factors of image quality in either type of system are the speed, linearity and noise performance of the digitizing ADC, and the equivalent parameters for the position DACs (active system) or raster timing circuitry (passive system).
You get much nicer MoO3 crystals if you put ammonium molybdate in a small crucible, leave the lid slightly ajar and gently warm the crucible with a bunsen burner. The MoO3 crystals will condense under the lid of the crucible and can be washed off with methanol. You can then put a drop of the suspension on a holey formvar grid.
This recipe is from J.W. Edington "Practical Electron Microscopy in Materials Science" and produces much better crystals than the old Moly smoke method.
Cheers, Henk
At 03:05 PM 6/7/99 -0400, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Hendrik O. Colijn colijn.1-at-osu.edu Campus Electron Optics Facility Ohio State University (614) 292-0674 http://web.ceof.ohio-state.edu Murphy's Law: "If anything can go wrong, it will." Commentary: "Murphy was an optimist."
You can also take a Mo boat used for deposition in an evaporator system and just heat it in the evaporator. I only recently saw Tom Nuhfer at Carnegie Mellon University heat a Mo wire in a propane torch and when it was hot enough, take it away from the flame and wave the wire under the grid. No special precautions were taken and both Tom and I walked away healthy (although I'm still overweight.)
I wouldn't intentionally breath the smoke -its easy to avoid. The MoO3 smoke pretty much goes straight up and you can do all of this at arm's length. If you are worried about it you can do this last procedure in a hood. You could also just use a particulate mask which would probably also give you a sense of security.
I would also suggest that when you have a question like this, you should also consult an MSDS for the compound and then use your best judgment on how to proceed.
-Scott
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Glass Technology Center 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: jennifer taylor To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
I have heard to grow Mo crystals on a TEM grid, I should burn a piece of Mo and pass a holey carbon grid through the smoke. Is this toxic? Can I use MoO3 powder in a crucible instead of a piece of foil?
Dear list members, Let us please put an end to this as a subject heading, as it is not a heading and does not relate to subject of ones text. The purpose of the subject heading is to get your message or questions to people who are interested in that topic. So, let's be open about what and why we are posting to the group. Nestor, I would like to suggest that this phrase be a cue for rejection of posting.
Regards,
Images & Info at http://www.molbio.princeton.edu/confocal {http://www.molbio.princeton.edu/confocal}
Joe Goodhouse Confocal / EM Core Laboratory Department of Molecular Biology Princeton University jgoodhouse-at-molbio.princeton.edu {mailto:Jgoodhouse-at-molbio.princeton.edu}
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
These crystals can be purchased on carbon films. An advanced version has the crystals on a grating replica so that magnification and rotation calibration can be done on the same image-a neat time saver. The first item is part No. 625, while the grating replica version is No. 625-B.
by mozart.cems.umn.edu (8.9.3/8.9.3) with SMTP id RAA05790 for {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} ; Mon, 7 Jun 1999 17:50:17 -0500 (CDT)
Responding to the message of {70A79B42AEE7D21181B300805FA9180F15D80E-at-molbio.Princeton.EDU} from "Goodhouse, Joseph" {jgoodhouse-at-molbio.princeton.edu} : [...] } Dear list members, } Let us please put an end to this as a subject heading, as it is not } a heading and does not relate to subject of ones text. The purpose of the } subject heading is to get your message or questions to people who are } interested in that topic. So, let's be open about what and why we are } posting to the group. Nestor, I would like to suggest that this phrase be a } cue for rejection of posting. } Unfortunately, as one who has had mail rejected by the listserver for inappropriate subject contents (MSA Bulletin) I have to say that the phrase "I am not spam" is actually sugested by the listserver as an alternative to the rejected subject. Having discovered that, I had more sympathy for those using this as a subject line. However, it is clearly not very helpful in identifying the message contents, and I tend to automatically delete such messages.
__________________ Stuart McKernan stuartm-at-tc.umn.edu Microscopy Specialist Office:(612) 626-7594 CIE Characterization Facility, University of Minnesota Desk: (612) 624-6009 100 Union Street S. E., Minneapolis, MN 55455 Lab: (612) 624-6590
You forget. Nestor put this in for people who get rejected by his SPAM filter. They are to reply as per his instructions. This happened to me when he put the filter in and it got fixed. It turned out to be a problem with information that my company sends out with all Email messages in the message header. If I remember correctly, it took him a couple of tries to fix why I (and a few others) were getting rejected. There are Listserver messages under those subject lines, "I am not spam", or there should be.
Patience. Nestor is doing a great job. Let's do it his way.
-Scott
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Glass Technology Center 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: Goodhouse, Joseph To: 'Microscopy-reguest' -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
Dear list members, Let us please put an end to this as a subject heading, as it is not a heading and does not relate to subject of ones text. The purpose of the subject heading is to get your message or questions to people who are interested in that topic. So, let's be open about what and why we are posting to the group. Nestor, I would like to suggest that this phrase be a cue for rejection of posting.
Regards,
Images & Info at http://www.molbio.princeton.edu/confocal {http://www.molbio.princeton.edu/confocal}
Joe Goodhouse Confocal / EM Core Laboratory Department of Molecular Biology Princeton University jgoodhouse-at-molbio.princeton.edu {mailto:Jgoodhouse-at-molbio.princeton.edu}
I would also like to point out that the rotation calibration, magnification calibration over an extended range, and camera constant can all be done using the MAG-I-CAL sample. There are a number of sources for this sample. I bought mine from South Bay Technology (1-800-728-2233). I believe that electron Microscopy Sciences and SPI both carry it.
-Scott
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Glass Technology Center 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: Bernard Kestel To: Microscopy Listserver -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
These crystals can be purchased on carbon films. An advanced version has the crystals on a grating replica so that magnification and rotation calibration can be done on the same image-a neat time saver. The first item is part No. 625, while the grating replica version is No. 625-B.
At 15:05 7/06/1999 -0400, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Hi, You just put a (small) piece of moly foil from a discarded aperture or heater strip in the bottom of a small test tube.
Heat the foil strongly in a bunsen flame.
You will see a mist of crystals evolve from the foil.
Hold filmed grids in the smoke. Make lots and you have a lifetime supply.
If you want, you can also let the crystals settle on the wall of the tube.
Wash them off with distilled water. Put a drop of the suspension on the filmed grids.
That way the crystals will lie flat on the film.
No information about toxicity, but do it in the fume hood to be cautious.
***************************************************** Mel Dickson, Deputy Director. Electron Microscope Unit, University of New South Wales. Sydney NSW 2052 Australia
Mike, There are several other independents that were factory trained to work on the EM430: Sam Amtower in New England (amtec-at-neca.com) and myself, Ron Veil (veilcs-at-earthlink.net - URL: http://home.earthlink.net/~veilcs/)
I have a list of 17 independent field service techs should anyone be interested. It is in Win-95/Excel format, so I can send it as an attachment.
Ron Veil V.E.I.L. (Veil Electron Instrument Lab) Customer Services 173 Santa Inez Ave. San Bruno, CA. 94066 (650) 952-3099 FAX (650) 869-4978 Pgr. (650) 205-0302
On Mon, 07 Jun 1999 11:39:28 -0500 Michael Coviello {coviello-at-mae.uta.edu} writes: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of } America
___________________________________________________________________ Get the Internet just the way you want it. Free software, free e-mail, and free Internet access for a month! Try Juno Web: http://dl.www.juno.com/dynoget/tagj.
The Hitachi H-7000 TEM is fitted with an RS232 interface for external I/O communication.
Does anyone out there know if it can be used to issue commands to control functions of the microscope?
We would like to adjust focus & image shift & stigmation on out H-7000. All these are digitally controlled within the microscope.
The next model produced, the H-7100 DOES have this facility and there is a book of control codes for the H-7100. Officially, the H-7000 does not have the facility and the RS232 interface is variously described as being for use by service engineer, or for inserting alphanumerics on the film. Is there any unofficial experience out there we can tap into?
***************************************************** Mel Dickson, Deputy Director. Electron Microscope Unit, University of New South Wales. Sydney NSW 2052 Australia
The subject of film scanners have come up a number of times. I've mentioned in the past that I'm pretty happy with the Polaroid SprintScan 45.
I just came across a catalog from Publishing Perfection (Vol 17) that has a Nikon LS-4500 for $6500 and a Minolta Dimage Scan Multi for $2500. The Minolta write-up specifically mentions TEM negatives. Their number is 1-800-852-2348 or 1-800-782-5974 and their web site is www.publishingperfection.com
I have no financial interests in any of these companies.
-Scott
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Glass Technology Center 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."
Hi, This heading is REQUIRED by Nestor for people posting from domains that otherwise would get filtered out from the list because of the few bad apples that may be spamming from said domain. I personally feel it is a little humiliating to put that in the subject line of my posts, since my domain is filtered. I will do very little posting as a result. Cheers, Dave Harrison
I wish people would read directions, but perhaps that is too much to ask some times.
When a message is received that is SUSPECT as SPAM, then the sender gets an AUTOMATIC message saying there is a problem. The sender is then instructed to reply to POSTMASTER-at-MSA.MICROSCOPY.COM with the subject line I AM NOT SPAM, and then I personnally review the message and fix the problem. They are instructed not to send the mail back to the Listserver.
Unfortunately, this last set of problems arose simply because people did not follow the directions!!!!!!!!!!
I have just implemented yet another code modification on the filter to make this clear, and with this change to the filter I do not think any "I AM NOT SPAM" messages will get through now. But if people can't follow simple directions there is not much I can do.
Right... I'm going to get a beer and a late dinner...
Looking for any information/experience on interfacing CCD camera model # TE3N/A. Camera was manufactured in 1994 by ASTROMED (UK?). The CCD sensor is KODAK KAF 0400-C1, Peltier cooled. Any info such as interface type, control cards vendors, and software vendors will be very helpful.
Please reply to this e-mail address: vitalylazar-at-worldnet.att.net
Vitaly Feingold Scientific Instruments and Applications Duluth, GA (770)605-6105 (770)232-7785
I deeply agrre with others, My message was rejected as a spam, despite that my server ans.com.au was never involved it any spam,.. I stop posting messages to microscopy, this is first one after 5 months.. Even this 3 lines was rejected a a spam and I am sending it again
Hi all! Does anybody have experience in cutting (nondecalcified) teeth for transmission electron microscopy. Is it necessary to use diamond knives or is a sapphire knife good enough? How can cutting be done without getting a lot of fractures in the enamel and how do the knives tolerate the cutting? Is there any difference in cutting human vs.rodent teeth? Are there any special methods or tricks in embedding the teeth? I would appreciate any information, hints, or advice regarding this matter. Thank you very much. marketta Hormia
___________________________________________
Marketta Hormia University of Turku Institute of Dentistry Lemmink=E4isenkatu 2 FIN-20520 Turku Tel +358-2-333 8330 Fax +358-2-333 8356 E-mail: marketta.hormia-at-utu.fi
Dear all, In relation to the MoO3 rotation calibration question, I have just done a set of these on our microscope but I have one question.
To determine whether there is a 180=B0 inversion, Williams and Carter say to defocus the diffraction pattern slightly. If the diffraction focus is adjusted, however, there is a 180=B0 inversion of the image in the transmitted spot between underfocus and overfocus (as you would expect with lenses). Which side of focus should I use for finding out whether or not there is a 180=B0 inversion between image and diffraction?
Hope someone understands my question and can help.
Thanks
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Ian MacLaren Department of Experimental Physics Chalmers University of Technology S-412 96 G=F6teborg Sweden Tel: +46 31 772 36 33 FAX: +46 31 772 32 24 email: maclaren-at-fy.chalmers.se or: ianmaclaren-at-hotmail.com Research Group Homepage: http://fy.chalmers.se/microscopy/ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Thank you VERY much for the great responses from everyone! The report my client had received was from Japan and was translated/written rather poorly, but with your help we were finally able to figure out what was done. I can't emphasize enough what a great resource this listserve is, despite some of its foibles. Thank you Nestor for doing a terrific job. (hope the beer and late dinner was relaxing!)
Thanks again,
David Bell Scientist Electron Microscopy Lab Millipore Corporation 80 Ashby Road Bedford, MA 01730 (781)533-2108
I am looking for a flatbed scanner that can scan an A3 X-ray film in one pass (size A3, approx. 11.7x15.7 inches) in transparent mode. It should be able to handle densities up to 3.0 at least. A few months ago an Umax Mirage II A3 flatbed scanner was bought. The density range of this scanner should go down to 3.3D according to its specifications. However according to our measurements (tested with Kodak Wratten filters, checked with a density meter !) it only reaches about 2.5D.
After a preview with maximum gray range (0-255) settings one can adjust the lower (0) and upper (255) input range limits. If the upper limit is lowered below 100 or even below 50 (input range for scanning 0 to 50) very peculiar effects take place. Is there anyone out there who owns such a scanner and has the same experience ?
Any remarks on this subject or info on other brands of A3 tranparency flatbed scanners are much appreciated.
Thank you very much for your time.
Please mail directly to : vanderwulp-at-pml.tno.nl
Kees van der Wulp TNO Prins Maurits Laboratory P.O.Box 45 2280 AA Rijswijk Netherlands
You need to weaken the diffraction (1st intermediate lens) to get the non-inverted image within the diffraction pattern.
Henk
At 02:14 PM 6/8/99 +0200, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America=20
Hendrik O. Colijn colijn.1-at-osu.edu Campus Electron Optics Facility Ohio State University=09 (614) 292-0674 http://web.ceof.ohio-state.edu Murphy's Law: "If anything can go wrong, it will." Commentary: "Murphy was an optimist."
Please Unsuscribe for a while, I=B4m going to be out my lab. for a month.
Thanks a lot and best regards. M.C. Ma. Guadalupe Nieto Lopez Laboratorio de Microscopia Electronica ECOSUR Tapachula Carr. Ant. Aeropuerto Km. 2.5 30700 Tapachula, Chis. Tel. (962) 81077 y 81103 Fax. (962) 81015
For years, we sputter coated in air but recently switched to argon when a tank was given to us. The tank is getting low and I'm getting poor results. Research with the supplier leads me to believe it is grade 2.2 (99.95%). they also have grade 4.8(99.99 %) in the small tank size. However the price goes from $18 to $69 with the jump in grades.
What grade argon is normally used in sputter coating? If I stick with the 2.2 am I going to cause problems somewhere else?
Go to a convergent beam and go to diffraction mode, i.e. form a CBED pattern. Decrease the Condenser lens strength (Brightness, CCW) and = you will form a shadow image of the sample in the BF disk. The diffraction pattern and this image are not rotated with respect to each other. You = can then relate that to your image mode and diffraction pattern. -Scott
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Glass Technology Center 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: Ian MacLaren To: Microscopy = -----------------------------------------------------------------------.=
Dear all, In relation to the MoO3 rotation calibration question, I have just done a set of these on our microscope but I have one question.
To determine whether there is a 180=B0 inversion, Williams and Carter say to defocus the diffraction pattern slightly. If the diffraction focus is adjusted, however, there is a 180=B0 inversion of the image in the transmitted spot between underfocus and overfocus (as you would expect with lenses). Which side of focus should I use for finding out whether or not there is a 180=B0 inversion between image and diffraction?
Hope someone understands my question and can help.
Thanks
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Ian MacLaren Department of Experimental Physics Chalmers University of Technology S-412 96 G=F6teborg Sweden Tel: +46 31 772 36 33 FAX: +46 31 772 32 24 email: maclaren-at-fy.chalmers.se or: ianmaclaren-at-hotmail.com Research Group Homepage: http://fy.chalmers.se/microscopy/ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A diamond knife is probably required for cutting undecalcified dental enamel. Try the sapphire and see what happens. Since enamel is 97% mineralized it is impossible to get much epoxy into it. Try using Spurrs resin and infiltrating for a week or so and maybe even using vacuum to help the infiltration. Do this embedding with a 100 micrometer or thinner slice of tooth. It helps to pre-trim the sample so that you will cut a very small cross-section, less than 0.1mm. When sectioning you may have to take very small steps, less than 100nm, to "polish" the sample and than take one section at about 200nm. Pick the section up right away before the surface tension forces of the knife boat water break the section up on a grid with a support film. In the very best case after many attempts you may get some useable pieces to image in the TEM. Then, interpretation of the images will require some knowledge of cyrstals and crystallography. One more trick to try and keep the fractures together (you are fracturing not really cutting) is--after "polishing" the sample surface as above, put a drop of Formvar or collodion or your favorite support material on the face of the sample and let it dry then cut one section and pick it up. Rat teeth are not much different from human teeth is this respect. What are you trying to study? If you decalcify the enamel slightly embedding and sectioning become more likely. Another approach is to use ion milling. Find a good materials prep lab and try it out. I had some luck with a crude ion mill and using a 1000kV microscope tho 100 kv gave some information. Caveat: I did this work more than 20 years ago so may have forgotten some 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
I am posting this message for a local hospital that is closing their TEM lab and surplusing some pieces of equipment. Their lab manager has indicated that they would be free to anyone who would come to get them, or pay for shipping them. For additional information on the equipment, please contact them directly. Contact person, address and telephone number is:
Karen Michalski Cytogenetics Laboratory Franciscan Shared Laboratories St. Joseph's Hospital 5000 West Chambers Street Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53210 USA 414-447-2883
Item #1 Hitachi HU12A Transmission Electron Microscope - Purchased in "late 70's or early 80's". I have seen the microscope, it has been run using city water to chill it. It had a preventative maintenence performed on it within the past calendar year, and the last time I talked with the electron microscopist (before his retirement), the microscope was working.
Item #2 PelAire Station - I turned it on, and it appears to work O.K.
Heather Owen
Heather A. Owen, Director Electron Microscope Laboratory Department of Biological Sciences University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee (414)229-6816
Dear Mel, having used an Hitachi HF2000 in the past I can say that it is most likely that you can use an external computer to change your lenses.=20 The way we did this in the past was to use a small BASIC program on a PC, which talked to the TEM through the RS232 port. The program prompted you for two input numbers (both are 4 digit hexadecimal) which were then sent to the TEM.
The first number is the `address=B4 number which tells the TEM computer whic= h lens it is, the second is the value you wish to put in ranging from 0000 to FFFF. The program we used also had the ability to read the settings, so we could check the lenses to see if manually changing them altered the values.= =20
Because of the way this works you are going to have to calibrate the settings, which is no mean feat.=20
I could try to get hold of the program, but it will take a week or so to find out if my old TEM lab can a/ find it and b/ let me take a copy (I do not see why not).
Since I do not have access to this machine any more I cannot remember too much about it except that it was a pain to use. The reason I wanted to use it was for performing a tilt series.=20
My other line of suggestion is to find someone who knows how to interface a computer to the RS232 port. You should be able to find the addresses in the Technical manual of the H7000.=20
Good Luck, Jonathan ******************************************************** Dr Jonathan Barnard
Analytical Materials Physics The =C5ngstr=F6m Laboratory, Uppsala University P O Box 534, SE-751 21 Uppsala, Sweden Phone: +46-(0)18-4716838 Fax: +46-(0)18-500131
We are running an HF-2000 remotely and we have done it for several years. However, we go through Gatan's software DigitalMicrograph. Otherwise, the control through the RS232 interface should be as expected (i.e., is standard for an RS232). It is worthwhile to note that the magnification can be set to the same values as if turning the magnification nob directly. It is not necessary to set each lens directly, thus avoiding calibration problems. Hitachi has given us the manuals without a problem.
Hope this helps...
Edgar
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
________________ Dr. Edgar Voelkl ORNL Bldg 4515 1 Bethel Valley Road P.O. Box 2008 Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6064
Does anyone know of any other software other than EL/P that can open an EL/P file? DTSA perhaps? Or is it easy/preferable to export a spectra from EL/P as two-column ascii or otherwise?
-a colleague has sent me an EL/P file to show me a spectra. I have EmiSpec's ES-vision software for handling my PEELS as well as other graphing software and have not used in EL/P in several years.
Thanks, Brendan Foran Materials Analysis / Internal Technical Support SEMATECH Austin, Texas
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
We have a Hitachi H 9000 with a Gatan 622 video camera. Some things = that we look at such as crack propagation in the straining stage and the = melting of precipitates during implantation seem to happen on a time scale = that is too rapid for the standard 30 frames per second video camera. = Have there been any applications of high speed video cameras on TEMs? By = high speed I would mean up to 250 frames per second or more.
Anthony W. McCormick Materials Science Division Argonne National Lab. 9700 S. Cass Ave. Argonne, IL 60439
Someone wants to take color pictures using my Nikon UFX 35mm camera system and a stereo scope. It has been so long since I used the system, that I have forgotten the tricks. Our first set of pictures came out expposed correctly, but with a distinctly yellow cast, such that whites were yellow and yellow was orange-red. Is this the film type (we used Kodak 100 daylight)? Should we have used tungsten film? The light source was a fiber optic illuminator. Thanks-Dave
Home of the 1999 NCAA Basketball National Champion HUSKIES !!! ************************************************************
Dr. David Knecht Department of Molecular and Cell Biology University of Connecticut 75 N. Eagleville Rd. U-125 Storrs, CT 06269 Knecht-at-uconnvm.uconn.edu 860-486-2200 860-486-4331 (fax)
DTSA won't open an EL/P file. Your colleague could save the spectrum in EL/P as an ASCII file, even as an ASCII file in the MSA/MAS format (i.e., with a header). ---------------------------------- } } } To those doing electron energy loss spectroscopy } } Does anyone know of any other software other than EL/P that can open an EL/P } file? DTSA perhaps? } Or is it easy/preferable to export a spectra from EL/P as two-column ascii or } otherwise? } } -a colleague has sent me an EL/P file to show me a spectra. I have EmiSpec's } ES-vision software for handling my PEELS as well as other graphing } software and } have not used in EL/P in several years. } } Thanks, } Brendan Foran } Materials Analysis / Internal Technical Support } SEMATECH } Austin, Texas
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Russell E. Cook, Ph.D. 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 cook-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov
Hello Ron and Others, The argon we have been using cost $15.00 for the small tank. I have never specified any grade; but according to your findings and if price has anything to do with it, it must be the lower grade. It has done well by us.
Hope this helps, Sandra
At 10:40 AM 6/8/99 -0400, you wrote: } } Dear listmembers, } } For years, we sputter coated in air but recently switched to argon when a } tank was given to us. The tank is getting low and I'm getting poor results. } Research with the supplier leads me to believe it is grade 2.2 (99.95%). } they also have grade 4.8(99.99 %) in the small tank size. However the price } goes from $18 to $69 with the jump in grades. } } What grade argon is normally used in sputter coating? If I stick with the } 2.2 am I going to cause problems somewhere else? } } Thanks. } } Ron } lherault-at-bu.edu } } } Sandra F. Zane, EM Tech. sfzane-at-email.uncc.edu Dept. of Biology, UNC-Charlotte Ph.(704)547-4051 9201 University City Blvd. Fax (704)547-3128 Charlotte, NC 28223
Folks, I need some advice on the practicality of providing backup power supply for a SEM. The power here drops out about six times a year and can last from a few minutes to hours and of course can occur days, nights, weekends... I recall this being discussed in past year, but I wasn't sure if there was feeling as to the success of attempting to provide power for an orderly shutdown or just trying to hang on until power comes back on. The only time I operated a scope with a propane generator backup, in the five years I was there, the power never went out so I don't know if that would have handled a real test.
Any help would be appreciated.
Dave Audette OSRAM Sylvania Beverly, MA david.audette-at-sylvania.com
Use the purest argon available. If you are going to try refractory metals you will need the best grade AND make sure you have metal to metalconnections from the bottle to the coater. If you are only going to do noble metals and their alloys maybe you can get away with cooking style argon, but to continue the metaphore, we always use argon equivalent to a First Growth Claret.
Patrick Echlin CambridgeOn Tue, 8 Jun 1999, 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Dear listmembers, } } For years, we sputter coated in air but recently switched to argon when a } tank was given to us. The tank is getting low and I'm getting poor results. } Research with the supplier leads me to believe it is grade 2.2 (99.95%). } they also have grade 4.8(99.99 %) in the small tank size. However the price } goes from $18 to $69 with the jump in grades. } } What grade argon is normally used in sputter coating? If I stick with the } 2.2 am I going to cause problems somewhere else? } } Thanks. } } Ron } lherault-at-bu.edu } } } }
Microcosm, Inc. is looking for Zeiss LSM-410 microscopes. We will offer a fair price.
If you have LSM-410 for sale or you are planning to sale one in near future please contact me at (301) 725-2775.
Dr. Henryk Malak ________________________________________________________ Dr. Henryk Malak Director of Research Microcosm, Inc. | 9140 Guilford Road, Suite O |Columbia, MD 21046 Phone: (301) 725-2775, Fax: (301) 725-2941 Our web site is located at: http://www.microcosm.com {http://www.microcosm.com} ________________________________________________________
Rememeber, you can use a terminal emulator or a dumb terminal to experiment with such ports in the early stages. The first challenge will be to get the communication parameters correct (baud rate, stop bits, etc.) and to make sure that the cable is correct. A null modem or other specialized cable may be necessary. A lot of instruments with RS-232 interfaces don't totally follow the standard, or maybe I should say that the standard allows for a variety of flow-control options that one cannot tell ahead of time what the settings will be. A good manual from the manufacturer will go a long way to help. You may also want to borrow a computer geek to get the communication set up.
The next issue is getting the right command syntax. I would probably try the 7100 codes and see if they work. You should be able to send commands manually from a terminal to see if they work at all. Then you could see about packaging them up in a program such as QBASIC as was already suggested.
At 10:10 AM 6/8/1999 +1000, you wrote: } } Fellow listers.... } } The Hitachi H-7000 TEM is fitted with an RS232 interface for external I/O } communication. } } Does anyone out there know if it can be used to issue commands to control } functions of the microscope? } } We would like to adjust focus & image shift & stigmation on out H-7000. } All these are digitally controlled within the microscope. } } The next model produced, the H-7100 DOES have this facility and there is a } book of control codes for the H-7100. Officially, the H-7000 does not have } the facility and the RS232 interface is variously described as being for } use by service engineer, or for inserting alphanumerics on the film. Is } there any unofficial experience out there we can tap into? }
---------------------------------------------------- Warren E. Straszheim 23 Town Engineering Iowa State University Ames IA, 50011-3232
I pretty much agree with Rick Mott's comments. There are a host of factors involved and clever engineers can do much to minimize or even eliminate the differences. Conceptually, I would think an active system need not wait for the beam to completely settle before sampling the signal. The sample would simply be a mix of the signal from the area under the beam as it settled in. That could do a lot to reduce the overhead of active beam control. And frankly, I don't know whether our system overlaps beam position and sampling or not.
The disadvantage of our active systems is a limited number of choices for dwell times. We have choices of 10, 100, 200, 400, 800 us, etc. We would really like to have more choices between 10 and 100 us in order to match the collection time of our passive system. We can get a good passive image in 40 seconds. While 10 us yields an active image quickly, it is too noisy. A 100 us dwell produces a good image, but it takes more than 80 sec. It shouldn't be a big issue, but we collect thousands of images and the time adds up. I guess there could be similar problems with passive systems. You are constrained by the available scan rates on the microscope. Hopefully, you have a good set of choices.
So I guess I will summarize by saying the devil is in the details of the implementation - as always.
At 04:12 PM 6/7/1999 -0400, you wrote: } Warren E Straszheim wrote: } } } We have both in our lab. I find a few things to consider. } } } } 1) It is my impression is that the passive system yields a better image in } } the same amount of time. It seems the active system has a fair amount of } } overhead involved in positioning the beam. Thus only a fraction of the } } total time is spent collecting image data. } } } } (etc.) } } While any particular system may produce better or worse images than } another, I don't believe there's any inherent magic in passive scanning } that produces better images. I was involved in the design of an active } system a few years ago, and we spent a great deal of time worrying } about the issue of beam settling times and efficiency of sampling. } Passive systems still have to be concerned with flyback settling times, } for example, or the first few samples in the line will be trash. You have } no idea where the beam is for some period of time at the beginning of } each scan line; how long you have to wait depends on design choices } by the EM manufacturer. } } Probably the main determining factors of image quality in either type of } system are the speed, linearity and noise performance of the digitizing } ADC, and the equivalent parameters for the position DACs (active } system) or raster timing circuitry (passive system). } } Rick Mott }
You bet, the daylight film is less sensitive to blue than tungsten balanced film, so if you use it with tungsten lighting that has less blue than daylight, the images will have the yellow shift. Even when you use the tungsten balanced film, you may need the test the lamp voltage. The color of the illumination will change dependent on the voltage. Higher voltage the more blue, lower voltage more yellow. Some lamps will still are not in the range of the tungsten film and require color compensating filters. Also, if you only have daylight film, you can use a 80A or 80B color conversion filter to balance the light to daylight.
Bob Derm Imaging Center
On Wed, 9 Jun 1999, David Knecht 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Someone wants to take color pictures using my Nikon UFX 35mm camera system } and a stereo scope. It has been so long since I used the system, that I } have forgotten the tricks. Our first set of pictures came out expposed } correctly, but with a distinctly yellow cast, such that whites were yellow } and yellow was orange-red. Is this the film type (we used Kodak 100 } daylight)? Should we have used tungsten film? The light source was a } fiber optic illuminator. Thanks-Dave } } Home of the 1999 NCAA Basketball National Champion HUSKIES !!! } ************************************************************ } } Dr. David Knecht } Department of Molecular and Cell Biology } University of Connecticut } 75 N. Eagleville Rd. U-125 } Storrs, CT 06269 } Knecht-at-uconnvm.uconn.edu } 860-486-2200 860-486-4331 (fax) } } ************************************************************ } } } }
I'm a Newcastle Brown Ale kinda guy myself but I have decided to try the higher grade of Argon, since it is used so slowly and should give the best results. I have not had any problems I can associate with using tygon tubing to deliver the gas so I probably will not get into modification of the delivery system at this time.
Thanks to all who have contributed information.
Ron L -----Original Message----- } From: Dr P. Echlin {pe13-at-cus.cam.ac.uk} To: lherault {lherault-at-bu.edu} Cc: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com {Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com}
Hi Ya'll: We are looking for user experiences on the Vitalscan imaging system when used specifically on the JEOL 840 series SEM. We are looking for ease of use/archiving/x-ray acquisition/software stability/image quality, etc. Any experiences/recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Tahnk you in advance.
When using most fiber optic systems (that use a projector type bulb with reflector), you should turn the bulb up to nearly full brightness to get the proper color temperature. Even then, you may need to use a blue filter in the system (80A, I believe). You could use tungsten film such as Fuji 64T but you will need to still adjust the brightness of the bulb so that it is at the proper color temperature.
I would recommend the following: use a tungsten film and take an exposure series varying the bulb brightness from the half-way position up to max. Then evaluate the images, picking the optimal one. Now, ALWAYS set the bulb to this same setting. If the lamp is too bright, then use a neutral density filter rather than turning the bulb down since this will change the color temperature.
The ideal solution would be to use a color temperature meter to set the bulb to the proper temperature each time you shoot the images but they are expensive.
John
} Someone wants to take color pictures using my Nikon UFX 35mm camera system } and a stereo scope. It has been so long since I used the system, that I } have forgotten the tricks. Our first set of pictures came out expposed } correctly, but with a distinctly yellow cast, such that whites were yellow } and yellow was orange-red. Is this the film type (we used Kodak 100 } daylight)? Should we have used tungsten film? The light source was a } fiber optic illuminator. Thanks-Dave
#################################################################### John J. Bozzola, Ph.D., Director Center for Electron Microscopy 750 Communications Drive - MC 4402 Southern Illinois University Carbondale, IL 62901 U.S.A. Phone: 618-453-3730 Fax: 618-453-2665 Email: bozzola-at-siu.edu Web: http://www.siu.edu/departments/shops/cem.html ####################################################################
This yellow color is usually derived from the illumination you are using. Try an 82B filter (there is often a blue filter included with your microscope). The problem is related to what is called "color temperature". There are a number of good, basic discussions. For example, see: 1) Delly, John. Photography through the microscope (Kodak publication, available at most good camera stores) 2) Photomicrography (Polaroid) 3) Optimizing Light Microscopy (available through our web site - see below).
Basic principle for solving color correction ("CC"): make a circle; divide into 6 segments. Label alternating segments with primary colors (red, green, blue); label the other three with secondary colors (between red and blue = magenta; between blue and green= cyan; between red and gree = yellow).
To suppress a color (ex: the yellow you saw or the green tinge which often accompanies instant prints), try a filter of the opposite sector.
Kodak used to have a neat set of gelatin "CC" filters available in a little booklet, again through a good camera supply store. When you get the print, just hold a filter up in front of it under similar lighting to see which one will work best then insert that filter in the light path.
Good luck!
Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater productivity.
125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} ****************************************************** MME is America's first national consortium providing customized on-site workshops in all areas of microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis.
At 09:43 AM 6/9/99 -0400, David Knecht wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Yes, you have to use Tungsten film (unless you're shooting color negatives & printing, then the color balancing is done during printing). The other trick is to make sure the lamp is turned up bright. The scope should have some guide associated with this to indicate when the lamp is bright enough (in the photography range, much brighter than the eyeball range). This is necessary, because if the lamp is run too low, it will be too red--the black-body temperature (aka color-temperature) will be too low. If this is too bright for what you're doing, *don't* lower the brightness of the lamp, instead insert one or more neutral-density filters.
The other trick to balance the color if you only have daylight film is to use an "80" series 35mm camera filter. Put it over the window for the field diaphragm, below the condensor. Usually 80A, but B or C might be needed (the filters are denser, going from A to C). There are also Color Compensating (CC) filters that can be used, but these are designed for say color photography under fluorescent lights. The 80 series works fine usually. Using Tungsten film works better.
(Note, Tungsten film has to be used for halogen lights, not just tungsten bulbs. The difference between tungsten & daylight isn't wire filament or the sun, but rather color temperature, and halogen lights are closer to tungsten bulbs in color.)
Phil
} Someone wants to take color pictures using my Nikon UFX 35mm camera system } and a stereo scope. It has been so long since I used the system, that I } have forgotten the tricks. Our first set of pictures came out expposed } correctly, but with a distinctly yellow cast, such that whites were yellow } and yellow was orange-red. Is this the film type (we used Kodak 100 } daylight)? Should we have used tungsten film? The light source was a } fiber optic illuminator. Thanks-Dave } } Home of the 1999 NCAA Basketball National Champion HUSKIES !!! } ************************************************************ } } Dr. David Knecht } Department of Molecular and Cell Biology } University of Connecticut } 75 N. Eagleville Rd. U-125 } Storrs, CT 06269 } Knecht-at-uconnvm.uconn.edu } 860-486-2200 860-486-4331 (fax) } } ************************************************************
****be famous! send in a tech tip or question*** Philip Oshel Technical Editor, Microscopy Today PO Box 620068 Middleton, WI 53562 Address for courier deliveries: 6319 Pheasant Lane #A-12 Voice: (608) 833-2885 Fax: (608) 836-1969 (please make sure my name is on any fax) oshel-at-terracom.net
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
The H 9000 that we have does not have a scanning mode so the electron = beam is fixed at one point on the sample. The scan originates in the = Gatan video camera.
by sunspot.sjdccd.cc.ca.us (Netscape Messaging Server 3.6) with ESMTP id AAA41AE for {microscopy-at-Sparc5.microscopy.com} ; Wed, 9 Jun 1999 15:16:25 -0700 Received: from sjdccd.cc.ca.us ([198.189.201.226]) by ent2.sjdccd.cc.ca.us (Netscape Messaging Server 3.6) with ESMTP id 165; Wed, 9 Jun 1999 15:15:13 -0700 Message-ID: {375EF4E3.B0BEA521-at-sjdccd.cc.ca.us}
We also just bought an Agfa Duoscan 2500.
If you turn the 3 1/4 x 4 TEM negs sideways they just fit in the 4 x 5 hol.der. You can also use the glass holder, although I realize that glas= s is undesireable. I bought an extra 4 x 5 holder to modify it, but found that since the neg fit in the 4 x 5 holder sideways that works also. If you make a modified holder to hold 4 TEM negs, I would appreciate the design. That would be extremely handy.
Thanks Judy Murphy
Judy Murphy Microscopy Technology Center San Joaquin Delta College 5151 Pacific Ave Stockton, CA 95207 209/954-5284 FAX 209/954-5600 e-mail; jmurphy-at-sjdccd.cc.ca.us
Ian MacLaren 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------= =2E } } Dear all, } Is there anybody out there using an Agfa Duoscan for TEM negatives? } } Our lab has just bought one (the T2500) but the negative holder (60 by } 90) does not quite fit our TEM negatives (64 by 88 mm). } } What have others done about this? } Manually adjusting the holder? Having a special holder made? } } We would appreciate any ideas that you can share. } } Yours sincerely } } +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ } Ian MacLaren } Department of Experimental Physics } Chalmers University of Technology } S-412 96 G=F6teborg } Sweden } Tel: +46 31 772 36 33 } FAX: +46 31 772 32 24 } email: maclaren-at-fy.chalmers.se } or: ianmaclaren-at-hotmail.com } Research Group Homepage: http://fy.chalmers.se/microscopy/ } +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I had problems with both Spectra and ratio images from the GIF with respect to taking my data home where I do not have EL/P or Digital Micrograph; in fact I don't own a Mac. Here's what works best for me.
EELS SPECTRA For spectra, save it in both the MSA format (I think that it is still called EMSA format in the program) and two column ASCII. Both are ASCII. The MSA format will have all of the header information about the spectrum that you need, however, the data comes out in groups of rows of 5 numbers and these groups are separated by a blank row. There may be groups of 10 rows, but I'm not exactly sure here. I use the MSA format header data for information and the ASCII data graphs very quickly in Excel or any graphing program. I just have not gotten around to writing a small Basic program to decipher the MSA format data into x,y pairs. There is information in the header of the MSA that tells how many columns of data there are, so this should be fairly straightforward to do it. I've been playing with learning Visual Basic specifically to do this and will have it done before too long.
RATIO IMAGES With respect to ratio images you can run into problems with how you store the TIF images. Digital Micrograph has the option of saving images in an 8 bit mode (I can't remember what they call it) or Raw mode which is 16 bit. If you take a regular image and save it in the raw TIF mode, there is no problem in opening it in Photoshop or other software such as Thumbs Plus. However, if any pixel value is negative when the difference of the two images is taken for the ratio image, you will not be able to open it in Photoshop. It gives an error about non-standard format or some such message. I could not find any software that would open the file other than Digital Micrograph. Even NIH image would not do it. There are no problems if you save the ratio images in the 8 bit format except you had better have the contrast and brightness of the image set before saving the image. PC USERS, DON'T FORGET TO ADD THAT EXTENSION TO THE FILENAME!
I'm sure that this is more than what you needed, but I just recently had to deal with these problems and it is not too much of a problem for me now that I know what's going on.
-Scott
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Glass Technology Center 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: "Brendan.Foran-at-sematech.org"-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
To those doing electron energy loss spectroscopy
Does anyone know of any other software other than EL/P that can open an EL/P file? DTSA perhaps? Or is it easy/preferable to export a spectra from EL/P as two-column ascii or otherwise?
-a colleague has sent me an EL/P file to show me a spectra. I have EmiSpec's ES-vision software for handling my PEELS as well as other graphing software and have not used in EL/P in several years.
Thanks, Brendan Foran Materials Analysis / Internal Technical Support SEMATECH Austin, Texas
At 11:31 AM 6/9/99 , you wrote: } At 09:43 AM 6/9/99 -0400, David Knecht wrote: } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
You need a color temperature correction filter that changes the 2950K color temp of the halogen lamp to 5500K of daylight film. Tungsten film will not match your source if it is quartz halogen. In this case, use a Wratten 80A (blue) filter or what Olympus calls an LBD-2....light balancing daylight.
The color temperature of the halogen lamp does change with applied voltage so without a color temperature meter, you might have to do a small amount of experimentation to be sure. you will either need an 80A or 80B filter. Use chrome film for adjusting perfect color balance. C-41 has quite a wide latitude viz color balance.
Molecular Imaging, a leader in high resolution biological AFM research and manufacturing, will be visiting UCSF campus Friday, June 11th. An informal demo session will be open to the public 9am to 12 pm, in Science 420. During the demo, a protein sample (ferritin) will be imaged in solution. We will be happy to discuss any questions/comments related to the application of AFM in your research projects.
Posters and Images at: http://www.molec.com/biology/index.html
I am trying to label one or more reptor(s) using polyclonal antibodies (that we know works at the light level) on tissue that needs to also be treated for the DAB reaction product. We are attacking this by pre-embedding and post embedding. One of our concerns is the effect of the hydrogen peroxide and DAB on the antigenic sites, and the other is the fixative. During pre-embedding, should we do the DAB reactions first then the immunogold or vice versa? For the post embedding ,using LRW, can you perform the DAB reaction on the grids? Creating the next question, will nickel grids work with the peroxide?
We used a mixture of 4% paraformaldehyde, 0.5% glut, plus 10%v/v picric acid (PA), all in Sorensons buffer. What effect could the PA have on the DAB reaction? Several papers recomend PA for IEM, but I am wondering now about the PA because I had a previous DAB experiment not turn out the way we thought (neg. to poor reaction). I notice that most papers use Tris buffers at 0.05M for the DAB but a few do mention phosphate buffer? Is there a problem not using Tris?
If someone out there has had experience with combining DAB and immunogold labeling I would like to here from them.
-----Original Message----- } From: Dr. Gary Gaugler [mailto:gary-at-gaugler.com] Sent: Thursday, June 10, 1999 9:28 AM To: yanga-at-em.agr.ca Cc: MSA listserver
At 06:25 PM 6/9/99 , you wrote: } I am going for holidays on May10 and will be back on June 7. } } Ann Fook
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Yes, the distinct yellow cast that you found on your first roll of film is indeed due to using daylight balanced film with a tungsten halogen light source. Most fiber optic illuminators use tungsten halogen projector lamps. Tungsten Halogen lamps usually run at a color temerature of up to 3200K or 3400K, depending on their wattage. The words "up to" are important, because the total light output AND the color temperature are dependent on the voltage of the lamp. Raising the voltage will increase the output and increase the color temperature of the lamp, causing the output to be richer in blue light.
You have two choices to correct the problem, you can use daylight balanced film with filtration, or tungsten balanced film with little or no filtration.
If you must use daylight film, you will need the equivalent of a Wratten 80A filter (for 3200K) or a Wratten 80B filter (for the higher wattage 3400K light sources). The glass filters usually supplied with your compound microscopes are closest to the Wratten 80A filter.
Alternatively, you can use daylight balanced film with little or no filtration. The higher wattage tungsten halogen lamps operating at 3400K at full voltage would need a small correction with a Wratten 81A filter. However, if you do a voltage series, you may find that reducing the voltage of the lamp slightly gives you the right color temp for no filtration with tungsten balanced film.
Most fiber optic illuminators that I have seen do not have slots for filtering the light. I usually ended up cutting small pieces of a Wratten filter and securing it to the end of the fiber optic nearest the specimen. Alternatively, I have secured a clean, flat filter over the objectives of the stereo microscope and focussed through the glass without any noticeable degradation of the image.
The wratten color correction (CC) filters are not approprate filters for light balancing for color temperature. They absorb a smaller portion of the spectrum than do the color conversion Wratten 80 and 85 series, or the light balancing Wratten 82 and 81 series. The absorption curves of these filters are available in the very helpful Kodak publication B-3, "Kodak Filters for Scientific and Technical Uses"
I have a question for the microscopists who may have experimented with color temperature vs. lamp voltage for tungsten and tungsten halogen lamps at the compound microscope. I found that reducing the voltage of a tungsten lamp (which might operate at up to 2800K) led to a very large difference in both output and color temperature of the lamp. When I made the same changes with a tungsten halogen lamp, I found that the variation of output and color temperature were far less pronounced. Does anyone know why this may be the case?
Mary McCann McCann Imaging Ph: 617-484-7865 Fax:617-484-2490 email: mccanns-at-tiac.net http://www.microscopyed.com
} } Someone wants to take color pictures using my Nikon UFX 35mm camera system } and a stereo scope. It has been so long since I used the system, that I } have forgotten the tricks. Our first set of pictures came out expposed } correctly, but with a distinctly yellow cast, such that whites were yellow } and yellow was orange-red. Is this the film type (we used Kodak 100 } daylight)? Should we have used tungsten film? The light source was a } fiber optic illuminator. Thanks-Dave } } Home of the 1999 NCAA Basketball National Champion HUSKIES !!! } ************************************************************ } } Dr. David Knecht } Department of Molecular and Cell Biology } University of Connecticut } 75 N. Eagleville Rd. U-125 } Storrs, CT 06269 } Knecht-at-uconnvm.uconn.edu } 860-486-2200 860-486-4331 (fax) } } ************************************************************
Apparently Ann Fook has setup an auto-reply message during her absence from office. I have seen many others do that and wish they would not, at least if they remain subscribed to mailing lists. It means that when you and I send a post to the list, their auto-reply kicks in and we as the poster gets to hear about their vacation, again. Realizing that, I just shake my head and hit the delete button.
I suggest that if someone wants to use such an auto-reply function, they should set the nomail option on their lists (if available) or else temporarily unsubscribe. Otherwise, if they want to remain on the lists, they should avoid using the auto-reply. Or finally, they might learn how to use filters to only send the auto-reply to personal communications.
Warren
At 02:50 PM 6/10/1999 +0800, you wrote: } } I hope that I do not have to see this again!! } } Catherine } } -----Original Message----- } } At 06:25 PM 6/9/99 , you wrote: } } I am going for holidays on May10 and will be back on June 7. } } } } Ann Fook
Re, SEM 3A REQUEST FOR INFO REGUARDING HT OIL TANK.
I feel that I should say a big thank you to everyone who answered my Email concerning the above subject. Hopefully I will receive the info I need in the next few days. THANK YOU EVERY ONE. Yours faithfully, Eric Fotherby.
Trying to collect more data... If you have specification/sales brochures for Hitachi, Jeol, Philips, or Amray SEMs covering models, from about 1990 up to (but not including) the current offerings, I would dearly love to obtain a copy.
Thanks, Woody ---------------------- Woody White McDermott Technology, Inc Lynchburg Research Center P.O. Box 11165 Lynchburg, VA 24506
My colleague resent me the data saved from EL/P as "xy-ascii" which was of course easily graphed. Something apparently was wrong with the EL/P file originally sent to me.
To avoid discrediting EmiSpec, and as Gerd had surmised, EmiSpec's software is set up to import EL/P ".tad" files; I hadn't realized that at first, and then still it didn't work for the file originally sent to me (could be that we forgot to specify that the file was text format in moving it from the Mac to the PC- and we are going to re-try it though going the route of ascii is easy enough.
Thanks again for the advice,
Brendan
Brendan Foran, Ph.D. Materials Analysis Group SEMATECH Austin, TX
-----Original Message----- } From: Walck. Scott D. [mailto:walck-at-ppg.com] Sent: Wednesday, June 09, 1999 5:35 PM To: 'Brendan.Foran-at-sematech.org'; Micro
I had problems with both Spectra and ratio images from the GIF with respect to taking my data home where I do not have EL/P or Digital Micrograph; in fact I don't own a Mac. Here's what works best for me.
EELS SPECTRA For spectra, save it in both the MSA format (I think that it is still called EMSA format in the program) and two column ASCII. Both are ASCII. The MSA format will have all of the header information about the spectrum that you need, however, the data comes out in groups of rows of 5 numbers and these groups are separated by a blank row. There may be groups of 10 rows, but I'm not exactly sure here. I use the MSA format header data for information and the ASCII data graphs very quickly in Excel or any graphing program. I just have not gotten around to writing a small Basic program to decipher the MSA format data into x,y pairs. There is information in the header of the MSA that tells how many columns of data there are, so this should be fairly straightforward to do it. I've been playing with learning Visual Basic specifically to do this and will have it done before too long.
RATIO IMAGES With respect to ratio images you can run into problems with how you store the TIF images. Digital Micrograph has the option of saving images in an 8 bit mode (I can't remember what they call it) or Raw mode which is 16 bit. If you take a regular image and save it in the raw TIF mode, there is no problem in opening it in Photoshop or other software such as Thumbs Plus. However, if any pixel value is negative when the difference of the two images is taken for the ratio image, you will not be able to open it in Photoshop. It gives an error about non-standard format or some such message. I could not find any software that would open the file other than Digital Micrograph. Even NIH image would not do it. There are no problems if you save the ratio images in the 8 bit format except you had better have the contrast and brightness of the image set before saving the image. PC USERS, DON'T FORGET TO ADD THAT EXTENSION TO THE FILENAME!
I'm sure that this is more than what you needed, but I just recently had to deal with these problems and it is not too much of a problem for me now that I know what's going on.
-Scott
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Glass Technology Center 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: "Brendan.Foran-at-sematech.org"-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
To those doing electron energy loss spectroscopy
Does anyone know of any other software other than EL/P that can open an EL/P file? DTSA perhaps? Or is it easy/preferable to export a spectra from EL/P as two-column ascii or otherwise?
-a colleague has sent me an EL/P file to show me a spectra. I have EmiSpec's ES-vision software for handling my PEELS as well as other graphing software and have not used in EL/P in several years.
Thanks, Brendan Foran Materials Analysis / Internal Technical Support SEMATECH Austin, Texas
The best source for refractive index oils of all sorts is Cargille Labs in Cedar Grove, NJ: 973-239-6633
They also have a very good reference booklet by Dr. Robert Allen on Refractometry. We use it for all our Am. Chem. Soc. courses.
Best regards, Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater productivity.
125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} ****************************************************** MME is America's first national consortium providing customized on-site workshops in all areas of microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis.
At 10:16 PM 6/9/99 -0600, wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I received several questions regarding color LM microphotography. Here is a short compilation of the individual posts for everyone's general use as may be beneficial:
If you are using daylight film, use the LBD-2 filter. Depending on which lamp house and bulb it uses, there still may be a slight color shift. If the results are warm (on the red, yellow side), increase the color temperature of the source by increasing the lamp voltage. Usually there is a setting for taking photos. However, on some scopes, this setting is too warm and there will be a color shift.
The LBD-IF filter can be used for tungsten film but your best results and controls are achieved with daylight film. And there are many more choices as well. There are two types of tungsten film: A and B. A is rated at 3,200K while B is rated at 3,400K. Some tungsten films do not directly indicate which kind they are; or the maker makes it really a challenge to find out which kind it is. It really does make a difference. If you are shooting slides, use Fuji Provia (RDP-II) at ISO 100 or Provia 400 (RHP) at ISO 400. The grain increases of course with faster film.
If you use C-41 negative film, I would recommend Fuji NPS shot at ISO 100. It is a 4-layer emulsion film and is good for a little extra light correction.
Remember that it is much easier to adjust the final color balance when making prints from negative (C-41) films. This is done during printing and if the neg is decently exposed (highlights not blown out) then good results can be had. Printing from E-6 slides is a different process (Ilfochrome/Cibachrome) and is much more expensive and difficult to control/vary.
If you are interested in color temperature of various bulb sources, check out this following URL:
http://photoweb.net/pw_tech/floures1.html
Here you will find the color temp of different light sources and the filters needed to correct them to daylight film. Without correction, even tungsten A or B film will still have a cast. Especially if you use Type B tungsten film. The mired shift is enough between 2900K of the halogen source and the rated 3200K of the film to show up as a subtle warming cast. Daylight C-41 film will also require severe color correction without an LB filter. There are actually two types of filters required for color compensation. The LB filter is the light balancing filter. The CC filter is the color correction filter. In reality, the LB is the main filter which adjusts the red/blue ratio. The CC filter handles the green. Continuous sources, like tungsten and halogen bulbs, really only need LB compensation. The CC filter comes into play when using non-continuous spectra sources like flourescent or halide lamps.
The best way, short of having a color meter, to balance color temperatures of source and film is to shoot chromes and adjust source voltage and/or filtering to achieve a neutral, real color result. With a typical halogen source, this means using for example an Olympus LBD or LBD-2N filter or an 80A blue filter.
The other option aside from printing is to digitally scan both or either negs or chromes (slides). This opens up many useful features. For example, if you are shooting C-41 negs, you can calibrate the scanner to the color cast of the backing and have the software automatically remove that after a preview scan. This will auto correct the color balance of the film frame to as close as daylight as can be done. Furthermore, you can play with the color settings yourself to remove yellow/red by adding blue and/or cyan. These scanners will also sharpen your images, auto adjust highlights or shadows and with separate software plugins to Photoshop (like Extensis Intellihance) automatically perform up to 20 separate steps to optimize each scanned image.
Finally, there are basically two types of color meters. Type 2 and Type 3. Really all this means is whether the meter has 2 sensors (red + blue) or 3 sensors (red + blue + green). There are numerous older models of Type 2 meters that have two sensors, a pair of filters and a simple D'arsonval meter movement to indicate the color temperature. The newer digital meters are much better but also more expensive.
Our 20 year old freeze drier is dying and I am looking to buy a new one. It will be used for standard SEM prep stuff of biological material. I am looking for anyone's recent experience with new models. Vendors in the UK are welcome to reply. It might be preferable to reply directly to me rather than the list. As usual I will be happy to post a digest if there is interest. 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://www.empgu.man.ac.uk
I am s-o-r-r-y! The auto-reply has been taken out.
Ann Fook Yang EM Unit, Eastern Cereal and Oilseed Research Centre, Rm 2091, K.W. Neatby Bldg., Central Farm, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0C6
Phone: 613-759-1638 Fax; 613-759-1701
} } } Warren E Straszheim {wesaia-at-iastate.edu} 06/10 8:27 AM } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Apparently Ann Fook has setup an auto-reply message during her absence from office. I have seen many others do that and wish they would not, at least if they remain subscribed to mailing lists. It means that when you and I send a post to the list, their auto-reply kicks in and we as the poster gets to hear about their vacation, again. Realizing that, I just shake my head and hit the delete button.
I suggest that if someone wants to use such an auto-reply function, they should set the nomail option on their lists (if available) or else temporarily unsubscribe. Otherwise, if they want to remain on the lists, they should avoid using the auto-reply. Or finally, they might learn how to use filters to only send the auto-reply to personal communications.
Warren
At 02:50 PM 6/10/1999 +0800, you wrote: } } I hope that I do not have to see this again!! } } Catherine } } -----Original Message----- } } At 06:25 PM 6/9/99 , you wrote: } } I am going for holidays on May10 and will be back on June 7. } } } } Ann Fook
} I received several questions regarding color LM microphotography. Here is } a short compilation of the individual posts for everyone's general use as may } be beneficial:
} { stuff deleted in the interest of brevity}
Dr. Gaugler makes some excellent points, only one of which I disagree with. If you shoot print film, the automatic printing machine, not being familiar with images shoot through the microscope, will rarely give accurate color (in my experience) so you may have to pay for custom printing. Expensive. If you shoot slide film you can select the best image and have it printed, either from an internegative, by Ilfochrome or by scanning. Now you also have a slide for presentation at seminars or meetings. Also you can experiment and fine tune the light source you are using by using varing light intensities, color correction filters and making accurate notes. Since the color on the slides is not adjusted in printing you can find the right setting/filter for your equipment and subject matter. Just my $.02 worth.
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 mcauliff-at-umdnj.edu **********************************************
The Imaging and Analysis Center at Princeton Materials Institute, Princeton University has an open position for a Specialist. The successful candidate will instruct students in the operation of instruments for imaging (electron, optical, and scanning probe microscopies), analysis, and diffraction; maintain and repair these instruments; oversee upkeep of the center; support faculty and students; analyze samples; supervise students; maintain a safe environment; and other assigned duties. Bachelor degree in physical science and/or 4+ years-related work experience required. Candidates should be familiar with the instruments in the facility, mechanical and electronic equipment, vacuum systems, PC and/o SUN and EDS/WDS systems. The candidate should be competent with sample preparation techniques, including ion milling, ultra-thin sectioning, staining, and coating of samples. Good communication and interpersonal skills are essential.
Interested candidates should send application to: Susan Calvetto, Business Manager, Princeton Materials Institute, Princeton University, 70 Prospect Ave. Princeton, NJ 08540, calvetto-at-princeton.edu. Applications should include a resume, letter of application and three letters of recommendation. Princeton University offers excellent benefits
Is there software available that will display graphical output from the various EDS file formats? I am using a Link Oxford system. I would like to access spectra at my desk. I can export to EMSA/MAS format.
I am looking for a chemical etch that would etch my substrate (MgAl2O4) but not my film (CoFe2O4). I would very much appreciate any suggestions. Thanks for taking time to consider this request.
Sincerely,
Mick Thomas ---------------------------- Mick Thomas UHV-STEM Laboratory E-1 Clark Hall Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14853
You were recently selected by The Office of the Managing Director for a free listing on The International Executive Guild's Who's Who CD-ROM.
Our Researchers gather information from many recognized sources, including professional associations and societies, trade organizations, newspaper and magazine articles, professional reference publications, web presence, and referrals from existing members.
As a highly respected professional in your field of expertise, we believe your contributions merit very serious consideration for inclusion on The International Executive Guild's Who's Who CD-ROM.
To maintain the level of accuracy, we ask you to click on the web address highlighted below and fill out the brief bit of information required for inclusion.
There is no cost or obligation to be listed on The International Executive Guild's Who's Who CD-ROM.
Visit: http://www.cyberwaves.net
My Sincere Thanks,
Lorraine A. Michaels Office Of Managing Director
For email list removal, please enter your email address on our REMOVE SITE.
sure...mike we have one for you... -----Original Message----- } From: Ingram, Mike {MIngram-at-rodel.com} To: 'Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.com' {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com}
Does anyone know any company or individual who services Reichert Ultramicrotomes. I live in Tampa, Florida and would prefer finding one who is relatively near. Thank you very much. Margie Bryant
JEOL JSM - 35U Scanning Electron Microscope for sale. It was on JEOL Service Contract from purchase date (1976) until March 31, 1999. It still takes excellent pictures easily at mags below 10,000x's and nice pictures with manipulation at mags up to 20,000x's. I feel as if I am selling my best friend. Best offer.
Phoebe J. Doss, Manager/Adjunct Instructor Electron Microscope Lab Oklahoma State University (405)744-6765
I recently have come across literature from Instrumedics, Inc. on their device for cutting and mounting cryo sections without passing sections through aqueous solutions and without melting the sections onto the slide.
The system attaches sections to the slides using a UV-cured adhesive. It sounds great, but at a $6,600 price tag (you supply the cryostat) I need to know whether this really works. Are there people out there who have used this? Please forward your comments to me.
Thanks.
Don
______________________________________________________________________ Donald L. Lovett e-mail: lovett-at-tcnj.edu Assoc. Professor, Dept. of Biology voice: (609) 771-2876 P.O. Box 7718 fax: (609) 637-5118 The College of New Jersey Ewing, NJ 08628-0718
Geoff brings up an interesting point. Automatic printing machines will certainly try to adjust color balance to levels that they "think" are best, regardless of what the researcher wants. Depending on the lab you use, you may or may not be able to specify color corrections and hand prints back to be redone. Some labs just won't or can't do it.
Similarly, these machines will give you brightness/darkness levels they "feel" are appropriate. They don't know that the area of tissue you really wanted to see was that really dark patch in the center, instead of the perfectly exposed surrounding matrix, for example. They try to average brightness values across the whole negative to come up with a reasonable compromise, which works fine for most family picnic pictures.
Slides, as Geoff says, overcome these problems since there is no machine interpretation of the image. The final image you see is the original piece of film exposed in the camera---just the way you exposed it in terms of color and brightness. But you can take it and specify improvements when having prints made, or you can scan it in and do anything you want digitally.
Slide films come in various color balances, just like print films, and you can use the same filters. They are very useful for these types of applications.
I have been asked by a faculty member to fix rat brains, cut and measure the dendrites of a neuron. He has given me three articles but I they are dated (1972). I was hoping for some direction of the current protocols used.
Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Debbie Lietz
Debbie Lietz Electron Microscopy Suite Department of Biology Trent University Peterborough, Ontario K9J 7B8 Telephone: (705)748-1486 Fax: (705) 748-1205 email: dlietz-at-trentu.ca
South Bay Technology, Inc. will be offering another in its ongoing series=
of Tripod Polisher Workshops on September 24-25, 1999 in San Clemente, CA= . =
New at this workshop will be additional sections on low energy ion milling, plasma cleaning and ion beam sputtering/etching. For a course description and on-line registration information, please go to our websit= e at www.southbaytech.com and select the "Workshops" icon.
We need to prepare some TEM samples of a powder metallurgy sample of roughly
Pb 8% Sn 1.5% Cu (?) Al balance
Any suggestions on preparation? We were thinking of trying Nitric/Methanol (the usual Al electropolish).
Thanks, Henk Colijn
Hendrik O. Colijn colijn.1-at-osu.edu Campus Electron Optics Facility Ohio State University (614) 292-0674 http://web.ceof.ohio-state.edu Murphy's Law: "If anything can go wrong, it will." Commentary: "Murphy was an optimist."
I have a JEOL IC845 SEM. When recording images on film, I get evenly spaced light and dark areas (similar to fringes) on my micrographs. It does not appear on screen when viewing an image in normal viewing mode, but in watching the photo scan line it does appear to be present, but difficult to see. Does anyone have an idea as to what is going on?
Which way are the lines oriented and what is their spacing on the film? If the lines run vertical on Polaroids, it could be due to gunk on the rollers or the smoothness of pulling the film from the camera.
At 04:49 PM 6/11/1999 -0400, you wrote: } } I have a JEOL IC845 SEM. When recording images on film, I get evenly spaced } light and dark areas (similar to fringes) on my micrographs. It does not } appear on screen when viewing an image in normal viewing mode, but in } watching the photo scan line it does appear to be present, but difficult to } see. Does anyone have an idea as to what is going on?
I don't know how many of you may have heard of the death of Arthur Cohen this past week. He was a pioneer in the preparation techniques used in scanning electron microscopy and critical point drying. He was Professor Emeritus of Botany at Washington State University, and carried out his research and electron microscopy interests long after his retirement.
I was fortunate enough to spend some time in his company over the last few years, and learn a few things which have enhanced my career.
Franklin Bailey Electron Microscopy Center University of Idaho Moscow, ID 83844-2204
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO Scripps Institution of Oceanography, June 1999
Scripps Institution of Oceanography=92s Analytical Facility announces the= ir AFM/STM services lab. Unlike SEM, AFM has the unique capability to provid= e high resolution imaging of biological samples in solution to maintain the= ir structural integrity. We can also vary the solution (pH, buffers, etc.) t= o examine the behavior of samples in vitro.
The total image size can be as high as 30um x 30um(lateral) and 7um(heigh= t). High resolution images can produce feature sizes as low as ~5nm(laterally= ) and sub-angstrom height resolution. Our capabilities for biological sampl= es in solution and samples under environmental control (electrochemistry, humidity, and temperature) make us a unique facility compared to other contract AFM labs.
For more information, please contact Kevin Walda, PhD, Manager SIO Analytical Facility. Tel: (619) 534-3558. Email: kwalda-at-ucsd.edu.
Review article on SPM in Biology! First draft, posted for comments/feedback only, final version will be published by John Wiley in the book "Scanning Tunneling Microscopy and related techniques" ed. D. Bonnell.
Author: Prof. Stuart Lindsay, ASU
View the Article here. http://green.la.asu.edu/index.html
At 01:49 PM 6/11/99 , you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I would guess that there is a bad or dirty relay contact in your mag circuit. This of course assumes that the scope uses relays to control lens current.
Scopes usually have separate circuits for display and record CRTs. If the display is OK but the record is bad, look for the control relays that are related to the record CRT. If the display is bad and the record is OK, look at the display relays. If both displays are bad....well, move back to the scan generator as a start.
someone initially wrote ... } } } } I have a JEOL IC845 SEM. When recording images on film, I get evenly spaced } } light and dark areas (similar to fringes) on my micrographs. It does not } } appear on screen when viewing an image in normal viewing mode, but in } } watching the photo scan line it does appear to be present, but difficult to } } see. Does anyone have an idea as to what is going on? } } ...
Maybe we should first eliminate the obvious. Tell us more about the spacing and how many lines you see ... after all, these could be the photo CRT's own scan lines which are only visible on the film(???)
Ingram, Mike 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 a JEOL IC845 SEM. When recording images on film, I get evenly spaced } light and dark areas (similar to fringes) on my micrographs. It does not } appear on screen when viewing an image in normal viewing mode, but in } watching the photo scan line it does appear to be present, but difficult to } see. Does anyone have an idea as to what is going on?
Could be dirty (poor contact) on the thumbwheel scan speed switch for photo mode. Try a different scan speed by changing the photo speed setting or replacing the switches. Other possibilities include charging sample, defective scintillator, dying filament. Try taking a blank raster filament off) and see if the lines are still present. If they are still present the problem is in the recording system.
Dear sir or madam: I need to get an idea of how much tissue is processed in the USA per year for electron microscopy. Could you please point me towards a source, person, group etc. that might be able to help me get such an estimate? Any help at all would be greatly appreciated. Thanking you in advance, Regards, Tom Kuwahara -- ******************************* Thomas J. Kuwahara Senior Immunohistochemist Advanced Pathology Systems 3801 Sacramento St. suite 621 San Francisco, CA 94118 415 750 6800 x23067 tel 415 750 2332 fax tom-at-adpath.com
Re Franklin Bailey E mail Dr Arthur Cohen It with regret that I have heard of the death of Arthur Cohen . Having met him on a visit from England a lot of years ago at an EMSA meeting , his work in my humble judgement was excellent and we still use his reference papers in our work and for users of CPD . We shall continue to do so , and his name lives on .
Respectfully David Robinson Emitech England In message {991D50EBD-at-oak.csrv.uidaho.edu} , J.F.Bailey {JFB-at-novell.uidaho.edu} writes } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I used to operate a JEOL 840A and have seen what sounds like this problem, where you see about 15 equally spaced vertical lines on the tv screen and the photos. The service group recommended I shut down the console, pull the boards and, using a pencil eraser, clean the contacts (fingers) on the three boards in the image bin on the upper console rack. I assumed one board was the culprit, but did the bunch rather than experiment. This was the left most bin on the 840A and has the boards that control the screen, alpha numerics, brightness, and such. Apparently it was an every several years maintaince recommendation. If this sounds like your problem, it might be worth a try.
Dave Audette OSRAM Sylvania Beverly, MA david.audette-at-sylvania.com
} -----Original Message----- } From: Ingram, Mike [SMTP:MIngram-at-rodel.com] } Sent: Friday, June 11, 1999 4:49 PM } To: 'Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.com' } Subject: Problems with Photo Scan on JEOL JSM 845 SEM } Importance: High } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 a JEOL IC845 SEM. When recording images on film, I get evenly } spaced } light and dark areas (similar to fringes) on my micrographs. It does not } appear on screen when viewing an image in normal viewing mode, but in } watching the photo scan line it does appear to be present, but difficult } to } see. Does anyone have an idea as to what is going on? }
I will be needing a set of scan selector switches for a Hitachi S450. These are the buttons we push to select scan speeds {the old gal is stuck on slow scan, I hope this is the only problem!}. Individual buttons would be fine but if there is a complete board out there it would save me some soldering time.
One feature of assessing performance of objectives that I have never really understood is the non-financial cost of using a phase objective for either bright-field, fluorescence or DIC. How much does the phase ring & coating they use to correct for differences in intensity really affect the performance of these objectives when they are used in non-phase types of optics. Thanks for any comments. Tom
Thomas E. Phillips, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Biological Sciences Director, Molecular Cytology Core Facility
3 Tucker Hall Division of Biological Sciences University of Missouri Columbia, MO 65211-7400 (573)-882-4712 (voice) (573)-882-0123 (fax)
I have been asked to serial section areas of retina 5 mm and more in length, for 3-D reconstruction, and then be able to produce TEM of selected sections. Is there a practical way to do this and hopefully a reference? 10um paraffin sections and re-embedment in epon or 2um epon sections seem the most likely way.
Also, is there a good way to mark the tissue so that the source of a section can be located on a gross photo of the tissue?
I'm using NIH image right now, it's freeware on the net, but I always get garbage scans. Does anyone know of any digitizing software where I can scan a TEM negative and analyze it? I need to take a density count of copper oxide islands (heteropataxial growth) and doing it with a light table and a magnifying glass is not fun. thanks
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS EXTENDED TO FRIDAY JUNE 19, 1999.
Summer School on Computing in Electron Microscopy slotted for August 9-13, 1999 , Berkeley, California
(Berkeley, CA) The seventh annual Summer School on Computer-Interactive HRTEM Image Acquisition, Processing and Simulation will be held at the National Center for Electron Microscopy (NCEM), Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley from August 9 through August 13, 1999.
The curriculum will focus on training participants in techniques of computer-assisted acquisition and interpretation of high-resolution electron microscope images, including remote-control microscopy. Participants will learn general principles and apply them to specific cases. Instruction on use of computer assistance to obtain images on NCEM microscopes will be followed by training in the use of specific application programs for image interpretation by image processing and simulation.
Participants who wish to apply newly acquired techniques to their own projects are encouraged to extend their visit at NCEM into the next week. Please note: this type of arrangement requires advance submission of a proposal. Projects may involve prepared specimens for microscopy, images and diffraction patterns for processing, or crystal and defect data for simulations. The fee of $375 will cover all materials, instruction, continental breakfast daily, two lunches and an evening reception. Deadline for applications is June 19, 1999. For more information and downloadable application materials contact:
We are looking for a recent Ph.D. with experience in electron microscopy and/or modern light microscopy to work on a new project examining lineage specific transcription events inside the intestine of the developing Caenorhabditis elegans embryo. This will be a joint project between the
laboratories of Drs. David Bazett-Jones and Jim McGhee in the Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Calgary. The
developing C. elegans gut provides a unique opportunity to combine structural and ultrastructural analyses of a fundamental problem in biology. For background details of the experimental system, please visit the web site at "www.ucalgary.ca/~jmcghee". For further details, please contact either:
Dr. David P. Bazett-Jones (bazett-at-ucalgary.ca)
or
Dr. James D. McGhee (jmcghee-at-ucalgary.ca)
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Calgary, Faculty of Medicine, 3330 Hospital Drive, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N1 CANADA
} Mime-Version: 1.0 } Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" } Date: Mon, 14 Jun 1999 17:34:39 -0400 } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: JEOL 200CX TEM free
} } A JEOL 200CX TEM is available to anybody who wants it, at no cost for } purchase, with the taker responsible for all moving costs and any repairs. } This is a high-resolution 200kV transmission electron microscope. The } microscope is located at MCNC in the Research Triangle Park, North } Carolina. It is currently in operation. The microscope has high-resolution } pole pieces, a top-entry stage, and a LaB6 filament. It is presently } working only with untilted samples because the tilt mechanism is broken. } All other major components of the microscope are presently working. Anyone } interested in the microscope should contact me by e-mail or phone. } } Michael Lamvik } {mlamvik-at-mcnc.org} } Phone 919-248-1909 } Fax 919-248-1455 } }
There seems to be a lot if interest in the use of focussed ion beam milling for TEM sample prep. I have put up a short tutorial covering the basic steps on our web site. You can access the tutorial via http://www.cmp-cientifica.com/FIB/temprep.htm
During a recent one week "Intensive SEM" coarse, that took place in Johannesburg South Africa, the students came up with a superb cleaning technique that they wished to report upon. The results are, or should be= , interesting to everyone who has to clean a cathode assembly!
=46rom my side the course contains a number of carefully structured practicals that are designed to present the operating variables to the students in the clearest possible fashion. From time to time one finds oneself developing practicals "on the run" to suit the situation. It was=
such a case that is reported below; the filament failed!
A Rapid Cleaning Technique For EM Cathode Assemblies
} From Errol Kelly - University of Fort Hare Belinda White - University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg Allan Hall - University of Pretoria Akos Szabo - Rand Afrikaans University Neville Baker - Anaspec
Introduction The most time consuming operation during the routine use of a SEM or TEM = is often the cleaning of a cathode assembly. The procedure outlined require= s little operator intervention, is free from possible cathode contamination=
by the cleaning media and takes comparatively very little time.
History There is a vast array of cleaning media used by laboratories to clean the=
cathode assemblies of electron microscopes. With many of these the bigge= st failing is the difficulty in removing completely the cleaning media leadi= ng to excessive contamination within the system. This problem is further complicated by the human hazards associated with some of the solvents bei= ng used. In some countries acetone and ether are not permitted in the laboratory!
Steve Chapman has been using and teaching an ultrasonic cleaning techniqu= e he developed in 1964. The procedure took advantage of tungsten being soluble in an ammonia solution (NH4OH) and combined this media with any metal polish that was also soluble in ammonia. The technique used an ammonia solution that had been diluted from a stock solution down to 10 t= o 15 parts water to 1 part ammonia. A range of metal polishing media had been used dictated by their availability in various countries of the worl= d. This cleaning procedure relied more upon the abrasive effect of the meta= l polishing media rather than the chemical attack from the ammonia. =
Subsequent to the metal polish ultrasonic cleaning period of about 30 minutes, the polishing media was removed by way of two further 5 minute ultrasonic cleaning periods in the dilute ammonia alone, to ensure comple= te removal of the metal polishing media. The components were then washed in=
alcohol and dried with a hot air blower. With severely contaminated cathodes, as would be typical of a SEM used at high emission currents, a degree of manual cleaning was often required in the "burnt on" tungsten areas around the cathode aperture. That could be prior to or after the initial ultrasonic cleaning procedure. =
The New Procedure The cathode assembly was placed, aperture face upwards, in a beaker of stock ammonia solution diluted 3 parts ammonia to one part water. The stock solution was thought to be about 40% ammonia. After 15 minutes in the ultrasonic cleaner the beaker was placed under running water and thoroughly flushed through. Care was taken to ensure that none of the clamping or alignment screws had fallen out of the cathode assembly and could be flushed away! The cathode was then washed with alcohol before being dried with a hair drier. A new filament was fitted and centered. =
The assembly was checked for cleanliness by observing with a 20X lens pri= or to re installation in the microscope. Total time for this procedure less=
than 25 minutes.
Safety Great care was taken not to allow the ammonia solution to make contact wi= th the skin or eyes of the operator. When flushing the solution through wit= h water its flow was set so as not to splash the solution over the operator=
prior to placing the beaker under the flow.
Observations The procedure was used on a severely contaminated SEM cathode and a catho= de assembly from an electron probe. Contamination rate had been noted as an=
earlier part of the course so we are able to state that observations in t= he SEM before and after cleaning indicated little or no increase in contamination levels.
--------- Back to me-
We were all amazed at the results, a totally wet cleaning method, a perfectly clean cathode assembly with apparently no instrument problems? = I do not know how ammonia reacts with tantalum (the Philips cathode apertur= e) but I would guess this technique would be applicable to any SEM, TEM, or probe?
What do your members think?
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
Steve, Errol, Belinda, Allen, Akos, Neville, Thanks for the cleaning procedure. It sound great. I'm looking forward to trying it. One item I would like to mention in favor of some polishing. Over time small irregularities develop on the surfaces through handling or arcing, etc. We even polish new apertures to confirm roundness and smootheness. Possibly some water based abrasive could be used in conjunction with your ammonia technique. Thanks, Russ, Xerox
-----Original Message----- } From: Steve Chapman [mailto:PROTRAIN-at-CompuServe.COM] Sent: Tuesday, June 15, 1999 3:35 AM To: American; MSSAfrica
Hi to Electron Microscopists,
During a recent one week "Intensive SEM" coarse, that took place in Johannesburg South Africa, the students came up with a superb cleaning technique that they wished to report upon. The results are, or should be, interesting to everyone who has to clean a cathode assembly!
} From my side the course contains a number of carefully structured practicals that are designed to present the operating variables to the students in the clearest possible fashion. From time to time one finds oneself developing practicals "on the run" to suit the situation. It was such a case that is reported below; the filament failed!
A Rapid Cleaning Technique For EM Cathode Assemblies
} From Errol Kelly - University of Fort Hare Belinda White - University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg Allan Hall - University of Pretoria Akos Szabo - Rand Afrikaans University Neville Baker - Anaspec
Introduction The most time consuming operation during the routine use of a SEM or TEM is often the cleaning of a cathode assembly. The procedure outlined requires little operator intervention, is free from possible cathode contamination by the cleaning media and takes comparatively very little time.
History There is a vast array of cleaning media used by laboratories to clean the cathode assemblies of electron microscopes. With many of these the biggest failing is the difficulty in removing completely the cleaning media leading to excessive contamination within the system. This problem is further complicated by the human hazards associated with some of the solvents being used. In some countries acetone and ether are not permitted in the laboratory!
Steve Chapman has been using and teaching an ultrasonic cleaning technique he developed in 1964. The procedure took advantage of tungsten being soluble in an ammonia solution (NH4OH) and combined this media with any metal polish that was also soluble in ammonia. The technique used an ammonia solution that had been diluted from a stock solution down to 10 to 15 parts water to 1 part ammonia. A range of metal polishing media had been used dictated by their availability in various countries of the world. This cleaning procedure relied more upon the abrasive effect of the metal polishing media rather than the chemical attack from the ammonia. Subsequent to the metal polish ultrasonic cleaning period of about 30 minutes, the polishing media was removed by way of two further 5 minute ultrasonic cleaning periods in the dilute ammonia alone, to ensure complete removal of the metal polishing media. The components were then washed in alcohol and dried with a hot air blower. With severely contaminated cathodes, as would be typical of a SEM used at high emission currents, a degree of manual cleaning was often required in the "burnt on" tungsten areas around the cathode aperture. That could be prior to or after the initial ultrasonic cleaning procedure.
The New Procedure The cathode assembly was placed, aperture face upwards, in a beaker of stock ammonia solution diluted 3 parts ammonia to one part water. The stock solution was thought to be about 40% ammonia. After 15 minutes in the ultrasonic cleaner the beaker was placed under running water and thoroughly flushed through. Care was taken to ensure that none of the clamping or alignment screws had fallen out of the cathode assembly and could be flushed away! The cathode was then washed with alcohol before being dried with a hair drier. A new filament was fitted and centered. The assembly was checked for cleanliness by observing with a 20X lens prior to re installation in the microscope. Total time for this procedure less than 25 minutes.
Safety Great care was taken not to allow the ammonia solution to make contact with the skin or eyes of the operator. When flushing the solution through with water its flow was set so as not to splash the solution over the operator prior to placing the beaker under the flow.
Observations The procedure was used on a severely contaminated SEM cathode and a cathode assembly from an electron probe. Contamination rate had been noted as an earlier part of the course so we are able to state that observations in the SEM before and after cleaning indicated little or no increase in contamination levels.
--------- Back to me-
We were all amazed at the results, a totally wet cleaning method, a perfectly clean cathode assembly with apparently no instrument problems? I do not know how ammonia reacts with tantalum (the Philips cathode aperture) but I would guess this technique would be applicable to any SEM, TEM, or probe?
What do your members think?
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
For stainless steel (304) cathodes, I have had customers used "ammonium hydeoxide hydrogen peroxide" 30%. I am not a chemist but leaving the wehnelt caps overnight leaves a bright, clean finish. It is my understanding that the solution attacks most everything except the stainless. A further advantage is that there is no abrasive used, so no erosion of the wehnelt assembly.
Earl Weltmer
Steve Chapman 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 to Electron Microscopists, } } During a recent one week "Intensive SEM" coarse, that took place in } Johannesburg South Africa, the students came up with a superb cleaning } technique that they wished to report upon. The results are, or should be, } interesting to everyone who has to clean a cathode assembly! } } } From my side the course contains a number of carefully structured } practicals that are designed to present the operating variables to the } students in the clearest possible fashion. From time to time one finds } oneself developing practicals "on the run" to suit the situation. It was } such a case that is reported below; the filament failed! } } A Rapid Cleaning Technique For EM Cathode Assemblies } } } From } Errol Kelly - University of Fort Hare } Belinda White - University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg } Allan Hall - University of Pretoria } Akos Szabo - Rand Afrikaans University } Neville Baker - Anaspec } } Introduction } The most time consuming operation during the routine use of a SEM or TEM is } often the cleaning of a cathode assembly. The procedure outlined requires } little operator intervention, is free from possible cathode contamination } by the cleaning media and takes comparatively very little time. } } History } There is a vast array of cleaning media used by laboratories to clean the } cathode assemblies of electron microscopes. With many of these the biggest } failing is the difficulty in removing completely the cleaning media leading } to excessive contamination within the system. This problem is further } complicated by the human hazards associated with some of the solvents being } used. In some countries acetone and ether are not permitted in the } laboratory! } } Steve Chapman has been using and teaching an ultrasonic cleaning technique } he developed in 1964. The procedure took advantage of tungsten being } soluble in an ammonia solution (NH4OH) and combined this media with any } metal polish that was also soluble in ammonia. The technique used an } ammonia solution that had been diluted from a stock solution down to 10 to } 15 parts water to 1 part ammonia. A range of metal polishing media had } been used dictated by their availability in various countries of the world. } This cleaning procedure relied more upon the abrasive effect of the metal } polishing media rather than the chemical attack from the ammonia. } Subsequent to the metal polish ultrasonic cleaning period of about 30 } minutes, the polishing media was removed by way of two further 5 minute } ultrasonic cleaning periods in the dilute ammonia alone, to ensure complete } removal of the metal polishing media. The components were then washed in } alcohol and dried with a hot air blower. With severely contaminated } cathodes, as would be typical of a SEM used at high emission currents, a } degree of manual cleaning was often required in the "burnt on" tungsten } areas around the cathode aperture. That could be prior to or after the } initial ultrasonic cleaning procedure. } } The New Procedure } The cathode assembly was placed, aperture face upwards, in a beaker of } stock ammonia solution diluted 3 parts ammonia to one part water. The } stock solution was thought to be about 40% ammonia. After 15 minutes in } the ultrasonic cleaner the beaker was placed under running water and } thoroughly flushed through. Care was taken to ensure that none of the } clamping or alignment screws had fallen out of the cathode assembly and } could be flushed away! The cathode was then washed with alcohol before } being dried with a hair drier. A new filament was fitted and centered. } The assembly was checked for cleanliness by observing with a 20X lens prior } to re installation in the microscope. Total time for this procedure less } than 25 minutes. } } Safety } Great care was taken not to allow the ammonia solution to make contact with } the skin or eyes of the operator. When flushing the solution through with } water its flow was set so as not to splash the solution over the operator } prior to placing the beaker under the flow. } } Observations } The procedure was used on a severely contaminated SEM cathode and a cathode } assembly from an electron probe. Contamination rate had been noted as an } earlier part of the course so we are able to state that observations in the } SEM before and after cleaning indicated little or no increase in } contamination levels. } } --------- } Back to me- } } We were all amazed at the results, a totally wet cleaning method, a } perfectly clean cathode assembly with apparently no instrument problems? I } do not know how ammonia reacts with tantalum (the Philips cathode aperture) } but I would guess this technique would be applicable to any SEM, TEM, or } probe? } } What do your members think? } } 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
Our EM facility will be moving to a new building currently under construction. We have just learned that a major feed line consisting of six 3 inch conduits carrying three 400 amp parallel lines (1200 A total) has been installed 11 feet from where our highest resolution TEM is going. We have been asked to supply a minimum acceptable distance that these lines could be from the microscopes, since it will be quite expensive to reroute them (they are in concrete). My specific questions are:
What is the appropriate formula to compute the falloff of the field with distance?
Does this theoretical formula adequately predict the field in a real situation?
How does the orientation of the lines affect the calculation?
Thanks for your help. Any references would also be appreciated.
Dr. Marie E. Cantino Dept. of Physiology and Neurobiology University of Connecticut Storrs, CT 06269-2131 Phone: 860-486-3588 Fax: 860-4861936
Sometime in the last two years I remember a thread on preparing CD's for examination in the SEM. Can anyone remember what solvent was used to remove the polymer coating from CD's so imaging of the data is possible. Please respond to me directly at the address below. Thanks.
Owen
============================= Owen P. Mills Electron Optics Facility Engineer Michigan Technological University Metallurgical & Materials Engineering Rm 512 MME Building Houghton, MI 49931 906-487-2002 906-487-2934 FAX opmills-at-mtu.edu
As my first post to this wonderful newsgroup, I would like your professional opinions as to which term applies to which techniques. Spectroscopy and Spectrometry, though these terms are used interchangeably in many texts and journals, they must have precise definitions. While Spectroscopy is generally used for techniques utilizing electromagnetic spectra components, what about Spectrometry? As I am currently writing a manuscript on Spectroscopies, Spectrometries, and Microscopies, I wanted to give the reader a good definition of each. Any information you can give me will be much appreciated. I have enjoyed this newsgroup, and gained several good tidbits of info from it. Thanks, Robert Dr. Robert K. Pope CORE/NRL Postdoctoral Fellow Naval Research Laboratory Code 7303, Building 1105 Stennis Space Center, MS 39529-5004 Tel: 228-688-5105 Fax: 228-688-5379 e-mail "rpope-at-nrlssc.navy.mil"
Hi All, A few weeks ago i posted a note here asking for help in regard to filaments burning too fast on our Zeiss TEM. After asking around we have finally found the solution to this problem. It turned out to be that 2 capacitors needed to be changed on the filament control board. If anyone is interested in more details we'll be happy to provide.
There has been a lot of traffic lately regarding IR microscopy. Does anyone know whether similar techniques have been tried with stereomicroscopy? One of my contacts has a project that could benefit from such a technique.
TIA for any advice or suggestions.
Cheers,
Bob
Bob Chiovetti GTI Microsystems rchiovetti-at-aol.com Tucson, Arizona USA
I have a Cambridge S360 SEM that I would like to modernize. I currently take pictures with Polaroid film and I want to go digital. I have a new Dell Workstation adjacent to the SEM. I need advise on the best way to interface the new Dell (with all of its peculiarities) to the old SEM. All I want is a passive system that grabs what I see on my imaging screen. LEO (who now owns Leica, formerly Cambridge) does not have the hardware/software for this interface. I need your expert advise and soon.
} We were all amazed at the results, a totally wet cleaning method, a } perfectly clean cathode assembly with apparently no instrument problems? I } do not know how ammonia reacts with tantalum (the Philips cathode aperture) } but I would guess this technique would be applicable to any SEM, TEM, or } probe? } } What do your members think?
Dear Steve, The Handbook of Chemistry and Physics says that alkalis attack tantalum only slowly, below 150 deg C. Even ~10 M NH4OH should be safe.
Ok, I am sitting in my lab at the terminal, scratching my head on the difference between spectrometry and spectroscopy. I have a couple thoughts.
First, I think spectrometry is the use and practice of an instrument to measure waves, and I think spectroscopy is the study of material systems and their response to harmonic vibrations. Spectrometry emphasizes the instrumentation, its operation, calibration, and the radiation properties=
under measurement. Spectroscopy emphasizes the study of the sample, such=
as the exhaust gases in an automobile emission analyzer or the colored dy= e reagent in an over-the-counter blood glucose monitor.
The topic is not limited to electromagnetic waves, as there are studies i= n other areas like acoustics and ultrasonics which use terms like ultrasoni= c spectroscopy (and even ultrasonic microscopy) are used. I imagine studying the fundamental vibrations of a building also use some kind of spectrometer. Waves, spectrum, spectrometer, spectroscopy, spectrum analyzer, etc.
When I see the word spectrometry in the title of a seminar or paper, I anticipate detailed discussion of the instrumentation and method, with careful quantitation and attention to the intensity, wavelength, polarization, and spatial dependence of the propagating field. I also throw into spectrometry the study of larger samples, with little attentio= n to detailed, atomic level characterization. One example that comes to mi= nd is the infrared picture of a hot iron, or IR imaging altogether. Little interest in the atomic structure of the metal, but lots of interest in radiant intensities. =
Another spectrometry example is the cosmic microwave background black bod= y radiation curve measured by the COBE satellite. This emission from 1 to = 20 cm-1 in the far-infrared region is measured with extrordinary attention t= o intensity and polarization over the entire sky. The emphasis is upon the=
measurement. The radiation itself is associated with the formation of atoms and decoupling of matter and radiation in the Big Bang cosmology model. The variations in this radiation are associated with the "lumpiness" in the early universe, and are not related to specific energy=
levels of atomic systems.
Wow. Now I do need more coffee.
As a suggestion, you might contact the National Institute on Standards an= d Testing (?), or NIST in Colorado. I bet they have someone who has a much=
shorter answer. Another resource might be someone at the Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers, or SPIE, at www.spie.org.
} Our EM facility will be moving to a new building currently under } construction. We have just learned that a major feed line consisting of } six 3 inch conduits carrying three 400 amp parallel lines (1200 A total) } has been installed 11 feet from where our highest resolution TEM is going. } We have been asked to supply a minimum acceptable distance that these lines } could be from the microscopes, since it will be quite expensive to reroute } them (they are in concrete). My specific questions are: } } What is the appropriate formula to compute the falloff of the field with } distance?
The formula for the magnetic field from a straight wire of infinite length is H = i/2a(pi), where i is the current, and a is the distance to the wire. This is for steady current, but will also apply for AC. The field is normal to the plane containing the wire and the point where the field is measured. B = mu H is another formula which is significant, since this gives the factor for shielding by substances of high magnetic permeability (such as mu metal), and should be con- sidered if there is any ferromagnetic material between the wires and the scope; e.g., if the wires are in a steel conduit. In the latter case, you have to calculate the field at the outside of the con- duit, then calculate an equivalent current. Since most substances have a magnetic permeability about the same as that of space, you need to worry about this only if there is iron in between the wires and the scope.
} Does this theoretical formula adequately predict the field in a real situation?
Probably. However, you could make measurements at a few distances from the wires to confirm the actual fields.
} } } How does the orientation of the lines affect the calculation? }
For straight wires, the orientation only affects the direction of the field, but for curved wires, you have to calculate the field generated by each (infinitesimal) segment of wire and integrate. Since you possably don't know either the exact path of the wires or the material surrounding them, you'll have to try several models and see which ones match best. If the phase of the AC on each of the wires is the same, you can probably treat the three wires as the equivalent of a single wire (unless they are spaced far enough apart that the distances from each to the scope are significantly different), but if the phases are not the same, you have to calculate an equivalent current. As Dave Barnard pointed out to me, the lines may be designed with three-phase cancellation to reduce the resulting fields.
} Thanks for your help. Any references would also be appreciated. }
I used my old physics text by Frank, Introduction to Electricity and Optics. Yours, Bill Tivol
} } As my first post to this wonderful newsgroup, I would like your } professional opinions as to which term applies to which techniques. } Spectroscopy and Spectrometry, though these terms are used interchangeably } in many texts and journals, they must have precise definitions. While } Spectroscopy is generally used for techniques utilizing electromagnetic } spectra components, what about Spectrometry? As I am currently writing a } manuscript on Spectroscopies, Spectrometries, and Microscopies, I wanted to } give the reader a good definition of each. Any information you can give me } will be much appreciated. I have enjoyed this newsgroup, and gained } several good tidbits of info from it. }
My dictionary defines a spectroscope as a device to separate spectra into various wavelengths for measuring or recording and a spectrometer as a spectro- scope with scales to determine the positions of the peaks. I am not sure how this compares with technical usage, but the terms are nearly interchangable. Yours, Bill Tivol
Bill Tivol's equation was essentially correct, BUT you have to be careful of the units. In SI units (International System of Units), the Biot-Savart Law which Bill quoted becomes B = (2x10^-7)I/D, where B is in tesla, I in amperes, and D in meters. ===================================== } Our EM facility will be moving to a new building currently under } construction. We have just learned that a major feed line consisting of } six 3 inch conduits carrying three 400 amp parallel lines (1200 A total) } has been installed 11 feet from where our highest resolution TEM is going. } We have been asked to supply a minimum acceptable distance that these lines } could be from the microscopes, since it will be quite expensive to reroute } them (they are in concrete). My specific questions are: } } What is the appropriate formula to compute the falloff of the field with } distance? } } Does this theoretical formula adequately predict the field in a real } situation? } } How does the orientation of the lines affect the calculation? } } Thanks for your help. Any references would also be appreciated. } } Dr. Marie E. Cantino } Dept. of Physiology and Neurobiology } University of Connecticut } Storrs, CT 06269-2131 } Phone: 860-486-3588 } Fax: 860-4861936
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Russell E. Cook, Ph.D. 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 cook-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov
Spectroscopy: electromagnetic radiation, i.e. photons Spectrometry: Mass to charge ration of particles.
-Scott
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Glass Technology Center 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: Dr. Robert K. Pope To: microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
Hi all.
As my first post to this wonderful newsgroup, I would like your professional opinions as to which term applies to which techniques. Spectroscopy and Spectrometry, though these terms are used interchangeably in many texts and journals, they must have precise definitions. While Spectroscopy is generally used for techniques utilizing electromagnetic spectra components, what about Spectrometry? As I am currently writing a manuscript on Spectroscopies, Spectrometries, and Microscopies, I wanted to give the reader a good definition of each. Any information you can give me will be much appreciated. I have enjoyed this newsgroup, and gained several good tidbits of info from it. Thanks, Robert Dr. Robert K. Pope CORE/NRL Postdoctoral Fellow Naval Research Laboratory Code 7303, Building 1105 Stennis Space Center, MS 39529-5004 Tel: 228-688-5105 Fax: 228-688-5379 e-mail "rpope-at-nrlssc.navy.mil"
I think LEO's statement needs to be qualified. They may not offer or support passive systems for the 360, but I think a third-party system ought to work just fine. There should be no modifications needed to attach a passive system. Installation simply involves tapping off the X, Y, and Z signals in the right place. We had a JEOL JSM-U3 hooked up for active control almost 20 years ago. That was much trickier than hooking up a passive system today.
We have the Quartz PCI passive system, but there are many fine systems out there, and someone recently posted about building their own. Good luck in picking one.
At 01:34 PM 6/15/1999 -0400, you wrote: } To all SEM experts: } } I have a Cambridge S360 SEM that I would like to modernize. I currently } take pictures with Polaroid film and I want to go digital. I have a new } Dell Workstation adjacent to the SEM. I need advise on the best way to } interface the new Dell (with all of its peculiarities) to the old SEM. All } I want is a passive system that grabs what I see on my imaging screen. LEO } (who now owns Leica, formerly Cambridge) does not have the hardware/software } for this interface. I need your expert advise and soon. } } Thanking you in advance, } } Sheila R-W
I've been cleaning the Wehnelt caps and cathodes of two SEM's and one TEM for at least 10 years using 30-40% ammonium hydroxide solution seemingly without any problems. After sonicating the parts in "ammonia" for several minutes, we rinse them well in tap water, and then sonicate in absolute ethanol for several more minutes. Lastly, the cap and/or cathode are air-dried. This eliminates all the problems associated with removing metal polish from the filament assembly and only requires the appropriate safety precautions taken with the use of strong ammonium hydroxide solutions.
Bruce F. Ingber Biologist- Electron Microscopy USDA-ARS, SRRC 1100 Robert E. Lee Blvd. New Orleans, LA 70124-4305
} ---------- } From: Steve Chapman[SMTP:PROTRAIN-at-CompuServe.COM] } Sent: Tuesday, June 15, 1999 2:34 AM } To: American; MSSAfrica } Subject: An EM Dream? } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 to Electron Microscopists, } } During a recent one week "Intensive SEM" coarse, that took place in } Johannesburg South Africa, the students came up with a superb cleaning } technique that they wished to report upon. The results are, or should be, } interesting to everyone who has to clean a cathode assembly! } } From my side the course contains a number of carefully structured } practicals that are designed to present the operating variables to the } students in the clearest possible fashion. From time to time one finds } oneself developing practicals "on the run" to suit the situation. It was } such a case that is reported below; the filament failed! } } A Rapid Cleaning Technique For EM Cathode Assemblies } } } From } Errol Kelly - University of Fort Hare } Belinda White - University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg } Allan Hall - University of Pretoria } Akos Szabo - Rand Afrikaans University } Neville Baker - Anaspec } } Introduction } The most time consuming operation during the routine use of a SEM or TEM } is } often the cleaning of a cathode assembly. The procedure outlined requires } little operator intervention, is free from possible cathode contamination } by the cleaning media and takes comparatively very little time. } } History } There is a vast array of cleaning media used by laboratories to clean the } cathode assemblies of electron microscopes. With many of these the } biggest } failing is the difficulty in removing completely the cleaning media } leading } to excessive contamination within the system. This problem is further } complicated by the human hazards associated with some of the solvents } being } used. In some countries acetone and ether are not permitted in the } laboratory! } } Steve Chapman has been using and teaching an ultrasonic cleaning technique } he developed in 1964. The procedure took advantage of tungsten being } soluble in an ammonia solution (NH4OH) and combined this media with any } metal polish that was also soluble in ammonia. The technique used an } ammonia solution that had been diluted from a stock solution down to 10 to } 15 parts water to 1 part ammonia. A range of metal polishing media had } been used dictated by their availability in various countries of the } world. } This cleaning procedure relied more upon the abrasive effect of the metal } polishing media rather than the chemical attack from the ammonia. } Subsequent to the metal polish ultrasonic cleaning period of about 30 } minutes, the polishing media was removed by way of two further 5 minute } ultrasonic cleaning periods in the dilute ammonia alone, to ensure } complete } removal of the metal polishing media. The components were then washed in } alcohol and dried with a hot air blower. With severely contaminated } cathodes, as would be typical of a SEM used at high emission currents, a } degree of manual cleaning was often required in the "burnt on" tungsten } areas around the cathode aperture. That could be prior to or after the } initial ultrasonic cleaning procedure. } } The New Procedure } The cathode assembly was placed, aperture face upwards, in a beaker of } stock ammonia solution diluted 3 parts ammonia to one part water. The } stock solution was thought to be about 40% ammonia. After 15 minutes in } the ultrasonic cleaner the beaker was placed under running water and } thoroughly flushed through. Care was taken to ensure that none of the } clamping or alignment screws had fallen out of the cathode assembly and } could be flushed away! The cathode was then washed with alcohol before } being dried with a hair drier. A new filament was fitted and centered. } The assembly was checked for cleanliness by observing with a 20X lens } prior } to re installation in the microscope. Total time for this procedure less } than 25 minutes. } } Safety } Great care was taken not to allow the ammonia solution to make contact } with } the skin or eyes of the operator. When flushing the solution through with } water its flow was set so as not to splash the solution over the operator } prior to placing the beaker under the flow. } } Observations } The procedure was used on a severely contaminated SEM cathode and a } cathode } assembly from an electron probe. Contamination rate had been noted as an } earlier part of the course so we are able to state that observations in } the } SEM before and after cleaning indicated little or no increase in } contamination levels. } } } } --------- } Back to me- } } We were all amazed at the results, a totally wet cleaning method, a } perfectly clean cathode assembly with apparently no instrument problems? } I } do not know how ammonia reacts with tantalum (the Philips cathode } aperture) } but I would guess this technique would be applicable to any SEM, TEM, or } probe? } } What do your members think? } } 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 hope you will all please excuse me, but I'm looking for a home for our } JEOL 100S TEM. It is available to anyone for the cost of removal and } shipping. It was on a JEOL service contrct up until this year and is in } excellent condition. It would be great for teaching and/or simple } biological work. It is located in the Dept. of Ophthalmology at the } University of Washington in Seattle, WA. } } Please contact me via email or telephone: } } Daniel Possin {danpossn-at-u.washington.edu} } 206-685-7241 } 206-543-3883 } } Thank you for your patient attention, } } Dan % Daniel Possin Voice: 206/ 221-3845 % % Dept. of Ophthalmology FAX: 206/ 543-4414 % % Box 35 6485 - C209 HSB Email: danpossn-at-u.washington.edu % % University of Washington % % Seattle WA 98195 USA % % % % "Orchids may bloom where the sun never shines and rain never falls". %
} ... } } Spectroscopy and Spectrometry, though these terms are used } interchangeably in many texts and journals, they must have } precise definitions. ...
I have my own connotations, and I may look some of these up and reply later with respect to being precise ... but I believe some of the terminology will break down in terms of "qualitative" and "quantitative" ... and for the sake of including all terminology, you should need to consider "spectrophotometry" as well ... you just know some student will ask :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/
} } Date: Tue, 15 Jun 1999 11:03:22 -0500 } To: {microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com} } From: "Dr. Robert K. Pope" {rpope-at-nrlssc.navy.mil} } Subject: Spectrometry vs Spectroscopy } } } Hi all. } } As my first post to this wonderful newsgroup, I would like your } professional opinions as to which term applies to which techniques. } Spectroscopy and Spectrometry, though these terms are used interchangeabl } in many texts and journals, they must have precise definitions. While } Spectroscopy is generally used for techniques utilizing electromagnetic } spectra components, what about Spectrometry? As I am currently writing a } manuscript on Spectroscopies, Spectrometries, and Microscopies, I wanted t } give the reader a good definition of each. Any information you can give m } will be much appreciated. I have enjoyed this newsgroup, and gained } several good tidbits of info from it. } Thanks, } Robert } Dr. Robert K. Pope } CORE/NRL Postdoctoral Fellow } Naval Research Laboratory } Code 7303, Building 1105 } Stennis Space Center, MS 39529-5004 } Tel: 228-688-5105 } Fax: 228-688-5379 } e-mail "rpope-at-nrlssc.navy.mil" } Robert, My primary experience is in mass spectroscopy though I have worked quite a bit with microscopy and visible light spectrometers.
In mass spectroscopy, one originally (and perhaps still in a few labs) had the choice of instruments where the detected signal was detected electronically (i.e., metered) at a single mass position in a mass spectromoeter; or the ions were spread out in space and a wide mass range was collected on a photo plate (and now on some form of CCD) and the instrument was called a spectrograph. The same situation, I believe, prevailed in emission spectroscopy. So spectrometry and spectrography are sub titles under the overall title of spectroscopy, depending on whether the beam is collected at a single point/value or over a wide range.
Spectrometers have exit slits and spectrographs do not.
I hope you will summarize the results of this inquiry for all our benefit.
Thanks.
Donald J. Marshall Relion Industries P.O. Box 12 Bedford, MA 01730 Ph: 781-275-4695 FAX: 781-271-0252 email dmrelion-at-world.std.com
Cathodoluminescence, mass spectroscopy, electron beam technology "A weed is a flower out of place."
(Please note: Do not send email with attachments to this address. Instead, send it to donbarlen-at-aol.com. Thank you.)
I wouldn't recommend paraffin. I've done re-embedding of retina from paraffin to Epon and the results were consistently horrible. Start with Epon. I've cut serial 1um Epon sections of retina by the hundred. Fortunately I didn't have to collect them all. It's easy, but BORING. I haven't taken them to EM; that would be the difficult part.
I presume as a marker you want something that will enable you to translate from the cross section of resin embedded tissue to the original unembedded retina photographed as a flat mount? If so, your best bet may be (depending on the species) to use the retinal blood vessels as markers, preferably stained. They're easily seen in both cross section and flat mount. Do you have to be exact in positioning? You can measure the diameter of the retina and keep track of how many sections have been cut - thus how much of the retina has been cut away. Obviously the optic nerve provides a nice centre. Just make sure one edge is notched for initial orientation. If you can't flat mount the retina, but have to keep it it whole, like a cut ball, it's more difficult, but the latter method should still work.
Diana
Diana van Driel Department of Clinical Ophthalmology Sydney University GPO Box 4337 Sydney NSW AUSTRALIA 2001
Sheila R-W wrote: ============================================== I have a Cambridge S360 SEM that I would like to modernize. I currently take pictures with Polaroid film and I want to go digital. I have a new Dell Workstation adjacent to the SEM. I need advise on the best way to interface the new Dell (with all of its peculiarities) to the old SEM. All I want is a passive system that grabs what I see on my imaging screen. LEO (who now owns Leica, formerly Cambridge) does not have the hardware/software for this interface. I need your expert advise and soon. ================================================== You might want to take a look at the product called Spectrum Mono™ which is described on the SPI website at URL http://www.2spi.com/catalog/software/spectrum.html
This is a "passive" system and has been interfaced to many different aging analog SEMs, including old Cambridge instruments.
Disclaimer: SPI distributes this product worldwide so we are not exactly a disinterested third party.
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: spi3spi-at-2spi.com
Look for us! ############################ WWW: www.spi.cc ############################ ==================================================
My experience in installing electron microscopes goes back over 33 years and covers many countries where the problem you outline was and is very common. I have not tried to calculate the size of the problem, always using a meter to judge the best place for a microscope. Even in these cases when an empty laboratory was fine, time and time again a laboratory=
in action proved to be a far bigger problem.
If I was in your position I would not consider the location you describe for ANY electron optical instrument. Screening etc etc does not often do=
the job! You should not compromise as you may well find you have a wonderful new laboratory which will be providing a very poor service spoi= lt by magnetic fields, they do not go away just get worse!
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
For SEM you can strip the data layer using adhesive tape. Score the supercoat film first round the area you want to examine. Choose an adhesive tape with a powerrful bond strength, and strip it from the disc with sudden force at right angles to the surface.
Writeable and rewritable discs strip more easily than hot-pressed CDs
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Sometime in the last two years I remember a thread on preparing CD's for } examination in the SEM. Can anyone remember what solvent was used to } remove the polymer coating from CD's so imaging of the data is possible. } Please respond to me directly at the address below. Thanks. } } Owen } } } } ============================= } Owen P. Mills } Electron Optics Facility Engineer } Michigan Technological University } Metallurgical & Materials Engineering } Rm 512 MME Building } Houghton, MI 49931 } 906-487-2002 } 906-487-2934 FAX } opmills-at-mtu.edu } }
===================================================================== DR CHRIS JEFFREE BIOSEM - BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES EM FACILITY UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH Daniel Rutherford Building King's Buildings, Mayfield Road EDINBURGH, EH9 3JH, Scotland, UK Tel. #44 131 650 5345 FAX. #44 131 650 6563 Mobile 0410 585 401 email c.jeffree-at-ed.ac.uk SEM / TEM bookings sem-at-ed.ac.uk =====================================================================
Wiliams and Carter's book on TEM (1996 edition) states (p 276) "The RDF = can be obtained directly from DPs ... software ... listed in section = 1.5"
How is this actually done? I need to understand the principle. I would = appreciate further information on this as explanation / references / = software sources.
Best wishes, --- R Divakar PMS, IGCAR, Kalpakkam 603102, India ----
When I joined STL Harlow in 1976, my boss showed me how to clean Wehnelts with conc. ammonia solution. He used a 15 min soak in 35% (or 880, as we called it, SG of .880, I think), followed by rinse in DI water and then IPA. Stubborn stains could be removed using "Wenol" type polish on a cotton tip bud or using silver wadding polish like "Duraglit". Care was taken to remove any fibres then ultrasonic rinse in IPA. I still use this method and have passed it on to my engineers.
Barry
} -----Original Message----- } From: Gillmeister, Russ [SMTP:RGillmeister-at-sdms.usa.xerox.com] } Sent: Tuesday, June 15, 1999 1:57 PM } To: 'Steve Chapman' } Cc: 'MSA' } Subject: RE: An EM Dream? } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Steve, Errol, Belinda, Allen, Akos, Neville, Thanks for the cleaning } procedure. It sound great. I'm looking forward to trying it. One item I } would like to mention in favor of some polishing. Over time small } irregularities develop on the surfaces through handling or arcing, etc. We } even polish new apertures to confirm roundness and smootheness. Possibly } some water based abrasive could be used in conjunction with your ammonia } technique. Thanks, Russ, Xerox } } } -----Original Message----- } } From: Steve Chapman [mailto:PROTRAIN-at-CompuServe.COM] } Sent: Tuesday, June 15, 1999 3:35 AM } To: American; MSSAfrica } Subject: An EM Dream? } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 to Electron Microscopists, } } During a recent one week "Intensive SEM" coarse, that took place in } Johannesburg South Africa, the students came up with a superb cleaning } technique that they wished to report upon. The results are, or should be, } interesting to everyone who has to clean a cathode assembly! } } } From my side the course contains a number of carefully structured } practicals that are designed to present the operating variables to the } students in the clearest possible fashion. From time to time one finds } oneself developing practicals "on the run" to suit the situation. It was } such a case that is reported below; the filament failed! } } A Rapid Cleaning Technique For EM Cathode Assemblies } } } From } Errol Kelly - University of Fort Hare } Belinda White - University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg } Allan Hall - University of Pretoria } Akos Szabo - Rand Afrikaans University } Neville Baker - Anaspec } } Introduction } The most time consuming operation during the routine use of a SEM or TEM } is } often the cleaning of a cathode assembly. The procedure outlined requires } little operator intervention, is free from possible cathode contamination } by the cleaning media and takes comparatively very little time. } } History } There is a vast array of cleaning media used by laboratories to clean the } cathode assemblies of electron microscopes. With many of these the } biggest } failing is the difficulty in removing completely the cleaning media } leading } to excessive contamination within the system. This problem is further } complicated by the human hazards associated with some of the solvents } being } used. In some countries acetone and ether are not permitted in the } laboratory! } } Steve Chapman has been using and teaching an ultrasonic cleaning technique } he developed in 1964. The procedure took advantage of tungsten being } soluble in an ammonia solution (NH4OH) and combined this media with any } metal polish that was also soluble in ammonia. The technique used an } ammonia solution that had been diluted from a stock solution down to 10 to } 15 parts water to 1 part ammonia. A range of metal polishing media had } been used dictated by their availability in various countries of the } world. } This cleaning procedure relied more upon the abrasive effect of the metal } polishing media rather than the chemical attack from the ammonia. } Subsequent to the metal polish ultrasonic cleaning period of about 30 } minutes, the polishing media was removed by way of two further 5 minute } ultrasonic cleaning periods in the dilute ammonia alone, to ensure } complete } removal of the metal polishing media. The components were then washed in } alcohol and dried with a hot air blower. With severely contaminated } cathodes, as would be typical of a SEM used at high emission currents, a } degree of manual cleaning was often required in the "burnt on" tungsten } areas around the cathode aperture. That could be prior to or after the } initial ultrasonic cleaning procedure. } } The New Procedure } The cathode assembly was placed, aperture face upwards, in a beaker of } stock ammonia solution diluted 3 parts ammonia to one part water. The } stock solution was thought to be about 40% ammonia. After 15 minutes in } the ultrasonic cleaner the beaker was placed under running water and } thoroughly flushed through. Care was taken to ensure that none of the } clamping or alignment screws had fallen out of the cathode assembly and } could be flushed away! The cathode was then washed with alcohol before } being dried with a hair drier. A new filament was fitted and centered. } The assembly was checked for cleanliness by observing with a 20X lens } prior } to re installation in the microscope. Total time for this procedure less } than 25 minutes. } } Safety } Great care was taken not to allow the ammonia solution to make contact } with } the skin or eyes of the operator. When flushing the solution through with } water its flow was set so as not to splash the solution over the operator } prior to placing the beaker under the flow. } } Observations } The procedure was used on a severely contaminated SEM cathode and a } cathode } assembly from an electron probe. Contamination rate had been noted as an } earlier part of the course so we are able to state that observations in } the } SEM before and after cleaning indicated little or no increase in } contamination levels. } } } } --------- } Back to me- } } We were all amazed at the results, a totally wet cleaning method, a } perfectly clean cathode assembly with apparently no instrument problems? } I } do not know how ammonia reacts with tantalum (the Philips cathode } aperture) } but I would guess this technique would be applicable to any SEM, TEM, or } probe? } } What do your members think? } } 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 }
} -----Original Message----- } From: Rosenfield, Sheila A. [SMTP:SARosenf-at-rmc.com] } Sent: Tuesday, June 15, 1999 6:35 PM } To: 'Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com' } Subject: SEM Image Capture } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } To all SEM experts: } } I have a Cambridge S360 SEM that I would like to modernize. I currently } take pictures with Polaroid film and I want to go digital. I have a new } Dell Workstation adjacent to the SEM. I need advise on the best way to } interface the new Dell (with all of its peculiarities) to the old SEM. } All } I want is a passive system that grabs what I see on my imaging screen. LEO } (who now owns Leica, formerly Cambridge) does not have the } hardware/software } for this interface. I need your expert advise and soon. } } Thanking you in advance, } } Sheila R-W }
Two quick questions for my British Colleagues on digital imaging terminology. I am looking to see if there are accepted differences between "British English" and "American English" which I am not aware of (I am reviewing a paper for a British Journal and wish to be accurate). Specifically which of the following terms is correct in British English:
(1) "Grey images" or "Grey scale images"?
(2) "256 Greyness levels" or "256 Grey levels"?
Thanks you and Tally ho, eh?
Richard E. Edelmann, Ph.D. Electron Microscopy Facility Supervisor 352 Pearson Hall Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056 Ph: 513.529.5712 Fax: 513.529.4243 E-mail: edelmare-at-muohio.edu
We used an oxygen plasma technique to remove the top surface lacquer with the label printed on. The exposed Al layer was removed in conc HCl with a few drops of hydrogen peroxide added, leaving the plastic surface with the data pits imprinted. The sample was gold coated before SEM examination.
Hope it's of some use
Barry } -----Original Message----- } From: Owen P. Mills [SMTP:opmills-at-mtu.edu] } Sent: Tuesday, June 15, 1999 4:40 PM } To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } Subject: imaging CD sectors } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Sometime in the last two years I remember a thread on preparing CD's for } examination in the SEM. Can anyone remember what solvent was used to } remove the polymer coating from CD's so imaging of the data is possible. } Please respond to me directly at the address below. Thanks. } } Owen } } } } ============================= } Owen P. Mills } Electron Optics Facility Engineer } Michigan Technological University } Metallurgical & Materials Engineering } Rm 512 MME Building } Houghton, MI 49931 } 906-487-2002 } 906-487-2934 FAX } opmills-at-mtu.edu } }
Hi Chuck, You're right! Should have said I'd only use the ammonium hydroxide solution on solid stainless steel parts. I wouldn't use it on the filament base holders for example (not that I clean them anyway) or anything with brass in it.
Bruce
Bruce F. Ingber Biologist- Electron Microscopy USDA-ARS, SRRC 1100 Robert E. Lee Blvd. New Orleans, LA 70124-4305
} ---------- } From: Garber, Charles A.[SMTP:cgarber-at-2spi.com] } Sent: Wednesday, June 16, 1999 12:14 AM } To: Ingber, Bruce F. } Subject: 2 good to B true: An EM Dream? } } -- [ From: Garber, Charles A. * EMC.Ver #3.1 ] -- } } Bruce, Would you mind if I asked you a question about this? Some years } ago, } more than I will admit, when I was myself a graduate student at Case in } Cleveland, they had a JEOL JEM 6 or 7 and a Hitachi HU11-A. I used both } of } them, and I can not remember which it was, but one of them had a wehnelt } cap } , for example, that was plated (it looked like chrome) on some other } metal, } perhaps brass. } } The caps had some amount of use, e. g. they were not brand new and the } technician at the time in charge of running the laboratory tried some } ammonia technique. And what happened was this: There was a reaction with } the brass through the porosity in the chromium layer and that cap was } pretty } much destroyed. } } So I just wondered if the materials of construction as solid stainless } steel } , in which case there would be not problem or could any of them be plated, } with a substrate that had a copper containing alloy. If the latter, then I } would think that, based on my own experience in Cleveland, this technique } might have more lurking dangers that is appreciated. } } 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: spi3spi-at-2spi.com } ================================================== }
Purely speaking, spectroscopy is the general study or observation of spectral responses while spectrometry is the actual measurement of absorbance, transmittance, or reflectance at specific locations in the spectrum. As a past microspectrometry specialist at Zeiss and Cambridge (now Leica), it has been my experience that most microscopists are interested in the latter. We routinely do microfluorimetry (point measurements of fluorescence intensity) as well as microspectrometry in the UV-visible, Raman, and FT-IR ranges. We also have spectrometers attached to electron microscopes. For more information that area, research the terms "energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS)", "wavelength dispersive spectrometry (WDS)", and "X-ray fluorescence". In these last disciplines, spectrometry and spectroscopy may be used more interchangeabley because they produce chemical maps as well as doing specific measurement. Princeton Gamma-Tech, EDAX, Oxford Instruments, and Noran all have a good supply of application notes which can orient you to these areas.
Thanks for trying to bring some order to this area. I'd be delighted to see a manuscript when it is near completion.
Best regards, Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater productivity.
125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} ****************************************************** MME is America's first national consortium providing customized on-site workshops in all areas of microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis.
At 09:05 PM 6/15/99 -0400, donald j marshall wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Probably the best person to answer this question is John Reffner: John Reffner {jareffner-at-compuserve.com} He is currently working with Sensor Technologies in Danbury: 203-207-9700. They have a neat new IR microscope.
Best regards, Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater productivity.
125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} ****************************************************** MME is America's first national consortium providing customized on-site workshops in all areas of microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis.
At 12:32 PM 6/15/99 EDT, RCHIOVETTI-at-aol.com"-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Having been trained initially by the RMS, I am all too familiar with your dilemma.
The second of terms in each question are the typical terms used in this country.
You might want to check with Dr. Savile Bradbury (retired, Oxford) as to their correct British counterparts. (Please send him my regards)
Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater productivity.
125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} ****************************************************** MME is America's first national consortium providing customized on-site workshops in all areas of microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis.
At 06:54 AM 6/16/99 -0500, edelmare-at-casmail.muohio.edu"-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
} } Wiliams and Carter's book on TEM (1996 edition) states (p 276) "The RDF } can be obtained directly from DPs ... software ... listed in section 1.5" } } How is this actually done? I need to understand the principle. I would } appreciate further information on this as explanation / references / } software sources.
A detailed treatment of the diffraction theory may be found in Chap. 10 of _X-Ray Diffraction_ by B. E. Warren, Dover Inc, New York 1990.
For a quick and dirty calculation, Eq. 18.10 in Williams and Carter tells you most of what you need to know. That equation could be executed by most any software that will do image Fourier transforms. I would use Digital Micrograph to rotationally average the diffraction pattern then do the FT, but NIH Image can probably do the same thing for much less money.
Of course, people can and do work much harder to get a low-noise, high accuracy RDF from diffraction data. A recent and extremely thorough example of calculating the RDF for amorphous silicon from x-ray diffraction can be found in "High Resolution Radial Distribution Function of Pure Amorphous Silicon" Khalid Laaziri, S. Kycia, et. al. Phys. Rev. Letts. Vol. 82, p. 3460 (1999). On the web (AIP web site, available only with subscription):
An older example is "Structural investigation of hydrogenated amorphous silicon by X-ray diffraction" W. Schulke, Phil. Mag. B Vol. 43, p. 451, (1981).
Obtaining the need diffraction data in a TEM is possible, but may be difficult if you need high accuracy. Quantitative data at high scattering vector (up to 55 1/A according to Laaziri et al) is necessary which means you need a very high dynamic range detector. Imaging plates will produce the best results. Stitching together several CCD images at different exposures might also work, although you have to be carefully about saturated pixels at low k "blooming" - spreading intensity over a large number of adjoining pixels.
Good luck, Paul
Paul Voyles (609) 951-2627 voyles-at-research.nj.nec.com NEC Research Institute, 4 Independence Way, Princeton, NJ 08540
Whoa!!! I wouldn't allow this to happen!! We have had considerable experience with stray fields affecting our FESEMs and causing picture wobble. I always use a search coil (a TV degaussing coil, calibrated against a "Gauss Maus" field strength meter) to determine the intensity and direction of the field. I found fields } 99milligauss at five yards from a 600A cable buried one yard below the ground (I think 5 milligauss is the max. tolerable). You can't always rely on calculations, it's much better to measure the fields yourself. As for shielding, it's almost impossible due to the gaps in the shielding. The best method, if you have no choice, is an active cancellation system. I have seen a case when one phase went down (it was pulling little power, anyway) and the resulting imbalance had a dramatic effect on all the high res monitors and, of course, the SEM. For the cables you describe, I would say at least a distance of eight yards is required, if not ten!!
Good luck!
Barry
} -----Original Message----- } From: Marie E. Cantino [SMTP:cantino-at-uconnvm.uconn.edu] } Sent: Tuesday, June 15, 1999 4:48 PM } To: microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } Subject: calculating magnetic fields } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Our EM facility will be moving to a new building currently under } construction. We have just learned that a major feed line consisting of } six 3 inch conduits carrying three 400 amp parallel lines (1200 A total) } has been installed 11 feet from where our highest resolution TEM is going. } We have been asked to supply a minimum acceptable distance that these } lines } could be from the microscopes, since it will be quite expensive to reroute } them (they are in concrete). My specific questions are: } } What is the appropriate formula to compute the falloff of the field with } distance? } } Does this theoretical formula adequately predict the field in a real } situation? } } How does the orientation of the lines affect the calculation? } } Thanks for your help. Any references would also be appreciated. } } Dr. Marie E. Cantino } Dept. of Physiology and Neurobiology } University of Connecticut } Storrs, CT 06269-2131 } Phone: 860-486-3588 } Fax: 860-4861936 } } }
Thanks to everyone who has responded to my question. Unfortunately I did not make clear in my first post that direct field measurements, the best way of determining the extent of the problem, are not an option because the building is still under construction; there will be no power in those lines until it is too late to move them (which is going to require jackhammering the concrete floor). So I need to tell the contractor what a "safe" distance is.
} From various comments and other information we have gathered, it seems that predicting the field at a particular distance is not simple because the fields in lines traveling in opposite directions will cancel out, and the drop off with r will be faster than 1/r. At this point we are looking for an analogous current-conduit configuration to try to get an empirical measurement, but if anyone has any other ideas, let me know. Thanks.
Marie
Dr. Marie E. Cantino Dept. of Physiology and Neurobiology University of Connecticut Storrs, CT 06269-2131 Phone: 860-486-3588 Fax: 860-4861936
In all of the enthusiasm for low labor cleaning methods, please do not extend this method to copper alloy parts. Any copper or brass stands a good chance of reacting with ammonia. There are two results: there is a tarnish film that may form rather rapidly; its removal will require just the elbow grease that you were trying to avoid. More important, brass will run the risk of an interesting phenomenon called stress corrosion cracking, which may destroy the component.
I still prefer to use Pol or Wenol and elbow grease.
Disclaimer I: my employer, Structure Probe, Inc., sells Pol (tm) and Wenol (tm) through its SPI Supplies (tm) Division. We do not sell ammonia.
Disclaimer II: I get to call myself "Dr." because of a study of stress corrosion cracking of copper alloys done in the 60s. We still get failure analysis assignments because the phenomenon is not widely known.
Andy
Andrew W. Blackwood, Ph.D. Structure Probe, Inc. P.O. Box 656 West Chester, PA 19381-0656 Ph: 1 610 436 5400 FAX: 1 610 436 5755 e-mail: ablackwood-at-2spi.com WWW: http://www.2spi.com
Dear Owen, I was successful in cutting out a one cm. chunk of a hot-pressed CD and leaving it in chlorothene overnight. Unfortunately, we can't use that anymore. Any good plastic solvent should work, even acetone. You are left with a wisp of very thin aluminum foil with the dints in it visible at about 10,000X. The CD-Rs are a very different technology. At 11:39 AM 6/15/99 -0400, you wrote: } } Sometime in the last two years I remember a thread on preparing CD's for } examination in the SEM. Can anyone remember what solvent was used to } remove the polymer coating from CD's so imaging of the data is possible. } Please respond to me directly at the address below. Thanks. } } Owen 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 e-mail: mager-at-interchg.ubc.ca
At 11:56 PM 6/16/1999 +0800, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} { GO GATORS Scott D. Whittaker 218 Carr Hall EM Technician Gainesville, FL 32610 University Of Florida ph 352-392-1184 ICBR EM Core Lab fax 352-846-0251 sdw-at-biotech.ufl.edu http://www.biotech.ufl.edu/~emcl/ The home of " Tips & Tricks "
The following are excerpts or paraphrases from Heinz-Helmut Perkampus, Encyclopedia of Spectroscopy, VCH publishers. Although a translation, the parts I have read are literate and helpful.
Spectrometer, an instrument for making relative measurements in the optical spectral region, especially for analytical applications. The concept has become established outside optical spectroscopy . . . AA, AE, UV-VIS, IR, F, Raman, microwave, ESR, NMR, photoelectron, mass, Moessbauer, photoacoustic, reflectance. . . . [block diagram showing similarities and differences]
Spectrophotometer, a photometer coupled with a spectrometer. . .
Spectroscopy, all the methods in the field of electromagnetic radiation which are important for research and applications. The word is derived from Latin, spectrum = ghost, and Greek, skopos = watcher. In this sense, a spectroscopist is a ghost watcher. . . . [Newton coinage] . . . the region of the electromagnetic spectrum accessible . . . covers a range of 12 to 14 powers of ten in energy units . . . .
Leonard Corwin Research Chemist Fort Dodge Animal Health Princeton, NJ 08543-0400
We use 1 part reagent strength HCL to 4 parts water by volume.
We got this recipe from the listserver some time back.
Cheers, Henk
At 11:56 PM 6/16/99 +0800, Keith Moulding wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Hendrik O. Colijn colijn.1-at-osu.edu Campus Electron Optics Facility Ohio State University (614) 292-0674 http://web.ceof.ohio-state.edu Murphy's Law: "If anything can go wrong, it will." Commentary: "Murphy was an optimist."
A retired EM person several years ago swore by BonAmi which is a water = soluble abrasive for polishing pots and pans. It was removed readily = with warm water. I used for several years without any adverse effects. = Once I ran out of my supply I stopped using it. I have asked several = service engineers about it and none of them knew of any adverse effects. = Though I never saw any evidence of scratching I was worried about the = particle size of the abrasive.
Hank Adams Integrated Microscopy Core Cell Biology Baylor College of Medicine=20 Houston, Tx
-----Original Message----- } From: Blackwood, Andrew [SMTP:ablackwood-at-2spi.com] Sent: Wednesday, June 16, 1999 12:42 PM To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
-- [ From: Blackwood, Andrew * EMC.Ver #3.1 ] --
16 June 1999
Greetings:
In all of the enthusiasm for low labor cleaning methods, please do not extend this method to copper alloy parts. Any copper or brass stands a = good chance of reacting with ammonia. There are two results: there is a = tarnish film that may form rather rapidly; its removal will require just the = elbow grease that you were trying to avoid. More important, brass will run the risk of an interesting phenomenon called stress corrosion cracking, = which may destroy the component.
I still prefer to use Pol or Wenol and elbow grease.
Disclaimer I: my employer, Structure Probe, Inc., sells Pol (tm) and = Wenol=20 (tm) through its SPI Supplies (tm) Division. We do not sell ammonia.
Disclaimer II: I get to call myself "Dr." because of a study of stress corrosion cracking of copper alloys done in the 60s. We still get = failure analysis assignments because the phenomenon is not widely known.
Andy
Andrew W. Blackwood, Ph.D. Structure Probe, Inc. P.O. Box 656 West Chester, PA 19381-0656 Ph: 1 610 436 5400 FAX: 1 610 436 5755 e-mail: ablackwood-at-2spi.com WWW: http://www.2spi.com
Dear microscopists, I realize that this subject may be out of the realm of microscopy but I thought maybe one of you could help. Our lab generates alot of poster titles for various meetings. The posters are then mounted in the departmental hallways for a few months so they need to survive for some time. I use a double sided adhesive tape made by Letraset to put the title(printed on card stock) on posterboard. I have just found out that the company is no longer making the tape and I can't find a decent substitute. The double sided scotch tape isn't strong enough; the spray photo mount is very difficult to work with in a lab and doesn't hold well either. It leaves a sticky residue on anything nearby. Does anyone know of a very high tack tape similar to the Letraset tape? Thanks in advance,
Mary Gail Engle Electron Microscopy & Imaging Facility University of Kentucky
We are looking to clear out electronics that we have had in storage, ie. various read outs (scalers, pulse-height analyzers, etc), power supplies, controllers, etc. These are mostly probe parts. Come and take them, as-is, where-is, otherwise they go to the scrap yard.
We also have an older ARL-EMX/SM microprobe for sale. It was working when taken out of service several years ago. We have spare parts, crystals, sample holders, etc. It also has an EDS detector and electronics, but we are now using the computer analyzer with our SEM. Make us a modest offer for this nostalgic instrument.
Alan Stone ASTON Metallurgical Services 4201 North Ravenswood Ave Chicago, IL 60613
Hi! Instead of double sticky tape, I use Perma/mount 2. They're sheets of double sided sticky stuff you can cut to any size. I think I got them from some photo supplier, but I also saw them in the EMS catalog, as well as another kind of tape substitute . They're a little pricey, but very easy to use, and hold real well. EMS phone is 1-800-523-5874. I'm sure other catalogs have them as well. Nancy
I'm not familiar with the Letraset tape but would double-sticky carpet tape work? This comes in quite wide lengths and is very tenaceous (perhaps too much so). You might check at local hobby shops as well for these sorts of tape.
Finally, check with a framing shop (one where you would have artwork mounted and framed). I just had some chinese scrolls mounted on large posterboards and they did an excellent job. I believe they used the equivalent of wheat paste (a.k.a wallpaper paste) and did an absolutely perfect job.
Let us know what you find out.
John
} I realize that this subject may be out of the realm of microscopy but I } thought maybe one of you could help. Our lab generates alot of poster } titles for various meetings. The posters are then mounted in the } departmental hallways for a few months so they need to survive for some } time. I use a double sided adhesive tape made by Letraset to put the } title(printed on card stock) on posterboard. I have just found out that the } company is no longer making the tape and I can't find a decent substitute. } The double sided scotch tape isn't strong enough; the spray photo mount is } very difficult to work with in a lab and doesn't hold well either. It } leaves a sticky residue on anything nearby. } Does anyone know of a very high tack tape similar to the Letraset tape?
#################################################################### John J. Bozzola, Ph.D., Director Center for Electron Microscopy 750 Communications Drive - MC 4402 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 ####################################################################
} Our lab generates alot of poster } titles for various meetings. The posters are then mounted in the } departmental hallways for a few months so they need to survive for some } time. I use a double sided adhesive tape made by Letraset to put the } title(printed on card stock) on posterboard. I have just found out that the } company is no longer making the tape and I can't find a decent substitute. } The double sided scotch tape isn't strong enough; the spray photo mount is } very difficult to work with in a lab and doesn't hold well either. It } leaves a sticky residue on anything nearby. } Does anyone know of a very high tack tape similar to the Letraset tape? } Thanks in advance,
Panel-beaters (maybe you call them something different ----- the people who repair smashed-up cars) use very strong double-sided tape for fastening trim to exterior panels.
cheers
rtch
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
Responding to the message of {3.0.5.32.19990616153149.00802450-at-pop.uky.edu} from Mary Gail Engle {mgengle-at-pop.uky.edu} : } } Dear microscopists, } I realize that this subject may be out of the realm of microscopy but I } thought maybe one of you could help. Our lab generates alot of poster } titles for various meetings. The posters are then mounted in the } departmental hallways for a few months so they need to survive for some } time. I use a double sided adhesive tape made by Letraset to put the } title(printed on card stock) on posterboard. I have just found out that the } company is no longer making the tape and I can't find a decent substitute. } The double sided scotch tape isn't strong enough; the spray photo mount is } very difficult to work with in a lab and doesn't hold well either. It } leaves a sticky residue on anything nearby. } Does anyone know of a very high tack tape similar to the Letraset tape? } Thanks in advance, } } Mary Gail Engle } Electron Microscopy & Imaging Facility } University of Kentucky
I've used a product called Dry Bond, by Chartpak (#DBS25), which is a dry adhesive that comes on sheets (11x14") bound in a booklet. You press your title cards, photos, etc onto the sheet and peel it off and the dry adhesive comes with it. You then press the work onto your mounting board and thats it. The work is removeable, that is, repositionable.
It will last long enough for your 3 months, but after a year or so, it does tend to loosen up, bubble, up, etc. The adhesive probably dries out and the bond is weakened.
Just my 2.5 cents worth, good luck.
Gib
Gib Ahlstrand Electron Optical Facility, University of Minnesota, Dept. Plant Pathology 495 Borlaug Hall, St. Paul, MN. USA. 55108 (612)625-8249 612-625-9728 FAX, giba-at-puccini.crl.umn.edu
There is a much more insidious problem associated with power cables than you might expect based simply on their current capacity, and that is residual unbalanced current.
What happens is something like this: Someone has a remote piece of equipment - lets say a furnace - which is, of course, grounded to the supply ground (as electrical regulations require). However, the user has heeded the institution's requirements to plumb in the water cooling with metal pipe. Now the supply ground is connected to the water ground. Nobody worries about this because, far from being hazardous, it actually improves the personal safety of the electrical system.
Well, all is fine provided there are no connections between the live circuits and the ground, right?
WRONG!! There are always capacitive connections between conductors and nearby metal parts. In any one piece of equipment they may be small, but they add up. I have known one system with a beautifully engineered isolation transformer, with a solid copper electrostatic shield between the primary and secondary, with a leakage current of close to 1mA, which had to be capacitance because the DC resistance between the primary and the frame was unmeasurably high. This current then flows to ground through your water pipes and, hey presto - you now have an unbalanced current in the supply - and you only need a few mA unbalance to get a disastrous effect.
What is the bottom line? Calculations of fields from theoretical first principles don't work. Do not allow you main power supply to be anywhere near your electron microscopes. They *WILL* interfere.
One person's actual experience - I have a single 200A three-phase feeder about 20 feet from the closest point of a STEM and can see the interference. (A STEM is no more prone to EM interference than a CTEM - you can just see the interference more easily)
Good luck!
Tony Garratt-Reed.
At 11:48 AM 6/15/99 -0400, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Folks; We have an S360 SEM and have used several image capture systems over the years. There are problems associated with passive capture on the S360. First the S360 is a PAL (European video 740x576 pixels) so many frame grabber boards will not give the correct aspect ratio for images. The voltage on the image board of the 360 in only + or - 1 volt so many systems will not sync to the signal from the image transfer board. We have had great success with the Orion system from E.L.I. sprl in Belgium. Their web page is www.OrionMicroscopy.com . As a passive system we feel they are the best solution for the S360. On our other machines we use the Quartz PCI which is a great system for SEM's particularly, Hitachi, JOEL. The PCI woks well with the Cambridge S250 as well. When we first started doing image capture, the system we built took advantage of the S360's noise reduction and frame integration. We simple took the frozen image signal from the mono monitor output on the back of the machine, fed the signal into a broad bandwidth video distribution amplifier and then fed the output of the amp to a Matrox P8 frame grabber using the old Snapshot software. SEM signals were also distributed to our Compix Image Analyser and Codonics video printer all at the same time. The image size was only 740x576 put the images were noise free and quite useful as we distributed them over our video network and workers at remote sites could view samples being examined in relative real time. This method is not passive capture but real frame grabbing. The down side to this method is the image grey scale is an average of all the pixels in the image including the black header and thus the numerics in the header will not be pure white as they are with the Orion passive capture system. Hope this is of some use. Jon McGovern J. P. McGovern and Associates www.microscopy.net jon-at-microscopy.net
The best stuff that I have found for mounting pictures and posters and it really holds up for a very long time is 3M 568 positionable mounting adhesive. This stuff is used by graphic art shops and it is really easy to work with. I've been using it for about 15 years. It holds better than the spray mount and if you are nominally careful, there is no mess.
I believe the 568 number is for the roll format that I have. It is 11 inches wide by many feet long. I know that there is an 18 inch wide version with another number because I have used it for 16 x 20 prints.
You put your artwork on the material pressing slightly. Then cut it out with an Exacto knife along the edges of your artwork. Using the scraper supplied with the PMA, you press the adhesive onto the back of the artwork. Peel the backing off of the artwork and the adhesive is transferred to the back. The artwork can be laid gently down and repositioned until it is aligned correctly. (Try that with spray adhesive.) Then using the scraper again with a protective sheet over the artwork, press over the entire artwork. This will stay in place for years. I have only found one type of sublimation dye printer paper that I had trouble with on the first stage. Much harder pressure than I normally use fixed that.
You can get it from photographic shops, but they may have to order it. If you try this once, you'll never go back to the spray.
-Scott
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Glass Technology Center 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: Mary Gail Engle To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
Dear microscopists, I realize that this subject may be out of the realm of microscopy but I thought maybe one of you could help. Our lab generates alot of poster titles for various meetings. The posters are then mounted in the departmental hallways for a few months so they need to survive for some time. I use a double sided adhesive tape made by Letraset to put the title(printed on card stock) on posterboard. I have just found out that the company is no longer making the tape and I can't find a decent substitute. The double sided scotch tape isn't strong enough; the spray photo mount is very difficult to work with in a lab and doesn't hold well either. It leaves a sticky residue on anything nearby. Does anyone know of a very high tack tape similar to the Letraset tape? Thanks in advance,
Mary Gail Engle Electron Microscopy & Imaging Facility University of Kentucky
I put a cleaning procedure on the web some time ago it came from the team=
in the EM unit in Canberra.
LANTHANOM HEXABORIDE Technique developed by E.M. Unit Canberra
Clean the cathode with 25% hydrochloric acid in water by immersing for 60=
seconds and then cleaning with a weak alkaline (ammonia or sodium hydroxide). Wash with water and then alcohol before drying.
LaB6 sources should last a long time (1000 hours plus) but they do need a= n intermediate cleaning session about every 250 to 350 hours. Some people amaze us by getting away with 1100 hours without cleaning but this is the=
exception not the rule.
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
Some of the replies to our posting seem to have run a little off track.
The ammonia clean is intended to be used on the stainless steel gun components only, no mention of any other areas! A few points are set out=
below in relation to those who have replied to our request for comment.
1. Three people, two from the USA, one from South Africa already use=
this technique to whom due respect is given, they have not seen any problems.
2. There are those who use manual techniques that they claim are far=
quicker. The point of this technique is to remove the manual component from cleaning as the methods and media used are often the most common reasons for increased contamination within a column. Hand cleaning methods, particularly electro mechanical methods, are also far more damaging to the cathode than a wet technique. Mis shaped cathode apertur= es have been found to be the cause of terminal astigmatism! A liquid clean = is a preferred route as it removes the metal polish and cotton, or tissue, that are used to apply the polish. All three media are difficult to remove and may cause contamination and discharge in an electron gun if th= ey are not completely removed. A higher level of technical and observationa= l skills are also required with manual techniques.
3 There are some who have commented that the occasional hand polish= , or better still in the ultrasonic cleaner with a metal polish, is useful = as it removes any irregularities caused by discharge. I would agree with them, perhaps one in three cleans should follow this route in a TEM. The= re should be less of a problem in a SEM.
4 It has been mentioned that plated cathodes may be damaged if the plating is incomplete. I do not know of any plated cathodes as far as I have seen they are all stainless steel with some using tantalum apertures= . =
Take care if you clean a SEM anode as some are made of aluminium alloy an= d they will go black when placed in ammonia solution!
5 Tantalum so I am told, is only mildly attacked by alkalis, needin= g to heated above 150 deg C to encourage unacceptable attack. Thanks to Bi= ll Tivol for that information.
6 The suggestion of using plasma etching as the ideal cleaning devi= ce for all components is not challenged, however the ammonia method describe= d is cheap, simple and almost always available in the EM laboratory world wide.
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
The fields will drop off with the square of the distance. i.e.....
1 Ft 1 Gauss 2 1/4 G 0.25 4 1/16 G 0.625 8 1/32 G 0.03125
The fields you're describing could be significant. Be careful, even in calculating the potential problem. If it develops into an image disturbance problem you may be able to cancel the fields. For more information on site selection pitfalls see http://www.vibeng.com or call.
Craig Franklin Vibration Engineering Consultants 303-689-2224 } } } Our EM facility will be moving to a new building currently under } construction. We have just learned that a major feed line consisting of } six 3 inch conduits carrying three 400 amp parallel lines (1200 A total) } has been installed 11 feet from where our highest resolution TEM is going. } We have been asked to supply a minimum acceptable distance that these lines } could be from the microscopes, since it will be quite expensive to reroute } them (they are in concrete). My specific questions are: } } What is the appropriate formula to compute the falloff of the field with } distance? } } Does this theoretical formula adequately predict the field in a real situation? } } How does the orientation of the lines affect the calculation? } } Thanks for your help. Any references would also be appreciated. } } Dr. Marie E. Cantino } Dept. of Physiology and Neurobiology } University of Connecticut } Storrs, CT 06269-2131 } Phone: 860-486-3588 } Fax: 860-4861936 } } } }
try using a sticky tab on a stub, placed around a small pre-scored section on the label side of the CD. just push it on hard and pull it off and you should get a little piece of the aluminum film. works quick and easy... } } Dear Owen, } I was successful in cutting out a one cm. chunk of a hot-pressed CD and } leaving it in chlorothene overnight. Unfortunately, we can't use that } anymore. Any good plastic solvent should work, even acetone. You are left } with a wisp of very thin aluminum foil with the dints in it visible at about } 10,000X. The CD-Rs are a very different technology. } At 11:39 AM 6/15/99 -0400, you wrote: } } } } Sometime in the last two years I remember a thread on preparing CD's for } } examination in the SEM. Can anyone remember what solvent was used to } } remove the polymer coating from CD's so imaging of the data is possible. } } Please respond to me directly at the address below. Thanks. } } } } Owen } 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 } e-mail: mager-at-interchg.ubc.ca } } } } -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Brian McIntyre University of Rochester Electron Microscopy Lab 716-275-3058 716-244-4936 (fax)
Does anyone know of a supplier for an anti chicken-25nm gold conjugate that is ideally raised in a goat, for the EM. I have found a rabbit anti chicken-25nm conjugate from Airon, but rabbit seems to routinely cause us problems Thanks, Susie Nilsson
Seeking advice on the use of electrochemical solutions for use in the Tenupol Apparatus for preparing thin TEM samples. Is anyone using a laboratory prepared mixture of conc nitric acid (30%) and methanol (70%) in the apparatus? If so, what are the documentation / policy requirements for the training, use, storage, handling disposal of this mixture in your facility? What alternative commercially available chemical solutions are currently being used in the Tenupol apparatus for low alloy steels? Barry EM UNIT UNSW
The best way to affix posterboard or paper to another piece of posterboard or paper is to use drymount tissue. This essentially is tissue paper impregnated with a heat-sensitive adhesive. The piece of tissue is trimmed to exactly the same size as the piece to be attached. The two pieces then are fused by pressing them in a drymount press (a huge press with a heated platen, the same device use to iron on t-shirt transfers) for about 45 seconds. The bond is permanent (in fact you cannot separate the two pieces without destroying one).
The tissue is available at photo supply and art supply stores/catalogues. A widely-available brand is by ColorMount by Seal, though I know there are other manufacuturers. The down side of this technique is that one needs the press. The media centers and art departments at most academic institutions will have one. (If you are going to mount resin coated photos, be careful to get the drymount tissue with the proper melting point, otherwise you will ruin your photos).
Nothing holds as well as drymount tissue; this is what all the professionals use. All other methods that I have tried will bleed through paper, form bubbles/ripples between the two surfaces, and/or will eventually peel away, particularly with changes in relative humidity.
DL ______________________________________________________________________ Donald L. Lovett e-mail: lovett-at-tcnj.edu Assoc. Professor, Dept. of Biology voice: (609) 771-2876 P.O. Box 7718 fax: (609) 637-5118 The College of New Jersey Ewing, NJ 08628-0718
Disclaimer: E.L.I. Belgium distributes a passive grabbing system worldwid= e so we are not exactly a disinterested third party.
Choosing an active or passive system is a difficult task and obviously th= e choice is a function of the =93external=94 operating conditions like imag= e size needs (must be 512x512 for image analysis for example) or EDX mapping tas= ks (be able to scan a specific area), but is also a function of the SEM itself.
The SEM itself is important in choosing an active or passive system if th= e SEM scanning generator provides enough lines, then there is probably no need for an active drive; a passive system is always easier and simpler to install an= d configure than an active one. It is also easier to use because its is considered a pure slave of the SEM scanning generator. And a grabbing sys= tem must deliver images with the lowest possible amount of noise and the mini= mal distortion: the pixels must be square.=20
Our Cy (E.L.I. sprl in Belgium) designed a very powerful passive system (Orion) with four ideas in mind:
- the system must be easy to use:
Getting the image from the SEM is the last step and must be done efficien= tly, so the number of clicks and actions must be reduced to the minimum. For example, in the Orion system, you need only one mouse click to get the im= age from the SEM, and one to get a printout! So we directly help the user red= ucing his overhead time just by optimizing the user interface.
- it must provide an accurate copy of the image produced on the SEM scree= n:
During the system installation, it is important to properly configure and calibrate the grabbing system in order to avoid image distortions. The oversampling factor can be optimized for any scanning mode. The result is= a clean, jitter-free image immediately ready for processing, storage or printing.
- it must include functions that are in direct relation with the job done= on the SEM:
For example, a very useful function inside the Orion system is the abilit= y of reconstructing a micron bar when you extract an area from a grabbed image= ; this prevent the loss of the distance calibration information. We have the policy of constantly adding new functions inside the software, which are directly helping the system user producing images. Other functions include: very efficient distance measurement, line/rectangle drawing, contrast / brightness adjustment, etc.=20
- Some functions are available as options because some user=92s don't nee= d them and won't have to pay for them. We currently have four options:
- the 3D, anaglyph construction, which includes a tool for automatic plan= e alignment. This compensates for any stage drift that can occur during til= t; - The EDX, which allows you to mix EDX mappings with grey scale images;=20 - The DSM option, which optimizes the Orion software for the LEO DSM 94x/= 95x series - The Macro command processor, for linking buttons with repetitive tasks stored in text files.
Furthermore, the Orion system has a feature which is unique on the market= : the analog part (which is connected to the SEM electronics) is completely flo= ating (isolated) from the digital part (connected to the PC processor).=20
This very particular design, although very technical, provides the Orion system with two unique advantages:
- A security advantage: your SEM is fully protected against electrical disturbances that could occur in your computer or network and is fully =93floating=94. If a fault occurs in the computer electrical system, the = SEM is protected. - A bigger noise insensitivity: by breaking the ground loop between the S= EM and the computer, we make the Orion system virtually =93jitter=94 free and noise-free.=20
By the way, I take this opportunity to let you know that we are currently looking for highly qualified representatives in different countries. If you are interested, please contact me.
At 14:01 04/06/99 -0500, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America=20
Paul Vanderlinden. Sales Manager.
*********************************************************************=20 See our web site: http://www.orionmicroscopy.com To contact us:
Good Morning, I'm wondering if someone could give me information about who to contact to post a position we have available here at UCSD in the Nuerosciences dept? It's a research position, specifically looking for someone with microsopy background. Please let me know. Thank you, Susi Goodman, Staffing Dept, UCSD
I'm sorry I didn't get your name! Here is an initial description. But I also want to put together a formal job announcement as a MS Word Attachment, that includes all the information re: how to apply for position. I'll send that this afternoon. Thank you, Susi Goodman
116509-S STAFF RESEARCH ASSOCIATE I Scientific & Laboratory Research Neurosciences Open Until Filled $2289-$2742 STAFF RESEARCH ASSOC I 100% Career Perform immunolocalization studies on protein kinases and related proteins in the nervous system and other tissues. Technician will collaborate with researchers from several laboratories as part of a program project. Duties will include specimen preparation for light and electron microscopic immunocytochemistry. Other duties will include perfusion fixation of laboratory rats and other small animals, sectioning tissue for light microscopic examination using both the cryostat and Vibratome, examination and analysis of patterns of immunostaining at both the LM and EM levels, flat embedding Vibratome sections for electron microscopy, production of ultrathin sections, and semi-thin sections for conventional and high voltage EM, examination and analysis of sections under both conventional and intermediate high voltage electronic microscopes, and production of publication quality light and EM micrographs. REQUIREMENTS: Familiarity and skill with transmitted light microscopy, laser scanning confocal microscopy, conventional and high voltage electron microscopy. Ability to produce high quality thin and semi-thin sections for electron microscopy. Experience with high-resolution immunolocalization techniques for electronic microscopy, including colloidal gold detection. Understanding of immunocytochemical theory and practice. Ability to conduct a research study with minimal supervision. Ability to understand and evaluate scientific literature. Must be able to juggle several projects at once and work collegially with collaborators. Theoretical background in molecular and cell biology or related field.
Good Morning, I'm wondering if someone could give me information about who to contact to post a position we have available here at UCSD in the Nuerosciences dept? It's a research position, specifically looking for someone with microsopy background. Please let me know. Thank you, Susi Goodman, Staffing Dept, UCSD
Just a quick reply about the double sided tape questions. I don't know if this is the same as the tape you were using, but scotch also makes what they call "Permanent-Linerless Double coated Tape". It's 3/4 inches wide and extremely sticky. We've had great success with this tape, to the point that Posters that have been made a year and a half ago are still hanging strong.
thanks
Adam
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Adam Baker Carleton University Biology Department Email address: adbaker-at-ccs.carleton.ca ----------------------------------------------------------------------
{bold} {fontfamily} {param} Times {/param} {bigger} {bigger} Title {/bigger} {/big= ger} {/fontfamily} {/bold} {fontfamily} {param} Times {/param} {bigger} {bigger} : Nitrogen-carbon bonding in new materials - Experimental and theoretical investigations
{bold} Job description {/bold} :=20
Within the framework of a 4-year TMR research network,=20
=AB synthesis, structure and properties of new carbon-based hard materials =BB ( {/bigger} {/bigger} {/fontfamily} http://www.physto.se/tmr {fontfamily} {para= m} Times {/param} {bigger} {bigger} / ) initiated in 1998, the CEMES,=20
situated in Toulouse (France), offers a post-doctoral position.=20
The Toulouse group (which is included in a partnership encompassing two other groups:=20
Solid-State Physics Lab in Orsay and ONERA-Chatillon) is specialized in the implementation
and development of analytical techniques in electron microscopy to explore the structure and
the local chemical and electronic properties of new materials.
The research to be carried out includes EELS (Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy) and EFD (Elastic Filtered Electron Diffraction) experimental investigations, as well as theoretical calculations of the optical and electronic properties using CASTEP (pseudopotential plane-wave code).
The position is limited to European Community citizens (excluding French).
Duration: 1 year.
{bold} Fields {/bold} : Solid state physics, prior experience in EELS and/or
carbon-based materials would be an advantage.
{bold} Application deadline {/bold} : September 1, 1999
{bold} Place of work {/bold} : Centre d'Elaboration des Mat=E9riaux et Etudes Structurales
(CEMES) du CNRS, Toulouse France, Electron Microscopy and Analysis
group.
{bold} Contact person {/bold} : Virginie SERIN
E-mail : serin-at-cemes.fr
Phone : +33 (0)5 62 25 78 67
Fax: +33 (0) 5 62 25 79 99
Address: CEMES/CNRS
29 rue J. Marvig, BP4347, 31055 Toulouse Cedex, France
I just want to put in my 2 cents worth regarding digital image acquisition from the LEO 360s:
As Jon describes below, there are different methods for acquiring images:
Via a simple frame grabber Passive acquisition Active acquisition
There was a thread recently that discussed the differences between passive and active acquisition, so I won't say anything about that.
acquisition via frame grabber: this is possible if the system has a TV output. This is not necessarily a TV-rate scanning, but must be a true TV signal. The signals are usually either NTSC or PAL, NTSC being the US and Japanese standard, PAL the European. Unfortunately, they are not compatible. Both use the same bandwidth, but PAL sacrifices repetition rate for resolution (NTSC: 30 frames per second, 640x480, PAL: 25 fps, 768x576). Most frame grabbers can either be bought for one of the signals or can digitize both. However, acquiring TV images from an SEM is probably not the best solution. The images are low in resolution, and they are only 8 bit. The display is fast, though, and through averaging a good S/N ratio can be reached.
Regarding the active/passive difference, please check out the previous thread. For active acquisition from the 360 series it is necessary to have a beam control interface installed. That option is available from LEO.
Of course, if you select an acquisition system that is based on a frame grabber, like ours, you can have all three options available. A TV rate acquisition for finding and focussing, and then a passive or active acquisition for high resolution images.
Michael Bode
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 1675 Carr St., #105N Lakewood, CO 80215 =================================== phone: (888) FIND SIS (303) 234-9270 fax: (303) 234-9271 email: mailto:info-at-soft-imaging.com web: http://www.soft-imaging.com ===================================
******************************************************* Disclaimer: Soft Imaging System produces and sells image acquisition and processing systems. We therefore have a vested interest in some of the items mentioned above. *******************************************************
} ---------- } From: Jonathan P. McGovern[SMTP:SEMRUS-at-TELUSPLANET.NET] } Sent: Wednesday, June 16, 1999 6:38:22 PM } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: S360 Image capture } Auto forwarded by a Rule } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Folks; We have an S360 SEM and have used several image capture systems over the years. There are problems associated with passive capture on the S360. First the S360 is a PAL (European video 740x576 pixels) so many frame grabber boards will not give the correct aspect ratio for images. The voltage on the image board of the 360 in only + or - 1 volt so many systems will not sync to the signal from the image transfer board. We have had great success with the Orion system from E.L.I. sprl in Belgium. Their web page is www.OrionMicroscopy.com . As a passive system we feel they are the best solution for the S360. On our other machines we use the Quartz PCI which is a great system for SEM's particularly, Hitachi, JOEL. The PCI woks well with the Cambridge S250 as well. When we first started doing image capture, the system we built took advantage of the S360's noise reduction and frame integration. We simple took the frozen image signal from the mono monitor output on the back of the machine, fed the signal into a broad bandwidth video distribution amplifier and then fed the output of the amp to a Matrox P8 frame grabber using the old Snapshot software. SEM signals were also distributed to our Compix Image Analyser and Codonics video printer all at the same time. The image size was only 740x576 put the images were noise free and quite useful as we distributed them over our video network and workers at remote sites could view samples being examined in relative real time. This method is not passive capture but real frame grabbing. The down side to this method is the image grey scale is an average of all the pixels in the image including the black header and thus the numerics in the header will not be pure white as they are with the Orion passive capture system. Hope this is of some use. Jon McGovern J. P. McGovern and Associates www.microscopy.net jon-at-microscopy.net
Has anyone looked or researched the tribology and or tribochemistry (e.g. chemical mechanical polishing) involved in either or both dimpling and tripod polishing?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Laurence Marks Department of Materials Science and Engineering Northwestern University fax: (847) 491-7820 mailto:L-marks-at-nwu.edu http://www.numis.nwu.edu ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
L.D. Marks wrote: -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
Has anyone looked or researched the tribology and or tribochemistry (e.g. chemical mechanical polishing) involved in either or both dimpling and tripod polishing?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ If you mean has anyone done a serious research project (as in a graduate degree thesis project) of these prep method's tribology/chemistry? I would say no, not that I'm aware of (and I do follow these subjects closely).
However, one of the reasons why tripod polishing (and the related and evolved tools) have been so successful is that they came along at the same time some remarkable polishing compounds appeared on the scene. All through the 1980s the semiconductor industry was really gearing up for the manufacture of large-wafer integrated circuits, mostly on Si but to some extent on III-V and II-VI compounds as well. These wafer surfaces had to be nearly atomically smooth and free of polishing damage. A HUGE effort went into the creation of colloidal polishing compounds (colloidal silica as the best example) among others to meet the semiconductor industry's polishing needs. There must have been a large number of tribological and or tribochemistry studies performed on the effect of colloidal products polishing silicon at the time. I use the phrase "must have been" in recognition that many projects like these in semiconductor manufacturing facilities were deemed proprietary by the companies involved and few papers were written. But, good grief, enough time has passed and they should be in the literature by now!
Tripod polishing was the beneficiary of these efforts as Klepeis and Benedict here in IBM had access to these media in our facility when the method was being invented. Certainly the clout generated by our needing a high tech polishing media for making TEM specimens would not have accounted for beans.
So, are there studies of colloidal media polishing silicon, etc available? Certainly. Are these studies applicable to tripod polishing TEM specimens? Sure. Are they back-applicable to dimpling when the dimplers use these media? Sure. Is there room for a new study specifically directed to the tribology and or tribochemistry of making TEM specimens? ABSOLUTELY! Should such a study occur you can count on our help.
Ron
Ron Anderson, IBM, Hopewell Jct., New York, USA. anderron-at-us.ibm.com
IBM Analytical Services; http://www.chips.ibm.com/services/asg
Having been in tribology and having done work with these materials in the TEM, I think that I can be reasonably certain that there hasn't been any investigations in these areas of TEM preparation. One reason might be that there simply aren't any economic reasons to do it.
However, the ball cratering device that has been used for dimpling TEM samples is a common device that is used for examining and testing hard coating on tool steels and other substrates.
There have been examinations of wear-tested films of solid film lubricants (MoS2) as I am pretty sure that you are aware. I presented some work at MSA in 1993. There was a paper by the French group in the MRS Journal (1992 or 1993, First author: Mosely?) I have made samples of MoS2 film samples using both techniques as well as the small angle cleavage technique. I've also prepared WS2 by these techniques as well as FIB. When MoS2 is wear-tested, one of the tribochemical products is MoO3. I've never seen any evidence of this phase in the as-deposited films examined in the TEM. Pulsed Laser deposited films of MoS2 go down amorphous and when wear-tested, they generate both the MoS2 and MoO3 phases. You can wave a carbon coated grid in the wear track and you will find both phases. In the as-deposited samples prepared by these various techniques, again, I have not detected these phases. I should point out however that the dimpled samples and tripod polished samples have all been finished with ion milling. Those prepared by cleavage and FIB have not been touched by abrasive.
Of course, the testing that we did would have been done with a pin-on-disk and without lubricant. Dimpling and tripod polishing both have the complication that you would have to consider the abrasive/lubricant and sample wear couple.
Hard coatings may be a different matter however. There may be some studies on wear-tested tool steels that may be analogous to the sample preparation techniques. But, again, I think any tribochemical changes will get wiped out by ion milling. About 2 or 3 years ago, Ainissa Ramirez from the Stanford group presented some of her Ph.D. work on tribo-mechanical changes in DLC films. I'm not sure where they published, but try the ICMCTF meeting papers published in Thin Solid Films or Surface and Coatings Technology.
I once examined a tripod polished single crystal SiC sample without the cleanup ion mill and saw an interesting defect structure from the polishing on both sides. Although you could see the scratches and dislocations in the sample, you could still see the single crystal structure of the material. Short ion milling totally cleaned the sample. I'm sure there are a number of such examples for silicon for both dimpling and tripod polishing.
I think that an interesting avenue for research on tribochemical changes could be performed on already prepared TEM samples in which the samples are "wear-tested" with a contact mode AFM in an electron transparent area. You could then have an area that is wear-tested adjacent to an area that is not.
I probably didn't answer your question, but there may be some overlaps in my ramblings.
-Scott
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Glass Technology Center 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: L. D. Marks To: Microscopy List -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
Has anyone looked or researched the tribology and or tribochemistry (e.g. chemical mechanical polishing) involved in either or both dimpling and tripod polishing?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Laurence Marks Department of Materials Science and Engineering Northwestern University fax: (847) 491-7820 mailto:L-marks-at-nwu.edu http://www.numis.nwu.edu ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Dear all The Web site for our Electron Microscope Unit at the University of the Witwatersrand is a as follow
http://www.wits.ac.za/emu
Mr. S H Coetzee Electron Microscope Unit Private bag X3 Wits Johannesburg 2050 Tell: +27 11 716 2419 Fax : +27 11 339 3407 E-mail stephan-at-gecko.biol.wits.ac.za
May I remind the list about the one day Advanced School to be held on Tuesday 24 August 1999 in Sheffield, UK?
The subject is High Resolution Electron Microscopy and, unlike a recent Sheffield movie, the school aims to provide the full coverage. Field emission sources, computer-aided alignment, image reconstruction from focal or tilt series, energy filtering and more.
The four speakers are well known in the field: John Hutchison, Thierry Epicier, Chris Boothroyd and Angus Kirkland. There will also be demonstrations on a FEGTEM and a 300kV HREM, and participants will take away a complete set of notes.
N.B. Fast approaching is 25 June 1999 - the deadline for EMAG bursary applications for students and young scholars who are members of the Institute of Physics.
For details, go to: http://www.iop.org/IOP/Confs/EMAG or write to: c.j.hetherington-at-sheffield.ac.uk
I recently acquired a Wild M21 polarized light microscope. Does anyone have a manual that they could lend to me (I would copy it and then return it) or forward a copy. I will pay any associated fees.
Thank you.
Alan Stone ASTON Metallurgical Services Co., Inc. 4201 North Ravenswood Ave Chicago, IL 60613 773/528-9830
For more information on this position, and guidance on how to apply, please visit our website at www-hr.ucsd.edu. Look under "Job Bulletin", "employment opportunities", and "scietific & laboratory research." Thank you.
116509-S STAFF RESEARCH ASSOCIATE I Scientific & Laboratory Research Neurosciences Open Until Filled $2289-$2742 STAFF RESEARCH ASSOC I 100% Career Perform immunolocalization studies on protein kinases and related proteins in the nervous system and other tissues. Technician will collaborate with researchers from several laboratories as part of a program project. Duties will include specimen preparation for light and electron microscopic immunocytochemistry. Other duties will include perfusion fixation of laboratory rats and other small animals, sectioning tissue for light microscopic examination using both the cryostat and Vibratome, examination and analysis of patterns of immunostaining at both the LM and EM levels, flat embedding Vibratome sections for electron microscopy, production of ultrathin sections, and semi-thin sections for conventional and high voltage EM, examination and analysis of sections under both conventional and intermediate high voltage electronic microscopes, and production of publication quality light and EM micrographs. REQUIREMENTS: Familiarity and skill with transmitted light microscopy, laser scanning confocal microscopy, conventional and high voltage electron microscopy. Ability to produce high quality thin and semi-thin sections for electron microscopy. Experience with high-resolution immunolocalization techniques for electronic microscopy, including colloidal gold detection. Understanding of immunocytochemical theory and practice. Ability to conduct a research study with minimal supervision. Ability to understand and evaluate scientific literature. Must be able to juggle several projects at once and work collegially with collaborators. Theoretical background in molecular and cell biology or related field.
Good Morning, I'm wondering if someone could give me information about who to contact to post a position we have available here at UCSD in the Nuerosciences dept? It's a research position, specifically looking for someone with microsopy background. Please let me know. Thank you, Susi Goodman, Staffing Dept, UCSD
Midwest Microscopy and Microanalysis Society (MMMS) Members:
We are soliciting nominations for people to serve as officers of MMMS f= or the 2000 society year. Nominees should be active members in good standing = of MMMS. Elected positions include President-elect, Treasurer, Recording Secretary, Life Sciences Director, Materials Sciences Director, and Pro= gram Co-ordinator. Duties for these officers are described in the MMMS Constitution and Bylaws, which can be accessed at http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MSALAS/MMMS/MMMSConstitution.html.
All suggestions for nominations should be sent to the Recording Secreta= ry, Linda LaRonge-Snow (linda.snow.nmi-at-abbott.com) and should be received b= y Friday, June 25. Please include a brief description of you or your nominee's qualifications for the position. Final decisions on nominati= ons will be made by the MMMS Executive Council. This is your chance to bec= ome involved and have a voice in your society, so please let us know if you= are willing to serve!
Jerry Gagne (gerard.d.gagne-at-abbott.com) President, MMMS =
I am considering purchasing a scanner for scanning TEM negatives into electronic form. I have reviewed some of the brands and came up with a couple of candidates, and I wonder if any of the microscopy listserv members have used these or other scanners for TEM negatives, and could give me some advice.
I am considering Microtek ScanMaker5, and the UMAX Powerlook III. Both scanners work in transparency and reflection mode, and come with a SCSI interface and lots of software, and can handle various sizes. The Scanmaker5 is listed at 1000 x 2000 dpi optical resolution, and 3.6 maximum optical density (Dmax). It costs about $2400 The UMAX Powerlook III is listed as 1200 x 2400 dpi optical resolution and 3.4 maximum optical density. The price is about $1200.
The difference between the two appears to be that the Scanmaker has no glass in the optical path, thus avoiding Newton rings and possibly other distortions (as well as dust, etc). The salesman at UMAX claimed that their geometry, although it has glass in the optical path, avoids Newton rings because a film holder causes the negatives not to sit on the glass.
I would clearly prefer to pay $1200 than $2400, but since this is a large purchase, I would like to get it right, and will find the extra money if necessary.
Have any of you direct experience with these scanners for TEM negatives that you could advise me as to which would be better? I would appreciate any feedback (including suggestions for other scanners), and if there is enough interest, I propose to summarize the advice I get in a later posting to this group.
Thank you,
Arthur Motta *************************************************************************** Arthur T.Motta Department of Nuclear Engineering 814-865-0036 The Pennsylvania State University fax: 814-865-8499 231 Sackett Bldg, University Park, PA 16802-1408 http://www.nuce.psu.edu
The University of Souther California, School of Engineering is seeking an experienced electron microscopist to fill the position of Laboratory Manager in the Center for Electron Microscopy and Microanalysis (CEMMA), who will oversee the operation and maintenance of the Center.
The Laboratory Manager is expected to:
Provide technical laboratory expertise to faculty, research staff and graduate or undergraduate students in the design and execution of experiments, participate in educational and research activities consistent with the University's mission. This individual should be self motivated and resourceful, possess good organizational and strong computer skills. The ability to instruct students and researchers in the operation of microscopes and ancillary equipment is important. He needs to schedule users and maintain equipment in proper operating condition.
Qualifications:
B.S. in one of the Physical Sciences or equivalent. Experience in TEM/SEM/EDS required. Familiar with mechanical and electronic equipment, and vacuum systems.
Contact:
Florian Mansfeld University of Southern California Chair/Department of Materials Science Los Angeles, CA 90089-0241 (213)740-3016 mansfeld-at-mizar.usc.edu
Salary Range:
Commensurate with education and experience.
Jack Worrall Director of Operations Univ. of Southern Cal. CEMMA Los Angeles, CA 90089-0101
Accidentally delete files folders? =46disk or =46ormat the wrong drives? Lose data because of a virus? Are you or have you seen errors like, invalid drive specification, invalid media type or error reading drive c:? Hard drives are getting cheaper and cheaper, but the data on those drives can be invaluable. However you have options. You can send the drive to a Data Recovery Professional and pay the price (thousands). You can buy an over the counter retail product which may due more harm than good, or you can use the software that the professionals use for this type of recovery. We are for a limited time, making the software we sell to the professionals available to the general public to handle the out cry for data recovery software we have experienced due to virus infection, and the simple fact that almost everyone now has a computer. Virus scanners are great, but the fact is they can not update virus signatures as fast as people are producing viruses. More and more people are learning how to program. Unfortunately that means there are more programmers capable of producing viruses. Major companies spending millions of dollars on security and virus protection have lost data due to virus infection. It will get worse before it gets better. You don=92t have t= o spend thousands to recover your data if you have the right software. We are making this software available to you now, at a very reasonable cost! Act now and receive unlimited free technical support ! This won=92t last long!
=46or more information please reply to: mailto:merch2-at-bigfoot.com?subject=3Dmore-info
********************************************************************* ** To be removed reply to mailto:jjmay-at-dbzmail.com?subject=3Dremove ********************************************************************* **
Has it always been difficult obtaining schematics for Zeiss SEM's? I've been referred by a LEO serviceman...to a LEO manager...to a german engineer, who has been unresponsive to my requests for documentation on behalf of a customer.
If anyone can help obtain copies of the DSM-960 schematics, particularly the scan generators and video, I'd certainly be in your debt.
A few years back I remember a CD ROM that I saw at the Microscopy and Analysis meeting which was I think called "The Virtual Microscope". It covered basic light microscopy, optics and physics. It also had a virtual microscope upon which users could practice their aligning skills. I am in need of locating this software for a possible class offering at the graduate level. Does anybody know of where this program can now be purchased?
ZEISS did not include the schemnatics in the manual so that you have to = get them for service. It is their SECRET. =20 It would be easier to get it if you had made it as a condition before = purchasing. We have learned that this condition must be included in all = equipment purchase.
Ann Fook
} } } jbest {jbest-at-elmdas.com} 06/19 7:28 AM } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America=20
On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html=20=
Has it always been difficult obtaining schematics for Zeiss SEM's? I've = been referred by a LEO serviceman...to a LEO manager...to a german engineer, = who has been unresponsive to my requests for documentation on behalf of a = customer.
If anyone can help obtain copies of the DSM-960 schematics, particularly = the scan generators and video, I'd certainly be in your debt.
An investigator is trying to look at some cross bridges in the germaria of = a mutant Drosophila. We have fixed the tissue in 2% Glut in 0.1M cacodylate= =20 buffer, post fixed in 1% OSO4 in 0.lM cacodyalte, treated with 2% Tannic = Acid in the same buffer, and en bloc staining with 2% aqueous uranyl acetate,=20=
followed by routine dehydration. The tissue is embedded in Spurrs's = media. Sections were cut in the 60 nm range. Stained sections on formvar coated grids with 7% UA in absolute methanol, followed by Lead Citrate. Also stained sections on plain grids with = routine UA and LC. We liked the plain grids better but the intensity of the stain = was not as great as we would like. The structures of interest are ER-like = cisternae, and are very hard to see.
Does anyone have any ideas about how to improve the intensity of the stain or suggestions on how to improve our techniques in order to see our tiny structures in the germaria?
George Lawton Chief Electron Microscopist Microscopy and Imaging Service Center UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas 5323 Harry Hines Blvd. Dallas, Tx 75235-9039 Phone: 214-648-7291 eMail: George.Lawton-at-email.swmed.edu
I have a Carl Zeiss Microscope ll which is equiped for fluorscence microscopy. The bulb that I have is very old. Does anyone know where I can get a Philips 126184 C.S.I.250 watt H7 mercury bulb?
Thanks Debbie
Debbie Lietz Electron Microscopy Suite Department of Biology Trent University Peterborough, Ontario K9J 7B8 Telephone: (705)748-1486 Fax: (705) 748-1205 email: dlietz-at-trentu.ca
I recall some discussions on Snow Cleaning a while back. Does anyone have any information about the technique and how it works ? Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Colin
Colin Reid, Electron Microscope Unit, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland. Tel: 353-1-6081820 Fax: 353-1-6770438 email: creid-at-tcd.ie
Back when I was a graduate student some 50 years ago the term 'Spectroscopy' was used to refer to measurements made with an instrument in which the separated spectral components were measured or recorded either visually or photographically (thus the 'scope' component), while the term 'Spectrometry' generally was used to refer to measurements made with a device that measured the separated spectral components with a phototube and displayed the results on a meter or via a strip chart recorder (i.e. a metering device).
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
A technical position is available in the newly established Microscopy Center at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York. We are seeking an experienced Electron Microscopy technician with a BS/BA or MS in Biology/Life Sciences. Applicants should have excellent communication and organizational skills, an understanding of basic laboratory procedures, and the ability to manage a large and varied workload. The successful candidate will participate in ultrastructural studies of various biological systems. Qualifications include at least 2 years of experience in routine transmission electron microscopy procedures, ultramicrotomy, immunogold labelling, specimen preparation, photographic darkroom work, and routine maintenance of equipment. Experience with immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy is an asset.
We offer a salary commensurate with experience and excellent benefits. For consideration, please mail/email your resume to:
Scott Henderson, Ph.D., Director, Microscopy Center, Box 1007, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029-6574
We are an equal opportunity employer fostering diversity in the workplace.
As noted on p. 72 of my book Vacuum Methods in Electron Microscopy (http://www.2spi.com/catalog/books/book48.html), Peter B. Sewell, of LAB-6 Inc., recommends cleaning lanthanum hexaboride deposits from Wehnelt cylinders and apertures by soaking them for about a minute in a solution consisting of 1 part by volume of concentrated hydrochloric acid and 4 parts water, then rinsing sequentially with water, dilute ammonia, deionized water, and isopropyl alcohol, and then drying with a blast of clean warm air or with a gas blaster.
A guy who works in the company that makes LaB6 products should know, so I suggest you try his method.
Good luck!
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
On April 7, 1999, I responded to a need that had become apparent on this list, i.e., a source for instruction manuals for older instruments. I suggested that "It would be a real service to our community if a master compilation of these manuals, with a suitable index and regular updates, could be put together."
I could not volunteer personally for this task but fortunately several people have responded to this discussion and I thought this would be an appropriate time to summarize the comments. I have not figured out all the company/institutional affiliations for the respondents but the emails are given. I believe that all of these respondents have sent copies of their replies to the entire list so they should be receptive to direct inquires.
Yvan Lindekens suggested large manufacturers might not support idea and there might be a problem with copyrights. I suspect that the copyrights will not be too much of a problem, especially since we do not propose to make any money on the deal. Speaking for my own situation, a request for a manual for an older instrument causes us a lot of trouble in searching out information and never pays for itself directly.
Dmitri Sokolov (sokolov-at-ryouko.rciqe.hokudai.ac.jp) suggested that the idea can be considered a part of his about global knowledge base as self-growing unified searching source of information, as described in his home page.
Uri Watson (uri-at-watson.ibm.com) planning to scan a few manuals and put them on Yvan LIndekens web site.
During the last 2 1/2 months or so there have been numerous other postings askinig for specific manuals and I suspect that many of these may have been responded to privately.
So here is a general framing of the problem.
How to do it? Scanning or copying or a combination.
When to do it? Shgould it be doneas needed/requested or should we try to collect as much as possible at the outset. In either case, there will need to be a master list posted somewhere to show what is available and how to get it, cost, etc.
Where would the effort be centered? We need a site which will be as close to permanent as possible so that the work will not be jeopardized by job changes, etc. Barbara Foster.MME, has volunteered for part of this, though clearly this is subject to change when we see how big a task it turns into.
Reimbursement. Some form of reimbursement would be needed to at least cover direct costs - though reimbursement for time spent would be prohibitive.
Copyrights. Theoretically a problem but maybe not a real problem in practice. A good place to start would be to see what kind of copyright notice, if any, is included in prospective manuals and then we could contact manufacturers as needed. If any manufacturer's representative reading this discussion would like to volunteer their position, it would be helpful.
What would we call the service? Here's a chance for all the punsters/acronymers to jump aboard. How about "MOD squad" for Manuals On Demand?
Volunteers Ed Sharpe, COURYHOUSE-at-aol.com, had server drive space available and is going to scan in the ones that he has.
Barbara Foster, mme-at-map.com, has resources for archiving, copying, shipping. Also specific manuals - see later section.
Yvan Lindekens, yvan.lindekens-at-skynet.be volunteer to help.
Manuals for specific items
Coolwell Model SE chiller, Valdemar Furdanowicz, rwafu-at-bsco.com
Reichert, Barbara Foster
Zeiss, Barbara Foster
Reichert Zetopan, Yvan Lindekens web site
SEM, TEM, and EDX manuals, over 100 instruction sheets, going back to the late 80's, Steve Chapman, Protrain, PROTRAIN-at-compuserve.com
Comments???
Don Marshall
Donald J. Marshall Relion Industries P.O. Box 12 Bedford, MA 01730 Ph: 781-275-4695 FAX: 781-271-0252 email dmrelion-at-world.std.com
Cathodoluminescence, mass spectroscopy, electron beam technology "A weed is a flower out of place."
(Please note: Do not send email with attachments to this address. Instead, send it to donbarlen-at-aol.com. Thank you.)
} A few years back I remember a CD ROM that I saw at the Microscopy and } Analysis meeting which was I think called "The Virtual Microscope". It } covered basic light microscopy, optics and physics. It also had a virtual } microscope upon which users could practice their aligning skills. I am in } need of locating this software for a possible class offering at the } graduate level. Does anybody know of where this program can now be } purchased?
} Larry -
Perhaps you saw it at a RMS meeting. There's a "forthcoming" English CD with that title, but I've had no response from them to several Emails. There is an alternative, done at the University of Washington; it's good, and I believe that it has been improved since I wrote this review for the Project MICRO bibliography:
Pagliaro, l., Murray, C., Curran, G., Orkand, A., and Astion, M. 1997 Microscopy-Tutor. ISBN 0-7817-1217-3 $195.00 plus shipping; distributed by Lippincott-Raven Publishers, 12105 Insurance Way, Hagerstown, MD 21740, 800-638-3030. For Macintosh and Windows 3.1 or 95/NT; easy installation. Developed by the Department of Laboratory Medecine and the Center for Bioengineering at the University of Washington, Seattle, this is a college-level introduction to the use of a research-quality compound microscope. Its extensive use of QuickTime animation to illustrate alignment steps and optical principles make it much more than a "book on a CD"; moving ripples on a pond really do make it easier to understand wave theory! Kohler illumination is emphasized and explained. Most, but not all, terminology is defined; a glossary would help beginners. Proper care of lenses is covered well, but there's no instruction on how to use immersion oil properly. There is a brief concluding self-test that is more of a review of important information than a quiz. Although it's a good CD, it's definitely not appropriate for precollege microscopists. Adult.
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/PMHomePage.html Intertidal invertebrates: http://www.fortbragg.k12.ca.us/AG/PCI/pci.html
For increased staining intensity with Spurr's resin, I routinely use an approximation of the double lead stain technique as published by Daddow in J. Submicrosc. Cytol. 18:221-224 (1986).
The method is as follows: I. Stain sections for 30 secs - 2 mins in lead citrate (either Reynolds or Venable and Coggeshall recipe). Rinse in distilled water and let the sections air dry. 2. Stain with whatever recipe uranyl acetate you normally use for 1-3 mins.; the article describes saturated aqueous, but I use the method found in J.E.M.Technique16:81-82 (1990) . Rinse in distilled water. 3. Immediately transfer the rinsed, but not dry, grids to a fresh drop of the lead citrate and stain for another 30 secs to 2 mins. Rinse in distilled water and air dry.
That's it! It's fast and effective.
M. Nesson--
_______________________________________________________________________ Michael Nesson, Ph.D. Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics 2011 Ag&LS, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331-7305 (541)737-5245 FAX:(541)737-0481 nessonm-at-ucs.orst.edu
Hello : We want to determine the distribution of PVA in a composite containing Nylon, glass fibers , PET and paper fibers either by OM or SEM. We were hoping to use image analysis, but are not able to apply segmentation without any further contrast enhancement through staining. We can selectively stain the nylon , and the glass fibers are no problem, but we have not been able to selectively stain the PVA. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Does anyone have a manual that could forward it to me (I would be a copy). Please, tell me how I can pay any associated fees. It was old (maybe 20 years)and has a label with "Carl Zeiss Jena, made in DDR". It has 4 lens under the table that rotate (360 grades). Thanks,
Rejane Pimentel Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco-Brazil Functional Plant Anatomy Av. Boa Viagem, 6592/602 CEP 51130-000, Recife, Pernambuco, Brasil
Virtual SEM available from Brendan Griffin (bjg-at-cyllene.uwa.edu.au) at UWA Perth he has been giving this away for duplication costs.
He is also co-author of Virtual EDS with Clive Nockolds (clive-at-emu.usyd.edu.au) , that one is for sale at some nominal amount to cover their expenses. I don't know the exact amount but it is relatively cheap ~ $100-200.
I've used both and they are well done.
You should contact Brendan or Clive directly for more information.
Dear Listers, Does anyone have a Hitachi S-450, working or not, for sale? Or the main parts of one? Please reply to me privately.
Thanks, 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 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } An investigator is trying to look at some cross bridges in the germaria of a } mutant Drosophila. We have fixed the tissue in 2% Glut in 0.1M cacodylate } buffer, post fixed in 1% OSO4 in 0.lM cacodyalte, treated with 2% Tannic Acid } in the same buffer, and en bloc staining with 2% aqueous uranyl acetate, } followed by routine dehydration. The tissue is embedded in Spurrs's media. } Sections were cut in the 60 nm range. } Stained sections on formvar coated grids with 7% UA in absolute methanol, } followed by Lead Citrate. Also stained sections on plain grids with routine } UA and LC. We liked the plain grids better but the intensity of the stain was } not as great as we would like. The structures of interest are ER-like cisternae, } and are very hard to see. } } Does anyone have any ideas about how to improve the intensity of the stain } or suggestions on how to improve our techniques in order to see our tiny } structures in the germaria? } } } George Lawton } Chief Electron Microscopist } Microscopy and Imaging Service Center } UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas } 5323 Harry Hines Blvd. } Dallas, Tx 75235-9039 } Phone: 214-648-7291 } eMail: George.Lawton-at-email.swmed.edu } } Hi,
Your sections are too thin! And then they are on films! No wonder you cannot see anything. If you cannot use thicker sections and do away with films on grids, try the following (all tested successfully in our lab) Keep the tissue in osmium overnight in the refrigerator. Keep the tissue in the enbloc UA overnight in the refrigerator. Do not embed in Spurr's. Aside from its dangerous toxicity, it has the lowest contrast of the common epoxies. Use Luft (1961), perhaps medium hard (any textbook) and you will see an immediate increase in contrast. Spurr's is so highly crosslinked that poststains penetrate poorly. "Overexpose" your negatives in the TEM! That is, increase the negative density. This often works like charm. Then print on Grade 1 or 2 paper. If you need 3 paper, you need more negative density. Bye, Hildy
In the May 1999 Microscopy Today (#99-4), Gary W. Gill of Diagnostic Cytology Laboratories, Inc., has a short article entitled "Cover Glass Perspectives." Although the article has a lot of interesting information, at one point the author states that one should not use No. 1 1/2 coverglasses even tho they have a nominal thickness of 0.16 to 0.19. He says to use No. 1 coverglass to make up for the "substantial and variable thickness of the mounting medium." This is counter to everything I was ever taught. I always use the minimum mounting media possible and press the slide down firmly on to the coverslip to ensure this is kept as thin as possible.
Isn't standard to use #1 1/2 coverslips? Is there really a school of thought that one should use #1's?
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 65211-7400 (573)-882-4712 (voice) (573)-882-0123 (fax)
RESEARCH RESOURCES CENTER, UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO
Position Title: MICROSCOPY SPECIALIST
The Electron Microscopy Facility of the Research Resources Center (RRC) at the University of Illinois at Chicago has an open position for a Microscopy Specialist. The facility provides electron and laser/ light microscopy services for the university research community and external organisations from two sites on the campus. The open position is in the recently completed RRC-East facility which specialises in physical and materials science fields. The east side facility includes JEOL JEM-3010 and JEOL JEM-100CX TEMs, JEOL JEM-2010F and VG HB501 STEMs, a JEOL JXA733 Microprobe and a Renishaw Raman Spectrometer.
The person we are looking for should have a bachelors's degree minimum and preferably a master's degree or higher in physical sciences, engineering or a related field, with at least four years experience in laser and electron microscopy. They will supervise the operation of the expanding laser microscopy area (Raman Spectroscopy and Laser Scanning Confocal Microscopy), including record keeping and maintenance and will assist the staff in the day to day running of the Electron Microscopes and preparation area. Interpersonal/ Communications skills are important as this individual will work with users, provide technical advice and demonstrate how microscopy can advance their research.
Further information may be obtained by consulting the following website: http://www.rrc.uic.edu/
For consideration, interested parties should send an application letter, complete curriculum vitae, and the names and addresses of three references to:
Gordon L. Humphrey, Ph.D. (gordo-at-uic.edu) Research Resources Center (m/c 937) University of Illinois at Chicago 835 S. Wolcott Ave. Chicago, Illinois 60612-7341
Voice: (312) 996-7600 Fax: (312) 996-0539
Alan W Nicholls, PhD Manager - Electron Microscopy Service Research Resources Center - East (M/C 337) Room 100 Science and Engineering South Building The University of Illinois at Chicago 845 West Taylor St Chicago, IL 60607-7058
Dear Friends' I am looking information about a scanner for 3.25X4inch TEM sheet film negatives. I shall very much appreciate any information from users of this size or multiple size negative scanner. Thanking you C.Singla.
I am interested in analyzing air particles collected in a beryllium processing facility for mineral forms of Be (BeO, Be, CuBe, BeF). Do you have TEM/EELS capabilities to run such analyzes. Work will commence in July.
Thank you for your interest. ------------------------------- Renee M Kalmes CIH Managing Scientist Environmental Group 149 Commonwealth Drive Menlo Park, CA 94025 (650) 688-1757phone (650) 688-1799 fax http://www.exponent.com
Dear listers, we have an ultratome III. When we get sections for TEM (thin sections), it produces sections with irregular thickness; moreover we have really difficult to get very thin sections. We suspect some of wrong at the level of the heating coil, but we do not have experience in that. Could someone help us?
Moreover, could someone indicate prizes and companies that sell ultramicrotome or are there some second hand ultramicrotome availbale?
Thanks a lot for your answers and time.
Cheers,
dr Enrico de Lillo Istituto di Entomologia agraria - Universit=E0 Bari - Italy tel. +39 080 5443105 fax +39 080 5442876 email: delillo-at-agr.uniba.it http://193.204.185.103/de_lillo.htm
Different lenses are corrected for different cover glass thicknesses, and there are lenses corrected for use with no cover glass. Your microscope manufacturer should be able to tell you more about details. I always thought that 0.17mm was the standard (which falls into the 1 1/2 thickness). No 1 cover glasses are better if you want to apply pressure more directly more locally, but they also break more easily. my 2p Best wishes
Stephan Helfer +44(0)131 248 2865; fax +44(0)131 248 2901 ------------------------------------------- To most people 'solutions' mean finding the answers. But to chemists solutions are things that are still all mixed up. (Science Explained)
Somehow I am missing part C of my Zeiss manual, especially part C 3.3 which explains how to mecahnically align the lenses to the Zeiss EM 10C/10CR electron microscope.
Does anyone know this procedure? Or is it possible for anyone to fax me this section of the manual that I am missing???
Thankyou.
Garry Burgess
Charge Technologist Electron Microscopy Laboratory Department of Pathology Health Sciences Centre Winnipeg, Canada Ph: 204-787-1508
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } An investigator is trying to look at some cross bridges in the germaria of a } mutant Drosophila. We have fixed the tissue in 2% Glut in 0.1M cacodylate } buffer, post fixed in 1% OSO4 in 0.lM cacodyalte, treated with 2% Tannic Acid } in the same buffer, and en bloc staining with 2% aqueous uranyl acetate, } followed by routine dehydration. The tissue is embedded in Spurrs's media. } Sections were cut in the 60 nm range. } Stained sections on formvar coated grids with 7% UA in absolute methanol, } followed by Lead Citrate. Also stained sections on plain grids with routine } UA and LC. We liked the plain grids better but the intensity of the stain was } not as great as we would like. The structures of interest are ER-like cisternae, } and are very hard to see. } } Does anyone have any ideas about how to improve the intensity of the stain } or suggestions on how to improve our techniques in order to see our tiny } structures in the germaria? } } } George Lawton } Chief Electron Microscopist } Microscopy and Imaging Service Center } UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas } 5323 Harry Hines Blvd. } Dallas, Tx 75235-9039 } Phone: 214-648-7291 } eMail: George.Lawton-at-email.swmed.edu } } Hi,
Your sections are too thin! And then they are on films! No wonder you cannot see anything. If you cannot use thicker sections and do away with films on grids, try the following (all tested successfully in our lab) Keep the tissue in osmium overnight in the refrigerator. Keep the tissue in the enbloc UA overnight in the refrigerator. Do not embed in Spurr's. Aside from its dangerous toxicity, it has the lowest contrast of the common epoxies. Use Luft (1961), perhaps medium hard (any textbook) and you will see an immediate increase in contrast. Spurr's is so highly crosslinked that poststains penetrate poorly. "Overexpose" your negatives in the TEM! That is, increase the negative density. This often works like charm. Then print on Grade 1 or 2 paper. If you need 3 paper, you need more negative density. Bye, Hildy
I was wondering if anyone uses a dilute solvent in the diamond knife boat = when collecting carbon coated grids? I suspect a strong concentration = would affect the glue holding the diamond knife in place, but wondered if = a dilute amount would even bother it? (Diatome knives are what I am using = if there are differences between the glue used in other brands). Reason = being, is that I am finding when I attempt to collect my sections, they = tend to scatter and most of them are found along the edges of the grid. = There is a hydrophobic effect happening with the carbon, and any quick = suggestions would be appreciated, to help alleviate this problem. Thanks, Susan
Susan Carbyn Electron Microscopy Technician Atlantic Food and Horticulture Research Centre Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada 32 Main Street, Kentville, Nova Scotia B4N 1J5 Canada
1) Try using Epon/Araldite embedding resins, old recipes. Those have unparalleled staining properties.
2) Do try it WITHOUT tannic acid, if you haven't yet. This should give notably better resolution.
3) How much time does the material spend in glutaraldehyde, OsO4? For high resolution of "tiny structures", it should not be left at any stage longer than necessary. Higher concentrations of glutaraldehyde (3-4%) may be worth trying, too.
4) Did you try using lower accelerating voltage?
5) Do stick with aqueous en bloc UA, and, as long as possible, naked grids.
Hope something helps. Sincerely, Vlad.
} } An investigator is trying to look at some cross bridges in the germaria of a } mutant Drosophila. We have fixed the tissue in 2% Glut in 0.1M cacodylate } buffer, post fixed in 1% OSO4 in 0.lM cacodyalte, treated with 2% Tannic Acid } in the same buffer, and en bloc staining with 2% aqueous uranyl acetate, } followed by routine dehydration. The tissue is embedded in Spurrs's media. } Sections were cut in the 60 nm range. } Stained sections on formvar coated grids with 7% UA in absolute methanol, } followed by Lead Citrate. Also stained sections on plain grids with routine } UA and LC. We liked the plain grids better but the intensity of the stain was } not as great as we would like. The structures of interest are ER-like cisternae, } and are very hard to see. } } Does anyone have any ideas about how to improve the intensity of the stain } or suggestions on how to improve our techniques in order to see our tiny } structures in the germaria? } } } George Lawton } Chief Electron Microscopist } Microscopy and Imaging Service Center } UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas } 5323 Harry Hines Blvd. } Dallas, Tx 75235-9039 } Phone: 214-648-7291 } eMail: George.Lawton-at-email.swmed.edu } } Vladislav V. Speransky School of Marine Sciences University of Maine 5722 Deering Hall Orono, ME 04469-5722 Phone: 207 581 2998 Fax: 207 581 2969 Email: vladis-at-maine.maine.edu
Any tips, info., papers about the use of bacitracin when negative staining would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Kim
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kimberly A. Riddle Florida State University tel: 850.644.6519 Biological Science Imaging Resource 119 Bio Unit I, 4370 fax: 850.644.0481 Tallahassee, FL 32306 riddle-at-bio.fsu.edu ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Title: Optical Microscopy and Imaging in the Biomedical Sciences
When: October 6 - October 14, 1999
Where: Marine Biology Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA, USA
Tuition: $2050 (Includes room and board, text, handouts, supplies)
Application Deadline: August 3, 1999
Admission application and information: Carol Hamel, Admissions Coordinator Marine Biological Laboratory 7 MBL Street Woods Hole, MA 02543-1015 (508) 289-7401 Internet: admissions-at-mbl.edu WWW: http://www.mbl.edu (Application forms available via Adobe Acrobat)
Course Director: Colin S. Izzard, State University of New York -at- Albany Phone: [518] 442 - 4367 EMail: csizzard-at-csc.albany.edu
Course Description:
For Whom: Designed primarily for research scientists, physicians, postdoctoral trainees and advanced graduate students in animal, plant, medical and material sciences. Non-biologists seeking a comprehensive introduction to microscopy and video-imaging will benefit greatly from this course as well. There are no specific prerequisites, but an understanding of the basic principles of optics is desirable. Limited to 24 students.
The eight day course consists of lectures, laboratory demonstrations, exercises and discussions that will enable the participant to obtain and interpret microscope images of high quality, to perform quantitative optical
measurements, and to produce photographic and video records for documentation and analysis.
Topics to be covered include: principles of microscope design and image formation bright field, dark field, phase contrast, polarized light, differential interference contrast, interference reflection, and fluorescence microscopy confocal scanning microscopy, multiphoton excitation fluorescence microscopy and image deconvolution digital image restoration and 3-D reconstruction video imaging, recording, enhancement, and intensification analog and digital image processing and analysis fluorescent probes and ratiometric-imaging laser tweezers and laser scissors
Applications to live cells will be emphasized; other specimens will be covered as well.
Students will have direct hands-on experience with state-of-the-art microscopes, video cameras, recorders and image processing equipment provided by major optical and electronics companies. Instruction will be provided by experienced staff from universities and industry.
Students are encouraged to bring their own biological (primary cultures, cell lines, etc.) and material specimens and to discuss individual
I have used "Micro," a glassware cleaner, which contains EDTA to complex metals, to remove LaB6 residues. Use a fairly concentrated 25 to 50% solution in water and sonicate. Beware that this is only for stainless steels and will damage copper and brass components. Prof. Bigelow's suggestion about the hydrochloric acid sounds good and I'll have to try that next time.
regards,
Dave Audette OSRAM Sylvania Beverly, MA david.audette-at-sylvania.com
} -----Original Message----- } From: Keith Moulding [SMTP:mcmouldk-at-ust.hk] } Sent: Wednesday, June 16, 1999 11:56 AM } To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } Subject: Cleaning Wehnelts } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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, } } Any good chemical recipes for cleaning LaB6 oxide deposits? W seems to be } the flavour of the month. } } Keith. } }
Here in Australia the suppliers of coverglasses seem to promote No. 1 covers probably for the reason that adding a thin layer of mountant increases the thickness. Don't be fooled by what the manufacturers say their coverglass thicknesses are. A friend measured several boxes of them and found that they varied outside the limits stated. My friend was photographing Diatoms and needed the 'perfect' slide. He ended up measuring all coverglasses and separating out those that he wanted for photomicrography and used the others for routine work. All very time consuming and not really applicable to the busy lab.
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Dear Tom
Different lenses are corrected for different cover glass thicknesses, and there are lenses corrected for use with no cover glass. Your microscope manufacturer should be able to tell you more about details. I always thought that 0.17mm was the standard (which falls into the 1 1/2 thickness). No 1 cover glasses are better if you want to apply pressure more directly more locally, but they also break more easily. my 2p Best wishes
Stephan Helfer +44(0)131 248 2865; fax +44(0)131 248 2901 ------------------------------------------- To most people 'solutions' mean finding the answers. But to chemists solutions are things that are still all mixed up. (Science Explained)
(SMTP Gateway for microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com); Wed, 23 Jun 1999 18:42:46 -0400 Message-Id: {199906232242.SAA01931-at-gateway.ppg.com} Received: by gateway.ppg.com (Protected-side Proxy Mail Agent-1); Wed, 23 Jun 1999 18:42:46 -0400
Could someone tell me the best way to prepare clay particles for TEM. I'm interested in small particles, micron to sub-micron in size in both the dry state and hydrated state. Thanks in advance. Scott
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Glass Technology Center Guys Run Rd. (packages) P. O. Box 11472 (letters) Pittsburgh, PA 15238-0472
Is there an accepted minimum number of pixels that should be used in determining the linear distance between two resolved points (for example, in a resolution check) in the image of a sample. This would essentially identify the minimum magnification required for a given digital image size.
I'm thinking that the absolute minimum in an image with no noise would be three (e.g. dark - bright - dark), But more realistically should be something like 5 or 7.
Also, what is the minimum difference in contrast levels say for an 8-bit image to be able to say that the features are in fact resolved? Should the difference be greater than the square root of the pixel with the highest brightness?
} I was wondering if anyone uses a dilute solvent in the diamond knife boat } when collecting carbon coated grids? I suspect a strong concentration } would affect the glue holding the diamond knife in place, but wondered if } a dilute amount would even bother it? (Diatome knives are what I am using } if there are differences between the glue used in other brands). Reason } being, is that I am finding when I attempt to collect my sections, they } tend to scatter and most of them are found along the edges of the grid. } There is a hydrophobic effect happening with the carbon, and any quick } suggestions would be appreciated, to help alleviate this problem.
} Susan Carbyn
Susan -
The best approach is glow discharge. If your vacuum evaporator isn't equipped to do it, adding a Tesla coil to your system is inexpensive and should be simple.
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/PMHomePage.html Intertidal invertebrates: http://www.fortbragg.k12.ca.us/AG/PCI/pci.html
We have a Noran Voyager II EDXS system which runs on a Unix box under SunView. The data is stored in a proprietary format and can be converted to EMSA file format on the Voyager. A huge amount of data has been backed up on to floppy disk and reloading all the data on to the Voyager, converting it to EMSA format and the putting it all back on to floppies is not really an option we want to consider!!!
We were wondering if there were any programs around which could read the proprietary format on either a PC or Mac.
Thanks very much for any information you can provide.
Colin Veitch
Instrumentation Scientist Electron Microscopy Textile and Material Technology Group CSIRO Textile and Fibre Technology PO Box 21, BELMONT, Vic. 3216. Australia.
The information contained in this e-mail message may be privileged or confidential information. If you are not an intended recipient, you may not copy, distribute or take any action in reliance on it. If you have received this message in error, please telephone CSIRO Textile and Fibre Technology on +61 3 5246 4000.
The question of when can you call a feature "resolved" is interesting. I was wondering if it could be described as resolved if its average pixel value and its standard deviation was significantly greater than the average pixel value of its surrounding nieghbors and their standard deviation? The test for significance may tell you the "n" needed or number of pixels needed to be valid. I dont know. What do you think?
Bob Derm Imaging Center University of Washington
On Wed, 23 Jun 1999, Walck. Scott D. 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Is there an accepted minimum number of pixels that should be used in } determining the linear distance between two resolved points (for example, in } a resolution check) in the image of a sample. This would essentially } identify the minimum magnification required for a given digital image size. } } I'm thinking that the absolute minimum in an image with no noise would be } three (e.g. dark - bright - dark), But more realistically should be } something like 5 or 7. } } Also, what is the minimum difference in contrast levels say for an 8-bit } image to be able to say that the features are in fact resolved? Should the } difference be greater than the square root of the pixel with the highest } brightness? } } Any ideas? } } -Scott } }
I am missing Part C (section C 3.3) of my original Zeiss manual which describes how to align the lenses of this microscope (mechanically), so I wondered if anyone could tell me the procedure, since I don't know how to do that. The microscope was moved from one room to another, and the lenses seem to have been thrown a little bit out of alignment.
Thankyou,
Garry Burgess Charge Technologist Department of Pathology } Health Sciences Centre
Scott - Nothing easier than dry clay preparation. Just tap against a small paint brush that has been "loaded" with some clay and let the particles settle onto a coated grid. Hold the grid with tweesers and tap these to release any excess and larger clumps. Carbon coat the grid.
Clay naturally includes water within its structure and dried clay is not "real clay". Years ago when I did some limited work on this, nothing useful was published. This may have changed, especially since suitable equipment is more common. Unfortunately ESEM is not likely to provide sufficient resolution. I am doubtful about "environmental" cells in TEM, since these too would lower possible resolution on account of window thickness. Freezing droplets of water and clay (mist) and using a cold stage would be the obvious technique. That equipment was not available years ago. I expect that its now possible to visulize hydrated clay, but the technique would be quite challenging. Cheers Jim Darley
ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com.au Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes www.proscitech.com.au
On Thursday, June 24, 1999 8:25 AM, Walck. Scott D. [SMTP:walck-at-ppg.com] wrote: } } } Could someone tell me the best way to prepare clay particles for TEM. I'm } interested in small particles, micron to sub-micron in size in both the dry } state and hydrated state. } Thanks in advance. } Scott } } Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. } PPG Industries, Inc. } Glass Technology Center } 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) }
Susan - No problem using a drop of alcohol (ethanol) added to the trough water. A lower water level gives a better placed light reflection and flatter surface. The lower water level also decreases the chance of wetting the block, but the lower surface tension increases that chance. D'oh. Usually no problem though.
It seems that the flatter trough water is largely unrelated to your pick-up problem. I suggest that if you have a nice ribbon, bring a grid up (rim may be bend to the most suitable angle for the tweesers) from underneath with the grid at about 45 degrees to the surface and the rim bisecting the first section. The ribbon is then held in place and centres nicely on the grid. If no nice ribbon is available, round up sections in the trough using a mounted hair or Teflon sliver. Use a loop and bring this up through the water surface centered on the sections. The loop picks up the last drop, which includes the sections. Place a coated grid on a filter paper and jiggle the loop minutely on the grid until the water goes into the paper and the sections will be well placed on the grid. Hydrophobic problems would be minimal if Butvar coated grids were used. Ultimately you can make carbon grids hydrophilic using a Glow Discharge Instrument. ProSciTech and most EM suppliers offer such units (PST only in Australasia) Cheers Jim Darley ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com.au Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes www.proscitech.com.au
On Thursday, June 24, 1999 2:56 AM, Susan Carbyn [SMTP:CarbynS-at-em.agr.ca] wrote:
} I was wondering if anyone uses a dilute solvent in the diamond knife boat when } collecting carbon coated grids? I suspect a strong concentration would } affect the glue holding the diamond knife in place, but wondered if a dilute } amount would even bother it? (Diatome knives are what I am using if there } are differences between the glue used in other brands). Reason being, is } that I am finding when I attempt to collect my sections, they tend to scatter } and most of them are found along the edges of the grid. There is a } hydrophobic effect happening with the carbon, and any quick suggestions would } be appreciated, to help alleviate this problem. } Thanks, } Susan } } Susan Carbyn } Electron Microscopy Technician } Atlantic Food and Horticulture Research Centre } Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada } 32 Main Street, Kentville, Nova Scotia B4N 1J5 } Canada } } Phone: (902) 679-5566 } Fax: (902) 679-2311 } } E-mail: carbyns-at-em.agr.ca }
Message text written by Garry Burgess } Hello knowledgeable folks,
I am missing Part C (section C 3.3) of my original Zeiss manual which describes how to align the lenses of this microscope (mechanically), so I wondered if anyone could tell me the procedure, since I don't know how to do that. The microscope was moved from one room to another, and the lenses seem to have been thrown a little bit out of alignment. {
Hi Garry ,
I do not know the mechanical alignment procedure for a Zeiss, but it is a=
TEM so basic alignment principles should do the job for you? Try this
ILLUMINATION LENSES 1. Large spot size with C1 (weak lens) bring C2 to crossover 2. Mechanically align the spot to the centre of the screen with C1 3. Smaller spot size with C1 (stronger lens) bring C2 to crossover 4. Mechanically align the spot to the centre of the screen with C2 5. Repeat 1 through 4 until you have a constant centre.
IMAGING LENSES 1. With a specimen in the microscope go to diffraction 2. Align the diffraction spot with the centre of the screen with the=
last lens (Could be called Projector 2, or just Projector?) 3. Slowly increase the magnification until around 30 to 60KX the image flips through diffraction (bright diffraction flash and the image flips over as another lens switches on). There will have been a similar action at a lower magnification but this is less important in most labs. 4. One step below this point centre a feature on the screen with the=
stage drives 5. One step above this point centre feature with the last but one le= ns mechanical alignments on the column (Could be called Projector 1 or Intermediate 2) 6. One step below this point centre the feature with the final lens mechanical alignments 7. Repeat 5 and 6 for a constant centre but with a flip over.
STANDARD PROCEDURES With any system the actions are always, or nearly always, the same. Cent= re one lens under a weak condition and then centre the other under a stronge= r condition. Similar procedures are used to bring gun and illumination deflection coil systems into a common alignment. My problem is how many imaging lenses do you have and how many of them may be aligned?
Please come back if you need more
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
-----Oorspronkelijk bericht----- Van: MichaelD {michaeld-at-amsg.austmus.gov.au} Aan: Tom Phillips {PhillipsT-at-missouri.edu} ; Stephan Helfer {S.Helfer-at-rbge.org.uk} CC: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com {microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} Datum: jeudi 24 juin 1999 5:38 Onderwerp: Re[2]: coverglass thickness
The expression "cover glass thickness" as used by the manufacturers of microscope optics is misleading, as it means in reality:
the thickness of the layer of adhesive used + the thickness of the object + the thickness of the layer of mountant used + the thickness of the coverslip...
That's why it's usualy better to use thinner coverslips, especially for critical slides...
Mike Dingley and his friend are right: the number "1 1/2" only means that the majority of the coverslips is (about) 0.170 microns...
I've also measured some boxes of coverslips from a high-quality German Brand, using a precision micrometer. This was the result from some boxes of 22 * 22 mm coverslips chosen at random:
150 - 160: 21 p. 160-170: 56 p. 170 - 180: 23 p.
That's why it's sometimes advised in (amateur-)literature to measure the thickness of the coverslips. The thicker slips can than be used for large(r) whole mounts, the thinner for critical specimens. Of course, for amateurs this can be considered as "part of the fun", for pro's it's only time-consuming thus expensive!
I know from experience, that it's sometimes very difficult to obtain decent images from "routine slides", especially when using high-quality objectives. As an example: it's very difficult to make decent photomicrographs using, as I often do, an objective 45x/0.90 APO, due to the spherical abberation introduced as a result of incorrect cover glass thickness... These abb's become very noticiable when objectives with an N.A. higher than 0.50 are used... That's an interesting paradox as it means sometimes: "the better the optics, the worser the image"!
Possible remedies are:
* using cover slips of the correct thickness * using homogenious immersion objectives (if availlable) * correcting the tube length of the microscope (if possible)
(All the above is only applicable to microscopes/optics designed for a fixed tube length of 160/170mm: I don't have any experience with infinity corrected optics).
On Thu, 24 Jun 1999 14:06:00 +1000 jim {jim-at-proscitech.com.au} wrote: } I am doubtful about "environmental" cells in TEM, since } these too would lower possible resolution on account of } window thickness.
Dear Jim,
I must defend the "environmental" cells in TEM. We are one of several groups around the world (in USA, Japan and Europe)using this technique and we can obtain point resolution of 0.25nm. This will obviously depend on gas type and pressure but apertured cells do not suffer from window thickness effects.
We have used water vapour to study reactions but we have not to looked at hydrated clays.
Regards, Ron
Ron Doole. Department of Materials, phone +44 (0)1865 273701 University of Oxford, fax +44 (0)1865 283333 Parks Road. Oxford. OX1 3PH. ron.doole-at-materials.ox.ac.uk
Bob, Theoretically your definition sounds valid. In reality though, one complicating factor is noise. Then it comes down to reproducibility or validating a detection. Russ, Xerox
-----Original Message----- } From: Robert Underwood [mailto:underwoo-at-u.washington.edu] Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 1999 11:58 PM To: Walck. Scott D. Cc: Micro
Hi,
The question of when can you call a feature "resolved" is interesting. I was wondering if it could be described as resolved if its average pixel value and its standard deviation was significantly greater than the average pixel value of its surrounding nieghbors and their standard deviation? The test for significance may tell you the "n" needed or number of pixels needed to be valid. I dont know. What do you think?
Bob Derm Imaging Center University of Washington
On Wed, 23 Jun 1999, Walck. Scott D. 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Is there an accepted minimum number of pixels that should be used in } determining the linear distance between two resolved points (for example, in } a resolution check) in the image of a sample. This would essentially } identify the minimum magnification required for a given digital image size. } } I'm thinking that the absolute minimum in an image with no noise would be } three (e.g. dark - bright - dark), But more realistically should be } something like 5 or 7. } } Also, what is the minimum difference in contrast levels say for an 8-bit } image to be able to say that the features are in fact resolved? Should the } difference be greater than the square root of the pixel with the highest } brightness? } } Any ideas? } } -Scott } }
Nucip Guven in the Geosciences Department at Texas Tech University makes his living looking at clay with the TEM. Give Dr. Guven a call or look for some of his papers.
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Could someone tell me the best way to prepare clay particles for TEM. I'm interested in small particles, micron to sub-micron in size in both the dry state and hydrated state. Thanks in advance. Scott
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Glass Technology Center Guys Run Rd. (packages) P. O. Box 11472 (letters) Pittsburgh, PA 15238-0472
by moe.optics.rochester.edu (8.9.3/8.9.3) with ESMTP id IAA29867 for {Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com} ; Thu, 24 Jun 1999 08:51:11 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: {l03130303b397d7ea593b-at-[128.151.240.75]} Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
hello all-
i've noticed that the island size from a typical Au/Au-Pd sputtering system seems much bigger when viewed in a high resolution FESEM (meaning that it is easier to resolve the islands!). is there any trick to setting up a Cr system, or is it as simple as putting a Cr target in a high vacuum sputtering system? i have a turbo pumped vacuum station i'm thinking of building up into a Cr capable system and wonder if there are things to be aware of...
Brian McIntyre mailto:mcintyre-at-optics.rochester.edu Sr. Engineer lab: 716-275-3058/4875 River Campus EMLab fax: 716-244-4936 University of Rochester Rochester, NY 14620
"The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother." - Unknown
We don't use any metals for charge collection coatings because of the visible-island-problem. We switched to carbon coating all SEM samples (that need coating) long ago. A little less contrast but no artifacts to 200kX. The carbon coating should be quite thin. About 10 nm or less--that's just a quick flash of carbon. More is definitely not better.
Ron Anderson, IBM, Hopewell Jct., New York, USA. anderron-at-us.ibm.com
IBM Analytical Services; http://www.chips.ibm.com/services/asg
Noran now makes an EDS package based on a Windows NT workstation. All your data should be compatible with this new system. When we upgraded, we transferred all our old spectra onto Jazz discs using an FTP, and we were able to access them without a problem with the new software. The new system is called Vantage, and despite being on an NT machine, still retains the look, feel and functionality of the Voyager software. You may want to contact them and see if they'll offer to do the transfer for you.
Hope this helps,
David Bell Scientist Electron Microscopy Lab Millipore Corporation 80 Ashby Road Bedford, MA 01730 (781) 533-2108
I just saw a demonstration of the Cresington High Resolution coater by Alan Berginc. This is a magnetron sputter unit. For Cr, he kept the shutter closed and watched the plasma until it changed color from a purple hue to this beautiful blue color. At that point, he said that the oxide on the target has been removed and that is when the deposition can start. I don't know what color-blind people will do. -Scott
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Glass Technology Center 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: Brian McIntyre To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
hello all-
i've noticed that the island size from a typical Au/Au-Pd sputtering system seems much bigger when viewed in a high resolution FESEM (meaning that it is easier to resolve the islands!). is there any trick to setting up a Cr system, or is it as simple as putting a Cr target in a high vacuum sputtering system? i have a turbo pumped vacuum station i'm thinking of building up into a Cr capable system and wonder if there are things to be aware of...
Brian McIntyre mailto:mcintyre-at-optics.rochester.edu Sr. Engineer lab: 716-275-3058/4875 River Campus EMLab fax: 716-244-4936 University of Rochester Rochester, NY 14620
"The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother." - Unknown
I am starting to think about the 7th APEM, and was wondering if there will be a sufficient number of people interested in electron microscopy of polymers. What I have in mind is:
(i) an oral presentation on the deformation morphology of polyethylene;
(ii) a poster presentation on optimizing the morphology of polypropylene for use in crash barriers.
Nearly all my co-workers on these projects are from Asian countries. Of course, this is early days, and I would have some logistics to work out.
If you could let me know if there is a substantial polymer interesting, I would be glad to know.
You can see what polymers look like under the EM on:
http://www.reading.ac.uk/~spsolley/alien.html
Yours sincerely,
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 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 | +------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Noran now makes an EDS package based on a Windows NT workstation. All your data should be compatible with this new system. When we upgraded, we transferred all our old spectra onto Jazz discs using an FTP, and we were able to access them without a problem with the new software. The new system is called Vantage, and despite being on an NT machine, still retains the look, feel and functionality of the Voyager software. You may want to contact them and see if they'll offer to do the transfer for you.
Hope this helps,
David Bell Scientist Electron Microscopy Lab Millipore Corporation 80 Ashby Road Bedford, MA 01730 (781) 533-2108
} --- } } Is there an accepted minimum number of pixels that should be used in } determining the linear distance between two resolved points } (for example, in } a resolution check) in the image of a sample. This would essentially } identify the minimum magnification required for a given } digital image size. } } I'm thinking that the absolute minimum in an image with no } noise would be } three (e.g. dark - bright - dark), But more realistically should be } something like 5 or 7.
I'm not too sure what you're asking ... but if its in regard to how "resolution" is defined for digital images (pixels per inch) versus the historical definition (the distance between 2 resolvable points) ... a general working definition is pixel pairs, or the distance between the middle a first pixel and the middle a third with a discernable pixel between. For fine photography 7 line pairs is acceptable, but if you magnify an acceptable line pair, I don't think 5 pixels is needed ... a pixel pair should suffice. } } Also, what is the minimum difference in contrast levels say } for an 8-bit } image to be able to say that the features are in fact } resolved? Should the } difference be greater than the square root of the pixel with } the highest brightness? } That would seem an acceptable value ... I have only seen this issue addressed as the darker pixel being no brighter than the height of the lighter pixel (FWHM), but that wouldn't seem suitable for a pixel value. But again, resolution is generally defined by an average person's ability to see ... i.e, a photograph. It would be an interesting value to determine and standardize for the sake of quantitative instrumental measurements and image analysis.
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 don't know where it was published ( I think in J. of Ultrastructure Research) but if you search by authors: Dr. Harry L. Malech & John P. Albert. "Negative Staining of Protein Macromolecules: A Simple Rapid Method" One of the slickest negative stains I've ever done. If all else fails I have a copy that I can send you.
Best,
Al Coritz Cryobiology Product Manager, Ventana-RMC
-----Original Message----- } From: Kim Riddle [mailto:riddle-at-bio.fsu.edu] Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 1999 11:57 AM To: microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com
To all,
Any tips, info., papers about the use of bacitracin when negative staining would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Kim
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kimberly A. Riddle Florida State University tel: 850.644.6519 Biological Science Imaging Resource 119 Bio Unit I, 4370 fax: 850.644.0481 Tallahassee, FL 32306 riddle-at-bio.fsu.edu ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have been looking at niobium-rich precipitates in a AISI 430-like stainless steel. Using a QBSE detector and the atomic number contrast between the Nb-rich precipitates and the Fe matrix, I can acquire images of bright precipitates against a black background, clear enough for image analysis. I have been trying to use these images for volume fraction determinations, but am unsure whether this is reliable/feasible. Does anyone have any experience with a similar problem?
Thank you very much,
Adam Scott
******************************** Adam Scott MSc Student Department of Materials Engineering University of Cape Town 7701 South Africa Ph: 612929 (h) Ph: 650 3181 (w) Fax: 689 7571 ***********************************
Hello, I'm interested in using a resin for looking at a porous material's pore networks with a bright dye. Could anyone recommend some resins which are useful, or point me in the right direction to get a reference on different resins used for sample preparation and their properties?
\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ Gordon Ante Vrdoljak 1 Cyclotron Road ICQ 23243541 http://nature.berkeley.edu/~gvrdolja MS90-1116 GAVrdoljak-at-lbl.gov Ernest Orlando phone (510) 495-2829 Lawrence Berkeley fax (510) 486-7797 National Laboratory cell (510) 290-6793 Berkeley CA 94720
Can anyone help a colleague to locate the following product or an equivalent?? Also, does someone have an address for a Histo listserver??
Thanks. Ann Lehman Trinity College Hartford, CT
--------------------
What I am seeking is not powdered albumen, but a commerical mixture of albumen, plus glycerine, and bacteriostatic somethings. I believe it is just called "Albumen Fixative" or "Albumen Solution". The word fixative refers to fixing (adhering) the paraffin sections to slides. We use it to coat slides so sections will stick. A large bottle sells for a nomimal price.
1) spatial resolution: I think, it is beneficial to go away from "what can we see", as that involves the observer, to "what can be transmitted". And the transmission is governed by the Nyquist and Shannon limits, which essentially say the same: To transmit a given frequency faithfully, it has to be sampled at twice that frequency. In other words, the theoretical resolution limit is given by half of your pixel frequency. In the real world, there is no abrupt cut-off, but higher frequencies are transmitted with decreasing accuracy. Of course, the resolution of the microscope and other factors play a role as well. If the microscope can resolve .3 nm, there is no point in sampling at 0.03 nm. The resolution will not increase.
2) Regarding significant changes in gray levels: This is strictly a matter of statistics. There are two sources of noise in the images: Noise that is produced by the camera and shot noise from the electron statistics. Let's say, the camera produces a noise of 2 gray values (1-sigma value) and you try to measure 100 electrons, and these electrons (100) produce a gray value of also 100 (to make it easier). The shot noise is then sqrt(100)=10. That is the 1-sigma value. The total 1-sigma noise is then 12 gray values. In other words, if pixel A has a value of 100 and pixel B has a value of 112, there is about a 68% chance that they are actually different. This chance increases to about 95% if Pixel B has a value of 124 and to about 99.7% if pixel B has a value of 136 (3-sigma). As you can see, the values change with the number of electrons, i.e., with exposure.
Hope that helps.
Michael
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 1675 Carr St., #105N Lakewood, CO 80215 =================================== phone: (888) FIND SIS (303) 234-9270 fax: (303) 234-9271 email: mailto:info-at-soft-imaging.com web: http://www.soft-imaging.com ===================================
-----Original Message----- } From: Exchange Administrator Sent: Thursday, June 24, 1999 1:57 AM To: Michael Bode
Hi,
The question of when can you call a feature "resolved" is interesting. I was wondering if it could be described as resolved if its average pixel value and its standard deviation was significantly greater than the average pixel value of its surrounding nieghbors and their standard deviation? The test for significance may tell you the "n" needed or number of pixels needed to be valid. I dont know. What do you think?
Bob Derm Imaging Center University of Washington
On Wed, 23 Jun 1999, Walck. Scott D. 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Is there an accepted minimum number of pixels that should be used in } determining the linear distance between two resolved points (for example, in } a resolution check) in the image of a sample. This would essentially } identify the minimum magnification required for a given digital image size. } } I'm thinking that the absolute minimum in an image with no noise would be } three (e.g. dark - bright - dark), But more realistically should be } something like 5 or 7. } } Also, what is the minimum difference in contrast levels say for an 8-bit } image to be able to say that the features are in fact resolved? Should the } difference be greater than the square root of the pixel with the highest } brightness? } } Any ideas? } } -Scott } }
If you are taking images of only one plane through your matrix, then I think there is no way you can measure volume fractions with certainty. You are only looking at a 2-dimensional cross section through a 3-dimensional object. Consider, for example, needle-like precipitates. If you cut them perpendicular to the long axis, you will see small circular pecipitates,if you cut them along the long axis, you'll see elongated pecipitates, and the area fraction on your images will change as well.
In other words: If you can assume, that there is no preferred orientation or other anisotropy in your precipitates, you should be able to use the numbers you get from the images. If you can't be sure of that, you probably need to cut the matrix in different directions and compare the results.
Michael
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 1675 Carr St., #105N Lakewood, CO 80215 =================================== phone: (888) FIND SIS (303) 234-9270 fax: (303) 234-9271 email: mailto:info-at-soft-imaging.com web: http://www.soft-imaging.com ===================================
} ---------- } From: Adam[SMTP:ASCOTT1-at-ENGFAC.UCT.AC.ZA] } Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 1999 11:53:37 AM } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: (Backscattered) - Ppts in Stainless Steel } Auto forwarded by a Rule } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Hello
I have been looking at niobium-rich precipitates in a AISI 430-like stainless steel. Using a QBSE detector and the atomic number contrast between the Nb-rich precipitates and the Fe matrix, I can acquire images of bright precipitates against a black background, clear enough for image analysis. I have been trying to use these images for volume fraction determinations, but am unsure whether this is reliable/feasible. Does anyone have any experience with a similar problem?
Thank you very much,
Adam Scott
******************************** Adam Scott MSc Student Department of Materials Engineering University of Cape Town 7701 South Africa Ph: 612929 (h) Ph: 650 3181 (w) Fax: 689 7571 ***********************************
Now how to measure that practically for those of us who don't know how many whatsits are contributing to the signal we are digitizing?
May I suggest that an image be collected from a homogenous area, and maybe a defocused image at that, using the same conditions (signal strength) that would be used on the real image. Thus the only change in brightness from pixel to pixel should be due to random noise from whatever and all sources. A neighborhood of pixels could then be analyzed to determine the standard deviation of the measurements taken at that gray level. The exercise might need to be repeated at the mean gray level of the other feature. And I suppose the same info might be available from a gray level histogram, but the peak width would have to be translated into the standard deviation.
Then I suppose that if you were to have a triplet of pixels with the middle one darker than its neighbors by more than the threshold value, then you could say that you have resolved two features and the resolution of the image is eaual to the spacing of a couple of pixels. If it takes more than one pixel increment for the gray level to drop below the threshold, then would not your image be oversampled to that degree? your pixels are spaced closer than your microscope resolution warrants.
Then there will be the other question. What should the pixel spacing be to get good length measurements on a feature? If I measure a feature at 3 pixels, am I not implicitly saying that it is 3 +/- 1/2 pixels and that I have a 25% uncertainty? Seems that the answer will depend some on the size of the particles being measured. The resolution of the scope will be a limiting factor for small features, but how about larger ones?
Warren S.
Michael Bode wrote:
{snip} 2) Regarding significant changes in gray levels: This is strictly a matter of statistics. There are two sources of noise in the images: Noise that is produced by the camera and shot noise from the electron statistics. Let's say, the camera produces a noise of 2 gray values (1-sigma value) and you try to measure 100 electrons, and these electrons (100) produce a gray value of also 100 (to make it easier). The shot noise is then sqrt(100)=10. That is the 1-sigma value. The total 1-sigma noise is then 12 gray values. In other words, if pixel A has a value of 100 and pixel B has a value of 112, there is about a 68% chance that they are actually different. This chance increases to about 95% if Pixel B has a value of 124 and to about 99.7% if pixel B has a value of 136 (3-sigma). As you can see, the values change with the number of electrons, i.e., with exposure.
It should be a valid method if your surface represents a true cross section through your sample. If inclusions are plucked out during polishing, or if they are selectively etched or left behind during polishing or etching, then you would have errors. Your surface would not be a true sampling of the section.
Another thing to beware of is the choice of threshold level for detecting the particles. If your features are small in relation to your resolution, the measured fraction is very much a function of the choice of threshold level. Try multiple measurements on a single image and see how sensitive (or not) the measurements are to the threshold setting.
At 05:53 PM 6/23/1999 +0000, you wrote: } I have been looking at niobium-rich precipitates in a AISI 430-like } stainless steel. Using a QBSE detector and the atomic number contrast } between the Nb-rich precipitates and the Fe matrix, I can acquire } images of bright precipitates against a black background, clear } enough for image analysis. I have been trying to use these images } for volume fraction determinations, but am unsure whether this is } reliable/feasible. Does anyone have any experience with a similar } problem? } } Thank you very much, } } Adam Scott
} 2) Regarding significant changes in gray levels: } This is strictly a matter of statistics. There are two sources of noise } in the images: Noise that is produced by the camera and shot noise from } the electron statistics. Let's say, the camera produces a noise of 2 } gray values (1-sigma value) and you try to measure 100 electrons, and } these electrons (100) produce a gray value of also 100 (to make it } easier). The shot noise is then sqrt(100)=10. That is the 1-sigma value. } The total 1-sigma noise is then 12 gray values. In other words, if pixel } A has a value of 100 and pixel B has a value of 112, there is about a } 68% chance that they are actually different. This chance increases to } about 95% if Pixel B has a value of 124 and to about 99.7% if pixel B } has a value of 136 (3-sigma). As you can see, the values change with the } number of electrons, i.e., with exposure.
Dear Michael, Most of your two cents are OK, but there are a couple of ringers. First, assuming that the camera noise and shot noise are independent and both are nor- mally distributed, they do not add linearly, but rather as the square root of the sum of the squares. In your example, the total 1-sigma noise would be the square root of 104. Second, the error in the difference of two normally-distributed quantities is, again, the square root of the sum of the squares of the two errors. In your example, assume that the signal from the camera has been dark-current subtracted and that the error in the dark current (=camera noise) is 2, then if the two pixels have values of 100 and 112 with squared errors of 104 and 116, the square of the error of the difference is 220, or the error of the difference is about 15. Furthermore, there are systematic effects for adjacent pixels, so for the question of resolving features, these effects must be taken into account, and they can be complicated. Yours, Bill Tivol
I have appended some references for using bacitracin during negative staining. 'Hope you would find them useful. We use bactracin as a wetting agent routinely and get excellent results (see "Negative Staining" under "Gallery" in our web site (http://www.cimc.cornell.edu). Please get in touch with me if you have any questions.
-------------- 1
TI: MORPHOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION OF SURFACE STRUCTURES ON STRAIN B41 OF BOVINE ENTEROTOXIGENIC ESCHERICHIA-COLI BEARING BOTH K99 AND F41 ANTIGENS AU: DUCHET-SUCHAUX-M. BERTIN-A. DUBRAY-G. SO: J GEN MICROBIOL 134 (PART 4). 1988. 983-996.
AB: In order to describe morphologically the structures on the cell surface of bovine enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, variants of reference strain B41 (K99+F41+) either negative for K99 and positive for F41 antigens (variants B41A, B41*C), or phenotypically negative for both antigens (variants B41B1, B41B2, B41*CB), and a transconjugant harbouring the K99 plasmid and expressing the K99 adhesin [transconjugant B41 .times. H510a:H510(2)] were examined by transmission electron microscopy using negative staining. Several negative staining procedures were tested for strain B41 and variant B41A: direct harvesting of strains into ammonium molybdate (2% w/v), with bacitracin (50 .mu.g ml-1) as wetting agent, gave the best results. Three morphologically distinct structures on the cell surface could be identified in cultures grown on Minca medium. Firstly, thin, filamentous, flexible fibrillar structures, presenting a helical structure and a mean diameter of approximately 3 nm, were recognized as K99 fimbriae, since they were present on strain B41 and on transconjugant H510(2), but not on K99-negative variants nor on the recipient strain H510a. Secondly, coil-like structures with a diameter of about 17-20 nm were observed on strain B41 and on variants B41A and B41*C. These structures appeared to consist of two more curled filaments (diameter 3 nm) joined to coil on themselves into dense spirals. They were very rare in variants B41B1 and B41B2 and were absent on variant B41*CB and on a transconjugate B41* .times. B41*CB, which had reacquired the K99 plasmid and which again exhibited K99 fimbriae. Strains B41 and variant B41A grown on 37.degree. C for 24 h on sheep-blood agar exhibited coiled structures like those seen on Minca medium. In contrast, after growth at 18.degree. C for 48 h (which inhibits the synthesis of F41 antigen), coiled structures were no longer expressed on the cell surface of strain B41 and of variants B41A and B41*C. Thus the presence of coiled structures correlated with the expression of F41 antigen in strains and variants, which suggests that F41 had a coiled morphology. Finally, straight fimbriae (diameter 6.5-7 nm) were observed on the cell surface of every strain and variant. Their expression on the cell surface was enhanced by several subcultures in static broth, and it was inhibited by subculture on agar, but not by culture at 18.degree. C after serial subcultures in static broth. These facts indicated that the straight fimbriae could be common fimbriae, and excluded their being F41 structures.
2
TI: NEGATIVE STAINING OF PROTEIN MACRO MOLECULES A SIMPLE RAPID METHOD AU: MALECH-H-L. ALBERT-J-P. SO: J ULTRASTRUCT RES.69 (2). 1979. * EN * 191-195.
AB: A simple negative stain technique is described which is suitable for high-resolution imaging of protein molecules in the range of 105-106 daltons. Protein solutions mixed with phosphotungstate stain containing bacitracin are applied to cleaned naked 400- or 500-mesh Cu grids resulting in the formation of thin films that are stable in the electron beam. Since no additional support film is present, the stain films are very thin and provide unusually high resolution images of protein molecules. The method is easy and relatively artifact-free compared to other high-resolution negative stain methods.
3
TI: NEGATIVE STAINING OF PROTEIN MACRO MOLECULES A SIMPLE RAPID METHOD AU: MALECH-H-L. ALBERT-J-P. SO: J ULTRASTRUCT RES.69 (2). 1979. * EN * 191-195.
AB: A simple negative stain technique is described which is suitable for high-resolution imaging of protein molecules in the range of 105-106 daltons. Protein solutions mixed with phosphotungstate stain containing bacitracin are applied to cleaned naked 400- or 500-mesh Cu grids resulting in the formation of thin films that are stable in the electron beam. Since no additional support film is present, the stain films are very thin and provide unusually high resolution images of protein molecules. The method is easy and relatively artifact-free compared to other high-resolution negative stain methods.
4
TI: WETTING AGENTS FOR BIOLOGICAL ELECTRON MICROSCOPY PART 1 GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS AND NEGATIVE STAINING AU: GREGORY-D-W. PIRIE-B-J-S. SO: J MICROSC (OXF).99 (3). 1973 (RECD 1974) 251-265.
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
But the area fraction _should_ be the same regardless of anisotropy of particle shape as long as the particles are uniformly distributed and not concentrated one place or another. The area per particle will be smaller if cut across the long axis (instead of along the long axis), but there will be more particles in an image. Conversely for the elongated particle sections. But the area fractions will be the same barring polishing artifacts.
You are touching on the issue of particle size for which there would be a world of dependence on the the section orientation.
At 01:33 PM 6/24/1999 -0600, Michael Bode wrote: } Adam, } } If you are taking images of only one plane through your matrix, then I } think there is no way you can measure volume fractions with certainty. } You are only looking at a 2-dimensional cross section through a } 3-dimensional object. Consider, for example, needle-like precipitates. } If you cut them perpendicular to the long axis, you will see small } circular pecipitates,if you cut them along the long axis, you'll see } elongated pecipitates, and the area fraction on your images will change } as well. } } In other words: If you can assume, that there is no preferred } orientation or other anisotropy in your precipitates, you should be able } to use the numbers you get from the images. If you can't be sure of } that, you probably need to cut the matrix in different directions and } compare the results.
Hi Kim: The reference you want is: David W. Gregory and Brian J. S. Pirie "Wetting agents for electron microscopy of biological specimens" 234-235, Proc. Fifth European Congress on Electron Microscopy,(1972), Manchester,UK. They recommend as a minimum bacitracin concentration required to wet formvar coated grids of 7.5 ug/ml and 10ug for grids with carbon formvar or carbon substrates. The bacitracin can be mixed with distilled H20 and applied first to the grids and after removing all but a trace with filter paper, followed by applying your specimen and then stain solution. It also works well with simply adding to the negative stain solution.
Henry Eichelberger, Manager Electron Microscopy Facility Department of Biological Sciences Binghamton University Binghamton, NY 13902-6000
We've been doing some work on deposited tantalum, beta phase. When we do FIB sections and image them using ion channeling (ion beam generates secondary electrons for imaging), they look like "camouflage", i.e., NOT columnar or otherwise ordered in any way.
However, when we examine FIB'ed cross sections via TEM, the beta phase material DOES appear somewhat columnar. What gives? Which do we believe and why?
Thanks,
Mona St. Marie Failure Analysis Hewlett-Packard Inkjet
At 08:47 24/06/1999 -0400, you wrote: s!). is there any trick to setting up a Cr } system, or is it as simple as putting a Cr target in a high vacuum } sputtering system?
Cr sputtering demands a much more pure gas mixture than gold/pt/pd as Cr reacts with O2 and N2 and the oxides & nitrides are not as dense or conductive as the metal. For that reason the samples need to be looked at very soon after coating as the Cr oxidises.
i have a turbo pumped vacuum station i'm thinking of } building up into a Cr capable system and wonder if there are things to be } aware of... }
You need to finish up with a very pure low pressure atmosphere of your sputtering gas.
The Cr target has also to have oxide cleaned from it before sputtering with a short cleaning plasma before attempting the coating.
The Xenosput we use achieves all this very neatly. It admits very small quantities of pure xenon in a sealed off chamber then the final pump is carried out sputtering titanium in the coating chamber to scavenge all reactive gas (O2, N2, H2O etc.) and leaving just the xenon for the actual coating sputter.
We still need to take great care to dry all volatile materials from the specimen by warming to 60 deg. C (best overnight) and/or long turbo pumping before the sputter pump. Any traces of other gases (say evolved from the specimen or adhesives) and the sputtering just does not happen despite the creation of a plasma with the right current.
But if you are super careful with the purity of your argon you can approximate the same result in your system.
***************************************************** Mel Dickson, Deputy Director. Electron Microscope Unit, University of New South Wales. Sydney NSW 2052 Australia
I used a Noran Voyager EDS system fitted to Hitachi FE-TEM (HF-2000, 200kV) for composition analysis with nanometer scale. (When I analyzing, I aligned the beam spot size as about diameter of 2.5
nm)
I found an interface layer between substrate and epitaxial film on it. In order to identify the interface layer, accurate composition data is needed. I tried it using above EDS system of FE-TEM.
However, I can not use any standard samples for the accurate composition
analysis. (I have no data of K factors which I concerned) So, I quantafy it by automatic calculation using the installed EDS software running on SUN workstation. In that software, it automatically corredted data by "Metallurgical and Biological Thin Section Correction"
So, I wonder about the accuracy. How much the error (percentage) when using that method and that system.
I also analyzed the composition of substrate and epitaxial film on it, at the same time and same analysis conditions. The results is quite well agreed to stochimetry of substrate and epitaxial film on it. (within 5 percentage error range of atomic composition).
Now I want to your kindful helps: 1. Normally, how much the error range by automatic calculation without standard sample.
2. Is there any reference literatures which mentioned the accuracy or error when analyzing the atomic composition using EDS fitted to FE-TEM without standard sample by automatic calculation?
I want to mention the error percentage and references literature for it in my manuscript.
Please help me.
Sincerely Yours.
Soon-Ku Hong. Institute for Materials Research Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8577, Japan Fax:+81-22-215-2074 Tel:+81-22-215-2073
Nestor Zaluzec wrote: ================================================ There is some work a few years ago that suggested that Osmium coating might be better than Cr in the long run.
Here is a reference.
Osmium Conductive Metal Coating for SEM Specimen Using Sublimed Osmium Tetroxide in Negative Glow Phase of DC Glow Discharge ,
A. Tanaka, J. Electron Microsc. 43: 177-182 (1994). ================================================= For those not with ready access to this publication, we have on our website, as part of the information provided for the OPC 40 Osmium Coater, some side by side comparisons, comparing osmium vs. other coating methods as well as other useful information about osmium coating. The URL is http://www.2spi.com/catalog/osmi-coat.html
There is also a link to the US Patent that describes the technology in quite explicit terms.
The advantages of osmium coating are several: a) layer is completely amorphous so there is zero grain size, b) it is a precious group metal and is therefore stable like gold, and does not oxidize or otherwise deteriorate as does chromium, and c) uses an ordinary rotary vane pump instead of a turbo so through-put is much faster. The amorphous nature of the coating is thought to be the reason why higher levels of conductivity are possible with thinner coatings than with other coating systems.
Disclaimer: SPI Supplies distributes the equipment for using this new method for applying conductive coatings so we have a vested interest in promoting this new technology.
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: spi3spi-at-2spi.com
Look for us! ############################ WWW: www.spi.cc ############################ ==================================================
Ann - no opinion on that albumen material. But complete details about the busy Histology listserver can be found on our links page. Use control F and search for "Histonet". There is an internal link to give all info required. Cheers Jim Darley ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com.au Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes www.proscitech.com.au
On Friday, June 25, 1999 2:10 AM, Lehman, Ann [SMTP:Ann.Lehman-at-exchange.cc.trincoll.edu] wrote: } } Can anyone help a colleague to locate the following product or an } equivalent?? } Also, does someone have an address for a Histo listserver?? } } Thanks. } Ann Lehman } Trinity College } Hartford, CT } } -------------------- } } What I am seeking is not powdered albumen, but a commerical mixture of } albumen, plus glycerine, and bacteriostatic somethings. I believe it is just } called "Albumen Fixative" or "Albumen Solution". The word fixative refers to } fixing (adhering) the paraffin sections to slides. We use it to coat slides } so sections will stick. A large bottle sells for a nomimal price.
Please unsubscribe until further notice, and thanks for all the information. Jerry ______________________ Jerome D. Schick, Ph.D. Semiconductor Devices and Electron Microscopy 26 Kuchler Drive LaGrangeville, NY 12540 Bus (914)223-7393 FAX (914)227-2743 jdschick-at-worldnet.att.net
the good news is that I use a product called Glycerin Albumen for sticking sections to slides - it carries the brand name of Gurr and was supplied by Searle Diagnostics of High Wycombe, England. The bad news is, of course, that I am in the UK.
I do notice that Agar Scientific supply Glycerin Albumen in 100ml bottles - catalog number L4185 price 14.65 UK pounds. If you can't source it in the US they may have a USA agent or their details are below: Agar Scientific Ltd 66A Cambridge Road Stansted Essex CM24 8DA England tel +44 (0) 1279 813519 Fax +44 (0)1279 815106
Good luck
Malcolm
Malcolm Haswell Electron Microscopy School of Sciences Fleming Building University of Sunderland SUNDERLAND SR1 3SD Tyne and Wear UK
Tel (0191) 515 2872 e-mail: malcolm.haswell-at-sunderland.ac.uk ---------- } From: jim-at-proscitech.com.au To: 'Lehman, Ann'; 'MSA Listserver'
Ann - no opinion on that albumen material. But complete details about the busy Histology listserver can be found on our
links page. Use control F and search for "Histonet". There is an internal link to give all info required. Cheers Jim Darley ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com.au Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes www.proscitech.com.au
On Friday, June 25, 1999 2:10 AM, Lehman, Ann [SMTP:Ann.Lehman-at-exchange.cc.trincoll.edu] wrote: } } Can anyone help a colleague to locate the following product or an equivalent?? } Also, does someone have an address for a Histo listserver?? } } Thanks. } Ann Lehman } Trinity College } Hartford, CT } } -------------------- } } What I am seeking is not powdered albumen, but a commerical mixture of } albumen, plus glycerine, and bacteriostatic somethings. I believe it is just } called "Albumen Fixative" or "Albumen Solution". The word fixative refers to } fixing (adhering) the paraffin sections to slides. We use it to coat slides } so sections will stick. A large bottle sells for a nomimal price.
by bellevue.cnrs-bellevue.fr (8.9.1a/jtpda-5.3) with SMTP id PAA24807 for {microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} ; Fri, 25 Jun 1999 15:06:15 +0200 Message-Id: {2.2.32.19990625132141.00680278-at-bellevue.cnrs-bellevue.fr} X-Sender: riviere-at-bellevue.cnrs-bellevue.fr X-Mailer: Windows Eudora Pro Version 2.2 (32) Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Please I wish to be unscribed for this E-mail: rommelue-at-bellevue.cnrs-bellevue.fr
We have a Philips 400 TEM that needs a new home as it is being replaced by a newer one this summer. The TEM is about 20 years old but is in very good working order and has been maintained by Philips since day one. I would like to see it go to a good home rather than dump it into a skip. We are not asking much for it - only a contribution to removing it carefully from the lab in one piece. If anyone is interested please contact me direct. Derek
******************************* Derek W. Penman Departmental Superintendent Preclinical Veterinary Sciences Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies Summerhall Square Edinburgh EH9 1QH Tel: 0131 650 6087 Fax: 0131 650 6123 E-Mail: dpenman-at-ed.ac.uk
There is a great little book published by the Clay Minerals Society titled: Electron-Optical Methods in Clay Science. It is Volume 2 in their CMS Workshop Lectures series (1990). It is a compilation of workshop lectures ranging from electron microprobe to high resolution TEM. There are some good references to prep methods, their benefits and pitfalls, as well as a wealth of references. It is available for $21 from:
The CLay Minerals Society P.O.Box 4416 Boulder CO 80306
If it is helpful to you, one of the editors is Dr. Ian D.Mackinnon, Advanced Ceramics Development, University of Queensland who, I believe, directed the Electron Microscope center there. Contact me off-line and I'll find his e-mail and some others if you would like.
Tom Kremer Analytical Science & Technology Kimberly-Clark 920-721-4583 e-mail: tkremer-at-kcc.com
} ---------- } From: Walck. Scott D.[SMTP:walck-at-ppg.com] } Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 1999 5:25 PM } To: Micro } Subject: TEM of clay particles } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Could someone tell me the best way to prepare clay particles for TEM. I'm } interested in small particles, micron to sub-micron in size in both the } dry } state and hydrated state. } Thanks in advance. } Scott } } Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. } PPG Industries, Inc. } Glass Technology Center } 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) } } }
To microscopy list, I have a Sorvall MT-5000 in good working condition for sale. I'm asking $1,500, anyone interested please contact me at (410) 955-1365 work or (410) 889-8009 home
Oops, I think I goofed on that one. Thanks for pointing that out, Bill. Actually, what I wanted to do is to point out, that there are scientific methods to deal with these questions rather than trying to "eyeball" those numbers. I also agree, that there is "crosstalk" between resolution and gray level distinction, but I don't think, that is something that can be resolved in this forum.
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 1675 Carr St., #105N Lakewood, CO 80215 =================================== phone: (888) FIND SIS (303) 234-9270 fax: (303) 234-9271 email: mailto:info-at-soft-imaging.com web: http://www.soft-imaging.com ===================================
} ---------- } From: William Tivol[SMTP:TIVOL-at-WADSWORTH.ORG] } Sent: Thursday, June 24, 1999 2:21:13 PM } To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: Re: Image resolution checks with digital images. } Auto forwarded by a Rule } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Michael Bode wrote:
} 2) Regarding significant changes in gray levels: } This is strictly a matter of statistics. There are two sources of noise } in the images: Noise that is produced by the camera and shot noise from } the electron statistics. Let's say, the camera produces a noise of 2 } gray values (1-sigma value) and you try to measure 100 electrons, and } these electrons (100) produce a gray value of also 100 (to make it } easier). The shot noise is then sqrt(100)=10. That is the 1-sigma value. } The total 1-sigma noise is then 12 gray values. In other words, if pixel } A has a value of 100 and pixel B has a value of 112, there is about a } 68% chance that they are actually different. This chance increases to } about 95% if Pixel B has a value of 124 and to about 99.7% if pixel B } has a value of 136 (3-sigma). As you can see, the values change with the } number of electrons, i.e., with exposure.
Dear Michael, Most of your two cents are OK, but there are a couple of ringers. First, assuming that the camera noise and shot noise are independent and both are nor- mally distributed, they do not add linearly, but rather as the square root of the sum of the squares. In your example, the total 1-sigma noise would be the square root of 104. Second, the error in the difference of two normally-distributed quantities is, again, the square root of the sum of the squares of the two errors. In your example, assume that the signal from the camera has been dark-current subtracted and that the error in the dark current (=camera noise) is 2, then if the two pixels have values of 100 and 112 with squared errors of 104 and 116, the square of the error of the difference is 220, or the error of the difference is about 15. Furthermore, there are systematic effects for adjacent pixels, so for the question of resolving features, these effects must be taken into account, and they can be complicated.
Does anyone have a complete reference analysis of U.S.N.M. #116725 Standard Andradite. This garnet was the subject of crystal structure analysis by Novak & Gibbs (1971, Amer. Mineral. 56, 791-825). I found a standard mount of one of these grains in the lab but have no other information except the structural formula given in the paper. Thanks in advance.
Dear Scott, When I used to teach the "Clays" lab and examine kaolinite, halloysite and brucite by TEM, SAED, SEM and EDS, I would prepare the clays by suspending a bit in ethanol and sonicating for 30 seconds, then letting one drop dry on a carbon-coated grid. For SEM the drop would dry on a polished graphite planchet. The kaolinite and halloysite are quite stable, but the brucite is a bit beam sensitive. I suspect the hydrated state is more determined by the vacuum of the EM than anything you do in preparation. At 06:25 PM 6/23/99 -0400, you wrote:
} Could someone tell me the best way to prepare clay particles for TEM. I'm } interested in small particles, micron to sub-micron in size in both the dry } state and hydrated state. } Thanks in advance. } Scott } } Scott D. Walck, Ph.D.
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 e-mail: mager-at-interchg.ubc.ca
} } What I am seeking is not powdered albumen, but a commerical mixture of } } albumen, plus glycerine, and bacteriostatic somethings. I believe it is } just called "Albumen Fixative" or "Albumen Solution". The word fixative } refers } to } fixing (adhering) the paraffin sections to slides. We use it to coat } slides } so sections will stick. A large bottle sells for a nomimal price.
You can make your own from equal parts of glycerin and lightly beaten egg white (no yolk). Add a bit of thymol to prevent mold. "Animal Tissue Techniques" by Humason (any edition) has the recipe or e-mail me. Other texts on Microtechnique also have the recipe. Albumin-glycerin is less popular these days since egg white contains avidin and interfers with some immunostaining methods.
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 mcauliff-at-umdnj.edu **********************************************
We have a Penetron Swirling Shaker, and used to get vials for it from = John's Scientific. We were given a catalogue number from which we could = continue to order them from another company. It appears that they no = longer make them, and I was hoping that someone could tell me of a = supplier that makes comparable vials for this unit. Please reply to me directly. Thanks Susan
Susan Carbyn Electron Microscopy Technician Atlantic Food and Horticulture Research Centre Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada 32 Main Street, Kentville, Nova Scotia B4N 1J5 Canada
The Integrated Microscopy Core of Baylor College of Medicine in Houston = has a Philips 410 TEM for sale. Ancillary equipment includes a = rotating tilt holder, a multiple (3) grid specimen holder and a low dose = unit. This microscope has been on service contract since it was = purchased. We are asking $20,000. The buyer will be responsible for = moving it to its new location.
Hank Adams Technical Coordinator Integrated Microscopy Core Cell Biology Baylor College of Medicine Houston, TX 77030 713 7984952
This is a response to the reply Gary Gill posted after I posted a message questioning his suggestion (in Microscopy Today #99-4) that No.1 cover glasses were a more appropriate choice of thickness than No. 1 1/2 (the original two messages are included at the end of this message). My response, as I interpreted Gary's, should be viewed as a contribution to friendly scientific disagreement and not as a personal criticism of Gary. Furthermore, let me point out that Gary and I may disagree about which size cover glass to use because we have very different preps. He points out in his most recent posting that he is primarily looking at whole mounts of pap smears which vary in thickness. My laboratory uses mostly 0.5 um thick semi-thin plastic resin sections and some 8 um thick paraffin section.
I pulled out a micrometer and did some measurements on some batches of cover glasses sitting around. Fisher #1 1/2 (22 x 22) cover glasses (#12-541B) came in at 180 um (no variation in the 5 tested). Fisher #1 1/2 (22 x 50) cover glasses (#12-544B) ranged from 175 to 180 um. Corning #1 1/2 (22 x 22) cover glasses came in at 180 um (no variation in the 5 tested).
Corning #1 (22 x 22) measured 150 um (no variation in the 5 tested) while a batch of Corning #1 (22 x 60) ranged from 140 to 150 (avg 145).
I should point out that 2 years ago I measured the thickness of the Fisher brand coverslips and they were all about 170 and that is why I chose that brand. Obviously there is some inter-batch variation as well as intra-batch variation.
As an aside, I will point out the microscope slides sitting around my lab showed much more variation:
Fisher Superfrost 3 x 1" x 1 mm (12-550-12): 0.95 1.0, 1.01, 0.98, 0.975.
Fisher Frosted 25 x 75 x 1 mm (12-552): 0.99, 1.00, 0.99, 1.0, 1.0
Clay Adams Gold Seal Rite-on Micro Slides 25 x 75 mm - 0.97 to 1.07 mm thickness (#3050): 0.95. 0.96, 0.995, 1.04, 0.95.
More disturbingly, the flatness of the microscope slides also varied along their length.
Back to the question of the cover glass thickness:
I then took 5 Fisher Frosted slides that all measured 1.00 mm thick in the center of the slide (exact position marked with a diamond pen). These slides all had 0.5 um semi-thin plastic resin sections. They were all coverslipped with a set of cover glasses that all measured 180 um by placing a small drop of Permount (fresh - not overly viscous from sitting around for ages) and pressing the slide down on top of the cover glass with hand pressure for a few seconds and then heating on a slide warmer for a couple of hours. When I re-measured them at the center point, I got something very close to 1180 (my micrometer is marked at 10 um intervals so greater precision than 5 um is somewhat dicey). If I used glass slides that had 8 um paraffin sections (this was the thickness set on the microtome which I realize isn't precise) and coverslipped them using the same method, I got a number equal to the thickness of the glass + cover glass + 10 um (presumably the section thickness + mounting medium). Assuming the paraffin section was close to 8 um, it would imply the mounting medium added about 2 um. Although it would have been better if the No. 1 1/2 cover glasses had been closer to 170 um thick, the percent error in using ones that were 180 um would be less than starting with No. 1 cover glasses that were 150 um thick and hoping to get an even 20 um thick layer of mounting medium.
Finally, let me end with some published comments on cover glass thickness by notable authorities:
"It is therefore best to prepare a microslide with the No. 1 1/2 cover glass." John Gustav Daly in "Photography through the microscope" (1988) 9th edition, p. 20; Eastman Kodak Co.
"Standard coveslips are assumed to be 0.17 +/- 0.01 thick (with a refractive index of 1.515). Number 1 1/2 coverslips are nominally selected for this standard thickness." The author goes on to state that coverslips should be measured for the most critical work. Shinya Inoue (1986) "Video Microscopy" 1st edition. p. 134; Plenum Press, NY.
"No. 1 1/2 generally gives the greatest yield of usable cover glasses." G.P. Berlyn, J. Miksche (1976) Botanical Microtechnique and Cytochemistry. p. 8, Iowa State Univ. Press, Ames.
Original reply from Gary Gill:
} Correction: No. 1 cover glasses range 0.13-0.16 mm thickness; No. 1-1/2, } 0.17-0.19 mm (American Society for Testing Materials. Standard } Specification for Cover Glasses and Glass Slides for Use In Microscopy. } ASTM Designation E211-70, Effective 12.24.70). Or, No. 1 = 0.13-0.17 mm; } No. 1-1/2 = 0.16-0.19 mm (Interim Federal Specification Cover Glass, } Microscope. NNN-C-001434A, 01/08/71). No significant difference. } } Thickness of mounting medium for tissue sections, 3 sets of 4 slides broken } across the section, the broken edges trued up and polished and measured with } a micrometer microscope (Aumonier FJ, Setterington R. Some notes on the } mounting of histological sections. Proc Roy Micr Soc. 1967;2:428-9): } * Cover glass applied routinely (no pressure) = 10, 51, 63, and 76 } micrometers } * Cover glass weighted with 30 gm for 2 days = 18, 18, 20, and 30 } micrometers } * Cover glass with spring loaded clothespin for 72 hours = 5, 10, 10, } and 20 } micrometers } } Therefore, the thickness of mounting medium is substantial relative to the } difference between the range of thickness for No. 1 cover glass and the } tolerance of high dry achromat objectives to deviations from optimal } thickness of 0.17 mm (+/- 15 micrometers and more). Ergo, my recommendation } to use No. 1 thickness cover glasses. A modest bonus is getting more No. 1 } cover glasses per ounce for the same price as for No. 1-1/2. Fluorite and } apochromat objectives have higher NAs power for power than do achromats and } so are even more sensitive to cover glass (and mounting medium) thickness. } Objectives start to show intolerance to cover glass deviations at } approximately 0.6 NA (40X achromat). } } Cytologic preparations (e.g., conventional Pap smears, my field) are more } problematic than histologic sections. Pap smears can sometimes require up } to 12 or more drops of mounting medium to fill in all the valleys of thick } preparations. } } No. 1-1/2 cover glasses are suitable when there is little or no mounting } medium between the specimen and cover glass (e.g., cells grown in culture on } cover glasses, blood films spread on cover glass, cells on Nuclepore filters } dissolved on a cover glass). } } Gary W. Gill }
} } -----Original Message----- } } From: Tom Phillips [mailto:PhillipsT-at-missouri.edu] } } Sent: June 22, 1999 11:35 AM } } To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } } Subject: coverglass thickness } } } } In the May 1999 Microscopy Today (#99-4), Gary W. Gill of Diagnostic } } Cytology Laboratories, Inc., has a short article entitled "Cover Glass } } Perspectives." Although the article has a lot of interesting information, } } at one point the author states that one should not use No. 1 1/2 } } coverglasses even tho they have a nominal thickness of 0.16 to 0.19. He } } says to use No. 1 coverglass to make up for the "substantial and variable } } thickness of the mounting medium." This is counter to everything } } I was ever } } taught. I always use the minimum mounting media possible and press the } } slide down firmly on to the coverslip to ensure this is kept as thin as } } possible. } } } } Isn't standard to use #1 1/2 coverslips? Is there really a school of } } thought that one should use #1's?
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 65211-7400 (573)-882-4712 (voice) (573)-882-0123 (fax)
The long arm of our EH&S division is reaching out to touch me. The goal is to establish a safe way to weigh the hazardous chemicals used in our EM lab.
In the olden days we just took common sense precautions, moved a balance into the hood if we had to, moved it back when we were done. But now that the official list of hazardous chemicals is getting longer and longer, it is now up to 3 pages, this is getting to be a hassle. We also have some users, often students, who do not have the common sense or confidence to know when to use the hood or how to move the balance.
The first shot would be to leave the balance in the hood and make everyone weigh everything there. Drawbacks to this approach are that we are not supposed to 'store' anything in the hoods, they are for doing work. Also the draft from the hood makes the balance reading unstable. We have though about draft shields, but our balance is so old we would have to fabricate one ourselves.
We have thought about a small desktop, HEPA filtered workstation, maybe like the kind some asbestos labs use. This would get the balance out of the hood, keep from contaminating the hood, and maybe do a better job of protecting against particulate dust from chemical powders.
Does anyone have a good plan for complying with modern regulations or do you have some ideas about where to look for free standing, ductless filter cabinets that don't cost a fortune. If necessary we will bite the bullet and get what's needed, but if we can do it with what we have already that would be great.
Thanks
Jonathan Krupp Microscopy & Imaging Lab University of California Santa Cruz, CA 95064 (831) 459-2477 jmkrupp-at-cats.ucsc.edu
We buy 20 ml glass scintillation vials with plastic caps (without aluminum foil liners - these vials are also great for fixing tissues in). We tare a vial with its cap on in our good scale. Then we go to our fume hood, add approximately the correct amount, cap it and re-weigh it. We then go back to the hood and generally add the appropriate number of mls of solvent to come up with a 1 mg/ml solution. We then use a pipetman to add the appropriate number of micro or milli grams to our solution. We have a small electronic scale in the hood for weighing out gram quantities of embedding resins, etc but it is not accurate enough for {100 mg measurements due to the air flow. The students sometimes use that for getting the approximate weight but a trained scientist can usually eyeball about the right amount and then go to the accurate scale for the precise amount. You waste a little but its simple to teach students. Tom
and cap} Hi: } } The long arm of our EH&S division is reaching out to touch me. The goal is } to establish a safe way to weigh the hazardous chemicals used in our EM } lab. } } In the olden days we just took common sense precautions, moved a balance } into the hood if we had to, moved it back when we were done. But now that } the official list of hazardous chemicals is getting longer and longer, it } is now up to 3 pages, this is getting to be a hassle. We also have some } users, often students, who do not have the common sense or confidence to } know when to use the hood or how to move the balance. } } The first shot would be to leave the balance in the hood and make everyone } weigh everything there. Drawbacks to this approach are that we are not } supposed to 'store' anything in the hoods, they are for doing work. Also } the draft from the hood makes the balance reading unstable. } We have though about draft shields, but our balance is so old we would have } to fabricate one ourselves. } } We have thought about a small desktop, HEPA filtered workstation, maybe } like the kind some asbestos labs use. This would get the balance out of the } hood, keep from contaminating the hood, and maybe do a better job of } protecting against particulate dust from chemical powders. } } Does anyone have a good plan for complying with modern regulations or do } you have some ideas about where to look for free standing, ductless filter } cabinets that don't cost a fortune. If necessary we will bite the bullet } and get what's needed, but if we can do it with what we have already that } would be great. } } Thanks } } Jonathan Krupp } Microscopy & Imaging Lab } University of California } Santa Cruz, CA 95064 } (831) 459-2477 } jmkrupp-at-cats.ucsc.edu 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 65211-7400 (573)-882-4712 (voice) (573)-882-0123 (fax)
Hi! We use Epon\Aradlite sections to do immunogold technique. Specimen (pancreatic islets) was fixed in paraformaldehyde/low glut fixative. The procedure is three step: goat primary antibody, rabbit antigoat secondary Ab and protein A+gold. We have problems with sections. They do not stay on nickel grids. After procedure the grids are bluish/grinish in colour. It looks as if they were oxidized. We etch the sections with Na metaperiodate for 1H, block with BSA. Our buffer is phophate buffer. I have done this procedure before and I did not have this kind of problem. Is it possible that the grids are too old (they were purchased a few years ago)? Do any of you have an explanation why sections do not stay on the grids and what is causing the change in grids colour? Thank you Dorota
We have just decommissioned a Leica CLSM and are offering the parts for sale. A partial list includes: Omnichrome Ar/Kr laser with ~100 hours of use Omnichrome power supply TMC vibration damping table Leica Fluovert FU inverted microscope Leica microscope objectives (25x 0.75 na, 40x 1.3 na, 100x 1.2 na - all oil) a full set of dichros, filters, etc.
If anyone is interested, please contact us for more information. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ University of Pennsylvania Biomedical Imaging Core Laboratory Philadelphia, PA 19104
At 6:40 PM -0600 6/24/99, "MONA_STMARIE-at-HP-Corvallis-om3.om.hp.com"-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Co wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Mona,
The columnar structure that you see in cross-section TEM could be stacking faults (or other lattice defects) and not grains. We have observed similar microstructure in TiN films:
"Comparison of Sputtered Titanium Nitride on Silicon Dioxide and Aluminum-Alloy Thin Films," J.L. Drown, S.M. Merchant, M.E. Gross, D. Eaglesham, L.A. Giannuzzi, R.B. Irwin, Microscopy and Microanalysis, vol. 3 suppplement 2, (1997), 469.
Regards, Lucille
******************************************************************* Lucille A. Giannuzzi, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Dept. of Mechanical, Materials, and Aerospace Eng., University of Central Florida, PO Box 162450, 4000 Central Florida Blvd., Orlando, FL 32816-2450 USA phone (407) 823-5770 fax (407) 823-0208 email lag-at-mail.ucf.edu
Director, UCF/Cirent Materials Characterization Facility, 12443 Research Parkway, Suite 305 Orlando, FL 32826 phone (407) 275-4354,5,6 fax (407) 275-4321 -------------------------------------------------------------------- "Good judgement comes from experience.
Experience comes from making bad judgement."
Mark Twain ********************************************************************
I want to say thanks to all of the people who responded to my staining problem. I received over 25 responses, 5 within the=20 first 3 hours it was posted. Generally the responses fell into three groups: 1. Don't use Spurr's media 2. Cut thicker sections 3. Stain with LC, UA, and again with LC
The investigator has decided to redo the experiment and we will use one of the Epon media and cut slightly thicker sections without a film.
Thanks again. I am always amazed at how many responses one get and especially how fast.
George Lawton Chief Electron Microscopist Microscopy and Imaging Service Center UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas 5323 Harry Hines Blvd. Dallas, Tx 75235-9039 Phone: 214-648-7291 eMail: George.Lawton-at-email.swmed.edu
----- Original Message ----- } From: David Henriks {Henriks-at-CompuServe.COM} To: Micro Listserver {microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com}
Project Engineer
Performs engineering studies, design (including drawings and = schematics), testing, and evaluation of intricate miniature mechanical = and electromechanical devices or systems involving vacuum, ion/electron = optics, and cryogenic technologies. This involves = development-engineering activities related to the commercialization of = new products, systems, and services. Activities may include = conceptualization of new products, feasibility studies, prototype = design and implementation of customer specifications, materials = selection, cost estimation, selection and design of equipment and = systems, production startup and performance verification, customer = training and follow-up services. Interfaces with marketing, sales, and = research in defining objectives and priorities for projects. Is = proficient in the use of geometric tolerancing, CAD systems, and = plotters in order to prepare detailed engineering documentation. = Supervises drafting staff and is responsible for the production of all = engineering documentation including test specifications and procedures. = Must be familiar with regulatory standards (CSA, SEMI, CE, VDE, PTB). = Provides existing product line support in design activities and/or = modifications of hardware for production. Typical assignments are = complex and require the use of initiative and judgment. Requires a = degree in mechanical engineering or engineering physics. An advanced = degree is preferred, combined with a minimum of 8 years = engineering/supervisory experience.
E.A. Fischione Instruments, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer.
Resumes and salary requirements should be sent to:
Human Resources Director, MLS E.A. Fischione Instruments, Inc. 9003 Corporate Circle Export, PA 15632 Phone (724) 325-5444 FAX (724) 325-5443 E-mail: info-at-fischione.com
Renee Kalmes rkalmes-at-exponent.com -----Original Message----- } From: Jerome D. Schick [mailto:JDSchick-at-worldnet.att.net] Sent: Friday, June 25, 1999 3:49 AM To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
Please unsubscribe until further notice, and thanks for all the information. Jerry ______________________ Jerome D. Schick, Ph.D. Semiconductor Devices and Electron Microscopy 26 Kuchler Drive LaGrangeville, NY 12540 Bus (914)223-7393 FAX (914)227-2743 jdschick-at-worldnet.att.net
Accidentally delete files folders? =46disk or =46ormat the wrong drive= s? Lose data because of a virus? Are you or have you seen errors like, invalid drive specification, invalid media type or error reading drive c:? Hard drives are getting cheaper and cheaper, but the data on those drives can be invaluable.
However you have options. You can send the drive to a Data Recovery Professional and pay the price (thousands). You can buy an over the counter retail product which may due more harm than good, or you can use the software that the professionals use for this type of recovery . We are for a limited time, making the software we sell to the professionals available to the general public to handle the out cry for data recovery software we have experienced due to virus infection , and the simple fact that almost everyone now has a computer. Virus scanners are great, but the fact is they can not update virus signatures as fast as people are producing viruses.
More and more people are learning how to program. Unfortunately that means there are more programmers capable of producing viruses. Major companies spending millions of dollars on security and virus protection have lost data due to virus infection. It will get worse before it gets better. You don't have to spend thousands to recover your data if you have the right software. We are making this software available to you now, at a very reasonable cost! Act now and receive unlimited free technical support! This won't last long!
=46or more information please reply to: mailto:roon99-at-writemail.com?subject=3Dmore-info
********************************************************************* ** To be removed reply to mailto:petlm-at-hotbot.com?subject=3Dremove ********************************************************************* **
Accidentally delete files folders? =46disk or =46ormat the wrong drive= s? Lose data because of a virus? Are you or have you seen errors like, invalid drive specification, invalid media type or error reading drive c:? Hard drives are getting cheaper and cheaper, but the data on those drives can be invaluable.
However you have options. You can send the drive to a Data Recovery Professional and pay the price (thousands). You can buy an over the counter retail product which may due more harm than good, or you can use the software that the professionals use for this type of recovery . We are for a limited time, making the software we sell to the professionals available to the general public to handle the out cry for data recovery software we have experienced due to virus infection , and the simple fact that almost everyone now has a computer. Virus scanners are great, but the fact is they can not update virus signatures as fast as people are producing viruses.
More and more people are learning how to program. Unfortunately that means there are more programmers capable of producing viruses. Major companies spending millions of dollars on security and virus protection have lost data due to virus infection. It will get worse before it gets better. You don't have to spend thousands to recover your data if you have the right software. We are making this software available to you now, at a very reasonable cost! Act now and receive unlimited free technical support! This won't last long!
=46or more information please reply to: mailto:roon99-at-writemail.com?subject=3Dmore-info
********************************************************************* ** To be removed reply to mailto:petlm-at-hotbot.com?subject=3Dremove ********************************************************************* **
Accidentally delete files folders? =46disk or =46ormat the wrong drive= s? Lose data because of a virus? Are you or have you seen errors like, invalid drive specification, invalid media type or error reading drive c:? Hard drives are getting cheaper and cheaper, but the data on those drives can be invaluable.
However you have options. You can send the drive to a Data Recovery Professional and pay the price (thousands). You can buy an over the counter retail product which may due more harm than good, or you can use the software that the professionals use for this type of recovery . We are for a limited time, making the software we sell to the professionals available to the general public to handle the out cry for data recovery software we have experienced due to virus infection , and the simple fact that almost everyone now has a computer. Virus scanners are great, but the fact is they can not update virus signatures as fast as people are producing viruses.
More and more people are learning how to program. Unfortunately that means there are more programmers capable of producing viruses. Major companies spending millions of dollars on security and virus protection have lost data due to virus infection. It will get worse before it gets better. You don't have to spend thousands to recover your data if you have the right software. We are making this software available to you now, at a very reasonable cost! Act now and receive unlimited free technical support! This won't last long!
=46or more information please reply to: mailto:roon99-at-writemail.com?subject=3Dmore-info
********************************************************************* ** To be removed reply to mailto:petlm-at-hotbot.com?subject=3Dremove ********************************************************************* **
I have some problems with MT 7000 ultramicrotome and I need electronic circuit schematics. Can anyone help me?
Thank you!
Best regards
Sorin
********************************************* Sorin Lazar Dept. Electron Microscopy & Image Analysis National Institute for Biological Sciences Spl. Independentei, nr. 296, Bucharest Romania
We have a Philips 301 electron microscope that we would like to give to another non-profit who can use it. When last used it worked perfectly but no longer has a service contract.
Hoping for some assistance. I have been asked to research into costs and sources for sound proof material. To be more specific we want to reduce noise in a couple TEM rooms. We expect to acquire a high voltage FE TEM this fall. I have seen a foam product, usually black, attached to the walls in labs before. Everyone called it "eggshell" or "egg crate". Does anyone know of vendors or sources of same or similar products? Thanks in advance.
Joel McClintock EM Specialist U. of Kentucky (606)257-1242 jmcclin-at-pop.uky.edu
{fontfamily} {param} Times_New_Roman {/param} {bigger} RESEARCH ASSOCIATE- TECHNICIAN POSITION OPENING
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS, URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
{/bigger} {/fontfamily} {bigger} {fontfamily} {param} Times {/param} {bigger} Qualif= ications:
Minimum requirement: Bachelor of Science degree. Applications from Masters or Ph.Ds are welcome. Postdoctoral fellowship appointments are possible. Previous lab and/or electron microscopy experience required.
Responsibilities:
To perform research in a laboratory of cell biology and structural biology. Work will combine electron microscopy and light microscopy while including tissue culture, immunostaining, and molecular biology. TEM will be done on a Phillips CM-200 equipped with a CCD camera. Work will include assisting with EM tomography and serial thin section 3-D reconstructions.
Closing Search Date: Applications will be accepted until the position is filled (as late as Oct. 1, 1999). Full consideration will be given to applications received prior to July 1, 1999 or until the position is filled.
=09
=09
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer.
Can someone tell me the correlation between rpm's and g's when using centrifuges? We have a protocol that specifies 7.5 g's for a centrifugation step, but our readout is, of course, in rpm's. I assume there must be table somewhere, but I don't recall ever seeing one.
Thanks.
Randy Tindall Electron Microscope Specialist Electron Microscope Core Facility University of Missouri Columbia, MO 65211
Good Morning Everyone, Does anyone out there know how to assemble the carbon coating apparatus on a Polaron E6100 sputter coater (approx. 1985 model)? Although I know how to carbon coat, however, but not on this particular model. These parts are sitting in a bag and the instructions are very vague with no pictoral info. Help! Thank you all in advance for your help, Maria
Maria Fazio-Zanakis Bioimaging and Molecular Histology Hoechst Marion Roussel, Inc. 1-908-231-3357 Fax: 1-908-231-3962 Email: Maria.Fazio-Zanakis-at-hmrag.com
Good Morning Again Everyone, I need some assistance and/or advise on how to change the oil on a Polaron sputter coater E6100 that has not been changed for a long time. I can't seem to obtain a vacuum greater than 4 x 10 -4 torr. I don't mind changing it if this is the only recourse. Thanks again, Maria
Maria Fazio-Zanakis Bioimaging and Molecular Histology Hoechst Marion Roussel, Inc. 1-908-231-3357 Fax: 1-908-231-3962 Email: Maria.Fazio-Zanakis-at-hmrag.com
You are in luck. I needed this info and so searched for it. Nice guy, eh?
The formula is RCF = 0.00001118 x r x N squared
where RCF = relative centrifugal force r = rotating radius in centimeters N = rotating speed in revs per minute
I have a neat nomograph which I can fax to you. But you gotta give me a fax number that will work this time.
Also, remember to do the calculation from where the specimen will actually reside rather than the radius of the rotor. In a test tube which covers some distance remember that the forces will vary over the distance. It may be safest in this case to use the midpoint of the test tube. That's what I do.
Cheers,
JB
#################################################################### John J. Bozzola, Ph.D., Director Center for Electron Microscopy 750 Communications Drive - MC 4402 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 ####################################################################
The foam panels we used are manufactured by Illbruck Acoustic Products, 3800 Washington Ave. N., Minneapolis, MN 55412, (612) 520-3620 or (800) 662-0032, fax (612)521-5639. They may have a dealer in your area. The local dealer we worked through was The Huff Co., Inc., 28915 Herky Dr., Suite 109, Lake Bluff, IL 60044, (847) 362-7440, fax (847) 362-0427.
More specifically, the panels are SonexOne, which have a ASTM E84 Class 1 flammability rating. They come in 2" and 3" thicknesses. We installed 2" panels for a JEOL JEM-4000EX and a Philips CM30T and 3" panels for an Hitachi H-9000. It can be ordered in the natural white or with a painted surface (we ordered a gray-painted variety for the 2" panels) or with a Hypalon polymer surface in different colors (we ordered a black Hypalon for the 3" panels). Our cost for the 2" painted panels was $290 per box (64 sq. ft. per box in 2'x4'panels).
In general, the entire room doesn't need to be covered with this foam. Indeed, only the walls of the separate utility rooms for our JEM-4000EX and Philips CM30T are covered, and the dealer thought that we didn't need to cover as much as we did. The utility rooms contain most of the noise-generating components (air-handling units, water chillers, pumps, etc.). The entire room for the H-9000 is covered.
You'll also need to buy some cartridges of latex multi-purpose construction adhesive which can be used for vinyl foams and plastics. We bought some from Grainger. You might be able to find some locally, or the foam dealer may have a recommendation. The Huff Co. said that "Liquid Nails" works ok, but we bought "OSI Pro-Series QB-350". You'll need about 1 cartridge per 32 sq. ft.
You must realize, however, that these panels are better at absorbing higher frequencies. For low frequencies, other strategies may be necessary: floating floors, high-density foam panels for cabinets, etc. } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Hoping for some assistance. I have been asked to research into costs and } sources for sound proof material. To be more specific we want to reduce } noise in a couple TEM rooms. We expect to acquire a high voltage FE TEM this } fall. I have seen a foam product, usually black, attached to the walls in } labs before. Everyone called it "eggshell" or "egg crate". Does anyone know } of vendors or sources of same or similar products? Thanks in advance. } } Joel McClintock } EM Specialist } U. of Kentucky } (606)257-1242 } jmcclin-at-pop.uky.edu
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Russell E. Cook, Ph.D. 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 cook-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov
Randy: I think this is the correct info. You need to know the distance from the center of the rotor to the center of the tube to calculate the average g. It is much easier to use a table specific for the rotor. But if one is not available:
Relative Centrifugal Field (x g) = 1.12 r (RPM / 1000)(RPM /1000)
Note that I couldn't figure out how to write a superscript number to indicate you need to square the"(RPM /1000)" so I wrote it twice on purpose.
r = radius (usually used r (average) or the center point but also can use r (max) or r (min). This is for nonprecipitating solutions with a density less than 1.2 g/ml.
The angle of the rotor is not in this equation but it is important in the pelleting speed I believe. I think this is what the manufacturers call the "k factor".
Tom
Thomas E. Phillips, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Biological Sciences Director, Molecular Cytology Core Facility
3 Tucker Hall Division of Biological Sciences University of Missouri Columbia, MO 65211-7400 (573)-882-4712 (voice) (573)-882-0123 (fax)
I have a Link Analytical Lemas stage control system on an SEM. The control screen displays "status reset" and the joystick does not operate the stage system. I have tried to reset the system but have not been successful. If anyone has one of these systems and can help me diagnosis this problem, I would be very thankful.
Phoebe J. Doss Manager/Adjunct Instructor EM Lab Oklahoma State University
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Hoping for some assistance. I have been asked to research into costs and } sources for sound proof material. To be more specific we want to reduce } noise in a couple TEM rooms. We expect to acquire a high voltage FE TEM this } fall. I have seen a foam product, usually black, attached to the walls in } labs before. Everyone called it "eggshell" or "egg crate". Does anyone know } of vendors or sources of same or similar products? Thanks in advance.
Try MarkerTek in NY. They have an 800# and a website.
I'm not clear if you want to reduce sound coming into the rooms or reduce reverberant sound generated within the room, in either case try IAC at "http://www.industrialacoustics.com/index.htm", they have solutions for most sound control problems.
Joel McClintock wrote:
} Hoping for some assistance. I have been asked to research into costs and } sources for sound proof material. To be more specific we want to reduce } noise in a couple TEM rooms. We expect to acquire a high voltage FE TEM this } fall. I have seen a foam product, usually black, attached to the walls in } labs before. Everyone called it "eggshell" or "egg crate". Does anyone know } of vendors or sources of same or similar products? Thanks in advance. } } Joel McClintock } EM Specialist } U. of Kentucky } (606)257-1242 } jmcclin-at-pop.uky.edu
--
Richard J. Mount Auditory Science Laboratory, Department of Otolaryngology & Brain and Behaviour Division/Research Institute The Hospital for Sick Children Toronto, Ontario, Canada (416) 813-6551; Fax (416) 813-8456 http://www.sickkids.on.ca/otolaryngology/Earhome1.asp
Hello, Just a quick question. I've got a metamorphic rock about 1"x3" I'd like to impregnate with a resin with flourescent dye to look at porosity. I've heard there is a flourescent dye you can add to LR White for just such a purpose. Does anyone know which one it is? Also, if there is an alternate resin/flourescent dye to use, could anyone let me know? Sincerely,
\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ Gordon Ante Vrdoljak 1 Cyclotron Road ICQ 23243541 http://nature.berkeley.edu/~gvrdolja MS90-1116 GAVrdoljak-at-lbl.gov Ernest Orlando phone (510) 495-2829 Lawrence Berkeley fax (510) 486-7797 National Laboratory cell (510) 290-6793 Berkeley CA 94720
I am trying to locate calcium sites in fungal cells embedded in EPON resin. Has anybody any suggestions about the floating medium I could use during thin sectioning to avoid the dissolution and loss of the calcium from the cells?
We have had good results using Armstrong Soundsoak panels. The panels look nicer and have just about the same acoustic properties as the 2 inch eggcrate foam. Also, the vinyl coating is cleanable whereas most of the foam eggcrate is not. Obviously 4 inch or 6 inch eggcrate will do better, but there are diminishing returns (as well as diminishing space in your room). Low frequency is a problem no matter which type of panel you use.
Cheers, Henk
At 10:22 AM 6/28/99 -0400, Joel McClintock wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Hendrik O. Colijn colijn.1-at-osu.edu Campus Electron Optics Facility Ohio State University (614) 292-0674 http://web.ceof.ohio-state.edu An optimist believes that we live in the best of all possible worlds. A pessimist fears that this is true.
We need to have information on Thickness monitors that can be used in a Denton 502A. Basically we are looking for one which has the greatest range of motion since I understand that generally because of the water cooling they cannot move too much. Any and/or all information welcome. If I get enough I will catalog and make available to anyone who asks.
Thanks in advance.
Mei Lie Mei Lie Wong Electron Microscope Laboratory Department of Biochemistry HHMI-UCSF Ph. 415-476-4441 Fax 415-476-1902 http://util.ucsf.edu/agard/wong/index.html email wong-at-msg.ucsf.edu
One source of the material you are looking for is a company called Illbruck and goes by the brand name of Sonex. There are a variety of grades with different types of coatings, colors, sound reduction levels, and also fire ratings. I use it extensively in the VG HB603z FEG AAEM room (http://tpm.amc.anl.gov). It's not cheap, but installation is simple. Watch out for your local fire codes as some brand of "foam-based" sound proofing are not adequately fire rated for general laboratory usage.
Nestor
Your Friendly Neighborhood SysOp
} } } Hoping for some assistance. I have been asked to research into costs and } sources for sound proof material. To be more specific we want to reduce } noise in a couple TEM rooms. We expect to acquire a high voltage FE TEM this } fall. I have seen a foam product, usually black, attached to the walls in } labs before. Everyone called it "eggshell" or "egg crate". Does anyone know } of vendors or sources of same or similar products? Thanks in advance. } } Joel McClintock } EM Specialist } U. of Kentucky } (606)257-1242 } jmcclin-at-pop.uky.edu
-West Marine has a foam/lead product that the use for engin covers that damps vibration well.
If the wall are not built yet build a wall with offset studs so that there in no physical connection between the surfaces of the faces of the two walls. then fill the space with fiberglass insulation.
Gordon
Gordon Couger gcouger-at-couger.com TDY Vancouver, B.C. 624 Cheyenne Stillwater, OK 74075-1411 405 624-2855 GMT -6:00 www.couger.com/gcouger
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Are you seeking calcium by x-ray microanalysis or EELS?
We have done XRMA since 1981. Our standard approach is to freeze-dry, otherwise you lose all the diffusible and maybe loosely bound elements with routine chemical processing, then infiltrate in resin (generally Spurr's) in some sort of vacuum situation. The tissue is not osmicated because of interfering peaks (for some elements).
We always cut thick sections, 1, 1.5 or 2 microns, on DRY glass knives. The grids, generally aluminium, formvar film coated, are held in reverse-action or clamped forceps (with a small O-ring?) and balanced on a match box or with BluTack so that the grid is just behind the knife edge. The sections are manipulated onto the grids with an eyelash. They are presed down with a polished metal rod although a technician we used to have could "patch-weld" them to the film with just the eyelash. Sometimes, if they stick to the rod, I sandwich them between two grids, press and separate. You can usually use the empty grid for the next sections. They are carbon coated prior to analysis (for conductance i.e. anti-charging) in the STEM.
The reason for thick sections is that you get extremely low count rates with ultra-thin sections. We can also use up to 200 kV for the really thick sections. Obviously you want to remove the objective aperture for the analysis. The images are nothing like conventional images!! But the chemical goodies should be present!!
You can do thin sections with the blocks by normal methods and contrasting first with osmium vapour from any osmium fixative if you don't want to dedicate some crystals to do this. It is possible that thin sectioning (with a water bath) could leach some elements from the surface layer of the block if it gets wetted.
If you are doing this for EELS, please post a synopsis of replies - I would be interested!
Good luck - Keith
Keith Ryan Marine Biological Association of the UK Plymouth, England
If you want to reduce the noise generated by the microscope and ancillaries in the TEM room then curtains around the walls are cheap and effective. Works well for our FEGTEM. Of course it will not cut out any bangs and crashes from adjacent rooms.
Ron
On Mon, 28 Jun 1999 10:22:22 -0400 Joel McClintock {jmcclin-at-pop.uky.edu} wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Hoping for some assistance. I have been asked to research into costs and } sources for sound proof material. To be more specific we want to reduce } noise in a couple TEM rooms. We expect to acquire a high voltage FE TEM this } fall. I have seen a foam product, usually black, attached to the walls in } labs before. Everyone called it "eggshell" or "egg crate". Does anyone know } of vendors or sources of same or similar products? Thanks in advance. } } Joel McClintock } EM Specialist } U. of Kentucky } (606)257-1242 } jmcclin-at-pop.uky.edu } }
---------------------- Mr. R.C. Doole Department of Materials, University of Oxford. Parks Road, Oxford. OX1 3PH. UK. Phone +44 (0) 1865 273701 Fax +44 (0) 1865 283333 ron.doole-at-materials.ox.ac.uk
Dear list, I'm in need of a formula for a staining technique. I've read that Orcein could be used to stain gums (i.e., gum arabic). If you have any information it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
John B. Crowe jcrowe-at-ora.fda.gov US FDA Forensic Chemistry Center 6751 Steger Dr. Cincinnati, OH 45237 phone (513)679-2700 fax (513)679-2761
"A PHILIPS EM-400T-FEG with ECON-EDAX system is available to anybody who can assume responsibility for all moving costs. It is currently not in use but was in use prior to shut-down. The microscope had an extra FEG gun and one FE tip. Comes with all baking equipment for the FEG. It is a good system for anybody who needs a second instrument and willing to set it up and get it running. The micrsocope is in the New Haven area in Connecticut. Anyone interested in the microscope should contact me by e-mail or phone. } } R. Ayer } {ayerr-at-aol.com} } Phone 203-389-6065 } Fax 203 876 8914
I use sodium chloride salt windows (optical crystals) for FT-IR microspectroscopy analysis of samples. Where would one look for information on cleaning the salt windows after analysis? I have not found a source that covers this topic on cleaning any type of crystals (KBr, KCl, NaCl, etc....).
Jeff Nicklaw
} } Email: nicklaj-at-basf.com } Name: Jeff Nicklaw } }
Cleaning the grids with acetic acid for 5-10 minutes (then rinse with water and dry them in an oven) will greatly improve your situation. The grids can be 'old', but the acid removes the oxidation that inhibits your section adhesion.
Gregg Sobocinski Parke-Davis Pharmaceuticals Ann Arbor, MI Gregg.Sobocinski-at-wl.com
-----Original Message----- } From: Dorota Wadowska [mailto:wadowska-at-upei.ca] Sent: Friday, June 25, 1999 4:21 PM To: microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com
Hi! We use Epon\Aradlite sections to do immunogold technique. Specimen (pancreatic islets) was fixed in paraformaldehyde/low glut fixative. The procedure is three step: goat primary antibody, rabbit antigoat secondary Ab and protein A+gold. We have problems with sections. They do not stay on nickel grids. After procedure the grids are bluish/grinish in colour. It looks as if they were oxidized. We etch the sections with Na metaperiodate for 1H, block with BSA. Our buffer is phophate buffer. I have done this procedure before and I did not have this kind of problem. Is it possible that the grids are too old (they were purchased a few years ago)? Do any of you have an explanation why sections do not stay on the grids and what is causing the change in grids colour? Thank you Dorota
Does anyone have a copy of Kessel and Kardon's "Tissues and Organs" (Freeman, 1979) they'd be willing to sell me?
Many thanks, Dee
Dee Breger Manager, SEM/EDX Facility Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory Route 9W Palisades NY 10964 USA T: 914/365-8640 F: 914/365-8155 I: www.ldeo.columbia.edu/micro "Journeys in Microspace" (Columbia University Press, 1995) ____________________________________________________________________________ Automatic note: Sometimes I don't receive incoming emails (with no notice to the sender). If I don't respond to your message, please send it again! ____________________________________________________________________________ _
PhD in physics in search for a post doctoral. io will have finished my thesis on Sept 99. I'm actually working at Reims University (FRANCE) in the laboratory of analysis solid surfaces and interfaces. My research consists in exploration for new imaging technique X ray in total reflection (Application : topography observation of surface and interface solid/solid) and fluorescence X. In the team we use X ray microscopy in electrochimical systems. My competences : X ray microscopy : Projection, reflection and fluorescence Glancing X ray : Reletometry, TXRF, GIXF Experimentator data analysis preparation of thin layer by evaporation preparation of X-visible screen converter for image guide ........ Please send Email to receive my CV and details on my work. N.B : I will take part in XRM 99 conference to be held in Berkeley, CaliforniaAugust 1-6, 99. Sincerly
I've polished NaCl single crystals with an ethanol/water mix on a polishing cloth. Sorry, I can't remember the mixture ratio, but it had mostly ethanol to start with (90/10??). -Scott ---------- } From: Jeffrey M Nicklaw To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
Colleagues
Anyone know the answer to this question? Please reply directly to the author as well as the Listserver.
I use sodium chloride salt windows (optical crystals) for FT-IR microspectroscopy analysis of samples. Where would one look for information on cleaning the salt windows after analysis? I have not found a source that covers this topic on cleaning any type of crystals (KBr, KCl, NaCl, etc....).
Jeff Nicklaw
} } Email: nicklaj-at-basf.com } Name: Jeff Nicklaw } }
The College of Natural Resources and Sciences at Humboldt State University is currently recruiting to hire an Equipment Technician III. Could you please tell me if it is possible to place a notice on your listserver? What is involved and what is the cost?
Thank you.
Barbara Westmoreland, AA/S College of Natural Resources and Sciences Humboldt State University Arcata, CA 95521-8299 (707) 826-5826 -- Phone (707) 826-3562 -- FAX westmore-at-laurel.humboldt.edu
It will be greatly be appreciated if anybody can give me information regarding
a. The type of detector the KE 4-quadrant BSE detector. b. The country and city where KE-4 quadrant BSE is made.
Thanks for the help. Andre Wong Faculty of Dentistry, UBC, 2199, Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T1Z3. tel. 604-822-2873 Fax 604-822-3562 e-mail: andywong-at-unixg.ubc.ca
Responding to the message of {v04011700b39d3b798264-at-[128.206.162.35]} from Tom Phillips {PhillipsT-at-missouri.edu} : } } Randy: I think this is the correct info. You need to know the distance } from the center of the rotor to the center of the tube to calculate the } average g. It is much easier to use a table specific for the rotor. But } if one is not available: } } Relative Centrifugal Field (x g) = 1.12 r (RPM / 1000)(RPM /1000) } } Note that I couldn't figure out how to write a superscript number to } indicate you need to square the"(RPM /1000)" so I wrote it twice on purpose. } } r = radius (usually used r (average) or the center point but also can use r } (max) or r (min). This is for nonprecipitating solutions with a density } less than 1.2 g/ml.
snip!
There seems to be a discrepancy of a factor of 10 in the numerical constant in the two equations for relateive centrifugal field presented by Bozzola - 11.18x10(-6) - and the above presented by Phillips - 1.12x10(-6).
Which is the correct one?
Thanks,
Gib
Gib Ahlstrand Electron Optical Facility, University of Minnesota, Dept. Plant Pathology 495 Borlaug Hall, St. Paul, MN. USA. 55108 (612)625-8249 612-625-9728 FAX, giba-at-puccini.crl.umn.edu http://biosci.umn.edu/MIC/consortium.html
Harrick Scientific Corporation is a supplier of IR-VIS-UV accessories. According to a blurb sheet on an Internal Reflection Accessory we recently purchased "crystals are best cleaned in organic solvents such as toluene or MEK. Plasma discharge cleaning is also very useful for certain materials, but should not be used on KRS-5 cystals. Harrick's number is (914) 762-0020 should you have any other questions regarding the crystals they supply.
Regards, diana
Walck. Scott D. 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've polished NaCl single crystals with an ethanol/water mix on a polishing } cloth. Sorry, I can't remember the mixture ratio, but it had mostly ethanol } to start with (90/10??). } -Scott } ---------- } } From: Jeffrey M Nicklaw } To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } Subject: Cleaning sodium chloride salt windows } Date: Tuesday, June 29, 1999 10:03AM } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Colleagues } } Anyone know the answer to this question? Please reply directly to the } author as well as the Listserver. } } Nestor } } ========================================================= } } Nestor } } I use sodium chloride salt windows (optical crystals) for FT-IR } microspectroscopy analysis of samples. Where would one look for information } on } cleaning the salt windows after analysis? I have not found a source that } covers } this topic on cleaning any type of crystals (KBr, KCl, NaCl, etc....). } } Jeff Nicklaw } } } } } Email: nicklaj-at-basf.com } } Name: Jeff Nicklaw } } } }
The difference is that my "r" was meant to be the radius in "mm" whereas John's was "cm". Therefore the equations are both correct. My original posting should have given the units. Sorry for the confusion. Tom
} } Responding to the message of {v04011700b39d3b798264-at-[128.206.162.35]} } from Tom Phillips {PhillipsT-at-missouri.edu} : } } } } Randy: I think this is the correct info. You need to know the distance } } from the center of the rotor to the center of the tube to calculate the } } average g. It is much easier to use a table specific for the rotor. But } } if one is not available: } } } } Relative Centrifugal Field (x g) = 1.12 r (RPM / 1000)(RPM /1000) } } } } Note that I couldn't figure out how to write a superscript number to } } indicate you need to square the"(RPM /1000)" so I wrote it twice on purpose. } } } } r = radius (usually used r (average) or the center point but also can use r } } (max) or r (min). This is for nonprecipitating solutions with a density } } less than 1.2 g/ml. } } snip! } } There seems to be a discrepancy of a factor of 10 in the numerical } constant in } the two equations for relateive centrifugal field presented by Bozzola - } 11.18x10(-6) - and the above presented by Phillips - 1.12x10(-6). } } Which is the correct one? } } Thanks, } } Gib } } Gib Ahlstrand } Electron Optical Facility, University of Minnesota, Dept. Plant Pathology } 495 Borlaug Hall, St. Paul, MN. USA. 55108 (612)625-8249 } 612-625-9728 FAX, giba-at-puccini.crl.umn.edu } http://biosci.umn.edu/MIC/consortium.html
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 65211-7400 (573)-882-4712 (voice) (573)-882-0123 (fax)
We have a Noran Voyager EDS system that has the capability to capture grey scale images from the SEM. We are interested in downloading those images. Does anyone know if it is possible to transfer those images (or any Noran file for that matter) from the EDS to a Zip Drive?
TIA
Bob
Dr. Robert R. Wise Department of Biology University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Oshkosh, WI 54901 (920) 42403404 wise-at-uwosh.edu http://www.uwosh.edu/departments/biology/wise/wise.html
HI I AM AN OLD JEOL SERVICEMAN OF TWENTY YEARS AND MY NAME IS MIKE SO I READ YOUR LETTER A LITTLE. YES YOUR PROBLEM WHICH IS COMMON IS IN THE ALPHA NUMERICS FACED IT MAY A TIME THE ANWER IS CORRECT CLEANING THE CONNTACTS USUALLY DOES IT, BUT ALSO RESET ALL THE BOARDS IN THE CPU AREA AND RIBBION CONNECTORS.
Good Morning Everyone, Does anyone out there know how to assemble the carbon coating apparatus on a Polaron E6100 sputter coater (approx. 1985 model)? Although I know how to carbon coat, however, but not on this particular model. These parts are sitting in a bag and the instructions are very vague with no pictorial info. Help!
and:
Good Morning Again Everyone, I need some assistance and/or advise on how to change the oil on a Polaron sputter coater E6100 that has not been changed for a long time. I can't seem to obtain a vacuum greater than 4 x 10 -4 torr. I don't mind changing it if this is the only recourse. Thanks again, Maria
Dear Maria,
I am contacting you as the original manufacturers of the E6100 Bench Top Evaporator. Although the E6100 has now been replaced with the E6300, we continue to support the E6100 and would be please to be of assistance.
Our local representative, Energy Beam Sciences Inc. (see below) will be in contact.
Energy Beam Science Inc. 11 Bowles Road, PO Box 468 Agawam MA 01001 USA Tel: 413 786 9322 Fax: 413 789 2786 ebs-at-ebsciences.com
Best regards Mike Wombwell Polaron range Business Manager V G Microtech The Birches Industrial Estate Imberhorne Lane East Grinstead West Sussex RH19 1UB UK Direct line: +44 (0)1342 310296 Switchboard: +44 (0)1342 327211 Fax: +44 (0)1342 315074 http://www.polaron-range.com E&OE
Here are some of the system parameters used in the design of our high resolution sputtering systems.
VACUUM: 250l/s dry turbo pump that produces vacuum levels {3X10-6 in 4 minutes. LN2 cold trap is optional but suggested to pump residual water vapor for refractory metal deposition. SPUTTERING MECHANISM: Ion beams are used to remove target material. The benefit to ion beam sputtering is that the sample is not exposed to plasma accelerating potential and the material evolves from targets at {30ev thereby eliminating radiation effects to samples. Ion beam sputtering is slow, approximately 10A/minute, but precisely controllable. Conductive thin films can be deposited at thickness selected by operator with proper mounting and tooling factor calibration of the quartz thickness microbalance. DRIVING GASES: 5 nine pure Ar gas is used in ion sources and dry N2 gas is admitted through the turbo when venting. TARGET MATERIALS: Iridium or platinum for FESEM imaging at {200kX. Thin films of Ir and Pt are indistinguishable. Ir films have the benefit over Pt of minimizing beam sensitive samples. When imaging in FESEM exceeds 200kX any of the refractory metals, Ta, Ti, W and Cr are suggested. Samples with refractory metal films as thin as 5A and thick as 125A do not exhibit structure when viewed at magnifications up to 500kX. Carbon can also be sputtered but conductive metal films are usually thin enough that x-ray production from the metal is in the noise. Au/Au-Pd or Pd targets are not suggested for high resolution imaging. THIN FILM THICKNESS MEASUREMENTS: Inherent accuracy of QTMB is {1A when sputtered material is at low energy and hot blobs of material do not impinge on the quartz sensor. These conditions are met by sputtering mechanism, mounting and tooling factor calibration procedures of the IBS and IBSE. Water cooling the sensor typically required to stabilize the QCMB is unnecessary when ion beam sputtering. MOVING SPECIMEN: Since material evolves from the target normal to the target plane it is necessary to tilt and rotate the specimen. Different tilt angles and RPMs are necessary to insure uniform and complete coverage of various specimen topography. OPERATION: Operation of ion beam sputtering systems requires some understanding of the ion sources and vacuum conditions (purity). There is no black magic to operate these systems. Parameters are repeatable and produce repeatable results: high contrast conductive, continuous thin films without grain structure or other artifacts.
Technical References and brochures on the VCR IBS & IBSE systems now manufactured by South Bay Technology are available.
The annual Golf tournament at the MAS/MSA meeting in Portland will be on Sunday, Aug. 1, 1999. To sign up please contact the Rebedeau Group -at- mbrebedeau-at-aol.com
See you all there,
John Arnott -- LADD RESEARCH 13 Dorset Lane Williston, VT 05495 TEL 1-800-451-3406 (US) or 1-802-878-6711 (anywhere) FAX 1-802-878-8074 e-mail ladres-at-worldnet.att.net web site http://www.ladd.cc
I am having some problems during ultrathin sectioning with my block face getting wet as the diamond knife makes the first contact with the block and it happens with every stroke thereafter. I have dried the block face with filter paper or kimwipe before the next cutting stroke but it is not helping at all. Sometimes it happens during sectioning too. All my blocks are embedded in Spurr's and these are primarily plant tissue samples. I have switched knives, cleaned them before sectioning, lowered the water level in the boat, changed the clearance angle, but nothing has been working so far. I am not sure whether it is a lack of humidity problem or something else.
I will appreciate some help in this matter.
Thanks,
Soumitra
Soumitra Ghoshroy Ph.D. Electron Microscopy Lab Box 3EML New Mexico State University Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001 Tel: 505-646-1531/3600 Fax: 505-646-5665 e-mail: ghoshroy-at-nmsu.edu
I would like to thank all of you who responded to my original inquiry about scanners. I received several detailed answers, as well as requests for posting a summary of the answers as I promised, so here goes.
In my original message, I had inquired about whether members of the listserv had direct experience with either the UMAX Powerlook III or the Scan Maker 5, and could give me advice as to which would be the best scanner for TEM negatives. The UMAX costs $1200 and the ScanMaker costs $2400.
The bottom line is that there appears to be some reason for the price difference, (beyond the issue of glass in the optical path I mentioned). However, both scanners are of high quality and there are several users who are very satisfied with the UMAX. I also received good comments about the Agfa DuoScan. Apparently the UMAX geometry does eliminate the Newton rings, although some questions were raised as to the mechanics, durability, availability of drivers for NT, and customer support (which was also raised for the Scanmaker). I also got several recommendations to purchase a full-featured version of Photoshop or similar software.
There were two very detailed answers from Larry Thomas and Richard Edelman, which I reproduce below, and in which some of these points are amplified.
Several people commented that the quality of current scanners liberated them from spending time in the darkroom, so I will be buying one soon, and the comments here will make me ask some tough questions of the manufacturers.
I'm replying directly rather than to the listserver group.
My experience with using flatbed scanners for TEM negatives includes both of the units you're considering, as well as the considerably cheaper Microtek 4. These certainly aren't the only scanners around, but I would rate them highly in their respective 'middle' price ranges. Considering that they all produce high-quality scans, the criteria I consider most important are:
1. Price (of course). 2. Optical resolution: Given the choice, I would get a higher resolution (1K or 1.2K dpi ) unit rather than a 600 dpi one. Having said that, I only use the full 1K /1.2K resolution for scanning lattice images taken at 1MX or so. My main purpose in this case is to aid in matching the sampling resolution for Fourier transform (diffractogram) analysis. For routine scanning of TEM negatives, I normally use 600 dpi scanning to get reasonable print resolutions (200 dpi final print resolution at final print magnifications is adequate for publication printing) . 3. Dmax: Get the highest Dmax you can for the $$. TEM negatives of crystalline materials have relatively large density ranges and often must be taken with estimated exposures; A large Dmax can be used to compensate for overexposures in many cases. 4. Bit depth: All else being equal and if I could find one I could afford, for really serious scanning I'd consider a unit with full 16-bit grayscale (48-bit RGB). A high bit depth is important for [our] TEM negatives because they tend to have large density ranges. All the units we're considering here are 36-bit color scanners (12-bit grayscale), although the Umax as I recall has some claim of 14-bit 'effective' scans. Not sure what this means or if I believe it. 5. Practical scanning speed: By this I mean how long it really takes to do a scan, including overhead times for preview scanning, warmup, self-calibration. My impression is the Powerlook III is much slower by this criterion. The difference in work throughput can be significant. Don't take my word for this --check it for yourself if possible. 6. Scanner control software: Both Microtek and Umax leave much to be desired in the category of basic scanner controls. One semi-hidden feature I like in the Microtek program (ScanWizard) is an exposure control. Although limited in range, it allows some compensation for misjudged exposures in the TEM. Umax seems to lack a comparable feature. I find the histogram controls in both programs especially wanting for scanning high-bit images. After experimenting with software controls, I've gotten best results setting the scan parameters manually but will admit that the automatic controls do a fairly good job. I've also compared outputting 8-bit grayscale images vs outputting raw high-bit (12-bit in this case) images from the scanner to an image processing program (Photoshop). I've gotten the best results (least data loss) outputting the raw high-bit images and processing them in Photoshop before reducing them to 8 bits for printing. A third-party vendor has effective plug-in filters for unsharp masking and similar operations on high-bit (16-bit) images in Photoshop. One additional 'tip' if you missed my previous comments on this to the listserver is that it's important to scan TEM negatives with the positive transparency setting. You can invert the image contrast separately. Both Microtek and Umax assume that a negative transparency scan involves low-contrast 35 mm photographic film, and they automatically apply lookup tables that boost the output contrast of the scanned images. The result for TEM negatives is severe posterization (loss of grayscales).
7. Operating convenience: MIcrotek's system of a sliding drawer for negatives is highly preferable to placing the film on a glass platen. Not just because of the dust and Newton's ring problem, but because the films are easier to place, precisely position, and remove from the drawer cutouts without getting one's fingers all over them. The Microtek scanners don't come with a 3-1/4 x 4 " insert, unfortunately, but it's simple to make one from cardboard.
If I were buying today for routine TEM support, I would get the Scanmaker 5. An easy choice. However, prices have tumbled and the new scanners seem to keep getting better. I'd keep an open mind.
} I am considering Microtek ScanMaker5, and the UMAX Powerlook III. } Both scanners work in transparency and reflection mode, and come } with a SCSI interface and lots of software, and can handle various sizes. } The Scanmaker5 is listed at 1000 x 2000 dpi optical resolution, and } 3.6 maximum optical density (Dmax). It costs about $2400 } The UMAX Powerlook III is listed as 1200 x 2400 dpi optical resolution and } 3.4 maximum optical density. The price is about $1200.
I was looking at the same question two years ago ($1,300 vs $2,500 and went with the Umax based on cost), and loking to do the same things - scan EM negatives in a central facility. SO here are some of my thoughts.
I haven't worked with the Scanmaker but I have worked with Umax scanners and also have an Agfa Duoscan. My honest conclusion after having worked with several Umax scanners and talked with other people is that with the Umax you get what you pay for; i.e. there are reasons why the others cost twice as much. This will be intuitivly obvious to you if you have the oportunity to simply pick up both scanners. The Umax scanners are very cheaply designed and assmebled - and they are looking for the low cost market. Two years ago I bought a Umax Gemini 16D (the powerlook II replaced it the next month, so other than 600/1200DPI it was basically the same as the power look series - the higher resolution was only optically attainable via a lens shift which meant it was only applicable in the central 4" not the full 8" width of the of the scanning bed). There are two different light sources for reflected vs transmitted. The transmitted light travels via a separately motorized cariage system over the flatbed - so there are two separate mechanical motion systems to have problems. Since the upper (transmitted light) carriage is above the glass the metal and lubricant that is rubbed off (scapped off since there are no bearings on the travel rails) it falls on to the inside surface of the top glass. You need to remove the top glass periodically and clean off the debris.
O.k., next issue within six months of purchase Umax had basically stopped support of the scanner (well they had replaced it with the Powerlook right?) driver support stopped - and they didn't work really well under NT any way. But Umax Tech support didn't know anything about the Gemini's any longer either - I could only get answers from one of the tech support managers who'd been around for awhile and had one on his desk. This was with a 12-month warranty. At 13.5 months of age, $1,300 original purchase price, the transmitted light unit died. The low mag lens no longer worked properly (so we were limted to a 4 x 12" reflected light scanning area). Had all sorts of problems with the driver versus an Adaptec SCSI card (The Umax supplied SCSI card basically never worked right). 14-months after I bought the Umax I bought an Agfa Duoscan for $2,400, and (knock-on-wood) I haven't had a lick of trouble with it in the last 7 months - I count it as an expensive leanring experience. Having experienced other Umax scanner problems (though not with a Powerlook III) with other people - some of whom just wound up returning them - I would not recommend anyone buying a Umax scanner. (I think they are still listed as one of the top sellers and that is simply due to price not quality).
There's my $0.02 worth. Oh, BTW I have also found out that the Linocolor scanners (along standing and recommended scanner maker) are actually manufactured either by Umax or from Umax components - so I didn't buy on of them either.
(I do not have any financial ties with any scanner company - that I know of any way...) Good luck!
Richard E. Edelmann, Ph.D.
} Thanks very much for your detailed assessment. I was } considering going with the UMAX, but what you say gives me } real pause. Sounds like you had a really painful experience. } Other people have also commented that the UMAX is } flimsy, but appear reasonably happy with it, although those } that have used both think the scanmaker is superior. One concern } you raise, of not working well under NT (which is what I will run) } is especially troublesome. What problems did you run into?
As you have learned by now under NT hardware drivers are everything, and alot of hardware out there has drivers for 95 & 98 but Nt drivers either don't exist or are "soon to be released" (yeah right). The number one rule I have found regarding Nt and hardware is: Download the NT drivers from the manufacturers web site BEFORE placing any purchase orders - no drivers available no purchase order, period (I have waited upto 1.5 years for "soon to be released" drivers).
Umax vs NT:
(1) As with most scanners, the scanners are slower than average and higher SCSI cards (I haven't seen a true SCSI-Wide [SCSI-2] let alone a SCSI-3 scanner yet) and you will run into SCSI bus time out errors. If you are using an Adaptec SCSI card you need to set the "Maximum Sync Transfer Rate" in the Adaptec BIOS for the scanner as low as it will go. (Never use an NCR SCSI card - they are nothing but trouble)
(2) Why not use the scanner supplied SCSI Card? These cards are (Generally) the cheapest card available, usually ISA with fixed (i.e. non-changable) interupts or antiquated PCI cards (again requiring Legacy interupt support). If you have a real SCSI card (i.e. you're using SCSI HD's or a CDR, etc.) in the system then chances are the scanner SCSI card will conflict. If you run the scanner through the real SCSI card then Umax's solution was - "hey its not our card, use the twain drivers and seek help else where." (I hate to imagine what a cheap scanner scci card and a iomega scsi zip card would do with each other - although Iomega may have switched to the bottom end Adaptec cards).
(3) Due to intermittent scanner problems the UMAX NT drivers got corrupted (I know, sounds odd but true). Had to uninstall the umax drivers / software and reinstall - only the umax uninstall didn't uninstall much of what it installs! So I routinely had to manually uninstall the software, which happened to get installed in four different subdirectories!
(4) Umax scanner errors are either error code numbers - which are rarely listed in the error code list at Umax's site - or are blinking light sequences on the scanner - which aren't defined in the manual or on the web site. (Took me fours days to find out that the error was that one of the lamps had burned out - oh the lamps stay lit for 45 minutes of inactivity, but still take 10-15 seconds on each scan " Please wait - Warming up the lamps")
(5) In addition to the actual NT Drivers, each scanner comes with software which actually allows you to set the operating parameters for the scanner (When you go File} inport } scanner in something like Adobe Photshop, photoshop initalizes the scanner software - Oh, if you use Adobe PS to scan, if you close the scanning window you must then exit adobe PS before re-openning the scanner software or the system will hang). The last version of the Umax software I worked with wasn't all that user friendly, and was a little problematic to find the settings you wanted to get to - and in the last couple months before I ditched the Umax the "Pre-view" image really had nothing to do with the scanned image interms of brightness, contrast, colors, or cropping placement.
Again I hope this info helps. I'm sorry to appear so negative with regards to Umax.
Richard E. Edelmann, Ph.D.
*************************************************************************** Department of Nuclear Engineering 814-865-0036 The Pennsylvania State University fax: 814-865-8499 231 Sackett Bldg, University Park, PA 16802-1408 http://www.nuce.psu.edu
Two Diatome ultramicrotomy knives for ultrathin, semithin and cryo sectioning for sale.
Knife number 1 is 4.00mm, brand new, never used, and in the original factory sealed Diatome case. Best offer over $2,720.00
Knife number 2 is 2.70mm, brand new, never used, and in the original factory sealed Diatome case. Best offer over $1,920.00
Both knives are in the earlier original, oval shaped boat and both have the original unbroken wax sealed insignia protecting the unopened case. E mail your bid to cshear-at-rivnet.net or telephone (804) 462-0912.
This is installed on my Cambridge S250 M3, the manual was published in 1985.
Bill Giles TIMET William.Giles-at-TIMET.com
} -----Original Message----- } From: Andre Wong [SMTP:andywong-at-interchange.ubc.ca] } Sent: Tuesday, June 29, 1999 11:43 AM } To: microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } Subject: KE 4-quadrant dector } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } } } It will be greatly be appreciated if anybody can give me information } regarding } } a. The type of detector the KE 4-quadrant BSE detector. } b. The country and city where KE-4 quadrant BSE is made. } } Thanks for the help. } Andre Wong }
I have had success avoiding the wetted-block problem when I microtome under humid conditions with the diamond-bonding material painted with Kodak Photo-Flo (a suggestion I saw in a Microstar knife book). I think that the Photo-Flo enables the knife edge to stay wetted from edge-to-edge while the water level can be lower than usual. } } Dear all microscopists, } } I am having some problems during ultrathin sectioning with my block face } getting wet as the diamond knife makes the first contact with the block and } it happens with every stroke thereafter. I have dried the block face with } filter paper or kimwipe before the next cutting stroke but it is not } helping at all. Sometimes it happens during sectioning too. All my blocks } are embedded in Spurr's and these are primarily plant tissue samples. I } have switched knives, cleaned them before sectioning, lowered the water } level in the boat, changed the clearance angle, but nothing has been } working so far. I am not sure whether it is a lack of humidity problem or } something else. } } I will appreciate some help in this matter. } } Thanks, } } Soumitra } } } } Soumitra Ghoshroy Ph.D. } Electron Microscopy Lab } Box 3EML } New Mexico State University } Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001 } Tel: 505-646-1531/3600 } Fax: 505-646-5665 } e-mail: ghoshroy-at-nmsu.edu
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Russell E. Cook, Ph.D. 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 cook-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov
PhD in physics in search for a post doctoral. I will have finished my thesis on Sept 99. I'm actually working at Reims University (FRANCE) in the laboratory of analysis solid surfaces and interfaces. My research consists in exploration for new imaging technique X ray in total reflection (Application : topography observation of surface and interface solid/solid) and fluorescence X. In the team we use X ray microscopy in electrochimical systems. My competences : X ray microscopy : Projection, reflection and fluorescence Glancing X ray : Reletometry, TXRF, GIXF Experimentator data analysis preparation of thin layer by evaporation preparation of X-visible screen converter for image guide ........ Please send Email to receive my CV and details on my work. N.B : I will take part in XRM 99 conference to be held in Berkeley, California August 1-6, 99. Sincerly
For those interested in playing in the M&M Annual Golf outting to be held on Sunday August 1 (just prior to the start of this years annual meeting in Portland, Oregon), there are still plenty of tee times available. Regardless of your handicap, we invite everyone to play. It promises to be a healthy, fun filled event with prizes for everyone! The tournament will be held at the Skamania course in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic area. Consult the "Registration Bulletin" for further details. Please be sure to register for this event via the Meeting Manager. If you do not have a form, please contact Doug Keene (DRK-at-SHCC.ORG or 503-221-3434) prior to July 18 for copy. Include a FAX number with your request or if you prefer you will be sent a PDF or JPG file as an attachment to an e-mail. The registration deadline of July 18 is fast approaching! ---------------------- Douglas R. Keene Shriners Hospital Microscopy Facility 3101 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Road Portland, Oregon 97219 503-221-3434 DRK-at-shcc.org
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
On Mon, 28 Jun 1999, Joel McClintock 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Hoping for some assistance. I have been asked to research into costs and } sources for sound proof material. To be more specific we want to reduce } noise in a couple TEM rooms. We expect to acquire a high voltage FE TEM this } fall. I have seen a foam product, usually black, attached to the walls in } labs before. Everyone called it "eggshell" or "egg crate". Does anyone know } of vendors or sources of same or similar products? Thanks in advance.
We used Sonnex Acoustical Material for our 200kV FE room, from
Illbruck Inc. 3800 Washington Avenue No. Minneapolis MN 55417
Tel: 612-521-3555
Alan
Alan W Nicholls, PhD Manager - Electron Microscopy Service Research Resources Center - East (M/C 337) Room 100 Science and Engineering South Building The University of Illinois at Chicago 845 West Taylor St Chicago, IL 60607-7058
There may be other ways to elinate the problem of block wetting, but our solution is to use a "staticmaster" ionizing unit, model 2U500. It is mounted on a flex-neck holder, also available thru NRD, Inc (2937 Alt Blve., N, Grand Island, NY 14072-1292). The head of the unit is directed to the block face / knife edge and ionizes the air and by some magic I don't understand it effectively controls block wetting. Of course it is also important to keep your water level at a reasonable level and not to have any gap between the block and knife edge as you begin sectioning or you water will fill this gap.
I hope this helps, ---------------------- Douglas R. Keene Shriners Hospital Microscopy Facility 3101 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Road Portland, Oregon 97219 503-221-3434 DRK-at-shcc.org
Actually, Tom, your equation was a little more correct, with the exception of telling us about the measurement in millimeters. The proper constant is 1.12 E-05 for speed in rpm and a radius in cm.
RCF = 1.12 E-05 x r (cm) x [N (rpm)]^2
The acceleration is equal to rw^2 where r is the radius and w (omega) is the rotational speed in radians per second. When you measure the radius in centimeters and calculate the acceleration relative to gravity (9.8 m/s^2) and convert from radians to revolutions and from per seconds to per minutes, you arive at the 1.12 E-05 factor.
So much for my engineering background creeping to the surface. Warren Straszheim
At 03:44 PM 6/29/1999 -0500, Tom Phillips wrote: } } The difference is that my "r" was meant to be the radius in "mm" whereas } John's was "cm". Therefore the equations are both correct. My original } posting should have given the units. Sorry for the confusion. Tom
We don't deal with biological materials but we have encountered the same problem you are describing with some polymers containing particles of layered minerals. Eventually we solved the problem by doing cryo and collecting dry instead of room temperature sectioning.
I hope this helps.
Jordi Marti
} } I am having some problems during ultrathin sectioning with my block face } getting wet as the diamond knife makes the first contact with the block and } it happens with every stroke thereafter. I have dried the block face with } filter paper or kimwipe before the next cutting stroke but it is not } helping at all. Sometimes it happens during sectioning too. All my blocks } are embedded in Spurr's and these are primarily plant tissue samples. I } have switched knives, cleaned them before sectioning, lowered the water } level in the boat, changed the clearance angle, but nothing has been } working so far. I am not sure whether it is a lack of humidity problem or } something else. } } I will appreciate some help in this matter. } } Thanks, } } Soumitra } } } } Soumitra Ghoshroy Ph.D. } Electron Microscopy Lab } Box 3EML } New Mexico State University } Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001 } Tel: 505-646-1531/3600 } Fax: 505-646-5665 } e-mail: ghoshroy-at-nmsu.edu
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Russell E. Cook, Ph.D. 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 cook-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov
Hi Soumitra, Sorry your having problems. One thing you shouldn't do is dry your mount with anything, especially filter paper as there are some extractables which encourage further wetting. When your block gets wet from the boat just let it dry by evaporation. If you think the knife or block may have some contamination, wash them with a mild detergent and rince with hgih purity water and allow to air dry. Also never stop the block face near the knife edge as a static knife will likely wet. Keep the block face moving while it near the knife edge. Check to make sure water has not collected on the back edge of the knife as this can be invisible to you but will rewet your block face even though it appears dry Also make sure the water you are using is pure with no residuals. Good luck, Russ, Xerox
-----Original Message----- } From: Soumitra Ghoshroy [mailto:ghoshroy-at-nmsu.edu] Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 1999 10:42 AM To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
Dear all microscopists,
I am having some problems during ultrathin sectioning with my block face getting wet as the diamond knife makes the first contact with the block and it happens with every stroke thereafter. I have dried the block face with filter paper or kimwipe before the next cutting stroke but it is not helping at all. Sometimes it happens during sectioning too. All my blocks are embedded in Spurr's and these are primarily plant tissue samples. I have switched knives, cleaned them before sectioning, lowered the water level in the boat, changed the clearance angle, but nothing has been working so far. I am not sure whether it is a lack of humidity problem or something else.
I will appreciate some help in this matter.
Thanks,
Soumitra
Soumitra Ghoshroy Ph.D. Electron Microscopy Lab Box 3EML New Mexico State University Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001 Tel: 505-646-1531/3600 Fax: 505-646-5665 e-mail: ghoshroy-at-nmsu.edu
} I am having some problems during ultrathin sectioning with my block face } getting wet as the diamond knife makes the first contact with the block and } it happens with every stroke thereafter. I have dried the block face with } filter paper or kimwipe before the next cutting stroke but it is not } helping at all. Sometimes it happens during sectioning too. All my blocks } are embedded in Spurr's and these are primarily plant tissue samples. I } have switched knives, cleaned them before sectioning, lowered the water } level in the boat, changed the clearance angle, but nothing has been } working so far. I am not sure whether it is a lack of humidity problem or } something else.
In addition to the other insights and solutions offered by others, let me offer this. Not always, but very frequently I find that water jumps up onto the block face if there are *any* holes, tiny or large. For plant material there may be microscopic areas that are incompletely infiltrated, thus attracting the water. Sometimes with a good diamond knife and lots of patience you can get the block face sort of polished enough to avoid this problem. Otherwise you may have to resort to the kinds of tips posted here. I keep squares of lens tissue handy and sometimes have to swipe the block face between each cut. As long as the back of the knife remains dry, this works pretty well.
If you can trim the block closer to the area of interest, the smaller block face may have fewer holes and present fewer problems.
Good luck!
Aloha, Tina
http://www.pbrc.hawaii.edu/bemf/mcroangela **************************************************************************** * 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* ****************************************************************************
Those of you that are aquiring either TEM or LM digital images as a core facility, how many are storing these images as archival for the investigator (especially if the investigator has been given the a copy of the original file? Secondly, how long do you feel these images need to be stored (research based images ,not clinical)?
The answers to these type of questions is going to formulate our decision on the type of storage media we use. We were using a 1.3 GB magnetic optical and copying on redundant discs. We chose an MO due to their archival capabilities (30 years) but the drive went bad (4 y old) and now I'm wondering if I need to spend the $1,000 plus cost of another MO drive when things like Jazz and some SCSSI tape backups are just as fast and large. At this time, we do not have more than 2 GB of data to store and some of that is 3 or 4 years old and the projects published. I guess it all comes down to who should be in charge of the data. I appreciate any insights in these matters.
I have that same problem at times and one thing that seems to stop it is the use of an anti static gun. I use a product called Zero Stat 3 which looks like a small pistol that emits ?? charges in the direction it is pointed, in this case the block face and diamond just as the block starts it's downward stroke. It seems to neutralize the water and block. If I start seeing the water rise up as the block approches the knife edge the water will usually jump to the face. The next pass I dry the block and back of the knife and start using the zero stat and I get beutifull sections ther after. I have seen them in several of the EM distributers catalogs. Someone told me you used to get them for static on record players??..... what ever those are? Ha Ha Ha, oops I'm dating myself.
Soumitra, when all else fails there is another possibility - the microtome's retraction mechanism. Ultrmicrotomes without a specimen bypass on the upstroke, relay on a retraction movement. In the Ultratomes that was achieved through a large electro magnet flexing the quite solid substage of the knife-holder down and so pivoting the knife. This results in an approximate 25um retraction movement at the knife edge during the block's upstroke. It is a pretty reliable mechanism, but I had this fail some years ago. The upstroke retraction was reduced to less than 5um and block wetting was inevitable. A quite maddening problem. If you use such a microtome, just check that the retraction movement is obvious during the cutting cycle. You could mount a scale and try and measure the movement using a crosshair in the eyepieces; I would be concerned if its much under 20 um. A mechanical workshop would have a clamping micrometer with a probe which can measure the retraction. Ah, for the joys of ultramicrotomy. Jim Darley ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com.au Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes www.proscitech.com.au
On Thursday, July 01, 1999 12:42 AM, Soumitra Ghoshroy [SMTP:ghoshroy-at-nmsu.edu] wrote: } } } Dear all microscopists, } } I am having some problems during ultrathin sectioning with my block face } getting wet as the diamond knife makes the first contact with the block and } it happens with every stroke thereafter. I have dried the block face with } filter paper or kimwipe before the next cutting stroke but it is not } helping at all. Sometimes it happens during sectioning too. All my blocks } are embedded in Spurr's and these are primarily plant tissue samples. I } have switched knives, cleaned them before sectioning, lowered the water } level in the boat, changed the clearance angle, but nothing has been } working so far. I am not sure whether it is a lack of humidity problem or } something else. } } I will appreciate some help in this matter. } } Thanks, } } Soumitra } } } } Soumitra Ghoshroy Ph.D. } Electron Microscopy Lab } Box 3EML } New Mexico State University } Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001 } Tel: 505-646-1531/3600 } Fax: 505-646-5665 } e-mail: ghoshroy-at-nmsu.edu
G'day, Would any of you kind microscopists out there be able to advise me please? Have any of you done any kind of microscopy on seal teeth, tooth structure etc especially in relation to the animal's age? Thank you Gerry
Geraldine Nash Electron Microscopist
EM Unit Australian Antarctic Division Channel Highway Kingston Tasmania 7050 Australia Ph: + 61 03 62 323 322 Fax: + 61 03 62 323 351
At 02:40 PM 6/30/99 , you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Why not just store it on CD-R in ISO-9660 format? Make 2 copies as insurance. Each copy would cost about $2.
Is there any standard data format for spectra of filters or fluorescent dyes for storage of transmission or absorption / emission values related to wavelength?
I would like to have spectra in a standard format which I can overlay for comparison of crosstalk, for checking suitability of combinations of filters or dichroics, fluorochromes, laser or arc lines etc.. Molecular probes as well as BioRad have dye or filter spectra available on their web sites, but only as GIF images etc. I am sure that manufacturers have general information at hand, but I think they do not want to distribute this information freely (at least not as tables).
What I imagine is a standard format as simple as possible (like ASCII tables) relating, e.g. wavelenght (in nm) to transmission, excitation or emission strength etc., and that such files can be imported and displayed by standard plotting software. Links to websites with standard spectra and related software would be helpful.
Thanks!
Guenter
---------------------------------- Dr. Guenter Giese MPI fuer Medizinische Forschung Jahnstr. 29 D-69120 Heidelberg Phone (Germany or 0-)6221-486-320 Fax (Germany or 0-)6221-486-325 e-mail: ggiese-at-mzf.mpimf-heidelberg.mpg.de ------------------------------------------
The correct adress is : hussein.jibaoui-at-univ-reims.fr
PhD in physics in search for a post doctoral. I will have finished my thesis on Sept 99. I'm actually working at Reims University (FRANCE) in the laboratory of analysis solid surfaces and interfaces. My research consists in exploration for new imaging technique X ray in total reflection (Application : topography observation of surface and interface solid/solid) and fluorescence X. In the team we use X ray microscopy in electrochimical systems. My competences : X ray microscopy : Projection, reflection and fluorescence Glancing X ray : Reletometry, TXRF, GIXF Experimentator data analysis preparation of thin layer by evaporation preparation of X-visible screen converter for image guide ........ Please send Email to receive my CV and details on my work. N.B : I will take part in XRM 99 conference to be held in Berkeley, California August 1-6, 99. Sincerly
I received the following inquiry today and wondered if any of you could help. Please reply directly to: Catrinel Stanciu [SMTP:stanciu-at-mbi-berlin.de] {mailto:[SMTP:stanciu-at-mbi-berlin.de]} as this person is not on the listserver.
-----Original Message----- } From: Catrinel Stanciu [SMTP:stanciu-at-mbi-berlin.de] {mailto:[SMTP:stanciu-at-mbi-berlin.de]} Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 1999 12:18 PM To: ebs-at-ebsciences.com {mailto:ebs-at-ebsciences.com}
Dear Microscopist,
I have an Indium Wire and is not aware of its use. It was come along the em kit. Could any one experience the use to it in electron microscopy.
I am also search for an e-mail address of Professor Willeur C. Bigelow.
Thanks in advance.
Rajdeep Dongre Electron Microscopy Laboratory Agharkar Research Institute G.G. Agarkar Road Pune- 411 004, India
Dear Catrinel, What is the wavelength of the laser emission? The choice of substance for the film will depend on the match between its absorption spectrum and the emission spectrum of the laser. Ideally, these should not overlap. An additional consideration would be that energy absorbed by the specimen could be transferred to (and thereby damage) the film, but this is likely to depend only on the mechanical strength of the film regardless of what it is made of, and anything suitable for HRTEM has to stand up under a similar process for energy absorbed from the elec- tron beam. Good luck. Yours, Bill Tivol
Boy I got a lot of responce on this one but........... It seems most people are using CD's. Our computer system people suggested NOT using cd r, or cd rw's stating that the hardware / software is still not standardised. Our falculty computer cluster has been using Zip (too small ?) and Jazz drives for years with no problems, and everyone seems to have one or both, and yes everyone has a CD too.
I will collect all the data and submit it to the server...and our computer "experts".
But I quess I still ask why are we storing their data, other than to have a repository of images for other uses? Can we use their images without their permission since it is the investigators research or do you (that allow outside use) have the investigator sign off rights on their photos?
Can we bring this topic up at the upcoming meetings? Thanks
You can buy polypropylene film from Goodfellow Corporation as thin as 4 microns. Chemplex sells it, too, but somene seems to have stolen my Chmeplex catalog.
Alternatively, my company MOXTEK has for years offered a service to refurbish CAMECA column seperation windows with our AP1 film, which is stronger, less permiable, and has higher nitrogen x-ray transmission than polypropylene.
best regards mark
Mark W. Lund, PhD VP Engineering } } 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
"This is a YOUNG business...How can I tell you what YOUR job is when I don't know what MINE is?" --Pogo
Yes, I would suggest the same storage medium, CD-R.
Remember, that CR-R can be sensitive to exposure to light for long times. So, in order to preserve them, you should not expose them to bright light (direct sunlight) for too long, or to too high a temperature. Storing them in a cabinet with doors should be adequate. Unlike magnetic media, CD-Rs don't care about magnetic fields.
Another option with higher capacity would be DVD. But I guess for writable DVDs you'll have to wait for a while.
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 1675 Carr St., #105N Lakewood, CO 80215 =================================== phone: (888) FIND SIS (303) 234-9270 fax: (303) 234-9271 email: mailto:info-at-soft-imaging.com web: http://www.soft-imaging.com ===================================
-----Original Message----- } From: Exchange Administrator Sent: Thursday, July 01, 1999 1:19 AM To: Michael Bode
At 02:40 PM 6/30/99 , you wrote: } ----------------------------------------------------------------------- - } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I am having some trouble getting thin sections of some seeds I want to do EM immunolabeling on. I have ttried embedding some seeds in LR White (osmicated) or LR Gold (unosmicated). I took a week slowly infiltrating them with a dilution series of plastic resin but when I went to section them, they just popped out like stainless steel bb's. There is no hint at all that the embedding medium penetrated into them. Any experts out there with hints on fixing seeds?
TIA, Tom
Thomas E. Phillips, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Biological Sciences Director, Molecular Cytology Core Facility
3 Tucker Hall Division of Biological Sciences University of Missouri Columbia, MO 65211-7400 (573)-882-4712 (voice) (573)-882-0123 (fax)
} I have an Indium Wire and is not aware of its use. It was come along the } em kit. Could any one experience the use to it in electron microscopy. }
Dear Rajdeep, Indium is used to make a vacuum seal for ultra-high vacuum applications. There should be a place where it would be used instead of an o-ring. This allows a vacuum seal without the use of grease or rubber, which can volatilize or outgas and degrade the vacuum. When you find the place for which the indium is intended to be a seal, place the indium so that it completely fills the seal volume and then some, so that when you tighten the seal the indium will be com- pressed. Indium is a soft metal and it will flow into the irregularities in the seal volume. Yours, Bill Tivol
Just a quick question to the wealth of knowledge on the microscopy list server,
How important is the WPE number on the Eponate 12 Resin bottle from Ted Pella when calculating the mixture of epon? i.e. should I recalculate the mixture every time the Eponate 12 Resin has a different WPE number???
Any help would be appreciated...
Eric A. Rosen Dept. Pathology UCLA Medical Center Electron Microscopy Lab...
} } I am having some trouble getting thin sections of some seeds I want to do } EM immunolabeling on. I have ttried embedding some seeds in LR White } (osmicated) or LR Gold (unosmicated). I took a week slowly infiltrating } them with a dilution series of plastic resin but when I went to section } them, they just popped out like stainless steel bb's. There is no hint at } all that the embedding medium penetrated into them. Any experts out there } with hints on fixing seeds? }
Dear Tom, We had similar problems with pollen grains. The trouble was with the difference between the hardness of the pollen and that of the resin. By varying the composition of the resin, we were able to make a sufficient match so that
sections could be cut--in our case, thick sections--with many--but not all-- of the pollen grains still in the sections. Good luck. Yours, Bill Tivol
The Tips & Tricks site has a few "difficult embedding" discussions archived. Go to:
http://www.biotech.ufl.edu/~emcl/index.html
follow the tips link and either run a search or manually pick through the TEM section. I am a year behind in archiving and will forward anything else I have to you but not to the list as a whole. If there is interest I will post the rest to the archive.
At 09:44 AM 7/1/1999 -0500, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} { GO GATORS Scott D. Whittaker 218 Carr Hall EM Technician Gainesville, FL 32610 University Of Florida ph 352-392-1184 ICBR EM Core Lab fax 352-846-0251 sdw-at-biotech.ufl.edu http://www.biotech.ufl.edu/~emcl/ The home of " Tips & Tricks "
I am interested in learning about sample preparation and previous work performed on dye adsorbed onto mica investigated via fluorescence microscopy.
Is it possible to demonstrate using fluorescence microscopy the charge anisotropy associated with the edges and faces of mica? How? Is there a pH dependence?
What literature is available that discusses fluorescence microscopy with
mica as a substrate?
Thank You for any tips or leads!
Christian Honeker Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research
I am trying to do immunolabeling of semithin sections of LR White (medium) blocks along with TEM of ultrathin sections.
I'm using the protocol for infiltration and embedding given by Brorson (Micron 1997, 1998): from 70% EtOH, 2 x 96% EtOH for 20 min., LR White/96% EtOH (1:1) for 2 hr, complete resin for 5 hr, embed in gelatin capsule, polymerize -at- 56 deg. C. ~40 hr
My questions are:
(1) I'm also using Brorson's protocol for immunolabeling. Brorson was immunolabeling TEM sections with gold-conjugated probes. I'm doing labeling of LM sections using peroxidase/DAB. My labeling has been weak at best. I'm going to try antigen retrieval with hot citrate buffer. Any other suggestions?
(2)My TEM sections have little holes. I can't think why; my tissue is fish heart muscle. This should be easy. My oven temp. is sometimes not very stable, but I can't see how this would cause holes. Should I try vacuum pressure during infiltration?
Thanks,
-- Sonia Cawsey McGowan Copley Library, University of San Diego email: scawsey-at-acusd.edu home page: http://www.acusd.edu/~scawsey
} -----Original Message----- } Boy I got a lot of responce on this one but........... } It seems most people are using CD's. Our computer system people } suggested NOT using cd r, or cd rw's stating that the hardware } / software is still not standardised. ...
I don't understand your "computer system people" ... that is, if the CDRW software offers you the option "write a disk which can be read by any platform" (?!?!?) ... even if they change the standard, new CD readers will always be able to read old standards ... they know if they do not, their drive will be outsold by another which does. Four years ago, we went with Fujitsu MOs ... they work beautifully, and we have 4 years of worked archived on them ... be we now have to admit they didn't catch on universally. We have since changed to CDs, but we'll not move the MO archives until we are down to our last MO drive, but all four of them are working as good as new. Regarding "zip drives" ... handy? yes ... an archive medium? NO! ... please do not trust magnetic media ... always go with optical or magneto-optical ..
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/
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Hi Soumitra, Sorry your having problems. One thing you shouldn't do is dry your mount with anything, especially filter paper as there are some extractables which encourage further wetting. When your block gets wet from the boat just let it dry by evaporation. If you think the knife or block may have some contamination, wash them with a mild detergent and rince with hgih purity water and allow to air dry. Also never stop the block face near the knife edge as a static knife will likely wet. Keep the block face moving while it near the knife edge. Check to make sure water has not collected on the back edge of the knife as this can be invisible to you but will rewet your block face even though it appears dry Also make sure the water you are using is pure with no residuals. Good luck, Russ, Xerox
-----Original Message----- } From: Soumitra Ghoshroy [mailto:ghoshroy-at-nmsu.edu] Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 1999 10:42 AM To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
Dear all microscopists,
I am having some problems during ultrathin sectioning with my block face getting wet as the diamond knife makes the first contact with the block and it happens with every stroke thereafter. I have dried the block face with filter paper or kimwipe before the next cutting stroke but it is not helping at all. Sometimes it happens during sectioning too. All my blocks are embedded in Spurr's and these are primarily plant tissue samples. I have switched knives, cleaned them before sectioning, lowered the water level in the boat, changed the clearance angle, but nothing has been working so far. I am not sure whether it is a lack of humidity problem or something else.
I will appreciate some help in this matter.
Thanks,
Soumitra
Soumitra Ghoshroy Ph.D. Electron Microscopy Lab Box 3EML New Mexico State University Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001 Tel: 505-646-1531/3600 Fax: 505-646-5665 e-mail: ghoshroy-at-nmsu.edu
I received the following inquiry today and wondered if any of you could help. Please reply directly to: Catrinel Stanciu [SMTP:stanciu-at-mbi-berlin.de] {mailto:[SMTP:stanciu-at-mbi-berlin.de]} as this person is not on the listserver.
-----Original Message----- } From: Catrinel Stanciu [SMTP:stanciu-at-mbi-berlin.de] {mailto:[SMTP:stanciu-at-mbi-berlin.de]} Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 1999 12:18 PM To: ebs-at-ebsciences.com {mailto:ebs-at-ebsciences.com}
Dear Microscopist,
I have an Indium Wire and is not aware of its use. It was come along the em kit. Could any one experience the use to it in electron microscopy.
I am also search for an e-mail address of Professor Willeur C. Bigelow.
Thanks in advance.
Rajdeep Dongre Electron Microscopy Laboratory Agharkar Research Institute G.G. Agarkar Road Pune- 411 004, India
I need to prepare TEM samples from a Fe-Co bulk material. Can someone suggest me an electrolyte for twin-jet electropolishing and the corresponding conditions?
Dear Tom, I've used a procedure covered by VA Lindley in Microscopy Research & Techniques 21:355-360 (1992) "A New Procedure for Handling Impervious Biological Specimens" with great success after I struck a similar problem with weevils (never had such a problem with Spurrs resin completely failing to stick to a sample). The paper recommends a pre treatment with gamma-glycidoxypropyl trimethoxysilane and subsequent embedding with LR White. Its simple & worked amazingly well with re-embedded weevils (they were irreplaceable samples so I stripped off the Spurrs). The paper mentions several samples which they tested the method on, including Salicornia oil seeds. I like it.
Good luck.
Regards,
Richard } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Richard Easingwood South Campus Electron Microscope Unit School of Medical Sciences University of Otago PO Box 913, Dunedin NEW ZEALAND
Re: TEM, Phillips EM400 Good Morning Microscopy List Members With the kind help of the group, perhaps we will find certain salvaged parts for the Phillips EM400 TEM that we are in need of.... specifically: the Emission Chamber, the Electron Gun (Insulator and Wehnelt Assembly), the High Voltage Cable and the Vacuum Block (Upper Column). If anyone can help, we can be reached at T. (305) 669-0233 or email. Thanks. Stephen Quinto natural-immunogenics corp.
We are looking for Philips EM 400 series TEM in any condition, or at least for the following parts: emission chamber and upper column vacuum block, electron gun (insulator and Wehnelt assembly), and high voltage cable.
Indium wire is used as a vacuum seal in the column of Philips EM400 = (near the top of the liner tube, if my memory serves me right). This is = a one-use seal and has to be scraped out with a special tool supplied = for the purpose and replaced with new wire each time the vacuum seal is = broken.
-----Original Message----- } From: Rajdeep [SMTP:rajdeep-at-aripune.ernet.in] Sent: Friday, July 02, 1999 10:00 AM To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com
Dear Microscopist,
I have an Indium Wire and is not aware of its use. It was come along = the em kit. Could any one experience the use to it in electron microscopy.
I am also search for an e-mail address of Professor Willeur C. Bigelow.
Thanks in advance.
Rajdeep Dongre Electron Microscopy Laboratory Agharkar Research Institute G.G. Agarkar Road Pune- 411 004, India
Shaf makes a good point in that CD's are platform independent. Most storage media suffer because the drive will eventually breakdown, at which point you will have to try to find an outdated drive to be able to access your archive.
We have been archiving on CD-R's for 5 years now. We started with Win 3.11, moved to Win 95, and are now using Win 98 & NT. All of the original discs are still readable, even ones written with the early CD-R software. We frequently give out data on the CD's and have had no problems with there accessibility on other computers.
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: shAf {mshaf-at-darkwing.uoregon.edu} To: RLVAUGHN-at-UNMC.EDU {RLVAUGHN-at-UNMC.EDU} ; Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com}
I have worked on EM equipment that uses indium wire as a vacuum seal. Indium allows you to make a vacuum seal between two flat surfaces. In the ADEM microscope we used it as a vacuum seal between the ceramic and stainless steel in the gun. If it was in your EM service kit, I would hang on to it.
Bill Carmichael Electron Microscopy Faculty Madison Area Technical College Madison, WI
http://electron-microscopy.madison.tec.wi.us
billc-at-jvlnet.com
Rajdeep 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 Microscopist, } } I have an Indium Wire and is not aware of its use. It was come along the } em kit. Could any one experience the use to it in electron microscopy. } } I am also search for an e-mail address of Professor Willeur C. Bigelow. } } Thanks in advance. } } Rajdeep Dongre } Electron Microscopy Laboratory } Agharkar Research Institute } G.G. Agarkar Road } Pune- 411 004, India
I'd like to get the information about supliers of the systems of cathodoluminescence detectors for SEM wich can include a monochromator to get a spectra of the radiation in the NIR range (400-1200nm). We know about Oxford system but it's a high end priced. Any suggestions will be appreciated. kind regards to all...
Krzysztof Herman * LABSOFT * Biuro Techniczno-Handlowe ul.Ba=BFancia 45A, 02-892 Warszawa PL tel/fax: (+48 22)6446233, tel: 6449750, 6449753 mobile: (+48 601)307456, (+48 501)213438 E-mail: kherman-at-labsoft.com.pl http://www.labsoft.com.pl
Hi Krzysztof - If you dont need a defined monochromatic image, a cheaper pan-chromatic imaging system used in conjuction with a fibre optic light guide as close as possible to the specimen, a vacuum feedthrough and an Ocean Optics SD2000 spectrometer does quite well. You can pick from a number of gratings for the appropriate wavelength range, but its probably a good idea to include the most sensitive. Ocean Optics have a good website, all the information is there. The only tricky bit is aligning the fibre optic - it has to be very precise.
Good luck
Sally Stowe ( no connection with any company, etc....)
Dr Sally Stowe Facility Coordinator Australian National University EM Unit Research School of Biological Sciences Box 475, ACT 2601, Canberra, Australia FAX 06 (0)2 6279 8525 http://www.anu.edu.au/EMU
I'd like to get the information about supliers of the systems of cathodoluminescence detectors for SEM wich can include a monochromator to get a spectra of the radiation in the NIR range (400-1200nm). We know about Oxford system but it's a high end priced. Any suggestions will be appreciated. kind regards to all...
Krzysztof Herman * LABSOFT * Biuro Techniczno-Handlowe ul.Ba=BFancia 45A, 02-892 Warszawa PL tel/fax: (+48 22)6446233, tel: 6449750, 6449753 mobile: (+48 601)307456, (+48 501)213438 E-mail: kherman-at-labsoft.com.pl http://www.labsoft.com.pl
I have received a request for TEM characterization of antiferromagnetic = nanocrystalline MnF2 powder. Is it okay to load the nanocrystalline = powder on to C coated copper grids / holey carbon film on copper grids? = I have used this method earlier for non-magnetic nanocrystalline oxide = ceramic powders. What will be the effect of the magnetic field of the = objective lens on the material? Is there a risk of contaminating the = objective lens pole pieces? What precautions should I take? I use a JEOL = 2000 EX II (T) and a Philips CM200.
Ideas / suggestions / advise requested, please.
Best wishes. --- R Divakar PMS, IGCAR, Kalpakkam 603102, India ----
I would like to know if any of you has had experience in TEM of block copolymers, specifically poly-(propylene-ethylene) impact copolymers? I use RuO4 to enhance the contrast between the rubber phase and the matrix. The RuO4 is prepared from the oxidation of hydrated RuO2 with NaIO4 (sodium periodate). I've tried using chlorosulphonic acid to harden the blocks before staining but realised that the acid was destroying both the particles and the matrix. I've sectioned both at RT and at cryo- temperatures but there is not much improvement. One of the main problems I'm facing is the poor penetration of the stain.
The literature that I've come across shows the structure to nice round particles in a semicrystalline matrix but my experience has shown me that there are more than two constituents and it's very rare that I come across rubber particles that are spherical with some crystallinity inside.
I would appreciate it if you could give me information as to the preparation of the solution, the specimen, the staining procedure, the ideal sectioning conditions, etc.
Sincerely Siyabonga Siyabonga Mange BSc (Pure and Applied Chemistry;UCT) MSc (Applied Science) Final year Materials Engineering Department Menzies Building, Level 2 UCT
Having spoken to someone who has used an In seal before, are there not problems with baking? In has a low melting point, so if you use it as a seal in any U= HV system that is baked, would you not be depositing In throughout the system?
******************************************************** Dr Jonathan Barnard
Analytical Materials Physics The =C5ngstr=F6m Laboratory, Uppsala University P O Box 534, SE-751 21 Uppsala, Sweden Phone: +46-(0)18-4716838 Fax: +46-(0)18-500131
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Sonia, A couple of things to think about: 1. What type of fixation are you using? That has great bearing on number of antigenic sites available for ICC. 2.Does your oven cycle over 60oC when in the heating phase? High temperatures can really effect the amount of labeling. It might be a good idea to lower the average temperature to 50oC so your chance of the oven overshooting is less. 3. 40 hours in the oven is fairly long....usually 24hrs is sufficient with LRW. 4. If possible, polymerize in a vacuum oven that allows you to back-fill with nitrogen. Keep vacuum low but on slightly to help eliminate any gas from within the sample. You can often find old paraffin ovens that can be used for this purpose. 5. How good is your antibody? Do you know that it will give a strong label? Not all antibodies are equal. What concentration are you using? 6. What size gold are you using? The larger the gold, the less actual particles will bind. 7. Do you have another antibody which you know labels well that can be used for a method control? Before you blame the prep (rather than the antibody) you should try to react your material with another antibody that you know is powerful and has a strong reaction and well defined localization pattern. 8. How about your background? If you have no background, even a weak label can be informative. 9. Pinholes in the resin may mean that too much water is being retained in the tissue. Try dehydrating through 100% ETOH and then make sure to keep samples in closed containers to minimize moisture uptake from the air.
ICC is not an exact science and there are often problems. Don't give up because when a reaction works, it can reveal really significant information. I have had numerous examples of an ICC reaction that didn't make sense (i.e. was different than our preconceived result expectations) which later led to months of intensive research using other techniques and important new conclusions.
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
Sonia Cawsey McGowan wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
by hermes.Teknikum.UU.SE (8.9.1a/8.9.1aa) with SMTP id QAA06354 for {microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com} ; Fri, 2 Jul 1999 16:56:07 +0200 (MET DST) Message-Id: {3.0.6.32.19990702163630.008f9e10-at-pop.teknikum.UU.SE} X-Sender: joba-at-pop.teknikum.UU.SE X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Light Version 3.0.6 (32)
Having spoken to someone who has used an In seal before, are there not problems with baking? In has a low melting point, so if you use it as a seal in any UHV system that is baked, would you not be depositing In throughout the system?
******************************************************** Dr Jonathan Barnard
Analytical Materials Physics The =C5ngstr=F6m Laboratory, Uppsala University P O Box 534, SE-751 21 Uppsala, Sweden Phone: +46-(0)18-4716838 Fax: +46-(0)18-500131
Hi Soumitra, sectioning can be very frustrating sometimes. Here are some solutions I have found to block wetting, in addition to the helpful suggestions of Rus Gillmeister: Are there any tiny nicks in the edges of your block face? They tend to draw water by capillary action. Make the edges of your pyramid very clean. Lowering the surface tention of the water is helpful, so you get a concave surface and can lead the water right up to the knife edge. You can do that with a drop of highly diluted Photoflo, but I have better luck with saliva. I use a toothpick that has been in my mouth to lead the water up to the knife edge, and it is just enough. The only problem is epithelial cells that sometimes show up in the 1-micron sections. However, they are no problem on thin sections, as they are not fixed, so they just disappear. During dry weather, a hot cup of coffee next to the ultramicrotome may be enough to humidify the air. I have even known people who put wet towels around their microtome. Anyway, good luck, and keep at it and it will get better. Honest. Joyce
Interesting. We have had occasions, where people with older CD-ROMs could not read CD-Rs created with a CD burner. Whether that is particular to a specific burner or a general problem I can't say. On the other hand it's a problem that can be solved by purchasing a new $50 CD-ROM.
But back to the original question of whether the facility has to keep images: Unless there are any laws or regulations requiring you to keep images as records, I would think you are free to set your own policy. I would set up a reasonable policy (like: we keep electronic copies for a year or two on CD. After that the CDs are discarded or sent to the user), let everybody know about this policy and deal with special circumstances one by one. I am pretty sure, that if you have a reasonable policy, 95% of your users will simply accept them.
When I worked with TEMs, we would give the users prints of the negatives but keep the negatives. of course once in a while somebody wanted to make a print of an old negative, but that was not too frequent.
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 1675 Carr St., #105N Lakewood, CO 80215 =================================== phone: (888) FIND SIS (303) 234-9270 fax: (303) 234-9271 email: mailto:info-at-soft-imaging.com web: http://www.soft-imaging.com ===================================
} ---------- } From: Colin Reid[SMTP:CREID-at-TCD.IE] } Sent: Thursday, July 01, 1999 11:36:19 PM } To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: Re: Digital Archiving continued } Auto forwarded by a Rule } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Shaf makes a good point in that CD's are platform independent. Most storage media suffer because the drive will eventually breakdown, at which point you will have to try to find an outdated drive to be able to access your archive.
We have been archiving on CD-R's for 5 years now. We started with Win 3.11, moved to Win 95, and are now using Win 98 & NT. All of the original discs are still readable, even ones written with the early CD-R software. We frequently give out data on the CD's and have had no problems with there accessibility on other computers.
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: shAf {mshaf-at-darkwing.uoregon.edu} To: RLVAUGHN-at-UNMC.EDU {RLVAUGHN-at-UNMC.EDU} ; Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com}
For the past 16 years I've used an adhesion promotion step to embed difficult materials for diamond knife cross-sectioning. Typically hard, non porous materials such as glass, diamond, silicon, minerals, ceramics, semiconductors, metals, optical coatings and insect parts.
Prepare a 1% solution of Dow Corning's silane co-polymer Z-6040 (3-glycidoxy-propyltrimethoxy silane) in water and alcohol (50/50). Treat your samples in the solution for approximately an hour. Transfer them to filter paper to remove liquid and embed as normal in Spurrs or LR White. These coupling agents are the adhesion promoters used to bind fibers to polymer in fiberglass. Dow has a variety of other silane coupling agents with specificities for epoxies, acrylics, polyesters, phenolics, urethanes, etc. These are typically sold in 55 gal drums but smaller quantities are available.
Phil Swab Deposition Sciences Inc. Santa Rosa, CA 707-566-3718
-----Original Message----- } From: Tom Phillips [SMTP:PhillipsT-at-missouri.edu] Sent: Thursday, July 01, 1999 7:45 AM To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com
I am having some trouble getting thin sections of some seeds I want to do EM immunolabeling on. I have ttried embedding some seeds in LR White (osmicated) or LR Gold (unosmicated). I took a week slowly infiltrating them with a dilution series of plastic resin but when I went to section them, they just popped out like stainless steel bb's. There is no hint at all that the embedding medium penetrated into them. Any experts out there with hints on fixing seeds?
TIA, Tom
Thomas E. Phillips, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Biological Sciences Director, Molecular Cytology Core Facility
3 Tucker Hall Division of Biological Sciences University of Missouri Columbia, MO 65211-7400 (573)-882-4712 (voice) (573)-882-0123 (fax)
Dear Greg Strout, John Warrack, Bill Tivol,Markus Meyenhofer,Mike Wombwell Mike Whittlesey and Jim Fotinopoulos, My sincerest thank you's to you all for your most invaluable help and for going out of your way to provide me the help I needed to resurrect this Polaron. Greg: a gracious thank you for going the "extra mile" to the point of sending me those beautiful images. What a help they are! It has been a pleasure conversing with you. John: those directions were extremely critical in assisting me with the carbon evaporating. I may contact you soon if I need further assistance. You are very kind. Bill: thank you for taking the time to provide such detailed and thorough oil changing instructions. You have this down to a science! Markus: It has been a pleasure speaking with you. Your help has truly been a benefit. Keep in touch. Mike W. and Mike W.: Thank you both for your valuable advise. Now I should be ready for the "maiden voyage". I will call you to further follow up. Jim: It was a pleasure to encounter your services. Your help was greatly appreciated. See you soon.
What a blessing this has been. Microscopists are truly a unique breed. I'm proud to be among the best.
Most Sincerely,
Maria
Maria Fazio-Zanakis Bioimaging and Molecular Histology Hoechst Marion Roussel, Inc. 1-908-231-3357 Fax: 1-908-231-3962 Email: Maria.Fazio-Zanakis-at-hmrag.com
} } Re: TEM, Phillips EM400 Good Morning Microscopy List } Members With the kind help of the group, perhaps we will find certain } salvaged parts for the Phillips EM400 TEM that we are in need } of.... specifically: the Emission Chamber, the Electron } Gun (Insulator and Wehnelt Assembly), the High Voltage Cable and the } Vacuum Block (Upper Column). If anyone can help, we can be reached } at T. (305) 669-0233 or email. Thanks. Stephen Quinto } natural-immunogenics corp. } }
Rick A. Harris, Director Microscopy and Imaging Facility Section of Molecular and Cellular Biology 1241 Life Sciences Addition University of California Davis, CA 530 752 2914 530 754 7536 fax raharris-at-ucdavis.edu
Yes, underfill boat (concave surface), making sure knife edge is wet, but also decrease clearance angle and cut faster. When aligning, don't ever stop face even with the knife edge when it's really close.
Most important if the face is getting water on it is to trim the block with the glass knife so that scratches from trimming go parallel with the block bottom edge, rather than vertical. Trimming with a razor blade creates little troughs for the water to run right up onto the face. If you don't know how to do this, and want instructions, email back.
Sara E. Miller, Ph. D. P. O. Box 3020 Duke University Medical Center Durham, NC 27710 Ph: 919 684-3452 FAX: 919 684-8735
} -----Original Message----- } } ... } It seems most people are using CD's. Our computer system } people suggested NOT using cd r, or cd rw's ...
I thought I better post a caveat to my last message which would have implied CD/RW the only way to go. I've been spending all of this Friday trying to retrieve archived images from a CD written here. Bad writes ... not because there isn't any one standard format for acrchiving files to CDs across platforms, but because, either (1) I was cheap and bought inexpensive CDs, OR (2) because my CD writer needed its BIOS flashed for better support for silver CDs. A lesson learned ... buy best quality, "tried and true" gold CDs for your archiving purposes (!!!)
have a *happy* 4th ... 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 respond directly, offline, to sbarlow-at-sunstroke.sdsu.edu
I am interested in hearing from vendors that specialize in converting older, analog Scanning Electron Microscopes to digital computer controlled microscopes.
I am also interested in vendors that specialize in SEM digital image capture
thanks.
steve
--------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Steven Barlow, Associate Director EM Facility/Biology Department San Diego State University 5500 Campanile Drive San Diego CA 92182-4614 phone: (619)594-4523 fax: (619) 594-5676 email: sbarlow-at-sunstroke.sdsu.edu website: http://www.sci.sdsu.edu/emfacility/
Chairman, Educational Outreach subcommittee promoting access to microscopes Microscopy Society of America http://www.msa.microscopy.com/
All: I'm looking for some information on ultramicrotomy of materials, specifically semiconductors. I'm totally in the dark about it, except that I have heard the words. Book titles, articles, web sites, helpful hints, any information would be greatly appreciated.
Hi Eric - Put the blocks back into the oven; overnight at 80 C should harden them at bit better. Remember when the blocks come out of the oven they will be quite soft for a few minutes and take a couple of hours to reach maximum hardness. Cheers Jim Darley
ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com.au Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes www.proscitech.com.au
On Saturday, July 03, 1999 6:18 AM, ERIC [SMTP:biology-at-ucla.edu] wrote: } } } } Today over here at UCLA we are having a slight problem with soft blocks } trying to cut 1 micron sections first... } } any suggestions as to what to do to get the sections off the glass knife } and onto a glass slide?? } } The sections seem to get stuck on the edge of the knife after they have } been cut and are floating in the water but stuck to the knife edge?? } } Any help would be appreciated... } } Eric A. Rosen } Dept Pathology } UCLA Medical Center }
I would appreciate it if someone out there in the scientific community has information to offer on how the following can be used to make water safe for drinking (in terms of killing biological contaminants).
[1] sodium hypochlorite: Can one use household bleach (5.25% sod hypoch)? What dilution is effective and safe to use?
[2] potassium permanganate: What concentration to use?
Thank you for any help or suggestions where to find the info.
Hi Jonathan: A complex subject. The melting point of Indium is 156.61 degrees C. I expect none of the TEM lens parts get that hot during a bake out. Some manufacturers restrict In seals to a couple of positions, like the gun chamber. I do not have the figures, but believe that Indium, even near its melting point, when compared with good vacuum greases would outgas at much slower rate. Furthermore, a few indium metal atoms would not be contaminants which would cause problems similar to greases and oils and their degraded products. I believe to revert manufacturers In seals to polymers seals would be unwise. Comparing current instruments with those from the 70th, arguably cleaner vacuum systems have improved TEM performance most and In seals are part of that advance. The discussion should be if in turbo and ion getter pumped systems more In seals should be used in place of polymer seals. Disclaimer: PST supplies In seals - but also vac greases. Cheers Jim Darley ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com.au Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes www.proscitech.com.au
On Saturday, July 03, 1999 12:37 AM, Jonathan Barnard [SMTP:Jonathan.Barnard-at-Angstrom.UU.SE] wrote: } } Having spoken to someone who has used an In seal before, are there not } problems } with baking? In has a low melting point, so if you use it as a seal in any } UHV } system that is baked, would you not be depositing In throughout the system? } } ******************************************************** } Dr Jonathan Barnard } } Analytical Materials Physics } The Angstrom Laboratory, Uppsala University } P O Box 534, SE-751 21 Uppsala, Sweden } Phone: +46-(0)18-4716838 Fax: +46-(0)18-500131 } } ******************************************************** } }
You don't have to use staining: our permanganic etching technique is ideal for PP-PE "impact" copolymers. You can see a picture of the result on:
http://www.reading.ac.uk/~spsolley/pp_impact.html
If you want any further information I can send it to you.
On Fri, 2 Jul 1999, Siyabonga wrote:
} I would like to know if any of you has had experience in TEM of block } copolymers, specifically poly-(propylene-ethylene) impact copolymers? } I use RuO4 to enhance the contrast between the rubber phase and the } matrix. The RuO4 is prepared from the oxidation of hydrated RuO2 } with NaIO4 (sodium periodate). I've tried using chlorosulphonic acid } to harden the blocks before staining but realised that the acid was } destroying both the particles and the matrix. I've sectioned both at } RT and at cryo- temperatures but there is not much improvement. One } of the main problems I'm facing is the poor penetration of the stain.
Whichever method you use, here's wishing you success,
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 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 | +------------------------------------------------------------------------+
we get good TEM specimens of PS/PE block copolymers if we first cut the material with the cryo-ultramicrotome (knife at -50degC, specimen at -140degC, 6deg cutting angle). Afterwards we stain the thin sections (on 1000mesh copper grids) with RuO4. Therefor we prepare a fresh mixture of about 100mg RuCl3 hydrate with ca. 5ml of 10wt% NaClO solution (in a vented hood of course!). Then we place the specimens over the mixture and keep them in the fumes for about two hours. Afterwards we wash them first with water and then with ethanol.
Good luck,
Petra
} Dear Colleagues, } } I would like to know if any of you has had experience in TEM of block } copolymers, specifically poly-(propylene-ethylene) impact copolymers? } I use RuO4 to enhance the contrast between the rubber phase and the } matrix. The RuO4 is prepared from the oxidation of hydrated RuO2 } with NaIO4 (sodium periodate). I've tried using chlorosulphonic acid } to harden the blocks before staining but realised that the acid was } destroying both the particles and the matrix. I've sectioned both at } RT and at cryo- temperatures but there is not much improvement. One } of the main problems I'm facing is the poor penetration of the stain. } } The literature that I've come across shows the structure to nice } round particles in a semicrystalline matrix but my experience has } shown me that there are more than two constituents and it's very rare } that I come across rubber particles that are spherical with some } crystallinity inside. } } I would appreciate it if you could give me information as to the } preparation of the solution, the specimen, the staining procedure, } the ideal sectioning conditions, etc. } } Sincerely } Siyabonga } Siyabonga Mange } BSc (Pure and Applied Chemistry;UCT) } MSc (Applied Science) Final year } Materials Engineering Department } Menzies Building, Level 2 } UCT } } Tel.:(021) 650 3181 (o/h) } (021) 387 4117 (a/h) } 083 583 8182 } Internet:SMANGE-at-ENGFAC.UCT.AC.ZA -------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Petra Wahlbring Centre de Recherche Public Centre Universitaire (CRP-CU) Laboratoire d'Analyse des Materiaux (LAM) 162a, av. de la Faiencerie L-1511 Luxembourg tel. +352-466644-402 fax +352-466644-400 e-mail: petra.wahlbring-at-crpcu.lu Visit our WWW site! http://www.crpcu.lu/~wahlbrin
I'm looking for some information on ultramicrotomy of materials, specifically semiconductors. I'm totally in the dark about it, except that I have heard the words. Book titles, articles, web sites, helpful hints, any information would be greatly appreciated.
Hi Becky,
Volume 31, No. 4 (July 1, 1995) of Microscopy Research and Technique was dedicated to ultramicrotomy of hard materials. In particular, there is a paper by S.R. Glanvill (page 275) on "Ultramicrotomy of semiconductors and related materials".
Best regards, Joergen
J. B. Bilde-Soerensen Senior Research Scientist, Ph. D. Materials Research Department Risoe National Laboratory DK-4000 Roskilde Denmark
Just to add my own tricks to the excellent comments that you've received here, I would say that once you get the block face wet, drying it with a kimwipe never seems dry it enough for me. And one it's been wet, it has a tendency to get wet again much easier. So if I ever manage to get a wet block face (which happens less and less as you gain experience), I not only dry it with a kimwipe, but I blow dry the whole block face and knife edge with an air gun. (from one of those cans of compressed air) The diamond knife can stand drying from the air gun with no problem, and it's especially important to dry the back of the knife, and the block face.
Because after the block face gets wet once, then unless it is more than 100% dry after that, it will immediately get wet again and again and again....and slowly increase your frustrations until you require psychiatric treatment.
I want to do elemental mapping on catalyst particles with EELS. We have a Philips CM200 microscope equipped with a GATAN Image Filter. How does one prepare catalyst powders for EELS elemental mapping ? I suppose the powder has to be set in some kind of resin and then thinned by microtoming or some thinning technique to sufficient thickness. What kind of resin works best ? How thick should the sections be ?
Thanks
Willem Erasmus Scientist, Basic Catalysis Research Sasol Technology Tel : +27 +16 9604211 Fax : +27 +16 9602826
Re: Ted Dunn's request for info on using bleach or potassium permanganate for purifying drinking water:
Household bleach (5.25% sodium hypochlorite) can be to disinfect drinking water for bacterial contamination. The amount you would use depends on the amount you are trying to disinfect. You should test the water 20 to 30 minutes after adding the bleach to check for the amount of free chlorine that is present in the water. You should have a free chlorine residule if 0.2 to 0.5 mg/L ( the greater the amount of contaminates in the water, the more chlorine it will tahe to reach this amount of residule chlorine). Kits can be purchased from various sources to measure the amount of chlorine present (the one I am familar with is made by Hach Chemical Co. but I am sure there are others available). These are similar to the kits used for measuring chlorene levels in swimming pools but test at lower ranges. Please be aware that this will not kill all pathogens. Those that are capable for forming cysts are an example and they can only be removed by filtering.
I do not know what the acceptable method is for using potassium permanganate.
If you are only wanting to purify small amount of water such as for use when backpacking, I would suggest you consider purchasing a hand held filter. These can remove all pathogens and are available at most local stores that carry camping and backpacking supplies.
Your best source of information is your local Boy Scout or camping store. We have used both sodium hypochlorite, iodine, and filtration. They each have their advantages & drawbacks. For cleaning biological out of water lines in a manufacturing setting (i.e., DI water), sodium peroxide is often used. For cleaning wells, dry sodium hypochlorite is used. The potassium permanganate is usually reserved for cuts and treating tropical fish.
Roy Nelson Material Testing Laboratory
DUNNTEM-at-aol.com"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com wrote: I would appreciate it if someone out there in the scientific community has information to offer on how the following can be used to make water safe for drinking (in terms of killing biological contaminants). [1] sodium hypochlorite: Can one use household bleach (5.25% sod hypoch)? What dilution is effective and safe to use? [2] potassium permanganate: What concentration to use?
Thank you for any help or suggestions where to find the info.
"When I were a lad", the British Army used to use a two tablet system: first one would add a "sterilizing tablet" to one's water bottle for a time, followed by a "thio tablet".
As regards the sterilizing tablet, to the best of my knowledge it was not hypochlorite as such, but something like Chloramine-T, the common name for
N-chloro p-toluene sulfonamide
which releases hypochlorite when dissolved in water. It is made from a by-product of saccharin manufacture. The "thio tablet" SOUNDS LIKE sodium thiosulfate, which would reduce any unreacted hypochlorite to chloride.
I would guess that these things might be on sale in a camping equipment shop.
On Sat, 3 Jul 1999 DUNNTEM-at-aol.com-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com wrote:
} I would appreciate it if someone out there in the scientific community has } information to offer on how the following can be used to make water safe for } drinking (in terms of killing biological contaminants). } } [1] sodium hypochlorite: Can one use household bleach (5.25% sod hypoch)? } What dilution is effective and safe to use? } } [2] potassium permanganate: What concentration to use?
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 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 | +------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Willem Erasmus wrote: ============================================== I want to do elemental mapping on catalyst particles with EELS. We have a Philips CM200 microscope equipped with a GATAN Image Filter. How does one prepare catalyst powders for EELS elemental mapping ? I suppose the powder has to be set in some kind of resin and then thinned by microtoming or some thinning technique to sufficient thickness. What kind of resin works best ? How thick should the sections be ? ================================================= The ultimate goal is to have the sectioned sample "supported" in a way in which there are locations where the sample can be viewed without any support film. Also the section must itself be cut so it is absolutely of minimum thickness. For longer exposure times, drift can be minimized further through the use of higher grid mesh sizes (smaller hole sizes).
We have found that "supporting" the section on a holely carbon or Formvar ® film provides a stable section for viewing, with data being taken only from parts of the section that are suspended over a "hole". Hence the data is taken "neat" and without contribution (absorption) from a support film.
What resin to use? Vacuum embedding of at least some of the "Epon substitutes" (we have a natural preference for our own SPI-Pon™ 812 resin) gives quite an acceptable result. We use our own SPI "materials science" diamond knives but with 45° angles, not 55°. We have ourselves never been able to make thin enough sections with the 55° knives. 35° in theory would be even better but the knife will wear out much more quickly, perhaps too quickly for most budgets. Clearly other brands of diamond knives should work as well.
Just remember that section thickness is the critical issue and everything done must be from the perspective of minimizing that thickness (in order to minimize back ground effects).
Disclaimer: Our firms provides diamond knives and embedding resins and also performs sample preparation of this type as a service to others.
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.spi.cc ######################## ============================================
A colleague at a local university is looking for a TEM of a centrisome for use in an in-house, intro biology lab manual. Does anyone have a photo they could donate (JPEG file is preferred)?
TIA
Bob
Dr. Robert R. Wise Department of Biology University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Oshkosh, WI 54901 (920) 42403404 wise-at-uwosh.edu http://www.uwosh.edu/departments/biology/wise/wise.html
A teacher has just contacted me with a request for help. Does anyone want to have an enjoyable, rewarding experience this fall? If you respond, please copy to me, so that I know that she's getting help.
} I currently teach the Talented and Gifted at my school, Findley Oaks Elem in } Duluth, GA (Atlanta Metro). When I ordered Microscopic Explorations: A GEMS } Festival Guide, I noticed the assistance your society provides as it relates } to volunteers, and obtaining microscopes. } } Our Talented and Gifted program focus is science, although we interweave all } the other disciplines. I am very much interested in meeting with one of } your members this summer to put some plans in place for the fall. Also, I } will be attending one of the GEMS workshop at the University of California, } Berkeley in August 1999. } } Any assistance you will provide is appreciated. } } Wanda Pennywell Rachal "MSPENNY" {MSPENNY-at-email.msn.com}
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/PMHomePage.html Intertidal invertebrates: http://www.fortbragg.k12.ca.us/AG/PCI/pci.html
Does anybody have experience (positive) with processing yeast for TEM, both conventional and rapid freezing - freeze-substitution? Favorite protocols, comments and tips would be much appreciated.
(I do thank greatly Scott Whittaker who has already directed me to some really good information on his tips website).
Sincerely, Vladislav V. Speransky School of Marine Sciences University of Maine 5722 Deering Hall Orono, ME 04469-5722 Phone: 207 581 2998 Fax: 207 581 2969 Email: vladis-at-maine.maine.edu
Dear Willem, probably the simplest method to mount your partciles is to disperse them on a carbon holey grid using an organic solvent. I have seen others do this very successfully with ethanol for example. Put some of the catalyst in a test tube, add some ethanol shake to mix/disperse. Using a plastic pipette drop some of the mixture onto a carbon holey grid and let it dry. It should now be ready.
I hope this helps, Jonathan
******************************************************** Dr Jonathan Barnard
Analytical Materials Physics The Angstrom Laboratory, Uppsala University P O Box 534, SE-751 21 Uppsala, Sweden Phone: +46-(0)18-4716838 Fax: +46-(0)18-500131
I would like you to suggest the following problem:
I want to observe the arrangement of 2 proteins forming a ring shape- pore on Erythrocyte membrane (the ring shape is already observed by using TEM). The previous data suggests that they may form in to 6 sub unit -pore . I intend to use immunogold labelling 1 protein in order to adjust the interaction of two. But this pore is very small just about 3 and 7 nm inner and outer diameter respectively. So I am afraid of a steric hindrance and epitop exposure problem.
Could you please recommend which method and what kind of Microscope I should apply for my work?
Thank you in advance.
Nguyen Anh thi Van Lab. of Applied Microbiology Dep. of Biochemistry Faculty of Agriculture Tohoku University Sendai Japan
Caution re: If you are only wanting to purify small amount of water such as for use when backpacking, I would suggest you consider purchasing a hand held filter. These can remove all pathogens and are available at most local stores that carry camping and backpacking supplies.
FILTERS WON'T REMOVE VIRUSES, E.G., HEPATITIS A VIRUS.
On Mon, 5 Jul 1999 msteglic-at-notes.mdacc.tmc.edu-at-sparc5.microscopy.com wrote:
} Date: Mon, 5 Jul 1999 09:35:28 -0500 } From: msteglic-at-notes.mdacc.tmc.edu-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: Re: potable water } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Re: Ted Dunn's request for info on using bleach or potassium permanganate for } purifying drinking water: } } Household bleach (5.25% sodium hypochlorite) can be to disinfect drinking water } for bacterial contamination. The amount you would use depends on the amount you } are trying to disinfect. You should test the water 20 to 30 minutes after adding } the bleach to check for the amount of free chlorine that is present in the } water. You should have a free chlorine residule if 0.2 to 0.5 mg/L ( the greater } the amount of contaminates in the water, the more chlorine it will tahe to reach } this amount of residule chlorine). Kits can be purchased from various sources } to measure the amount of chlorine present (the one I am familar with is made by } Hach Chemical Co. but I am sure there are others available). These are similar } to the kits used for measuring chlorene levels in swimming pools but test at } lower ranges. } Please be aware that this will not kill all pathogens. Those that are capable } for forming cysts are an example and they can only be removed by filtering. } } I do not know what the acceptable method is for using potassium permanganate. } } If you are only wanting to purify small amount of water such as for use when } backpacking, I would suggest you consider purchasing a hand held filter. These } can remove all pathogens and are available at most local stores that carry } camping and backpacking supplies. } } Mannie Steglich } Houston, TX } } } }
Sara E. Miller, Ph. D. P. O. Box 3020 Duke University Medical Center Durham, NC 27710 Ph: 919 684-3452 FAX: 919 684-8735
I would like you to suggest the following problem:
I want to observe the arrangement of 2 proteins forming a ring shape- pore on Erythrocyte membrane (the ring shape is already observed by using TEM). The previous data suggests that they may form in to 6 sub unit -pore . I intend to use immunogold labelling 1 protein in order to adjust the interaction of two. But this pore is very small just about 3 and 7 nm inner and outer diameter respectively. So I am afraid of a steric hindrance and epitop exposure problem.
Could you please recommend which method and what kind of Microscope I should apply for my work?
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY TECHNICIAN, SENIOR Duties include all aspects of TEM, including negative staining and thin sectioning. It's an exciting job working with many different kinds of clinical and research specimens, physicians and researchers. It is a large lab with 4 other amiable EM techs who share duties. The salary is in the $27K range, plus 24% benefits (total--~$34.3K) which is reasonable for the cost of living here. Durham is a cosmopolitan city with 3 major universities nearby, and hence, all kinds of cultural entertainment; it is situated halfway between the beach and the mountains (about 3.5 hrs to each). Called the "City of Medicine," for it's high doctor/citizen ratio because of numerous hospitals, Durham also claims the team that "almost won" the NCAA tournament and that sent 3 players this year to the NBA (heaven help us next year). It is home to the Durham Bulls (baseball) and a half hour drive from the Carolina Hurricanes (hockey). With all this, it is still a relatively small city (~150K) where you can live in the country with only a 20 min drive to work, if you choose. Requisite job qualifications include experience in TEM, either through college courses or on-the-job training. Call or reply by email if interested.
Sara E. Miller, Ph. D. P. O. Box 3020 Duke University Medical Center Durham, NC 27710 Ph: 919 684-3452 FAX: 919 684-8735
Thanks to all of you who took the time to respond to my posting regarding block face getting wet. I received lots of very helpful suggestions.
This is truly an excellent resource for microscopists.
Cheers,
Soumitra
Soumitra Ghoshroy Ph.D. Electron Microscopy Lab Box 3EML New Mexico State University Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001 Tel: 505-646-1531/3600 Fax: 505-646-5665 e-mail: ghoshroy-at-nmsu.edu
Sample preparation required to perform EELS on catalyst particles varies, depending on the composition and hardness of the catalyst. We have good luck with many alumino-silicate and similar catalysts by embedding the finely ground powders in LR White resin (acrylic), and then microtoming to acquire very thin sections (references available). Many other supported catalysts do much better with an epoxy system such as Spurr's Low Viscosity resin. Some materials are easier examined by dispersing fine particles on a holey carbon support.
We'll need more info before we can give you any specific sample prep to follow. What is your catalyst material?
Good Luck, Brad ____________________________
I want to do elemental mapping on catalyst particles with EELS. We have a Philips CM200 microscope equipped with a GATAN Image Filter. How does one prepare catalyst powders for EELS elemental mapping ? I suppose the powder has to be set in some kind of resin and then thinned by microtoming or some thinning technique to sufficient thickness. What kind of resin works best ? How thick should the sections be ?
Thanks
Willem Erasmus Scientist, Basic Catalysis Research Sasol Technology Tel : +27 +16 9604211 Fax : +27 +16 9602826
} Rick Vaughn wrote ... } } } It seems most people are using CD's. Our computer system } } people suggested NOT using cd r, or cd rw's ... } } I thought I better post a caveat to my last message which } would have implied CD/RW the only way to go. I've been spending } all of this Friday trying to retrieve archived images from a } CD written here. Bad writes ... not because there isn't any one } standard format for acrchiving files to CDs across platforms, } but because, either (1) I was cheap and bought inexpensive CDs, } OR (2) because my CD writer needed its BIOS flashed for better } support for silver CDs. A lesson learned ... buy best quality, } "tried and true" gold CDs for your archiving purposes (!!!)
Dear List:
All of this talk about digital archiving reminds me that film, that semi-transparent material with the silver halide coating, has a storage life of 100+ years when properly processed.
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 mcauliff-at-umdnj.edu **********************************************
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY TECHNICIAN, SENIOR Duties include all aspects of TEM, including negative staining and thin sectioning. It's an exciting job working with many different kinds of clinical and research specimens, physicians and researchers. It is a large lab with 4 other amiable EM techs who share duties. The salary is in the $27K range, plus 24% benefits (total--~$34.3K) which is reasonable for the cost of living here. Durham is a cosmopolitan city with 3 major universities nearby, and hence, all kinds of cultural entertainment; it is situated halfway between the beach and the mountains (about 3.5 hrs to each). Called the "City of Medicine," for it's high doctor/citizen ratio because of numerous hospitals, Durham also claims the team that "almost won" the NCAA tournament and that sent 3 players this year to the NBA (heaven help us next year). It is home to the Durham Bulls (baseball) and a half hour drive from the Carolina Hurricanes (hockey). With all this, it is still a relatively small city (~150K) where you can live in the country with only a 20 min drive to work, if you choose. Requisite job qualifications include experience in TEM, either through college courses or on-the-job training. Call or reply by email if interested.
Sara E. Miller, Ph. D. P. O. Box 3020 Duke University Medical Center Durham, NC 27710 Ph: 919 684-3452 FAX: 919 684-8735
Thanks to all of you who took the time to respond to my posting regarding block face getting wet. I received lots of very helpful suggestions.
This is truly an excellent resource for microscopists.
Cheers,
Soumitra
Soumitra Ghoshroy Ph.D. Electron Microscopy Lab Box 3EML New Mexico State University Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001 Tel: 505-646-1531/3600 Fax: 505-646-5665 e-mail: ghoshroy-at-nmsu.edu
Our resident entomologist/electrophysiologist would like to delve into the fascinating world of microscopy and imaging, and wants to take me along with her.
My microscopy background has not included insects, and I am not well versed in their pecularities in preparation (such as how to deal with penetration of fixatives and the like through exoskeleton), so I am asking for your help with this.
At this point, I would very much appreciate it if people might point me in the direction of some good references and/or books on the subject of preparing cleared whole mounts of insects as well as techniques for fixing and embedding insect parts (especially antennae) for LM and EM.
Please reply off line. Thanks in advance.
Paula Allan-Wojtas Research Scientist, Food Microstructure Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Atlantic Food and Horticulture Research Centre Kentville, Nova Scotia Canada B4N 1J5
} ---------- } From: Geoff McAuliffe[SMTP:MCAULIFF-at-UMDNJ.EDU] } Sent: Tuesday, July 06, 1999 9:32:49 AM } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: Re: Digital Archiving continued
..
} Dear List:
} All of this talk about digital archiving reminds me that film, that } semi-transparent material with the silver halide coating, has a storage life } of 100+ years when properly processed.
.. and stored!! Exposure to light, humidity, chemical vapors, etc., or scratches due to handling can destroy negatives as well. I agree, that some negatives have a proven record of 100+ years, but how long do you relly need access to the negatives? I have folders and folders of TEM negatives from before the "digital age" in my shelves, and frankly, they will probably stay there until I die and then go to the trash without anybody ever looking at them again. And my filing system is not perfect either. If somebody asked me for a certain negative I took, say 10 years ago, I would probably have to look for a long, long time to find it. Some of the images went into publications, so there is another record of these. Others that I need I have on my PC and they will get transferred to other media until they become yesterday's news. Most of them are redundant and not needed, but since I had no way of making sure I recorded the right pictures I took many more than I needed.
While I agree, that negatives can survive at least a century, it is other factors like databasing, ease of transfer, and less work with chemicals that I would consider as well. The problem we have with recalling old data is usually not that the data is gone, but that the technology has changed and there is no longer access to the media (remember 8 inch disks :) ? I am convinced, that even in 50 years you can find somebody who can scrape the data from a CD and put it on a then current medium (holographic storage??).
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 1675 Carr St., #105N Lakewood, CO 80215 =================================== phone: (888) FIND SIS (303) 234-9270 fax: (303) 234-9271 email: mailto:info-at-soft-imaging.com web: http://www.soft-imaging.com ===================================
I'm trying to get some information for a client who wants to try making his own glass Ralph (histo) knives. He says he heard something about a technique for breaking these by hand, without the special knifemaker. Does anyone out there in list-land know anything about this?
Thanks much.
Randy Tindall Electron Microscope Specialist Electron Microscope Core Facility University of Missouri Columbia, MO 65211
I'm trying to get some information for a client who wants to try making his own glass Ralph (histo) knives. He says he heard something about a technique for breaking these by hand, without the special knifemaker. Does anyone out there in list-land know anything about this?
Thanks much.
Randy Tindall Electron Microscope Specialist Electron Microscope Core Facility University of Missouri Columbia, MO 65211
Responding to the message of {v03007801b3a834474a66-at-[206.69.208.21]} from JoAnn Buchanan {redhair-at-leland.Stanford.EDU} : } } } Dear readers, I have a problem with very pale staining of my embed 812 } resin thin sections. I often need to use formvar and I cut 50nm thin } sections of cultured cells and fish embryos. I have tried numerous recipes } for both UA (including methanolic) and Lead (Sato's, lead nitrate, lead } citrate). It seems like the stain works well for a couple of times, then } flakes out. I have tried making the lead up fresh each time but even that } fails. The tissue is microwave processed including an en bloc uranyl } acetate step. I take great pains not to get any precipitate by using an } NaOH rinse. I stain 10-15 mins in UA and 5 min. in lead. Does any one have } any suggestions, ideas? What is the best lead stain?? Thanks in advance.
I, too, cut 50-55 nm sections of Embed 812, tho of plant materials, and also get slightly fainter staining, and I attribute it to just the fact that the sections are quite thin and there isn't a lot of material to stain - no Formvar on these grids. If I cut 60-75 nm sections, they do stain better. I'm cutting thin for better resolution.
Try cutting some thicker sections and look at those just to check your stains. I use 3-4% UA for 20-30 minutes, followed by Sato lead for 3-4 minutes. Hope this helps.
Gib
Gib Ahlstrand Electron Optical Facility, University of Minnesota, Dept. Plant Pathology 495 Borlaug Hall, St. Paul, MN. USA. 55108 (612)625-8249 612-625-9728 FAX, giba-at-puccini.crl.umn.edu http://biosci.umn.edu/MIC/consortium.html
} Dear readers, I have a problem with very pale staining of my embed 812 } resin thin sections. I often need to use formvar and I cut 50nm thin } sections of cultured cells and fish embryos. I have tried numerous recipes } for both UA (including methanolic) and Lead (Sato's, lead nitrate, lead } citrate). It seems like the stain works well for a couple of times, then } flakes out. I have tried making the lead up fresh each time but even that } fails. The tissue is microwave processed including an en bloc uranyl } acetate step. I take great pains not to get any precipitate by using an } NaOH rinse. I stain 10-15 mins in UA and 5 min. in lead. Does any one have } any suggestions, ideas? What is the best lead stain?? Thanks in advance. } } JoAnn Buchanan } Molecular and Cellular Physiology } Stanford University Scholl of Medicine } Stanford, CA 94305
Sorry about the repeated posting about Ralph knives. The messages kept coming back to me as "undeliverable", so I didn't know they'd made it through. I thought the spam filter had locked me out. Oops...
Hello All Does anybody know where to buy following thing: - Thermal Insulating Compound type GE 7030 (pack 200 G) ... and what it is for ? kind regards Krzysztof Herman* LABSOFT * Biuro Techniczno-Handloweul.Bazancia 45A, 02-892 Warszawa PLtel/fax: (+48 22)6446233, tel: 6449750, 6449753mobile: (+48 601)307456, (+48 501)213438E-mail: kherman-at-labsoft.com.plhttp://www.labsoft.com.pl
} I'm trying to get some information for a client who wants to try making his } own glass Ralph (histo) knives. He says he heard something about a } technique for breaking these by hand, without the special knifemaker. Does } anyone out there in list-land know anything about this?
} Randy Tindall } Electron Microscope Specialist } Electron Microscope Core Facility } University of Missouri } Columbia, MO 65211
This is how I used to do it: 1) Make a score perpendicular to the long edge of a standard 1" strip of 1/4" plate glass, ~3" from the end. I did it with a LKB knifebreaker, but you could probably do it with by hand with a glass cutter. 2) Place a pencil under the score, on a table. Put a thinner stick under the 3" end piece (which will become the knife) to protect it from chipping. 3) Press firmly and evenly on both sides of the score; the glass will break. 4) Shorten the concave "ralph" to fit your knife holder. I used the LKB for this. You may have to experiment a bit with the position of the pencil if the cutting edge is too steep or shallow. This was actually published, a long time ago when ralphs were new, but I don't have the reference.
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/PMHomePage.html Intertidal invertebrates: http://www.fortbragg.k12.ca.us/AG/PCI/pci.html
} Can anyone give me their formula or direct me to a reference on how to } accurately calculate the size of scale bar on photomicrographs?
Easiest way to do this (for me, anyway) is as follows:
1. Think of a value for your scale bar, e.g. 1 micron (this should always be a round figure, or reasonable fractions thereof), 2. Multiply this by the final print magnification of the micrograph, 3. This value is the length of the scale bar, in this case in microns.
Example:
If final print magnification is 22 300x, and if you choose to have the scale bar representing 1 micron, then scale bar length = 1 micron x 22 300 = 22 300 microns. Then, as there are 1000 microns in a mm, the scale bar length on the micrograph will have to be 22.3mm.
Clearly, depending on the magnification, sometimes you may choose an impractical figure for the scale bar to represent.
If, for example you choose 1 micron for a magnification of 400x then the scale bar would only be 400 microns (0.4mm) long. This is crazy so how about choosing 20 microns? The scale bar would then have to be 20 microns x 400 = 8000 microns = 8mm.
At the other end of the scale, if you have a magnification of 120 000x then a 1 micron scale bar would be 120mm - much too long - so how about a 0.1 micron (or 100 nm) scale bar? Yes, much better because then the scale bar would be 0.1 micron x 120 000 = 12 000 microns = 12mm.
PLEASE do not fall into the trap of doing it the other way around and calculating what a bar of given length will represent. This leaves you then with all your bars the same length (very neat, yes) but representing crazy figures like 0.23 micron, 66 nm, etc!
Thanks for asking about this. Now, having written out the answer, with examples, on the many occasions when I am asked the same question by our users, I can simply pass on copies of this message rather than do the explanation over and over again on the board!
Good luck
Robin
Robin H Cross Director : EM Unit, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa R.Cross-at-ru.ac.za (or eurc-at-giraffe.ru.ac.za) tel: +27 46 603 8168 - fax: +27 46 622 4377 http://www.ru.ac.za/emu/index.htm
Regarding your closing sentence - I shall keep your letter for 50 years and see if you were right !! Either way, I know that my indexed collection of negatives will still be around ! Predicting the future of technology at this exciting time is a high-risk operation - even for 10 years never mind 50.
Tony Bruton Centre for EM University of Natal, KZN South Africa
} } } Michael Bode {mb-at-soft-imaging.com} 07/06 10:39 PM } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
} ---------- } From: Geoff McAuliffe[SMTP:MCAULIFF-at-UMDNJ.EDU] } Sent: Tuesday, July 06, 1999 9:32:49 AM } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: Re: Digital Archiving continued
.
} Dear List:
} All of this talk about digital archiving reminds me that film, that } semi-transparent material with the silver halide coating, has a storage life } of 100+ years when properly processed.
. and stored!! Exposure to light, humidity, chemical vapors, etc., or scratches due to handling can destroy negatives as well. I agree, that some negatives have a proven record of 100+ years, but how long do you relly need access to the negatives? I have folders and folders of TEM negatives from before the "digital age" in my shelves, and frankly, they will probably stay there until I die and then go to the trash without anybody ever looking at them again. And my filing system is not perfect either. If somebody asked me for a certain negative I took, say 10 years ago, I would probably have to look for a long, long time to find it. Some of the images went into publications, so there is another record of these. Others that I need I have on my PC and they will get transferred to other media until they become yesterday's news. Most of them are redundant and not needed, but since I had no way of making sure I recorded the right pictures I took many more than I needed.
While I agree, that negatives can survive at least a century, it is other factors like databasing, ease of transfer, and less work with chemicals that I would consider as well. The problem we have with recalling old data is usually not that the data is gone, but that the technology has changed and there is no longer access to the media (remember 8 inch disks :) ? I am convinced, that even in 50 years you can find somebody who can scrape the data from a CD and put it on a then current medium (holographic storage??).
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 1675 Carr St., #105N Lakewood, CO 80215 =================================== phone: (888) FIND SIS (303) 234-9270 fax: (303) 234-9271 email: mailto:info-at-soft-imaging.com web: http://www.soft-imaging.com ===================================
} A complex subject. The melting point of Indium is 156.61 degrees C. I expect } none of the TEM lens parts get that hot during a bake out. Some manufacturers } restrict In seals to a couple of positions, like the gun chamber. I do not have } the figures, but believe that Indium, even near its melting point, when } compared with good vacuum greases would outgas at much slower rate.
Since the boiling point of Indium is 2000 C plus change (at 1 atmosphere pressure), the vapor pressure would be very low. I don't have a published value.
} Furthermore, a few indium metal atoms would not be contaminants which would } cause problems similar to greases and oils and their degraded products.
Agreed. They'd occasionally be scrubbed off surfaces by stray radiation, but would otherwise sit harmlessly on the column.
} The discussion should be if in turbo and ion getter pumped systems more In } seals should be used in place of polymer seals.
I prefer systems like conflat flanges with copper gaskets. They're easier to work with and have equally good vacuum properties. Yours, Bill Tivol
I have made some of these for large cutting edges on a rotary microtome, but never for the triangular pieces that are typically used in an ultratome. I used the standard 1/4" thick LKB glass and scored it with a diamond scribe, at right angles to the length of the glass strip -using a staight edge to guide the cut. Then I broke the strip with glass-breaking pliers (check the hardware store). The same method can be used for making ralf knives from 3X1 microscope slides (the cheaper the glass the better they break---I don't know why). It takes a few tries to get the edge that you want. As I said, I only make square or rectangular knives this way, 'tho you may be able to work something out for the triangular type.
Karen
On Tue, 6 Jul 1999, Tindall, Randy D. wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Hi, } } I'm trying to get some information for a client who wants to try making his } own glass Ralph (histo) knives. He says he heard something about a } technique for breaking these by hand, without the special knifemaker. Does } anyone out there in list-land know anything about this? } } Thanks much. } } } Randy Tindall } Electron Microscope Specialist } Electron Microscope Core Facility } University of Missouri } Columbia, MO 65211 } } }
I have found it quite useful to print out an Excel spreadsheet table with values on it. One axis can have magnifications in 1,000s (eg 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,20,30,40,50,60,70,80,90,100,200,300,400,500) and the other axis can have fixed values to be represented (eg 10,20,50,100,500nm;1,2,5,10,20um). The table can then contain the values in mms.
It's almost foolproof and easy to run off copies for students, especially when they realise that you can add bits together on the magnification side to give you a scale bar length for say 13k = 10k + 3k so just add the two entries in the table to get the length for a 2um bar. I imported this into a word document because I wanted to shade bits of the table to give recommended lengths for scale bars but it works fine.
I may have the Word 6.0 for Windows PC document somewhere. If you want a copy post an e-mail to me (see e-mail address at bottom)
Malcolm
Malcolm Haswell Electron Microscopy School of Sciences Fleming Building University of Sunderland SUNDERLAND SR1 3SD Tyne and Wear UK
Tel (0191) 515 2872 e-mail: malcolm.haswell-at-sunderland.ac.uk ---------- } From: Robin Cross To: Ruth Yamawaki Cc: microscopy
Hello Ruth
} Can anyone give me their formula or direct me to a reference on how to } accurately calculate the size of scale bar on photomicrographs?
Easiest way to do this (for me, anyway) is as follows:
1. Think of a value for your scale bar, e.g. 1 micron (this should always be a round figure, or reasonable fractions thereof), 2. Multiply this by the final print magnification of the micrograph, 3. This value is the length of the scale bar, in this case in microns.
Example:
If final print magnification is 22 300x, and if you choose to have the scale bar representing 1 micron, then scale bar length = 1 micron x 22 300 = 22 300 microns. Then, as there are 1000 microns in a mm, the scale bar length on the micrograph will have to be 22.3mm.
Clearly, depending on the magnification, sometimes you may choose an impractical figure for the scale bar to represent.
If, for example you choose 1 micron for a magnification of 400x then the scale bar would only be 400 microns (0.4mm) long. This is crazy so how about choosing 20 microns? The scale bar would then have to be 20 microns x 400 = 8000 microns = 8mm.
At the other end of the scale, if you have a magnification of 120 000x then a 1 micron scale bar would be 120mm - much too long - so how about a 0.1 micron (or 100 nm) scale bar? Yes, much better because then the scale bar would be 0.1 micron x 120 000 = 12 000 microns = 12mm.
PLEASE do not fall into the trap of doing it the other way around and calculating what a bar of given length will represent. This leaves you then with all your bars the same length (very neat, yes) but representing crazy figures like 0.23 micron, 66 nm, etc!
Thanks for asking about this. Now, having written out the answer, with examples, on the many occasions when I am asked the same question by our users, I can simply pass on copies of this message rather than do the explanation over and over again on the board!
Good luck
Robin
Robin H Cross Director : EM Unit, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa R.Cross-at-ru.ac.za (or eurc-at-giraffe.ru.ac.za) tel: +27 46 603 8168 - fax: +27 46 622 4377 http://www.ru.ac.za/emu/index.htm
by darkwing.uoregon.edu (8.9.3/8.9.3) with SMTP id IAA26704; Wed, 7 Jul 1999 08:05:27 -0700 (PDT) "Ruth Yamawaki" {yamawaki-at-leland.Stanford.EDU} Cc: {microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com}
Robin Cross writes ...
} -----Original Message----- } } Easiest way to do this (for me, anyway) is as follows: } } 1. Think of a value for your scale bar, e.g. 1 micron } (this should } always be a round figure, or reasonable fractions thereof), } 2. Multiply this by the final print magnification of the } micrograph, } 3. This value is the length of the scale bar, in this } case in microns. } } Example: } ...
Indeed the simplest approach ... however, when I first read Ruth's post I hesitated to reply without wanting more info. Is she asking about creating a ubar after darkroom enlargement? ... or is she asking about converting magnifications into pixel dimentions for annotating with (e.g.) Photoshop?? Or, is she asking an even more basic question which might be instrument specific and about how to calibrate "reported" magnifications???
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 admit that it is dangerous to speculate on technological advances and extrapolate too far into the future, but it goes both ways. My daughter just showed me a book from the 60s (I believe), where they predict, that "by the year 2000 vacation travel to the moon will be commonplace", and we have all been there, right?
The reason I used CDs for my "prediction" is that it is used everywhere - data distribution, Music, software, etc. - and it will have a pretty big momentum to be totally replaced and forgotten.
I still have an old PC with a 5 1/4 floppy around (use it as a doorstop, mainly), but I could probably revive it to read 5 1/4 disks and put the data on CDs, if that became necessary. Those disks were around in the early 70s into the 80s, so they are 15 to 20 years old. And at that time, there were much fewer PCs around than now. So, if I personally can go back 15 to 20 years with a 5 1/4 floppy, chances are that somebody could go back to CDs in 50 years and read them, particular since CDs are much more widespread than 5 1/4 floppies ever were.
But let's discuss this in 50 years over a glass of wine or beer, perhaps at the 2049 M&M meeting (on Mars???)
Michael
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 1675 Carr St., #105N Lakewood, CO 80215 =================================== phone: (888) FIND SIS (303) 234-9270 fax: (303) 234-9271 email: mailto:info-at-soft-imaging.com web: http://www.soft-imaging.com ===================================
} ---------- } From: Tony Bruton[SMTP:BRUTON-at-EMU.UNP.AC.ZA] } Sent: Wednesday, July 07, 1999 3:59:04 AM } To: Michael Bode; Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: RE: Digital Archiving continued } Auto forwarded by a Rule } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Micheal
Regarding your closing sentence - I shall keep your letter for 50 years and see if you were right !! Either way, I know that my indexed collection of negatives will still be around ! Predicting the future of technology at this exciting time is a high-risk operation - even for 10 years never mind 50.
Tony Bruton Centre for EM University of Natal, KZN South Africa
} -----Original Message----- } } Regarding your closing sentence - I shall keep your letter for 50 } years and see if you were right !! Either way, I know that } my indexed } collection of negatives will still be around ! ...
I don't believe anyone is asking you to trash your collection of negatives ... which (no arguement from anyone) IS the best and least expensive method of archiving photographic images ... IF they're on film!! On the other hand ... what if, for their own reasons, one of your students chooses to scan all of one your past project's micrographs, and turns them and their analysis into a thesis project. Further imagine some squirrel chooses to fry itself on your building's power transformer while that computer is on and it wipes out a sector on the harddisk, and with it all the work he/she has done. I wonder how appreciative your student will be that your negatives are so well indexed(???) ... my $0.02 :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 saw someone post microwave antigen retrieval protocol website a few days ago in Listserver. However, I deleted it by accident. Could anyone forward to me the website or any other resources under that subject. I try to use microwave to do immunohistochemistry. Thanks.
******************************************************************* To see what is in front of one's nose requires a constant struggle.
George Orwell
Dorothy Zhang Harvard School of public Health Building 2, CVLAB 677 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115 Phone# 617-432-6981 Fax# 617-432-2980
-----Oorspronkelijk bericht----- Van: Tindall, Randy D. {TindallR-at-missouri.edu} Aan: 'microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com' {microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} Datum: mercredi 7 juillet 1999 5:15 Onderwerp: histo knives
[knip]
A method for "do-it-yourself" glas knives to cut semi-thin sections (about .5 - 3 micron) of specimens embedded in methacrylate, Epon and/or Araldite is described in:
Gerlach, D: "Botanische Mikrotechnik", Thieme, stuttgart (1969), ISBN unknown, the method is also described in more recent versions of the book, but I don't have these at hand at the moment... (in German, maybe there's an English translation...).
The method described uses a regular rotary microtome with do-it-yourself modification of the knive holder. No appartus is needed to make the glass knives.
Does anyone know of an antibody source for GFP(not produced in rabbit) = that has a proven track record for EM immunolabelling? This will be used = in a dual labeling experiment in which the other primary is produced in = rabbit.
Thanks, Hank Adams IMC Baylor College of Medicine Houston, TX
Hello again I'm just full of questions lately. As I mentioned in a previous question, we are in the middle (actually down to the wire) of a CAP inspection in the Path EM lab. We are having to rewrite all of the procedures which most have been done from memory and little black books in our lab coats. Sure the originals are there but the modifications aren't. One of which is a notation not to heat the paraformaldehyde solution greater than 60 degrees C, and I remember the senior lab tech at the time telling me this was to prevent polymerization. Unfortunately, the current books like Bozzolla and Russell"s 2nd edition state that you can heat it from 60 to 80 degrees. Are these temperatures OK, I know it would probably dissolve faster? Was this "polymerization" stuff hooey? Thanks for the help.
Rick Vaughn, M.S. Electron Microscopy Research Fac. Dept. Cell Biology and Anatomy Univ Neb Med Ctr
PS....I say "we" but the real work is being done by the new lab coordinator. I'm luckily just the technical adviser that has been around for 12 years.
shAf, Robin's reply was what I wanted. Thanks to both of you for replying.
Ruth
At 08:05 AM 7/7/99 -0700, shAf wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
We use TWAIN import feature in Photoshop to bring images from two cameras on two stereomicroscopes. We have John Russ' Image Processing Toolkit for Photoshop. There is one plug-in, "IP*measure-Calibrate" that can be used to calibrate the image if a feature of known dimension is captured. What I did was to take a digital image from a good metric ruler at each magnification setting of the microscope. I then calibrated the image, drew a scale marker on a new layer and labeled it for each setting. I changed the name of each layer to be indicative of the setting on the microscope that changed the mag. The only thing on each of these layers is the scale marker and the label. Once I had a layer for each of the different settings, I gathered them all into one photoshop file and labeled it with the appropriate microscope name. When I want to capture images from the microscope, I open Photoshop by opening this file of calibrated layers. After I collect the new image, I drag the appropriate layer from the open "calibrated scale markers" file onto the new image and align the scale marker where I want it.
A little work up front has saved me a lot of aggravation when it comes to calibrating images and putting scale markers on images. I plan to do the same thing for the mag settings on my TEM when I digitize them with my negative scanner, but I haven't invested the time yet.
-Scott
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Glass Technology Center 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."
Does anyone have any opinions on using a heat pen to flatten ultrathin EM sections? I would very much prefer to get away from using chloroform.
Electron Microscopy Sciences has two models: Wax Pen 1 (which uses 1 AA battery) and Wax Pen 2 (which uses 2 AA batteries). Their tech representative recommended the Wax Pen 2 for flattening sections. Is this consistent with the preference of the majority?
I need to decide to place an order soon (the end of the fiscal year is approaching).
Thank you,
Jaclynn Lett, Research Assistant jmlett-at-cid.wustl.edu
Fay and Carl Simon Center for the Biology of Hearing and Deafness Central Institute for the Deaf 818 S. Euclid Ave. St. Louis, MO 63110
We have two CD Writers here. They are both Plasmon RF4100 units. They are five & fours years old respectively. Apart from a dodgy power supply on the older one they have given very reliable service since we got them. There is bound to be a much more modern version available. We were recommended to purchase the first one because it was a more professional model compared to others available. The "engine" is a Philips. It might be worth trying the Hewlett P model since it may be more readily available and service will be more local.
When considering the model to purchase they will quote Write/Read speeds. The computer you use to write will determine what Write speed you are able to use. The software you use should give a reading of the data transfer & more especially the level of data in the buffer ( I use Gear 4 ). If the buffer empties because of a fast Write speed then the CD will be ruined. I have two computers set up for writing. One cannot reliably Write faster than X1, while the second writes at X2 successfully. Both are set up with SCSI transfer from a SCSI hard drive. The Read speed is unimportant since I just pop it into the X32 CD on the computer when I want to check it.
Best wishes,
Colin
Colin Reid, Electron Microscope Unit, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2. Tel: 353-1-6081820 Fax: 353-1-6770438 Email: creid-at-tcd.ie http://www2.tcd.ie/Electron_Microscope/emu/home.htm
-----Original Message----- } From: rlvaughn-at-UNMC.EDU [SMTP:rlvaughn-at-UNMC.EDU] Sent: Thursday, July 08, 1999 2:17 AM To: sdw-at-biotech.ufl.edu; oshel-at-terracom.net; gary-at-gaugler.com; creid-at-tcd.ie; m.dickson-at-unsw.edu.au; walck-at-ppg.com; raharris-at-ucdavis.edu; doug-cromey-at-ns.arizona.edu; mshaf-at-darkwing.uoregon.edu; mb-at-soft-imaging.com
I think you'd do better with a calibrating slide on your microscope. It's accurate and can be used with any objective lens. The one I know of is made by MicroBrightField (www.microbrightfield.com) and shows two different sized 10x10 square lattices, one for high mag objectives, the other for low. You can also make video images of the lattices. I believe the individual box sizes are 20 um and 100 um. The price is modest, somewhere around $100.
Ed Glaser
On Wed, 7 Jul 1999, Walck. Scott D. 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 use TWAIN import feature in Photoshop to bring images from two cameras on } two stereomicroscopes. We have John Russ' Image Processing Toolkit for } Photoshop. There is one plug-in, "IP*measure-Calibrate" that can be used to } calibrate the image if a feature of known dimension is captured. What I did } was to take a digital image from a good metric ruler at each magnification } setting of the microscope. I then calibrated the image, drew a scale marker } on a new layer and labeled it for each setting. I changed the name of each } layer to be indicative of the setting on the microscope that changed the } mag. The only thing on each of these layers is the scale marker and the } label. Once I had a layer for each of the different settings, I gathered } them all into one photoshop file and labeled it with the appropriate } microscope name. When I want to capture images from the microscope, I open } Photoshop by opening this file of calibrated layers. After I collect the } new image, I drag the appropriate layer from the open "calibrated scale } markers" file onto the new image and align the scale marker where I want it. } } A little work up front has saved me a lot of aggravation when it comes to } calibrating images and putting scale markers on images. I plan to do the } same thing for the mag settings on my TEM when I digitize them with my } negative scanner, but I haven't invested the time yet. } } } -Scott } } Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. } PPG Industries, Inc. } Glass Technology Center } 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." } }
Edmund Glaser, D. Eng. Dept. Physiol. Univ. Md. School. Med. Baltimore, MD 21201 USA Ph: (410) 706-5041 Fax: (410) 706-8341
Hello, We need to reduce effects of acoustic interference with high resolution EFTEM work. Would anyone be willing to share experience with effectiveness of various wall panels, carpets, or floor tiles for this purpose? Marek.
Marek Malecki, M.D., Ph.D. Director Electron Microscopy Facilities
Dear All, Is anyone aware of a reference that will give the DeBye Waller Factors of Zn and O in ZnO? Or do you know of a value from a private communication or experiments ? Aacknowledgements will be made to those providing the information. I would really apprecite any help on this one, thanks, Jonathan
******************************************************** Dr Jonathan Barnard
Analytical Materials Physics The Angstrom Laboratory, Uppsala University P O Box 534, SE-751 21 Uppsala, Sweden Phone: +46-(0)18-4716838 Fax: +46-(0)18-500131
Dear Rick: Yes, I think it is OK to heat paraformaldehyde above 60 degrees. We have used 1% paraform in combination with 2% glutaraldehyde for perfusion fix. The source of our recipe is fuzzy. Try Karnovsky, M.J., 1965. J. Cell Biol. 29:137A. Our recipe is as follows:
1) 1 gram PF powder in 50ml DD H20. 2) Stir and heat to 70 degrees C 3) Transfer to stirrer (cool) 4) Add 2 drops 1N NaOH by pasteur pipette 5) Solution should clear. 6) Filter thru #1 filter paper.
This gets diluted by half when combined 1:1 with 4% glut. Don Gantz Boston Univ Med School gantz-at-med-biophd.bu.edu
It's a while since I last cut thin sections, but I always used to use a heat pen. I bought it when there was only one model and it ran off the mains through a transformer, but I imagine the present ones are much the same. Anyway, I found it worked very well, and it was wonderful not to breathe in chloroform all the time.
Lesley Weston.
On Wed, 7 Jul 1999, Jaci Lett wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Does anyone have any opinions on using a heat pen to flatten ultrathin EM } sections? I would very much prefer to get away from using chloroform. } } Electron Microscopy Sciences has two models: Wax Pen 1 (which uses 1 AA } battery) and Wax Pen 2 (which uses 2 AA batteries). Their tech } representative recommended the Wax Pen 2 for flattening sections. Is this } consistent with the preference of the majority? } } I need to decide to place an order soon (the end of the fiscal year is } approaching). } } Thank you, } } Jaclynn Lett, Research Assistant jmlett-at-cid.wustl.edu } } Fay and Carl Simon Center for the Biology of Hearing and Deafness } Central Institute for the Deaf } 818 S. Euclid Ave. } St. Louis, MO 63110 } } voice 314-977-0257 fax 314-977-0030 } } } }
We are looking to identify any local or regional testing labs or vendors that could help us evaluate the feasibility of applying laser confocal microscopy applied to some of our coatings and coatings-related studies. Please respond directly. Thank you.
-Scott
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Glass Technology Center Guys Run Rd. (packages) P. O. Box 11472 (letters) Pittsburgh, PA 15238-0472
} I don't believe anyone is asking you to trash your collection of } negatives ... which (no arguement from anyone) IS the best and least } expensive method of archiving photographic images ... IF they're on } film!!
If you are saying that sticking existing negatives in a box and index them somehow (on paper or computer), you'll get no argument from me. However, if you are saying that taking images on film and then archiving them is the least expensive way, I would argue otherwise. The negative itself is roughly $1/piece (perhaps a bit cheaper if you buy bulk). So, the cost for 300 images is about $300 without counting development chemicals and labor. I also leave out initial investments (darkroom, development station, other equipment, enlarger, etc.). The same 300 image you could probably stuff onto one (1) CD for about $1. Again I am neglecting initial investments (CD-writer, camera, PC, etc), but I would say, the cost difference points in the direction of digital imaging.
Of course I will now get a lot of arguments about prices of cameras vs. enlargers, upgrade costs, labor cost, information density on film vs. CD, etc. The decision, which is more cost effective has to be made individually, taking into account the number of images recorded on average, existing equipment, etc., but just saying "Film is cheaper" is not enough. It needs to be qualified.
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 1675 Carr St., #105N Lakewood, CO 80215 =================================== phone: (888) FIND SIS (303) 234-9270 fax: (303) 234-9271 email: mailto:info-at-soft-imaging.com web: http://www.soft-imaging.com ===================================
This is the Biological EM Facility, but, with the recent acquisition of a LEO 912 EFTEM, I suddenly find non-biologists at my door! There promises to be some exciting projects.
One researcher is trying to visualize and characterize Silicon nanoparticles. They may or may not be crystalline, and they may or may not form crystals and/or amorphous blobs. The immediate question (for a grant proposal) is what do we need to do electron diffraction? We can do s.a.d., but I'm completely unclear as to the other kinds of diffraction and what information can be obtained. His particles are probably 1-4 nm, with another class at probably 6-12 nm. I read somewhere that low-angle diffraction is probably useful only on particles {0.4 nm. S.a.d. probably for larger particles. What would people recommend? And right now I could use a primer/glossary on CBED, SAD, HRED, etc.
I love learning new techniques, but I never thought I'd really have to know what Kikuchi lines were!
Aloha from a biologist, 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* ****************************************************************************
Does anybody out there know where I can find a used liquid nitrogen dewar? Somewhere around 4 liter size would be fine. My telephone number is 202-544-0836 and e-mail is mansfield-at-erols.com
Our technicians and students in the TEM course routinely use the heat pen for flattening thin sections. We have been using the "Max Wax" pen marketed by EMS. We use rechargeable nickel-metal hydride batteries that last longer than the regular nickel cadmium ones. We also keep extra tips for the pens (also avalibale from EMS) that needs replacement depending on the amount of use.
RESEARCH SCIENTIST: Microcosm, Inc., one of the top photonics imaging laboratories in the world has an immediate opportunity in Columbia, Maryland for a Research Scientist specializing in Time-Resolved Fluorescence Imaging and Photonics. You should have an advanced degree in physics, biophysics, material science or a related area with 0-3 years postgraduate laboratory experience (Ph.D.) or 3-5 years experience (MS degree). Essential skills include experimental design, execution and troubleshooting, and employing methods such as multiphoton excitation, time-resolved spectroscopy and imaging. Strong analytical, computer and verbal skills are required. We offer an attractive salary, comprehensive benefits and progressive work environment. This position is open only for US citizens.
Please fax or e-mail CV to Dr. H. Malak at 301-725-2941 or henryk-at-microcosm.com
________________________________________________________ Dr. Henryk Malak Director of Research Microcosm, Inc. | 9140 Guilford Road, Suite O |Columbia, MD 21046 Phone: (301) 725-2775, Fax: (301) 725-2941 Our web site is located at: http://www.microcosm.com {http://www.microcosm.com} ________________________________________________________
This is the Biological EM Facility, but, with the recent acquisition of a
} LEO 912 EFTEM, I suddenly find non-biologists at my door! There promises } to be some exciting projects.
You will also have some exciting biological projects--that's a terrific machine for getting the maximum information from each electron.
} } One researcher is trying to visualize and characterize Silicon } nanoparticles. They may or may not be crystalline, and they may or may not } form crystals and/or amorphous blobs. The immediate question (for a grant } proposal) is what do we need to do electron diffraction? We can do } s.a.d., but I'm completely unclear as to the other kinds of diffraction } and what information can be obtained. His particles are probably 1-4 nm, } with another class at probably 6-12 nm. I read somewhere that low-angle } diffraction is probably useful only on particles {0.4 nm. S.a.d. probably } for larger particles. What would people recommend? And right now I could } use a primer/glossary on CBED, SAD, HRED, etc. }
I just finished editing a topical issue of Microscopy Research & Technique, so I'm not biased or anything, but see Vol. 46 #2 & 3 for articles on these subjects. It sounds like the articles by Cowley on nanodiffraction and by Holmstad et al. and by Zuo on CBED will be especially useful. These issues are scheduled to be out
this month.
Disclaimer: Although I edited the journal issues mentioned above, I don't actually get paid more if more get sold. I, therefore, have no monitary interest, only honor and glory. Yours, Bill Tivol
When "cooking" formaldehyde, do so only in a fume hood. Sara Miller
On Thu, 8 Jul 1999 GANTZ-at-med-biophd.bu.edu-at-sparc5.microscopy.com wrote:
} Date: Thu, 08 Jul 1999 12:18:46 -0400 (EDT) } From: GANTZ-at-med-biophd.bu.edu-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } To: MICROSCOPY-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: Cooking Paraformaldehyde } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 Rick: } Yes, I think it is OK to heat paraformaldehyde above 60 degrees. } We have used 1% paraform in combination with 2% glutaraldehyde for } perfusion fix. The source of our recipe is fuzzy. Try Karnovsky, M.J., } 1965. J. Cell Biol. 29:137A. Our recipe is as follows: } } 1) 1 gram PF powder in 50ml DD H20. } 2) Stir and heat to 70 degrees C } 3) Transfer to stirrer (cool) } 4) Add 2 drops 1N NaOH by pasteur pipette } 5) Solution should clear. } 6) Filter thru #1 filter paper. } } This gets diluted by half when combined 1:1 with 4% glut. } Don Gantz } Boston Univ Med School } gantz-at-med-biophd.bu.edu } }
Sara E. Miller, Ph. D. P. O. Box 3020 Duke University Medical Center Durham, NC 27710 Ph: 919 684-3452 FAX: 919 684-8735
Once again I am grateful to the many microscopists offering suggestions to bail me out of my most recent hole. I am posting this summary for all who are interested. I thought Richard Eastwood's and Phil Swab's similar suggestions to use silane derivatives to promote adhesion to the resin was very intriguing. I can't believe I have never heard of that before. I am trying the simplier idea of opening the seeds up before embedding but will probably try a silane derivative as soon as I can scrounge some up. Tom
THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM:
I am having some trouble getting thin sections of some seeds I want to do EM immunolabeling on. I have ttried embedding some seeds in LR White (osmicated) or LR Gold (unosmicated). I took a week slowly infiltrating them with a dilution series of plastic resin but when I went to section them, they just popped out like stainless steel bb's. There is no hint at all that the embedding medium penetrated into them. Any experts out there with hints on fixing seeds?
THE REPLIES:
How intact do you need the seed to be? Since it's already hard and dry, why not whack it with a hammer, then embed the pieces, without the hard seed coat.
Philip Oshel Technical Editor, Microscopy Today PO Box 620068 Middleton, WI 53562 Address for courier deliveries: 6319 Pheasant Lane #A-12 Voice: (608) 833-2885 Fax: (608) 836-1969 (please make sure my name is on any fax) oshel-at-terracom.net __________________________________________________________________________
I've used a procedure covered by VA Lindley in Microscopy Research & Techniques 21:355-360 (1992) "A New Procedure for Handling Impervious Biological Specimens" with great success after I struck a similar problem with weevils (never had such a problem with Spurrs resin completely failing to stick to a sample). The paper recommends a pre treatment with gamma-glycidoxypropyl trimethoxysilane (available form Sigma etc) and subsequent embedding with LR White. Its simple & worked amazingly well with re-embedded weevils (they were irreplaceable samples so I stripped off the Spurrs). The paper mentions several samples which they tested the method on, including Salicornia oil seeds. I like it.
Richard Easingwood South Campus Electron Microscope Unit School of Medical Sciences University of Otago PO Box 913, Dunedin NEW ZEALAND
I saw your email about the seed work. I'd like to suggest you to microwave them during the process of infiltration. For my work, I have microwaved tobacco seeds (twice, 5 seconds each time in a regular microwave) at the beginning of each infiltration step with LR White resin. It worked well for both sectioning and immunogold labeling. Regards. Xinshun (Ding, X.S." {xsding-at-noble.org) __________________________________________________________________________
For the past 16 years I've used an adhesion promotion step to embed difficult materials for diamond knife cross-sectioning. Typically hard, non porous materials such as glass, diamond, silicon, minerals, ceramics, semiconductors, metals, optical coatings and insect parts.
Prepare a 1% solution of Dow Corning's silane co-polymer Z-6040 (3-glycidoxy-propyltrimethoxy silane) in water and alcohol (50/50). Treat your samples in the solution for approximately an hour. Transfer them to filter paper to remove liquid and embed as normal in Spurrs or LR White. These coupling agents are the adhesion promoters used to bind fibers to polymer in fiberglass. Dow has a variety of other silane coupling agents with specificities for epoxies, acrylics, polyesters, phenolics, urethanes, etc. These are typically sold in 55 gal drums but smaller quantities are available.
Phil Swab Deposition Sciences Inc. Santa Rosa, CA 707-566-3718 phil.swab-at-depsci.com (Phil Swab) __________________________________________________________________________
The Tips & Tricks site has a few "difficult embedding" discussions archived. Go to:
http://www.biotech.ufl.edu/~emcl/index.html
follow the tips link and either run a search or manually pick through the TEM section. I am a year behind in archiving and will forward anything else I have to you but not to the list as a whole. If there is interest I will post the rest to the archive.
GO GATORS Scott D. Whittaker 218 Carr Hall EM Technician Gainesville, FL 32610 University Of Florida ph 352-392-1184 ICBR EM Core Lab fax 352-846-0251 sdw-at-biotech.ufl.edu http://www.biotech.ufl.edu/~emcl/ The home of " Tips & Tricks " __________________________________________________________________________
I had a project embedding lettuce seeds and we ran into a similar problem. The best thing we found was to scratch the surface of the seed to break the outter coat. Don't have to cut into it, just a small abrasion on the surface, then put it in a vacuum. I don't have a vacuum oven, so I place them in a desicator and pulled a vacuum with a hand pump until they sank. This made a huge difference for us.
Karen Vaughn Senior Electron Microscopy Technician ICBR EM Core Labatory 214 Bartram Hall Gainesville Fl 32610 phone: 392-392-1184 fax: 392-846-0251 From: "Karen Vaughn " {klv-at-biotech.ufl.edu
Dear Tom, We had similar problems with pollen grains. The trouble was with the difference between the hardness of the pollen and that of the resin. By varying the composition of the resin, we were able to make a sufficient match so that sections could be cut--in our case, thick sections--with many--but not all-- of the pollen grains still in the sections. Good luck. Yours, 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 65211-7400 (573)-882-4712 (voice) (573)-882-0123 (fax) --============_-1280767762==_ma============ Content-Type: text/enriched; charset="us-ascii" Once again I am grateful to the many microscopists offering suggestions to bail me out of my most recent hole. I am posting this summary for all who are interested. I thought Richard Eastwood's and Phil Swab's similar suggestions to use silane derivatives to promote adhesion to the resin was very intriguing. I can't believe I have never heard of that before. I am trying the simplier idea of opening the seeds up before embedding but will probably try a silane derivative as soon as I can scrounge some up. Tom
THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM:
I am having some trouble getting thin sections of some seeds I want to do EM immunolabeling on. I have ttried embedding some seeds in LR White (osmicated) or LR Gold (unosmicated). I took a week slowly infiltrating them with a dilution series of plastic resin but when I went to section them, they just popped out like stainless steel bb's. There is no hint at all that the embedding medium penetrated into them. Any experts out there with hints on fixing seeds?
THE REPLIES:
How intact do you need the seed to be? Since it's already hard and dry, why not whack it with a hammer, then embed the pieces, without the hard seed coat.
Philip Oshel Technical Editor, Microscopy Today PO Box 620068 Middleton, WI 53562 Address for courier deliveries: 6319 Pheasant Lane #A-12 Voice: (608) 833-2885 Fax: (608) 836-1969 (please make sure my name is on any fax) oshel-at-terracom.net __________________________________________________________________________
I've used a procedure covered by VA Lindley in Microscopy Research & Techniques 21:355-360 (1992) "A New Procedure for Handling Impervious Biological Specimens" with great success after I struck a similar problem with weevils (never had such a problem with Spurrs resin completely failing to stick to a sample). The paper recommends a pre treatment with gamma-glycidoxypropyl trimethoxysilane (available form Sigma etc) and subsequent embedding with LR White. Its simple & worked amazingly well with re-embedded weevils (they were irreplaceable samples so I stripped off the Spurrs). The paper mentions several samples which they tested the method on, including Salicornia oil seeds. I like it.
Richard Easingwood South Campus Electron Microscope Unit School of Medical Sciences University of Otago PO Box 913, Dunedin NEW ZEALAND
I saw your email about the seed work. I'd like to suggest you to microwave them during the process of infiltration. For my work, I have microwaved tobacco seeds (twice, 5 seconds each time in a regular microwave) at the beginning of each infiltration step with LR White resin. It worked well for both sectioning and immunogold labeling. Regards. Xinshun (Ding, X.S." { {xsding-at-noble.org) __________________________________________________________________________
For the past 16 years I've used an adhesion promotion step to embed difficult materials for diamond knife cross-sectioning. Typically hard, non porous materials such as glass, diamond, silicon, minerals, ceramics, semiconductors, metals, optical coatings and insect parts.
Prepare a 1% solution of Dow Corning's silane co-polymer Z-6040 (3-glycidoxy-propyltrimethoxy silane) in water and alcohol (50/50). Treat your samples in the solution for approximately an hour. Transfer them to filter paper to remove liquid and embed as normal in Spurrs or LR White. These coupling agents are the adhesion promoters used to bind fibers to polymer in fiberglass. Dow has a variety of other silane coupling agents with specificities for epoxies, acrylics, polyesters, phenolics, urethanes, etc. These are typically sold in 55 gal drums but smaller quantities are available.
Phil Swab Deposition Sciences Inc. Santa Rosa, CA 707-566-3718 phil.swab-at-depsci.com (Phil Swab) __________________________________________________________________________
The Tips & Tricks site has a few "difficult embedding" discussions archived. Go to:
http://www.biotech.ufl.edu/~emcl/index.html
follow the tips link and either run a search or manually pick through the TEM section. I am a year behind in archiving and will forward anything else I have to you but not to the list as a whole. If there is interest I will post the rest to the archive.
GO GATORS Scott D. Whittaker 218 Carr Hall EM Technician Gainesville, FL 32610 University Of Florida ph 352-392-1184 ICBR EM Core Lab fax 352-846-0251 sdw-at-biotech.ufl.edu http://www.biotech.ufl.edu/~emcl/ The home of " Tips & Tricks " __________________________________________________________________________
I had a project embedding lettuce seeds and we ran into a similar problem. The best thing we found was to scratch the surface of the seed to break the outter coat. Don't have to cut into it, just a small abrasion on the surface, then put it in a vacuum. I don't have a vacuum oven, so I place them in a desicator and pulled a vacuum with a hand pump until they sank. This made a huge difference for us.
Karen Vaughn Senior Electron Microscopy Technician ICBR EM Core Labatory 214 Bartram Hall Gainesville Fl 32610 phone: 392-392-1184 fax: 392-846-0251 From: "Karen Vaughn " { {klv-at-biotech.ufl.edu
Dear Tom, We had similar problems with pollen grains. The trouble was with the difference between the hardness of the pollen and that of the resin. By varying the composition of the resin, we were able to make a sufficient match so that sections could be cut--in our case, thick sections--with many--but not all-- of the pollen grains still in the sections. Good luck. Yours,
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 65211-7400 (573)-882-4712 (voice) (573)-882-0123 (fax) --============_-1280767762==_ma============-- } 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 65211-7400 (573)-882-4712 (voice) (573)-882-0123 (fax)
} When "cooking" formaldehyde, do so only in a fume hood. } Sara Miller
Speaking of formaldehyde I am looking for a formaldehyde free fixitive. I have developed vary serious asthma late in life and I am very sensitive to formaldehyde.
So far Lugol's iodine looks the best for me but I would like something more lasting.
Is formaldehyde the only thing that will fix tissue or just the cheapest. I know it will crosslink almost anything it touches including my sinuses and bronchial tubes. Fortunately it doesn't make it much further than that so it is not a real threat to lungs unless you get in very high concentrations.
Gordon
Gordon Couger gcouger-at-couger.com 624 Cheyenne Stillwater, OK 74075-1411 405 624-2855 GMT -6:00 www.couger.com/gcouger
Y'all might be interested to know that "The Usborne complete book of the microscope" by Kirsteen Rogers has been voted (by schoolchildren) as the winner of this year's Rhone-Poulenc junior science book prize.
(information from the recent "Chemistry in Britain")
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 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 | +------------------------------------------------------------------------+
We have a problem with the cooling water on a JEOL 1200EX TEM, and hope that someone can suggest a cause.
The instrument was run for years on a central closed-circuit water chiller which was also feeding several other instruments. About three years ago the chiller was replaced with a new central unit, and it was then the problem started. Over a period of about three weeks the water turns a dark brown to such an extent that it impossible to see through the sight glasses on the flow meters. The brown deposit has been analysed on an EDAX system, and has been shown to be rust. This is further borne out by the fact that the deposit can easily be removed from the flow meters using phosphoric acid.
Thinking that the problem was tied up with the new central chiller, we have now purchased a new chiller unit solely to cool the JEOL. We are using tap water in the system as recommended by the chiller manufacturer, and no additives are being used. The water circuit external to the TEM contains only copper, brass and plastic, and yet the brown rust deposit is still forming just as rapidly as before. Obviously we are very worried that there is some iron component in the TEM itself which is corroding away, and we could be faced with an expensive repair. We would be very interested to hear if anyone else has experienced this problem with a 1200EX.
Regards to all. Bob Phillips ****************** MicroServiS, Huntingdon, Cambs. UK *******************
Although I cannot directly help you with your diffraction questions, I can provide some information about the energy-filtering capabilities of the LEO 912 EFTEM you recently acquired.
I have been using the exact same microscope on organic materials for many years and I must say that you have a powerful scope in your possession! Indeed, I recently published a feature article highlighting what can be done in investigating organic and hybrid materials using this microscope in various modes. The article is going to appear in August:
Energy-filtering TEM of polymers - benefit and limitations of the method Alexander Du Chesne Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics Vol. 200 August 1999 pp. 1813-1830
I have a new task of quantifying the over all fluorescence signal comparing immunolabelled human skin sections from normal vs affected biopsies. Primary antibody was against Laminin 5 with a Texas Red secondary. Images were captured at the same exposure time, normalized and saved as 8bit tiff. Since the region of signal is different for each image, I took the total grey values of the signal, divided by the area(in pixels) of signal and got the average brightness per pixel, which I thought would then be normalized to the region og interest. However, this value doesn't seem to give an indication of how much more or less protien exists in each sample. The average pixel value is only 1.2x different, whereas the difference in area of signal under the histograms is 9x different. But the area under the histogram doesn't normalize for the difference in area of signal, which in this case is the dermal-epidermal juction. There may be more dermal epidermal junction in one image over the other.
What is the proper way to show the real difference in signal? Any suggestions are appreciated and thank you in advance.
} } } Hello, } We need to reduce effects of acoustic interference with high resolution } EFTEM work. Would anyone be willing to share experience with effectiveness } of various wall panels, carpets, or floor tiles for this purpose? } Marek.
this was a big issue in our FESEM installation (LEO982); FETEM should be about the same i imagine.
we experimented with acoustic matting (foam matts) inside the sheet metal boxes of the instrument. the area most critical seemed to be around the ion pump and middle of the column. it worked well enough to get resolution in the 10Ang. range at 30kv. without it the resolution was much poorer.
of course the best way to block the acoustic noise is to eliminate the noise producer. we had to remote install our water chiller...this helped tremendously too.
Brian McIntyre mailto:mcintyre-at-optics.rochester.edu Sr. Engineer lab: 716-275-3058/4875 River Campus EMLab fax: 716-244-4936 University of Rochester Rochester, NY 14620
"The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother." - Unknown
There are some fixatives we use in a microwave where formaldehyde is not a used because of the fumes created after heating. The new fixatives are formulations of glyoxal and they are available from Anatech. The name is Prefer. You have to teach your pathologists to look at tissues fixed in something other than formaldehyde, which may be the difficult part.
Anatech Ltd. 1020 Harts Lake Road Battle Creek, MI 49015 800-262-8324 Good Luck Evanne Maher Zeiss Microm ______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
} When "cooking" formaldehyde, do so only in a fume hood. } Sara Miller
Speaking of formaldehyde I am looking for a formaldehyde free fixitive. I have developed vary serious asthma late in life and I am very sensitive to formaldehyde.
So far Lugol's iodine looks the best for me but I would like something more lasting.
Is formaldehyde the only thing that will fix tissue or just the cheapest. I know it will crosslink almost anything it touches including my sinuses and bronchial tubes. Fortunately it doesn't make it much further than that so it is not a real threat to lungs unless you get in very high concentrations.
Gordon
Gordon Couger gcouger-at-couger.com 624 Cheyenne Stillwater, OK 74075-1411 405 624-2855 GMT -6:00 www.couger.com/gcouger
id {01JDCVHA6BOW8WW115-at-denver.du.edu} for Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com; Fri, 9 Jul 1999 10:26:42 MDT Received: from odin.cair.du.edu (odin.cair.du.edu [130.253.1.2]) by denver.du.edu (PMDF V5.2-29 #28064) with ESMTP id {01JDCVH9IIX88WW0ZH-at-denver.du.edu} ; Fri, 09 Jul 1999 10:26:41 -0600 (MDT) Received: from localhost by du.edu (PMDF V5.2-32 #35157) with SMTP id {0FEM00E0130H4S-at-du.edu} ; Fri, 09 Jul 1999 10:26:41 -0600 (MDT)
On Thu, 1 Jul 1999, ERIC 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Just a quick question to the wealth of knowledge on the microscopy list } server, } } How important is the WPE number on the Eponate 12 Resin bottle from Ted } Pella when calculating the mixture of epon? i.e. should I recalculate the } mixture every time the Eponate 12 Resin has a different WPE number??? } } Any help would be appreciated... } } Eric A. Rosen } Dept. Pathology } UCLA Medical Center } Electron Microscopy Lab... } } Hi,
The WPE numbers from Pella should not change much. A slight change cannot be picked up in the quality of the final block. Simply measure accurately. WPE #s used to be important only when there were huge variations from batch to batch.
The Karnovsky and Ito reference was published only in abstract, which is why you can't find it with conventional searches. The reference is:
Ito S, Karnovsky MJ, 1968. Formaldehyde-glutaraldehyde fixatives containing tri nitro compounds. J Cell Biol, 39:168A-169A (Abstract).
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.umich.edu/~akc/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ On Tue, 6 Jul 1999 rlvaughn-at-UNMC.EDU-at-sparc5.microscopy.com wrote:
} I have lent and lost a reference to a fixative by Karnovsky and (Ito?) . The } paper involved using several different tri-nito compounds in conjunction with } paraformaldehyde and glutaraldehyde. The one the authors liked best used picric } acid with Karnovsky's fixative. I thought it was in Nature? I have ran } searches in medline with no luck. Does anyone remember this fixative and the } original reference? We use it in our Path EM Lab and the CAP inspectors demand } that we have references for everything we do. ( they are driving us nuts) } Thanks in advance. } } Rick Vaughn } } rlvaughn-at-unmc.edu
although I have not seen the issues of the magazine below, I am sure Bill is right. Cowley is always a good reference for diffraction. In addition you may want to check your library for books on electron diffraction by Cowley. May be perhaps a bit theoretical, but worth checking into. If High Resolution is the issue, you may want to check out books by John Spence from ASU. Another source may be the book by L. Reimer about TEM (little plug for my old boss ;-).
If you can't find them let me know. I can probably dig up the exact references for you.
Michael
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 1675 Carr St., #105N Lakewood, CO 80215 =================================== phone: (888) FIND SIS (303) 234-9270 fax: (303) 234-9271 email: mailto:info-at-soft-imaging.com web: http://www.soft-imaging.com ===================================
} ---------- } From: William Tivol[SMTP:TIVOL-at-WADSWORTH.ORG] } Sent: Thursday, July 08, 1999 3:17:15 PM } To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: Re: Electron diffraction } Auto forwarded by a Rule } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Dear Tina,
Tina Carvalho wrote:
This is the Biological EM Facility, but, with the recent acquisition of a
} LEO 912 EFTEM, I suddenly find non-biologists at my door! There promises } to be some exciting projects.
You will also have some exciting biological projects--that's a terrific machine for getting the maximum information from each electron.
} } One researcher is trying to visualize and characterize Silicon } nanoparticles. They may or may not be crystalline, and they may or may not } form crystals and/or amorphous blobs. The immediate question (for a grant } proposal) is what do we need to do electron diffraction? We can do } s.a.d., but I'm completely unclear as to the other kinds of diffraction } and what information can be obtained. His particles are probably 1-4 nm, } with another class at probably 6-12 nm. I read somewhere that low-angle } diffraction is probably useful only on particles {0.4 nm. S.a.d. probably } for larger particles. What would people recommend? And right now I could } use a primer/glossary on CBED, SAD, HRED, etc. }
I just finished editing a topical issue of Microscopy Research & Technique, so I'm not biased or anything, but see Vol. 46 #2 & 3 for articles on these subjects. It sounds like the articles by Cowley on nanodiffraction and by Holmstad et al. and by Zuo on CBED will be especially useful. These issues are scheduled to be out
this month.
Disclaimer: Although I edited the journal issues mentioned above, I don't actually get paid more if more get sold. I, therefore, have no monitary interest, only honor and glory. Yours, Bill Tivol
Two very important things to remember when comparing digital imaging to film is that you don't have to print every digital image. And you don't have to print every image on high quality (high cost) output media. You do have to develop/process every piece of film. That's how you get real cost savings using digital imaging over film.
Short term: If you are taking a few hundred images per year stick with film. Long term: If you are taking a few thousand images per year move to digital imaging.
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've had a request here to find out some general information about some of the high voltage EM facilities. I seem to recall there is/was a million volt TEM in Boulder Colorado, are there others? Who would be the contact persons for these facilities? Thanks for your help.
Doug .................................................................... : Douglas W. Cromey, M.S. Dept. of Cell Biology & Anatomy : : Research Specialist, Principal University of Arizona : : (office: AHSC 4212A) P.O. Box 245044 : : (voice: 520-626-2824) Tucson, AZ 85724-5044 USA : : (FAX: 520-626-2097) (email: doug-cromey-at-ns.arizona.edu): :...................................................................: http://www.pharmacy.arizona.edu/exp_path.html Home of: "Microscopy and Imaging Resources on the WWW"
We are trying to locate Snap-25 on synapses fixed with paraformaldehye, processed for TEM, and poststained with Au. We have achieved very good success with preservation of morphology, but Au deposition has not been adequate (or absent). We have capabilities of embedding in LR Gold at minus 20 deg C., etc. Has anyone done this? Can anyone think of any ideas to encourage the unveiling of this antigen at the synaptic site? Your kind replies might save the day (or our salaries) as they have before.
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 readers, I have a problem with very pale staining of my embed 812 } resin thin sections. I often need to use formvar and I cut 50nm thin } sections of cultured cells and fish embryos. I have tried numerous recipes } for both UA (including methanolic) and Lead (Sato's, lead nitrate, lead } citrate). It seems like the stain works well for a couple of times, then } flakes out. I have tried making the lead up fresh each time but even that } fails. The tissue is microwave processed including an en bloc uranyl } acetate step. I take great pains not to get any precipitate by using an } NaOH rinse. I stain 10-15 mins in UA and 5 min. in lead. Does any one have } any suggestions, ideas? What is the best lead stain?? Thanks in advance. } } JoAnn Buchanan } Molecular and Cellular Physiology } Stanford University Scholl of Medicine } Stanford, CA 94305 } } } } Hi,
You have several basic problems. Your sections are too thin. There simply is not enough material present to take up stain. And then they may be on formvar! This compounds the problem doubly, because formvar reduces contrast and blocks stain from one of the sides of the grid. Next, well made citrate (Reynolds) lasts at least a year assuming it is kept correctly. Washing a section with sodium hydroxide after it has been stained with citrate will dissolve the lead citrate off the structures. Do not use it! Use good quality water. Well made lead citrate stain does not precipitate easily. Call me if you have questions and can't get an answer fast. (303-871-3026)
I had sent this email to Geoff earlier and thought we had moved to the email realm. I am really not keen on starting a shootout between the "analogs" and the "digitals". If you want to discuss this further with me, please send me email rather than using the listserver.
Thanks. Michael.
Hey Geoff,
let's not get into a shouting match here. What is cheaper depends a lot on the individual situation and that this is my opinion, it hink I made clear. Just some numbers:
A complete image acquisition and processing system (from us) including camera,TEM adapter, PC, software with on-line shading correction, on-line FFT, etc., but no printer, starts at a little over 43K. And you don't need an extra room for that (if you want to calculate TCO (total cost of ownership) you need to take that into account as well). Photographic quality prints on a Codonics dye-sub printer (you need at least an eyelupe at 16x to start to see some pixelation) are about 50c (that does not include the cost for the printer).
Now, let's assume you shoot one frame of negatives (50) a day. That's about 10,000 negatives a year. I think it is obvious, that it takes just a couple of years to amortize a digital system. And don't forget, you see the images immediately. So for many applications there are advantages that cannot be measured in $, like being able to distribute images seconds after acquisition. Likewise there are other digital advantages (EFTEM), that provide tools not available in non-digital form.
Are you going to the M&M meeting? If so, please stop by at our booth (839). I'd like to show you some stuff you can do with digital imaging.
Michael
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 1675 Carr St., #105N Lakewood, CO 80215 =================================== phone: (888) FIND SIS (303) 234-9270 fax: (303) 234-9271 email: mailto:info-at-soft-imaging.com web: http://www.soft-imaging.com ===================================
} ---------- } From: Geoff McAuliffe[SMTP:MCAULIFF-at-UMDNJ.EDU] } Sent: Friday, July 09, 1999 10:54:21 AM } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: Re: digital archiving/costs } Auto forwarded by a Rule } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Doug Cromey,
There are only two HVEMs in the US devoted to bilogical research; the 1 mev in Boulder, CO and 1.2 mev in Albany, New York. There are three others; 2 at Berkley, CA and 1 at Argonne National Labs devoted primarily to Materials research. The Albany HVEM is part of the NIH supported Bilogical Microscopy and Image and Reconstruction Resource (BMIRR) and can be utilized by contacting Dr. Conly Rieder at rieder-at-newton.wadswprth.org (518) 474-6774 Carmen Manella at carmen-at-newton.wadsworth.org (518) 474-2642 or Karolyn Buttle at buttle-at-newton.wadsworth.org (518) 474-6646. For more information about our HVEM or BMIRR check out www.wadsworth.org/spider_doc/bmirr/. The Boulder HVEM is also available and I think Daivd Mastronarde or J. Richard McIntosh would be the contact.
Dave
Dave Barnard HVEM operator Wadsworth Ctr NY State Dept Health Albany, NY 12201 barnard-at-newton.wadsworth.org
I known that this subject come to the surface from time to time, but since I am new here... :) I have being doing the tripod polishing for a couple of months. Now I want to perfect the quality of the sample I prepare. One question is about the best glue for the polishing. I am using a superglue from Faucet Queens and I experimented some problem when polishing III-V semiconductors for XTEM. There is some brand that you can recommend? Thanks for your attention.
Kazuo
PS. If there is a FAQ about this subject, let me know. :)
o-------------------------------------------------------o | Carlos Kazuo Inoki | | Department of Physics - University at Albany | | 1400 Washington Ave.- Albany - NY - 12222 | o-------------------------------------------------------o
You can use the compressor air to rush the cooling pipe many times until the rust go a way. JEOL EM designer make special connector for it , you can look for the JEOL's instruction.
Doug: Info on the 1.5MeV TEM at Berkeley is available at http://ncem.lbl.gov/frames/hvem.htm The National Center for Electron Microscopy is a U.S. Department of Energy user facility providing scientific researchers with essential resources for electron beam microcharacterization. (http://ncem.lbl.gov/). -Mike O'Keefe
Doug Cromey {doug-cromey-at-ns.arizona.edu} wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
} the high voltage EM facilities. I seem to recall there is/was a million } volt TEM in Boulder Colorado, are there others? Who would be the contact } persons for these facilities? Thanks for your help. } } Doug } .................................................................... } : Douglas W. Cromey, M.S. Dept. of Cell Biology & Anatomy : } : Research Specialist, Principal University of Arizona : } : (office: AHSC 4212A) P.O. Box 245044 : } : (voice: 520-626-2824) Tucson, AZ 85724-5044 USA : } : (FAX: 520-626-2097) (email: doug-cromey-at-ns.arizona.edu): } :...................................................................: } http://www.pharmacy.arizona.edu/exp_path.html } Home of: "Microscopy and Imaging Resources on the WWW" } } }
Kazuo, Having used the Tripod Polisher for a number of years, the supergule you are using should be okay. Anyhing cyanocrylate based should be fine.
What is the exact your problem with this glue? It may be specimen based. I have polished Si, AlN-InN-GaN-on-sapphire and tried GaAs. GaAs is a real pain to polish because I found that below 10 microns, the thin edges start to cleave along the charge neutral {110} planes. For the unsuspecting it is really frustrating. Unless you can tripod polish within a very narrow direction I am afraid T Polishing III-V's are always going to be a problem.
I hope this helps, Jonathan ******************************************************** Dr Jonathan Barnard
Analytical Materials Physics The Angstrom Laboratory, Uppsala University P O Box 534, SE-751 21 Uppsala, Sweden Phone: +46-(0)18-4716838 Fax: +46-(0)18-500131
The problem we noticed happens specially with III-V materials. We used to polish Si without major problems, but when we started to polish GaAs we started to see small black dots on XTEM. So, when we moved to a different material, GaSb/GaAs we could see that these dots increase in size (some of them half micron in size). Since we do some ion milling to reach the right thickness, these dots act like masks preventing the remove of the material by ion milling. We suspect that these dots are from the glue, specially because they are amorphous.
Our proceedure for the polishing is glue the samples with a piece of Si using Gatan epoxy (face to face), cut and polish both side using sandpaper and diamond lapping film (from 3 to 0.5 um) and finishing with the SBT colloidal blue stuff on a cloth pad. Every step done in a slow rotating polisher. We can't see another source for this contamination, except the glue, but we tried to remove the glue soaking in acetone for 6 hs and rinse with alcohol. The last sample we prepared using 6 hs in acetone resulted in the same problem. Didi you experimented something like this? Thanks for your attention.
Regards,
Kazuo
On Sat, 10 Jul 1999, Jonathan Barnard wrote:
} Kazuo, } Having used the Tripod Polisher for a number of years, the supergule you } are using should be okay. Anyhing cyanocrylate based should be fine. } } What is the exact your problem with this glue? It may be specimen based. I } have polished Si, AlN-InN-GaN-on-sapphire and tried GaAs. } GaAs is a real pain to polish because I found that below 10 microns, the } thin edges start to cleave along the charge neutral {110} planes. For the } unsuspecting it is really frustrating. Unless you can tripod polish within } a very narrow direction I am afraid T Polishing III-V's are always going to } be a problem. } } I hope this helps, } Jonathan } } ******************************************************** } Dr Jonathan Barnard } Analytical Materials Physics } The Angstrom Laboratory, Uppsala University } P O Box 534, SE-751 21 Uppsala, Sweden } Phone: +46-(0)18-4716838 Fax: +46-(0)18-500131 } ********************************************************
o-------------------------------------------------------o | Carlos Kazuo Inoki | | Department of Physics - University at Albany | | 1400 Washington Ave.- Albany - NY - 12222 | o-------------------------------------------------------o
Hello Bob - These JEOLs do not have parts that will rust. I would not worry about some residual rust in the system, it does no harm except to offend your aesthetics. Changing water a couple of times will diminish the colouration but improve nothing. If with clean filters the flow is impeded, I suggest that you use a small pump. Your closed system's could do, for re-circulating a few litres of about 5% hot acetic acid (vinegar). Within an hour it'll clean out any calcium deposits and remaining rust. A few copper ions will go also into solution, but nothing to worry about. It's the only practical way I know to restore good flow to an old EM . Cheers Jim Darley ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com.au Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes www.proscitech.com.au
On Sunday, July 09, 2000 9:10 PM, Bob Phillips [SMTP:microservis-at-dial.pipex. com] wrote: } } } Hello All, } } We have a problem with the cooling water on a JEOL 1200EX TEM, and hope that } someone can suggest a cause. } } The instrument was run for years on a central closed-circuit water chiller } which was also feeding several other instruments. About three years ago the } chiller was replaced with a new central unit, and it was then the problem } started. Over a period of about three weeks the water turns a dark brown to } such an extent that it impossible to see through the sight glasses on the } flow meters. The brown deposit has been analysed on an EDAX system, and has } been shown to be rust. This is further borne out by the fact that the } deposit can easily be removed from the flow meters using phosphoric acid. } } Thinking that the problem was tied up with the new central chiller, we have } now purchased a new chiller unit solely to cool the JEOL. We are using tap } water in the system as recommended by the chiller manufacturer, } and no additives are being used. The water circuit external to the TEM } contains only copper, brass and plastic, and yet the brown rust deposit is } still forming just as rapidly as before. Obviously we are very worried that } there is some iron component in the TEM itself which is corroding away, and } we could be faced with an expensive repair. We would be very interested to } hear if anyone else has experienced this problem with a 1200EX. } } Regards to all. } Bob Phillips } ****************** } MicroServiS, } Huntingdon, } Cambs. UK } ******************* } } }
One of the more popular exercises in "Microscopic Explorations" (MSA's middle school microscopy manual) involves looking at sand from around the world. It's interesting, and it leads easily to followup lessons in geology and geography. Joe Neilly, a MICRO volunteer from the Midwest local society, has volunteered to manage MSA's sandpile, and he'll be bringing samples to Portland for use in the Project MICRO workshop at the meeting (Tuesday, 2-5pm). If you have samples from exotic locations (or manufacturing processes, or whatever) will you please bring them (in a film can or ziplock baggie, labelled with location) to the MICRO display in the MSA booth? Ypu'll have the opportunity to make a set of samples on filecard "slides" to use in your own outreach program.
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/PMHomePage.html Intertidal invertebrates: http://www.fortbragg.k12.ca.us/AG/PCI/pci.html
I am looking for the following Nikon Parts, if anyone has or knows where to locate please let me know.
A condenser rack and pinion assembly with condenser holder for a Nikon S-Ke.
A condenser for a Nikon S-Ke
A field lens for a Nikon S-Ke
A lamp housing with lamp socket and the adapter to vertical tube for the Nikon Differential Interference Contract (DIC) Attachment, Model "R" (model "R" is for reflecting illumination).
Hi there Joseph, the s is the old black one right? Yea the DIC is francion yammaoto rather than standard after nomarski is the fine focus on yours coaxial or separate from the rough focus? Ed Sharpe archivist SMECC
Hi, I have been asked by a colleague to ask the list if any one has a reference and/or recipe for Pannett and Comptons saline solution.I think it is to be used with chick embryos and is probably a very old recipe. Thanks in advance, Christine.
I'm having trouble following your logic on digital vs film costs. Original digital images must be very large files if they are to approach the resolution that is routine in film images. Storing thousands of these very large digital image files seems much more of a pain to me than storing a comparable number of film negatives (which is what I archive) in a simple file cabinet. I suspect that this film archiving is less expensive than archiving very large computer files.
Don't get me wrong. I'm completely converted to digital imaging, and spend much of my time working in Photoshop. However, I choose to take the original electron micrographs on film, and to store (archive) them as film negatives (which I can study on a viewing screen). The small percentage of the EMs that are actually used for publications or other serious purposes are scanned with a Leafscan 45 scanner, yielding a digital image file that has as good or better resolution than an original digital image would have had.
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.umich.edu/~akc/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On Fri, 9 Jul 1999, Scott D. Davilla wrote:
} Two very important things to remember when comparing digital } imaging to film is that you don't have to print every digital image. And } you don't have to print every image on high quality (high cost) output } media. You do have to develop/process every piece of film. That's how you } get real cost savings using digital imaging over film. } } Short term: If you are taking a few hundred images per year stick } with film. } Long term: If you are taking a few thousand images per year move to } digital imaging. } } 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 } }
The latest product people seem to be using is Loctite 460. However, over=
the years many different superglues have been used. The one feature that=
seems most important is that it is fresh. If you let the glue sit around=
it loses it's effectiveness - at least as for as Tripod Polishing goes. =
Basically, you just need to be sure that it is a cyanoacrylate. They wil= l all differ a bit in viscosity and you will need to try a few to find the best one for your application. I am not at my office right now so I don'= t have access to the information, but I have a list of a other glues that have been used over the years. If you have an interest, please contact m= e and I'll put together the list for you on Monday.
You may also want to take a look at our web site as we are offering a Workshop on Tripod Polishing in September. You can take a look at our we= b site at www.southbaytech.com under workshops for details.
Finally, we also have a lot of technical papers on Tripod Polishing which= I would be pleased to send to you - perhaps that along with some of our man= y years of experience manufacturing and using the Tripod Polisher=AE will s= erve as the FAQ list you were looking for. Please contact me off-line if you would like any of this additional information.
} } } } } 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 Carlos Kazuo Inoki
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America =
Hi,
I known that this subject come to the surface from time to time, but since I am new here... :) I have being doing the tripod polishing for=
a couple of months. Now I want to perfect the quality of the sample I prepare. One question is about the best glue for the polishing. I am usin= g a superglue from Faucet Queens and I experimented some problem when polishing III-V semiconductors for XTEM. There is some brand that you can recommend? Thanks for your attention.
Kazuo
PS. If there is a FAQ about this subject, let me know. :) { {
} Date: Mon, 12 Jul 1999 08:55:00 -0800 } To:University-at-icarus.dur.ac.uk, of-at-icarus.dur.ac.uk, } Durham-at-durham.ac.uk } From:kennedy-at-nsi.edu (Grace Kennedy) } Subject:Re: saline recipe } } Christine, the reference would be: Pannett C.A. & Compton A. (1924) The } cultivation of tissues in saline embryonic juice. Lancet 1924 i, 381-384. } The recipe is, in grams/liter: } } solution A: } NaCl 12.11 } KCl 1.55 } CaCl2 0.77 } glucose 1.0 } } solution B: } Na2HPO4.12H2O 55ml of M/69 solution } NaH2PO4 5ml of M/69 solution } } "Add 4m A to 6 ml B and make up to 100 ml with distilled water. This } saline is too dilute for chicken tissues (Howard, 1953)." } } Howard E. (1953) Some effects fo NaCl concentration on the development of } early chick blastoderms in culture. J.Cell.Comp.Physiol.41, 237-260 } } Our lab is involved in chick/quail chimera studies and we have been using } Hank's balanced salt solution (commercially available) quite successfully. } } The reference above and recipe both came from: } } Lockwood A.P.M. (1961) "Ringer" solutions and some notes on the } physiological basis of their ionic composition. Comp.Biochem.Physiol., } 1961, Vol.2, 241-289 } } Good luck Grace
The Department of Pathology at the SUNY Health Science Center at Syracuse is seeking candidates to perform scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy analysis of environmental media samples, collect and prepare samples, manage data and analyze results. Bachelors degree in environmental science, environmental chemistry or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience required. Electron microscopy preferred.
Informal inquires can be made to this address, but should be accompanied if serious by a cover letter and resume to: Department of Human Resources Dept. D, Job #8680 SUNY Health Science Center 750 East Adams Street Syracuse, NY 13210
I think the confusion comes from the fact, that film indeed has a very high information density, but in most cases you don't need it or not all of it everywhere. Let's look at 2 examples:
1) A low res example: many people are mostly interested in what you can see on the negative with the naked eye. These TEM users mostly print out the entire negative and use these prints for publication, etc. If the microscope is well adjusted, such a negative has a resolution much better than that visible to the naked eye, but most of this resolution does not contain information or only non-relevant information. The idea then is to capture the important information digitally and produce a print from that. For that task, a camera with 1280x1024 will suffice, give or take a few pixels. So for most of these people, the information visible to the eye on a negative can be stored in a single (or perhaps a few) digital images that are 1 MB (2 MB for 12 bit images) in size.
1) A high-res example: Researchers doing high-res TEM are usually not overly interested in what is visible on the negative to the naked eye. Instead, they blow up the negative many times to see the atomic structure (or representation of such). These people look for the highest resolution possible. In most cases, however, the information is not available on the entire negative. For example you may be looking for an interface which is located to a few atomic spacings. 99% of the negative shows areas that are of no interest. On many of my own high-res images (lattice imaging) the negative is only correctly exposed in the center. Areas further out show artifacts due to the changing imaging conditions. For these people, the resolution of the negative is important, but most of the area of the negative is "wasted". Again, a few digital images can provide the same information as the entire negative.
So, if your work falls into one of the two categories, you can replace a negative with a couple of digital images of a few MB size. Of these you can get on the order of hundreds on a single CD at a cost of roughly $1 (for the medium). And image acquisition software will let you search and query a database to find the images you are looking for. In addition, you can annotate you negatives directly on the screen, never have to worry about calibration, send the files over the internet, etc. If not, you are using the wrong software.
The point that Scott wanted to make is, that if you put 50 negatives in the TEM camera, you must develop all 50, costing you on the order of $50 even before you can look at them and decide if they are good. Since you don't want to prepare another sample, you probably take more negatives that you really need. With digital imaging, the cost of acquisition and storing is lower, once you have a system in place. And since you see the image directly, you don't have to store images where the stage shifted or that are overexposed.
Using an off-line camera for digitization is a good solution, as long as you don't need the advantages and possibilities an on-line camera offers. I assume, that you scan the images at a very high resolution for printing purposes. I am not sure, what exactly the printing resolution is that magazines use, but much of the resolution you are trying to get with the Leafscan may be sacrificed again by the printing process. I have used images from 1Kx1K cameras in publications and never had a problem with them.
I am NOT saying, that everybody's work falls into these 2 categories. But from talking to a lot of TEM users I find these uses of a TEM very wide spread. I also think, I should add this disclaimer to the post:
******************************************************* Disclaimer: Soft Imaging System produces and sells image acquisition and processing systems. We therefore have a vested interest in some of the items mentioned above. *******************************************************
Michael
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 1675 Carr St., #105N Lakewood, CO 80215 =================================== phone: (888) FIND SIS (303) 234-9270 fax: (303) 234-9271 email: mailto:info-at-soft-imaging.com web: http://www.soft-imaging.com ===================================
} ---------- } From: A. Kent Christensen[SMTP:AKC-at-UMICH.EDU] } Sent: Monday, July 12, 1999 8:53:05 AM } To: Scott D. Davilla } Cc: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: Re: digital archiving/costs } Auto forwarded by a Rule } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I'm having trouble following your logic on digital vs film costs. Original digital images must be very large files if they are to approach the resolution that is routine in film images. Storing thousands of these very large digital image files seems much more of a pain to me than storing a comparable number of film negatives (which is what I archive) in a simple file cabinet. I suspect that this film archiving is less expensive than archiving very large computer files.
Don't get me wrong. I'm completely converted to digital imaging, and spend much of my time working in Photoshop. However, I choose to take the original electron micrographs on film, and to store (archive) them as film negatives (which I can study on a viewing screen). The small percentage of the EMs that are actually used for publications or other serious purposes are scanned with a Leafscan 45 scanner, yielding a digital image file that has as good or better resolution than an original digital image would have had.
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.umich.edu/~akc/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On Fri, 9 Jul 1999, Scott D. Davilla wrote:
} Two very important things to remember when comparing digital } imaging to film is that you don't have to print every digital image. And } you don't have to print every image on high quality (high cost) output } media. You do have to develop/process every piece of film. That's how you } get real cost savings using digital imaging over film. } } Short term: If you are taking a few hundred images per year stick } with film. } Long term: If you are taking a few thousand images per year move to } digital imaging. } } 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 wanted to thank all of those who responded to my posting concerning pale staining. It turned out my uranyl acetate was more than 10 years old and had lost it's staining properties. I tried a newer batch as suggested and voila! This whole time I thought it was bad lead stain. It wasn't the formvar or the thinness of the section either. So check the date on those uranyl acetate bottles. Now I have to figure out how to get rid of the old stuff.
Dear listers, our SEM Cambridge S100 needs two integrated circuits (AD7520 & LM308) set on the optic plate and the assistance is not able to give us new circuits. Could someone help us in looking for these two circuits?
Thanks, thanks and thanks
dr Enrico de Lillo Istituto di Entomologia agraria - Universit=E0 Bari - Italy tel. +39 080 5443105 fax +39 080 5442876 email: delillo-at-agr.uniba.it http://193.204.185.103/de_lillo.htm
Postdoctoral Research Associate Advanced Analytical Electron Microscopy of Heterogeneous Catalysts
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS, UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO
A postdoctoral research associate position is currently available in the Interface Physics Group at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) to develop advanced analytical electron microscopy techniques for characterizing supported catalysts. The successful candidate is expected to apply atomic resolution PEELS, sub-nanometer resolution XEDS, and Z-contrast imaging techniques to the study of active components in supported catalysts. The research associate will work closely with a major industrial company in areas of catalyst development and characterization.
Research in the Interface Physics Group at UIC focuses on the use of atomic resolution imaging and analytical techniques in electron microscopy, coupled with theoretical simulations, to determine the structure-property relationships at internal interfaces on the fundamental atomic scale. This new catalysis program will focus on the complex interface and surface properties of supported catalysts and small particles. The experimental facilities to perform this research consist primarily of a JEOL 2010 Field-Emission STEM/TEM featuring a 1.4=C5 probe size, "drift free" stage, high-angle annular dark-field detector (Z-contrast), Gatan Imaging Filter, and Noran EDS; a JEOL 3010 conventional TEM with digital imaging capabilities and EDS; and a JEOL 6320 Field-Emission SEM with EDS.
The successful candidate will possess a Ph.D. degree in physics, chemistry, or materials science with a strong background in electron microscopy-based research, and should have demonstrated expertise in atomic resolution STEM and related analytical techniques (PEELS, EDS, etc.). Prior knowledge in supported catalysts or small particles is beneficial. The successful candidate is expected to be highly motivated with an ambition to be part of a developing program for understanding, controlling, and designing heterogeneous catalysts for industrial applications. Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills are necessary. This position is initially for two years and will start as soon as possible. Salary is commensurate with experience. Please send a resume and publication list to Professor Nigel D. Browning at the address below.
UIC is an equal opportunity employer.
Nigel D. Browning, PhD Associate Professor University of Illinois at Chicago Department of Physics (M/C 273) 845 West Taylor Street Chicago. IL 60607-7059. USA Tel: 312-413-8164 Fax: 312-996-9016 http://interface.phy.uic.edu
Nigel D. Browning, PhD Associate Professor University of Illinois at Chicago Department of Physics (M/C 273) 845 West Taylor Street Chicago. IL 60607-7059. USA
I am hoping someone may be able to help me. I am trying to identify mouse macrophages, lymphocytes, eosinophils, neutrophils etc by both scanning and transmission EM. Does anyone have the details of any textbooks which aid in the identification of these types of cells? Thank you in advance,
Kate Scarff CSL, Melbourne Australia e-mail: kate_scarff-at-cslbio.com.au
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS, UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO
{smaller} As part of a DOE funded program, a postdoctoral position is available for the investigation of the structure-property relationships at internal interfaces in ceramic and ceramic composite systems. The aim of this program is to correlate the experimental results from atomic resolution imaging and microanalysis to produce structural models which can be compared with theoretical simulations. Of particular interest is the use of atomic resolution EELS to characterize the 3-dimensional structure of the interface and quantify the number of vacancies and dopant atoms present in the structure as a function of temperature.=20
Research in the Interface Physics Group focuses on the use atomic resolution imaging and analytical techniques in electron microscopy, coupled with theoretical simulations, to determine the structure-property relationships at internal interfaces on the fundamental atomic scale. Current research programs involve ceramics, high-Tc superconductors, catalysts, and optoelectronic/high-power semiconducting materials and devices. The experimental facilities to perform this research are comprehensive: a JEOL 2010 Field-Emission STEM/TEM featuring a 1.4=C5 probe size, "drift free" stage, high-angle annular dark-field detector (Z-contrast), Gatan Imaging Filter, Noran EDS, Gatan liquid nitrogen cooling stage, and Gatan heating stage; a VG HB501A Field-Emission dedicated STEM with EDS, EELS and Auger spectrometers; a JEOL 3010 conventional TEM with digital imaging capabilities and EDS; a JEOL 6320 Field-Emission SEM with EDS; and a JEOL JXA733 microprobe. In addition to the electron microscopes, specimen preparation facilities include a Gatan Duo-mill, Fischione precision ion-mill, SouthBay plasma cleaner and Leica Ultramicrotome.=20 The Interface Physics Group has a Silicon Graphics R10000 Power Indigo workstation with the Molecular Simulations' Cerius 2 package incorporating the CASTEP pseudopotential code. The physics department has additional workstations and access to the UIC Convex Exemplar Supercomputer and the National Center for Supercomputing Applications at UIUC. =20
Successful candidates will be recent Ph.D. graduates in physics, metallurgy, or materials science with a sound background in the relevant materials issues and an ambition to be part of a developing program pushing at the frontiers of interface physics. Please send a resume and publication list to Professor Nigel D. Browning at the address below. Prior experience in STEM or TEM is essential. =20 However, consideration will be based on the candidates overall potential for success in the field and applicants with prior experience in related fields are encouraged to apply. Salary is commensurate with experience. UIC is an equal opportunity employer.
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I have been following the discussion of digital vs film imaging and archiving with interest and finally decided to put in my two cents. You can argue over which media will be around in 50 years or which is more cost effective. However, the bottom line is to determine which gives you the highest quality data for the intended use.
I am all in favor of digital imaging for routine documentation in that I find users tend to take more images when they are not paying for film. This helps minimize the sampling error that results from drawing conclusions from limited data. Digital imaging is fast, has ecological advantages, and serves very adequately to provide images where speed is important as in diagnostic situations or to facilitate ongoing investigations. In many instances the digital images may be adequate for publication provided minimum enlargement is required.
However, I challenge anyone to show that a digital image printed out on the printers available to most of us (i.e. under $15,000...I use a Codonics 1660) is equivalent to a good darkroom print from a negative in overall sharpness and clarity of image without requiring that the digital image undergo extensive filtering. Adjusting gamma levels, brightness and contrast is done with both production methods as is dogging and burning, but edge sharpening and similar filtering is limited to digital images.
In order to prove the ultimate superiority of film over digital images to myself as well as to my students, I did some careful testing using our SEM. I compared digital images taken at a series of dwell times and resolution settings at magnification of 5000x. Specimen was a calibration grid with latex beads in order to have a specimen ranging in conductivity and density. The specimen was prepared by JEOL and used by their service engineers to check SEM calibration. I also took a Polaroid image of the identical area of the specimen under identical conditions. Polaroid film is not great film but is the most common film used for SEM. I then blew up a portion of the digital images to 18000x (3.6 times) and 36000x (7.2 times). The comparison of resolution vs dwell time drove home the message of the importance of collecting the images at appropriate settings if you intend to enlarge images but at some point, collecting at the highest resolution setting may not yield any additional information but will result in longer collection times and much bigger files.
Then I scanned the polaroid negative into the computer at 300dpi (I routinely use 600dpi for scanning most TEM and SEM negatives). The resultant digital image was compared against the original digital images taken at the higher resolution and longer dwell times and the image from the scanned film was still superior in sharpness with less distortion caused by pixelization. Had I printed the negative in the darkroom and compared the print to the output of the digital files, the difference would have been even more pronounced.
I should note that I encourage users to take images, particularily SEM images, at magnifications that will not require supstantial enlargemnt. However, this has to be balanced against the problems if magifications are selected that result in "empty magnification" with resulting loss of information.
My conclusion is that there is an appropriate use for digital images in the microscopy laboratory. However, if you REALLY need or want to produce the sharpest images with the greatest detail, stick to film. Digital imaging is improving all the time but isn't quite equal to film yet. Don't worry about the storage or cost because the important thing is the data....poor data is a bad buy at any cost.
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
--------------------------------------
I think the confusion comes from the fact, that film indeed has a very high information density, but in most cases you don't need it or not all of it everywhere. Let's look at 2 examples:
1) A low res example: many people are mostly interested in what you can see on the negative with the naked eye. These TEM users mostly print out the entire negative and use these prints for publication, etc. If the microscope is well adjusted, such a negative has a resolution much better than that visible to the naked eye, but most of this resolution does not contain information or only non-relevant information. The idea then is to capture the important information digitally and produce a print from that. For that task, a camera with 1280x1024 will suffice, give or take a few pixels. So for most of these people, the information visible to the eye on a negative can be stored in a single (or perhaps a few) digital images that are 1 MB (2 MB for 12 bit images) in size.
1) A high-res example: Researchers doing high-res TEM are usually not overly interested in what is visible on the negative to the naked eye. Instead, they blow up the negative many times to see the atomic structure (or representation of such). These people look for the highest resolution possible. In most cases, however, the information is not available on the entire negative. For example you may be looking for an interface which is located to a few atomic spacings. 99% of the negative shows areas that are of no interest. On many of my own high-res images (lattice imaging) the negative is only correctly exposed in the center. Areas further out show artifacts due to the changing imaging conditions. For these people, the resolution of the negative is important, but most of the area of the negative is "wasted". Again, a few digital images can provide the same information as the entire negative.
So, if your work falls into one of the two categories, you can replace a negative with a couple of digital images of a few MB size. Of these you can get on the order of hundreds on a single CD at a cost of roughly $1 (for the medium). And image acquisition software will let you search and query a database to find the images you are looking for. In addition, you can annotate you negatives directly on the screen, never have to worry about calibration, send the files over the internet, etc. If not, you are using the wrong software.
The point that Scott wanted to make is, that if you put 50 negatives in the TEM camera, you must develop all 50, costing you on the order of $50 even before you can look at them and decide if they are good. Since you don't want to prepare another sample, you probably take more negatives that you really need. With digital imaging, the cost of acquisition and storing is lower, once you have a system in place. And since you see the image directly, you don't have to store images where the stage shifted or that are overexposed.
Using an off-line camera for digitization is a good solution, as long as you don't need the advantages and possibilities an on-line camera offers. I assume, that you scan the images at a very high resolution for printing purposes. I am not sure, what exactly the printing resolution is that magazines use, but much of the resolution you are trying to get with the Leafscan may be sacrificed again by the printing process. I have used images from 1Kx1K cameras in publications and never had a problem with them.
I am NOT saying, that everybody's work falls into these 2 categories. But from talking to a lot of TEM users I find these uses of a TEM very wide spread. I also think, I should add this disclaimer to the post:
******************************************************* Disclaimer: Soft Imaging System produces and sells image acquisition and processing systems. We therefore have a vested interest in some of the items mentioned above. *******************************************************
Michael
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 1675 Carr St., #105N Lakewood, CO 80215 =================================== phone: (888) FIND SIS (303) 234-9270 fax: (303) 234-9271 email: mailto:info-at-soft-imaging.com web: http://www.soft-imaging.com ===================================
} ---------- } From: A. Kent Christensen[SMTP:AKC-at-UMICH.EDU] } Sent: Monday, July 12, 1999 8:53:05 AM } To: Scott D. Davilla } Cc: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: Re: digital archiving/costs } Auto forwarded by a Rule } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I'm having trouble following your logic on digital vs film costs. Original digital images must be very large files if they are to approach the resolution that is routine in film images. Storing thousands of these very large digital image files seems much more of a pain to me than storing a comparable number of film negatives (which is what I archive) in a simple file cabinet. I suspect that this film archiving is less expensive than archiving very large computer files.
Don't get me wrong. I'm completely converted to digital imaging, and spend much of my time working in Photoshop. However, I choose to take the original electron micrographs on film, and to store (archive) them as film negatives (which I can study on a viewing screen). The small percentage of the EMs that are actually used for publications or other serious purposes are scanned with a Leafscan 45 scanner, yielding a digital image file that has as good or better resolution than an original digital image would have had.
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.umich.edu/~akc/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On Fri, 9 Jul 1999, Scott D. Davilla wrote:
} Two very important things to remember when comparing digital } imaging to film is that you don't have to print every digital image. And } you don't have to print every image on high quality (high cost) output } media. You do have to develop/process every piece of film. That's how you } get real cost savings using digital imaging over film. } } Short term: If you are taking a few hundred images per year stick } with film. } Long term: If you are taking a few thousand images per year move to } digital imaging. } } 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 } }
RFC822 header -----------------------------------
RECEIVED: from SF_Database by POP_Mailbox_-1280309245 ; 12 JUL 99 21:00:51 UT Received: from SPARC5.MICROSCOPY.COM by mailcenter.btny.purdue.edu with SMTP (QuickMail Pro Server for MacOS 1.1.2); 12-Jul-1999 21:00:37 -0500 Received: (from daemon-at-localhost) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) id PAA03881 for dist-Microscopy; Mon, 12 Jul 1999 15:15:12 -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 PAA03877 for "MicroscopyFilteredEmail-at-msa.microscopy.com"; Mon, 12 Jul 1999 15:14:40 -0500 Received: from ntserver3.soft-imaging.com (www.soft-imaging.com [209.180.246.90]) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) with ESMTP id PAA03867 for {Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com} ; Mon, 12 Jul 1999 15:14:27 -0500 Received: by NTSERVER3 with Internet Mail Service (5.0.1457.3) id {3CN88C23} ; Mon, 12 Jul 1999 14:01:12 -0600 Message-ID: {11DAB935EB09D211AFC60020781025DE072744-at-NTSERVER3} From: Michael Bode {mb-at-soft-imaging.com} To: "'Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com'" {Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com} Subject: RE: digital archiving/costs Date: Mon, 12 Jul 1999 14:01:11 -0600 X-Priority: 3 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.0.1457.3) Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Errors-to: Microscopy-request-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
(InterMail v03.02.07.07 118-134) with SMTP id {19990713163717.KYQW4651-at-oemcomputer} ; Tue, 13 Jul 1999 16:37:17 +0000 Message-Id: {3.0.3.32.19990713124000.00893b70-at-postoffice.worldnet.att.net} X-Sender: edhirsch-at-postoffice.worldnet.att.net X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Pro Version 3.0.3 (32)
Kazuo,
I would like to tell you that I represent Allied High Tech Products and we are a manufacturer of equipment for sample preparation and a distributor of laboratory supplies for sample preparation.
The superglues that have been discussed should work well and be completely acetone soluble. We have also found certain waxes to work very well when applied in small amounts. The wax is completely acetone soluble and will clean from the sample easily and all waxes are not the same.
Could the black dots be from the SiC grinding steps? As you know the III-V materials are very brittle and extra care should be taken when preparing them. The sandpaper you speak about might be causing the difficulties too. I would eliminate it and use a larger size of diamond lapping film for grinding such as 15 micron and then 6 micron continuing with 3,1 and 0.5 micron.
We also have a tool, the MultiPrep, that is a semi-automatic tool for preparing SEM and TEM samples. The MultiPrep is excellent for providing reproducible results and reliable results eliminating variations that can occur with hand tools. A detailed brochure is available on our website at http://www.alliedhightech.com/pdf/multiprep.pdf please note this is a pdf file and Adobe Acrobat reader is required to view it.
If I may provide you with additional information please let me know offline.
Sincerely, Ed Hirsch
************************************************* Edward A. Hirsch Product Application Specialist Allied High Tech Products 2376 East Pacifica Place Rancho Dominguez, CA 90220 ph: (919) 846-9628 vm:(800)675-1118 x245 fx: (310)762-6808 http://www.alliedhightech.com *************************************************
I would like to tell you that I represent Allied High Tech Products and we are a manufacturer of equipment for sample preparation and a distributor of laboratory supplies for sample preparation.
The superglues that have been discussed should work well and be completely acetone soluble. We have also found certain waxes to work very well when applied in small amounts. The wax is completely acetone soluble and will clean from the sample easily and all waxes are not the same.
Could the black dots be from the SiC grinding steps? As you know the III-V materials are very brittle and extra care should be taken when preparing them. The sandpaper you speak about might be causing the difficulties too. I would eliminate it and use a larger size of diamond lapping film for grinding such as 15 micron and then 6 micron continuing with 3,1 and 0.5 micron.
We also have a tool, the MultiPrep, that is a semi-automatic tool for preparing SEM and TEM samples. The MultiPrep is excellent for providing reproducible results and reliable results eliminating variations that can occur with hand tools. A detailed brochure is available on our website at http://www.alliedhightech.com/pdf/multiprep.pdf please note this is a pdf file and Adobe Acrobat reader is required to view it.
If I may provide you with additional information please let me know offline.
Sincerely, Ed Hirsch
************************************************* Edward A. Hirsch Product Application Specialist Allied High Tech Products 2376 East Pacifica Place Rancho Dominguez, CA 90220 ph: (919) 846-9628 vm:(800)675-1118 x245 fx: (310)762-6808 http://www.alliedhightech.com *************************************************
I had some success with tripod polishing of GaAs and thought that I would ramble on about how I did it. BTW, I highly recommend that GaAs is NOT the material that you use to learn how to tripod polish when you are teaching yourself how to do it. What I found when I went back to doing GaAs with the TP after having some experience with the technique with other materials was that I had to protect the edges of the GaAs sample especially when using the lowest grit sizes. I originally did this by trying to "encapsulate" the edges by smearing the sides, surface and back with a coating of epoxy (Epo-Tek 353ND). This worked somewhat if the coating is thin. If it is too thick, the epoxy pulled away from the sample leaving a small gap. Thinner was better. After Ron Anderson presented his technique of embedding a small sample in a hollowed-out dimple in Si, I borrowed his idea and tried coring a desired area of GaAs out with a small ultrasonic drill that I made with the thin walled stainless steel tubing available from Small Parts, Inc. I then drilled a matching hole in a piece of Si such that when I put the plug into the Si and filled it with epoxy, the epoxy "wall" around the sample was thin.
I believe that the epoxy helps prevent the edges of the GaAs from chipping out while using the lowest grit sizes and rescratching the polished surface of the GaAs. When the sample gets too thin, this scratching breaks the sample. The Si was used to gauge the thickness of the sample by color changes. (See John McCaffrey's paper on this subject.)
Sorry, I don't have the sizes for the tubes that I tried. I tried a whole (or is it "hole") assortment of different sizes because the ultrasonic core drill doesn't quite give plugs or holes of exactly the same diameter as the inner and outer diameters of the tubes. I silver soldered the tubes into stainless steel parts that I had made that would fit the ultrasonic drill. This presented a rash of problems too, but with the appropriate jigs, this could probably be done more easily than I did it. Because of these issues, the smallest plug of GaAs that I used was about 1.5 mm. It was really nice having the Si to help with determining the thickness of the sample.
-Scott
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Glass Technology Center 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."
I apologize in advance for this message, but it is sort of an emergency approach to covering up a mistake. A few days ago someone sent me a message asking for an address where my book 'Vacuum Methods in Electron Microscopy' could be purchased in India. I mistakenly deleted the message before I could send out a reply, and so don't know who sent it nor the address for the reply. Therefore, I'm putting this general message on the listserver in the hopes that it will reach the proper person. If it does, I'd appreciate a reply from him/her.
Probably the best place to order the book in India is from: Affiliated East-West Press Pvt Ltd G-1/16 Ansari Road New Delhi 110 002, India Tel: 11 327 9113 or 11 326 4180 Fax: 11 326 0538
However, the book can also be ordered directly from the publisher, Portland Press of London, through their web site, which also gives addresses of distributors throughout the world: http://www.portlandpress.co.uk
While we're on the subject, information about the book (outline, reviewers' comments, etc.) can also be found at the SPI web site: http://www.2spi.com/catalog/books/book48.html and it can be purchased from SPI.
Another apology, W. C. Bigelow
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
Hi Ya'll: Several month's ago, I asked the listserver community for help/suggestions on the installation of a drive (other than the present Syquest upgrade that is available from Kevex) to replace the 44Mb Bournoulli's. I would like to know if anyone has upgraded their system without the Kevex upgrade. If someone hasn't upgraded their system, but understands how to do it, I would surely appreciate your help. In my first post, several people responded directly to me, and now I have found that I have accidentally deleted their responses. If you would like to respond again, that would be fantastic. Thanks in advance for your help. Sorry for any inconvenience.
Regards, Michael Coviello Lab Manager MRCEDM UT Arlington
Title: Optical Microscopy and Imaging in the Biomedical Sciences
When: October 6 - October 14, 1999
Where: Marine Biology Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA, USA
Tuition: $2050 (Includes room and board, text, handouts, supplies)
Application Deadline: August 3, 1999
Admission application and information: Carol Hamel, Admissions Coordinator Marine Biological Laboratory 7 MBL Street Woods Hole, MA 02543-1015 (508) 289-7401 Internet: admissions-at-mbl.edu WWW: http://www.mbl.edu (Application forms available via Adobe Acrobat)
Course Director: Colin S. Izzard, State University of New York -at- Albany Phone: [518] 442 - 4367 EMail: csizzard-at-csc.albany.edu
Course Description:
For Whom: Designed primarily for research scientists, physicians, postdoctoral trainees and advanced graduate students in animal, plant, medical and material sciences. Non-biologists seeking a comprehensive introduction to microscopy and video-imaging will benefit greatly from this course as well. There are no specific prerequisites, but an understanding of the basic principles of optics is desirable. Limited to 24 students.
The eight day course consists of lectures, laboratory demonstrations, exercises and discussions that will enable the participant to obtain and interpret microscope images of high quality, to perform quantitative optical measurements, and to produce photographic and video records for documentation and analysis.
Topics to be covered include: principles of microscope design and image formation bright field, dark field, phase contrast, polarized light, differential interference contrast, interference reflection, and fluorescence microscopy confocal scanning microscopy, multiphoton excitation fluorescence microscopy and image deconvolution digital image restoration and 3-D reconstruction video imaging, recording, enhancement, and intensification analog and digital image processing and analysis fluorescent probes and ratiometric-imaging laser tweezers and laser scissors
Applications to live cells will be emphasized; other specimens will be covered as well.
Students will have direct hands-on experience with state-of-the-art microscopes, video cameras, recorders and image processing equipment provided by major optical and electronics companies. Instruction will be provided by experienced staff from universities and industry.
Students are encouraged to bring their own biological (primary cultures, cell lines, etc.) and material specimens and to discuss individual research problems with the faculty.
I am in charge of organizing a section on teaching microscopy for a local (SF bay area) meeting this October. If you are interested in participating let me know. In addition to some presentations, I think we can do posters. If you would like to display a poster, I would be happy to put it up for you if travel to the meeting is not possible.
The meeting is to be held Sat. Oct. 2, 1999 at San Francisco State University and is a joint meeting of the Northern California Society for Microscopy, an MSA local affiliate, and the Cal State University EM lab group. Abstracts will be published in Microscopy Research and Technique.
Abstracts are due Aug. 2, but I will lobby for an extension if you have something good and can't get it in until after MSA. You can check a web page about the meeting at:
http://online.sfsu.edu/~camicro/
Thanks
Jonathan Krupp Microscopy & Imaging Lab University of California Santa Cruz, CA 95064 (831) 459-2477 jmkrupp-at-cats.ucsc.edu
I feel somehow compelled to answer all these postings, while on the other hand I think, we are using too much bandwidth for this already. But it's hard to judge without getting feedback. Should we continue this? Nestor, is it OK to continue?
Debby Sherman wrote:
} However, I challenge anyone to show that a digital image printed out } on the printers available to most of us (i.e. under $15,000...I use a } Codonics 1660) is equivalent to a good darkroom print from a negative in } overall sharpness and clarity of image without requiring that the digital image } undergo extensive filtering. Adjusting gamma levels, brightness and } contrast is done with both production methods as is dogging and burning, but } edge sharpening and similar filtering is limited to digital images.
There is a whole chain of software and hardware that has to work hand = in hand to provide good results. And unfortunately the weakest link = usually determines the final quality. That may be the printer, the camera or = the software. And that is why it is important to buy complete and tuned systems, not a camera from here and software from there. But let me quote yourself: "However, the bottom line is to determine which gives you the highest quality data for the intended use." So, if an edge filter does give you better results for the intended use, why not use it? An edge filter is just a procedure like dogging or burning, it's just not available for film. One caveat: if digital filters are used blindly, i.e., without knowing what the effects and side-effects are, they can = be dangerous! Nobody wants to introduce artifacts and then interpret them as features. Especially important for using FFT filters!
} The comparison of resolution vs dwell time drove home the message of } the importance of collecting the images at appropriate settings if = you } intend to enlarge images but at some point, collecting at the highest } resolution setting may not yield any additional information but will result in } longer collection times and much bigger files.
I agree completely. In fact, could you send me those images? I'd like = to see them myself. The reason for this behavior is manyfold, but there is really a point where increasing the resolution will not yield more information. It has to do with the digitization of the scanning voltage and transmission noise, but I don't think we have to go into that at this point.
} Then I scanned the polaroid negative into the computer at 300dpi (I } routinely use 600dpi for scanning most TEM and SEM negatives). The } resultant digital image was compared against the original digital images taken } at the higher resolution and longer dwell times and the image from = the } scanned film was still superior in sharpness with less distortion caused by } pixelization. Had I printed the negative in the darkroom and = compared the } print to the output of the digital files, the difference would have been } even more pronounced.
I'd be curious as to how you judged the sharpness. I've had strange results when comparing printers: I printed out the same image on a Codonics 1600 and a Lexmark Inkjet printer for a couple of hundred Dollars. For the inkjet I used the best (glossy) paper, the Codonics = has it's own paper. The images looked sharper and crisper on the Ink-jet! However, when I took an eye lupe to look at the image in detail, there was no question. While the Codonics hardly showed any pixelation even = at a mag of 16x, the ink jet showed nothing but a few colored dots. I concluded from that, that either my eyes tricked me (Am I getting old??), or that the inkjet process with the dithering produces an image that the brain perceives as "sharper". I'd be interested in hearing how you compared the images.=20 Also, If I understood correctly what you did, you recorded the image on Polaroid, then digitized it on a scanner with 300 DPI. Then you = compared it to an image acquired directly from the SEM. I am not sure, what the size is of a Polaroid negative, but if it's 4x5, you should compare = that to a digital image of 1500x1200 pixels taken with a dwell time as to = get the same exposure time as the negative. If you don't, you are comparing apples to oranges. For example, if you compare that to a digital image of much higher resolution, you probably have to drop the dwell time and thereby increase the noise. And if you then look at the image at a higher mag, you may perceive that as a decreased "sharpness" (or increased "fuzzyness").
} Don'tworry about the storage or cost because the important thing is the } data....poor data is a bad buy at any cost.
At 07:37 AM 7/13/99 , you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Who really cares about 50 year old data? Archeologists might but what was printed 50 years ago may be referenced. The challenge is to obtain the highest quality images now for immediate use and publication. If one does publish, the standard printed medium runs at 133 lpi. Since digital capture can achieve much higher levels, the difference is in tonal range. This is an ongoing battle between digital photography and film photography. The range of film is pure analog, while that of digital is binned in nature. But with high resolution (10-bits or more per pixel), digital does a good job.
Suppose that you have a film master. What now? If you make a print and send it to a magazine, they will flatbed or drum scan it for master output. The resolution is still 133 lpi. And the D range is less than the original neg.
Therefore, the mechanics are such that having a film original is not the end. One must convert it to digital for printing. Starting with digital in the first place eliminates that phase. And it eliminates any loss incurred by the conversion process. What is archived is an original. With film, the archive is an approximation, or at best, a decent copy.
I don't dismiss digital all that much. In fact, I dismiss film more than digital.
The Department of Geology and Geophysics at the University of Calgary invites applications from qualified persons interested in joining our technical support staff as an Electron Microprobe & Petrology Technician.
The Department is in the process of purchasing a new electron microprobe, expected to be in place in early 2000, and requires a senior technician to support the new instrument and related activities. The position is full-time and permanent. Compensation includes a competitive salary and generous benefit package.
A full description with application procedures is available from the Department of Geology and Geophysics web page: http://www.geo.ucalgary.ca/
please be so kind and do not be upset for crossposting.
I have just start section RECIPES at www.coleoptera.org in directory {Other useful things} at bottom of the section { for collectors}
Please be so kind and send to me any recipes of for relaxing specimens, microscopy, mounting of speciemns etc., glue recipes, how to get mould off the specimen, anything waht you feel that could be handy or interesting for entomologists. Thank you very much for your response
Keep care and be of good cheer.
Regards
(name) Vratislav Richard Eugene Maria John Baptiste (surname) of Bejsak (Bayshark)-Collorado-Mansfeld
http://www.coleoptera.org Coleoptera - Australia, Tenebrionidae of World (incl. Lagriinae, Alleculinae)
University of Sydney The Wentworth Bldg., Box 62 NSW 2006 AUSTRALIA phone : +61 414 540 465 e-mail: vratislav-at-bigfoot.com ricardo-at-ans.com.au (before Ricardo-at-compuserve.com and ricardo-at-login.cz )
Only after the last tree has been cut down, only after the last river has been poisoned, only after the last fish has been caught, only then will you find that money can not be eaten.' CREE INDIAN PROPHECY.
Incoming mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.37 / Virus Database: 30 - Release Date: 6.4.1999
I've just been given the OK to buy a microwave oven for our EM facility. I would like to hear the good and/or bad on the Electron Microscopy Sciences' EMS-820 Precision Pulsed Laboratory Microwave Oven verses the Ted Pella' Pelco 3450 Laboratory Microwave System.
TIA for any information that would be useful in trying to make a decision on which one to buy.
George Lawton Chief Electron Microscopist Microscopy and Imaging Service Center UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas 5323 Harry Hines Blvd. Dallas, Tx 75235-9039 Phone: 214-648-7291 eMail: George.Lawton-at-email.swmed.edu
Hi, I'm now to the list... Anyone out ther familiar with a Unitron series N with a 35mm camera attachment? I seem to have one sitting on my coffee table, and would like to try to take some pictures with it. How do I get light down to the camera....where is the shutter on the microscope? Whats the sidelamp supposed to do? Whats a xenon lamp? The overhead lamp seems to be working, and I can look at stuff pretty darn close...but I want pictures. Also, anyone know how I adjust the eyepeices in a bit? I know it must sound stupid, but I've got a small brain, hence, a small head. Thanks for any help. -Matt B
PS For what it worth, the whole thing is about 2.5 feet tall and weighs in at about 90lbs give or take 10.
_________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free -at-yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com
I would think any good e.m. histology text would do. I use: Johannes A. G. Rhodin (1974) Histology A Text and Atlas Pub Oxford University Press Library of Congress Cat No. 73-90374
It's good for TEM of mammalian cells and tissue (a lot of pictures are of rat or mouse) but has no SEM. I would have thought that TEM would be of more use in identification because you can see size and shape of nucleus as well as bodies and organelles in cytoplasm. It's usually a fairly straight forward process to identify most blood cells by TEM unless you're just looking at bits.
Malcolm
Malcolm Haswell Electron Microscopy School of Sciences Fleming Building University of Sunderland SUNDERLAND SR1 3SD Tyne and Wear UK
Tel (0191) 515 2872 e-mail: malcolm.haswell-at-sunderland.ac.uk ---------- } From: Kate Scarff To: Microscopy
Gary and List - A long but interesting discussion, mostly factual. However, some conclusions may be wishful thinking, with the arguments woven into a system of beliefs. Lets talk TEM images - SEM images are 'designed' for digital all the way. Electrons forming the image are not digital expressions -unless we are prepared to use billions of bits. The image intrinsically is best recorded in analogue. Practical arguments like printer's resolution comes later. TEM resolution is identical at high and low magnifications (to a point). So a medium power image, which still has a tremendous depths of focus, can be enlarged 20 and more times, revealing detail not apparent at lower enlargement; this simple technique side-steps the very difficult task of focussing at say 200 000x. Only at about 30x enlargement (difficult to achieve with an enlarger), insufficient electrons form the image and it becomes "noisy". In practice, it makes sense to take an image at say 40k and then enlarge to 600k and beyond. Try that with a CCD in the scope! Alternatively it means that the entire negative should be scanned at no less than 900ppi for proper digital archiving, including good continuous tone rendition. Handy viewing and long term save storage of negs are further arguments in favour of the photo process. Subsequent scanning and or printing for use are another discussion.
I conclude that all other considerations are choices for a particular laboratory or personal preference, based on: required quality, magnification range commonly used, number of images taken and realistic archiving needed etc. Based on such considerations some labs will find digital recording and archiving saves MONEY, which is the common denominator of all factors. Please do not argue on quality - the TEM neg wins every time and will do so for the foreseeable time.
Disclaimer PST supplies TEM films AND digital cameras.
Cheers Jim Darley PS From my system of beliefs on archiving images: Medical laboratories need to keep most images for many years. In a university laboratory I believe that long term central storage is just a huge liability. I would leave the archiving to the user: "please remove your photos within four weeks or they may be placed into the circular file on the floor". ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com.au Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes www.proscitech.com.au
On Wednesday, July 14, 1999 9:17 AM, Dr. Gary Gaugler [SMTP:gary-at-gaugler.com] wrote:
printing process . . . . . . Therefore, the mechanics are such that having a film original is not the end. } One must convert it to digital for printing. Starting with digital in the } first place } eliminates that phase. And it eliminates any loss incurred by the conversion } process. What is archived is an original. With film, the archive is an } approximation, or at best, a decent copy. } } I don't dismiss digital all that much. In fact, I dismiss film more than } digital. } } Cheers, } Gary Gaugler, Ph.D. }
I have only set up various bernoulli and syquest drives on the 8000/Delta but will speculate...
Two conditions must be satisfied. The hardware interface and formatting. I suspect that any SCSI 1 drives could be made to work (standard hardware interface). DMON will need to be setup appropriately to logically access the drive. After that, the question is if the RT-11 formatting program will function with a different drive. Since I recently acquired an iXRF system, my 8000/Delta is "in the corner" awaiting a decision on its' dispositon - so I can't try much.
Perhaps this vague info is food for thought anyway. (Comments Warren?)
Woody White McDermott Technology Inc. ____________________Reply Separator____________________
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Hi Ya'll: Several month's ago, I asked the listserver community for help/suggestions on the installation of a drive (other than the present Syquest upgrade that is available from Kevex) to replace the 44Mb Bournoulli's. I would like to know if anyone has upgraded their system without the Kevex upgrade. If someone hasn't upgraded their system, but understands how to do it, I would surely appreciate your help. In my first post, several people responded directly to me, and now I have found that I have accidentally deleted their responses. If you would like to respond again, that would be fantastic. Thanks in advance for your help. Sorry for any inconvenience.
Regards, Michael Coviello Lab Manager MRCEDM UT Arlington
by rose.muohio.edu (8.9.1/8.9.1) with ESMTP id JAA85678 for {microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.com} ; Wed, 14 Jul 1999 09:10:28 -0400 Message-Id: {199907141310.JAA85678-at-rose.muohio.edu} Received: from CASSERVER1/SpoolDir by casmail.muohio.edu (Mercury 1.44); 14 Jul 99 09:10:29 -5 Received: from SpoolDir by CASSERVER1 (Mercury 1.44); 14 Jul 99 09:10:08 -5 To: microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com
Well, it seems someone has decided that they needed our CPD baskets more = than we did (what for I can't imagine), so now I am trying to replace them. I am part= icularly looking for the larger (18-22mm) diameter screw together baskets made of b= rass and stainless steel - they look like little metal pill cases/boxes. Here's a = good description I borrowed from EMS for the smaller versions:
" This basket is brass with a stainless steel mesh attached to both ends; = the mesh opening is 300=B5m. (The inside diameter is 12.5mm, 15mm height. (16mm ODx= 17mmH). To use, simply screw both halves together..."
} } I conclude that all other considerations are choices for a particular } laboratory or personal preference, based on: required quality, magnification } range commonly used, number of images taken and realistic archiving } needed etc. } Based on such considerations some labs will find digital recording and } archiving saves MONEY, which is the common denominator of all factors. Please } do not argue on quality - the TEM neg wins every time and will do so for the } foreseeable time. } There is one aspect in which digital imaging in a TEM via CCD or imaging plates is superior to film: quantitative measurement of image intensity. I'm surprised no one has mentioned this yet. At least for materials science purposes, comparison of images to simulations is becoming more and more important. In order to do this, a researcher needs a linear quantitative electron intensity measurement device, which is very difficult to achieve with film. Film certainly has a higher information density than digital recording, but in some cases digital methods provide access to information not accessible by film.
-Paul
Paul Voyles voyles-at-research.nj.nec.com voice: (609) 951-2627 fax: (609) 951-2496 NEC Research Institute, 4 Independence Way, Princeton, NJ 08540 USA
We are currently trying to embed Drosophila ovarioles for TEM, to look at cell membranes. Unfortunately we are having a difficult time preserving the membranes. Using the following protocol, our cells completely lacked membranes, the cytoplasm was very dense and full of ribosomes but there were white spaces where membranes should have been.
1. Dissect in PBS 2. Fix in 2% gluteraldehyde, 1.5% paraformaldehyde, 1.5% acrolein in .1 M cacodylate buffer 90 min -at- RT 3. 4.
6. Wash in water 7. Dehydrate through a series of ET-OH washes: 30%, 50%, 70%, 90%, 95%, 2X 100% 8. 2X 10 min each in Propylene Oxide (PO) 9. Infiltrate with Spurr's 10. Polymerize24-48 hrs -at- 65oC. 11. After sectioning, contrast with 2% UA in 50% EtOH, and lead citrate
In a previous experiment, in which ovarioles were dissected in similar fixative but without acrolein and the rest of the protocol was the same, mitochondrial and nuclear membranes were well preserved but the cell plasmalemma (what we are interested in!) was absent or incomplete. I don't think it is any of our reagents because we don't have this problem with any other tissues.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance
Michelle
#################################################### 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 ####################################################
} } I've just been given the OK to buy a microwave oven for our } EM facility. I would like to hear the good and/or bad on the } Electron Microscopy Sciences' EMS-820 Precision Pulsed } Laboratory Microwave Oven verses the Ted Pella' Pelco 3450 } Laboratory Microwave System. } } TIA for any information that would be useful in trying to make a } decision on which one to buy. } } George Lawton } Chief Electron Microscopist } Microscopy and Imaging Service Center } UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas } 5323 Harry Hines Blvd. } Dallas, Tx 75235-9039 } Phone: 214-648-7291 } eMail: George.Lawton-at-email.swmed.edu
Hi George We bought the Pelco oven.
I went to the microwave workshop at U of Berkeley (Kent Macdonald's lab) last January and I thoroughly recommend it. From that workshop and my own evolving protocols, I recommend that you get the vacuum chamber as well if you are going to process any difficult specimens such as nematodes, drosophila larvae, plant material. Without the chamber, whole drosophila larve are still white grubs with black tips after osmium treatment, (even after 24 hours normal post fixation). With the vaccum chamber, they are black all the way through after osmium treatment in 45 minutes in the microwave. You do need the low power settings - 200 watts to do this. Elaine
Dr. Elaine Humphrey Biosciences Electron Microscopy Facility University of British Columbia 6270 University Blvd, mail-stop Botany Vancouver, BC CANADA, V6T 1Z4 Phone: 604-822-3354 FAX: 604-822-6089 e-mail: ech-at-unixg.ubc.ca
I already replied to Mike directly on the matter, but basically concur with what you wrote. Many of the controllers had a format utility in their firmware that could be used to format the drive. I don't think the stock RT-11 one worked. I think I still have the SCSI format utilities that Kevex provided to work with a couple of the PDP-11 SCSI controllers. They might work in a pinch.
I told Mike that one of the issues is the amount of addressable disk space. The RT-11 DL driver normally only handled two 10-MB partitions, but could be coaxed up to four. The DU: driver can handle up to eight 32-MB partitions. So, you are limited to either 40 MB or 256 MB of total usable space depending on which controller you have. Anything beyond that will just sit idle, unless you got a fancy controller someplace else. But then, 40 MB seemed like a lot of space on those PDP systems.
At 08:21 AM 7/14/1999 -0500, Woody wrote: } I have only set up various bernoulli and syquest drives on the 8000/Delta } but } will speculate... } } Two conditions must be satisfied. The hardware interface and formatting. I } suspect that any SCSI 1 drives could be made to work (standard hardware } interface). DMON will need to be setup appropriately to logically access } the } drive. After that, the question is if the RT-11 formatting program will } function with a different drive. Since I recently acquired an iXRF system, } my } 8000/Delta is "in the corner" awaiting a decision on its' dispositon - so I } can't try much. } } Perhaps this vague info is food for thought anyway. (Comments Warren?) } } Woody White } McDermott Technology Inc.
} } } } } 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 Matt B } ------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America =
Hi, I'm now to the list... Anyone out ther familiar with a Unitron series N with a 35mm camera attachment? I seem to have one sitting on my coffee table, and would like to try to take some pictures with it. How do I get light down to the camera....where is the shutter on the microscope? Whats the sidelamp supposed to do? Whats a xenon lamp? The overhead lamp seems to be working, and I can look at stuff pretty darn close...but I want pictures. =
Also, anyone know how I adjust the eyepeices in a bit? I know it must sound stupid, but I've got a small brain, hence, a small head. =
Thanks for any help. -Matt B
PS For what it worth, the whole thing is about 2.5 feet tall and weighs in at about 90lbs give or take 10.
_________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free -at-yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com
No doubt this topic has been beaten to death in this go-around. I suspect it will arise again (and again). Here's another opinion --modest as usual.
I see no good reason --none-- for using film recording on an SEM given the cost effectiveness, efficiency, flexibility, superior control and recording quality of digital image capture systems. A compelling justification for many labs is eliminating the environmentally suspect chemicals used in processing film. We ignore the noxious chemicals used in producing the silicon, of course. For TEM, the high cost of appropriate-quality CCD recording systems limits their application. Of four TEMs in the lab I use, we've been able to justify the cost of equipping just one (a high-end FEGTEM) with a 1K x 1K CCD system. The preference for digital vs film recording is mixed, depending on application, but digital recording has some considerable advantages. Resolution is not always the overwhelming issue: Some other considerations that favor digital recording over film in TEMs are immediate availability of recorded images, linear intensity response, and superior quantum efficiency. The compromise of where to place the CCD in the TEMs imaging system (above, at , or below the viewing screen, or at the end of an electron spectrometer) has important implications for intended uses. As to image storage, the recordable CD is a suitable medium that can be read by nearly every desktop computer today. I often wish they had more storage capacity and faster recording. Also, most TEM images require some king of processing, and once you've put in the work you'll probably want to store the processed images too.
Larry
Larry Thomas Washington State University Pullman, WA
Does anyone know of a supplier for Hyrax mounting media? This , apparently, is the mounting medium of choice for diatoms.
Thanks, Mike Baxter mykkb-at-juno.com ___________________________________________________________________ Get the Internet just the way you want it. Free software, free e-mail, and free Internet access for a month! Try Juno Web: http://dl.www.juno.com/dynoget/tagj.
I know I've harped on this before, but I thought I'd bring a recent article to everyone's attention. Digital data is not as long lasting as we would like to believe, see this article in a recent Newsweek for more information.
July 12, 1999 Issue of NEWSWEEK MAGAZINE TECHNOLOGY: History: We're Losing It "They told us digital data would last forever. They lied. How do we save the past before it all disappears?"
Previous stories/articles on this topic: Business Week 20 Apr 98 Scientific American, January 1995
Don't get me wrong, I'm not a Luddite, we're going digital too. Caveat Emptor!
Yours, Doug Cromey .................................................................... : Douglas W. Cromey, M.S. Dept. of Cell Biology & Anatomy : : Research Specialist, Principal University of Arizona : : (office: AHSC 4212A) P.O. Box 245044 : : (voice: 520-626-2824) Tucson, AZ 85724-5044 USA : : (FAX: 520-626-2097) (email: doug-cromey-at-ns.arizona.edu): :...................................................................: http://www.pharmacy.arizona.edu/exp_path.html Home of: "Microscopy and Imaging Resources on the WWW"
Labs lacking in CCD cameras aren't doomed to a non-quantitative existence. The density D on the film is related to electron exposure E by the simple linear equation D = bE + d, where b and d are constants, for appropriate values of Dmax (Zeitler & Bahr, 1962, J. Appl Phys. 33, 847). While CCD cameras and position-sensitive electron counters are terrific, film can still be used to make quantitative measurements without the capital cost of a CCD camera.
Mike Lamvik MCNC, Research Triangle Park, NC ---------------------------------
} There is one aspect in which digital imaging in a TEM via CCD or } imaging plates is superior to film: quantitative measurement of image } intensity. I'm surprised no one has mentioned this yet. At least } for materials science purposes, comparison of images to simulations } is becoming more and more important. In order to do this, a } researcher needs a linear quantitative electron intensity measurement } device, which is very difficult to achieve with film. Film certainly } has a higher information density than digital recording, but in some } cases digital methods provide access to information not accessible by } film. } } } -Paul } } } Paul Voyles voyles-at-research.nj.nec.com } voice: (609) 951-2627 fax: (609) 951-2496 } NEC Research Institute, 4 Independence Way, Princeton, NJ 08540 USA
I am afraid the linearity of film can not be assumed unless for images with very little contrast and very little density. The actual relation between the density D of the film and the current density I is described reasonably well be the equation:
D = Dmax ( 1 - exp(-c I t) )
where Dmax is the maximum density of the film, c the speed of the film, I the electron density and t the exposure time.
Unfortunately, this is not the end of the story. When digitizing the image, another non-linear function gets involved. The pixel value P is
P = a exp( -D ln(10) )
where a is proportional to the illumination intensity usually adjusted such that for an 8-bit image the dynamic range is within the pixel values from 0 to 255.
The expression for I as a function of P (which is what a CCD camera delivers (at least in very good approximation)) is arguably not linear. Should someone decide to correct for the non-linearity, I would like to point out that Dmax is not really a constant. It depends on many factors like the age of the developer, how long film is developed and also on the illumination used to digitize the film. Diffuse illumination usually provides a smaller value for Dmax than parallel illumination.
If this has not discouraged you, please find more details in:
E. Voelkl, F. Lenz, Q. Fu and H. Lichte, "Density Correction of Photographic Material for Further Image Processing in Electron Microscopy", Ultramicroscopy, 55 (1994) 75--89
Best regards, Edgar
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
________________ Dr. Edgar Voelkl ORNL Bldg 4515 1 Bethel Valley Road P.O. Box 2008 Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6064
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Does anyone know of a supplier for Hyrax mounting media? This , apparently, is the mounting medium of choice for diatoms.
Thanks, Mike Baxter mykkb-at-juno.com ___________________________________________________________________ Get the Internet just the way you want it. Free software, free e-mail, and free Internet access for a month! Try Juno Web: http://dl.www.juno.com/dynoget/tagj.
a colleague is after references and/or info on how to calculate specimen temperature rise due to a focussed electron beam in a 200kV TEM. He has been studying nickel particles (approximately 0.1 - 5 micron in diameter) on holey carbon coated copper grids. Under a focused beam larger particles tend to melt but smaller ones end not to.
He would like to estimate the temperature rise in different diameter particles and for different metals/materials as well. Any help would be appreciated. Cheers,
Mark Blackford TEM Group Materials Division, ANSTO PMB 1, Menai, N.S.W. Australia 2234
Phone 61 2 9717 3027 Fax 61 2 9543 7179
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this E-mail message do not necessarily represent the official views of ANSTO from which this message was conveyed.
Three post doctoral fellowships are vacant at the Centre for Materials Research, University of Oslo.
For more detailed information please contact professor Tore Amundsen, phone no.. +47 22 95 87 36. e-mail: tore.amundsen-at-fys.uio.no
The positions are funded by the Norwegian Research Council for two years. The projects are divided into the following:
"Thin films produced by ALE-methods". The applicants should be familiar with this method.
"Production of films by sol/gel and nanoparticle methods". The applicants need considerable experience within the field, and show ability to work independently and show intiative.
"Atomic modelling of crystals, surfaces and interfaces". Interest and experience in computersimulation and a background in solid state physics or solid state chemistry is required.
The fellowships will be available from the end of August beginning of September 1999.
Applications must reach the Centre for Materials Research by August 15.= 1999.
Please send your application or contact: Centre for Materials Research University of Oslo Gaustadaalleen 21 0349 Oslo, Norway
************************************************
for Centre for Materials Research, University of Oslo.
Dear All, I am a beginner in SEM/TEM and would appreciate your help. I am labelling leukemia cell cultures for SEM with 10nm immunogold labelled ABs and therefore have to silver enhance the label. Usually this is done after fixing the cells with glutaraldehyde. However I read that post fixation with osmium tetroxide dissolves the silver layer - can I use the silver enhancer after the osmium tetroxide treatment? (The cells will be on polycarbonate filters). Thanks in advance
Claudia Dr. C. Hayward-Costa School of Life Sciences Kingston University Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames Surrey KT12 2EE ++44(0)181 547 2000 x 2240 Email: c.hayward-at-kingston.ac.uk
} } I try to find the best way in prooving the depth of a burn in rat skin } } (staining, counting hair follicle, antibody). Does anybody has experience } } with that? } } } } Another question is to stain parrafin slides with x-gal. Is there } } anyprotocol out there which works. I tried to replace xylene with } } Clearite3.But unfortuantly I didn't find any blue cells on these slides. } } What is the best protocol for X-Gal in fresh frozen sections. } } } } Lars Steinstrasser } } } } Trauma Burn Research Lab } } 1510 MSRB I } } 1150 West Medical Center Drive } } Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0666 } } } } Tel: (734) 615-2510 } } Fax: (734) 763-7932 } } Pager: (734) 936-6266 #1129 } } } } Private } } 218 Village Green Blvd. #203 } } Ann Arbor /MI 48105 } } Tel: (734) 747-6200 }
_______________________________________________________________ Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com
I recently fielded a call from a Father looking for a good, yet inexpensive light microscope for his Daughter. He is looking for a tool in the 5 to 100X range, and something that is "solid", not the junk they sell in toy stores.
If you have any ideas for him please contact Dr. Thomas via E-mail at lathomas-at-aol.com
My feeling is that this might not be easy because of difficulty of estimating conductive heat loss through the carbon, which will depend on how good the contact is.
However, there is a good section in the textbook by Ludwig Reimer "Transmission Electron Microscopy", which describes modeled and experimental approaches and has a number of references which may be useful.
Wharton Sinkler
} } } Hi all, } } a colleague is after references and/or info on how to calculate specimen } temperature rise due to a focussed electron beam in a 200kV TEM. He has } been studying nickel particles (approximately 0.1 - 5 micron in diameter) } on holey carbon coated copper grids. Under a focused beam larger particles } tend to melt but smaller ones end not to. } } He would like to estimate the temperature rise in different diameter } particles and for different metals/materials as well. Any help would be } appreciated. Cheers, } } } Mark Blackford } TEM Group } Materials Division, ANSTO } PMB 1, } Menai, N.S.W. } Australia } 2234 } } Phone 61 2 9717 3027 } Fax 61 2 9543 7179 } } Disclaimer: } The views expressed in this E-mail message do not necessarily represent the } official views of ANSTO from which this message was conveyed. } } } }
When anyone asks for information about buying microscopes etc for schools you should point them to the Project Micro pages which were put together by Caroline Schooley.
I ran across a replacement for both Hyrax and Naphrax at http://www.emsdiasum.com/ems/chemicals/adhesive.html - called MeltMount from Cargille.
Bill Miller
At 02:41 PM 7/14/99 -0400, mykkb-at-juno.com"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
t 02:41 PM 7/14/99 -0400, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Has anyone out there performed a careful examination of stage drift in a high-res SEM? If so, what drift rate have you measured? We recently purchased a new FEG SEM and have been quoted that drift on that SEM should be less than 40 nm over a 6 minute period (under ideal sample and SEM conditions). Since this could amount to a significant drift over the many hour time period required for an OIM run, I would like to find out what drift rate others have measured (or been quoted) for their SEMs for comparison.
A related question for the OIM users is: how do you account for the drift (and/or minimize it) on longer OIM runs to avoid distortion of the OIM map?
TIA, Richard Fonda
_____________________________________________________________ Richard W. Fonda Naval Research Laboratory (202) 767-2622 Code 6324 (202) 767-2623 fax Washington DC 20375 _____________________________________________________________
New this year to Microscopy & Microanalysis is the MSA Booth! Attendees
will conveniently find in the MSA island (# 739): the Technologists Forum, Certification Board, Project MICRO, the Education Committee's Book Display, and the new MSA Membership Desk. The computer workshop will be in booth # 749, adjacent to the MSA island.
Come by and learn about the many activities and services of the society.
Look for the "MSA in the sky" down isle 700! See you in Portland.
Janet H. Woodward - for the Chairs of the MSA Committees
Thank you all for the responses received so far. I don't know why my original posting didn't go through correctly, but here it is again. We are using osmium and en bloc UA, but somehow it got cut out of the original post.
We are currently trying to embed Drosophila ovarioles for TEM, to look at cell membranes. Unfortunately we are having a difficult time preserving the membranes. Using the following protocol, our cells completely lacked membranes, the cytoplasm was very dense and full of ribosomes but there were white spaces where membranes should have been.
1. Dissect in PBS 2. Fix in 2% gluteraldehyde, 1.5% paraformaldehyde, 1.5% acrolein in .1 M cacodylate buffer 90 min -at- RT 3. 4.
6. Wash in water 7. Dehydrate through a series of ET-OH washes: 30%, 50%, 70%, 90%, 95%, 2X 100% 8. 2X 10 min each in Propylene Oxide (PO) 9. Infiltrate with Spurr's 10. Polymerize24-48 hrs -at- 65oC. 11. After sectioning, contrast with 2% UA in 50% EtOH, and lead citrate
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance
#################################################### 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 ####################################################
} Dear List members: } } I am in the market for a basic microtome, any } recomendations/information would be appreciated. } } Thank you, } Dawn } } Dawn
If you are interested in a refurbished (used) microtome, I carry a number of makes and models. All are completely refurbished to manufacturer's specifications and come with a 90 day warranty. Please contact me for details and price quote.
-- Ford M. Royer, MT(ASCP) Analytical Instruments, Ltd (Refurbished Histology, Cytology, & General Lab Equipment) 9921 13th Ave. N. Minneapolis, MN 55441-5004 800-565-1895 phone 612-929-1895 fax web site: http://www.aibltd.com
Nestor, RHS people etc. I guess there will be similar pages this side of the pond. Any suggestions from different countries?
you wrote: ==== Colleagues
When anyone asks for information about buying microscopes etc for schools you should point them to the Project Micro pages which were put together by Caroline Schooley.
Nestor Your Friendly Neighborhood SysOp ==== Best wishes
Stephan Helfer +44(0)131 248 2865; fax +44(0)131 248 2901 ------------------------------------------- To most people 'solutions' mean finding the answers. But to chemists solutions are things that are still all mixed up. (Science Explained)
Unsubscribe, please ---------------------- Douglas R. Keene Shriners Hospital Microscopy Facility 3101 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Road Portland, Oregon 97201 503-221-3434 DRK-at-shcc.org
This question on stage drift reminded me of a correction technique that is in John Russ' book, "Imaging Processing Handbook" in chapter 5 on Processing images in frequency space. Basically, you take the Fourier transform of the image and the Fourier transform of a line vector that represents the length of the displacement vector. You divide the first transformed image by the second transformed image and then transform the resulting image back. It is really slick.
This might work on an image that is "summed" over many frames, but unfortunately, I don't think that it will work on an image that is collected sequentially over a long time. I think there, that you would have to apply a shear to the image to get point registry back.
-Scott
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Glass Technology Center 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: Richard W. Fonda To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
Has anyone out there performed a careful examination of stage drift in a high-res SEM? If so, what drift rate have you measured? We recently purchased a new FEG SEM and have been quoted that drift on that SEM should be less than 40 nm over a 6 minute period (under ideal sample and SEM conditions). Since this could amount to a significant drift over the many hour time period required for an OIM run, I would like to find out what drift rate others have measured (or been quoted) for their SEMs for comparison.
A related question for the OIM users is: how do you account for the drift (and/or minimize it) on longer OIM runs to avoid distortion of the OIM map?
TIA, Richard Fonda
_____________________________________________________________ Richard W. Fonda Naval Research Laboratory (202) 767-2622 Code 6324 (202) 767-2623 fax Washington DC 20375 _____________________________________________________________
Responding to the message of {98FF9B038A-at-rbge.org.uk} from "Stephan Helfer" {S.Helfer-at-rbge.org.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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Nestor, RHS people etc. } I guess there will be similar pages this side of the pond. Any } suggestions from different countries? } Apart from being written in English (American), t.hese pages should be applicable anywhere in the world. If you know of other microscopes that are not mentioned in this list, I am sure that Caroline Schooley would love to get details of them (and a review) from you. She can be found at:
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/PMHomePage.html Intertidal invertebrates: http://www.fortbragg.k12.ca.us/AG/PCI/pci.html
__________________ Stuart McKernan stuartm-at-tc.umn.edu Associate Director Office:(612) 626-7594 CIE Characterization Facility, University of Minnesota Desk: (612) 624-6009 100 Union Street S. E., Minneapolis, MN 55455 Lab: (612) 624-6590
In a message dated 7/15/99 1:47:22 PM, walck-at-ppg.com writes:
} This question on stage drift reminded me of a correction technique that } is in John Russ' book, "Imaging Processing Handbook" in chapter 5 on Processing } images in frequency space. Basically, you take the Fourier transform of } the image and the Fourier transform of a line vector that represents the length } of the displacement vector. You divide the first transformed image by } the second transformed image and then transform the resulting image back. } It is really slick. } } This might work on an image that is "summed" over many frames, but } unfortunately, I don't think that it will work on an image that is collected } sequentially over a long time. I think there, that you would have to apply } a shear to the image to get point registry back.
FT deconvolution is definitely the wrong approach for this problem. If the stage drift is uniform then as Scott notes the effect on the raster scanned image is a shear in the image. Exactly the same thing can be found in satellite images which are raster scanned as the platform orbits, and the images are again sheared in one direction. If you know the shear (which in the satellite case is easy and in the SEM case might be if you measured the location of a feature before and after a known time interval), then you can stretch the image back pretty easily. You can do it interactively in programs like Photoshop or could write a simple macro to do it in NIH-Image.
Now that I've gotten past the hyperactive spam filter ...
Amenex has a 1976-vintage ETEC Autoprobe SEM with three WDS spectrometers. Most of the instrument still functions acceptably (with the able assistance of Ken Converse) but we have noticed substantial deterioration of the oxygen dot maps in the last few years. The sodium maps come out OK; nitrogen has always been pretty much hopeless; but carbon works OK.
We've been told that our TAP crystal may have deteriorated or become contaminated. What can we do about that ? Are there any adjustments or alignments that could be tweaked so as to pick up the oxygen radiation better ?
Has anyone got a spare TAP crystal for sale or trade ? We have several spares of other crystals ...
Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Best regards, George Langford, Sc.D. amenex-at-amenex.com http://www.amenex.com/
It is not a good idea to perform silver enhancement after osmium tetroxide treatent, because the deposited osmium can also act as a nucleating site for silver deposition, and you will silver enhance the osmicated regions of your sample as well as the gold particles.
The greatest risk of etching of deposited silver is when both osmium tetroxide and uranyl acetate are used. In the absence of uranyl acetate, etching is often not a problem. In addition, Burry and co-workers have found that in situations where it is a problem, it may be greatly reduced by using 0.1 % osmium tetroxide instead of 1 %; this has been found to give similar levels of staining (Burry, R.W. Pre-embedding immunocytochemistry with silver-enhanced small gold particles, p. 217-230. In M. A. Hayat (Ed.). Immunogold silver staining: Principles, methods and applications. CRC Press, Boca Raton (1995)).
Etching may be prevented altogether by gold toning. The procedure for this i= s:
1. After silver enhancement, wash thoroughly with dionized water. 2. 0.05 % gold chloride: 10 minutes at 4=B0C. 3. Wash with deionized water. 4. 0.5 % oxalic acid: 2 mins at room temperature. 5. 1 % sodium thiosulfate (freshly made) for 1 hour. 6. Wash thoroughly with deionized water and embed according to usual procedure.
(Reference: Arai, R., et al, Brain Res. Bull., 1992, 28, 343-345).
I hope this helps.
Rick Powell Nanoprobes, inc.
****************************************************************** * PLEASE NOTE NEW E-MAIL ADDRESS: rpowell-at-lihti.org * * * * NANOPROBES, Incorporated | US Toll-free: (877) 808-2101 * * 25 East Loop Road, Suite 113 | Telephone: (919) 510-0590 * * Stony Brook, NY 11790-3350, | Fax: (919) 510-0590 * * USA | www.nanoprobes.com * ******************************************************************
} a colleague is after references and/or info on how to calculate specimen } temperature rise due to a focussed electron beam in a 200kV TEM. He has } been studying nickel particles (approximately 0.1 - 5 micron in diameter) } on holey carbon coated copper grids. Under a focused beam larger particles } tend to melt but smaller ones end not to. } } He would like to estimate the temperature rise in different diameter } particles and for different metals/materials as well. Any help would be } appreciated. Cheers,
Dear Mark, In order to calculate the heat input, one needs to have the stopping power of the material for electrons of the appropriate energy. For 200 kV e- in Ni,
that would be about 1.9 MeV*cm^2/g (I have the tables for Fe & Cu, so I in- terpolated). Only the collision stopping power contributes to the temperature
rise, since the radiation from brehmsstrahlung is not absorbed in small par- ticles. Perhaps David Joy's Monte Carlo program can be used (or modified) to integrate the heat loss over the volume of a particle to get the total heat
input. The loss would be through radiation (proportional to T^4) and con- duction. The former would depend on the total surface area, and the latter would be a function of contact area (among other variables). The particles can probably be treated as black bodies (at most, a constant would be put into the equation; the particle would then be a gray body). The conductive loss is more difficult to calculate, and it probably dominates. Both the loss
terms are smaller for larger particles--volume-to-surface and volume-to- contact-surface--but if the contact surface can be assumed to be the same fraction of the total surface for particles of all sizes, perhaps a simple model can be used. That assumption is probably good for spheres, bad for plates, and varies for other shapes. If all the particles are spheres, the size of the smallest sphere which melts can be used to determine the parameter for my proposed simple model. Good luck. Yours, Bill Tivol
I have contacted five major U. S. SEM supply vendors and only two of them sell 1/8" pin mount storage boxes that will accommodate high samples (approx. 1/2" to 5/8" clearance). The least expensive and highest box is out of stock for at least two weeks and I need some ASAP. (The cost of these boxes range from 1.35 to 6.00 dollars each!) Any suggestions would be appreciated. You can probably guess who the vendors that I contacted are but I would be interested to find any new players out there. Thank you.
James S. Romanow The University of Connecticut Physiology and Neurobiology Department Electron Microscopy Facility U-131 Storrs, CT 06269-2131 bsgphy3-at-uconnvm.uconn.edu 860 486-2914 voice 860 486-1936 fax
I just want to thank to everybody that had send his piece of comment for my problem. The problem was solved just moving to a different superglue. It seems that the brand we were using was just leaving some residues even after full night in acetone. Now we moved for the locitite superglue, as some of you suggested, and the sample is clean of the black dots we observed before. Thanks again.
Regards,
Kazuo
o-------------------------------------------------------o | Carlos Kazuo Inoki | | Department of Physics - University at Albany | | 1400 Washington Ave.- Albany - NY - 12222 | o-------------------------------------------------------o
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Joe -
All the information that your friend needs is on the Project MICRO web page, http://www.msa.microscopy.com/ProjectMicro/PMHomePage.html under "How to buy a microscope" and "Supply sources".
Caroline
Caroline Schooley Educational Outreach Coordinator Microscopy Society of America Box 117, 45301 Caspar Point Road Caspar, CA 95420 Phone/FAX (707)964-9460 Project MICRO: http://www.msa.microscopy.com/ProjectMicro/PMHomePage.html Intertidal invertebrates: http://www.fortbragg.k12.ca.us/AG/PCI/pci.html
Dear Ph.Ds-to-be: We have a post-doc position available at Emory University, Department of Neurology in Atlanta, GA. Specifically, we are looking for someone with EM experience to participate in research on the neuropathology of Huntington's disease and Fragile X syndrome. If you are interested in this position, or know of anyone who might be, please contact me at the following email address. Thank you very much.
Hong Yi
=========================== Hong Yi EM Supervisor Emory University School of Medicine Department of Neurology 6215 Woodruff Memorial Research Building 1639 Pierce Dr. Atlanta, GA 30322 Phone: (404) 727-8692 Fax: (404) 727-3157 Email: hyi-at-emory.edu
I do not have www, only free mail. Could someone remind me of the Image Analysis List Server's email adress or find it in the archives of this server? Also an SPM- and TEM-vendor type list server if anyone knows of one. Please respond to my email.. Thank you. Jeff Day/ 'JD'
At 02:14 PM 7/15/99 , you wrote: } I have contacted five major U. S. SEM supply vendors and only two of them } sell 1/8" pin mount storage boxes that will accommodate high samples } (approx. 1/2" to 5/8" clearance). } The least expensive and highest box is out of stock for at least two weeks } and I need some ASAP. (The cost of these boxes range from 1.35 to 6.00 } dollars each!) Any suggestions would be appreciated. You can probably guess } who the vendors that I contacted are but I would be interested to find any } new players out there. Thank you. } } James S. Romanow } The University of Connecticut } Physiology and Neurobiology Department } Electron Microscopy Facility } U-131 } Storrs, CT 06269-2131 } bsgphy3-at-uconnvm.uconn.edu } 860 486-2914 voice } 860 486-1936 fax }
Pella makes the 16160 which is a tall storage box for 12 stem mounts. They are $2.25 ea or $15.50/10. I have some extras right now if you need them and Pella is out of stock. I had no trouble getting them.
Am I right in understanding that the "Cargille" liquids for RI determination are organic solvent-like? If so, does anyone know a series of liquids for examining particles of polymers which would be swollen or even dissolved by such liquids?
Thanks in advance,
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 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 | +------------------------------------------------------------------------+
A little help if possible. I am used to working with human cells, tissue sections etc. Recently a member of staff has arrived with two samples of wood !!!, one of pine shavings with pine dust, the other sample is of MDF again dust and shavings. The question she asked was what size and shape are these particles.
The tools that I have to hand are either a confocal microscope with KrAg laser or a zeiss axiovert with a z focus motor, with phase and fluorescent illumination and deconvolution software.
{/color} The way that I thought I might proceed is to find a wood fibre specific stain that would autofluoresce and then collect a z series, deconvolve and render.
Any suggestions as to dyes or basically any other suggestions would be gratefuly received. The end point of this is to try to determine the difference between pine and mdf and to suggest how far these may travel in the lungs before lodging.
Peter
{nofill}
Peter McHardy Technology Services Manager, Beatson Institute, Glasgow University, Garscube Estate, Bearsden, Glasgow G61 1BD Tel 0141 330 4818 Fax 0141 330 4127 http://www.beatson.gla.ac.uk
I have one Microsoft Publisher file, size 99k (probably written in Publisher 97 or higher). There is a data for our SEM. But I can' t read this file with my Publisher version 3.0. Please help me, if someone has a Publisher 97 or 98.
-- Henrik Kaker, Ph.D. SEM-EDS Laboratory Metal Ravne, Koroska cesta 14 Ravne, Slovenia, Phone: +386 602 21 131 Fax: +386 602 20 436 Mailto:Henrik.Kaker-at-guest.arnes.si http://www2.arnes.si/guest/sgszmera1/index.html
You might consider replacing the TAP crystal with, or adding, a layered synthetic crystal. There is a WSi crystal with a 2d spacing of ~ 60 angstroms that works very well for C, N, and O. This crystal will have much higher count rates than the TAP, but will sacrifice some wavelength resolution. One vendor I am aware of is Osmic in Michigan. I don't know if they could fit one to your ETEC.
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
On Thursday, July 15, 1999 5:13 PM, George Langford, Sc.D. [SMTP:amenex-at-amenex.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 probing Microscopists ! } } Now that I've gotten past the hyperactive spam filter ... } } Amenex has a 1976-vintage ETEC Autoprobe SEM with three } WDS spectrometers. Most of the instrument still functions } acceptably (with the able assistance of Ken Converse) but } we have noticed substantial deterioration of the oxygen } dot maps in the last few years. The sodium maps come out } OK; nitrogen has always been pretty much hopeless; but } carbon works OK. } } We've been told that our TAP crystal may have deteriorated } or become contaminated. What can we do about that ? Are } there any adjustments or alignments that could be tweaked } so as to pick up the oxygen radiation better ? } } Has anyone got a spare TAP crystal for sale or trade ? We } have several spares of other crystals ... } } Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. } } Best regards, } George Langford, Sc.D. } amenex-at-amenex.com } http://www.amenex.com/
I am taking SEM images, BEI mode of paper samples. I have problems to differenciate between the binders used in paper and the epoxy resin used to embedd the paper samples. I wonder if there is a way of staining the resin in order to get better contrast when taking backscattered images. I know that OsO4 can be used to stain some binders,but I also want to stain the resin.
Johann Gebauer has done an excellent job of rebuilding Philips EM300 specimen tips for us. Just sent him all of your broken parts.
Gebauer Machining 117 Ridgecrest Rd. Ithica, NY 14850 607 273-5049
James S. Romanow The University of Connecticut Physiology and Neurobiology Department Electron Microscopy Facility U-131 Storrs, CT 06269-2131 bsgphy3-at-uconnvm.uconn.edu 860 486-2914 voice 860 486-1936 fax
I have embedded reproductive tracts from parasitoid wasps and leps with none of the problems you are experiencing. Maybe I've just had good luck? Anyway, the only things that differ between our protocols are that I dissect in the primary fixative, not in PBS, and the primary fixative is phosphate buffered glutaraldehyde/formaldehyde pH 7.3 without any acrolein. The only components of the repro tract that have proven poorly fixed are more or less mature eggs. Let me know what finally works for you. Good luck!
Eloise--
Eloise L. Styer Veterinary Diagnostic Lab University of Georgia 43 Brighton Rd. PO Box 1349 Tifton, Ga 31793 912 386-3340
Michelle L. Peiffer 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Thank you all for the responses received so far. I don't know why my } original posting didn't go through correctly, but here it is again. We are } using osmium and en bloc UA, but somehow it got cut out of the original } post. } } We are currently trying to embed Drosophila ovarioles for TEM, to look at } cell membranes. Unfortunately we are having a difficult time preserving } the membranes. Using the following protocol, our cells completely lacked } membranes, the cytoplasm was very dense and full of ribosomes but there } were white spaces where membranes should have been. } } 1. Dissect in PBS } 2. Fix in 2% gluteraldehyde, 1.5% paraformaldehyde, 1.5% acrolein in .1 M } cacodylate buffer } 90 min -at- RT } 3. } 4. } } 6. Wash in water } 7. Dehydrate through a series of ET-OH washes: 30%, 50%, 70%, 90%, 95%, } 2X 100% } 8. 2X 10 min each in Propylene Oxide (PO) } 9. Infiltrate with Spurr's } 10. Polymerize24-48 hrs -at- 65oC. } 11. After sectioning, contrast with 2% UA in 50% EtOH, and lead citrate } } Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance } } #################################################### } 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 } ####################################################
We have a Sorvall Porter-Blum JB4 Microtome. It seems to be in good working condition. However, it does not have any manual.
If any of you have a manual of this machine, I will really appreciate sending me a copy.
Thanks in advance,
Soumitra
Soumitra Ghoshroy Ph.D. Electron Microscopy Lab Box 3EML New Mexico State University Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001 Tel: 505-646-1531/3600 Fax: 505-646-5665 e-mail: ghoshroy-at-nmsu.edu
Robert, the Cargille RI oils that I use do fine for synthetic fibers (nylon, rayon, etc.). You may want to contact McCrone Corp. to see if they have specific RI oils for polymer particles. 800-622-8122. Hope this helps Mike Bucker Consolidated Labs of Va. Richmond, Va. 23219
} } } "Robert H. Olley" {R.H.Olley-at-reading.ac.uk} 07/16 5:32 AM } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Am I right in understanding that the "Cargille" liquids for RI determination are organic solvent-like? If so, does anyone know a series of liquids for examining particles of polymers which would be swollen or even dissolved by such liquids?
Thanks in advance,
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 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 | +------------------------------------------------------------------------+
For the best and most trained of ETEC technicians, the alignment of the WDS crystals is a daunting task. The TAP crystal is not a particularily sensitive crystal as far as cleaning, a simple quick swabing with ethanol should remove most contamination. However, the ETEC crystal mount has four mounting screws that are adjusted to control the tilt of the crystal in two dimensions, the crystal height and alignment with the Rowland circle as well as the curvature of the crystal.
Ken is a very good technician on the ETECs and was my technical backup as a field technician. However, I was the only technician, that I know of, that was trained by the gentleman who set up the WDS systems in the factory. I know from setting up many systems that I would often spend an entire week adjusting a single crystal for proper operation. These are fully focussing Johansson WDS optics that are capable of measurements to one ten thousandth of an Angstrom. However, the adjustment screws are very course and touchy to properly adjust. Added to this is the proper adjustment of the detector tape, a metal tape that both maintains the line of sight of the detector to the crystals as well as maintaining the proper detector alignment to the Rowland circle. The ETEC WDS spectrometer also requires an accurate alignment of the spectrometer housing to the sample chamber.
More than likely, your spectrometer is in need of a full alignment that may well cost you thousands of dollars and a couple of weeks of work or more to accomplish.
I can put you in touch with a gentleman who can provide you with new crystals, contact me if needed, but more than likely you have need of a complete overhaul of the spectrometer system.
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-sem.com
-----Original Message----- } From: George Langford, Sc.D. {amenex-at-amenex.com} To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com}
Robert H.Olley wrote: ================================================= Am I right in understanding that the "Cargille" liquids for RI determination are organic solvent-like? If so, does anyone know a series of liquids for examining particles of polymers which would be swollen or even dissolved by such liquids? ==================================================== The Cargille family of refractive index fluids and immersion oils cover a wide range of liquid chemistries, all are considered broadly to be "organic oils" but they range in composition from pure hydrocarbon to some that are siloxanes (most "laser" liquids) to yet others that are perfluorinated polyethers. There are probably some classes of liquids I have l have not mentioned.
Solvency depends on the polymer you are trying to characterize.
A custom fluid can usually be produced for a very specific refractive index at a specified wavelength within a specified viscosity range. Without knowing the polymer involved, it is not possible to know how the choice of liquids might be further constrained. A fluid that would swell a porous polymer particle might not necessarily dissolve it. Of course there is always the chance that one of the standard fluids would work.
Contact me off line and maybe we can design a specific liquid that will accomplish what you require. More information about the standard line of Cargille fluids can be found on our website given below.
Disclaimer: SPI Supplies offers the full range of Cargille fluid products so we are not a disinterested third party.
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.spi.cc ######################## ============================================
Does any one have any information on the Sakura sapphire knives or where we could find the company?
Thanks. ML Mei Lie Wong Electron Microscope Laboratory Department of Biochemistry HHMI-UCSF Ph. 415-476-4441 Fax 415-476-1902 http://util.ucsf.edu/agard/wong/index.html email wong-at-msg.ucsf.edu
You were one of several factory trained technicians: I was one, Ken was another, Hank Bebe was also trained. I was trained by "Tung Tsu" who trained Darrell Jackson. Ask Darrell how many spectrometers he screwed up before being trained by Tung Tsu.
Earl
"Allen R. Sampson" 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } For the best and most trained of ETEC technicians, the alignment of the WDS } crystals is a daunting task. The TAP crystal is not a particularily } sensitive crystal as far as cleaning, a simple quick swabing with ethanol } should remove most contamination. However, the ETEC crystal mount has four } mounting screws that are adjusted to control the tilt of the crystal in two } dimensions, the crystal height and alignment with the Rowland circle as well } as the curvature of the crystal. } } Ken is a very good technician on the ETECs and was my technical backup as a } field technician. However, I was the only technician, that I know of, that } was trained by the gentleman who set up the WDS systems in the factory. I } know from setting up many systems that I would often spend an entire week } adjusting a single crystal for proper operation. These are fully focussing } Johansson WDS optics that are capable of measurements to one ten thousandth } of an Angstrom. However, the adjustment screws are very course and touchy } to properly adjust. Added to this is the proper adjustment of the detector } tape, a metal tape that both maintains the line of sight of the detector to } the crystals as well as maintaining the proper detector alignment to the } Rowland circle. The ETEC WDS spectrometer also requires an accurate } alignment of the spectrometer housing to the sample chamber. } } More than likely, your spectrometer is in need of a full alignment that may } well cost you thousands of dollars and a couple of weeks of work or more to } accomplish. } } I can put you in touch with a gentleman who can provide you with new } crystals, contact me if needed, but more than likely you have need of a } complete overhaul of the spectrometer system. } } 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-sem.com } } -----Original Message----- } } From: George Langford, Sc.D. {amenex-at-amenex.com} } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} } Date: Thursday, July 15, 1999 1:09 PM } Subject: Haaalp ! How can I improve oxygen dot maps in microprobe ? } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } } 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 probing Microscopists ! } } } } Now that I've gotten past the hyperactive spam filter ... } } } } Amenex has a 1976-vintage ETEC Autoprobe SEM with three } } WDS spectrometers. Most of the instrument still functions } } acceptably (with the able assistance of Ken Converse) but } } we have noticed substantial deterioration of the oxygen } } dot maps in the last few years. The sodium maps come out } } OK; nitrogen has always been pretty much hopeless; but } } carbon works OK. } } } } We've been told that our TAP crystal may have deteriorated } } or become contaminated. What can we do about that ? Are } } there any adjustments or alignments that could be tweaked } } so as to pick up the oxygen radiation better ? } } } } Has anyone got a spare TAP crystal for sale or trade ? We } } have several spares of other crystals ... } } } } Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. } } } } Best regards, } } George Langford, Sc.D. } } amenex-at-amenex.com } } http://www.amenex.com/ } } } } } }
I had always worked with TEM and had developed an interest in performance=
monitoring through my service days, hence my RMS book "Maintaining & Monitoring the Transmission Electron Microscope" and work on "Quality" in=
electron microscopy.
When I first started using SEM my instincts naturally took me into testin= g out these machines too. I just had to measured resolution, contamination=
rate and drift rate on every instrument that I used, either as a consulta= nt or within our own courses. Often having the students make the tests.
In relation to contamination and drift rate tests we would work over a 20=
minute period at 50,000X. A level that all instruments were capable of reaching. The test specimen was one of my gold on latex, here there is a=
0.5mm block of dried latex (0.24um), that has been multi coated (sputtere= d 6-10 times at different angles) with gold to create a coarse (latex) and = a fine (gold) structure. As a result the specimen is well earthed!
So we ran the tests and to my surprise the results were almost always as follows - within a 20 minute period the drift was less than the resolutio= n of the instrument i.e. we could not detect the drift. At first I thought=
this was an error but repeated tests over this period on a number of instruments gave the same results. We were looking at a double exposure = to measure the movement of the latex spheres. If any drift was detected subsequent tests put this "image shift" down to charge. Re positioning t= he specimen in the stage and checking the stage earth solving most problems.= =
You learn a good deal about the SEM simply by trying to perform this type=
of test. High voltage stabilization periods for example!
I have not met anyone else who has done this but they must be out there somewhere? Most of the SEM users I worked with in the early days, who ha= d more SEM experience than I, thought to measure drift rate and contaminati= on rate a bit of a joke!
Hope this helps?
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
Post Doctoral position for recent PhD (no longer than 5 years) or PhD to be.
We have a post-doc position available at the NIH, NIDDK. Specifically, we are looking for someone with a Cell Biology interest to participate in research on intracelllular lipid trafficking. Technically someone with Electron Microscopy experience and cryo-immunogold cytochemistry experience would be ideal. However our laboratory is equipped to train an individual interested in devoting their efforts to this line of research. There are several cytological projects of importance to the laboratory that could be approached with these techniques. If you are interested in this position, please contact me at the following e mail address
Thank you very much.
E.Joan Blanchette-Mackie, PhD
-------------------------------------------------- Dr. Joan Blanchette-Mackie Chief; Section of Lipid Cell Biology NIDDK / NIH Builing 8, Room 427 8, Center Drive Bethesda MD 20892 - 0850
With regard to the discussion on Naphrax™, it along with some of the other "older" mountants, like Canada Balsam and Aroclor™, have been "replaced" with other more "user friendly" alternatives. Some of the original mountants contained PCBs, although I have forgotten just what the less desirable feature was about Naphrax.
Cargille Laboratories has develped a line of replacements, they are part of their line of "Optical Quality Thermoplastics". They are PCB-free. Their RI 1.704 product is the direct replacement for Naphrax. It has an Abbe V dispersion of 24. It is available as a thermoplastic liquid as well as what is called their Quick-Stick™. Both products are described on our website below. These products are also offered by several of the other firms supplying microscopy products to microscope users.
Disclaimer: SPI Supplies is a distributor for the Cargille Laboratories line of products for microscopy.
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.spi.cc ######################## ============================================
Glad to hear it, Earl. I had never heard from either Hank or Ken that they had been properly trained in WDS, and still have not. To the contrary, after I first came on board, received orientation in Danbury for a week and received basic training in Hayward for two weeks, I was teamed with Darrel for a couple of weeks for WDS training and then left to install a dozen instruments through out the midwest because there had been no one available to do the installations for the previous two years or more. Forgive me if I am a little touchy on this subject, but I had to go into many situations where ETEC had simply been unable to completely install instruments that had been delivered years before. I realize that I entered ETEC on the cusp of their acquisition by Perkin-Elmer, but I was alone in bringing much of the midwest territory into compliance with the contractual responsibilities that ETEC undertook.
I can only hope that this group will forgive my self-indulgence, but I have to point out that Earl has done nothing to refute the suggestions that I made. They still stand on their own. Earl's clarifications suggest that Ken Converse knows what he is doing, a subject that I never refuted. On the contrary, I have referred Ken to a number of people who have contacted me for service over the years for a variety of instruments. In fact, I will be packing up a Hitachi SEM in the next week that I have suggested Ken for the installation and continuing service of.
I stand by my comments on a fully-focusing WDS spectrometer being a different beast requiring a careful and informed hand for proper maintenance and operation. And I stand by my assertion that the ETEC WDS spectrometer in particular is an extremely touchy and sensitive instrument to properly calibrate. Once accomplished, however, the ETEC Autoscan mated with the ETEC WDS is a very effective and stable electron microprobe system, something I can attest to with my own personal instrument.
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-sem.com
-----Original Message----- } From: "earlw-at-pacbell.net"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com {"earlw-at-pacbell.net"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} To: Allen R. Sampson {ars-at-sem.com} Cc: amenex-at-amenex.com {amenex-at-amenex.com} ; Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com}
Hello Fellow Microscopist:
This is my first posting since joining the group. I have learned quite a bit just from reading your back and forth inquires.
I have a question of my own. A few years ago I got a Cambridge Stereoscan 120 SEM, but soon moved into another post and lost track of the vendor who sold the instrument to us. Now the SEM is in pretty bad shape and I would like to get in touch with the manufacturer, Cambridge Instruments - Electron Optics Group. So far I have tried without any success.
Does anyone of you know where or how to get in touch with these people? They don't appear in any listing or website I have look into.
Furthermore, does any of you by chance own an operational stereoscan instrument? Please reply.
-----Mensaje original----- De: BEN HIDALGO {bhidalgo-at-raudo.udo.edu.ve} Para: microscopy-at-msa.microscopy.com {microscopy-at-msa.microscopy.com} Fecha: domingo 18 de julio de 1999 1:54 Asunto: SEM- Need Help on Stereoscan
} Hello Fellow Microscopist: } } This is my first posting since joining the group. I have learned quite a bit } just from reading your back and forth inquires. } } I have a question of my own. A few years ago I got a Cambridge Stereoscan } 120 SEM, but soon moved into another post and lost track of the vendor who } sold the instrument to us. Now the SEM is in pretty bad shape and I would } like to get in touch with the manufacturer, Cambridge Instruments - Electron } Optics Group. So far I have tried without any success. } } Does anyone of you know where or how to get in touch with these people? They } don't appear in any listing or website I have look into. } } Furthermore, does any of you by chance own an operational stereoscan } instrument? Please reply. } } Thank you for your kind help. } } Ben Hidalgo, Ph.D. Materials Science Depart. Universidad de Oriente Venezuela E-mail: bhidalgo-at-ci.udo.edu.ve
I have an older (1991) stock of object slides from a German brand ("Assitent, ELKA slides, cleaned, with frosted stripe on both sides, no. 2406"). There's something strange with those: the've turned white/opaque and they all stick together.
Under the microscope, some kind of crystalisation process is visible, with feather-like crystals.
When I store the slides as I usualy do, in ethylalcohol 90%, with 3% hydrochloric acid (v/v), the crystals dissolve, but some kind of blue-metalic haze (in reflected light) stays on the slides and is impossible to remove. This haze is non-crystaline in appearence and is very noticiable in darkfield and phasecontrast.
Preparations I made with these slides (several 1000's!) seems all to be lost, as the mounting medium seems to have a habit to shrink excessively on those slides. Strangely enough this is only the case with slides made with Numount. Slides made with Entellan, Naphrax, Rhenohistol, Venetian turpentine and water based media (von Apathy's sirop, glycerinjelly) are OK.
In older literature (Langeron, M: "Precis de microscopie", 1934) I've found a possible explanation: Langeron speaks of an alteration of slides and coverslips, called "devitrification" (French). This alteration is/was not uncommon in a hot and humid climate but it happens/happened in all climates, only much faster under tropical conditions.
As possible solutions Langeron advises:
* sometimes the white opaque can be dissolved in acids (see above) * sometimes the white opaque can be dissolved in acid alcohol (see above) * the slides can be stored in paraffinoil or clove oil * the slide are protected when stored in air tight metal boxes * sometimes it's possible to clean the slides using FeCl3, 3% aq. (impossible, tried it). * always bye slides of premium quality (I tought "Assistent" was a top brand and it's widely used in Europe).
Does this sounds familiar to anyone? Possible solutions? Prevention?
Ben, Cambridge has been bought and sold several times over the last few years. They are currently called LEO. There general number is 800-356-1090 and web site is http://www.mwrn.com/leo/leo.htm. I hope this helps.
Brian Wajdyk
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Cambridge Instruments ha changed ownership several times in the last few years. They are currently LEO. LEO's general phone number is800-356-1090 and there web page is http://www.mwrn.com/leo/leo.htm. I hope this helps.
Brian Wajdyk
-- Brian Wajdyk, Senior Electron Microscopist, Center for Intergrated Systems Development, Motorola (FESEM / EDS / Scanning Auger Microscopy)
Cambridge Instruments ha changed ownership several times in the last few years. They are currently LEO. LEO's general phone number is800-356-1090 and their web page is http://www.mwrn.com/leo/leo.htm. I hope this helps.
Brian Wajdyk
-- Brian Wajdyk, Senior Electron Microscopist, Center for Intergrated Systems Development, Motorola (FESEM / EDS / Scanning Auger Microscopy)
I _desperately_ need information about the Princeton Gamma-tech 307 AD-converter NIM-module. I have recently acquired an old EDS system based on PGT electronics and I only have manuals for SiLi, spectroscopy amp and pileup/livetime-corrector. The AD converter apparently has some sort of fast sample-and-hold circuit (with calibration potentiometers at front) and a computer digital-io connection at back. I'd guess that the computer connection has 12 data pins (12bit converter) and some trigger/reading-good/whatever pins to control transfer (flow-control) of data.
The module was originally connected to PGT ancient inhouse-designed "computer" with ferrite-core memory.. I intend to connect the module to modern PC with windows software.
So, if someone has manual for this converter, or experience about it, please, let me know. I'm, of course, willing to pay reasonable cost for copies of manuals, airmail etc.
btw: I do have contacted both PGT directly and their Finnish representative. Their response was that they have _no_ support for these old modules and have dumped all their documentation. :(
I need to know if there is a japanese diamond knife and who is the manufactor and references about, if possible an E-mail for contact. I'll appreciate the help,
I must first apologize for this posting....I have for sale on ebay a Unitron binocular scope with camera. I started it at a buck, there is no reserve. I initially signed up to this list in an effort to figure out how to use/test the scope. I assume now that this is less a unit than most of you folks are working with, or want to deal with. Anyhow, Thanks for the fun...signing off now. http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=133518177 -Matt B I can be contacted here or vovo-at-verinet.com _________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free -at-yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com
Ben Hidalgo wrote: =====================================================
I have a question of my own. A few years ago I got a Cambridge Stereoscan 120 SEM, but soon moved into another post and lost track of the vendor who sold the instrument to us. Now the SEM is in pretty bad shape and I would like to get in touch with the manufacturer, Cambridge Instruments - Electron Optics Group. So far I have tried without any success.
Does anyone of you know where or how to get in touch with these people? They don't appear in any listing or website I have look into. ================================================ Their website URL is http://www.leo-em.co.uk/
Address information in the UK:
LEO Electron Microscopy Ltd Clifton Road Cambridge CB1 3QH England Telephone (44) 1223 414166 Fax (44) 1223 412776 E-mail info-at-leo-em.co.uk
Hope this helps!
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.spi.cc ######################## ============================================
{bold} Laboratory: {/bold} Electronic Materials and Engineering, Department = of Electronics, University of Barcelona.
{bold} Duration: {/bold} 12-18 months from January (or April) 1999.
{bold} Subject {/bold} : Structural and chemical characterization of UV-coati= ngs using TEM, XPS and XRD techniques, within the frame of a TMR project, in collaboration with LZH-Hannover, FHG-Jena, CEA- Grenoble, ENEA-Rome, FORTH-Crete and MSU- Moscou.
The aim of the project is to assess the effects of microstructure and composition inhomogeneities in the optical behaviour of the high reflectant or antireflectant coatings. Some of the materials involved are MgF2, LaF3, ... on Si, quartz and CaF2 substrates
{bold} Requirements: - {/bold} nationality from a {bold} EU member {/bold} (n= ot Spanish)
- Younger than 35 years
- PhD already finished or in the last period.
{bold} Merits: {/bold} - Experience in TEM and related techniques
{bold} Estimated Salary: {/bold} 1800 Euros/month
Applications including a CV, list of publications, and the names and addresses of at least two referees should be sent to:
I am new to the group but not a microscopist. My background is in photography and imaging, I currently work at the Materials Technology Laboratories in Ottawa, Canada, employed primarily to deal with digital images.
I have read the past correspondence and would like to offer my thoughts. As the topic seemed to be drifting toward quality I was surprised some standard control measures were not mentioned. Manipulation of a silver image is not limited to printing alone - development time, temperature, agitation, developer formula and concentration, even sharpening ( not limited to digital) can all factor into the quality of the resulting negative. Although I agree that digital images are no match for conventional film, they are close and getting closer. Using a service bureau to drum scan and output an image will reveal just how close. I've looked at an 8x10 camera original and it's digitally output twin through a 10x loupe and was surprised at the quality of the digital version. As a matter of fact, I would predict none but the very experienced could see a difference with the naked eye. The digital image was in the region of 6Gb. Hardly convenient, but the possibility exists to eventually come very close to film if not surpassing it in some areas. Generation degradation for one.
Archiving film is easy, relatively inexpensive and very long term with no degradation (if done properly). I haven't seen any studies that show a digital image would fare as well. What wasn't mentioned was discreet tonality, and I believe film wins hands down. Film's ability to record subtle shading (degree is format dependent) gives it a quality I have not seen in a digitally produced print. I don't believe digital will replace film, but it will win over a very large market share. In some areas it will dominate because of its cost effectiveness, i.e. press and catalogue photography. Keep in mind though, a skilled photographer with a digital back will more than likely produce a sharper image than a less skilled person using film. I can't speak for microscopists but there are many ways to produce a sharp image, it is not limited to a particular acquisition medium.
David Ashe NRCan / MTL Ottawa , Canada dashe-at-NRCan.gc.ca
There is a full time position available in The Jackson Laboratory's Biological Imaging Facility. Successful applicants must be proficient in state-of-the-art Light Microscopy (LM), TEM and SEM instrumentation use. Previous experience with standard EM and LM sample preparation and immunostaining techniques is critical. Basic darkroom and computer skills are also required; rudimentary programming skills are preferred. Applicants should have either a B.S. in a biological field with two years EM experience in a research setting or an M.S. in a biological field with one year of experience in EM. Courses at either the undergraduate or graduate level focusing on microscopy and immunohistochemical techniques would be an asset. This customer service driven position requires solid communication skills; applicants must be able to work independently in a multi-user facilty and interact with a variety of people. Friendliness and the ability to work as a team member are essential.
The Jackson Laboratory is one of the world's foremost centers for mammalian genetics research. Located in Bar Harbor, Maine, the lab is adjacent to Acadia National Park. Mountains, ocean, forests, lakes and trails are all within walking distance. If you love high tech challenges but you're looking for a more natural environment, this could be the opportunity you've been searching for.
Please contact: Human Resources The Jackson Laboratory 600 Main St. Bar Harbor, Maine 04609 e-mail: jobs-at-jax.org The Jackson Laboratory is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. Lesley S. Bechtold Supervisor, Biological Imaging The Jackson Laboratory 600 Main St. Bar Harbor, ME 04609 207-288-6191
South Bay Technology produces the PC2000 Plasma Cleaner which is based o= n technology that we license from Argonne National Laboratory. Technical information on Plasma Cleaning can be found on our web site at www.southbaytech.com. We have also recently introduced our PC2000 Plasm= a Cleaner which does not yet appear on our web site. I can send you a PDF version of that product brochure via email if that would be of interest. =
The PC2000 will be "officially" released at the upcoming MSA meeting in Portland. Please contact me off-line if you would like any additional details.
} } } } } 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 "paqui" } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America =
Dear All,
We are considering the possibility of up-date our equipment with a =
Plasma-Cleaner.
I would appreciate both commercial information and also (and =
specially) the opinion from the users of this kind of equipment.
Kind regards
Paqui
*******************************+ Francesca Peiro
EME, Electronic Materials and Engineering Dpt. Electronics =
University of Barcelona Marti i Franques 1 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Hi everyone I am spreading DNA using the droplet spontaneous adsorption technique. The DNA is spread fine, however, the Cytochrome C coating of the DNA is irregular- thick and thin, sometimes 2-3X the usual diameter, at other points not coating the DNA at all. The background is also irregular. My readings suggest the problem is with the ammonium acetate concentration, I have tried 0.25M, 0.30M and 0.45M, None of these produces a clear coating consistently. Any suggestions?
Sally Burns Center for Electron Optics B5 CIPS, MSU East Lansing, MI 48823 517 355-5004 burnssal-at-msu.edu
Their web site is (in the US): http://www.leo-usa.com/
good luck.
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 1675 Carr St., #105N Lakewood, CO 80215 =================================== phone: (888) FIND SIS (303) 234-9270 fax: (303) 234-9271 email: mailto:info-at-soft-imaging.com web: http://www.soft-imaging.com ===================================
} ---------- } From: Garber, Charles A.[SMTP:CGARBER-at-2SPI.COM] } Sent: Monday, July 19, 1999 12:25:08 AM } To: MICROSCOPY BB } Subject: Where is LEO? } Auto forwarded by a Rule } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
-- [ From: Garber, Charles A. * EMC.Ver #3.1 ] --
Ben Hidalgo wrote: =====================================================
I have a question of my own. A few years ago I got a Cambridge Stereoscan 120 SEM, but soon moved into another post and lost track of the vendor who sold the instrument to us. Now the SEM is in pretty bad shape and I would like to get in touch with the manufacturer, Cambridge Instruments - Electron Optics Group. So far I have tried without any success.
Does anyone of you know where or how to get in touch with these people? They don't appear in any listing or website I have look into. ================================================ Their website URL is http://www.leo-em.co.uk/
Address information in the UK:
LEO Electron Microscopy Ltd Clifton Road Cambridge CB1 3QH England Telephone (44) 1223 414166 Fax (44) 1223 412776 E-mail info-at-leo-em.co.uk
Hope this helps!
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.spi.cc ######################## ============================================
I've been depressed because I can't afford a diamond knife and I've been told I would get much better results with my cardiac tissue using a diamond knife rather than a glass knife. I also just finished my thesis project which involved crustacean cysts. I put in so many hours at the microtome on that one!!
Anyway, I've been thinking that with all the recent advances in materials science, there's got to be a better way... Has anyone investigated whether a diamond-quality (or near diamond-quality) knife could be manufactured from a ceramic material? Anybody else have any thoughts on this topic?
-- Sonia Cawsey McGowan Copley Library, University of San Diego email: scawsey-at-acusd.edu home page: http://www.acusd.edu/~scawsey
I am seeking a JEOL 100CX TEM for parts (need not be operational) and will pick it up at your lab. Additionally, we are interested in the availability of a late model used (must be operational) 200kV analytical TEM for purchase. Please contact me off line at the address below.
Owen
============================= Owen P. Mills Electron Optics Facility Engineer Michigan Technological University Metallurgical & Materials Engineering Rm 512 MME Building Houghton, MI 49931 906-487-2002 906-487-2934 FAX opmills-at-mtu.edu
I have attempted to purchase a drawing tube from Zeiss to fit the old "standard" model scopes, but was dismayed to find out that it is no longer available. If anyone has one that is not being used and wishes to sell it, I would be very interested.
Richard A. Snyder, Ph.D. Center for Environmental Diagnostics and Bioremediation (CEDB) Biology Department University of West Florida 11,000 University Parkway Pensacola, FL 32514
http://www.uwf.edu/~rsnyder/
Work (850) 474-2806 FAX: -3130 _____________________________________________________________
} Anyway, I've been thinking that with all the recent } advances in materials science, there's got to } be a better way... } Has anyone investigated whether } a diamond-quality (or near } diamond-quality) knife } could be manufactured from } a ceramic material? } Anybody else have any thoughts on this topic?
Dear Sonia, Diamond is harder than any substance except boron nitride (I think), and, in addition to the hardness, the knife edge cannot flake off, so there is a stringent constraint on the crystal size and the binding of crystallites to one another if the knife is to work properly. Perhaps there is a way to produce a suitable ceramic knife edge, but I'd guess that this would involve epitaxial growth of the crystal to make the edge. If so, the knife would be much more expensive than diamond. Saphire (hardness 9 vs diamond 10 on the Moe (?) scale) is a material which is used for knives, and it may be suitable for your work. Good luck. Yours, Bill Tivol
I'm not sure I'd borrow a knife even if I could find a willing lender. I'd get too nervous about harming it. Fortunately, today I had some success with tissue that had been embedded using a slightly different protocol. But I'm thinking more about this from a broader perspective. As you mention, diamond knives have always been expensive. I don't think this alone, though, is enough to spur the development of a cheaper alternative. Market forces seem to be very quirky when it comes to anything to do with scientific products. I'm primarily a librarian, and journal price increases have been outpacing inflation since the 70's, but we still buy them because our patrons need them. I'd love to cancel the journals guilty of gouging, but often they are the most important (and the publishers know it). Another, more mundane example: I've found that a couple of 12 inch square pieces of 100 micron nylon mesh costs $75.00 if you buy it marketed for cell culture applications, but you can get a 1.5 x 5 foot bag filter for aquaculture applications made out of the same mesh
for $20.00. I'm not convinced that a cheaper alternative to diamond knives does not exist simply because it isn't possible. However, if alternative materials have been tried and have been found inadequate, then I guess I can get even more depressed.... (hmm ... where'd I put my stash of chocolates?)
"Malis, Tom" wrote:
} Sonia, I feel for your predicament, but I think that, in a sense you are } barking up the wrong tree, as the old saying goes. Diamond knives have been } around for nearly 40 years and have been expensive for all of that time, yet } no viable alternative has emerged. Sapphire knives are used on occasion } (there was just a Listserver inquiry as to where one could buy them), but } are still expensive, at about half the cost of diamond. So, there is just } about zero chance of anyone coming up with a ceramic alternative in the near } future. } } Why not focus your creative thinking in the other direction, which is to } find someone with a knife who is willing to let you borrow it? Microtomists }
} Tom Malis } Group Leader - Characterization } Materials Technology Laboratory } Natural Resources Canada (Govt. of Canada) } 568 Booth St., Ottawa, Canada } ph. 613-992-2310 } FAX 613-992-8735 } email: malis-at-nrcan.gc.ca {mailto:malis-at-nrcan.gc.ca} } } ---------- } From: Sonia Cawsey McGowan [SMTP:scawsey-at-acusd.edu] } Sent: July 19, 1999 12:42 PM } To: microscopy list } Subject: Alternatives to Diamond Knives } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of } America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to } ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help } http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } I've been depressed because I can't afford a diamond knife and } I've been told I would get much better results with my } cardiac tissue using a diamond knife rather than a glass knife. } I also just finished my thesis project which involved } crustacean cysts. I put in so many hours } at the microtome on that one!! } } Anyway, I've been thinking that with all the recent } advances in materials science, there's got to } be a better way... } Has anyone investigated whether } a diamond-quality (or near } diamond-quality) knife } could be manufactured from } a ceramic material? } Anybody else have any thoughts on this topic? } } -- } Sonia Cawsey McGowan } Copley Library, University of San Diego } email: scawsey-at-acusd.edu } home page: http://www.acusd.edu/~scawsey } }
-- Sonia Cawsey McGowan Copley Library, University of San Diego email: scawsey-at-acusd.edu home page: http://www.acusd.edu/~scawsey
I wonder if anyone can help me out. I'm processing some cell cultures through to LR White for immunocytochemistry. This is my current procedure;
Trypsinise (~ 4 min.) and scrape cells
Spin down to pellet at 1000 rpm in PBS
Fix in 2% paraformaldehyde, 0.05% glutaraldehyde for 2 hours
Buffer wash
Dehydrate 50 / 70 / 80 / 90 % Methanols at 4 degrees over ~3 hr
Put through 4 changes of LR White ( 1 hour each )
Embed at ~50 degrees C for 48 hours
Everything goes fine until the buffer wash after fixation . At this point my cell pellet does a near miraculous disappearing trick ! I am not flushing it into the waste. What then is happening ? The only thing I can think off is that the fixative is too weak. I am doing the whole thing again on Wednesday morning so any advice would be more than welcome. Yours Hopefully,
Barry Shaw
EM Technician, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Nottingham Medical School
Hi everyone I am spreading DNA using the droplet spontaneous adsorption technique. The DNA is spread fine, however, the Cytochrome C coating of the DNA is irregular- thick and thin, sometimes 2-3X the usual diameter, at other points not coating the DNA at all. The background is also irregular. My readings suggest the problem is with the ammonium acetate concentration, I have tried 0.25M, 0.30M0. and 0.45M, None of these produces a clear coating consistently. Any suggestions? -- Sally Burns Center for Electron Optics B5 CIPS, MSU East Lansing, MI 48823 517 355-5004 burnssal-at-msu.edu
Listies: I need some info on sources for iridium foil. We used to get it from VCR Group, but my co-worker tells me he cannot contact them anymore. We use it in an ion sputter coater for SEM samples. Vendors' replies are quite welcome. We are in the USA, North Texas.
South Bay Technology, Inc. recently acquired VCR Group and is continuing = to manufacture their products - now under the South Bay Technology name. I will send you by separate email a copy of the Ion Beam Sputtering and Etching System price list for your review. The iridium target you are looking for is part no. 30.2090i. I will verify the price on that target=
and send it to you tomorrow.
If you plan to be at MSA, please stop by our booth (#518) so we can updat= e you on what is going on with South Bay Technology and VCR. As if gettin= g the SBT/VCR update isn't enough, we'll also be offering a free gift to th= e first 50 people who stop by to say hello!
In the mean time, if you have any questions concerning VCR Group product= s, please feel free to contact me directly.
} } } } } 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 Becky Holdford } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America =
Listies: I need some info on sources for iridium foil. We used to get it from VCR Group, but my co-worker tells me he cannot contact them anymore. We use it in an ion sputter coater for SEM samples. Vendors' replies are quite welcome. We are in the USA, North Texas.
Can anyone suggest a Long Island, NY, SEM facility which offers machine time to experienced users in an academic environment or on a fee basis at low cost? EDS capability would be nice, but not essential.
We have been using cork/vial storage of SEM 1/8" pin mounts for a very long time. We punch a hole in the center of the small end of the cork to receive the pin and push stub on the small end of the cork into the vial. By using vials just slightly large in diameter than the stub, the assembly is quite compact. The vials are 1 dram shell vials, size 15 x 45 mm, manufactured by Kimble. The corks are VWR Laboratory corks size 4, regular length.
John Rensberger
On Thu, 15 Jul 1999, JIM ROMANOW 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 contacted five major U. S. SEM supply vendors and only two of them } sell 1/8" pin mount storage boxes that will accommodate high samples } (approx. 1/2" to 5/8" clearance). } The least expensive and highest box is out of stock for at least two weeks } and I need some ASAP. (The cost of these boxes range from 1.35 to 6.00 } dollars each!) Any suggestions would be appreciated. You can probably guess } who the vendors that I contacted are but I would be interested to find any } new players out there. Thank you. } } James S. Romanow } The University of Connecticut } Physiology and Neurobiology Department } Electron Microscopy Facility } U-131 } Storrs, CT 06269-2131 } bsgphy3-at-uconnvm.uconn.edu } 860 486-2914 voice } 860 486-1936 fax } } } }
Sonia - The discussion about the economics of diamond knives has missed an important point; most of the cost results from the labor involved, not the knife materiel itself. There's maybe $100 worth of diamond in a $1000 knife, plus a lot of highly skilled craftsman time. That's why the sapphire costs so much, relatively speaking; cheaper crystal, same labor. When you get beyond the thesis stage of your career, I hope that you can convince your employer that a diamond knife is actually a bargain compared to the productive hours (and irreplacable samples) lost with glass knives.
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/PMHomePage.html Intertidal invertebrates: http://www.fortbragg.k12.ca.us/AG/PCI/pci.html
Francesca: Shop around and that would include looking at the EMITECH K1050x. You can read up about that online on our page K5 (enter from "Contents") Please note that PST cannot supply Emitech instruments outside Australasia and would not supply additional info outside our territory. Cheers Jim Darley ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com.au Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes www.proscitech.com.au
On Monday, July 19, 1999 11:02 PM, paqui [SMTP:paqui-at-el.ub.es] wrote: } } } Dear All, } } We are considering the possibility of up-date our equipment with a } Plasma-Cleaner. } } I would appreciate both commercial information and also (and } specially) the opinion from the users of this kind of equipment. } } Kind regards } } Paqui } } } *******************************+ } Francesca Peiro } } EME, Electronic Materials and Engineering } Dpt. Electronics } University of Barcelona } Marti i Franques 1 } 08028 Barcelona, Spain } } Tel. (34-93) 402 11 39 } Fax. (34-93) 402 11 48 } e-mail: paqui-at-el.ub.es } **************************** }
Sonia - I fail to believe that muscle cannot be sectioned well with a glass knife. However, a diamond does make life easier. If I was a supervisor, I would be concerned to give a diamond knife to an inexperienced person - i.e. one who cannot section soft tissues with a glass knife. The cost of the diamond in a knife is significant, but smaller than the cost of manufacturing and testing, not to mention marketing. So it makes sense to use the best material available. Diamond is the hardest substance known and retains a superfine edge better than anything else. Tungsten carbide is next in hardness, but it has an intrinsic grain structure, making it only useful for sections above 1.5 um. Sapphire knives have been commercially available for over ten years. They have not made inroads. Probably because they have a much shorter life expectancy and only provide a modest saving. One could debate at which point is it worthwhile for a student to learn thin sectioning. The worst you can do is to become depressed. Reality is that you do not have a diamond knife available, that muscle can be sectioned with glass well and that you need to polish up on technique, unless somebody else is going to do the sectioning for you. Cheers Jim Darley ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com.au Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes www.proscitech.com.au
On Tuesday, July 20, 1999 2:42 AM, Sonia Cawsey McGowan [SMTP:scawsey-at-acusd.edu] wrote: } } } I've been depressed because I can't afford a diamond knife and } I've been told I would get much better results with my } cardiac tissue using a diamond knife rather than a glass knife. } I also just finished my thesis project which involved } crustacean cysts. I put in so many hours } at the microtome on that one!! } } Anyway, I've been thinking that with all the recent } advances in materials science, there's got to } be a better way... } Has anyone investigated whether } a diamond-quality (or near } diamond-quality) knife } could be manufactured from } a ceramic material? } Anybody else have any thoughts on this topic? } } } -- } Sonia Cawsey McGowan } Copley Library, University of San Diego } email: scawsey-at-acusd.edu } home page: http://www.acusd.edu/~scawsey } }
We often look at paper samples but attach them directly to a brass stub using double- sided sellotape, coat them with gold-palladium and then image in SEM using secondary and/or backscattered electrons - any resin in the paper specimen is easily distinguishable from paper fibres. We don't embed our paper in any sort of resin
Best regards
Belinda
Belinda White Senior EM Technician Centre for Electron Microscopy University of Natal Pietermaritzburg South Africa
} I wonder if anyone can help me out. I'm processing some cell } cultures through to LR White for immunocytochemistry. This is my } curren t procedure; } } Trypsinise (~ 4 min.) and scrape cells } } Spin down to pellet at 1000 rpm in PBS } } Fix in 2% paraformaldehyde, 0.05% glutaraldehyde for 2 hours } } Buffer wash } } Dehydrate 50 / 70 / 80 / 90 % Methanols at 4 degrees over ~3 hr } } Put through 4 changes of LR White ( 1 hour each ) } } Embed at ~50 degrees C for 48 hours } } Everything goes fine until the buffer wash after fixation . At this } point my cell pellet does a near miraculous disappearing trick ! } I am not flushing it into the waste. What then is happening ? The } only thing I can think off is that the fixative is too weak. I am } doing the whole thing again on Wednesday morning so any advice would } be more than welcome. Yours Hopefully, } } Barry Shaw } } EM Technician, School of Biomedical Sciences, } University of Nottingham Medical School }
Hi Barry: This is what I would do:
Fix cells with double strength fixative added to the medium at a ratio of 1:1 (8 % formaldehyd and 0,4 % ga is often used) Leave for 1-2 hours. Carefully scrape the cells with a piece of Teflon cut to form a blade (a soft wooden stick will also do the job) and pellet the cells by centrifugation in the presence of a small amount of protein (FCS or BSA 1-2%). The protein will prevent the cells from sticking to the wall of the tube, something that might happen. You can also embed the cell pellet in 10 % gelatin in water and threat the cells as tissue during further processing:remove the supernatant, resuspend the pellet in 100 ul 10 % gelatin, centrifuge and leave on ice for 1 hour, cut the tip off the tube and remove the gelatinembedded pellet that can be cut into small blocks containing cells.
For further details about embedding etc I suggest you look into
Are there any Transmission Electron Microscopists (especially Zeiss TEM users) out there who have converted their TEM to enable digital photography?
We are interested in bolt-on systems such as the Megaview II, and would be very interested to hear from electron microscopists who have already got these systems installed........
Of particular interest: how well does the resolution and blackness of the blacks of digital micrographs compare to those printed from traditional b/w film?
Amanda Wilson St George's Hiospital Medical School awilson-at-sghms.ac.uk
At 09:42 AM 7/19/1999 -0700, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} { GO GATORS Scott D. Whittaker 218 Carr Hall EM Technician Gainesville, FL 32610 University Of Florida ph 352-392-1184 ICBR EM Core Lab fax 352-846-0251 sdw-at-biotech.ufl.edu http://www.biotech.ufl.edu/~emcl/ The home of " Tips & Tricks "
Barry, Regarding your problem with disappearing cell culture pellets: Try spinning your sample down before each change. Then resuspend the cells each time to make sure they're exposed evenly to each solution and not packed in the bottom of the tube. Good luck, Mary Gail Engle Electron Microscopy & Imaging Facility University of Kentucky
} Listies: I need some info on sources for iridium foil. We used to } get it from VCR Group, but my co-worker tells me he cannot contact } them anymore. We use it in an ion sputter coater for SEM samples. } Vendors' replies are quite welcome. We are in the USA, North Texas.
Dear Becky, Alfa Aesar sells Ir foil of several different thicknesses. You can reach them at (800) 343-0660, or www.alfa.com. The only connection I have to the company is that I get their catalog. Yours, Bill Tivol
Job Posting: Scientist in the Microscopy Group of the Analytical and Materials Characterization Laboratories of Polaroid Corp., R&D Chemical Research Division, Waltham, Ma.
* B.S. or M.S. in Materials Science * Strong communication skills, written and oral * Works well in a team environment * Strong light microscopy skills * Hands on experience in a variety of other microscopy and materials characterization techniques desirable e.g. scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, microtomy, x-ray photo-electron spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, energy dispersive x-ray analysis, probe microscopy, * Photonic materials experience is a plus * Creative, problem solver * Additional knowledge in analytical techniques valuable
If interested, Pls. contact Lynne Garone, Manager of Analytical and Materials Characterization Labs 1265 Main St. W4 -1D Waltham, Ma. 02451-1714 phone #: (781) 386-1446, Fax # (781) 386-0378, e. mail: GaroneL-at-Polaroid.com
It is inexpensive to use glass for knives, but the glass degrades repidly. Has anyone used the resin additves which are supposed to extend glass knife edge life?
Bill
William McManus Supervisor Electron Microscopy Facility Department of Biology Utah State University Logan UT 84322-5305
JEOL has asked for permission to post the following message. Since it is an open invitation to all microscopist's attending the upcoming meeting in Portland, and has been made in the spirit of good will and camaraderie, I consider it appropriate to pass along to the listserver community.
Nestor Your Friendly Neighborhood SysOp
================================================================= To All M&M '99 Attendees:
We at JEOL are celebrating our 50th anniversary this year and are holding a reception at the Microscopy & Microanalysis 1999 Conference to commemorate this event. This reception will be held immediately following the exhibit hours on Tuesday, August 3, 1999 in the Ballroom at the Oregon Convention Center. The same location as the sessions.
We hope that you will set aside this time to come and visit with us and enjoy some refreshments. For those of you attending the MAS Presidential Symposium we hope that you will be able to join us at 6:00 PM.
Free passes to this reception will be available to everyone at the conference during exhibit hours on Monday and Tuesday. Please feel free to bring family and friends.
Again, it's in the Ballroom at the Oregon Convention Center on Tuesday from 5:00 until 8:00 PM.
If you have any questions please contact Steve Hamilton at 978/536-2270 or hamilton-at-jeol.com. ==================================================================
Steve Hamilton Tel: 978/536-2270 JEOL USA, Inc. Fax: 978/536-2401 11 Dearborn Road Email: hamilton-at-jeol.com Peabody, MA 01960 WWW: http://www.jeol.com
================================================================== Nestor J. Zaluzec Materials Science Division Building 212 Argonne National Lab 9700 S. Cass Ave Argonne, Illinois 60439 USA Tel: 630-252-5075, Fax: 630-252-4798 Email: Zaluzec-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov ================================================================== TPMLab: http://tpm.amc.anl.gov MMSite: http://www.amc.anl.gov ==================================================================
The box said "This program requires Win 95/98/NT or better..." so I bought a G3 Mac
Dear Becky, VCR has been recently acquired by SouthBay Technology and Vince Carlino is at SouthBay, so you could try them. Another good source for all metals is Goodfellow: www.goodfellow.com. At 06:49 PM 7/19/99 -0500, you wrote: } } Listies: I need some info on sources for iridium foil. We used to } get it from VCR Group, but my co-worker tells me he cannot contact } them anymore. We use it in an ion sputter coater for SEM samples. } Vendors' replies are quite welcome. We are in the USA, North Texas. } } -- } ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ } Becky Holdford (r-holdford-at-ti.com)
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 e-mail: mager-at-interchg.ubc.ca
POSTDOCTORAL POSITION AVAILABLE TO STUDY MICROTUBULE ORGANIZING CENTERS (MTOCs; CENTROSOMES) IN CANCER CELLS AND IN A TRANSGENIC ADENOCARCINOMA MOUSE PROSTATE MODEL
A postdoctoral position is available immediately to study centrosome-cytoskeletal interactions in cancer cells and tissue. The successful candidate will join an established research lab and an established group of investigators at the Cancer Research Center to study centrosome organization and abnormalities in cancer cells using novel microscopy methods and low voltage field emission scanning electron microscopy (LVFESEM).
Our lab was among the first to identify centrosomes with immunofluorescence microscopy and to characterize centrosome structure with high resolution scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Monoclonal antibodies against centrosomes have been raised to identify tissue specific centrosome proteins. We are currently interested in abnormal centrosome formation that is associated with multipolar spindle organization and genomic instability.
Qualifications for this position will include basic experience with tissue culture cells, and knowledge in light and electron microscopy. Salary will be commensurate with experience. Please submit a curriculum vitae, the names and addresses of three references, and a brief statement of research interests to:
Heide Schatten, Ph.D. Associate Professor Department of Veterinary Pathobiology University of Missouri-Columbia 1600 E. Rollins Street, Columbia, MO 65211 TEL: (573) 882-2396 FAX: (573) 884-5414 e-mail: SchattenH-at-missouri.edu
SELECTED RELATED PUBLICATIONS:
Schatten, H., Schatten, G., Mazia, D., Balczon, R., and Simerly, C. Behavior of centrosomes during fertilization and cell division in mouse oocytes and in sea urchin eggs. Proc. Natl.Acad. Sci. USA 83: 105-109 (1986).
Schatten, H., Walter, M., Mazia, D., Biessmann, H., Paweletz, N., Coffe, G., and Schatten, G. Centrosome Detection in Sea Urchin Eggs with a Monoclonal Antibody against Drosophila Intermediate Filament Proteins: Characterization of the Division Cycle of Centrosomes. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84:8488-8492 (1987).
Schatten, H. Dithiothreitol Prevents Membrane Fusion but not Centrosome or Microtubule Organization During the First Cell Cycle in Sea Urchins. Cell Motil. Cytoskel. 27, 59-68 (1994).
Thompson-Coffe, C., Coffe, G., Schatten, H., Mazia, D., and Schatten, G. Cold-Treated Centrosome: Isolation of Centrosomes from Mitotic Sea Urchin Eggs, Production of Anticentrosomal Antibody, and Novel Ultrastructural Imaging. Cell Motil. Cytoskel. 33, 197-207, 1996.
Petzelt, C., Werner, D., and Schatten, H. In Vivo-Labeling of the Centrosome of Human Primary Endothelial Cells by Transfection with a Green Fluorescent Protein-Centrosomin A Construct. Mol. Biol. of the Cell, (1997).
Schatten, H. and Chakrabarti, A.,. Centrosome Structure and Function is Altered by Chloral Hydrate and Diazepam During the First Reproductive Cell Cycles in Sea Urchin Eggs. Eur. J. Cell Biol., 75, 9-20.
Chakrabarti, A., Schatten, H., Mitchell, K.D., Crosser, M., and Taylor, M. Chloral hydrate alters the organization of the ciliary basal apparatus and cell organelles in sea urchin embryos. Cell Tissue Res. 293, 453-462 (1998).
Schatten, H., Hedrick, J., and Chakrabarti, A. The cytoskeleton of Drosophila-derived Schneider line-1 and Kc23 cells undergoes significant changes during long-term culture. Cell Tissue Res. 294, 525-535 (1998).
Schatten, H., Ripple, M., Balczon, R., and Taylor, M. Centrosome abnormalities in cancer cells and tissue. ICEM14, 243-244 (1998).
Schatten, H., Ripple, M., Balczon, R., Taylor, M., and Crosser, M. Centrosome proliferation in the human androgen-responsive LNCaP and the androgen-independent DU 145 prostate cancer cell lines. Proceedings MSA 4(2), 1066-1067 (1998).
Schatten, H., Chakrabarti, A., and Hedrick, J. Centrosome and microtubule instability in aging Drosophila cells. J. Cellular Biochemistry 74:229-241 (1999).
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Dear Sonia,
You say that you cannot obtain useful sections of cardiac muscle using = glass knives and are looking for an alternative to diamond knives. =
Here are two suggestions that may help you out:
First, have you really tried to cut good sections on the glass knives? = Sometimes this defeats people because they embed their samples in a resin = formulation that is just too hard to cut using glass knives. Try = embedding in a soft Spurr resin formulation and cutting that. I am sure = it will work.
The second suggestion is that you look at the special resharpening offers = available from some of the diamond knife suppliers. Basically, if you can = get your hands on any old diamond knife, you can trade it in for a new one = at a little over half the price.
If you are really stuck on getting good sections come up to Los Angeles = for a day and I will let you use one of my diamond knives.
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 http://www.hei.org/htm/aemi.htm
by imo23.mx.aol.com (IMOv20.25) id fAVEa10245 (14386) for {microscopy-at-msa.microscopy.com} ; Tue, 20 Jul 1999 14:40:51 -0400 (EDT) Message-ID: {65b53d99.24c61cb9-at-aol.com}
I agree with Paul,glass knives can be used to produce consistently very good sections. However,a softer Spurr or Epon formulation must be used. For 8 years,we used this technique in a commercial veterinary pathology lab on all types of animal tissue with very good results. The only time we had to use the diamond knife was when we received hard blocks from customers. The trade off is that the images were not quite as crisp as those produced by using a diamond knife on a hard block, but they were still very useable for all purposes. Hope this helps Norm Woodside
JEOL has asked for permission to post the following message. Since it is an open invitation to all microscopist's attending the upcoming meeting in Portland, and has been made in the spirit of good will and camaraderie, I consider it appropriate to pass along to the listserver community.
Nestor Your Friendly Neighborhood SysOp
================================================================= To All M&M '99 Attendees:
We at JEOL are celebrating our 50th anniversary this year and are holding a reception at the Microscopy & Microanalysis 1999 Conference to commemorate this event. This reception will be held immediately following the exhibit hours on Tuesday, August 3, 1999 in the Ballroom at the Oregon Convention Center. The same location as the sessions.
We hope that you will set aside this time to come and visit with us and enjoy some refreshments. For those of you attending the MAS Presidential Symposium we hope that you will be able to join us at 6:00 PM.
Free passes to this reception will be available to everyone at the conference during exhibit hours on Monday and Tuesday. Please feel free to bring family and friends.
Again, it's in the Ballroom at the Oregon Convention Center on Tuesday from 5:00 until 8:00 PM.
If you have any questions please contact Steve Hamilton at 978/536-2270 or hamilton-at-jeol.com. ==================================================================
Steve Hamilton Tel: 978/536-2270 JEOL USA, Inc. Fax: 978/536-2401 11 Dearborn Road Email: hamilton-at-jeol.com Peabody, MA 01960 WWW: http://www.jeol.com
================================================================== Nestor J. Zaluzec Materials Science Division Building 212 Argonne National Lab 9700 S. Cass Ave Argonne, Illinois 60439 USA Tel: 630-252-5075, Fax: 630-252-4798 Email: Zaluzec-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov ================================================================== TPMLab: http://tpm.amc.anl.gov MMSite: http://www.amc.anl.gov ==================================================================
The box said "This program requires Win 95/98/NT or better..." so I bought a G3 Mac
I once saw a small lightbox that has a footprint a little larger than a notebook. The transparent window is angled at about 30 degrees. If you are using Neg-a-file sheets for your negatives, this lightbox sits in your notebook inserted between pages and a sheet of negatives of interest can be viewed.
Does anyone know who makes this thing and where to buy it?
-Scott
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Glass Technology Center Guys Run Rd. (packages) P. O. Box 11472 (letters) Pittsburgh, PA 15238-0472
Barry: Cell pellets can be treated like bits of tissue if they are near 1mm thick. If you have less material it will disappear by re-suspending. Then it would need to be spun during every step - a method to be avoided.
Fix pellet for 5 to 10 minutes and then use a needle to gently score a one mm square pattern through the pellet. Complete the fixation time. 120 minutes with 2.5% of fixative is rather long for cells - half an hour (in the cold) should be plenty. After that, gentle handling will keep the cells clumped and they can be treated like a bit of tissue. Keep the cells in the original tubes during processing and gently add and withdraw the various liquids.
Cells fixed in suspension will not remain clumped after pelleting. By not scoring the pellet early during fixation, fixative penetration and forming of small clumps are impaired. Cheers Jim Darley ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com.au Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes www.proscitech.com.au
On Tuesday, July 20, 1999 9:53 AM, BARRY SHAW [SMTP:Barry.Shaw-at-nottingham.ac.uk] wrote: } } I wonder if anyone can help me out. I'm processing some cell } cultures through to LR White for immunocytochemistry. This is my } current procedure; } } Trypsinise (~ 4 min.) and scrape cells } } Spin down to pellet at 1000 rpm in PBS } } Fix in 2% paraformaldehyde, 0.05% glutaraldehyde for 2 hours } } Buffer wash } } Dehydrate 50 / 70 / 80 / 90 % Methanols at 4 degrees over ~3 hr } } Put through 4 changes of LR White ( 1 hour each ) } } Embed at ~50 degrees C for 48 hours } } Everything goes fine until the buffer wash after fixation . At this } point my cell pellet does a near miraculous disappearing trick ! } I am not flushing it into the waste. What then is happening ? The } only thing I can think off is that the fixative is too weak. I am } doing the whole thing again on Wednesday morning so any advice would } be more than welcome. Yours Hopefully, } } Barry Shaw } } EM Technician, School of Biomedical Sciences, } University of Nottingham Medical School } }
Scott D. Walck wrote: ======================================================= I once saw a small lightbox that has a footprint a little larger than a notebook. The transparent window is angled at about 30 degrees. If you are using Neg-a-file sheets for your negatives, this lightbox sits in your notebook inserted between pages and a sheet of negatives of interest can be viewed.
Does anyone know who makes this thing and where to buy it? ======================================================= There is probably more than one manufacturer of this sort of thing, but we have offered for some time the Slim Edge® Light Pad. It has an 8x10" viewing area and has overall dimensions of 12.25 x 9.25". It is only ½" thick. More information can be found on URL http://www.2spi.com/catalog/photo/lightpad.html
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.spi.cc ######################## ============================================
Thank you very much for all the helpful comments, suggestions and links that you sent me. I appreciate it very much.
Claudia Dr. C. Hayward-Costa School of Life Sciences Kingston University Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames Surrey KT12 2EE ++44(0)181 547 2000 x 2240 Email: c.hayward-at-kingston.ac.uk
Could you please refer on a provider of low-melting point solders, about 40-60C of melting point. If it possible to make a proper alloy from pure Ga and In by myself, I'd be happy to know the composition of it. The alloy must be inert for HF acid, or at least not to contaminate the surface of the sample after deepening into HF for tens of seconds. The solder is necessary for InP-based samples mounting onto magnetic holders for works with conductive probe AFM. I hope to reduce sample drift together with good conductivity of the joint. If you know a better solution for the drift-free conductive sample mounting, avoiding oxidation of the sample surface, I would be glad to here it from you!
Best regards. Dmitri.
__________________________________________ Dmitri V. Sokolov, Doctor Course student Research Center for Interface Quantum Electronics, Hokkaido University, North 13, West 8, Kitaku, Sapporo 060, Hokkaido, Japan Phone 81-11-706-7174 Fax 81-11-716-6004 http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Campus/1314 AOL Instant Messenger FalconDot ICQ 9418072 __________________________________________
You may have to consider fixing in the flask if all else fails or at least some form of encapsulation such as in agar if it doesn't. interfere with your immuno work. Most references I have seen also emphasize that fixative and buffer solutions need to be decanted with great care down the sides of the centrifuge tube to avoid dispersing the pellet.
My experience has mainly been with histological fixation (2.5% glutaraldehyded) of culture cells which always worked well if the cells were fixed in the flask but on the one occasion a research assistant scraped then fixed we ended up with small pellets of disrupted cells. The only problem may be lifting the fixed cells off the flask surface - for this you may have to experiment to find the optimum time after fixation is started.
Good luck
Malcolm
Malcolm Haswell Electron Microscopy School of Sciences Fleming Building University of Sunderland SUNDERLAND SR1 3SD Tyne and Wear UK
Tel (0191) 515 2872 e-mail: malcolm.haswell-at-sunderland.ac.uk
---------- } From: BARRY SHAW To: Microscopy
I wonder if anyone can help me out. I'm processing some cell cultures through to LR White for immunocytochemistry. This is my current procedure;
Trypsinise (~ 4 min.) and scrape cells Spin down to pellet at 1000 rpm in PBS Fix in 2% paraformaldehyde, 0.05% glutaraldehyde for 2 hours Buffer wash Dehydrate 50 / 70 / 80 / 90 % Methanols at 4 degrees over ~3 hr Put through 4 changes of LR White ( 1 hour each ) Embed at ~50 degrees C for 48 hours
Everything goes fine until the buffer wash after fixation . At this point my cell pellet does a near miraculous disappearing trick ! I am not flushing it into the waste. What then is happening ? The only thing I can think off is that the fixative is too weak. I am doing the whole thing again on Wednesday morning so any advice would be more than welcome. Yours Hopefully,
Barry Shaw
EM Technician, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Nottingham Medical School
Hi everyone =20 =20 I am using the IMQuant software (Oxford Instruments) to characterise=20 carbide particles in steel. However, the samples analysed are 2-D=20 sections and diameters or areas of carbides are understated compared=20 with the 3-D reality. Is there a mathematical way of compensating for=20 this 2-D limitation within this software? =20 Also, what's the best resolution I can achieve, is it related to the=20 SEM resolution? =20 Many thanks =20 F.
} Dear All, } } We are considering the possibility of up-date our equipment with a } Plasma-Cleaner. } } I would appreciate both commercial information and also (and } specially) the opinion from the users of this kind of equipment. } } Kind regards } } Paqui } } } *******************************+ } Francesca Peiro } } EME, Electronic Materials and Engineering } Dpt. Electronics } University of Barcelona } Marti i Franques 1 } 08028 Barcelona, Spain } } Tel. (34-93) 402 11 39 } Fax. (34-93) 402 11 48 } e-mail: paqui-at-el.ub.es } **************************** } Dear Paqui,
We are a UK based manufacturer of plasma barrel reactors that may suit your purpose. A local distributor based in Barcelona is: Leica Microsistemas C/Nicaragua, 46 08029 Barcelona Tel: +34 93 494 95 30 Fax: +34 93 494 95 32 E-mail:ana.alarcon-at-leica-microsystems.com Contact: Ana Alarcon
Best regards Mike Wombwell Polaron range Business Manager V G Microtech The Birches Industrial Estate Imberhorne Lane East Grinstead West Sussex RH19 1UB UK Direct line: +44 (0)1342 310296 Switchboard: +44 (0)1342 327211 Fax: +44 (0)1342 315074 http://www.polaron-range.com E&OE
Spreading DNA is a very tedious procedure. I am not familiar with the spontaneous adsorption technique, but I know the spreading technique has always worked for me and I'm including it here. But first, let me ask you several questions. What buffer are you using and at what pH? This is very important. A more alkaline solution has always worked for me (see below). Second, what is the purpose of ammonium acetate? I have never used this and achieved excellent results. Third, what is your hypophase solution? This is very important since this serves as a matrix. Look at my procedure. It is a very modified one and I cannot locate the original source right now.
Spreading solution: Working Solution:
1 M Tris buffer - pH 8.5 + 0.1M EDTA 10ul 99% formamide - highly purified molecular bio. grade 50ul
DNA - (50ug/ml stock solution) 2ul ddH2O - 33ul cytochrome C 5ul always add last
Add in order given. Make sure that any glass used, including slides must be soaked in HCl/Chromic acid solution for 2 days prior to use. Also, as you know,everything must be DNAase free.
Hypophase - floating solution.
ddH2O 79ml 1M Tris (above) + 0.1M EDTA pH 8.5 1ml formamide 20ml The procedure is the slide spreading technique. The DNA is collected onto carbon-coated grids 400m. The next step was to stain in 0.05M uranyl acetate in 95% ethanol and 0.1M HCl.
Please give me a call if you have any questions and I would be more than happy to explain further the technique. Blessings................................................................... Maria
Maria Fazio-Zanakis Bioimaging and Molecular Histology Hoechst Marion Roussel, Inc. 1-908-231-3357 Fax: 1-908-231-3962 Email: Maria.Fazio-Zanakis-at-hmrag.com
I have been working for some time to produce sections of an extremely fragile medium and have at last succeeded. However, this has meant that Osmium Tetroxide has had to be used in the fixation process along with freeze substitution. I am embedding in Lowicryl. Does anyone have any information on immunolabelling of Osmicated sections?
Thanks ********************************************************************** Caroline Routledge Department of Optometry and Vision Science University of Wales, Cardiff Redwood Building King Edward VII Avenue Cardiff South Glamorgan
Bill: Never noticed any difference with the additives. I even tried the tungsten coating technique (evaporate W onto the glass knife) with variable results. I have found that the original Luft (medium) formulation to be the most consistent and to provide the best results with glass knives.
Roger Moretz Dept of Toxicology
Opinions expressed are my own and do not reflect those of my empoyer.
} -----Original Message----- } From: William McManus [SMTP:billemac-at-biology.usu.edu] } Sent: Tuesday, July 20, 1999 9:21 AM } To: 'microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com' } Subject: RE: Alternatives to Diamond Knives } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } } } It is inexpensive to use glass for knives, but the glass degrades repidly. } Has anyone used the resin additves which are supposed to extend glass } knife } edge life? } } Bill } } William McManus } Supervisor } Electron Microscopy Facility } Department of Biology } Utah State University } Logan UT 84322-5305 } } billEMac-at-cc.usu.edu } 435-797-1920
Fischione Instruments(www.fischione.com) makes an excellent plasma cleaner. We have a dry-pumped system that has proven itself very valuable for cleaning TEM samples and our various holders, as well as bulk SEM samples, aperatures, etc. Both prevention of contamination and removal of previous contamination have been excellent.
There was a very good paper in Microscopy and Microanalysis (March/April '99) by Isabell, et. al. dealing with the plasma cleaner and it's applications/results for electron microscopy. Worth reading, especially if you're considering a purchase.
Regards,
Mike Coy ************************************************************************ Mike Coy m-coy-at-nwu.edu SEM Facility Manager (847)491-3439 Electron Probe Instrumentation Center (EPIC) Northwestern Unversity ************************************************************************
In a message dated 7/21/99 8:33:10 AM, frank.sarrazit-at-AVESTASHEFFIELD.COM-at-sparc5.microscopy.com writes:
} I am using the IMQuant software (Oxford Instruments) to characterise } carbide particles in steel. However, the samples analysed are 2-D } sections and diameters or areas of carbides are understated compared } with the 3-D reality. Is there a mathematical way of compensating for } this 2-D limitation within this software?
I don't know that particular software package but probably the best solution is to measure a size distribution of the two-dimensional feature sections, say in 10 to 15 bins, and write that data out to Excel. Performing the matrix multiplication to get the diameters of the three-dimensional features that correspond to the measured section areas is trivial there. Matrices corresponding to spheres and ellipsoids can be found in Weibel's 1980 Stereological Methods book (Academic Press) and in my 1986 Practical Stereology book (Plenum) among others. For other shapes (cubes, tetrahedra, etc.) there is a harder-to-find book by J. Wasen and R. Warren (A Catalogue of Stereological Characteristics of Selected Solid Bodies) published in 1990 by Chalmers Univ. in Sweden (my copy does not show any isbn number). When using this method, be aware that it is mathematically "unstable" - i.e., the statistical precision of your final result is much worse than the counting precision of the number of features in each classification bin - and that the results depend very much on having the correct shape assumption about your particles.
It is clear that the Microscpopy Community needs a simple forum where Commerical Organizations can post News Items of interest. We have discouraged this practice on the Microscopy Listserver, however, the need still exists nevertheless.
As such, in the infinite amount of spare time available to me, I have created an experimental WWW site which will allow commerical organizations to post messages, announcements etc.. This WWW site is independent of the Microscopy Listserver, but still maintained on the MSA servers. The URL is:
and is accessible via the MSA Home Page as well as a variety of links at other WWW sites.
A few points to bear in mind.
Firstly, any commerical organization who fills out the Electronic Submission Form will be permitted can post to the WWW Electronic News Server. However, in order to maintain a degree of content oversight, no posting will be uploaded to a viewable page without having been reviewed first. This is to attempt to insure that proper decorum is maintained. I (for the moment) will review the text of submissions as they are posted and if it in my judgement they are not bogus and are appropriate then I will uplink them to the Active News/Announcement WWW pages. If I find something that appears out of line, then I will of course contact a vendor.
Second, no editorial action will be taken on the postings. They will appear as submitted. I will not have time to be an editior, so for those of you who make use of this system, be forewarned. Read your postings carefully before submitting them!
Third, after some finite period of time the postings will be culled to remove old or outdated information.
The Microscopy Listserver will still operate as it always has, but I hope this will provide our (important) commerical members a mechanism to provide timely information to our scientific community. It will, I hope, remove the frustration I know alot of commerical vendors have with the rather strict rules about no advertising on the Microscopy Listserver.
As this is an experiment, so please bear with any growing pains. If it becomes to much of a problem then we will try some other mechanism but at least it is an attempt. My one request is that you please use it in the spirit it is intended.
Cheers....
Nestor Your Friendly Neighborhood SysOp.
================================================================== Nestor J. Zaluzec Materials Science Division Building 212 Argonne National Lab 9700 S. Cass Ave Argonne, Illinois 60439 USA Tel: 630-252-5075, Fax: 630-252-4798 Email: Zaluzec-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov ================================================================== TPMLab: http://tpm.amc.anl.gov MMSite: http://www.amc.anl.gov ==================================================================
The box said "This program requires Win 95/98/NT or better..." so I bought a G3 Mac
Our Core users have been generating zigabytes of data on our = deconvolution and confocal microscopes. We have found, unfortunately, = the CD writing interfaces we have on these systems are too slow and = complicated (or error prone) for most users. As a result we have been = forced to spend several hours a week writing CD's for people. It takes = about a 30 minutes/CD: 15 min data prep and 15min actual writing. My = question, finally, is what are other labs charging to write CDs for=20 their users. =20 Thanks,
Hank Adams Integrated Microscopy Core Baylor College of Medicine Soggy Houston
} Members, } } Our Core users have been generating zigabytes of data on our deconvolution } and confocal microscopes. We have found, unfortunately, the CD writing } interfaces we have on these systems are too slow and complicated (or error } prone) for most users. As a result we have been forced to spend several } hours a week writing CD's for people. It takes about a 30 minutes/CD: 15 } min data prep and 15min actual writing. My question, finally, is what are } other labs charging to write CDs for } their users.
Hank,
We charge for a half-hour of technician time but it does not really take that long. We use a 4X Yamaha writer and Adaptec software on an NT workstation. It is a very simple process to drag the files into the data window of the CD Creator software and click the red button. We charge for time at the worstation at $5/hr plus the tech time. I wonder if the problems you are encountering are from using older software (some of the early stuff was dreadful) or older hardware?
Good luck.
Rick A. Harris, Director Microscopy and Imaging Facility Section of Molecular and Cellular Biology 1241 Life Sciences Addition University of California Davis, CA 530 752 2914 530 754 7536 fax raharris-at-ucdavis.edu
Members, I appreciate all the replies I received so far on CD writing. I = guess I should have added that about 15 gigs of data is generated/wk and = we are writing from SGI unix machines. We actually have few problems = with WinNT data transfer from users-either Zip (I know not the best), CD = writing or FTP from our users.=20
Thanks,
Hank Adams Integrated Microscopy Core Baylor College of Medicine Sweltering Houston
This is an old thread which came up about 2 years ago, however, since it has reappeared, it is appropiate to point out that Mike Coy neglected to mention that in addition to Fischione, a number of other companies namely- South Bay Technology (http://www.southbaytech.com) and Structure Probe Inc (http://www.2spi.com) also sell and market plasma cleaners for AEM applications in the USA. There is also a variation which is being developed by XEI (http://www.msa.microscopy.com/SM/XEI/XEIHomePage.html) for in-line SEM applications.
I also use this methodology routinely. I happen to use the SBT model and can echo Mike Coy's exact comments which apply equally well to the SBT unit, it has " proven itself very valuable for cleaning TEM samples and our various holders, as well as bulk SEM samples, aperatures, etc. Both prevention of contamination and removal of previous contamination have been excellent. "
The SBT unit at ANL is used on instruments including Philips, JEOL, Hitachi, AEI and VG covering the gamit of operating modes .. AEM, SEM, CTEM, STEM, IVEM,HREM, and HVEM.
I can testify to the technologies effectiveness in literally all operating conditions. An important point to remember is that this methodology works most effectivley when the contamination source is specimen borne (a key point that most people forget to mention). If you have a "dirty" instrument to start with , then cleaning the specimen while ignoring the column will not be very effective. Of course, modern instruments have relatively low inherent contamination rates, so the newer the instrument the more effective the technology.
Nestor Your Friendly Neighborhood SysOp
Disclaimer: ======== Although I am a satisfied user, I must disclose that my employer Argonne National Laboratory holds the original patent on this technology and recieves royality for units sold based upon that patent. Each of the above manufacturer's are licensee's of the ANL Patent.
I am asked to look for morphology and composition by SEM/EDS of some strongly ferro-magnetic powders, about 20=B5m in size. We would like to avoi= d embedding and cross-sectionning.
=46rom experience, they tend to sink in epoxy during curing when we glue the= m on a substrate. Did somebody try to use ferro-magnetic stubs (particles should stick to the closest ferromagnetic surface, but astigmatism=8A)?
Any suggestions how to mount the powder on the stub owing to the magnetic forces which will attract the particles to the pole-pieces?
Best regards
Philippe
__________________________________________________________________ Philippe Buffat Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) Centre Interdepartemental de Microscopie Electronique Address: EPFL-CIME, Batiment MX-C, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland Phone: +41(21)693 29 83 Fax: +41(21)693 44 01 (Central European Time) E-mail: philippe.buffat-at-epfl.ch, WWW URL http://cimewww.epfl.ch/ ______________________________ Eudora F2.1 ___________________________
Philippe Buffat wrote: ========================================= I am asked to look for morphology and composition by SEM/EDS of some strongly ferro-magnetic powders, about 20µm in size. We would like to avoid embedding and cross-sectionning.
} From experience, they tend to sink in epoxy during curing when we glue them on a substrate. Did somebody try to use ferro-magnetic stubs (particles should stick to the closest ferromagnetic surface, but astigmatismŠ)?
Any suggestions how to mount the powder on the stub owing to the magnetic forces which will attract the particles to the pole-pieces? ================================================= The SPI Supplies Tacky Dot™ Slides might work just fine for this application. If you select the 15 µm dot slide, only one particle will stick (and quite tenaceously) to each "dot". Wait 24 hours after application for the bond to develop to its maximum strength. It would be possible for the local field strength to be sufficiently high that the strong adhesive bonds could be overcome and some or all of the particles could get pulled off of their respective "dots"on the slide.
More information about Tacky Dot Slides can be found on URL http://www.2spi.com/new/tacky.html
Dsiclaimer: SPI Supplies manufactures Tacky Dot Slides under license from E . I. du Pont de Nemours and Co., Inc.
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.spi.cc ######################## ============================================
Alternatives to Diamond Knives, response to Sonia Cawsey's message
In the mid '70s, Ian Roberts described a method for coating glass knives to prolong their cutting life and, although they will never match a diamond knife for sustained sectioning, may well offer a solution to sectioning difficulties experienced with conventionally prepared glass knives. As I have always been fortunate enough to have a good diamond knife for sectioning, I have not tried coated glass knives myself. However, I have had it on good authority that the coating works and have kept this reference safely tucked away in case I ever needed it: Roberts, I M (1975), J Microsc 103 113-119: Tungsten coating of glass knives.
Sonia Cawsey McGowan wrote:
I've been depressed because I can't afford a diamond knife and } I've been told I would get much better results with my cardiac tissue using a diamond knife rather than a glass knife. I also just finished my thesis project which involved crustacean cysts. I put in so many hours at the microtome on that one!! Continues ...
SEM Stub Storage Boxes, response to James S. Romanow's message
I have not used commercially-available SEM stub storage boxes for many years now, ever since a colleague showed me an alternative:
We use storage boxes manufactured from rigid, transparent plastic (we call them sandwich boxes), which are available in different depths. Their bases can be lined with a thin sheet of expanded polystyrene or I prefer to use stiff card (Ilford paper boxes are ideal) cut to size and with the edges turned down to support the sheet at the desired height. Suitably spaced holes are then punched in the polystyrene/card for holding the stubs. A refinement is to cover the top of the polystyrene/card with some squared/graph paper, not only does this help with the layout of holes but also allows you to write labels etc.
These boxes are cheap, hold lots of samples, are very adaptable for different samples, are stable and, if the type with a push-in lid is used, do not suffer from broken hinges. Obviously, for tall samples you need to use deeper boxes.
James S. Romanow wrote:
I have contacted five major U. S. SEM supply vendors and only two of them } sell 1/8" pin mount storage boxes that will accommodate high samples (approx. 1/2" to 5/8" clearance). The least expensive and highest box is out of stock for at least two weeks } and I need some ASAP. (The cost of these boxes range from 1.35 to 6.00 dollars each!) Any suggestions would be appreciated. You can probably guess who the vendors that I contacted are but I would be interested to find any new players out there. Thank you.
I hope that these suggestions may be of help.
Regards,
Jill Webb Reading Scientific Services Ltd, Reading, England
I use the ImQuant package on our system, and I do not believe that there is a way to do the transformation within the program. I use the Display/Excel function within the Analysis windows to transfer the data to Excel and then do my processing to sort the features into size bins of my own design.
Frankly, I don't much care for trying to massage the data back into its "true" 3-D distribution. Like John Russ said, these can be rather unstable exercises. Sure, there is some underestimation of true size when analyzing the 2-D section, but how critical is the true size? Can you not get good enough information from a comparison of 2-D results for different samples? I guess I am more interested in a good engineering solution now than in the "right" scientific answer.
Warren
At 12:09 PM 7/21/1999 +0000, you wrote: } Hi everyone } } } I am using the IMQuant software (Oxford Instruments) to characterise } carbide particles in steel. However, the samples analysed are 2-D } sections and diameters or areas of carbides are understated compared } with the 3-D reality. Is there a mathematical way of compensating for } this 2-D limitation within this software? } } Also, what's the best resolution I can achieve, is it related to the } SEM resolution? } } Many thanks } } F.
---------------------------------------------------- Warren E. Straszheim 23 Town Engineering Iowa State University Ames IA, 50011-3232
Over the last year, it has become increasingly difficult to turn the specimen injector rod in the airlock of our Philips 201 TEM ( no service contract) when inserting or removing specimens. Would anyone know what the cause might be, and if I could cure it during routine maintenance/cleaning of the microscope? The rod itself does not appear to be bent and the specimen holder fits snugly onto its tip. I have cleaned the rod and speciment holders, but I don't know if something needs lubrication and I've been afraid of introducing any chemicals into the column. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Regards,
Andrew Ochalski, Microscopy Technician, Dept. of Biology, University of Ottawa Room 108, Gendron Bldg. 130 Louis Pasteur, Ottawa, Ontario CANADA K1N 6N5 613-562-5800 x6343 FAX: 613-562 5486
I didn't "neglect" anything. I simply gave an opinion on a piece of equipment that I use daily and am very happy with at the request of a fellow microscopist looking for information. I have never used SBT's or Structure Probe's units, and thus didn't offer an opinion of them.
SBT had previously responded to this thread, as well as another manufacturer, without mentioning all other units. Were those "neglectful" as well?
Regards,
Mike Coy
************************************************************************ Mike Coy m-coy-at-nwu.edu SEM Facility Manager (847)491-3439 Electron Probe Instrumentation Center (EPIC) Northwestern Unversity ************************************************************************
Alternatives to Diamond Knives, response to Sonia Cawsey's message
In the for what it's worth dept.
Back in the early to mid 80's I worked for Reichert-Jung (it was another life), and an artical crossed my desk wherein they (no I don't remember who'they' are) used vitrious carbon sheets which were broken like glass knives. The quality of which was compared to diamond knives. I believe that the artical was published in BioTechniques. This is really reaching into the dim recesses of my memory and I do not remember if anything else was done with it.
best regards, Bob Robert Schoonhoven Laboratory of Molecular Carcinogenesis and Mutagenesis Dept. of Environmental Sciences and Engineering University of North Carolina CB#7400 Chapel Hill, NC 27599 Phone office 919-966-6343 Lab 919-966-6140 Fax 919-966-6123
Don't go around saying the world owes you a living; the world owes you nothing; it was here first. Mark Twain [Samuel Langhornne Clemens] (1835-1910)
urgent: Is there anybody from near Frankfurt/Germany who is joining the MSA MAS meeting in Portland / Oregon in the beginning of August? I would like to send a poster there and need someone to take it with them. Thank you for your help.
Alexander Du Chesne, M.S., Ph.D. Max-Planck-Institut für Polymerforschung PF 3148, 55021 Mainz Tel. 0049 6131 379 195 Fax 0049 6131 379 100 E-mail: duchesne-at-mpip-mainz.mpg.de
Dear Philippe, My experience with imaging iron powder is that on an SEM/EDX and with such small particle size, there should not be any problem if you use a small sample and stick it down well. I recommend the carbon double-sided sticky tabs, which have a good stick. Use a small sprinkle of powder and press it well into the sticky tab. Using magnetic stubs will cause bad astigmatism in the SEM. I found out the hard way not to put magnetic powders into the TEM, but I have lovely pictures of them stacking up in spiral towers in the field of the objective lens. Then they stuck to the polepiece and it was a service call to get any imaging back. At 03:33 PM 7/21/99 +0200, you wrote:
} Hello all, } } I am asked to look for morphology and composition by SEM/EDS of some } strongly ferro-magnetic powders, about 20=B5m in size. We would like to= avoid } embedding and cross-sectionning. } } From experience, they tend to sink in epoxy during curing when we glue them } on a substrate. Did somebody try to use ferro-magnetic stubs (particles } should stick to the closest ferromagnetic surface, but astigmatism=8A)? } } Any suggestions how to mount the powder on the stub owing to the magnetic } forces which will attract the particles to the pole-pieces? } } Best regards } } Philippe }
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 e-mail: mager-at-interchg.ubc.ca
We have had a lot more success with glass knives using the 55 degree angle setting. It involves a major of the resetting the microtome, but the percentage of usable knives went up considerably than when we used the "standard" 45 degree angle. The hardest part was breaking the taboo of violating the Tribal Knowledge. Also, when making the final break, do it very slowly. In fact, if you can turn the breaking knob in little moves and allow the break to occur "on its own" seems the best. A friend suggested this over ten years ago and it made a big difference.
Mike Baxter mykkb-at-juno.com
___________________________________________________________________ Get the Internet just the way you want it. Free software, free e-mail, and free Internet access for a month! Try Juno Web: http://dl.www.juno.com/dynoget/tagj.
Andrew, Your problem is either a maladjustment on the airlock, or the grease inside the specimen airlock tube is 'thickening' up and not lubricating as well as it should. I was with Philips for 14 years, now an independent, and have worked on/serviced dozens of EM201s. If you'd like you could either e-mail or call me and I could suggest several things to do, or clean to get the airlock functioning properly. Regards, Ron Veil V.E.I.L.(Veil Electron Instrument Lab.) Customer Services veilcs-at-earthlink.net tel.(650) 952-3099 FAX (650) 869-4978
On Thu, 22 Jul 1999 09:44:24 GMT+5 "Andrew Ochalski" {aochalsk-at-science.uottawa.ca} writes: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of } America
___________________________________________________________________ Get the Internet just the way you want it. Free software, free e-mail, and free Internet access for a month! Try Juno Web: http://dl.www.juno.com/dynoget/tagj.
although i know it is a longshot, i was wondering if anyone happens to have a GATAN TV CONTROL UNIT MODEL #622-0600 that you may want to sell. it interfaces to a fiber optic camera for TEM, although it may be used in other optical applications; i don't know. although our unit still works, the power supply is on its way out and gatan is charging an outrageous price to repair it. thanks for your time.
paul
-------------------
Paul E. Anderson Catalytic and Nanostructured Materials Laboratory Department of Chemistry 102 Hurting Hall Northeastern University Boston, MA 02115 (617) 373 5909 FAX: (617) 373 8795 paanders-at-lynx.neu.edu
} } } "Andrew Ochalski" {aochalsk-at-science.uottawa.ca} 07/22/99 09:44am } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Andrew, After thoroughly cleaning the injector rod, did you apply any vacuum grease to the o-ring? Lubricate the o-ring with some Philips-recommended grease. It's worked for me the past 20 years! Bob Santoianni Emory University Hospital Atlanta, Georgia -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
Fellow Microscopists,
Over the last year, it has become increasingly difficult to turn the specimen injector rod in the airlock of our Philips 201 TEM ( no service contract) when inserting or removing specimens. Would anyone know what the cause might be, and if I could cure it during routine maintenance/cleaning of the microscope? The rod itself does not appear to be bent and the specimen holder fits snugly onto its tip. I have cleaned the rod and speciment holders, but I don't know if something needs lubrication and I've been afraid of introducing any chemicals into the column. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Regards,
Andrew Ochalski, Microscopy Technician, Dept. of Biology, University of Ottawa Room 108, Gendron Bldg. 130 Louis Pasteur, Ottawa, Ontario CANADA K1N 6N5 613-562-5800 x6343 FAX: 613-562 5486
Stain Technol 1983 May;58(3):143-51 Vitreous carbon: a new material for making microtome knives. Disharoon DR, Wickham MG, Worthen DM, Lofftus FH
In the abstract (haven't gotten the article yet) they state that it can be broken like glass - so no big labor cost. I know it isn't the material itself that is the big cost. But if another material could be used that doesn't require so much labor...
Has anyone tried vitreous carbon? What are the reasons for it not catching on?
================================== Alternatives to Diamond Knives, response to Sonia Cawsey's message
In the for what it's worth dept.
Back in the early to mid 80's I worked for Reichert-Jung (it was another
life), and an artical crossed my desk wherein they (no I don't remember who'they' are) used vitrious carbon sheets which were broken like glass knives. The quality of which was compared to diamond knives. I believe that the artical was published in BioTechniques. This is really
reaching into the dim recesses of my memory and I do not remember if anything else was done with it.
best regards, Bob Robert Schoonhoven Laboratory of Molecular Carcinogenesis and Mutagenesis Dept. of Environmental Sciences and Engineering University of North Carolina CB#7400 Chapel Hill, NC 27599 Phone office 919-966-6343 Lab 919-966-6140 Fax 919-966-6123
-- Sonia Cawsey McGowan Copley Library, University of San Diego email: scawsey-at-acusd.edu home page: http://www.acusd.edu/~scawsey
We are scanning in SEM negs using a high resolution scanner (Polaroid SS45) and have a problem with negs that show moderate to high contrast.
When images are captured and opened in Photoshop 4.0, we can adjust the gamma to get either excellent details in the shadows OR highlights but unfortunately the other one then suffers. Is there a way of adjusting for highlights and THEN shadows and somehow combining the best of both adjustments into one image?
Or am I asking for something beyond the capabilities of the program?
Thanks very much.
John
#################################################################### John J. Bozzola, Ph.D., Director Center for Electron Microscopy 750 Communications Drive - MC 4402 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 am using a Zeiss microscope with a HBO 100 mercury arc bulb. It is used approximately 12 hours a day. Over time (weeks to months), a film develops upon the condenser lense that has brownish rainbow like pattern. This results in longer integration times for our CCD camera and general degradation of image quality. Has anyone noticed this on their systems, and is there a method to prevent it? Does anyone know the source of this film?
Thanks,
Jason Bush
_______________________________________________________________ Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com
} } } } "rschoonh-at-sph.unc.edu"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com wrote: } } } } } Alternatives to Diamond Knives, response to Sonia Cawsey's message } } } } } } In the for what it's worth dept. } } } } } } Back in the early to mid 80's I worked for Reichert-Jung (it was another } } } life), and an artical crossed my desk wherein they (no I don't remember } } } who'they' are) used vitrious carbon sheets which were broken like glass } } } knives. The quality of which was compared to diamond knives. I } } } believe that the artical was published in BioTechniques. This is really } } } reaching into the dim recesses of my memory and I do not remember if } } } anything else was done with it. } } } } } } } I think this paper was in Stain Technology about 1982. } } } } 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 } } mcauliff-at-umdnj.edu } } **********************************************
I scan with a gamma of between 1.6 and 2. This is primarily based on info that I got from a book entitled "Real World Photoshop 4". Something about the linear response of the detectors in the scanners to light - I forget the explanation. works well on a flatbed too. I adjust the exposure control on the SS45 from about -10% to about +15% depending on the negative. I also always scan in 12 bit resolution and adjust the levels in Photoshop just before I change the image to an 8-bit. I get a lot of control on the final image this way. You can set up an action that automates the levels, and switching to an 8-bit. I also always check the levels just before I switch to 8-bit just as a check.
-Scott
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Glass Technology Center 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: bozzola-at-siu.edu To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
Digital Imaging Gurus,
We are scanning in SEM negs using a high resolution scanner (Polaroid SS45) and have a problem with negs that show moderate to high contrast.
When images are captured and opened in Photoshop 4.0, we can adjust the gamma to get either excellent details in the shadows OR highlights but unfortunately the other one then suffers. Is there a way of adjusting for highlights and THEN shadows and somehow combining the best of both adjustments into one image?
Or am I asking for something beyond the capabilities of the program?
Thanks very much.
John
#################################################################### John J. Bozzola, Ph.D., Director Center for Electron Microscopy 750 Communications Drive - MC 4402 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 ####################################################################
Photoshop does the basic tasks pretty well. I suggest you to try the Curves and Levels tools (located in Image/Adjust menu) to equalize gray shades. The curves tool is my favorite. Using it, you can manipulate the shape of the gamma curve of an image. The best way is to start by pressing the auto button in the Curves dialog box, which will give you a basic tonal adjustment. Next, you can manipulate the shape of the gamma curve with the mouse to achieve the result that you want. You can also use the eyedropper icons in the same dialog box to select the wanted pure black and pure white that in the picture.
A more sophisticated image analysis package (analySIS) can be found at: http://www.soft-imaging.de/ . It can make miracles with some pictures, but I guess that it is somewhat expensive and not so friendly user as Photoshop. Anyway, if you need more, take a look at it.
Photoshop does the basic tasks pretty well. I suggest you to try the Curv= es and Levels tools (located in Image/Adjust menu) to equalize gray shades. = The curves tool is my favorite. Using it, you can manipulate the shape of the gamma curve of an image. The best way is to start by pressing the auto button in the Curves dialog box, which will give you a basic tonal adjustment. Next, you can manipulate the shape of the gamma curve with th= e mouse to achieve the result that you want. You can also use the eyedroppe= r icons in the same dialog box to select the wanted pure black and pure whi= te that in the picture.
A more sophisticated image analysis package (analySIS) can be found at: http://www.soft-imaging.de/ . It can make miracles with some pictures, bu= t I guess that it is somewhat expensive and not so friendly user as Photoshop. Anyway, if you need more, take a look at it.
S=E9rvio T=FAlio Pires Amarante
serviopa-at-usp.br
Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de S=E3o Paulo Caixa Postal 42694-970 04299-970 S=E3o Paulo BRASIL
Thanks to everyone who offered advice on how to fix my problems with LR White LM immunolabeling and regular TEM - especially Hildy Crowley.
I haven't yet improved the LM immunolabeling, but the TEM is much better.
I switched from dehydrating to 96% EtOH to 100% EtOH.
I infiltrated in the refrigerator rather than room temperature (3 changes, 40 min each) I filled the vials to the top of the container (no air space).
I used a "heat sink" during polymerization (50 deg. for around 20 hrs.) Since I don't have a machine shop (a heat sink can be made by drilling holes in an aluminum block) I made one out of stacked 1/4" and 15/16" zinc nuts. I glued 6 stacks together in a hexagon with nail polish. I filled in the bottom nuts with tin foil, put a coil of copper wire in the center and wrapped the outside with tin foil. I wrapped the 00 size gelatin capsules in a single layer of aluminum foil for a snug fit.
================== Another matter: I sent a post re: vitreous carbon this afternoon and it still hasn't shown up on the list. Is it possible it got rejected by the SPAM filter? (I have not received a message to that effect, though).
Does anyone have information on the State University of New York SEM classes? I tried to find information on the current status of these classes (I attended one many years ago) for a new employee we are training, but have not been successful. Any information would be appreciated.
Maybe not... Problem is probably in the barrel that the rod turns in.
Sadly, one must split the microscope above the specimen stage, lift the stage out, and then undo two screws that hold the barrel in place. Remove, clean and regrease the barrel. BUT, if there is excessive wear from the stage alignment rod (the rod gizee that moves the stage that is driven by an ecentric on the barrel), it's time to buy parts from your friendly Philips provider.
Good luck!
Ron
Ron Anderson, IBM, Hopewell Jct., New York, USA. anderron-at-us.ibm.com
IBM Analytical Services; http://www.chips.ibm.com/services/asg
"Robert Santoianni" {Robert_Santoianni-at-emory.org} on 07/22/99 04:29:59 PM
To: aochalsk-at-science.uottawa.ca cc: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
} } } "Andrew Ochalski" {aochalsk-at-science.uottawa.ca} 07/22/99 09:44am } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Andrew, After thoroughly cleaning the injector rod, did you apply any vacuum grease to the o-ring? Lubricate the o-ring with some Philips-recommended grease. It's worked for me the past 20 years! Bob Santoianni Emory University Hospital Atlanta, Georgia -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
Fellow Microscopists,
Over the last year, it has become increasingly difficult to turn the specimen injector rod in the airlock of our Philips 201 TEM ( no service contract) when inserting or removing specimens. Would anyone know what the cause might be, and if I could cure it during routine maintenance/cleaning of the microscope? The rod itself does not appear to be bent and the specimen holder fits snugly onto its tip. I have cleaned the rod and speciment holders, but I don't know if something needs lubrication and I've been afraid of introducing any chemicals into the column. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Regards,
Andrew Ochalski, Microscopy Technician, Dept. of Biology, University of Ottawa Room 108, Gendron Bldg. 130 Louis Pasteur, Ottawa, Ontario CANADA K1N 6N5 613-562-5800 x6343 FAX: 613-562 5486
Had a major camera jam in a Hitachi H-7000. Now we are in need of about 25 film cassettes. The 7000 "dispenser" box either held 22 or 50 cassettes. The 22 size are much thicker and therefore much more robust. The thinner cassettes where 50 will fit in the box are the ones we are in need of. Does anyone know of a source (other than Hitachi) or are willing to part with some of these? Thanks.
Joel McClintock U of Kentucky (606)257-1242 jmcclin-at-pop.uky.edu
The brown pattern you see on your collector lens is made by excess of Heat. HBO and XBO burners have this disadvantage to generate a lot of heat. This problem can be also seen by other types of microscopes. However, the lamphous from Carl Zeiss is particulary sensitive, because it is very small.
I have a company dedicated to service and repair of microscopes. The browning of collector lens is very current. Even, sometimes, the lens is cracked.
I have a solution for this. I built an automatic cooling fan. If you need more information, please send me a direct email at: emeylan-at-csi.com
best regards,
Emile Meylan SERCO Technical Services, Inc.
----- Original Message ----- } From: Jason Bush {jbec26-at-hotmail.com} To: {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} Sent: Thursday, July 22, 1999 5:10 PM
VACANCY - NEUROANATOMICAL SCIENTIST
The Neuroimaging Department at ReNeuron is responsible for the exploration of the spatio-temporal fate and the integration into host neural networks of neural cells transplanted into a number of models of neurodegenerative diseases.
We are immediately seeking a BSc/MSc graduate in Neuroscience or a related discipline to fill a vacancy in the Neuroimaging department. You will be expected to participate in experimental work using a number of histological and neuroanatomical techniques as well as computerized analysis of images from tissue sections. Previous experience is not essential as training will be provided for the successful applicant but an interest in data handling, graphics and computing is essential.
Please send your full career details either by email to Sara-Patel-at-reneuron.com or by post to Sara Patel, ReNeuron Ltd, Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London, UK, SE5 8AF.
I am constantly being impressed by the quality and quantity of generosity offered via this listserver. Thank you to all who sent the helpful suggestions regarding the gamma adjustment. I will pursue each one of the suggestions and respond individually. I look forward to meeting some of you at M&M next week in Portland. Again, thanks.
John
#################################################################### John J. Bozzola, Ph.D., Director Center for Electron Microscopy 750 Communications Drive - MC 4402 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 ####################################################################
Hyrax: Custom research and Designs 8500 Mount Vernon Road Auburn california 93603
Phone: 916* 885-3341 *I think the area code has changed to 530.
Kim
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kimberly A. Riddle Florida State University tel: 850.644.6519 Biological Science Imaging Resource 119 Bio Unit I, 4370 fax: 850.644.0481 Tallahassee, FL 32306 riddle-at-bio.fsu.edu ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear colleagues Maybe I will unsubscribe soon ... I had many questions, but seldom an answer. That=B4s because I=B4m one o= f the "juniors" . Thanks especially to Hildy Crowley and Charles Garber, they are very active in this forum and had good hints regarding embedding for immuno-electron-microscopy (e.g. LR-White). Now, I=B4m doing quite good work in this special discipline and its possible that you will notice it one day. Recently, themes have changed in this listserver. Costs of digital imaging archives, salaries, used devices to sell or search and special advertisements, job offers seem to be the overwhelming topics nowadays. I=B4ve noticed that "greenhorn questions" remained unanswered in the firs= t half of the year ... As I am resident in Europe, offers of used devices and so on don=B4t interest me that much as the most of you all (in the U.S.). Thus, many messages from the listserver are not so interesting for me especially. Dear colleagues, why don=B4t you discuss more about techniques and methods? I am young and want to gain experience. Sure, digital archives of EM-photographs are now high-sophisticated but my intsitution won=B4t afford it in the near future. Eyeryone of us has the fear to talk about unpublished results or datas, but I feel that electron-microscopic techniques are so complex that they need a wide cooperation.
Thank you for your support. I will return to the listserver, that=B4s sur= e
Michael Reiner, cand. med Department of Anatomy I University of Colgne Germany Joseph-Stelzmann-Str. 9 50931 Koeln/Cologne Germany e-mail: a2811111-at-smail.uni-koeln.de Tel: +49-221-478-5519 Fax: +49-221-478-6411
Hello Greg! I feel you haven=B4t understand my intentions. I found acces to this listserver by way of the archives you named. I got useful hints from the archives and decided to participate in the listserver. I am not critizising the support that the MSA Listserver provides, sure it is the most advanced forum in special microscopy ! But I=B4m referring to the shift of themes and topics discussed in the listserver and the obviously ignorance of basic themes ( embedding, proceedings). Costs of new imaging and archiving possibilities, offers of postdoctoral=B4s and used devices seem to be overwhelming in the recen= t past. Everyone of us has knowledge in microscopy. We should share it, unpublished or not. Greetings. a young microscopist. Michael Reiner
Let me offer a couple quick thoughts and suggestions in response to your thoughts. I looked through my trash can and only found one other message from you, and that one was an answer to someone else's question. Besides, I am interested in materials more than biological samples, so most of your posts were quickly discarded.=20
I typically try to offer comments in areas where I have some knowledge, as do many users. But because of the traffic, I will often quickly delete the posts that are unrelated to my field(s). You may want to make your subject fields clear and concise.=20
Some posts will go unanswered because they the questions seem at such a rudimentary level. Someone asking about the right conditions to do such and so might be better off looking in a text first or taking some more training and then bringing a more specific question to the list. I don't think most listers care to do lots of training on line. But even so, I have seen a number of what I thought to be fairly general and rudimentary questions get answered on this list.=20
Similary, other posts will go unaswered because they are so general or vague. If someone were to ask for replies from users involved in image analysis, I doubt that they would get very many replies just because of the unspecific question. Some might offer a reply saying "I do image analysis. So what?" They really don't have much to go on to give a more helpful answer. However, if I were to ask for replies from those doing image analysis on SEM images of concrete, I think the response would be better. Subscribers would have less tendency to think that someone else would respond to this still pretty vague request. If I share some more details of my work at the outset and a particular question, I think listers are more likely to reply.=20
I offer these as general suggestions to all subscribers. Like I said, I don't remember the particulars of your posts. And sometimes, listers post questions that just don't have answers out there (like when I asked for those who had M-O drives that could read 650 MB cartridges from an HP drive). The silence itself is an answer. So I hope you will stick around and that these ramblings have been helpful.=20
WS
At 10:01 PM 7/23/1999 +0200, you wrote: } Dear colleagues } Maybe I will unsubscribe soon ... } I had many questions, but seldom an answer. That=B4s because I=B4m one of } the "juniors" . } Thanks especially to Hildy Crowley and Charles Garber, they are very } active in this forum and had good hints regarding embedding for } immuno-electron-microscopy (e.g. LR-White). } Now, I=B4m doing quite good work in this special discipline and its } possible that you will notice it one day. } Recently, themes have changed in this listserver. Costs of digital } imaging archives, salaries, used devices to sell or search and special } advertisements, job offers seem to be the overwhelming topics nowadays. } I=B4ve noticed that "greenhorn questions" remained unanswered in the first } half of the year ... } As I am resident in Europe, offers of used devices and so on don=B4t } interest me that much as the most of you all (in the U.S.). Thus, many } messages from the listserver are not so interesting for me especially. } Dear colleagues, why don=B4t you discuss more about techniques and } methods? } I am young and want to gain experience. Sure, digital archives of } EM-photographs are now high-sophisticated but my intsitution won=B4t } afford it in the near future. } Eyeryone of us has the fear to talk about unpublished results or datas, } but I feel that electron-microscopic techniques are so complex that they } need a wide cooperation.
We have the following items that are now surplus to our requirements in our lab.
1. A Gatan model 622 image intensified TV camera designed to mount on a JEOL 4000EX (i.e. we have the mounting flange for that instrument and the camera is shielded for use on that instrument. This camera is about 11 years old.
2. A Gatan model 673 wide angle TV camera that fits in the 35mm camera port of a JEOL 2000FX. This camera is over 8 years old.
3. Two Tracor TN5500 XEDS systems. a. One system has a 30Meg hard disk drive, two 5.25 Syquest removable hard disks (both failed) and two floppy disks one 5.25" and one 8". There are actually two 5.25" disks and two 8" disks in a separate subsystem, but the hard ware only supports two floppies at one time and so we have one of each set up. A standard Tracor keyboard with keypad and monitor is supplied. The system does not have a printer. We modified it so it would run without a printer and if we need print out we have a couple of switch boxes that directs the print out to a Mac. We also have the HP plot software and this is directed to a program on the Mac that can then send the plot to a laser printer or can save it for pasting into word processing documents. The system has the imaging package that will allow the computer to control the microscope (it is setup for a JEOL 2000FX) and record STEM and SEM images and XEDS mapsThe software includes SMTF and SQMTF. The system has an almost new refurbished light element detector (detects down to C). System also has a license for RT-11, the DEC operating system and it can run an FTP server for removal of spectra and images to a remote computer.
b. The second system is floppy based and also has imaging which is setup for an SEM whose manufacturer evades my memory, but if anyone is interested I will obviously find out for you. This system has a Be window XEDS detector with it.
4. Gatan 666 PEELS with mount for JEOL 2000FX. This system can be driven with the TN5500 (see 3a above) or with a Mac, the Mac is to be preferred and will be included Mac includes the data acquisition card from Gatan. This is one of the earliest 666 systems ever installed and is therefore about 10 years old.
5. Gatan single-tilt liquid-nitrogen cryo-transfer stage for Philips CM series microscope, I believe this is called a model 626.
6. JEOL straining stage for JEOL 2000FX
7. Two Gatan double-tilt Be cup analytical stages for the JEOL 2000FX, I think these are 646 models.
8. One thousand degree hot stage for JEOL 2000FX Gatan single tilt Model 62= 8
9. Liquid nitrogen cold stage for JEOL 2000 FX Gatan double tilt old model 613 upgraded to double tilt. Sample airlock pumps dewar jacket.
=46or further info just give me a call or drop me email.
Please note new FAX number.
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) 763-2282 Cellular Phone: (734) 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"
I have a customer who wants to scrap a running JEOL JSM-U3 SEM. I suggested donation to the Smithsonian. It is free for anyone who wants it for parts or whatever.
} } Digital Imaging Gurus, } } We are scanning in SEM negs using a high resolution scanner (Polaroid SS45) } and have a problem with negs that show moderate to high contrast. } } When images are captured and opened in Photoshop 4.0, we can adjust the } gamma to get either excellent details in the shadows OR highlights but } unfortunately the other one then suffers. Is there a way of adjusting for } highlights and THEN shadows and somehow combining the best of both } adjustments into one image? } } Or am I asking for something beyond the capabilities of the program?
The task of adjusting different parts of an image independenly and then recombining them are variously described as "local" or "adaptive" algorithms. Since you want to modify contrast, most folk do it via direct manipulation of the histogram, though some do it in image space itself -- such as a proprietary "hysteresis" method or some greyscale mathematical morphology methods.
Unless your problem is extreme, try simple things first. Look for "local" or "adaptive" histogram methods: local histogram strech, adaptive histogram equalization, etc. Code for most of these are available on the web. I don't know what's available for Photoshop as a plugin, but I do know that some are available free for the freeware Photoshop work-alike called GIMP.
This is a first announcement to inform you of an upcoming conference....The First International Conference on Advanced Materials Processing, Rotorua, New Zealand, 19-23 November 2000.
Scope of the Conference:
In the last few decades of the 20th century, research in advanced materials processing has made a tremendous contribution to the development of novel, high performance and low cost materials. Without any doubt, in the new millennium, advanced materials processing will continue to be one of the most active research areas in materials science. To celebrate the historical achievement of scientists and engineers in this crucially important area, we are organizing the {bold} 1st International Conference on Advanced Materials Processing (ICAMP) in the very first year of the new millennium.
Sponsored by the Institute of Materials, UK, this conference will provide a forum for international researchers to exchange their recent findings and views in the area of advanced materials processing. Internationally renowned experts in this area will be invited to give keynote lectures to the conference.
During the conference, a workshop will also be organized to discuss opportunities for international co-operation in research on advanced materials processing.
Key dates:
Preliminary Title/Expression of Interest: Sept. 1 1999
Second Circular: October 1 1999
Abstract due by March 1 2000
The proceedings will be published in a hard-bound special edition book, and all papers will be fully refereed to ensure that they are of the highest standard.
The conference will be held in Rotorua, New Zealand. Rotorua is in the central North Island, and holds many attractions, including the world famous thermally active reserves.
Areas of Interest include:
Casting
Electronic materials
Extrusion
Filament Winding
Fuel cells
Hot compaction
HIP
Joining
Mechanical Alloying
Moulding
Powder Metallurgy
pre-Preg Production
Pultrusion
Rapid Solidification
Recycling
Repair
Sintering Processes
Solid State Chemistry
Tape Casting
Thermoset Matrix Composites
Thin Film Deposition
Traditional Ceramic Processes
Other
International Advisory committee:
Professor Aldinger (MPI, Germany)
Professor Boivin (USTL, France)
Dr. Bossel (Switzerland)
Dr Dicks (BG, UK)
Prof. Dunlop (Univ. Queensland, Australia)
Prof. Hanson (Riso Denmark)
Prof Hu (Institute for Metals Research, China)
Mr Jessup (CSIRO, Australia)
Prof Kilner (I.C., UK)
Prof Koch (North Carolina State Univ., USA)
Dr Lewin (BNFL, UK)
Prof McCormick (Univ. W. Australia)
Prof Muddle (Monash Univ., Australia)
Assoc. Prof. Petric (McMaster Univ., Canada)
Dr Pugh (Concordia Univ., Canada)
Dr Suzuki (NRIM, Japan)
For further information (and to receive the first circular), please contact:
Professor Nigel Sammes, Chair ICAMP 2000, n.sammes-at-waikato.ac.nz
or
Dr Deliang Zhang, Secretary, ICAMP 2000, d.zhang-at-waikato.ac.nz
Professor Nigel Sammes Department of Materials and Process Engineering The University of Waikato Private Bag 3105 Hamilton New Zealand
----- Original Message ----- } } Unless your problem is extreme, try simple things first. Look } for "local" or "adaptive" histogram methods: local histogram } strech, adaptive histogram equalization, etc. Code for most } of these are available on the web. I don't know what's available } for Photoshop as a plugin, but I do know that some are available } free for the freeware Photoshop work-alike called GIMP.
Just in case most of you are famailiar with "gimp" being a linux program, it has been ported to win32. I have just today realized this, and am thusly unfamiliar with its hardware compatibility and stability, but it is available for free download at: http://www.gimp.org/~tml/gimp/win32/ ... I am unfamiliar with the plugins mentioned above being available for this version.
A really good place to start is the "Tips & Tricks" archive I maintain. It is an archive of many of what "I" consider useful biologic discussions posted to the miocroscopy listserver. It is a bit of a chore and thus I am about a year behind, but there is still a fair ammount of info in there. If there was a discussion posted you recall but don't find, let me know as I have roughly 7megs ( about 200 discussions ) worth of material sitting in my mail and I can forward relevant hits to you.
The address is:
http://www.biotech.ufl.edu/~emcl
Follow the tips link
Nestor maintains a full archive of this list indexed by month at the address below.
http://www.msa.microscopy.com/
He is probably more current than I.
Good luck
At 10:01 PM 7/23/1999 +0200, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America=20
{} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} Scott Whittaker ph: 352-392-1184 EM Technician fax: 352-846-0251 University of Florida email: sdw-at-biotech.ufl.edu ICBR EM Core Lab web:www.biotech.ufl.edu/~emcl/
OK - I can't stand it - I'm going to hop in on this one.
These techniques discussions don't happen in a vacuum - someone has to start them by asking a question or an opinion.
I don't think that anyone has the time (or the ego) to sit down at the computer and compose a "What I know about technique X" e-mail out of the clear blue. This would be the only other way to have the kind of information that you want make it out to the server.
Don't unsubscribe simply because the recent threads haven't been to your liking - you might miss some great stuff! The same thing happens on any listserver - there will be periods when nothing comes out that applies to your own work. Tough. Start a discussion of your own or just wait it out :) Besides - a lot of the "this isn't my area" stuff can suddenly BE in your area, then you wish you'd been paying attention! (personal experiene on that one - who knew we'd accidentally buy the wrong color CDs?!)
Allen R. Sampson 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Glad to hear it, Earl. I had never heard from either Hank or Ken that they } had been properly trained in WDS, and still have not. To the contrary, } after I first came on board, received orientation in Danbury for a week and } received basic training in Hayward for two weeks, I was teamed with Darrel } for a couple of weeks for WDS training and then left to install a dozen } instruments through out the midwest because there had been no one available } to do the installations for the previous two years or more. Forgive me if I } am a little touchy on this subject, but I had to go into many situations } where ETEC had simply been unable to completely install instruments that had } been delivered years before. I realize that I entered ETEC on the cusp of } their acquisition by Perkin-Elmer, but I was alone in bringing much of the } midwest territory into compliance with the contractual responsibilities that } ETEC undertook. } } I can only hope that this group will forgive my self-indulgence, but I have } to point out that Earl has done nothing to refute the suggestions that I } made. They still stand on their own. Earl's clarifications suggest that } Ken Converse knows what he is doing, a subject that I never refuted. On the } contrary, I have referred Ken to a number of people who have contacted me } for service over the years for a variety of instruments. In fact, I will be } packing up a Hitachi SEM in the next week that I have suggested Ken for the } installation and continuing service of. } } I stand by my comments on a fully-focusing WDS spectrometer being a } different beast requiring a careful and informed hand for proper maintenance } and operation. And I stand by my assertion that the ETEC WDS spectrometer } in particular is an extremely touchy and sensitive instrument to properly } calibrate. Once accomplished, however, the ETEC Autoscan mated with the } ETEC WDS is a very effective and stable electron microprobe system, } something I can attest to with my own personal instrument. } } 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-sem.com } } -----Original Message----- } } From: "earlw-at-pacbell.net"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } {"earlw-at-pacbell.net"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} } To: Allen R. Sampson {ars-at-sem.com} } Cc: amenex-at-amenex.com {amenex-at-amenex.com} ; Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} } Date: Friday, July 16, 1999 7:26 PM } Subject: Re: Haaalp ! How can I improve oxygen dot maps in microprobe ? } } } } } Dear Allen, } } } } You were one of several factory trained technicians: I was one, Ken was } another, } } Hank Bebe was also trained. I was trained by "Tung Tsu" who trained Darrell } } Jackson. Ask Darrell how many spectrometers he screwed up before being } trained } } by Tung Tsu. } } } } Earl } } } } "Allen R. Sampson" wrote: } } } } } } } } For the best and most trained of ETEC technicians, the alignment of the } WDS } } } crystals is a daunting task. The TAP crystal is not a particularily } } } sensitive crystal as far as cleaning, a simple quick swabing with ethanol } } } should remove most contamination. However, the ETEC crystal mount has } four } } } mounting screws that are adjusted to control the tilt of the crystal in } two } } } dimensions, the crystal height and alignment with the Rowland circle as } well } } } as the curvature of the crystal. } } } } } } Ken is a very good technician on the ETECs and was my technical backup as } a } } } field technician. However, I was the only technician, that I know of, } that } } } was trained by the gentleman who set up the WDS systems in the factory. } I } } } know from setting up many systems that I would often spend an entire week } } } adjusting a single crystal for proper operation. These are fully } focussing } } } Johansson WDS optics that are capable of measurements to one ten } thousandth } } } of an Angstrom. However, the adjustment screws are very course and } touchy } } } to properly adjust. Added to this is the proper adjustment of the } detector } } } tape, a metal tape that both maintains the line of sight of the detector } to } } } the crystals as well as maintaining the proper detector alignment to the } } } Rowland circle. The ETEC WDS spectrometer also requires an accurate } } } alignment of the spectrometer housing to the sample chamber. } } } } } } More than likely, your spectrometer is in need of a full alignment that } may } } } well cost you thousands of dollars and a couple of weeks of work or more } to } } } accomplish. } } } } } } I can put you in touch with a gentleman who can provide you with new } } } crystals, contact me if needed, but more than likely you have need of a } } } complete overhaul of the spectrometer system. } } } } } } 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-sem.com } } } } } } -----Original Message----- } } } } From: George Langford, Sc.D. {amenex-at-amenex.com} } } } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} } } } Date: Thursday, July 15, 1999 1:09 PM } } } Subject: Haaalp ! How can I improve oxygen dot maps in microprobe ? } } } } } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } } } } 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 probing Microscopists ! } } } } } } } } Now that I've gotten past the hyperactive spam filter ... } } } } } } } } Amenex has a 1976-vintage ETEC Autoprobe SEM with three } } } } WDS spectrometers. Most of the instrument still functions } } } } acceptably (with the able assistance of Ken Converse) but } } } } we have noticed substantial deterioration of the oxygen } } } } dot maps in the last few years. The sodium maps come out } } } } OK; nitrogen has always been pretty much hopeless; but } } } } carbon works OK. } } } } } } } } We've been told that our TAP crystal may have deteriorated } } } } or become contaminated. What can we do about that ? Are } } } } there any adjustments or alignments that could be tweaked } } } } so as to pick up the oxygen radiation better ? } } } } } } } } Has anyone got a spare TAP crystal for sale or trade ? We } } } } have several spares of other crystals ... } } } } } } } } Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. } } } } } } } } Best regards, } } } } George Langford, Sc.D. } } } } amenex-at-amenex.com } } } } http://www.amenex.com/ } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } Alan,
George said he has an ETEC Autoprobe, not an Autoscan with Autospec. The Autoprobe has 3 MAC spectrometers (also fully focussing and single crystal, single detector). I believe Hank hit it on the nose and Jim Nicholino makes great crystals.
You did not single-handedly square away the midwest. There were many of us who spent weeks at a time out there after our own areas were in pretty good shape, enough time to allow them to go to hell in a handbasket again so we'd have something to do when we got back home.
} Don't unsubscribe simply because the recent threads haven't been to your } liking - you might miss some great stuff! I agree 95% of the mailing list traffic is of little interest to=20 me. I automatically filter it into a mail folder with Eudora and=20 look for interesting subjects. After a while I file what is useful=20 and consign the rest to the bit bucket!
Please note new FAX number.
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) 763-2282 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"
Re: what isn't you area: Yes, sometimes just seeing something presented starts the wheels turning..... I have acquired my best obsessions and vices in this manner! Don't Un Sub, Just use the delete key after you have scanned through it!
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Allen R. Sampson 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 } } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } Glad to hear it, Earl. I had never heard from either Hank or Ken that they } } had been properly trained in WDS, and still have not. To the contrary, } } after I first came on board, received orientation in Danbury for a week and } } received basic training in Hayward for two weeks, I was teamed with Darrel } } for a couple of weeks for WDS training and then left to install a dozen } } instruments through out the midwest because there had been no one available } } to do the installations for the previous two years or more. Forgive me if I } } am a little touchy on this subject, but I had to go into many situations } } where ETEC had simply been unable to completely install instruments that had } } been delivered years before. I realize that I entered ETEC on the cusp of } } their acquisition by Perkin-Elmer, but I was alone in bringing much of the } } midwest territory into compliance with the contractual responsibilities that } } ETEC undertook. } } } } I can only hope that this group will forgive my self-indulgence, but I have } } to point out that Earl has done nothing to refute the suggestions that I } } made. They still stand on their own. Earl's clarifications suggest that } } Ken Converse knows what he is doing, a subject that I never refuted. On the } } contrary, I have referred Ken to a number of people who have contacted me } } for service over the years for a variety of instruments. In fact, I will be } } packing up a Hitachi SEM in the next week that I have suggested Ken for the } } installation and continuing service of. } } } } I stand by my comments on a fully-focusing WDS spectrometer being a } } different beast requiring a careful and informed hand for proper maintenance } } and operation. And I stand by my assertion that the ETEC WDS spectrometer } } in particular is an extremely touchy and sensitive instrument to properly } } calibrate. Once accomplished, however, the ETEC Autoscan mated with the } } ETEC WDS is a very effective and stable electron microprobe system, } } something I can attest to with my own personal instrument. } } } } 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-sem.com } } } } -----Original Message----- } } } From: "earlw-at-pacbell.net"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } } {"earlw-at-pacbell.net"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} } } To: Allen R. Sampson {ars-at-sem.com} } } Cc: amenex-at-amenex.com {amenex-at-amenex.com} ; Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } } {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} } } Date: Friday, July 16, 1999 7:26 PM } } Subject: Re: Haaalp ! How can I improve oxygen dot maps in microprobe ? } } } } } } } } Dear Allen, } } } } } } You were one of several factory trained technicians: I was one, Ken was } } another, } } } Hank Bebe was also trained. I was trained by "Tung Tsu" who trained Darrell } } } Jackson. Ask Darrell how many spectrometers he screwed up before being } } trained } } } by Tung Tsu. } } } } } } Earl } } } } } } "Allen R. Sampson" wrote: } } } } } } } } } } } For the best and most trained of ETEC technicians, the alignment of the } } WDS } } } } crystals is a daunting task. The TAP crystal is not a particularily } } } } sensitive crystal as far as cleaning, a simple quick swabing with ethanol } } } } should remove most contamination. However, the ETEC crystal mount has } } four } } } } mounting screws that are adjusted to control the tilt of the crystal in } } two } } } } dimensions, the crystal height and alignment with the Rowland circle as } } well } } } } as the curvature of the crystal. } } } } } } } } Ken is a very good technician on the ETECs and was my technical backup as } } a } } } } field technician. However, I was the only technician, that I know of, } } that } } } } was trained by the gentleman who set up the WDS systems in the factory. } } I } } } } know from setting up many systems that I would often spend an entire week } } } } adjusting a single crystal for proper operation. These are fully } } focussing } } } } Johansson WDS optics that are capable of measurements to one ten } } thousandth } } } } of an Angstrom. However, the adjustment screws are very course and } } touchy } } } } to properly adjust. Added to this is the proper adjustment of the } } detector } } } } tape, a metal tape that both maintains the line of sight of the detector } } to } } } } the crystals as well as maintaining the proper detector alignment to the } } } } Rowland circle. The ETEC WDS spectrometer also requires an accurate } } } } alignment of the spectrometer housing to the sample chamber. } } } } } } } } More than likely, your spectrometer is in need of a full alignment that } } may } } } } well cost you thousands of dollars and a couple of weeks of work or more } } to } } } } accomplish. } } } } } } } } I can put you in touch with a gentleman who can provide you with new } } } } crystals, contact me if needed, but more than likely you have need of a } } } } complete overhaul of the spectrometer system. } } } } } } } } 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-sem.com } } } } } } } } -----Original Message----- } } } } } From: George Langford, Sc.D. {amenex-at-amenex.com} } } } } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} } } } } Date: Thursday, July 15, 1999 1:09 PM } } } } Subject: Haaalp ! How can I improve oxygen dot maps in microprobe ? } } } } } } } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } } } } } 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 probing Microscopists ! } } } } } } } } } } Now that I've gotten past the hyperactive spam filter ... } } } } } } } } } } Amenex has a 1976-vintage ETEC Autoprobe SEM with three } } } } } WDS spectrometers. Most of the instrument still functions } } } } } acceptably (with the able assistance of Ken Converse) but } } } } } we have noticed substantial deterioration of the oxygen } } } } } dot maps in the last few years. The sodium maps come out } } } } } OK; nitrogen has always been pretty much hopeless; but } } } } } carbon works OK. } } } } } } } } } } We've been told that our TAP crystal may have deteriorated } } } } } or become contaminated. What can we do about that ? Are } } } } } there any adjustments or alignments that could be tweaked } } } } } so as to pick up the oxygen radiation better ? } } } } } } } } } } Has anyone got a spare TAP crystal for sale or trade ? We } } } } } have several spares of other crystals ... } } } } } } } } } } Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. } } } } } } } } } } Best regards, } } } } } George Langford, Sc.D. } } } } } amenex-at-amenex.com } } } } } http://www.amenex.com/ } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } Alan, } } George said he has an ETEC Autoprobe, not an Autoscan with Autospec. } The Autoprobe has 3 MAC spectrometers (also fully focussing and single } crystal, single detector). I believe Hank hit it on the nose and Jim } Nicholino makes great crystals. } } You did not single-handedly square away the midwest. There were many of } us who spent weeks at a time out there after our own areas were in } pretty good shape, enough time to allow them to go to hell in a } handbasket again so we'd have something to do when we got back home. } } Ken Converse } owner } Quality Images
} Hello Greg! } I feel you haven't understand my intentions. } I found acces to this listserver by way of the archives you named. I got } useful hints from the archives and decided to participate in the } listserver. I am not critizising the support that the MSA Listserver } provides, sure it is the most advanced forum in special microscopy ! } But I'm referring to the shift of themes and topics discussed in the } listserver and the obviously ignorance of basic themes ( embedding, } proceedings). Costs of new imaging and archiving possibilities, offers } of postdoctoral's and used devices seem to be overwhelming in the recent } past.
No, Michael, I think it's you who doesn't quite understand the intentions of the list. It's a forum for the exchange of ideas, not a publication mechanism. Topics discussed change from time to time, as you point out, but the initiative is usually a question, not someone's desire to tell something to the world. Imaging and archiving, post-docs, and used equipment may not interest you, but they obviously do interest many, as evidenced by the volume of correspondance. So the thing is self-regulating in that if there's no interest, a thread stops.
I have to admit to being a bit incensed by your words "the obviously ignorance of basic themes ( embedding, proceedings)" .
This is not a place for the publication or the acquisition of basic information, there are heaps of texts for that. But if you have a SPECIFIC question, go ahead and ask it, it'll probably get answered.
Just quit this "If you guys don't write about what I want, I'm going to unsubscribe! So there!" stuff.
I'd rather read a posting on imaging, vacuum problems, or even ETEC service training, any day than be subjected to your petulance.
Unsubscribe! Unsubscribe! Do it now!
cheers
rtch
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
a couple of years ago I purchased DTSA version 2.5.1 and have used it only occassionally for qualitative studies. I now wish to make full use of it's quantitative analysis functions for EDX spectra from TEM specimens (Cliff-Lorimer analysis of materials specimens). I have a few questions that I'm hoping you guys can help me with.
1) is there a more recent update of DTSA? I note from the documentation that some functions were not fully implimented in V2.5.1;
2) is DTSA still being developed?
3) is there a plug-in for converting Link ISIS EDX spectrum files into DTSA format?
3) is there a plug-in for converting EMiSpec ES Vision EDX spectrum files into DTSA format? I know this is a long shot but I thought I'd ask anyway.
4) if these plug-in are not currently available, what do I need to write my own (assuming I can get details of the file formats)?
Any help with these questions, or suggestions regarding the use of DTSA for Cliff-lorimer analysis would be most welcome. Cheers,
Mark Blackford TEM Group Materials Division, ANSTO PMB 1, Menai, N.S.W. Australia 2234
Phone 61 2 9717 3027 Fax 61 2 9543 7179
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this E-mail message do not necessarily represent the official views of ANSTO from which this message was conveyed.
Please excuse me if you received this posting earlier. I received a message from Mail Delivery Subsystem {MAILER-DAEMON-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com} with the following message in the subject line: "Returned mail: Bad usage". I assume the anti-spam filter was offended by something in my posting, possibly the subject line, so I'll try again:
a couple of years ago I purchased DTSA version 2.5.1 and have used it only occassionally for qualitative studies. I now wish to make full use of it's quantitative analysis functions for EDX spectra from TEM specimens (Cliff-Lorimer analysis of materials specimens). I have a few questions that I'm hoping you guys can help me with.
1) is there a more recent update of DTSA? I note from the documentation that some functions were not fully implimented in V2.5.1;
2) is DTSA still being developed?
3) is there a plug-in for converting Link ISIS EDX spectrum files into DTSA format?
3) is there a plug-in for converting EMiSpec ES Vision EDX spectrum files into DTSA format? I know this is a long shot but I thought I'd ask anyway.
4) if these plug-in are not currently available, what do I need to write my own (assuming I can get details of the file formats)?
Any help with these questions, or suggestions regarding the use of DTSA for Cliff-lorimer analysis would be most welcome. Cheers,
Mark Blackford TEM Group Materials Division, ANSTO PMB 1, Menai, N.S.W. Australia 2234
Phone 61 2 9717 3027 Fax 61 2 9543 7179
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this E-mail message do not necessarily represent the official views of ANSTO from which this message was conveyed.
} Hello Greg! } I feel you haven't understand my intentions. } I found acces to this listserver by way of the archives you named. I got } useful hints from the archives and decided to participate in the } listserver. I am not critizising the support that the MSA Listserver } provides, sure it is the most advanced forum in special microscopy ! } But I'm referring to the shift of themes and topics discussed in the } listserver and the obviously ignorance of basic themes ( embedding, } proceedings). Costs of new imaging and archiving possibilities, offers } of postdoctoral's and used devices seem to be overwhelming in the recent } past. } }
The thing is Michael - this list was not devised by you nor is it run by you. It is an invaluable forum for the sharing of thoughts and for questions and for just straight contact with colleagues. It takes on a life of its own in terms of content. Subjects that are of more general interest will clearly predominate. If there is little interest in a subject notice how quickly it fizzles out.
Look - it is soooo easy to hit the delete button if you are not interested in a subject. If you do have subjects you are personally really interested in then post some good solid questions (after first exhausting on-hand texts) and for sure you will receive answers.
And unltimately if you don't find enough value in the List then it is easy to unsubscribe.
Believe me there is a golden fountain of experienced, knowledgeable people on this list. Don't belittle it.
Dear all, Please don't flame someone just because they say things on the server you don't like (for instance a recent discussion about microprobe service, and comments about someone suggesting that he may unsubscribe due to lack of response to queries in his area). If you really think someone is out of line, please talk to Nestor instead.
Best wishes to all
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Ian MacLaren Department of Experimental Physics Chalmers University of Technology S-412 96 G=F6teborg Sweden Tel: +46 31 772 36 33 FAX: +46 31 772 32 24 email: maclaren-at-fy.chalmers.se or: ianmaclaren-at-hotmail.com Research Group Homepage: http://fy.chalmers.se/microscopy/ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Dear members of the list, it wasn=B4t my intention to offend anybody with my thoughts about the "shift of themes" on this listserver. I feel that many from you are angry and irritated by my thoughts.
First, I was content with your cooperation. Every question I asked to you was replied satisfactorily and I got a lot of useful hints which lead to advances in my work. In fact I was very happy about the great response. I wanted to thank you and not to say "If you guys don't write about what I want, I'm going to unsubscribe!".
Second, I just noticed a "shift of themes" but obviously I made me an "outsider" by these statements.
Third, I mentioned the "ignorance of basic themes". This was overaccaregated. But it is true that sometimes a "newcomer" has a basic question which remains unanswered. I remember a case of someone who wanted to do in-situ on thin sections for electron microscopy. At least I replied. This made me feel, I don=B4t know, alone. It was the first time that I had the possibility to answer someone but nobody else engaged discussion and this topic left "dead". A question about DAB and immunogold combination remained unanswered up to now. As well as another question dealing with LR-White and immunogold (posted by Sonya Cawsey). There are more examples in the recent past. These are topics which are -in fact- basics. Maybe I=B4m wrong ...
I fell sorry about offending you with my mails. As you see I=B4m still subscribed and I will do so further. I hope to be able to do my part to keep the mailing list attractive even for newcomers as I am with many questions and few answers. I hope you all can calm down now and I you will accept me as a staying member of the list in the future. Sorry.
Dear all, Please don't flame someone just because they say things on the server you don't like (for instance a recent discussion about microprobe service, and comments about someone suggesting that he may unsubscribe due to lack of response to queries in his area). If you really think someone is out of line, please talk to Nestor instead.
Best wishes to all
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Ian MacLaren Department of Experimental Physics Chalmers University of Technology S-412 96 G=F6teborg Sweden Tel: +46 31 772 36 33 FAX: +46 31 772 32 24 email: maclaren-at-fy.chalmers.se or: ianmaclaren-at-hotmail.com Research Group Homepage: http://fy.chalmers.se/microscopy/ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Dear members of the list, it wasn=B4t my intention to offend anybody with my thoughts about the "shift of themes" on this listserver. I feel that many from you are angry and irritated by my thoughts.
First, I was content with your cooperation. Every question I asked to you was replied satisfactorily and I got a lot of useful hints which lead to advances in my work. In fact I was very happy about the great response. I wanted to thank you and not to say "If you guys don't write
about what I want, I'm going to unsubscribe!".
Second, I just noticed a "shift of themes" but obviously I made me an "outsider" by these statements.
Third, I mentioned the "ignorance of basic themes". This was overaccaregated. But it is true that sometimes a "newcomer" has a basic question which remains unanswered. I remember a case of someone who wanted to do in-situ on thin sections for electron microscopy. At least I replied. This made me feel, I don=B4t know, alone. It was the first time that I had the possibility to answer someone but nobody else engaged discussion and this topic left "dead". A
question about DAB and immunogold combination remained unanswered up to now. As well as another question dealing with LR-White and immunogold (posted by Sonya Cawsey). There are more examples in the recent past. These are topics which are -in fact- basics. Maybe I=B4m wrong ...
I fell sorry about offending you with my mails. As you see I=B4m still subscribed and I will do so further. I hope to be able to do my part to keep the mailing list attractive even for newcomers as I am with many questions and few answers. I hope you all can calm down now and I you will accept me as a staying member of the list in the future. Sorry.
Dear members of the list, it wasn=B4t my intention to offend anybody with my thoughts about the "shift of themes" on this listserver. I feel that many from you are angry and irritated by my thoughts. I didn=B4t want to make enemies.
First, I was content with your cooperation. Every question I asked to you was replied satisfactorily and I got a lot of useful hints which lead to advances in my work. In fact I was very happy about the great response. I wanted to thank you and not to say "If you guys don't write
about what I want, I'm going to unsubscribe!".
Second, I just noticed a "shift of themes" but obviously I made me an "outsider" by these statements.
Third, I mentioned the "ignorance of basic themes". This was overaccaregated. But it is true that sometimes a "newcomer" has a basic question which remains unanswered. I remember a case of someone who wanted to do in-situ on thin sections for electron microscopy. At least I replied. This made me feel, I don=B4t know, alone. It was the first time that I had the possibility to answer someone but nobody else engaged discussion and this topic left "dead". A
question about DAB and immunogold combination remained unanswered up to now. As well as another question dealing with LR-White and immunogold (posted by Sonya Cawsey). There are more examples in the recent past. These are topics which are -in fact- basics. Maybe I=B4m wrong ...
I fell sorry about offending you with my mails. As you see I=B4m still subscribed and I will do so further. I hope to be able to do my part to keep the mailing list attractive even for newcomers as I am with many questions and few answers. I hope you all can calm down now and I you will accept me as a staying member of the list in the future. Sorry.
I have found the cause of the Email bounce. It was not do to anyone's postings but due to a edit I was doing in the software. Don't hassel anyone else ..
Dear Frank In reference to your e-mail dated 21/7/99.
1) the smallest particle should be the same as you observe on the SEM screen. When taking images and making measurements on features in a package such as IMQuant, you should use the highest magnification possible for small features to minimise any feature detection and measurement errors. e.g. if you use a low mag and the features of interest only occupy a few pixels in your image then area and shape measurments could have large errors. If you raise the mag then the same features occupy tens or hundreds of pixels then the measurements will be much more accurate.
2) There is no compensation within Imquant. This is a classic stereological problem and is described in a number of books. One book you could try is "Stereological methods" Practical methods for biological Morphometry by Ewald R Weibel published by Academic Press Limited chapter 5.
Regards
Oxford Instruments Microanalysis Ltd. Customer Support Group ----------------- } From: frank.sarrazit-at-AVESTASHEFFIELD To: MAG-TSG Hotline
Hi I have a couple of questions related to the IMquant software and would be grateful if you could help. 1/ What's the resolution /smallest particle which can be accurately detected? Is it different from that of the microscope? 2/ we are looking at 2-D sections of steel blades and have successfully used IMQuant to characterise carbide particles (area etc ). However, because these are 2-D sections, diameters and carbides are understated and I was wondering whether a mathematical way of compensating for this was available within imquant? Thanks for your help Franck
____________________________________________________________ Oxford Instruments Microanalysis, Halifax Road, High Wycombe,Bucks, HP12 3SE, UK Tel: +44 (0)1494 442255 Fax: +44 (0)1494 524129 http://www.oxford-instruments.com/ We have a 1M email size limit
Unless stated above to be non-confidential, this E-mail and any attachments are private and confidential and are for the addressee only and may not be used, copied or disclosed save to the addressee. If you have received this E-mail in error please notify us upon receipt and delete it from your records. Internet communications are not secure and Oxford Instruments is not responsible for their abuse by third parties nor for any alteration or corruption in transmission. ____________________________________________________________
(InterLock SMTP Gateway 3.0 for Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com); Mon, 26 Jul 1999 08:06:23 -0500 Received: by gate.mmd.com (Protected-side Proxy Mail Agent-1); Mon, 26 Jul 1999 08:06:23 -0500 Message-Id: {A16C87C13FB5D1118BD000A0C9AF993601172766-at-brwsmxsusr04.brw.hmrag.com}
Dear Sally,
Spreading DNA is a very tedious procedure. I am not familiar with the spontaneous adsorption technique, but I know the spreading technique has always worked for me and I'm including it here. But first, let me ask you several questions. What buffer are you using and at what pH? This is very important. A more alkaline solution has always worked for me (see below). Second, what is the purpose of ammonium acetate? I have never used this and achieved excellent results. Third, what is your hypophase solution? This is very important since this serves as a matrix. Look at my procedure. It is a very modified one and I cannot locate the original source right now.
Spreading solution: Working Solution:
1 M Tris buffer - pH 8.5 + 0.1M EDTA 10ul 99% formamide - highly purified molecular bio. grade 50ul
DNA - (50ug/ml stock solution) 2ul ddH2O - 33ul cytochrome C 5ul always add last
Add in order given. Make sure that any glass used, including slides must be soaked in HCl/Chromic acid solution for 2 days prior to use. Also, as you know,everything must be DNAase free.
Hypophase - floating solution.
ddH2O 79ml 1M Tris (above) + 0.1M EDTA pH 8.5 1ml formamide 20ml The procedure is the slide spreading technique. The DNA is collected onto carbon-coated grids 400m. The next step was to stain in 0.05M uranyl acetate in 95% ethanol and 0.1M HCl.
Please give me a call if you have any questions and I would be more than happy to explain further the technique. Blessings................................................................... Maria
Maria Fazio-Zanakis Bioimaging and Molecular Histology Hoechst Marion Roussel, Inc. 1-908-231-3357 Fax: 1-908-231-3962 Email: Maria.Fazio-Zanakis-at-hmrag.com
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Michael, I think you underestimate the people who participate on the list.=20 Maybe you did not get an answer because no-one had a good one for you. It is possible you know that what you ask may be something for which many of us do not have good answers. I have very little idea of who is a senior or=
a junior researcher on the list. Sure a few names pop out but very few.=20 I am a biologist and many of the participants on the list are in materials. I do not get upset that they may send more than their fair shar= e of the messages. I just delete those I am not interested in and go on. The same is with any specific topic that does not interest me. If even one person is interested than it has a place on the list. =20 I do not consider myself a "junior" since I have been in this business for over 30 years. However, I have more than once poised a questi= on and not gotten any answers. Chalk that up to the fact that there are still lots of unexplained situations or unsolved questions combined with very busy people who may not want to take time to just speculate or repeat information that can be found in any basic text on electron microscopic technique. Even one good answer is well worth your time poising questions and most of the good tips I have received have not been to questions I have poised but to ones others have, which have been answered by many people mor= e knowledgeable than I. Stay on the list and read questions and answers which=
are in your very general area of interest and I guarantee that you will get more out of the list than you will put in. In no time I think you will=
realize that you are not a "junior" but an equal in the eyes, or fingers" of those submitting the to list.
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 colleagues Maybe I will unsubscribe soon ... I had many questions, but seldom an answer. That=B4s because I=B4m one of the "juniors" . Thanks especially to Hildy Crowley and Charles Garber, they are very active in this forum and had good hints regarding embedding for immuno-electron-microscopy (e.g. LR-White). Now, I=B4m doing quite good work in this special discipline and its possible that you will notice it one day. Recently, themes have changed in this listserver. Costs of digital imaging archives, salaries, used devices to sell or search and special advertisements, job offers seem to be the overwhelming topics nowadays. I=B4ve noticed that "greenhorn questions" remained unanswered in the first half of the year ... As I am resident in Europe, offers of used devices and so on don=B4t interest me that much as the most of you all (in the U.S.). Thus, many messages from the listserver are not so interesting for me especially. Dear colleagues, why don=B4t you discuss more about techniques and methods? I am young and want to gain experience. Sure, digital archives of EM-photographs are now high-sophisticated but my intsitution won=B4t afford it in the near future. Eyeryone of us has the fear to talk about unpublished results or datas, but I feel that electron-microscopic techniques are so complex that they need a wide cooperation.
Thank you for your support. I will return to the listserver, that=B4s sure
Michael Reiner, cand. med Department of Anatomy I University of Colgne Germany Joseph-Stelzmann-Str. 9 50931 Koeln/Cologne Germany e-mail: a2811111-at-smail.uni-koeln.de Tel: +49-221-478-5519 Fax: +49-221-478-6411
RFC822 header -----------------------------------
RECEIVED: from SF_Database by POP_Mailbox_-1279363444 ; 23 JUL 99 19:44:12 UT Received: from SPARC5.MICROSCOPY.COM by mailcenter.btny.purdue.edu with SMTP (QuickMail Pro Server for MacOS 1.1.2); 23-Jul-1999 19:44:08 -0500 Received: (from daemon-at-localhost) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) id OAA12540 for dist-Microscopy; Fri, 23 Jul 1999 14:54:32 = -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 OAA12535 for "MicroscopyFilteredEmail-at-msa.microscopy.com"; Fri, 23 Jul 1999 14:54:00 -05= 00 Received: from pelican.rrz.Uni-Koeln.DE (pelican.rrz.Uni-Koeln.DE [134.95.19.10]) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) with ESMTP id OAA1= 2528 for {microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} ; Fri, 23 Jul 1999 14:53:45 -0500 Received: from smail.uni-koeln.de (ra-uni3-c30-nc.rrz.Uni-Koeln.DE [134.95.89.31]) =09by pelican.rrz.Uni-Koeln.DE (8.9.2/8.9.1/smail) with ESMTP id UAA24919 =09for {microscopy-at-msa.microscopy.com} ; Fri, 23 Jul 1999 20:00:11 GMT Message-ID: {3798CA03.4956AD29-at-smail.uni-koeln.de} Date: Fri, 23 Jul 1999 22:01:07 +0200 From: Michael Reiner {a2811111-at-smail.Uni-Koeln.DE} X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.6 [de] (Win98; I) X-Accept-Language: de MIME-Version: 1.0 To: microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com Subject: EM, IEM: Thoughts from a "junior" Content-Type: text/plain; charset=3Diso-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable X-MIME-Autoconverted: from 8bit to quoted-printable by pelican.rrz.Uni-Koeln.DE id UAA24919 Errors-to: Microscopy-request-at-sparc5.microscopy.com =20
by post.its.mcw.edu (8.8.8/8.8.8) with ESMTP id JAA01178 for {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} ; Mon, 26 Jul 1999 09:16:53 -0500 (CDT) Message-ID: {379C708E.38A73978-at-mcw.edu}
Hi, All -
I want to put a service contract to my Reichert-Jung Ultracut. Can any of you provide some information about it? I would like to know who provides such services in the US.
Gang Ning EM Facility Medical College of Wisconsin
Just a reminder, abstracts and early registrations are due August 2nd for the 5th California Microscopy Colloquium organized by the Northern California Society for Microscopy and The California State Universities and to be held at San Francisco State University on October 2nd..
Our web site (http://online.sfsu.edu/~camicro/) is ready to accept both your early registration and abstracts.
Also, please forward this message to others (especially students) who you think might be interested but might not yet be included on our email list.
Thank you and looking forward to seeing you in October.
Thank you to everyone who responded to my enquiry about bolt-on digital camera systems for TEM.
It seems that the resolution of digital systems still doesn't quite match that of conventional film, but image contrast is definitely not a problem, and the convenience is definitely quite tempting!
I reckon better cameras with more pixels should be just round the corner if the technology continues to improve at the current pace.....
Amanda EM Unit St George's Hospital Medical School awilson-at-sghms.ac.uk
On Mon, 26 Jul 1999 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.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } Michael Reiner wrote:- } } } } Hello Greg! } } I feel you haven't understand my intentions. } } I found acces to this listserver by way of the archives you named. I got } } useful hints from the archives and decided to participate in the } } listserver. I am not critizising the support that the MSA Listserver } } provides, sure it is the most advanced forum in special microscopy ! } } But I'm referring to the shift of themes and topics discussed in the } } listserver and the obviously ignorance of basic themes ( embedding, } } proceedings). Costs of new imaging and archiving possibilities, offers } } of postdoctoral's and used devices seem to be overwhelming in the recent } } past. } } } } } The thing is Michael - this list was not devised by you nor is it run by you. } It is an invaluable forum for the sharing of thoughts and for questions and } for just straight contact with colleagues. It takes on a life of its own in } terms of content. Subjects that are of more general interest will clearly } predominate. If there is little interest in a subject notice how quickly it } fizzles out. } } Look - it is soooo easy to hit the delete button if you are not interested in } a subject. If you do have subjects you are personally really interested in } then post some good solid questions (after first exhausting on-hand texts) } and for sure you will receive answers. } } And unltimately if you don't find enough value in the List then it is easy to } unsubscribe. } } Believe me there is a golden fountain of experienced, knowledgeable people on } this list. Don't belittle it. } } Ted Dunn } Maui, Hawaii } } } Micheal,
Reread the last sentence above. Then please stop complaining or quit this most valuable service. Hildegard H. Crowley University of Denver
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 members of the list, } it wasn=B4t my intention to offend anybody with my thoughts about the } "shift of themes" on this listserver. } I feel that many from you are angry and irritated by my thoughts. } =20 } First, I was content with your cooperation. Every question I asked to } you was replied satisfactorily and I got a lot of useful hints which } lead to advances in my work. In fact I was very happy about the great } response. I wanted to thank you and not to say "If you guys don't write } =20 } about what I want, I'm going to unsubscribe!". } =20 } Second, I just noticed a "shift of themes" but obviously I made me an } "outsider" by these statements. } =20 } Third, I mentioned the "ignorance of basic themes". This was } overaccaregated. But it is true that sometimes a "newcomer" has a basic } question which remains unanswered. } I remember a case of someone who wanted to do in-situ on thin sections } for electron microscopy. At least I replied. This made me feel, I don=B4t } know, alone. It was the first time that I had the possibility to answer } someone but nobody else engaged discussion and this topic left "dead". A } =20 } question about DAB and immunogold combination remained unanswered up to } now. As well as another question dealing with LR-White and immunogold } (posted by Sonya Cawsey). There are more examples in the recent past. } These are topics which are -in fact- basics. } Maybe I=B4m wrong ... } =20 } I fell sorry about offending you with my mails. } As you see I=B4m still subscribed and I will do so further. I hope to be } able to do my part to keep the mailing list attractive even for } newcomers as I am with many questions and few answers. } I hope you all can calm down now and I you will accept me as a staying } member of the list in the future. } Sorry. } =20 } Yours sincerly, } Michael Reiner } =20 } =20 } =20 } =20 } =20 } =20 Hi, Sorry I took offense as to what I considered an attack on one of my best sources to be able to do good work. Regarding the "no answers" to "basic questions". I could spend my entire day on the List Server writing answers to basic questions, which, in most cases are not at all basic! DAB-TEM is particularly involved and difficult. There simply is not the time to write a whole textbook chapter on a basic question. Wish I could! Bye, Hildy Crowley
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Colleagues... } } I have found the cause of the Email bounce. It was not do to anyone's } postings but due to a edit I was doing in the software. Don't hassel } anyone else .. } } My fault entirely.... } } Nestor } Your Friendly Neighborhood SysOp } } } } Hi, You can make as many mistakes as you like! We are so grateful for what you are doing. You can bounce things or edit or whatever! We are so happy to have the List Server that next to nothing bothers us! See you, Hildy Crowley
I'd just like to say that I have received very valuable advice from list members. It is important to note that with this list, when you hit "Reply", it goe= s to the sender, not the whole list. (A good idea, with all the "vacation email response" programs people have= !) *** So I received many messages off-list.***
Some questions may not get responses because they have no answer. Who can say why my immunolabeling of LR White LM sections didn't work (mainly with DAB, though I did try a gold-conjugated secondary to see how that would work). I've done everything that the books, articles, and very kind list members have suggested. I've tried new primary antibodies; longer incubation; higher and lower titres; etching with ethanol, hot citrate buffer and sodium methoxide; lower polymerization temperature. Sometimes stuff just doesn't work out. I'm switching to cryosectioning (which might mean I'll have to kill more fish, but at least I'll learn a new technique).
Anyway, I'm a junior and I'm pretty happy with the list. There's no censorship of posts, which I have seen on some email lists. There's free and open discussion of whatever the list members want to bring up. Yeah!
Michael Reiner wrote:
} question about DAB and immunogold combination remained unanswered up to } now. As well as another question dealing with LR-White and immunogold } (posted by Sonya Cawsey). There are more examples in the recent past. } These are topics which are -in fact- basics. } Maybe I=B4m wrong ... }
... -- Sonia Cawsey McGowan Copley Library, University of San Diego email: scawsey-at-acusd.edu home page: http://www.acusd.edu/~scawsey
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Dear All,
In many respects, I would agree with Michael's point that although = subjects are introduced on the list, often few replies re-appear. It = would be good to follow discussions on particular topics as they are = brought up.
However, as a guilty party, I know that once a topic is brought up, it is = usually discussed further off-line. Occasionally we then re-post a = summary of replies, but this is not often. Perhaps a little more on-line = discussion would be useful.
I enjoy it most when there are different points of view being expressed.
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 http://www.hei.org/htm/aemi.htm
I am doing some work involving image acquisition of a sample which is driven by stepper motors. The 1" sample is viewed from a microscope which has a field of view of 0.5mm and is equipped with a CCD camera. Although the sample is initially set up to be well focused within the microscope, when it is moved to another location, the image can get seriously out of focus because of the sample surface roughness, limited depth of field of the microscope, and etc. I can move the sample up or down (closer to or further away from the microscope) by stepper motor so that the viewed area is still in focus. However, I would prefer an automation to manual adjustment. Anyone knows a tool or software that can tell if the image is focused or not?
Transmission Electron Microscopist Position in DSE
The principal mission of the Department of Drug Safety Evaluation (DSE) is to define the toxic potential of chemicals to the extent necessary and desirable for assessing risk to man under intended use conditions. The Pathology Department is an integral part of DSE providing expert consultation, histological and ultrastructural preparation of non-human tissues and interpretation of changes to advance new candidate development. You will perform routine transmission electron microscopy, including specimen acquisition, tissue processing, ultramicrotomy, operation of Hitachi 7100, and darkroom procedures. In addition, you will be responsible for projects requiring methods development in areas such as, autoradiography, immunocytochemistry, freeze substitution, cryoultramicrotomy, freeze drying, and correlative light, transmission, and confocal microscopy. You will provide technical and scientific support for Drug Safety Evaluation and Discovery Research projects encompassing diversified therapeutic areas ( e.g., Cardiovascular, Cancer, CNS, Animal Health, etc.).
A minimum of a BS and 2 years of relevant experience are required. Two or more years' experience with low temperature immuno-EM is preferred.
Pfizer is proud to offer competitive salaries, exceptional benefits, tremendous opportunities for learning and advancement and the rewards of living only hours from Boston, Providence and New York City on the beautiful Connecticut seashore. Please send your resume in confidence to:Pfizer Inc, Central Research, Job Code: XXXXXXNEW, c/o Aon Consulting, P.O. Box 25, Findlay, OH 45839, or e-mail to: _ HYPERLINK mailto:Pfizer-at-aon-hros.com __Pfizer-at-aon-hros.com_.Pfizer offers a workplace rich with diversity and potential - an Equal Opportunity Employer.
I am trained to operate a scanning electron microscope but I do not hold a certificate of any kind. Is certification useful in finding employment? If so, where would I go to get information on becoming certified?
Just a reminder, abstracts and early registrations are due August 2nd.
Our web site (http://online.sfsu.edu/~camicro/) is ready to accept both your early registration and abstracts.
Also, please forward this message to others (especially students) who you think might be interested but may not yet be included on our email list.
Thank you and looking forward to seeing you in October.
Gregory A. Antipa Department of Biology San Francisco State University San Francisco CA 94132 Office/Lab (415) 338-2951 Email antipa-at-sfsu.edu FAX (415) 338-2295
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Re} support of Reichert-Jung ultramicrotomes:
We had good service from TEKNET on the east coast (1-800 835 6386). I am = not sure they support Wisconsin though.
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 http://www.hei.org/htm/aemi.htm
by email.nist.gov (8.9.3/8.9.3) with ESMTP id RAA22504; Mon, 26 Jul 1999 17:06:51 -0400 (EDT) Sender: js0b-at-email.nist.gov Message-ID: {379CCD00.3B5E67E2-at-nist.gov}
Mark Blackford wrote: } } Dear All, } } a couple of years ago I purchased DTSA version 2.5.1 and have used it only } occassionally for qualitative studies. I now wish to make full use of it's } quantitative analysis functions for EDX spectra from TEM specimens } (Cliff-Lorimer analysis of materials specimens). I have a few questions } that I'm hoping you guys can help me with. } } 1) is there a more recent update of DTSA? I note from the documentation } that some functions were not fully implimented in V2.5.1; } } 2) is DTSA still being developed? } } 3) is there a plug-in for converting Link ISIS EDX spectrum files into DTSA } format? } } 3) is there a plug-in for converting EMiSpec ES Vision EDX spectrum files } into DTSA format? I know this is a long shot but I thought I'd ask anyway. } } 4) if these plug-in are not currently available, what do I need to write my } own (assuming I can get details of the file formats)? } } Any help with these questions, or suggestions regarding the use of DTSA for } Cliff-lorimer analysis would be most welcome. Cheers, } } Mark Blackford } TEM Group } Materials Division, ANSTO } PMB 1, } Menai, N.S.W. } Australia } 2234
Mark,
} 1) is there a more recent update of DTSA? I note from the documentation } that some functions were not fully implimented in V2.5.1;
The most recent "production" version of DTSA is 2.6.1, although this may not have been approved for release to the external website yet (http://micro.nist.gov/DTSA/dtsa.html).
This version includes substantial changes from 2.5.x, at least internally. Many of the data structures have been cleaned up, and some code has been modified (e.g. now it is much easier to loop over x-ray lines). Many of these changes, however, are not visible to the user. Unfortunately, many functions are still not implemented.
} 2) is DTSA still being developed?
Yes.
} 3) is there a plug-in for converting Link ISIS EDX spectrum files into DTSA } format? } 3) is there a plug-in for converting EMiSpec ES Vision EDX spectrum files } into DTSA format? I know this is a long shot but I thought I'd ask anyway. } 4) if these plug-in are not currently available, what do I need to write my } own (assuming I can get details of the file formats)? } } Any help with these questions, or suggestions regarding the use of DTSA for } Cliff-lorimer analysis would be most welcome. Cheers,
As far as I know, there is no plug-in for Link ISIS EDS spectra or EMiSPEC Vision spectral files. It would be straightforward to write these plug-ins, but I'm not sure that would be the right approach. A lot of time was invested in refining the MSA spectrum file format so it could act as a standard for exchanging data between acquisition/analysis applications. I believe ISIS can already export MSA files (they call it "EMSA/MAS file" in my version) which can be read by DTSA. As for EMiSPEC, I'd rather see an EMiSPEC-} MSA converter than a DTSA plug-in for EMiSPEC spectral files. I think a quick GUI-based tool (written in VB?, scripted in Vision itself using the COM objects exposed in their hierarchy?) would be useful for plucking out specific spectra (or a list of spectra) from the spectral sequences used in spectrum images and spectrum profiles.
If you decide you do want to write a DTSA plug-in, have a look at the source code for the existing plug-ins. There are working examples for reading and writing binary and ASCII files. The plug-ins were patterned after Adobe Photoshop plug-ins. The data details are different, of course, so the two are not compatible. For the input case, the basic idea is to write a completely independent chunk of code that parses the incoming spectral file and populates a data structure that the main program can read. This pre-defined area of memory is set up by DTSA when it is launched, when it scans for plug-ins and calls each one to see if it is functional. When the plug-in is called to read a file, DTSA passes control to the plug-in code, the plug-in reads the file and fills the data structure, the plug-in returns, and DTSA resumes execution where it left off, assuming the pre-defined memory area now contains data from the file. Thus, there are no parameters or data passed between DTSA and the plug-in. This makes it easier for you to write the plug-in using a different language than DTSA (e.g. C, or python) since you do not need to worry about the differences in calling convention. Also, you do not need to rebuild DTSA from source to write the plug-in (that's the point of a plug-in), but you may find it useful to look at the source for DTSA while writing. Agreement about the details of the (common) data structure shared between DTSA and all the plug-ins is assured by placing this data structure in an include file. All plug-ins should pull the data format from this include to prevent compatibility problems.
Hope this helps,
--John Henry
John Henry J. Scott NIST Microanalysis Research Group http://www-sims.nist.gov/Division/Contacts.html
Would you happen to know what solution would etch copper but not } stainless } } steel? I need this information to clean copper off a stainless steel fixture. } } thank you, } }
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Just a note to comment on DAB reactions for immunocytochemistry:
Apart from the fact that diamino-benzidine (DAB) is toxic, it is not = really a good visualization tool for immunocytochemistry. =
Firstly, it is non-quantitative. The amount of reaction product does not = depend on the number of antibodies binding to antigen, rather it is a = result of the reaction time between the HRP and the DAB (longer time =3D = more signal). It is an amplification reaction, not an improvement in = sensitivity. What we really want is a method that will give us the = location of an antigen AND an idea of the relative number of antigens = present.
Secondly, it is not a precise marker. With the enzyme reaction that = produces the precipitate comes the production of oxygen. This damages = intracellular organelles (if the antigen is located within the cell) and = causes reaction product to be distributed at sites other than where the = antigen is localized. This is also a result when the amplification of = reaction product occurs. =
Perhaps for these reasons there was little discussion on DAB problems. = Better to use the gold particles instead.
I get my information from papers published in the 1970's and will provide = the detailed references only if requested.
As for Michael Reiner, he is lucky enough to live in Germany, which is = well served by free, or low cost, instruction courses. To really get the = information you want (basic, detailed and served with a smile) I suggest = looking to FEBS or EMBL for help. They provide money for junior = microscopists to attend courses on these techniques.
PS: any idea why it takes my postings two days to appear? Sometimes they = don't even appear at all, which is worse!
Good luck.
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 http://www.hei.org/htm/aemi.htm
Because of questions about my earlier comments on quantitative measurement of films in TEM, I thought I should provide clearer details. I want to offer the hope that labs without (expensive) CCD cameras can get quantitative data from film, perhaps for preliminary measurements or for student projects. Such techniques generally require more work than using a CCD camera, and they typically serve a different range of problems, but they are possible with a small investment!
The density D of an area of film that has received an exposure I to electrons in a TEM is given by
D = D(max)*(1-exp(-aI)),
where a is a constant. When D is much less than D(max), the exponential can be expanded and truncated to the first term, yielding
D = kE,
where k is a constant (Zeitler, 1992, Ultramicroscopy 46, 405). Experimental data showing the linearity of the film response for electrons is given in figure 4 of the paper cited. This paper notes that the linearity is valid for D(max) less than 1.5 for all commercially available TEM emulsions. It is assumed here that the base and fog density of the film d has been subtracted out. For practical work, it is useful to be explicit about the base and fog density, yielding the equation
D = kE + d.
To use this equation in a practical way, the specimen to be measured is placed on a holey film. When the image is made, D(max) is measured from the image of the hole on the film (because this is where the total beam current is recorded). D is measured from any desired point on the specimen. The base and fog density d is measured from the shadow created by the rim of the film holder, or anyplace else that the film isn't exposed to electrons. Because all of the measurements are made on the same piece of film, the degree of development or the age of the film are not relevant because there doesn't need to be any comparison to any other piece of film.
Films like this will typically have a density range from something slightly above zero to something slightly above one, a range that is easily measured with an analog densitometer. Because all of the measurement are made on the same piece of film with the same densitometer, the type of illumination or degree of collimation of the densitometer is not relevant.
There's more work to do if the film needs to be digitized, because typical scanners are often limited to 8 bits of black & white. Then it may be necessary to use techniques for dividing up the film dynamic range, calibrating scanners with a photographic step tablet (scanning the step tablet at the same time as the film!), and linearizing the response.
As noted above, these methods aren't as easy as getting a picture from a CCD camera. But I hope that people in smaller EM labs, especially students, can remember that they have the option to think quantitatively about their micrographs even in the absence of a large digital investment.
There is such tool and attachment. What microscope do you have ?
Please reply directly to:
emeylan-at-csi.com
Emile Meylan SERCO Technical Services, Inc.
----- Original Message ----- } From: Tong Wang {tong-at-jlab.org} To: 'Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com' {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} Sent: Monday, July 26, 1999 12:44 PM
G'day All,
We are looking to purchase a Wafering saw, and I need information. If = anyone can suggest models and/or suppliers and provide me with contact = numbers or emails, or any other info I will be most grateful. =20
If you have a second hand one that you want to get rid of, we are also = interested. =20
I look forward to hearing from you. =20
Thanks=20
George
George Theodossiou Dept Applied Physics RMIT GPO Box 2476V Melbourne 3001 Victoria Australia Ph: +61 3 9925 1793 +61 3 9925 2205 Fax: +61 3 9925 5290 Email: george.theodossiou-at-rmit.edu.au
Hello Sally - Just in case Maria is following the method, but does not know "why ammonium acetate". I used that about 27 years ago doing "Kleinschmitt" DNA spreading. The ammonium acetate is volatile - is disappears without leaving crystals. So you have the correct osmotic pressure pulling on the DNA molecules but not too much rubbish left in the background. I think that there are other good applications for that salt in EM. Cheers Jim Darley ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com.au Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes www.proscitech.com.au
On Monday, July 26, 1999 11:06 PM, Fazio-Zanakis, Maria, HMR/US [SMTP:Maria.Fazio-Zanakis-at-hmrag.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 Sally, } } Spreading DNA is a very tedious procedure. I am not familiar with the } spontaneous adsorption technique, but I know the spreading technique has } always worked for me and I'm including it here. But first, let me ask you } several questions. What buffer are you using and at what pH? This is very } important. A more alkaline solution has always worked for me (see below). } Second, what is the purpose of ammonium acetate? I have never used this and } achieved excellent results. Third, what is your hypophase solution? This is } very important since this serves as a matrix. Look at my procedure. It is a } very modified one and I cannot locate the original source right now. } } Spreading solution: } Working Solution: } } 1 M Tris buffer - pH 8.5 + 0.1M EDTA } 10ul } 99% formamide - highly purified molecular bio. grade } 50ul } } DNA - (50ug/ml stock solution) } 2ul } ddH2O - } 33ul } cytochrome C } 5ul always add last } } Add in order given. Make sure that any glass used, including slides must } be soaked in HCl/Chromic acid solution for 2 days prior to use. Also, as you } know,everything must be DNAase free. } } Hypophase - floating solution. } } ddH2O } 79ml } 1M Tris (above) + 0.1M EDTA pH 8.5 } 1ml } formamide } 20ml } The procedure is the slide spreading technique. The DNA is collected onto } carbon-coated grids 400m. } The next step was to stain in 0.05M uranyl acetate in 95% ethanol and 0.1M } HCl. } } Please give me a call if you have any questions and I would be more than } happy to explain further the technique. } Blessings................................................................... } Maria } } Maria Fazio-Zanakis } Bioimaging and Molecular Histology } Hoechst Marion Roussel, Inc. } 1-908-231-3357 } Fax: 1-908-231-3962 } Email: Maria.Fazio-Zanakis-at-hmrag.com }
Dear Frank In reference to your e-mail dated 21/7/99.
1) the smallest particle should be the same as you observe on the SEM screen. When taking images and making measurements on features in a package such as IMQuant, you should use the highest magnification possible for small features to minimise any feature detection and measurement errors. e.g. if you use a low mag and the features of interest only occupy a few pixels in your image then area and shape measurments could have large errors. If you raise the mag then the same features occupy tens or hundreds of pixels then the measurements will be much more accurate.
2) There is no compensation within Imquant. This is a classic stereological problem and is described in a number of books. One book you could try is "Stereological methods" Practical methods for biological Morphometry by Ewald R Weibel published by Academic Press Limited chapter 5.
Regards
Oxford Instruments Microanalysis Ltd. Customer Support Group ----------------- } From: frank.sarrazit-at-AVESTASHEFFIELD To: MAG-TSG Hotline
Hi I have a couple of questions related to the IMquant software and would be grateful if you could help. 1/ What's the resolution /smallest particle which can be accurately detected? Is it different from that of the microscope? 2/ we are looking at 2-D sections of steel blades and have successfully used IMQuant to characterise carbide particles (area etc ). However, because these are 2-D sections, diameters and carbides are understated and I was wondering whether a mathematical way of compensating for this was available within imquant? Thanks for your help Franck
____________________________________________________________ Oxford Instruments Microanalysis, Halifax Road, High Wycombe,Bucks, HP12 3SE, UK Tel: +44 (0)1494 442255 Fax: +44 (0)1494 524129 http://www.oxford-instruments.com/ We have a 1M email size limit
Unless stated above to be non-confidential, this E-mail and any attachments are private and confidential and are for the addressee only and may not be used, copied or disclosed save to the addressee. If you have received this E-mail in error please notify us upon receipt and delete it from your records. Internet communications are not secure and Oxford Instruments is not responsible for their abuse by third parties nor for any alteration or corruption in transmission. ____________________________________________________________
Leica provides service for Reichert ultramicrotomes. For information from their office in Illinois, call 1-800-248-0223.
Best of luck,
Robyn
Robyn Rufner, Ph.D. Director, The Center for Microscopy and Image Analysis Ross Hall, Suite 406 Adjunct Associate Professor, Anatomy and Cell Biology THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY 2300 Eye Street, N.W., 431 Ross Hall Washington, DC 20037-2337 Voice: (202) 994-2881 Fax: (202) 994-8885 Internet: anarrr-at-gwumc.edu
My apologies to those who hit a firewall while trying to download DTSA after my post yesterday. Sometimes the summer heat causes my IQ to drop into the single digits.
Try this URL: http://www.nist.gov/cstl/div837/837.02/MicroscopySoftware.html
} From there you can link to DTSA, MacLispix, and the NIST Monte Carlo pages. If you still have trouble accessing these URLs, please send me a private email and I'll try again.
-- John Henry
John Henry J. Scott NIST Microanalysis Research Group http://www-sims.nist.gov/Division/Contacts.html
I want to put a service contract to my Reichert-Jung Ultracut. Can any of you provide some information about it? I would like to know who provides such services in the US.
Gang Ning EM Facility Medical College of Wisconsin
One of my colleagues (who occasionally uses microscopy but is not a = microscopist) has asked me for my opinion . He was telling me about an = amazing demonstration that was given at his facility where a Richardson = RT-2 microscope was used to give results much better than a standard LM. = Apparently this was possible with some modifications of a LM, but the = exact mechanism for this vast improvement in image quality is not apparent = to me from the brief fact sheet which I have. I haven't heard of this = microscope before, nor have I seen it in action, but this question has = peaked my interest.
I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has this equipment, or has seen = a demonstration of it. If vendors are subscribed to this list and can = provide more information, I would appreciate that, too.=20
As always, thanks in advance.
Paula.
Paula Allan-Wojtas Research Scientist - Food Microstructure Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Atlantic Food and Horticulture Research Centre Kentville, Nova Scotia Canada B4N 1J5
We have software that does exactly what you want. You can drive a stage, adjust the focus and finally montage the individual images into a large image with high resolution.
Please contact me through email for further details or call.
******************************************************* Disclaimer: Soft Imaging System produces and sells image acquisition and processing systems. We therefore have a vested interest in some of the items mentioned above. *******************************************************
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 1675 Carr St., #105N Lakewood, CO 80215 =================================== phone: (888) FIND SIS (303) 234-9270 fax: (303) 234-9271 email: mailto:info-at-soft-imaging.com web: http://www.soft-imaging.com ===================================
----- Original Message ----- } From: Tong Wang {tong-at-jlab.org} To: 'Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com' {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} Sent: Monday, July 26, 1999 12:44 PM
Dear All:
We are looking for a color CCD camera to capture true color images of plant samples. We would like to capture color images from fluorescently stained samples ( FITC, DAPI, Texas red), GFP as well as samples for bright-field/Transmitted light with traditional histology stains.. Currently we are considering the SPOT2 (Diagnostic Instruments), SenSys Color (Roper) and the color chilled C5810 ( Hamamatsu). Does anyone have any experience with these cameras? Any feedback will be appreciated. If anyone has any other recommended models of a good color CCD camera for microscopes other then the three cameras mentioned above please let me know.
Thanks in advance for your help
Sincerely,
Elison ***************************** Elison B. Blancaflor Plant Biology Division The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation Ardmore, OK 73401
South Bay Technology, Inc. manufacturers diamond wafering saws, wire saws=
and also an acid saw. You can get general information on our saws via ou= r website at: www.southbaytech.com. In Australia, you can contact our exclusive distributor as follows:
Oxford Instruments P.O. Box 7 Pennant Hills NSW 2120 AUSTRALIA
} } } } } 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 "George Theodossiou" } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America =
G'day All,
We are looking to purchase a Wafering saw, and I need information. If anyone can suggest models and/or suppliers and provide me with contact numbers or emails, or any other info I will be most grateful. =
If you have a second hand one that you want to get rid of, we are also interested. =
I look forward to hearing from you. =
Thanks =
George
George Theodossiou Dept Applied Physics RMIT GPO Box 2476V Melbourne 3001 Victoria Australia Ph: +61 3 9925 1793 +61 3 9925 2205 Fax: +61 3 9925 5290 Email: george.theodossiou-at-rmit.edu.au
We have Metamorph from Universal Imaging. It has an auto-focus function which works surprisingly well with fluorescent, brightfield and DIC images. We configurated it do so some montages of large tissue sample (sections of tumor) in combination with a scan-stage. We are very pleased with it. If you need more detail, you might contact them. The web page is: http: "//www.image1.com/".
Our scope has a cooled CCD, Zeiss axioplan II motoried microscope, and motorized XY stage.
Good luck!
Xuejun
PS: I have not commercial link with Universal Imaging. I am just a happy user.
On Mon, 26 Jul 1999, Tong Wang wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Hi, everyone } } I am doing some work involving image acquisition of a sample which is } driven by stepper motors. The 1" sample is viewed from a microscope which } has a field of view of 0.5mm and is equipped with a CCD camera. Although } the sample is initially set up to be well focused within the microscope, } when it is moved to another location, the image can get seriously out of } focus because of the sample surface roughness, limited depth of field of } the microscope, and etc. I can move the sample up or down (closer to or } further away from the microscope) by stepper motor so that the viewed area } is still in focus. However, I would prefer an automation to manual } adjustment. Anyone knows a tool or software that can tell if the image is } focused or not? } } Any input is appreciated. } } Tong } } } } }
*********************************************************************** Xuejun Sun, Ph.D. Dept. of Experimental Oncology Cross Cancer Institute 11560 University Ave. Edmonton Alberta T6G 1Z2, Canada
Hey all, Once again, as I was getting frustrated with the clutter downstairs in the dungeon, I came across some items. I thought I'd offer them up gratis before pitching them.
Two Westinghouse projection lamps (DMX 500W 125V)
One and a partial box of EM filaments for possibly a Philips 300 (?) A guess by Mark Farmer as the boxes are labeled only with the part number and date #6101 and 7 Aug 1964. First one to provide the correct box color and ID for the fungus growing on them wins... ;)
Any takers, give me the address and I'll load em up.
******************************************** John P. Shields Center for Ultrastructural Research 151 Barrow Hall University of Georgia Athens, GA 30602-2403 (706)542-4080 jpshield-at-arches.uga.edu
I can't seem to find the link for abstracts for M&M'99. I'd swear that these were already on thge web... does anyone know the URL? I'm looking at the M&M website and maybe the link is right in front of my nose, but I don't see it...
Thanks,
Brendan Foran, Ph.D. Materials Analysis Group / Internal Technical Support SEMATECH Austin, TX
-----Original Message----- } From: Foran, Brendan (S) Sent: Tuesday, July 27, 1999 11:16 AM To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
Hello to you all!
I have been looking for a set of negative cassettes (30 plates), a cassette magazine box, and a cassette receiver box for a Hitachi-600 TEM. Please let me know if any of you or your friends has a H-600 TEM being taken down apart and wants to give away or trade these things.
Thanks in advance.
Gang Ning EM Facility Medical College of Wisconsin 414-456-8344
I think did do a demonstration on that microscope at the MSC in Guelph, Canada. It was very interesting as the manufacturer claims a total magnification of about 15,000X (this includes TV screen magnification) from a light microscope. All the information is proprietary - he would not tell me what kinds of modifications he used to make the LM do this kind of magnification but did say he was willing to visit places and do demos. At the meeting, he was affiliated with Leica. I saw some live cells from asparagus "juice" and could see organelles. I think it makes a bridge between conventional LM (which generally magnify to 100X) and TEM (without all the preparation time). It is interesting enough to look at. I can't tell you much more than that as the fact sheet is rather short. All I can tell you is that I did see it!
Lesley Bechtold
At 10:16 AM 7/27/99 -0400, Paula Allan-Wojtas wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Dear Santosh, In my Vander Voort Metallography book, several of the Cu etches are based on ammonium hydroxide and hydrogen peroxide. The stainless steel should be resistant to these. An example is: 25 ml NH4OH 25 ml water 25 - 50 ml H2O2 (3%) Use fresh, add peroxide last. At 05:23 PM 7/26/99 -0400, you wrote:
} } } Would you happen to know what solution would etch copper but not } } stainless } } } steel? I need this information to clean copper off a stainless steel } fixture. } } } thank you, } } } } } Santosh Kurinec } skkemc-at-rit.edu } 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 e-mail: mager-at-interchg.ubc.ca
Santosh Kurinec asked how to remove copper from stainless steel without damaging the stainless. Then Chris Jeffree suggested ferric chloride ...
Chlorides in general are death to stainless steel - pitting or stress corrosion cracking can occur, especially if the exposure occurs at temperatures above about 150 F or if the stainless steel is being plastically deformed at the same time.
I would use concentrated nitric acid, which will remove the copper in an instant. However, some stainless steels are sensitive to nitric acid (that's the reason there's a Huey test in ASTM A262) so the exposure should not be for long. The attack takes place along inclusions on exposed sections that were transverse to the direction of prior mechanical working. It's also called, "end grain attack." Stainless steels with welds in them should also not be exposed to the concentrated nitric acid for long times.
This should be done under a hood, of course.
Nonsusceptible stainless steels are quickly passivated by the nitric acid, so they shouldn't even etch.
The same technique works on carbon steel items coated with copper or with copper parts embedded in them.
Best regards, George Langford, Sc.D. (Metallurgy) amenex-at-amenex.com http://www.amenex.com/
I have placed a Public Domain version of our Direct Methods code fs98 in the directory http://www.numis.nwu.edu/fs98
While this code is mainly for determining surface structures from 2D TED or x-ray diffraction data, it can also be used for phase-extension of HREM data or (in some cases) for structure determination just from TED data. (The later is a work in progress.) The code is designed for UNIX machines, but could be converted to work on a PC if someone wants to do this.
Contact me directly for specific questions/bugs (there will be some).
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Laurence Marks Department of Materials Science and Engineering Northwestern University fax: (847) 491-7820 mailto:l-marks-at-nwu.edu http://www.numis.nwu.edu ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
After rummaging a bit on the internet I found the following URL:
http://www.bio-microtech.com/products/rtm/
You can check out the PDF file there for more info.
We have NO connection to this company or the microscope, so this time I will not include my disclaimer. I just remembered that I had seen it on the web. (Ask me for image acquisition from this scope, though) ;-)
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 1675 Carr St., #105N Lakewood, CO 80215 =================================== phone: (888) FIND SIS (303) 234-9270 fax: (303) 234-9271 email: mailto:info-at-soft-imaging.com web: http://www.soft-imaging.com ===================================
} ---------- } From: Lesley S. Bechtold[SMTP:LSB-at-ARETHA.JAX.ORG] } Sent: Tuesday, July 27, 1999 11:52:12 AM } To: Paula Allan-Wojtas; microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: Re: LM- Richardson Real Time Microscope } Auto forwarded by a Rule } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Hi Paula and everyone,
I think did do a demonstration on that microscope at the MSC in Guelph, Canada. It was very interesting as the manufacturer claims a total magnification of about 15,000X (this includes TV screen magnification) from a light microscope. All the information is proprietary - he would not tell me what kinds of modifications he used to make the LM do this kind of magnification but did say he was willing to visit places and do demos. At the meeting, he was affiliated with Leica. I saw some live cells from asparagus "juice" and could see organelles. I think it makes a bridge between conventional LM (which generally magnify to 100X) and TEM (without all the preparation time). It is interesting enough to look at. I can't tell you much more than that as the fact sheet is rather short. All I can tell you is that I did see it!
Lesley Bechtold
At 10:16 AM 7/27/99 -0400, Paula Allan-Wojtas wrote: } ----------------------------------------------------------------------- - } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
A new company, called Illumea, will be exhibiting at the upcoming M&M meeting. Although their product is telemicroscopy software, they have found some innovative solutions to just this problem. I'd suggest you contact Dr. Jack Zeineh (Zee-na) at Illumea with your question. He has developed proprietary algorithms for stage movement and focus control which may be applicable. I'll also cc with this response.
His contact info: Phone: 800-323-3203 Email: jzeineh-at-illumea.com website: www.illumea.com
Hope this is helpful.
Best regards, Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater productivity.
125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} ****************************************************** MME is America's first national consortium providing customized on-site workshops in all areas of microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis.
At 03:44 PM 7/26/99 -0400, Tong Wang wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I am trying to find a supplier of a NiF2 Single Crystal which I could cut down into a thin section. If any one has a lead on a company that supplies single crystals, it would be greatly appreciated.
Lance Delzeit
Lance Delzeit NASA Ames Research Center M/S 239-4 Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000 ph# 650-604-0236 fax 650-604-1088 ldelzeit-at-mail.arc.nasa.gov
} } One of my colleagues (who occasionally uses microscopy but is not a } } microscopist) has asked me for my opinion . He was telling me about an } amazing } demonstration that was given at his facility where a Richardson } RT-2 microscope } was used to give results much better than a standard LM. } Apparently this was } possible with some modifications of a LM, but the } exact mechanism for this vast } improvement in image quality is not } apparent to me from the brief fact sheet } which I have. I haven't heard of } this microscope before, nor have I seen it in } action, but this question } has peaked my interest. } } I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has this equipment, or has seen } a } demonstration of it. If vendors are subscribed to this list and can } provide } more information, I would appreciate that, too.
Hi, Paula,
The Richardson microscope is a clever new design (Canadian, like yourself) that was described in detail last March in Proc. RMS 34(1):311-316. If we're talking about the sme "Richardson", it hardly violates any of the laws of physics, but it's a simple, low cost (~$100 U.S.) design that will probably appeal to schools, field microscopists, and the "third world". I haven't had a chance to use one yet, but I'm looking forward to it; it may be good for Project MICRO.
Caroline
Caroline Schooley Educational Outreach Coordinator Microscopy Society of America Box 117, 45301 Caspar Point Road Caspar, CA 95420 Phone/FAX (707)964-9460 Project MICRO: http://www.msa.microscopy.com/ProjectMicro/PMHomePage.html Intertidal invertebrates: http://www.fortbragg.k12.ca.us/AG/PCI/pci.html
Don't know anything personally but I did find the following website with info about the microscope:
http://www.bio-microtech.com/products/rtm/
Paula Allan-Wojtas 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, } } One of my colleagues (who occasionally uses microscopy but is not a microscopist) has asked me for my opinion . He was telling me about an amazing demonstration that was given at his facility where a Richardson RT-2 microscope was used to give results much better than a standard LM. Apparently this was possible with some modifications of a LM, but the exact mechanism for this vast improvement in image quality is not apparent to me from the brief fact sheet which I have. I haven't heard of this microscope before, nor have I seen it in action, but this question has peaked my interest. } } I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has this equipment, or has seen a demonstration of it. If vendors are subscribed to this list and can provide more information, I would appreciate that, too. } } As always, thanks in advance. } } Paula. } } Paula Allan-Wojtas } Research Scientist - Food Microstructure } Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada } Atlantic Food and Horticulture Research Centre } Kentville, Nova Scotia Canada B4N 1J5 } } Tel: (902) 679-5566 } FAX: (902) 679-2311 } } email: allanwojtasp-at-em.agr.ca
From going to the site and looking at there reference, looks like the instrument is using IR to do the imaging.
The following reference's where listed;
1. Test Slides: Diatoms to Divisions - What are you looking at?, Part 1, Tim Richardson, (1998), Proceedings of the Roy. Microsc. Soc.,; March 1998, 33(1), pages 3-9.
This reference was on the site at URL: http://www.bio-microtech.com/info/articles/article1.htm
2. Infrared Light in the Microscope: History, Theory and Practical Aspects, Tim Richardson, (1997), Proceedings of the Roy. Microsc. Soc., December 1998, 32(4), pages 229-235.
3. Practical Infrared Tim Richardson, (1997), Proceedings of the Roy. Microsc. Soc., December 1997, 32(4), pages 236-242.
4. Do You, Your Slides and Your CCD Camera Need Sunglasses? Tim Richardson, (1997), Proceedings of the Roy. Microsc. Soc.,;June 1997, 32(2), pages
Dose any one know if the other reference's (2, 3 and 4) listed are some where on the net?
Best Regards
Joseph Passero jp-at-spacelab.net
Michael Bode wrote: } } } After rummaging a bit on the internet I found the following URL: } } http://www.bio-microtech.com/products/rtm/ } } You can check out the PDF file there for more info. } } We have NO connection to this company or the microscope, so this time I } will not include my disclaimer. I just remembered that I had seen it on } the web. (Ask me for image acquisition from this scope, though) ;-) } } Michael Bode, Ph.D. } Soft Imaging System Corp. } 1675 Carr St., #105N } Lakewood, CO 80215 } =================================== } phone: (888) FIND SIS } (303) 234-9270 } fax: (303) 234-9271 } email: mailto:info-at-soft-imaging.com } web: http://www.soft-imaging.com } =================================== } } } From: Lesley S. Bechtold[SMTP:LSB-at-ARETHA.JAX.ORG] } } Sent: Tuesday, July 27, 1999 11:52:12 AM } } To: Paula Allan-Wojtas; microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } } Subject: Re: LM- Richardson Real Time Microscope } } } } Hi Paula and everyone, } } I think did do a demonstration on that microscope at the MSC in } Guelph, } Canada. It was very interesting as the manufacturer claims a total } magnification of about 15,000X (this includes TV screen magnification) } from } a light microscope. All the information is proprietary - he would not } tell } me what kinds of modifications he used to make the LM do this kind of } magnification but did say he was willing to visit places and do demos. } At } the meeting, he was affiliated with Leica. I saw some live cells from } asparagus "juice" and could see organelles. I think it makes a bridge } between conventional LM (which generally magnify to 100X) and TEM } (without } all the preparation time). It is interesting enough to look at. I } can't } tell you much more than that as the fact sheet is rather short. All I } can } tell you is that I did see it! } } Lesley Bechtold
At 02:31 PM 7/27/99 , you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Somehow, I think that something is wrong with this picture. 100nM resolution and imaging of viruses? With a LM? I am not convinced. OK Microtech, convince me. Maybe they have found out how to make Meiji do wonders.
First of all thanks for all the replies, its been helpful. Second, sorry = about the lack of info here's a bit more of the background. =20
Recently we acquired a Gatan Model 600 Dual Ion Mill, Ultrasonic Disc = Cutter and a Dimple Grinder. I've spent the last couple of months = cleaning the Ion Mill and rebuilding the whisperlocks and guns. I finally = got it working a couple of weeks ago. Although one of the guns on the = room temperature stage is a bit unstable, it appears to sputter in bursts. = I think its probably the Ar supply, either the solenoid valve or the = needle valve. =20
Now what we want to do is start preparing cross sectional TEM samples of = TiN films on Si. Thus we need the wafering saw, to prepare the samples. = Although I don't know if what we need is a precision saw or not. =20
I haven't done anything like this before, so I'm learning on the fly.=20 So any info I can get on the equipment and/or the techniques, ie. books, = papers, etc is a bonus. =20
Thanks again folks
George
George Theodossiou Dept Applied Physics RMIT GPO Box 2476V Melbourne 3001 Victoria Australia Ph: +61 3 9925 1793 +61 3 9925 2205 Fax: +61 3 9925 5290 Email: george.theodossiou-at-rmit.edu.au
Home Ph: +61 3 9808 9085
Impossible I Can Do Today, Miracles, Require 24 Hours Notice
Looking at their images the resolution doesn't look any better than what I get with an old Leitz. The contrast is a little better but I bet a good servicing of the old Leitz would help the contrast too.
I am reminded of Rife's microscope. Gordon
Gordon Couger gcouger-at-couger.com 624 Cheyenne Stillwater, OK 74075-1411 405 624-2855 GMT -6:00 www.couger.com/gcouger -----Original Message----- } From: Dr. Gary Gaugler {gary-at-gaugler.com} To: MSA listserver {Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com}
Our sample preparation for TEM involves using silicon 'backing blocks' of dimensions 10mm x 4mm x 1mm. We have a 3 inch diameter (?) silicon ingot which could yield enough blocks to last a lifetime if only we had someone to dice it up for us. Does anyone know of, ideally, a UK based company who could do it?
TIA
Alan Walker
***************************************************************************** Alan Walker Dept of Electronic and Electrical Engineering University of Sheffield Mappin Street Sheffield S1 3JD United Kingdom Phone: +44-(0)114-2225365 (direct) +44-(0)114-2222000 (switchboard)
I had the opportunity to organize a 2 days demonstration with that = microscope last july on several biological samples (food related one's) = and people including myself where very impress by the resolution, contrast = and the simplicity of the technique that does not require any kind of = staining to improve the image and all this in real time. Emulsion of all kinds, bacteria, yeast, liquids...etc are perfect = candidates for that type of microscopy. Optical sectioning is possible to a certain extent, surface imaging is = also possible.
The software is inexistant and the manipulation of the instrument does = require a bit of training and having a soft fist but it seems more to be = common sense than anything else (very clean area, very good quality slides = and coverslips, clean water, clean is the key word in fact).=20
The instrument itself is composed of a mechanically modified microscope, = improved optics, no oculars, an imaging device of some sort, a good = quality tv screen and a small black box with a few controls similar to pmt = one's.This instrument is indeed a proprietary one for the time being for = patent related reasons, it is not for sale but for rent.
I do believe, like Lesley Bechtold, it does fill a gap between conventiona= l LM and SEM/TEM and that we will hear more and more about that canadian = innovation.
Diane Montpetit microscopist EM lab Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Food research and development center St-Hyacinthe (Qu=E9bec) Canada J2S 8E3 tel 450 773 1105 fax 450 773 8461 montpetit-at-em.agr.ca
I agree. Have a look at their web site. Do they show anything there that can't be done with phase-constrast LM? Not as far as I can tell. So maybe someone could explain to me the huge advantage?
Rob Palmer CEB/UT
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Just a note to let you know that the previously offered filaments are already spoken for. Requests were only seconds apart(!). I'm always still amazed how fast response time is on this thing...
Want to share this guess on the fungus by Gwyneth Beagley at Alma College: "...and the mold is philapusmicroscopus..." Thanks for the smile Gwyneth.
john www.uga.edu/caur/ ******************************************** John P. Shields Center for Ultrastructural Research 151 Barrow Hall University of Georgia Athens, GA 30602-2403 (706)542-4080 jpshield-at-arches.uga.edu
In Needham book, The Practical Use of the Microscope, Second Edition, Chapter IX, pages 123 to 136. It talks about Near Ultraviolet and Ultraviolet Microscope used for photo's with separation of structure lines per inch as high as 250,000 (0.10 Micron) using quartz objective 1.25 NA with a wavelength of 253mu this was back in the 1930 or 40.
Food for thought;
Would it not be possible to use the IR spectrum, quartz objectives and a IR camera to get a high resolution?
Best Regards Joseph Passero jp-at-spacelab.net
Gordon Couger wrote Wed, 28 Jul 1999 02:14:51 -0600 } } Looking at their images the resolution doesn't look any better than } what I get with an old Leitz. The contrast is a little better but I bet a } good servicing of the old Leitz would help the contrast too. } } I am reminded of Rife's microscope. } Gordon } } Gordon Couger gcouger-at-couger.com } 624 Cheyenne } Stillwater, OK 74075-1411 } 405 624-2855 GMT -6:00 www.couger.com/gcouger } } -----Original Message----- } } From: Dr. Gary Gaugler {gary-at-gaugler.com} } To: MSA listserver {Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com} } Date: Wednesday, July 28, 1999 1:29 AM } Subject: RE: LM- Richardson Real Time Microscope } } } } } } At 02:31 PM 7/27/99 , you wrote: } } } } } } } } } After rummaging a bit on the internet I found the following URL: } } } } } } http://www.bio-microtech.com/products/rtm/ } } } } } } You can check out the PDF file there for more info. } } } } } } We have NO connection to this company or the microscope, so this time I } } } will not include my disclaimer. I just remembered that I had seen it on } } } the web. (Ask me for image acquisition from this scope, though) ;-) } } } } } } Somehow, I think that something is wrong with this picture. 100nM resolution } } and imaging of viruses? With a LM? I am not convinced. OK Microtech, } } convince me. Maybe they have found out how to make Meiji do wonders. } } } }
I just want to thank Bob S, Ron, Joel and Bob P for their help with my "sticky" airlock situation. I tried the simplest solution first and the problem is solved. The more involved replies will be archived and saved for future use. Regards,
Andrew Ochalski, Microscopy Technician, Dept. of Biology, University of Ottawa Room 108, Gendron Bldg. 130 Louis Pasteur, Ottawa, Ontario CANADA K1N 6N5 613-562-5800 x6343 FAX: 613-562 5486
I want to thank all of those who replied to my query, both publicly and = privately. Even Tim Richardson himself telephoned me and explained the = capabilities of this microscope.
I certainly learned a lot about the microscope, and heard from many people = who were very impressed with demonstrations. All of this makes me want to = test it out for myself in the near future!
Thanks again.
Paula.
Paula Allan-Wojtas Research Scientist - Food Microstructure Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Atlantic Food and Horticulture Research Centre Kentville, Nova Scotia Canada B4N 1J5
First off, thanks for the list. I'm learning a lot and (I hope) have even been able to contribute a little.
A note to let you know my level of ability. I was trained as a chemist. I've morphed into a metallographer having received training in house at the hands of my self-educated boss. I'm now getting more into the use of SEM and have used LM mainly to evaluate microstructures of metals.
Now to my question. I am doing some consulting work with a pharmaceutical company that is developing a 'new and improved' method to deliver asthma drugs. One of the tasks I've been given is imaging the size of ergotomine tartrate particles which are clogging some of the orifices (orifii?). The VP is hesitant to try using SEM due to the danger of sublimation of the particles. So far light microscopy (low power stereoscopic) has not proven very informative.
I suggested the possibility of an E-SEM but wanted to see what the list would have to say.
Thanks in advance for any help/direction you can supply!
Steve Cavender Metallographer AMPS (Advanced Modular Power Systems, Inc.) 4370 Varsity Drive Ann Arbor, Michigan 48108-2241 734-677-4260 x 209 voice 734-677-0704 fax scavender-at-ampsys.com
To assist faculty and graduate students with technical research tasks involving tissue preparation and imaging of biological specimens using immunocytochemistry, in-situ hybridization, fluorescence microscopy, confocal microscopy and electron microscopy; Conduct short term research pilot-projects to establish feasibility, refine or develop new protocols; Provide ongoing advice and assistance with longer-term projects primarily conducted by members of an individual lab. Help train graduate students in these (or new) techniques; Maintain up to date knowledge and skills by review of literature, consultation, courses, etc. Opportunities to develop and publish new procedures. Contact Dr. John Elam, Neuroscience Program, Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306. {elam-at-neuro.fsu.edu} Neuroscience web page: {http://www.neuro.fsu.edu} , Florida State University is an EEO/AA Employer.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kimberly A. Riddle Florida State University tel: 850.644.6519 Biological Science Imaging Resource 119 Bio Unit I, 4370 fax: 850.644.0481 Tallahassee, FL 32306 riddle-at-bio.fsu.edu ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In response to the current discussion on the list server regarding the Richardson Real Time Microscope:
Unfortunately there seems to be a lot of confusion, the RTM microscopes are not related to the low cost RFM microscopes at all (except they were designed by the same design group). The RTMs are expensive extremely high performance imaging systems designed to see inside live cells in real time. They do have final screen magnification of 10,000 to 15,000X with resolution of 180 nanometre and detection limit currently of 50 nanometre. So for instance you can detect, image and track, but not fully resolve, viruses in real time inside cells. The microscopes work as a result of a collection of modifications and improvements to almost every aspect of the microscope. Every part is designed, produced and hand fitted to offer imaging at the limits of the laws of optical physics.
These microscopes have been tested and calibrated using ultrahigh resolution microscope calibration slides with a full range of features from several microns to less than 100 nanometres.
The images from the RTM have been described as looking like super DIC or real time SEM of live samples. We can look at the surface of samples like a sample (like an SEM) or provide optical sections like a (TEM) or a confocal. The system is designed for real time imaging, 60 fields per second, of living cells, bacteria, fungi, or other biological samples in colour without stains or fixation. Sample prep is very fast, typically under a minute. Since no stains or dyes are used to accomplish the high contrast images questions about artifacts due to staining, fixation or other prep methods are virtually eliminated.
The images on the website have been highly compressed to give a reasonable download time so they are not at full resolution. For full resolution images in digital or print form please contact the company. A full resolution image file is very large (over 900K). For reference, a compressed image of unstained live chlamydia in tissue culture is located at "http://www.bio-microtech.com/Gallery/chlamydia.htm".
Bio-Microtech, the company that manufactures the RTM, offers three versions of the RTM technology, the RTM-2: a basic colour brightfield system. The RTM-3: a combined RTM and fluorescent system which allows both images to be superimposed so fluorescent markers can be seen in full context with other cellular components, and the RTM-4: an inverted microscope with similar features to the RTM-2. Each system is supplied as a "turnkey package" including the microscope, S-VHS video system, S-VHS recorder, high resolution monitor and all accessories needed to start immediate work. Each system includes the cost of an intensive three day course.
Now for the RFM.
The RFM is a field microscope designed for superior reliable imaging in rugged use at remote locations. The concept behind the RFM design was to provide a microscope that can be equally useful to a young enthusiastic child of less than 10 or to a seasoned professional field microscopist. The instrument had to be virtually indestructible and yet provide images with the quality and reliability of a good clinical or bench microscope.
The most notable feature of the RFM is the image quality. The RFM uses standard camera tripods as the mount so it is equally at home on the bench or on the side of a rugged river valley. The RFM has a built in illuminator and battery that provide extremely flat illumination. The battery is a standard 9 volt and provides days of continuous use. It can be used at magnifications ranging from 20X to 1000X. It is inexpensive as Caroline Schooley suggests. It is built to last with all parts fully replaceable.
Both the RTM and the RFM where designed by researchers at Bio-Microtech for their own internal use. The RTM was designed to look inside cancer cells and to image bacterial/cellular and viral/cellular interactions. The RFM was designed for family field use. Only later were these systems offered as commercial products.
Hope this clears things up a bit.
Disclaimer:
Tim Richardson directs research at Bio-Microtech Inc, which is the supplier of the RTM and RFM technologies.
Tim Richardson, Director, R&D, Bio-Microtech Inc., Phone: 905-951-7058 Fax: 905-951-7052
There is an immediate opening for an experienced Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) Research Technician at Exxon Research and Engineering Company's Corporate Research Laboratory in Clinton, New Jersey. This is a permanent Research Technician position.
As a member of the Advanced Characterization Group at Corporate Research, this position will involve the operation of the state-of-the-art JEOL FESEM, and JEOL Analytical SEM instruments with associated Energy Dispersive and Wavelength Dispersive Spectrometers. The position will involve the creative application of high resolution SEM imaging and elemental characterization of samples related to a wide range of projects at Exxon's Corporate Research Laboratory. The position will also involve general laboratory operations, sample preparation, SEM maintenance and computer analysis of the SEM data (both image analysis and spectral analysis).
Previous SEM experience and knowledge of high vacuum systems and computers (Unix, DOS, and Windows) is required. Successful candidates should have experience in chemistry, physics or material science with a Baccalaureate degree or equivalent experience. Since a number of projects are simultaneously in progress, it is essential for the researcher to be very organized and to pay attention to detail and accuracy in reporting results.
All qualified candidates please send resume to:
Human Resources Recruiting - RTSEM Exxon Research and Engineering Company P.O. Box 998 Annandale, New Jersey 08801-3344
FAX (908)730-3081
All resumes must be received by August 13, 1999.
Exxon is an Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V
(For qualified candidates attending the MSA/MAS conference held August 2-5 in Portland, OR, look for this notice and the Exxon Research & Engineering Co. representative.)
William A. Lamberti Exxon Research & Engineering Company Route 22 East Annandale, NJ 08801 (908)730-2144 (fax = 3314) email "walambe-at-erenj.com"
To the subscribers: I am doing a school project and I need some very general statistics on microscope use--I was referred to this List Server. Any help would be greatly appreciated as soon as possible. I can be contacted at SDHynd-at-aol.com or at 610-745-6170. Thank you.
Joe, Although I have no personal experience with UV microscopes, they would have an advantage in resolution due to the shorter wavelength. This is not without problems as you have mentioned, quartz optics and of course the danger of working with UV and it's potential detrimental affect on samples. For these reasons, cost, and other microscopes (SEM, Confocal) and the small gain in resolution are factors for the lack of success of these scopes. On the other hand IR is going in the wrong direction for any resolution increase. Russ Xerox , -----Original Message----- } From: Joseph Passero [mailto:jp-at-spacelab.net] Sent: Wednesday, July 28, 1999 9:50 AM To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
In Needham book, The Practical Use of the Microscope, Second Edition, Chapter IX, pages 123 to 136. It talks about Near Ultraviolet and Ultraviolet Microscope used for photo's with separation of structure lines per inch as high as 250,000 (0.10 Micron) using quartz objective 1.25 NA with a wavelength of 253mu this was back in the 1930 or 40.
Food for thought;
Would it not be possible to use the IR spectrum, quartz objectives and a IR camera to get a high resolution?
Best Regards Joseph Passero jp-at-spacelab.net
Gordon Couger wrote Wed, 28 Jul 1999 02:14:51 -0600 } } Looking at their images the resolution doesn't look any better than } what I get with an old Leitz. The contrast is a little better but I bet a } good servicing of the old Leitz would help the contrast too. } } I am reminded of Rife's microscope. } Gordon } } Gordon Couger gcouger-at-couger.com } 624 Cheyenne } Stillwater, OK 74075-1411 } 405 624-2855 GMT -6:00 www.couger.com/gcouger } } -----Original Message----- } } From: Dr. Gary Gaugler {gary-at-gaugler.com} } To: MSA listserver {Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com} } Date: Wednesday, July 28, 1999 1:29 AM } Subject: RE: LM- Richardson Real Time Microscope } } } } } } At 02:31 PM 7/27/99 , you wrote: } } } } } } } } } After rummaging a bit on the internet I found the following URL: } } } } } } http://www.bio-microtech.com/products/rtm/ } } } } } } You can check out the PDF file there for more info. } } } } } } We have NO connection to this company or the microscope, so this time I } } } will not include my disclaimer. I just remembered that I had seen it on } } } the web. (Ask me for image acquisition from this scope, though) ;-) } } } } } } Somehow, I think that something is wrong with this picture. 100nM resolution } } and imaging of viruses? With a LM? I am not convinced. OK Microtech, } } convince me. Maybe they have found out how to make Meiji do wonders. } } } }
} so what was the simplest solution? } - just for the rest of us with Philips scopes, in case we ever come on } similar troubles... } } Thanks, } } Brendan Foran } SEMATECH } Austin, TX
Greetings,
The problem with the specimen holder that became very difficult to turn in the Philips 201 TEM airlock was solved by a chloroform cleaning of the injector rod (avoiding the rubber o-ring), followed by a light coating of the o-ring with Apiezon M vacuum grease. Simple, but it's nice to have the information from the other postings if this doesn't turn out to be enough. Regards,
Andrew Ochalski, Microscopy Technician, Dept. of Biology, University of Ottawa Room 108, Gendron Bldg. 130 Louis Pasteur, Ottawa, Ontario CANADA K1N 6N5 613-562-5800 x6343 FAX: 613-562 5486
Resolution depends on the wavelength of illumination and the N.A. of the optics.
R = (.61 x wavelength in nm) / N.A.
Thus at short wavelengths (blue and UV) one would have better resolution than with Infrared given the same N.A.
I agree the web site photos don't seem any better than regular DIC.
Date sent: Wed, 28 Jul 1999 09:50:27 -0400 } From: Joseph Passero {jp-at-spacelab.net} Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
In Needham book, The Practical Use of the Microscope, Second Edition, Chapter IX, pages 123 to 136. It talks about Near Ultraviolet and Ultraviolet Microscope used for photo's with separation of structure lines per inch as high as 250,000 (0.10 Micron) using quartz objective 1.25 NA with a wavelength of 253mu this was back in the 1930 or 40.
Food for thought;
Would it not be possible to use the IR spectrum, quartz objectives and a IR camera to get a high resolution?
Best Regards Joseph Passero jp-at-spacelab.net
Gordon Couger wrote Wed, 28 Jul 1999 02:14:51 -0600 } } Looking at their images the resolution doesn't look any better than what } I get with an old Leitz. The contrast is a little better but I bet a } good servicing of the old Leitz would help the contrast too. } } I am reminded of Rife's microscope. } Gordon } } Gordon Couger gcouger-at-couger.com } 624 Cheyenne } Stillwater, OK 74075-1411 } 405 624-2855 GMT -6:00 www.couger.com/gcouger } } -----Original Message----- } } From: Dr. Gary Gaugler {gary-at-gaugler.com} } To: MSA listserver {Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com} } Date: Wednesday, July 28, 1999 1:29 AM } Subject: RE: LM- Richardson Real Time Microscope } } } } } } At 02:31 PM 7/27/99 , you wrote: } } } } } } } } } After rummaging a bit on the internet I found the following URL: } } } } } } http://www.bio-microtech.com/products/rtm/ } } } } } } You can check out the PDF file there for more info. } } } } } } We have NO connection to this company or the microscope, so this time } } } I will not include my disclaimer. I just remembered that I had seen it } } } on the web. (Ask me for image acquisition from this scope, though) ;-) } } } } } } Somehow, I think that something is wrong with this picture. 100nM } } resolution and imaging of viruses? With a LM? I am not convinced. OK } } Microtech, convince me. Maybe they have found out how to make Meiji do } } wonders. } } } }
Russell N. Spear Sr. Research Specialist Dept. of Plant Pathology Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison
This is a very relevant paper that you might want to look at:
"Transmission Electron Microscopy Characterization of Hard Coatings and Films: Sample Preparation Aspects and Results" G. Radnoczi, A. Barna; Surface Coatings & Technology 80 (1996) 89-95.
This paper does deal with the IV3 Ion Milling System that we sell so I should make my disclaimer here. However, the paper does deal specificall= y with the preparation of TiN on Si so it should be of interest. If you don't have access to the paper, let me know and I'll send one to you.
I also have a bibliography of over 200 papers that deal with sample preparation - I would be happy to e-mail you a copy of the bibliography s= o you could look for any other papers of interest. I would be pleased to send any of them to you (at no charge, of course).
} } } } } 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 "George Theodossiou" } --------------------------------------------------------------------- The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America =
G'day All,
First of all thanks for all the replies, its been helpful. Second, sorry=
about the lack of info here's a bit more of the background. =
Recently we acquired a Gatan Model 600 Dual Ion Mill, Ultrasonic Disc Cutter and a Dimple Grinder. I've spent the last couple of months cleani= ng the Ion Mill and rebuilding the whisperlocks and guns. I finally got it working a couple of weeks ago. Although one of the guns on the room temperature stage is a bit unstable, it appears to sputter in bursts. I think its probably the Ar supply, either the solenoid valve or the needle=
valve. =
Now what we want to do is start preparing cross sectional TEM samples of TiN films on Si. Thus we need the wafering saw, to prepare the samples. =
Although I don't know if what we need is a precision saw or not. =
I haven't done anything like this before, so I'm learning on the fly. =
So any info I can get on the equipment and/or the techniques, ie. books, papers, etc is a bonus. =
Thanks again folks
George
George Theodossiou Dept Applied Physics RMIT GPO Box 2476V Melbourne 3001 Victoria Australia Ph: +61 3 9925 1793 +61 3 9925 2205 Fax: +61 3 9925 5290 Email: george.theodossiou-at-rmit.edu.au {
I found it quite informative to just look at the resolution of a normal microscope. I found the following as a "definition" of resolution (somewhere on the internet, I can probably locate the URL if that is needed):
The first step in this process is to determine the resolving power of the microscope. The ultimate limit on the spatial resolution of any optical system is set by light diffraction; an optical system which performs to this level is termed "diffraction limited." In this case, the spatial resolution is given by: d = 0.61 x lambda / N.A. where d is the smallest resolvable distance, lambda is the wavelength of light being imaged, and N.A. is the numerical aperture of the microscope objective. This is derived by assuming that two point sources can be resolved as being separate when the center of the airy disc from one overlaps the first dark ring in the diffraction pattern of the second (the Rayleigh criterion). It should further be noted that, for microscope systems, the numerical aperture to be used in this formula is the average of the objective's numerical aperture and the condenser's numerical aperture. Thus, if the condenser is significantly underfilling the objective with light, as is sometimes done to improve image contrast, then spatial resolution is sacrificed. Any aberrations in the optical system, or other factors which adversely affect performance, can only degrade the spatial resolution past this point. However, most microscope systems do perform at, or very near, the diffraction limit.
Now, let's plug in the numbers that are given for the Richardson scope on the net:
visible light: about 0.5 microns wavelength N.A. (100x): 1.4
That results in a theoretical resolution of about 210 nm, which is not too far from what they claim as the resolution. However, this resolution should be attainable with any good microscope with a lens N.A. of 1.4.
They then claim a detection limit of { 100 nm. What their definition of "detection limit" is, I don't know. Perhaps some variation of the Rayleigh criterion (see above)?
Regarding wavelength: Going to IR will decrease your resolution (lambda in the formula goes up). Using UV can get you better resolution.
Michael
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 1675 Carr St., #105N Lakewood, CO 80215 =================================== phone: (888) FIND SIS (303) 234-9270 fax: (303) 234-9271 email: mailto:info-at-soft-imaging.com web: http://www.soft-imaging.com ===================================
} ---------- } From: Joseph Passero[SMTP:JP-at-SPACELAB.NET] } Sent: Wednesday, July 28, 1999 7:50:27 AM } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: Re: LM- Richardson Real Time Microscope } Auto forwarded by a Rule } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
In Needham book, The Practical Use of the Microscope, Second Edition, Chapter IX, pages 123 to 136. It talks about Near Ultraviolet and Ultraviolet Microscope used for photo's with separation of structure lines per inch as high as 250,000 (0.10 Micron) using quartz objective 1.25 NA with a wavelength of 253mu this was back in the 1930 or 40.
Food for thought;
Would it not be possible to use the IR spectrum, quartz objectives and a IR camera to get a high resolution?
Best Regards Joseph Passero jp-at-spacelab.net
Gordon Couger wrote Wed, 28 Jul 1999 02:14:51 -0600 } } Looking at their images the resolution doesn't look any better than } what I get with an old Leitz. The contrast is a little better but I bet a } good servicing of the old Leitz would help the contrast too. } } I am reminded of Rife's microscope. } Gordon } } Gordon Couger gcouger-at-couger.com } 624 Cheyenne } Stillwater, OK 74075-1411 } 405 624-2855 GMT -6:00 www.couger.com/gcouger } } -----Original Message----- } } From: Dr. Gary Gaugler {gary-at-gaugler.com} } To: MSA listserver {Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com} } Date: Wednesday, July 28, 1999 1:29 AM } Subject: RE: LM- Richardson Real Time Microscope } } } } } } At 02:31 PM 7/27/99 , you wrote: } } } } } } } } } After rummaging a bit on the internet I found the following URL: } } } } } } http://www.bio-microtech.com/products/rtm/ } } } } } } You can check out the PDF file there for more info. } } } } } } We have NO connection to this company or the microscope, so this time I } } } will not include my disclaimer. I just remembered that I had seen it on } } } the web. (Ask me for image acquisition from this scope, though) ;-) } } } } } } Somehow, I think that something is wrong with this picture. 100nM resolution } } and imaging of viruses? With a LM? I am not convinced. OK Microtech, } } convince me. Maybe they have found out how to make Meiji do wonders. } } } }
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Does anyone know of any commercial labs that do XRF analysis as a service? } Are there any such labs located in New England? } } N. Carl Miller
When needed, I use Evans East in E. Windsor, NJ for detailed surface analysis of materials (i.e., ESCA, ESCA, TOF - SIMS, Auger, etc.). Call for a complete list of their techniques & pricing (609) 371-4800. Their web site is www.evanseast.com
J. Roy Nelson Material Testing Laboratory Pennington, NJ
Michael, You just about answered your own question.
Resolution is discussed in terms of the minimum detectable separation between two _point_ sources. The sources need have no size (but do in reality). The issue is whether they can be resolved from each other as distinct objects. Much smaller objects may be detected in the microscope - it would just be impossible to tell what their actual size is. I suppose the 50 nm figure comes from knowing the size of a virus particle. An even smaller particle with sufficient contrast with its background should be detectable; however, we would have no idea of its true size from that microscope. We would depend on some other microscopic technique to pull out a size number.
Therefore, I suggest that the 50 nm figure is meaningless and only clouds the issue. Better to simply quote the specification in terms of a resolution figure. Then I can compare the quoted 180 nm for the RTM with the 4 nm guaranteed for our old JEOL 840A and realize that even though the RTM appears to be a good scope, it is far from an SEM in performance.
Warren S.
At 12:31 PM 7/28/1999 -0600, Michael Bode wrote: } This is derived by assuming that two point sources can be } resolved as being separate when the center of the airy disc from one } overlaps the first dark ring in the diffraction pattern of the second } (the Rayleigh criterion).
{snip}
} They then claim a detection limit of { 100 nm. What their definition of } "detection limit" is, I don't know. Perhaps some variation of the } Rayleigh criterion (see above)?
Microscopy/Marketing & Education conducts a considerable amount of market research each year. Please contact me off-line with more specifics.
Thanks,
Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Marketing & Education - THE primary source for action-catalyzing information in microscopy and related imaging.
125 Paridon Street, Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 Email: mme-at-map.com www.MME-Microscopy.com/marketing ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ MME is America's first national consortium offering full service technical marketing support to the microscopy and imaging industries.
At 01:34 PM 7/28/99 EDT, ThirtyOneT-at-aol.com"-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I'd appreciate any specific information anyone has about preparing yeast cells for TEM. I have a protocol which removes the cell wall using Glusulase after initial fixation. Unfortunately, I can not find specific concentration information. If you have any experience with this enzyme (or lyticase or Zymolyase, for that matter), I'd appreciate hearing from you.
I'd also appreciate any general advice about thin sectioning yeast cells. We are looking for virus like particles (VLP's) in the cytoplasm.
Thanks,
Chris -- Chris Best, best-at-juniata.edu Mol Biol Juniata College Huntingdon, PA 16652
Indeed, detection and resolution are different. I am inserting a portion of an email I wrote last time this question came up.
{start of insert}
Here is a simple test: go outside at night and look at the stars. Now, individual stars are below the resolution limit of the unaided eye (ex. you won't be able to resolve a binary star system). However, obviously you can see (detect!) them. This is because resolution limits and detection limits are two different things. Think of a single small bright object on a dark background. As the object approaches a true point, the image approaches the point spread function (by definition). There is no reason to expect that as the object drops below some (resolution) limit, the light coming from the object will stop propagating to the detector. As long as it is there is enough light reaching the detector, you can still detect it. The image doesn't get smaller (since the PSF is the limit, and it will get dimmer, but it still can be detected). Resolution simply involves seeing how close _another_ object can get to the first one without their images overlapping by some amount (that amount depending on whether you use the Rayleigh or Sparrow criterea). The perception or detection of a bright object on a dark background is limited by the "brightness" of the object. Now, the perception of a dark object on a bright background is different situation. Consider a dark line on a bright background: what happens when the line narrows and the two line spread functions get close to start to overlap? The minimum will become shallower and shallower. Based on the eyes' ability to discern intensity variations, Pluta (reference below) gave formulas for the detection of these objects: Using typical parameters (488nm, 0.9NA) the smallest dark objects on a bright background that can be observed are 41nm for a disk, and 2.6nm for a line.
Resolution, perception/detection and location are different, but unfortunately all three tend to get lumped together as "resolution". I know you didn't ask, but since it's related, you can also locate an isolated small object to better than the resolution limit (if you know that your system has at worst only symmetric aberrations). Try this: draw a circle and then try to find the center. Remember, this is not a random processes, but a deterministic one. This also extends to edge location. One study (can't find the reference right now) back in 1986 showed that confocal microscopes (of that era) had a 20nm uncertainty in locating edges (the same value as for the SEMs of the day). This means that as long as a the two sides of a line object are resolved, then you can measure the width of the object to much better than the resolution limit. Obviously SEMs can perform the measurements on narrower objects than LM, but I did included the qualification concerning the object being wide enough for the edges to be resolved in the previous sentence. (No flames for saying that LM will replace EM: I stated the limitations twice! (and pointed it out again)) Again, resolution, perception/detection and location are different (related to the imaging system, but still different).
Regards, Matt Atkinson 3M Corporate Research Labs
(Pluta's book Advanced Light Microscopy, vol 1, pg337-348 gives a very good explanation.)
{end of insert}
Michael Bode wrote:
} {- discussion of resolution snipped-} } } They then claim a detection limit of { 100 nm. What their definition of } "detection limit" is, I don't know. Perhaps some variation of the } Rayleigh criterion (see above)? } } Regarding wavelength: Going to IR will decrease your resolution (lambda } in the formula goes up). Using UV can get you better resolution. } } Michael } } Michael Bode, Ph.D. } Soft Imaging System Corp. } 1675 Carr St., #105N } Lakewood, CO 80215
There is an XRF listserver where you would probably find this information. I think you can subscribe by sending a "SUBSCRIBE" command to LISTSERV-at-LISTSERV.SYR.EDU. If that doesn't work, contact the list administrator (Michael Cheatham {mmcheath-at-MAILBOX.SYR.EDU} ).
Jim McGee
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ James J. McGee (email: jmcgee-at-sc.edu) Department of Geological Sciences University of South Carolina Columbia, SC 29208
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Does anyone know of any commercial labs that do XRF analysis as a service? } Are there any such labs located in New England? } } N. Carl Miller
Does anybody, possibly vendors, know approximately how many electron microscopes (I am only interested in TEM, STEM and SEM instruments) have been sold in the world (to date) since the first commercial microscope was developed?
John C. Wheatley Lab Manager Arizona State University Center for Solid State Science PSA-213 BOX 871704 Tempe, AZ 85287-1704
You can give us a call. While we are not in New England, we do service clients from around the country. Evans East, Charles Evans & Associates and Surface Science Labs are different branches of the same company. Surface Science Labs is located in Mountain View, CA and is the location with the XRF equipment.
Robert J. Plano Staff Analyst, SPM Services Charles Evans & Associates/Surface Science Labs (650)962-8767, ext. 742 http://www.cea.com http://www.surface-science.com
-----Original Message----- } From: "Norman_C_Miller-at-res.raytheon.com"-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com [mailto:"Norman_C_Miller-at-res.raytheon.com"-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com] Sent: Tuesday, July 27, 1999 3:12 PM To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com
Does anyone know of any commercial labs that do XRF analysis as a service? Are there any such labs located in New England?
My first posting was rather vague--I apologize. Thank you to those who helpd guide me in the right direction. I have received some great help already, but certainly would appreciate any additional info that someone could provide. What I am looking for ( and I now know that this is no small task) is the following (if possible):
Market Size, expenditures, revenues, etc. Market Segments, end users Market growth
I only need overall numbers, I do not wish to obtain any information that is proprietary.
I can be contacted at SDHynd-at-aol.com or at 610-292-9282. Thanks again for your help.
I was reminded of another technique that may of interest which was developed by John McCaffrey and Scott Walck. This is a MicroCleaving technique which has been very effective (and quick) when working with coatings. We do manufacture the MicroCleave Kit so I do have a vested interest in promoting its use. I will send you a data sheet separately. =
For detailed technical discussions on how the technique might be applied = to your TiN/Si samples, I would suggest speaking with Dr. Scott Walck (walck-at-ppg.com). He works magic with this technique and has has been successful with a wide variety of sample sets. I think he also offers workshops on the technique when time permits.
I also have some technical notes on the technique as well as a video whic= h was put together following an MSA tutorial we did a few years ago. Any o= f these are available at no charge if you have an interest.
} } } } } 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 "George Theodossiou" } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America =
G'day All,
First of all thanks for all the replies, its been helpful. Second, sorry=
about the lack of info here's a bit more of the background. =
Recently we acquired a Gatan Model 600 Dual Ion Mill, Ultrasonic Disc Cutter and a Dimple Grinder. I've spent the last couple of months cleani= ng the Ion Mill and rebuilding the whisperlocks and guns. I finally got it working a couple of weeks ago. Although one of the guns on the room temperature stage is a bit unstable, it appears to sputter in bursts. I think its probably the Ar supply, either the solenoid valve or the needle=
valve. =
Now what we want to do is start preparing cross sectional TEM samples of TiN films on Si. Thus we need the wafering saw, to prepare the samples. =
Although I don't know if what we need is a precision saw or not. =
I haven't done anything like this before, so I'm learning on the fly. =
So any info I can get on the equipment and/or the techniques, ie. books, papers, etc is a bonus. =
Thanks again folks
George
George Theodossiou Dept Applied Physics RMIT GPO Box 2476V Melbourne 3001 Victoria Australia Ph: +61 3 9925 1793 +61 3 9925 2205 Fax: +61 3 9925 5290 Email: george.theodossiou-at-rmit.edu.au
Home Ph: +61 3 9808 9085
Impossible I Can Do Today, Miracles, Require 24 Hours Notice {
To etch copper from stainless there is no requirement to expose the sample to the ferric chlorde etch at such elevated temperatures. 20 oC will do the job.
Chris
} Hello Microscopists ! } } Santosh Kurinec asked how to remove copper from stainless steel } without damaging the stainless. Then Chris Jeffree suggested } ferric chloride ... } } Chlorides in general are death to stainless steel - pitting or } stress corrosion cracking can occur, especially if the exposure } occurs at temperatures above about 150 F or if the stainless } steel is being plastically deformed at the same time. } } I would use concentrated nitric acid, which will remove the } copper in an instant. However, some stainless steels are } sensitive to nitric acid (that's the reason there's a Huey } test in ASTM A262) so the exposure should not be for long. } The attack takes place along inclusions on exposed sections } that were transverse to the direction of prior mechanical } working. It's also called, "end grain attack." Stainless } steels with welds in them should also not be exposed to the } concentrated nitric acid for long times. } } This should be done under a hood, of course. } } Nonsusceptible stainless steels are quickly passivated by } the nitric acid, so they shouldn't even etch. } } The same technique works on carbon steel items coated with } copper or with copper parts embedded in them. } } Best regards, } George Langford, Sc.D. (Metallurgy) } amenex-at-amenex.com } http://www.amenex.com/
===================================================================== DR CHRIS JEFFREE BIOSEM - BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES EM FACILITY UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH Daniel Rutherford Building King's Buildings, Mayfield Road EDINBURGH, EH9 3JH, Scotland, UK Tel. #44 131 650 5345 FAX. #44 131 650 6563 Mobile 0410 585 401 email c.jeffree-at-ed.ac.uk SEM / TEM bookings sem-at-ed.ac.uk =====================================================================
Does anyboby out there have experience of immunogold labelling of heat shock proteins (HSP) in marine macroalgae? I have found very few references to contemplate and my work to date has been somewhat disappointing.
So far I have produced pretty good TEM images using appropriate immuno preparation protocols, but cannot identify any HSP on my sections. The suppliers of my primary antibodies are confident that they will stick to any HSP present in my tissue. I am studying Enteromorpha, Palmaria and Fucus, the heat shock response has been demonstrated in Enteromorpha by workers here using western blotting methods, and I am following their culture conditions.
Any comments, however basic would be greatly appreciated, as would names of potential contacts in this area of study
Many thanks in advance.
Pete
Peter Bond Plymouth Electron Microscopy Unit University of Plymouth Drake Circus Plymouth Devon UK PL4 8AA Tel/Fax: 01752 233092 email: pbond-at-plymouth.ac.uk
} Date: Thu, 29 Jul 1999 11:48:42 +0200 } From: Fernandes Elisabeth {fernandes-at-univ-paris12.fr} } X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.06 [en] (WinNT; I) } To: sdw-at-biotech.ufl.edu } Subject: Hi } } I am a french student and I would like to know if it already exists some } images and articles about observations unisng TEM of collagen gel which } contains fibroblasts. } I would like to know if it has already been realized some measurement of } porosity of a material using photos realized by TEM. } I hope someone would answer my questions } Thanks... } } } }
} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} { GO GATORS Scott D. Whittaker 218 Carr Hall EM Technician Gainesville, FL 32610 University Of Florida ph 352-392-1184 ICBR EM Core Lab fax 352-846-0251 sdw-at-biotech.ufl.edu http://www.biotech.ufl.edu/~emcl/ The home of " Tips & Tricks "
I have done similar SEM work on drug particles accumulating on various plastic & rubber parts of inhalers. I did not have any special problem with sublimation of the drug at the magnifications you will need to see the presences of particles. Standard SEM procedures should work, otherwise give me a buzz off-line.
J. Roy Nelson Material Testing Lab. (609) 730-0575 jrnelson-at-nj1.aae.com
Dear listers,
First off, thanks for the list. I'm learning a lot and (I hope) have even been able to contribute a little.
A note to let you know my level of ability. I was trained as a chemist. I've morphed into a metallographer having received training in house at the hands of my self-educated boss. I'm now getting more into the use of SEM and have used LM mainly to evaluate microstructures of metals.
Now to my question. I am doing some consulting work with a pharmaceutical company that is developing a 'new and improved' method to deliver asthma drugs. One of the tasks I've been given is imaging the size of ergotomine tartrate particles which are clogging some of the orifices (orifii?). The VP is hesitant to try using SEM due to the danger of sublimation of the particles. So far light microscopy (low power stereoscopic) has not proven very informative.
I suggested the possibility of an E-SEM but wanted to see what the list would have to say.
Thanks in advance for any help/direction you can supply!
Steve Cavender Metallographer AMPS (Advanced Modular Power Systems, Inc.) 4370 Varsity Drive Ann Arbor, Michigan 48108-2241 734-677-4260 x 209 voice 734-677-0704 fax scavender-at-ampsys.com
An EM Lab it the Twin Cities (MN) is shutting down and would like to get rid of their equipment....
TEM Microscope: JEOL model JEM-100B. Needs repair. "Vacuum Failure". Possible contaminated column. TEM includes: Edwards Penning 505 Vacuum Monitor, NesLab HX50 Water Chiller, JEE-4B Vacuum Evaporator, and OMAR Critical Point Dryer. Unit is approximately 30 yrs. old (installed in 1971). Buyer would have to de-install.
ULTRA MICROTOMES: 1. Reichert Ultracut E 2. Reichert Supernova 3. LKB Ultratome III 4. LKB 2088 Ultratome V 5. Sorvall JB-4 6. Sorvall and LKB Knife Makers
DIAMOND KNIFES:
There are 3 each DDK Diamond Knifes. Each are 2.5 - 2.9 mm. Two have been used. One has not - box has never been opened.
The MSA web site still lists "tentative speakers" for the '99 Pre Meeting Congress on "Optical Microscopy in the Next Millenium." I would greatly appreciate it if someone could post the final list of speakers, schedule of presentations, and meeting place. Thank you.
Has anyone translated the usual fortran code for Kramers-Kronig dielectric function determination into a Mathematica Notebook or an executable file not requiring a compiler? If so, would they be willing to share? I have found KRAKRO.FOR in Egerton's excellent book and ELSKKT.FOR on the Microscopy FTP site but do not have a compiler, at present. Maybe I am being lazy, but if you don't ask...
Thanks in advance,
Rob Dickerson ********************************************************* Robert M. Dickerson Mailto:dickerson-at-lanl.gov MST-CMS Mailstop K765 Tel: ph:505-667-6337 Los Alamos National Laboratory Fax: 505-665-2992 Los Alamos, NM 87545 TA-03 Bldg.1698 Rm.C-136 *********************************************************
Can anyone help out this person? Please reply directly to
Robert Byrnes {rbyrnes-at-abac.com}
} The CPD that I am trying to bring back up to usuage is a BOMAR } SPC-900/EX. The last listed address for the company is The Bomar Co., } P.O. Box 225, Tacoma, Wa 98401. So far I have not been able to find } out if this company still exists. Any information would be a help. } Thanks.
To remove Cu from stainless steel without the use of corrosive acids, make up a mixture of 1 part conc. ammonia, 1 part water, and 1part hydrogen peroxide (30%). Under a fume hood, wash the part with this solution. It will foam up and turn blue. Rinse and repeat until the Cu Is removed. Do not re-use the swab or cleaning cloth. The presenceof the blue compound will cause the wash solution to decompose immediately.
Sam Purdy
} ---------- } From: Chris Jeffree } Sent: Thursday, July 29, 1999 6:05 AM } To: amenex-at-amenex.com; microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } Subject: Re: Copper etch (removal of copper from stainless steel) } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I have been tasked with investigating feasibility of calcium ratioing for some of our researchers. Not knowing much about it, I wanted to see if anyone has any experience with systems doing this.
What manufacturers systems are recommended/not recommended? (Please reply privately if you feel you will offend manufacturers publicly).
Specifically, why do you recommend/not recommend that configuration?
What should I look for/look out for when asessing calcium ratioing systems? (Features, functionality, capabilities, etc.)
Food Structure and Functionality -=20 An international symposium taking food structure studies into the 21st = century held in conjunction with the=20 SCANNING 2000 Meeting, May 9-12, 2000 at the Sheraton 4 Points Motel, San Antonio, Texas, USA
Symposium Activities: -Short course - Food Microscopy - Identifying Food Ingredients and = Contaminants given by James Charbonneau (National Food Processors = Association, USA) and Mark Auty (TEAGASC, Moorepark, Ireland) , assisted = by John Shane (McCrone Institute, USA) Carol Kennedy (Feed Microscopist, = Agro Pacific Industries, Canada), and Kathy Groves (Leatherhead Research = Association, UK). is scheduled for Tuesday 9 May 2000, 8:30 am - 5:00 = pm=20
- 3 full exciting days of oral and poster scientific sessions including = commodities, techniques, instrumentation, applications and Agriculture are = planned, covering the full spectrum of food structure from production to = processing.=20 The preliminary program for the 3 days of sessions (Wednesday, May 10th to = Friday, May 12th inclusive) is in the planning stages.=20 Session topics include, but are not limited to:=20 Water structuring - covering gelling and thickening Foams and emulsions - covering topics in interface science Agricultural Applications - covering food production and quality Dairy applications Meat and Fish Applications Cereals applications New methods and instrumentation for food structure/texture measurement
- Mixers and other social functions=20
-A meeting of our interest group, the Food Structure and Functionality = Forum =20 The Forum's mandate is:=20 To promote global collaboration between Food and Agriculture professionals = in Structure and Functionality disciplines by facilitating interaction and = providing a forum for exchange of knowledge, expertise and research = findings.
--Short courses offered during the SCANNING meeting on topics including = microscopy, image analysis, forensic microscopy =20 -Manufacturer's exhibition
More details will follow soon and will be continually updated- keep = watching the Foods under the Microscope website: http://www.cyberus.ca/~scimat/fsf.htm =20
SCANNING website:
http://www.scanning-fams.org=20
Or, you can contact one of the Forum Core members: Paula Allan-Wojtas Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Atlantic Food and Horticulture Research Centre Kentville, Nova Scotia Canada B4N 1J5 Tel: (902) 679-5566 FAX: (902) 679-2311 email: allanwojtasp-at-em.agr.ca =20
Mark Auty Dairy Products Research Centre TEAGASC Moorepark, Fermoy Co. Cork Ireland Tel: 011 - 353 - 25-42447 FAX: 011 - 353 - 25 - 42340 email: mauty-at-moorepark.teagasc.ie
James E. Charbonneau National Food Processors Association Food Chemistry and Packaging Department 1401 New York Ave., NW Washington, D.C. 20005, U.S.A. Tel: (202) 639-5972 FAX: (202) 639-5991 email: jcharbonneau-at-nfpa-food.org
N.C. Ganguli National Academy of Agricultural Sciences Indian Dairy Association M-76B, Malviya Nagar New Delhi 110017 India Tel: 011 - 877 - 0650 or 011 - 618 - 5355 FAX: 011 - 332 - 0613 or 011 - 696 - 8433
A while back I posted a message regarding an apparent enhancement of CL from quartz due to electron beam bombardment. That is, if the quartz emitted CL, it could be enhanced by allowing the beam to raster the area for some period of time .. and not all luminescing qtz grains will exhibit this phenomenon. Somewhat interesting, but more a pain-in-the-A**, because the mere act of zooming in for a focus would put a bright rectangle in the middle of an interesting luminescent quartz grain. We have since made additional observations and can pass them on ...
First, many of you suggested the enhancement could be the result of contamination. This is not the case. The fact that all quartz will not behave this way should have been an initial clue, but we have since subjected these quartz grains to repolishing and recoating, and they will still show us the original enhanced rectangles. We don't know to what depth the quartz has been apparently "bothered", but we definitely removed some material by apply the final 0.25u diamond phase of normal polishing.
We have since added a capability for filtering the CL thru red, green and blue filters ... and we have also added a PMT which extends out wavelength sensitivity into the UV. We have a couple of quartz projects in the works which I can't discuss generally, but with regards to the modest varieties of quartz we have looked at this year we have noticed a preponderance of quartz which luminesces red and those which luminesce in the UV. We have noticed the above mentioned induced enhancement occurs only with those grains which emit red, and if the grain emits a component of UV/blue and red, then the induced enhancement shows only in the red part of the spectrum.
For those who are also studying CL in quartz and who might also be aware of this phenomenon, we invite your comments in hopes of realizing an explanation.
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 just receive with my correspondance one ad about Fujifilm FDL 5000 system. Just for curiosity, there is someone that has experimented this system and the phosphor plates? How does it compares with the standard films and a negative scanner? I am pretty sure that a FDL 5000 is quite expensive.
Regards,
Kazuo
o-------------------------------------------------------o | Carlos Kazuo Inoki | | Department of Physics - University at Albany | | 1400 Washington Ave.- Albany - NY - 12222 | o-------------------------------------------------------o
I recollect from a year or two ago comments on the quality and durability of different coloured dyes on recordable CD's for archival storage of images. Has anyone any up to date information on whether one colour is worse than the others.
Thanks in advance
Ian
Ian Hallett HortResearch Mt Albert Research Centre Private Bag 92 169 Auckland, New Zealand Fax 64-9-815 4201 Telephone 64-9-815 4200 EMail ihallett-at-hort.cri.nz
Dear Hildy Crowley, Im referring to your posting from the 9th of July. During the last time I was not only bringing up the collegues against me with my statements ;-(, I also was doing some quite good immunos on thin sections. I had the luck to made an extraordinary good LR-White embedding with high-resulution fine structure and good contrast on whole heart tissue. First, I made an immunolabeling with an membrane associated antigen. It worked well, the signal was weak but significant. I was quite happy. Then I tried to visualize SNAP-25, which is thought to play an important role in membrane fusion, even in endothelium...but this approach failed.
Conventional LM immunos on parafine and vibratome sections, developed with HRP/DAB failed, too. I used Antibodies from Tranduction Labs. Up until now, I never had a real signal to SNAP-25. So my question to you is, if you had positive light-microscopic control results with SNAP-25 and what kind of antibody you are using. I think our work is very similar in this special case.
Good luck and the best wishes Yours, Michael "the Junior" Reiner
I am also interested in the final list and schedule.
-----Original Message----- } From: Dan Luchtel [mailto:dluchtel-at-u.washington.edu] Sent: Thursday, July 29, 1999 11:28 AM To: microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com
The MSA web site still lists "tentative speakers" for the '99 Pre Meeting Congress on "Optical Microscopy in the Next Millenium." I would greatly appreciate it if someone could post the final list of speakers, schedule of presentations, and meeting place. Thank you.
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Many of us have accepted high contrast negatives from metal or ceramic specimens as normal and unavoidable. Alas, there may be a better way! I will begin with a disclaimer for the products mentioned below. I have no vested interest in them-but they have made my work easier. A widely used developer for Kodak SO-163 film is Kodak's D-19 diluted 1:1 with water. It is occassionally used full strength for "push" processing. When exposures are made of complex structures in metal foil specimens, its high contrast tends to hide some fine detail, especially in the darker areas of the negative. Use of low contrast print paper, manual dodging, or computer scanning are used to "salvage" as much info as possible. To alleviate the problem, automatically exposed, identical test negatives were made. When developed in Kodak D-76 diluted 1:1 with water, negatives had a noticably lower contrast and could be printed on F-2 grade paper with minimal dodging for good results. The cost of D-76 is similar to D-19, but the "tank life" as diluted is only a day or two. More tests were done from the stockpile of identically exposed negatives with a two bath "split" developer named Diafine. It's made by Acufine, Inc., 5441 North Kedzie Avenue, Chicago, Il.,60625. In effect, this developer "chemically dodges" the contrast of the negative. It requires placing the film in tank A for 3 minutes, then in tank B for three minutes. Times and temperatures are not critical. The resulting negatives printed very well on F-2 paper with no dodging. This developer has a tank life at least as long as D-19, costs about two times as much, and increases the film speed about 0.5 F/stop. The darkroom time and print paper saved should make it a bargain in the long run while producing good results. When printed with a Log E computerized enlarger these negatives make excellent prints. For a dramatic test, a TEM negative exposed normally, was cut in half. One portion was developed in conventional D-19, the remainderin Diafine. The Diafine processed film was far easier to print properly and retained more detail of the specimen's structure. This approach may result in too little contrast for biological specimens-but a couple of test exposures will reveal that. Sometimes two exposures of an area of particular interest may be taken. One is developed in D-19, the other in Diafine. The negative showing the desired characteristic is then used. This technique may help those who don't have computer scanners. (I learned of Diafine from Nestor Zaluzec). Bernard Kestel, Materials Science Div., Argonne Nat'l. Lab, 9700 South Cass Ave., Argonne, Il.,60439. E-mail {kestel-at-anl.gov} Phone: (630) 252-4945
by cats.ucsc.edu (8.8.6/8.8.4.cats-athena) with SMTP id PAA04865 for {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} ; Thu, 29 Jul 1999 15:09:48 -0700 (PDT) X-Sender: jmkrupp-at-cats-po-1.ucsc.edu Message-Id: {v01550102b3c68084b326-at-[128.114.25.148]} Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Hi:
A colleague has requested an SEM picture of a CD ala the discussion a few weeks ago here. If you have a picture you would be willing to share, you may contact him to work out the details. If you prefer, I will be at MSA and you could track me down there and I will take it to him.
Here is the contact info.:
Kenneth Coale, Acting Director Moss Landing Marine Laboratories P O Box 450 Moss Landing, California 95039 USA voice (831) 755-8655 fax (831) 753-2826 Shipping address: 895 Blanco Circle Salinas, California 93901 USA home page http://color.mlml.calstate.edu/www/
Thanks.
Jonathan Krupp Microscopy & Imaging Lab University of California Santa Cruz, CA 95064 (831) 459-2477 jmkrupp-at-cats.ucsc.edu
I have a colleague who is having problems getting some tissue to stain. The material was fixed in 1% GLA/PB 7.4, washed in H2O, dehydrated through ethanols and embedded in Leica Historesin (GMA). The sections are 5u thick and are of CNS of a teleost. They are proving to be very resistant to staining. He's tried the usual thick section stains (methylene blue, toluidine blue O) and cresyl violet, with and without heat. Nothing seems to be working well at all--any suggestions? Grace
Has any-one used p-phenylenediamine dihydrochloride with pyrocatechol (PPD-PC) on LR White sections at the LM level, and them taken them to the EM level? Any tips, hints or ideas on this would be greatly appreciated. Susie Nilsson
Balazs Labs in the SF Bay area is hiring an SEM/EDX operator. Please contact Jeff Sanders at 408 745 0600 ext 19, or jsanders-at-balazs.com (I have no connection with Balazs, I'm just posting the want ad for them!) Bill Neill
I have sold a camera from the company "PIXERA". They have a model 120es which give you very descent pictures in fluorescence.
This camera has a resolution of 1260 x 960 lines, and is less expensive than the Spot2. Try to visit their homepage: http://www.pixera.com If you are interested, let me know. I sell and adapt this camera to maby different microscopes. With small CCD, the optical adaptation to a microscope, is sometimes as important than the camera itself.
Best regards,
Emile Meylan
emeylan-at-csi.com
----- Original Message ----- } From: Blancaflor, Elison {eblancaflor-at-noble.org} To: 'Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.com' {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} Sent: Tuesday, July 27, 1999 7:28 AM
G'day all,=20
Thanks for all the information, the response has been great. =20 I'm sure that I'll have futher questions, but at this point I'm going to = take a couple of days to digest the information and talk to the boss about = it. =20
You'll probably hear from me again sometime in the future. Again thank = you. =20
George
George Theodossiou Dept Applied Physics RMIT GPO Box 2476V Melbourne 3001 Victoria Australia Ph: +61 3 9925 1793 +61 3 9925 2205 Fax: +61 3 9925 5290 Email: george.theodossiou-at-rmit.edu.au
Home Ph: +61 3 9808 9085
Impossible I Can Do Today, Miracles, Require 24 Hours Notice
"Nanostructured Materials" session at Materials 2000 Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester, Gloucs, UK 12-14 April 2000
Just a message to let you know about a session on "Nanostructured Materials" being organised by Alfred Cerezo (Oxford), Wendy Vine (DERA) and Rik Brydson (Leeds) at the Institute of Materials Congress "Materials 2000".
Current topics include: Keynote Lecture (Prof Dick Siegal) Structural Nanomaterials Functional Nanomaterials Electronic Nanomaterials Biomimetic Self-assembled Nanostructures Modelling of Nanomaterials Nanomechanics in Composites and Laminates Production Technologies Microscopy/ spectroscopy of Nanomaterials
This will include both invited speakers and contributed oral and poster presentations.
Brochures for the congress are available from Melanie Boyce at Institute of Materials (Email: Melanie_Boyce-at-materials.org.uk) meeting. Provisionally the Nanostructured Materials one day session is arranged for the Friday 14 April and day registration is available.
We are actively seeking contributions (both ORAL and POSTER) !!!
The brochure for the meeting includes a registration form and instructions for submitting abstracts. Please note that the abstract deadline is September 30th 1999. We are encouraging all contributors to the session to submit a written version of their paper for publication in Materials Science and Technology. All the papers will be reviewed in the normal way and will appear in a special double issue devoted to the sessions within the "Structure of Materials" theme.
As happened at the last IOM Congress, the EPSRC have agreed generous funding to all students funded under the Materials Programme to cover their attendance at the meeting. This funding is already agreed, and is separate from the usual funding of one conference per studentship which is normally allowed under EPSRC rules. I therefore hope you will encourage as many of your students as possible to attend the Congress, and also to submit poster papers to our session. _____________________________ Dr. Rik Brydson, University Research Fellow, Electron Optical Unit, Department of Materials, School of Process, Environmental and Materials Engineering University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, U.K.
To all who have responded to the list of equipment that I posted yesterday, please bear with me as I am in the process of collecting the requested specifications. I should have more detailed information soon and will respond ASAP.
Thanks for your patience,
-- Ford M. Royer, MT(ASCP) Analytical Instruments, Ltd (Refurbished Histology, Cytology, & General Lab Equipment) 9921 13th Ave. N. Minneapolis, MN 55441-5004 800-565-1895 phone 612-929-1895 fax web site: http://www.aibltd.com
We are looking to purchase a used TEM in fully operating condition. Microdiffraction capabilities and a double tilt holder are required. EDS capabilities would be helpful. Please respond directly to:
I would like to gather information on "cold light", for use with a light microscope. I am intending to work with frozen samples and a source of heat like the lamp or the light beam itself can make it more complicated. What is generally understood as cold light? Just IR filters or a separated lampcase with optical fibber connections to light the microscope? And, is this kind of illumination correct for all kinds of microscopes/optical systems? At the moment, I am only considering bright field and simple polarisation, as a contrast-enhancement for ice crystals. } I would like to hear the opinion of somebody working with it, because vendors are discouraging me from trying to adapt this cold illumination, and I don't know if the cause is that it is not a good idea or that they don't have it readily available for sale.
Frank Scheltens and I experimented with the imaging plates when I was at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. We ran an exposure test over the range of exposures quoted in their literature and two sheets of film by multiple exposures by moving the SAD aperture around. We used the current meter on the viewing screen to determine the electron exposures. We also did the same thing with regular film for a comparison. The net result was that this stuff is great. The literature says that the density is linear over 4 to 5 decades of exposure and we confirmed this. We also shot some CBED patterns and an image of a sample that had high Z and low Z material in the sample. I could get all the information that was in the sample that I needed. If I remember correctly, the ultimate resolution is about 25 um which is getting pretty close to film.
The interesting thing was that it took us some time to figure out which of the two files corresponded to the higher dose plate and which was the lower dose plate because of the way the files were displayed. In other words, the two plates looked the same even though the exposures were shifted by about 2 orders of magnitudes. We had no problems with the film, the highest exposure on the low dosage film plate (SO-163) just barely registered any density. This also agreed with there published literature which shows the range for SO-163.
I believe that we set up the microscope by adjusting the intensity so that the meter just registered the minimum current. Our minimum exposure corresponded to the minimum exposure time of the microscope (.12sec). Our maximum time was 5 min. Somewhere in there we had to increase the intensity of the beam so that we wouldn't have to wait forever. Our exposures were calculated to stay in the range that is quoted in the literature but at the same time span the whole range. We had information on all the "squares" of exposure (six on each plate) and the maximum did not saturate the plate.
You do have to retrain your "metered eye" especially for diffraction patterns. You have to go to much smaller times than you are normally accustomed to. One problem with the plates though is that you do not get the information written by the microscope onto film because light erases the plates. Bumper. The files are also huge and are 16 bit files (I think they are 14bit deep).
You used to be able to try a few plates out and have them developed by sending them packed in dry ice. I don't know if that is available anymore.
-Scott
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Glass Technology Center 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: Carlos Kazuo Inoki To: MSA Listserve -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
Hi,
I just receive with my correspondance one ad about Fujifilm FDL 5000 system. Just for curiosity, there is someone that has experimented this system and the phosphor plates? How does it compares with the standard films and a negative scanner? I am pretty sure that a FDL 5000 is quite expensive.
Regards,
Kazuo
o-------------------------------------------------------o | Carlos Kazuo Inoki | | Department of Physics - University at Albany | | 1400 Washington Ave.- Albany - NY - 12222 | o-------------------------------------------------------o
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
It seems to me that this option is currently the best solution for TEM digital imaging. Of course, you don't get your image immediately as with a camera but from what I can see the resolution, sensitivity, linearity and field of view are all excellent and better than any digital camera system. An added advantage for those with more than one TEM, for a relatively small additional cost for extra plates, you can convert as many TEMs as you have all in one hit.
Regards,
-- Larry Stoter JEOL (UK) Ltd Silver Court, Watchmead, Welwyn Garden City, AL7 1LT, United Kingdom tel: +44-(0)1707-377117, fax: +44-(0)1707-373254, e-mail: larrys-at-jeoleuro.com
Dear Antonio, if you illuminate anything with light and it has a finite absorption coefficient it is bound to warm up, it's just the laws of physics! I would suggest that you use a light filter that allows you to pass frequencies that the ice does not absorb very well. Firstly you need an absorption spectrum of ice. Secondly look for frequency bands where transmission is best and try to find filters that fit within these bands, use overlapping filters if necessary. Getting rid of Infra Red will be a big help in the first place. I would not believe any salesman that gives you a complicated (=confusing) picture of how their product seemingly works. Even if you maintained a vacuum shield or any other fancy trick, the light has got to get through. It would be wiser if you concentrated on keeping the specimen stage cold, and maybe using cold dry nitrogen/dry air to prevent water condensing onto your specimen.
Regards, Jonathan ******************************************************** Dr Jonathan Barnard
Analytical Materials Physics The Angstrom Laboratory, Uppsala University P O Box 534, SE-751 21 Uppsala, Sweden Phone: +46-(0)18-4716838 Fax: +46-(0)18-500131
Please contact evex analytical 609-252-9192 jeol and hitachi TEM available
On Fri, 30 Jul 1999, Valdemar Furdanowicz 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 looking to purchase a used TEM in fully operating condition. } Microdiffraction capabilities and } a double tilt holder are required. EDS capabilities would be helpful. Please } respond directly to: } } } rwafu-at-bsco.com } } } }
Trying to optimise our GIF 200 System, we have encountered a number of problems, therefore we would appreciate any input on the topic.
Our Gif was purchased in 1995,and is fitted to a Philips TEM CM 200 FEG and is controlled by two Macintosh (nu-bus slots, 601 processors ) computers. The operating system on the Macs is MaCos 7.5.1 and the memory installed on the primary Mac ( Digital Micrograph, EL/P) is 49MB. The current version of Digital Micrograph software installed on our Macs is 2.5.4.
During operation, it is not unusual to observe several software glitches with the current configuration. Therefore, in order to facilitate user usage, the question of upgrading arises.
We would like to hear from anyone that has gone that route already and gain from his exprerience/problems that has encountered.
In particular, I have the following questions;
a)The Current functional version of Digital Micrograph is 3.0 (as far as I know version 3.3.1 was just released and is yet untried ). Will it be advisable to upgrade to Digital Micrograph 3.0 or not and why. Any idea about the costs?
b)Will it be a worthy exerscise to upgrade at the same time the Macintoshes as well?. It is my understanding that current Macs are PCI based, while ours have the DMA interface module fitted on a non PCI slot. Has anyone in the past attempted to follow this path?
c) The gatan operating manuals are judjed by many users , especially the Digital Micrograph manual, as not particularly helpful. Has anyone, drafted, a user manual, that relies on its experience and application on the particulat system? Will you be willing to share your operation manual with us?
Many thanks for your input on this topic.
Best Regards
George -- Dr Georgios FOURLARIS e-mail: fourlaris-at-postmaster.co.uk
Trying to optimise our GIF 200 System, we have encountered a number of problems, therefore we would appreciate any input on the topic.
Our Gif was purchased in 1995,and is fitted to a Philips TEM CM 200 FEG and is controlled by two Macintosh (nu-bus slots, 601 processors ) computers. The operating system on the Macs is MaCos 7.5.1 and the memory installed on the primary Mac ( Digital Micrograph, EL/P) is 49MB. The current version of Digital Micrograph software installed on our Macs is 2.5.4.
During operation, it is not unusual to observe several software glitches with the current configuration. Therefore, in order to facilitate user usage, the question of upgrading arises.
We would like to hear from anyone that has gone that route already and gain from his exprerience/problems that has encountered.
In particular, I have the following questions;
a)The Current functional version of Digital Micrograph is 3.0 (as far as I know version 3.3.1 was just released and is yet untried ). Will it be advisable to upgrade to Digital Micrograph 3.0 or not and why. Any idea about the costs?
b)Will it be a worthy exerscise to upgrade at the same time the Macintoshes as well?. It is my understanding that current Macs are PCI based, while ours have the DMA interface module fitted on a non PCI slot. Has anyone in the past attempted to follow this path?
c) The gatan operating manuals are judjed by many users , especially the Digital Micrograph manual, as not particularly helpful. Has anyone, drafted, a user manual, that relies on its experience and application on the particulat system? Will you be willing to share your operation manual with us?
Many thanks for your input on this topic.
Best Regards
George
-- Dr Georgios FOURLARIS e-mail: fourlaris-at-postmaster.co.uk
Hello from Microscopy & Microanalysis ' 99 in Portland Oregon.
For those of you who cannot make the meeting this year we will once again be broadcasting Live Streaming Video from the Exhibit Floor during meeting as well as posting the daily Meeting NewsLetter.
I have acquired and just begun using a Philips PSEM 500 (ca. 1975 vintage). The microscope came without a camera, and I would like to know what kind of camera was original equipment. I have a Polaroid DS 34 direct screen camera, but none of the available hoods are of the correct size.
Also, I would like to know of any other users of Philips 500s for comparing notes/mutual support. Thank you in advance. :o)
Paul Grover Chief Microscopist and Bottle Washer Microvista Laboratory 1220 Cincinnati St. Lafayette, IN 47906
I need to establish the installation arrangement of one bank of pneumatic valves in the back of the main console of a 200CX TEM. I have had these out several times, looking for an air leak and may have made a boo-boo in reinstalling them!
It is the bank furthest from the rear of the microscope, the order I have is: SV1 (nearest sidewall of console), SV4, SV7, SV8 and SV22 (nearest center of microscope).
This is a logical sequence but the other bank (which I have never touched) is not in numerical order. I don't know if the order matters because the valves seem to be identical. However, sometimes, one grasps at straws.....!
The symptom is a constant leak of air from the exhaust aperture of the oblong box (manifold?) that the valves are mounted on. All seals and gaskets have been replaced in all five valves with manufacturer's spares kits.
Hoping the someone out there can help (the half-hourly compressor drives us nuts!)
Keith Ryan Marine Biological Association of the UK Citadel Hill Plymouth PL1 2PB England
Many thanks to all of you that have kindly provided useful views/opinions regarding my previous enquiry on the GIF200.
I have recently noticed that when our Philips 200 FEG is set on PEELS mode, although the initial accerelating voltage is reduced to 195KeV (as expected ) at the startup of the session, at an unknown later point during operation it frequently reverts back to 200KeV.
This reversal is demonstrated on the TEM display only and I have not confirmed if it is actually true (not measured).
Also this strange occurence is not always present on all sessions.
Any views, or advise on the significance of this observation for correctly operating the PEELs and obtaining correct analyses?
Our GIF 200 is connected to two PDS PopwerMacs (8100 and 6100), running under operating system 7.5.1, and using Digital Micrograph version 2.5.4.
Many thanks for your views.
Regards
George
-- Dr Georgios FOURLARIS e-mail: fourlaris-at-postmaster.co.uk
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Palatsides, Manuela wrote: } Hi } } I have had an investigator wanting to know the differences in the actions of } saponin, Tween-20 and Triton X-100 } } Manuela Palatsides } Trescowthick Research Centre } Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute } Locked Bag #1 A'Beckett Street } Melbourne 8006 Victoria } Australia } } Phone +61-3-9656-1244 } Fax +61-3-9656-1411 } Email m.palatsides-at-pmci.unimelb.edu.au }
If this is with regard to the effects of detergents on the results of = immunolabeling experiments then the paper by Hannah,et al, 1998 (Methods {= a companion to Methods in Enzymology} 16,170-181) is what you are looking = for.
They evaluate the effect of different detergents on antigen localization, = extraction and relocation. You may find the results surprizing.
Paul Webster.
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 http://www.hei.org/htm/aemi.htm
by mail-gw3.pacbell.net (8.9.3/8.9.3) with SMTP id NAA20416 for {Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com} ; Mon, 2 Aug 1999 13:55:42 -0700 (PDT) Message-ID: {37A6086B.4094-at-pacbell.net}
Dear all,
Does anyone have redundant pre-amplifier for the Backscatter Electron Detector made by K.E. Developments Ltd. for Cambridge SEM's. Our has a nasty noise problem and we were told we need to replace the unit. We're also looking for used light pipe (for PMT) for Cambridge scope.
Thank you very much in advance for your reply.
Best regards
Chris Terlecki
Applied Analytical Sciences 3303 Harbor Blvd., Ste. H-4 Costa Mesa, CA 92626
I am compiling a catalogue of portable microscopes. These include such instruments as field, handheld, pocket, folding etc. I am nearing the end of this task and would like to get hold of photographs or drawings of several instruments that I have not been able to acquire. Can anyone help either with scanned images of photos or drawings or references to the instruments. I will of course give full credit with every illustration used.
The microscopes are;
Portable field microscope as shown in Billings Collection 1987, #458 Bausch & Lomb compound monocular Ibid #223 Voigtlander compound monocular Ibid #229 Zentmayer compound monocular Ibid #155 Dancer New Pocket in Bracegirdle & McCormick,The Microscopic Photographs of J.B. Dancer, p.53. Hensoldt PROTAMI Kyowa KP and KLP Swift FM-41 Incident light microscope Tolles Clinical microscope
Please reply off-line to michaeld-at-amsg.austmus.gov.au
URGENT NOTE FOR EXHIBITORS AT EUREM 2000 ********************************************************************** 12th European Congress on Electron Microscopy Brno, Czech Republic, July 9-14, 2000 http://www.eurem2000.isibrno.cz/ **********************************************************************
The first run of the exhibition area allocation will be made on August 20, 1999 and will include those whose deposit payment will reach us by that date.
Please, fill in your "Order for the exhibition area and services" at the http://www.eurem2000.isibrno.cz/frmex.html, and fax a sketch of your idea about the layout of your exhibition booth (see our Web Site at the http://www.eurem2000.isibrno.cz/stand.html)! Don't forget to fax a copy of the payment deposit as soon as possible!
With 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 | +---------------------------------------------------------------------+
If anyone happens to know of a supplier of 3mm Pt mesh (not slotted) grids, could they please contact me offline? I am also interested in hearing from people who may have used Pt grids in the past about any precautions I should take during handling (besides dont let go).
Thanks! Brian
Brian Gorman bgorman-at-umr.edu Graduate Research Assistant Dept. of Ceramic Engineering Electronic Materials Applied Research Center University of Missouri - Rolla Rolla, MO 65401
I have a question about polymer sample prep for the AFM and was hoping the collective knowledge of the list would be able to help me out. I would like to image the cross-section of a thin polymer film, similar in thickness to Saran wrap or a plastic shopping bag. The first idea that comes to mind is microtomy (cryo if necessary). The problem I'm having is how to imbed the film so it can be supported for the microtomy and subsequent imaging. I've tried LR White but it didn't stick to the film as well as I would have liked. Also, just getting the film aligned in the correct orientation and holding it there in the capsule while the LR White sets up is a problem. Does anybody out there have any suggestions to get me going in the right direction?
TIA.
Rob
Robert J. Plano Staff Analyst, SPM Services Charles Evans & Associates/Surface Science Labs (650)962-8767, ext. 742 http://www.cea.com http://www.surface-science.com
FALL 1999 COURSE ANNOUNCEMENT - Transmission Electron Microscopy (BIO. 221-E2)
NASSAU COMMUNITY COLLEGE (Long Island, NY)
A fifteen week, fall 1999 semester, course in Biological Transmission Electron Microscopy is being offered by the Biology Department of Nassau Community College. This is a 4 credit course offered ONE EVENING PER WEEK, Thursdays, starting at 5:30pm. Classes will begin on Sept. 2 and end on Dec. 9, 1999.
This is a "hands-on" course emphasizing biological specimen preparation, ultra-thin sectioning involving block trimming, glass knifemaking and operation of the ultramicrotomes (Sorvall MT-2B and LKB Ultrotome III), thick and ultra-thin section mounting and contrast staining (UA and Pb citrate), grid support films (formvar, carbon), student operation of the TEM (Hitachi HS-8, Philips EM 300) and production of electron micrographs through the process of black & white photography, and electron micrograph analysis. Students will work on a chosen sample(s) with the goal of producing a portfolio of high quality TEM photomicrographs of that sample(s).
The course is widely transferrable and the cost per credit is reasonable at $86 per credit.
More information about the Bio-Imaging Center at NCC, course descriptions and syllabi, and the beginnings of a student gallery of EM photomicrographs is available at our web site. The URL is {http://www.sunynassau.edu/webpages/biology/becks.htm} .
For those without www access, the catalog description is specified below. If you have further questions, you should e-mail me directly at the address below.
Interested individuals should register early (by Aug. 10) since the course is limited to a total enrollment of ten (10) students.
Questions regarding the actual registration process can be directed to our registrar at (516) 572-7355. ________________________________________________________________________________
CATALOG DESCRIPTION BIO 221: Transmission Electron Microscopy -- 4 credits Prerequisites: BIO 109-110 (Intro. Bio.) or equivalent, CHE 151-152 (Inorganic Chem.) An introduction to the basic principles of transmission electron microscopy including tissue preparation, microscope (TEM) operation, black & white photography, and micrograph interpretation. The entire laboratory is devoted to the development of skills and preparative techniques involved with the operation of an actual transmission electron microscope. (3 lecture, 3 laboratory hours). Laboratory fee applies. ________________________________________________________________________________
Stephen J. Beck Associate Professor Bio-Imaging Center/Electron Microscopy Department of Biology Nassau Community College Garden City, NY 11530 Voice Mail: (516) 572-7829 Email: {becks-at-sunynassau.edu} URL: {http://www.sunynassau.edu/webpages/biology/becks.htm}
From memory, both Tween and Triton destroy cell membranes, but saponin only makes them "holey" and the reaction is reversible. So, saponin is the only one of the 3 used for EM immunocytochem.
Diana
Diana van Driel Department of Clinical Ophthalmology Sydney University GPO Box 4337 Sydney NSW AUSTRALIA 2001
Brian Gorman wrote: ============================================ If anyone happens to know of a supplier of 3mm Pt mesh (not slotted) grids, could they please contact me offline? I am also interested in hearing from people who may have used Pt grids in the past about any precautions I should take during handling (besides dont let go). ============================================= The main supplier (perhaps the only supplier) of Pt mesh grids stopped making them some several years ago (to the best of my knowledge at least). If such grids are available from some other maker, we would ourselves also like to know about it.
For some, there are several potential substitutes for Pt mesh grids: a) W grids or b) silicon nitride membrane window grids. Both can be used at very high temperatures and are (relatively) quite inert chemically.
Disclaimer: SPI Supplies and other suppliers to the microscopy market have available the above mentioned alternatives to Pt grids.
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.spi.cc ######################## ============================================
I need some help for a student of ours. He needs to track down a supplier = for the KONTRON quantitative image analysis system. This system apparently= does particle sizing, and quantitative EDXS from the sized particles. We = believe that the software is capable of controlling the SEM stage and and = beam. =20
Any help on this would be greatly appreciated. =20
Thanks=20 George
George Theodossiou Dept Applied Physics RMIT GPO Box 2476V Melbourne 3001 Victoria Australia Ph: +61 3 9925 1793 +61 3 9925 2205 Fax: +61 3 9925 5290 Email: george.theodossiou-at-rmit.edu.au
Home Ph: +61 3 9808 9085
Impossible I Can Do Today, Miracles, Require 24 Hours Notice
To Robert Plano and all "polymerics" among the listservers:
The way we normally deal with cross-sections of plastic films is to embed them between to sheets of an S-E-S copolymer (styrene-ethyleneplus-styrene triblock copolymer). An example of this would be one of the Kraton G series from Shell (Kraton G1650 is a good example). Shell are friendly, and should let you have a sample, but I don't know their current address as I got mine at second-hand.
You can mould this into sheets say 1.5 mm thick and apply them to the film specimens by moistening one surface of the Kraton with toluene and turning this surface of the "bread" into "butter". You then have to be pretty nifty about slapping the film between the two "buttered" sheets, partly before the toluene all dries up, but also because one sniff of toluene and polyolefin films then start to curl, others such as Saran I don't have that much experience with. You will have to gently weight the "sandwiches" for a while, and then leave the toluene to diffuse out as vapour overnight.
If toluene is a problem, antoher possibility is Pliolite, a styrene/butadiene copolymer with 10 - 15% butadiene, from Goodyear, which is more soluble in ketone/ester solvents.
If solvents are out altogether, then you can take the Kraton, apply to the butter surface a solution of polyisobutylene in toluene, and leave that to dry. You can then mould the sandwich together over the weekend in a vacuum oven, with a small weight on top. The PIB will creep and mould well to the film surface. The grade of PIB should be a chunk rather than a liquid one. You can get these from various companies, but I have found that they tend to go "off", apparently cross-linking on storage, which may indicate that they are really unvulcanized butyl rubber rather than real PIB. But they do work, as in:
On Surface-Morphology and Drawing of Polypropylene Films Olley,R.H., Bassett,D.C. Journal of Macromolecular Science-Physics, 1994, vol.B33, no.2,pp.209-227
We follow this procedure with etching and SEM or replication for TEM, (see web address at bottom) so I can't pilot this boat any further into the oceans of AFM.
On Tue, 3 Aug 1999, Robert Plano wrote:
} I have a question about polymer sample prep for the AFM and was hoping the } collective knowledge of the list would be able to help me out. I would like } to image the cross-section of a thin polymer film, similar in thickness to } Saran wrap or a plastic shopping bag. The first idea that comes to mind is } microtomy (cryo if necessary). The problem I'm having is how to imbed the } film so it can be supported for the microtomy and subsequent imaging. I've } tried LR White but it didn't stick to the film as well as I would have } liked. Also, just getting the film aligned in the correct orientation and } holding it there in the capsule while the LR White sets up is a problem. } Does anybody out there have any suggestions to get me going in the right } direction?
} Robert J. Plano, Staff Analyst, SPM Services } Charles Evans & Associates/Surface Science Labs } (650)962-8767, ext.742; http://www.cea.com: http://www.surface-science.com
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 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 | +------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Many thanks to all of my colleagues who provided useful comments, regarding the several issues I have raised on my previous e-mail regarding the GIF 200.
Your input is greatfully ackwnoledged.
Regards
Dr G. Fourlaris -- Dr Georgios FOURLARIS e-mail: fourlaris-at-postmaster.co.uk
While I'm not using AFM, I would be inclined to try freeze fracturing the polymer to see the cross section.
regards,
Dave Audette OSRAM Sylvania Beverly, MA david.audette-at-sylvania.com
} -----Original Message----- } From: Robert Plano [SMTP:RPLANO-at-cea.com] } Sent: Tuesday, August 03, 1999 2:30 PM } To: 'Microscopy List'; 'spm-at-di.com' } Subject: Polymer film prep for AFM } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Fellow Listers: } } I have a question about polymer sample prep for the AFM and was hoping the } collective knowledge of the list would be able to help me out. I would } like } to image the cross-section of a thin polymer film, similar in thickness to } Saran wrap or a plastic shopping bag. The first idea that comes to mind is } microtomy (cryo if necessary). The problem I'm having is how to imbed the } film so it can be supported for the microtomy and subsequent imaging. I've } tried LR White but it didn't stick to the film as well as I would have } liked. Also, just getting the film aligned in the correct orientation and } holding it there in the capsule while the LR White sets up is a problem. } Does anybody out there have any suggestions to get me going in the right } direction? } } TIA. } } Rob } } } Robert J. Plano } Staff Analyst, SPM Services } Charles Evans & Associates/Surface Science Labs } (650)962-8767, ext. 742 } http://www.cea.com } http://www.surface-science.com } }
Regarding the poor adhesion of your film to the embedding you might want to try another embedding media. Check with the various suppliers.
As far as keeping the film properly oriented in the capsule what we sometimes do is place a dash of 5 min. epoxy at the tip of the sample before inserting it into the capsule (we usually cut the film in the shape of a triangle and with a size that will allow the tip of the film to rest at the very bottom of the capsule). Then we place the sample in the capsule and allow the epoxy to dry. The object is to prevent the tip of the film from curling up while the embedding media cures. I hope this helps.
Hello I need some help about ..... I'm need to do a sample for the observation in fluorescence microscopy of=
latex spheres.... any help is welcome.... thanks =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
Robert J. Plano asked about sample prep for a very thin polymer sample for AFM imaging and how to overcome problems with sample orientation. One method I have used to solve this problem is to use a flat embedding mold and fit a small piece of cardboard, or appropriate material, snuggly across the bottom of the mold. Then, using an adhesive that won't interact with your specimen, bond your specimen to the cardboard so it will stay in the desired orientation. After drying, fill the mold with some embedding media such as Epofix. When this is cured you can trim the block to only microtome the sample surface with perhaps a very small amount of epoxy on either side for support. As long as the epoxy is only a few 10s of microns you can still microtome successfully even under cryo conditions. I usually then image the sample embedded in the block but this depends on the type of AFM. If you are restricted because of sample height you may have to image the microtomed sections. I have found microtomed smooth surfaces will react quickly so you need to run them within a day or so after microtoming and keep in a dry box. Many samples can be imaging without any further preparation using phase imaging. Some may require etching. Hope this helps. Steve McCartney
------------------------------ Stephen McCartney Research Associate Virginia Tech Materials Institute 2108 Hahn Hall Blacksburg, VA 24061-0344 USA
I just changed the bulb in my Durst S-45 EM enlarger. The old bulb gave even illumination. The new bulb, when aligned the same way as the old one gives uneven illumination. I was taught, years ago, that when aligning a point source bulb, that the filament should look like a point ( like this " (superscript: . )" for point source illumination, and not this "-", as it will not give a point source and cause some loss of resolution) when viewed from the front of the enlarger. The new bulb I just put in had to be positioned approximately at a 45 (superscript: o) angle between the two positions in order to achieve even illumination. All other alignment steps for the bulb are correct.
I would appreciate any information anyone can give me as to the correct alignment of the bulb.
Thanks
Mannie Steglich U T M D Anderson Cancer Center Houston, TX
Another way to embed polymer films for cross-sectioning is to suspend a narrow strip of the film between two slits cut in a flat silicone mold. I use Epofix resin (from Electron Microscopy Sciences, Inc.), which can be cured at room temperature. However, curing overnight at 38 - 40 degrees C seems to give the best resin hardness for ultrathin sectioning.
Gene Young Dow Chemical -- Texas Operations B-1470 Building 2301 Brazosport Blvd. Freeport, Texas 77541 (409)238-1579 (409)238-0095 Fax E-mail: gpyoung-at-dow.com
-----Original Message----- } From: Robert Plano
Fellow Listers:
I have a question about polymer sample prep for the AFM and was hoping the collective knowledge of the list would be able to help me out. I would like to image the cross-section of a thin polymer film, similar in thickness to Saran wrap or a plastic shopping bag. The first idea that comes to mind is microtomy (cryo if necessary). The problem I'm having is how to imbed the film so it can be supported for the microtomy and subsequent imaging. I've tried LR White but it didn't stick to the film as well as I would have liked. Also, just getting the film aligned in the correct orientation and holding it there in the capsule while the LR White sets up is a problem. Does anybody out there have any suggestions to get me going in the right direction?
TIA.
Rob
Robert J. Plano Staff Analyst, SPM Services Charles Evans & Associates/Surface Science Labs (650)962-8767, ext. 742 http://www.cea.com http://www.surface-science.com
Are there any UMAX Magicscan users that can help me? I have been testing a UMAX PowerLook III scanner with Magicscan v4.2 software for about a month and have a question about the gamma control relationship to adjusting the black and white set points. After previewing an EM negative in transmissive mode, adjusting the black and white set points on the histogram and scanning the final image (standard procedure) I am unable to get the PowerLook to scan between my adjusted set points when the gamma is set to 1.00 (linear). Only if I change the gamma to anything except 1.00 (even 1.01 or .99) will the software respond to my adjusted black and white set points. The same procedure works fine with any gamma setting on my Agfa Arcus II scanner. Is this normal for the UMAX or a bug? The same is true in reflective but not negative mode, however, negative mode pre crops the white and black levels so I do not use it.
The software techs at UMAX have no idea what I am talking about. They just tell me that this product should not be used for science even though their ads claim it to be for professionals.
James S. Romanow The University of Connecticut Physiology and Neurobiology Department Electron Microscopy Facility U-131 Storrs, CT 06269-2131 bsgphy3-at-uconnvm.uconn.edu 860 486-2914 voice 860 486-1936 fax
} From what I understand, Carl Zeiss has bought Kontron. You should probably contact with your local Zeiss representative if you wish to get Kontron software.
Usual disclaimers.
Matthew J. Schibler Ph.D. UCLA Brain Research Institute 1524A Gonda (Goldschmied) Center for Neuroscience and Genetics Los Angeles, CA 90095-1761
-----Original Message----- } From: George Theodossiou [mailto:george.theodossiou-at-rmit.edu.au] Sent: Tuesday, August 03, 1999 10:44 PM To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com
G'day all,
I need some help for a student of ours. He needs to track down a supplier for the KONTRON quantitative image analysis system. This system apparently does particle sizing, and quantitative EDXS from the sized particles. We believe that the software is capable of controlling the SEM stage and and beam.
Any help on this would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks George
George Theodossiou Dept Applied Physics RMIT GPO Box 2476V Melbourne 3001 Victoria Australia Ph: +61 3 9925 1793 +61 3 9925 2205 Fax: +61 3 9925 5290 Email: george.theodossiou-at-rmit.edu.au
Home Ph: +61 3 9808 9085
Impossible I Can Do Today, Miracles, Require 24 Hours Notice
Does anyone have a source for the drive belts for a Sorvall MT2B? I need two of them,
TIA
Bob
Dr. Robert R. Wise Department of Biology University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Oshkosh, WI 54901 (920) 42403404 wise-at-uwosh.edu http://www.uwosh.edu/departments/biology/wise/wise.html
I am interested in applying the technique of Cryo FESEM to various formulation issues I have encountered. Unfortunately conventional (LaB6/W electron source) Cryo SEM does not meet our resolution requirements.
Our Cambridge S-360 is equipped with an Oxford CT 1500 Cryo system. The Lab6 source does not have the resolution that is required to study the material we are interested in.
I have been unable to locate any contract labs that can accommodate our needs. If anyone is aware of a contract lab or academic institution (or otherwise) that can support our needs could you please contact me.
Thanks,
Rod Heu (Colgate-Palmolive, Technology Center, Microscopy Lab.) e-mail: rod_heu-at-colpal.com phone: 732 878-7992.
Dear Colleagues, I am interested in buying a used ultramicrotome suitable for taking 80nm sections of epon-embedded neuronal monolayer cultures. Precise alignment of a small block face is crucial to obtain the first few sections which contain dendrites. The model I prefer is a Reichardt Ultracut E. I have found very little information on the web regarding ultramicrotomy in general. Has Reichardt been purchased by Leica?
hi folks. i recall someone trying to get rid of an instrument. if it is being salvaged, i am interested in obtaining the compressor. please email the specs to me if it is still around, or anyone wants to get rid of one themselves. thanks, paul
-------------------------
Paul E. Anderson Catalytic and Nanostructured Materials Laboratory Department of Chemistry 102 Hurtig Hall Northeastern University Boston, MA 0215 USA (617) 373 5909 FAX (617) 373 8795 paanders-at-lynx.neu.edu
Hi Listers, Due to a lack of floor space it is necessary to surplus a perfectly good hood. It is a Yamato CleanBench model NS-1704, manufactured by HiTEC. It is large, with a stainless steel interior and is 51"WX41"DeepX80" high, with four large blowers and high efficiency filters and spares with laminar flow chambers. Any one who wants it is welcome to pick it up in Berkeley, California for $500. Or I will arrange shipping and packageing at my cost. Digital phots are available to interested parties. For inquires call: Steve D'Angelo 650-400-8063 If I don't dispose of it this month it will be scrapped. Please help. It is in great condition. Thanks, Steve
LEO once a year usually organizes a workshop that looks like to be made exactly for your needs. The date of this workshop is around the end of the year. For further information, please get in touch with jaksch-at-leo.de. He is already aware of your message.
DISCLAIMER: LEO is a company (that everyone in this list should know) that produces electron microscopes!
Marco Arienti LEO Elektronenmikroskopie GmbH Abteilung LEO COE-TEM Carl Zeiss Str. 56 E-Mail : arienti-at-leo.de D-73446 Oberkochen
} I am interested in applying the technique of Cryo FESEM to various formulation } issues I have encountered. Unfortunately conventional (LaB6/W electron source) } Cryo SEM does not meet our resolution requirements. } } Our Cambridge S-360 is equipped with an Oxford CT 1500 Cryo system. The Lab6 } source does not have the resolution that is required to study the material we } are interested in. } } I have been unable to locate any contract labs that can accommodate our needs. } If anyone is aware of a contract lab or academic institution (or otherwise) } that can support our needs could you please contact me. } } Thanks, } } Rod Heu (Colgate-Palmolive, Technology Center, Microscopy Lab.) } e-mail: rod_heu-at-colpal.com } phone: 732 878-7992.
(I expect my last changes in my e-mail program allow this message to arrive without problems with the filter.)
I have been asked if optical microscopy can be performed through a thick (several mm) crystal (sapphire or diamond) window. The intent is to develop a high pressure chamber for microscopy and the windows are needed to be so thick. The working distance of a normal x40 objective is much less, but I wonder if there would be a way, may be by a purpose-built objective compensating for that given window or even a set of lenses inside the pressure chamber.
Can some of you think of a way to solve this?
Thanks in advance for all answers,
Antonio Molina
Inst del Frio, CSIC Ciudad Universitaria 28009 Madrid SPAIN
you could try contacting the UK Royal Microscopical Society through their web page http://www.rms.org.uk/ Their symbol is a snowflake and they have produced articles and pictures over the years eg: Wergin, William P. & Erbe, Eric F. (E.M. lab, USDA-ARS, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA) Can you image a snowflake with SEM? Certainly! Proceedings RMS Vol 29, part 3, pp 138 - 141, June 1994
I am also sending this to the MSA list in case it's of general interest.
good luck
Malcolm Haswell Electron Microscopy School of Sciences Fleming Building University of Sunderland SUNDERLAND SR1 3SD Tyne and Wear UK
Tel (0191) 515 2872 e-mail: malcolm.haswell-at-sunderland.ac.uk ---------- } From: Dee Breger To: Microscopy
Chris-at-imaginaryforces.com is looking for images of snowflakes. Please respond to him directly if you can help him out.
Dee Breger Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory Route 9W Palisades NY 10964 01-914/365-8640 micro-at-ldeo.columbia.edu
Bernie, I tried plating Cu on top of V44 using CuSO4 solution, the voltage and current data should be in one of the notebooks (#5? or thereabout at the beginning of the book, look for few low mag macro photos of deposited globs) I left behind with Ken Natesan. The Cu layer was not uniform and not always worked well. The electronegativity of V is too high to allow easy plating as water decomposes into H2 and O2. A sputtered gold layer worked well as the seed layer for the Cu film. The second trick which worked well, was to embed the specimen in a conductive epoxy (containing Ag powder) Larry should have some of the stuff I left behind. Then, to cross-section using wafering saw and dimple till its thin. Using electropolishing afterwards with the usual H2SO4 and Methanol solution gave variable success in producing thin foils. You could also try to use ion milling if the damage from Ar beam will not obscure the ion implant damage. Let me know if this worked and if there are any better ways out there. I am still curious about V alloys.
Take care.
Jerzy
***************************************************************** Jerzy Gazda, Ph.D. Advanced Micro Devices Senior Materials Scientist 5204 E. Ben White Blvd. - MS 613 PCAL - Analytical TEM Section Austin, TX 78741 TEL: 1-800-538-8450, Ext. 51453 FAX: (512) 602-7470 *****************************************************************
} -----Original Message----- } From: Bernard Kestel [SMTP:kestel-at-anl.gov] } Sent: Wednesday, August 04, 1999 10:27 AM } To: Microscopy Listserver } Subject: Cross Sectioning of A Vanadium Specimen } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } Does anyone know of a metal and method for plating it onto a vanadium } TEM disc for cross sectioning? } } Bernard Kestel } Materials Science Division } Argonne National Laboratory } 9700 South Cass Avenue } Argonne, Il., 60439 E-mail {kestel-at-anl.gov.} }
The objectives for inverted microscopes usually have a longer working distance between lens and object, you may try it. As my knowledge, it is not possible to extend working distance of the x40 objective using some "attachments". You probably should find on the market the special objective with long working distance. I know, there are some special objectives with extremely long working distance exist but I am not friendly with that. Good luck to find suitable objective.
} Date: Thu, 05 Aug 1999 13:00:19 +0200 } From: Jos=E9 Navarro {ifrn115-at-if.csic.es} } Subject: LM: observation through thick crystal } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } X-Mailer: Microsoft Internet Mail 4.70.1161 } X-MSMail-Priority: Normal } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America=20
Dr. Sergey Ryazantsev UCLA School of Medicine Department of Biological Chemistry Box 951737 Los Angeles, CA 90095-1737
Just wanted to say "Thanks" to all of you out there who have responded to my request for help on preparing thin polymer film cross sections. I'll be trying out several techniques in the near future.
Feel free to keep the suggestions coming, though!
Rob
(Thanks also to the administrators of these lists. You perform a valuable service to the community by making these resources available.)
Robert J. Plano Staff Analyst, SPM Services Surface Science Labs (650)962-8767, ext. 742 http://www.cea.com http://www.surface-science.com
Thank you to all who have responded to my question about alignment of the point source enlarger, but perhaps my question was not stated clearly. The alignment of the bulb in reationship to the condensers and lens apeture is the question. What I need to know is the proper alignment of the filament in side the bulb in realtionship to the mirror or the
L R MELSEN {lmelsen-at-emory.edu} on 08/04/99 03:34:17 PM
Please respond to lmelsen-at-emory.edu
To: Mannie Steglich/MDACC-at-MDACC cc:
Robert, Our lab's method for embedding/cross sectioning polymer thin films (especially polyolefins) is to plasma treat the films and embed them in standard epoxies (we use Struer's Epo-fix)for cross sectioning. We use the 150mm ring "plasmaglo" AC plasma device on the Edwards 306 vacuum station - with N2 as the gas. I believe the ring is at 3000VAC, the chamber pressure is 100mTorr, and our treatment times are typically 10 minutes. TEM and fluorescence microscopy of the film cross sections do show a thin ( {200nm) damage layer on the film surface and adherence to the epoxy may not be perfect, but typically we get a preparation that is easily cross sectioned, cryo conditions or ambient temperature.
David B. Calvert Eastman Chemical Company Physical Chemistry Research Laboratory Eastman Chemical Co. voice (423) 229-4943 Fax (423) 229-4558
} -----Original Message----- } From: Robert Plano [SMTP:RPLANO-at-cea.com] } Sent: Tuesday, August 03, 1999 2:30 PM } To: 'Microscopy List'; 'spm-at-di.com' } Subject: Polymer film prep for AFM } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Fellow Listers: } } I have a question about polymer sample prep for the AFM and was hoping the } collective knowledge of the list would be able to help me out. I would } like } to image the cross-section of a thin polymer film, similar in thickness to } Saran wrap or a plastic shopping bag. The first idea that comes to mind is } microtomy (cryo if necessary). The problem I'm having is how to imbed the } film so it can be supported for the microtomy and subsequent imaging. I've } tried LR White but it didn't stick to the film as well as I would have } liked. Also, just getting the film aligned in the correct orientation and } holding it there in the capsule while the LR White sets up is a problem. } Does anybody out there have any suggestions to get me going in the right } direction? } } TIA. } } Rob } } } Robert J. Plano } Staff Analyst, SPM Services } Charles Evans & Associates/Surface Science Labs } (650)962-8767, ext. 742 } http://www.cea.com } http://www.surface-science.com }
Is x-ray mapping quantitative or semi-quantitative? In other words, would a pixel with 2x iron appear twice as bright as one that had 1x iron? Perhaps another way of asking the question is how many "grey levels" are there in a single pixel of an x-ray map? I am running a Noran Voyager system.
TIA
Bob
Dr. Robert R. Wise Department of Biology University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Oshkosh, WI 54901 (920) 42403404 wise-at-uwosh.edu http://www.uwosh.edu/departments/biology/wise/wise.html
I had a chance to observe microscopy of this type done throught the windows of a diamond cell at the then-National Bureau of Standards more than 20 years ago. They were using gem quality diamonds of 0.5carats or more, cut in the standard round form typically seen in engagement rings, with the pointed tip truncated. I am not at liberty to say where they got these gems but they made exquisite windows in a diamond anvil cell.
As I remember, the refractive index of diamond is especially high, something on the order of 2.42. I don't remember the team using any immersion oil or special lenses, just some standard very long working distance lenses.
You might try to contact NIST to see if there is a way to get any of the experimental design records from the mid '70s. This work was done in the crystallographic group in Gaithersburg but I can't remember any of the specific reseachers' names.
Hope this was helpful. Barbara Foster Microscopy/Microscopy Education 125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com
At 01:00 PM 8/5/99 +0200, Jos=E9 Navarro wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America=20
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I would suggest that it is only just semiquant - and then only for major components. So 70% iron would be a lot brighter than 35% iron but I wouln't trust 4% iron to be brighter than 2% iron!
Any time you're doing x-ray mapping - in my opinion - at least one window should be set on a background spectral region. You then need to use the resulting background map to normalise the elemental maps. Ideally, this should be done with a background window adjacent to each element you map. Following this procedure, you might just get an elemental map that means something:-)
Regards,
-- Larry Stoter JEOL (UK) Ltd Silver Court, Watchmead, Welwyn Garden City, AL7 1LT, United Kingdom tel: +44-(0)1707-377117, fax: +44-(0)1707-373254, e-mail: larrys-at-jeoleuro.com
In general (i.e. on many samples), X-ray mapping can be considered semi-quantitative, in the sense that a brighter pixel generally indicates a larger weight-percentage of the element involved. But a pixel that is twice as bright, does not need to have twice the weight-percentage. Matrix effects, such as absorption of the X-rays in the sample, will cause deviations.
In case of strongly absorbing characteristic radiation, an X-ray map is not even semi-quantitative. Imagine a mineral sample with 3 different phases, but all three phases accidentally have the same oxygen content. Nevertheless, the X-ray map of O-Ka will have clear intensity variations going from one phase to another due to the variations in absorption of the O-Ka radiation in the various phases.
If you really want a quantitative map, then you need to do what we call QuantMapping, where at each pixel the spectrum is quantified, and a map is constructed in which the weight-percentages are displayed. QuantMapping takes a lot more time than ordinary X-ray mapping, since more counts are needed in each spectrum to do a proper quantification.
The amount of grey levels in the X-ray map of an EDS system depends on the manufacturer, but basically 8 bits (256 levels) should be enough. EDAX applies a system where all X-ray maps are (as a default) scaled to give the maximum intensity for the highest number of counts in each map. So if the brightest pixel in map has 25 counts, then 25 counts is displayed as 100% intensity, and all other pixels in the same map are scaled accordingly. With this method more than 256 greylevels are not needed for the display. This is visually a very informative system, and it prevents inexperienced users to draw wrong conclusions. It is always very tempting to compare different maps, and draw quantitative conclusions regarding the sample composition based on that. But since only gross-intensities are displayed, large errors can be made if these intensities are converted to a sample composition without applying any matrix correction.
With best regards,
Hans Dijkstra
Disclaimer: this is my personal statement, don't blame your local EDAX representative for it. And yes, we sell EDS equipment. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- EDAX Europe Tel.: +31 - 13 - 5364000 P.O.Box 4144 Fax.: +31 - 13 - 5356279 5004 JC Tilburg E-mail: hans.dijkstra-at-edax.nl the Netherlands Web: www.edax.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---
---------- } Van: Bob Wise {wise-at-vaxa.cis.uwosh.edu} } Aan: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Onderwerp: X-ray mapping question } Datum: Friday, August 06, 1999 12:06 AM } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } To all, } } Is x-ray mapping quantitative or semi-quantitative? In other } words, would a pixel with 2x iron appear twice as bright as one that had 1x } iron? Perhaps another way of asking the question is how many "grey levels" } are there in a single pixel of an x-ray map? I am running a Noran Voyager } system. } } TIA } } Bob } } Dr. Robert R. Wise } Department of Biology } University of Wisconsin Oshkosh } Oshkosh, WI 54901 } (920) 42403404 } wise-at-uwosh.edu } http://www.uwosh.edu/departments/biology/wise/wise.html }
Bob Wise 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } To all, } } Is x-ray mapping quantitative or semi-quantitative? In other } words, would a pixel with 2x iron appear twice as bright as one that had 1x } iron? Perhaps another way of asking the question is how many "grey levels" } are there in a single pixel of an x-ray map? I am running a Noran Voyager } system. } } TIA } } Bob } } Dr. Robert R. Wise } Department of Biology } University of Wisconsin Oshkosh } Oshkosh, WI 54901 } (920) 42403404 } wise-at-uwosh.edu } http://www.uwosh.edu/departments/biology/wise/wise.html Bob, Unless the new systems have changed radically, x-ray dot maps are one binary dot per x-ray count within the window (or ROI) selected. This includes background counts and also reflects any topography if you're not using a polished cross-section (which automatically eliminates anything resembling quantitative results).
I would be inclined to only use it for spatial distribution and pick selected areas for quant analysis.
Ken Converse owner Quality Images third party SEM service Delta, PA
Sorry for the last incomplete message. I was interupted and accidently sent the incomplete message. The following is the completed version.
Thank you to all who have responded to my question about alignment of the point source enlarger, but perhaps my question was not stated clearly. The alignment of the bulb in reationship to the condensers and lens apeture is not the question. What I need to know is the proper alignment of the filament inside the bulb in realtionship to the mirror or the easel. Should the filament be perpendicular ( (superscript: .)) or parallel (-) in realatioship to the mirror or easel. I seem to recall a paper,(I believe that was published by Durst) which said the filament should be perpendicular in order to achieve a point source with the best resolution. If someone could verify or could tell me the correct position, I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks
Mannie Steglich
L R MELSEN {lmelsen-at-emory.edu} on 08/04/99 03:34:17 PM
Please respond to lmelsen-at-emory.edu
To: Mannie Steglich/MDACC-at-MDACC cc:
Bob,
We have a newer EDAX system and can do both quantitative and non-quantitative mapping. We've done some great work using quantitative maps that allow us to montitor not only the spatial distribution of elements but to be able to see small changes in chemistry. Quantitative mapping generally takes a significantly longer time to run but contains quite a bit of information. I believe with our system you can go to each pixel and get a percentage of each element.
Mark
---------------------------------------- Mark C. Biesinger, Research Scientist Surface Science Western The University of Western Ontario London, Ontario, Canada Tel: (519) 661-2173, Fax: (519) 661-3709 http://www.uwo.ca/ssw/
I am glad you are good at the impossible and miracles. This should be an easy task then.
Any system that performs automated imaging, particle location and sizing, quantitative x-ray analysis, and stage control (not to mention after-the-fact data reduction) is no mean thing. I spent my years as a doctoral student dealing with many of the issues related to such a system. That was using a LeMont Scientific image analysiis system on a JEOL microscope with a Kevex EDS system. However, I did not perform quantitative x-ray analyses for all particles.
You should have many options besides the Kontron. Granted, the Kontron might do what you want. I have seen such a system in the past, but I do not know about its current cost, capabilities, or availability. I think many of the EDS systems offer particle detection and spectrum collection followed by quant. It takes a little more to integrate stage control with that. We have systems from both IXRF Systems and Oxford Instruments. I believe both can do the particle measurement, x-ray, and quant, but we only have stage control integrated with our Oxford. I have not tried it yet on either system.
One of the more difficult points is the detection of particles. If your particles stand out well from the background, then there is a good chance of success. If not, then you may have to get into some image processing before detection, and that can get pretty exotic. That would probably separate the men from the boys as such systems go.
At 03:44 PM 8/4/1999 +1000, you wrote: } G'day all, } } I need some help for a student of ours. He needs to track down a supplier } for the KONTRON quantitative image analysis system. This system apparently } does particle sizing, and quantitative EDXS from the sized particles. We } believe that the software is capable of controlling the SEM stage and and } beam. } } Any help on this would be greatly appreciated. } } Thanks } George } } Impossible I Can Do Today, } Miracles, Require 24 Hours Notice } ---------------------------------------------------- Warren E. Straszheim 23 Town Engineering Iowa State University Ames IA, 50011-3232
I would agree with the others that mapping is normally more qualitative than quantitative. Brighter generally means that the more intensity, the more the concentration. However, the others have pointed out several good points: 1) that background is not normally subtracted and that a background ROI is a big step in the right direction, 2) matrix effects are not generally corrected for so that absorptions can introduce contrast, 3) topography can easily override composition contrast so that samples should be polished.
Regarding the number of gray levels, that mostly depends on how you collect your map. If you have only 25 counts in any given pixel, then you only have that many gray levels, at most. The standard deviation on a 25-count measurement is 5, so you would have more like 25/5=5 gray levels that mean very much. You could not afford to split very small hairs. That might be improved upon by reducing the number of pixels in your map and collecting more x-rays at each pixel for the same total time. It depends on what you want to know.
You could also take that a step further by doing a line scan instead of an x-ray map. Since you would be focusing your data gathering along the line of interest and probably get 2 orders of magnitude better sensitivity to variations for the same collection time.
And this all presumes that you have information on the number of counts in any given channel or map. It is very helpful in inter-comparing multi-element maps to know that full scale in one map represent 150 counts while in another it may represent less than 15. Some x-ray systems don't offer up these numbers, and if you are doing "old-fashioned" maps on film, you would not have this information.
Lastly, remember that there are times that brighter does not mean more concentration. Years ago, John Russ (or maybe Chuck Fiori) showed a Cu map of a Cu TEM grid that was most unusual in that it showed Cu not in the grid bars but in the holes between bars. They explained how such an effect can occur quite easily, in fact I nearly did it to myself last week. Normal procedure is to turn up the beam current and to boost the count rate before starting the x-ray map. This is often done on a scanning image of the whole field of view and dead time may be set to 30 or 40% since it is just a qualitative technique anyway. But when the beam was switched to slow scan and paused on a bar that made up only 10%(?) of the field, the x-ray count rate jumped up 10-fold, flooded the detector and shut down the electronics. When the beam paused in the hole, there was enough stray and background radiation to yield some counts and a signal. Thus, the result was just the opposite of what was expected.
Now if a background ROI had been imaged, it would have looked the same as the Cu map and showed right away that the effects were not due to changes in Cu concentration. And of course, if the x-ray count rate had been properly setup by using a spot on the most intense (x-ray wise) phase, then effect would not have arisen in the first place. And if there was deadtime correction of the dwell time during mapping, then this would not have been an issue. So I guess the moral of the story comes down to "be careful", and don't push your x-ray maps too far.
At 05:06 PM 8/5/1999 -0500, you wrote: } } To all, } } Is x-ray mapping quantitative or semi-quantitative? In other } words, would a pixel with 2x iron appear twice as bright as one that had 1x } iron? Perhaps another way of asking the question is how many "grey levels" } are there in a single pixel of an x-ray map? I am running a Noran Voyager } system. } } TIA } } Bob } } Dr. Robert R. Wise } Department of Biology } University of Wisconsin Oshkosh } Oshkosh, WI 54901 } (920) 42403404 } wise-at-uwosh.edu } http://www.uwosh.edu/departments/biology/wise/wise.html
To All: I am in need of a dissecting, fluorescent microscope with a color, digital camera, and computer for observing and recording GFP mutagenesis in fruit flies. The flies will be live, exhibit a relatively low green fluorescent signal and exhibit a relatively high nonspecific background.Based upon personal knowledge, which system will most closely fit these requirements? Thanks in advance for the information.
Bob Barber Senior Research Associate Neuroscience Division Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope 1450 E. Duarte Rd. Duarte, Ca. 91010 Tel 626-359-8111 ext 2872 bbarber-at-coh.org
RJ Lee Group's Bay Area Facility, a materials characterization and consulting laboratory, is currently seeking a motivated individual to actively manage projects related to the evaluation of materials and processes used in the electronics industry. Job applicants should have a PhD or MS in physics, materials science or related discipline, at least two years of relevant work experience, and be amenable to working in a hands-on and fast-paced team environment. A working knowledge of the application and theory associated with sample preparation methods and corresponding analytical techniques such as optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Auger spectroscopy and other surface analysis methods is critical. Strong oral and written communication skills is a must. Job duties would involve but not be limited to: materials consulting, developing / evaluating analytical approaches to constructively investigate problems, and presenting laboratory results to a variety of technical as well as non-technical personnel. This challenging position may often demand 40+ hours of dedicated effort per week and would require occasional travel. Salary is commensurate with experience. Interested candidates should forward qualifications along with salary history to: RJ Lee Group, Inc., Attn. Human Resources, 350 Hochberg Road, Monroeville, PA 15146.
RJ Lee Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Keith Rickabaugh Manager, Materials and Particle Characterization {krickabaugh-at-rjlg.com}
RJ Lee Group, Inc. 350 Hochberg Road Pittsburgh, PA 15146 724-325-1776 {www.rjlg.com}
Dear listserver My friend, he's looking for the information about this component but I have no idea. Therefore I would ask for your help. Thanks in advance
sincerely yours masubon thongngam
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Hi; A couple of our engineers are having cutting blades cyro ( cooled in liquid nitrogen ) treated, its supposed to make the blades tougher and last longer.. They are asking me if I can tell the metallurgical difference between treated and untreated samples. So far the grain structure and elemental maps looks similar to me. Has anyone determined if cyro treated metal becomes tougher? How would one tell the difference between treated and untreated? Thanks Terry Ellis
I am seeking a Nikon 35mm film holder for the AFX-II photomicrography controller and shutter type. I can provide in trade the corresponding Polaroid 4x5 back or will purchase it outright. Please respond off-list.
Antonio Molina wrote: ============================================ I have been asked if optical microscopy can be performed through a thick (several mm) crystal (sapphire or diamond) window. The intent is to develop a high pressure chamber for microscopy and the windows are needed to be so thick. The working distance of a normal x40 objective is much less, but I wonder if there would be a way, may be by a purpose-built objective compensating for that given window or even a set of lenses inside the pressure chamber.
Can some of you think of a way to solve this? ============================================ I believe this was done, at least to some degree, by Prof Harry G. Drickamer , Dept. of Chemical Engineering at the University of Illinois in the very early 1960's. I had a chance to see his diamond anvil/microscope set up in 1962. I don't have access to the various publication references, but presumably they should be able to be found. He gained some amount of notoriety for this work at that time. I believe he was the first to do this kind of work.
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.spi.cc ######################## ============================================
} From Microscopy-request-at-sparc5.microscopy.com Fri Aug 6 23:57:03 1999 } } From: John Twilley {jtwilley-at-sprynet.com} } } To: microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } Subject: Nikon 35mm Camera Back } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 seeking a Nikon 35mm film holder for the AFX-II photomicrography } controller and shutter type. I can provide in trade the corresponding } Polaroid 4x5 back or will purchase it outright. Please respond } off-list. } } John Twilley } } John, If you haven't already tried them, Ken'sCamera Brokers may be able to help. They deal in used equipment and have many pages of Nikon with several devoted to AF items. We have bought several camera backs from them for light microscope mounted cathodoluminescence equipment and they have always been in good condition.
Good luck,
Don
Donald J. Marshall Relion Industries P.O. Box 12 Bedford, MA 01730 Ph: 781-275-4695 FAX: 781-271-0252 email dmrelion-at-world.std.com
Cathodoluminescence, mass spectroscopy, electron beam technology "A weed is a flower out of place."
(Please note: Do not send email with attachments to this address. Instead, send it to donbarlen-at-aol.com. Thank you.)
Dear Masubon, Glutaraldehyde is a fixative widely used for electron microscopy.=20 It is a small (MW: 100), uncharged dialdehyde which is highly soluble in water and organic solvents. Highly reactive with nucleophilic substrates, it causes cross-links in biological samples (e.g. amines of proteines). The crosslinking happens very quickly and leads to a 3-D-network in the sample. It preserves ultrastructural details and is often combined with other aldehydes like Formaldehyde in the used fixations.
It is very toxic and cancerogen, so handle with care using the fumehood.
You can purchase it in aqueous stock solutions of different prurity. Concentrations used for fixation in concentrations range between 0.01% and 4 %.
This for our basic information. For more detailed questions don=B4t hesitate to contact me or post it on the listserver.
Have a nice weekend, Bye, Michael Reiner
Masubon Thongngam schrieb: } =20 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------= - } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Co= m } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.htm= l } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } =20 } Dear listserver } My friend, he's looking for the information about this componen= t } but I have no idea. Therefore I would ask for your help. Thanks in adva= nce } =20 } sincerely yours } masubon thongngam } =20 } ---------- Forwarded message ---------- } Date: Fri, 06 Aug 1999 10:40:31 -0500 } } From: Jim Lavoie {jlavoie-at-opta-food.com} } To: Masubon Thongngam {masubont-at-foodsci.umass.edu} } Subject: glutaraldehyde analysis } =20 } Hello, } I'm looking for any official (preferred) or even unofficial met= hod } for glutaraldehyde quantitation in a sample. I would like to assess } precise concentrations of this material in some of the samples I've bee= n } preparing. } Thanks, } Jim } =20 } -------------------------------------------------------------------- } James P. Lavoie, Ph.D. Direct Dial: (781) 276-5122 } Research Scientist FAX (781) 276-5101 } Opta Food Ingredients, Inc. E-mail: jlavoie-at-opta-food.com } 25 Wiggins Ave. web site: http://www.opta-food.com } Bedford, MA 01730
Hi Terry Using liquid nitrogen to shrink-fit components is a common practice in engineering. However it doesn't make any difference to the mechanical properties or grain structure etc. The only way they'll do that is by heat treatment ie *applying* heat. Cute idea though and as long as they believe it...
--- Terry E Ellis {tellis2-at-hallmark.com} wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy } Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to } ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help } http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } } Hi; } A couple of our engineers are having cutting blades } cyro ( cooled in liquid } nitrogen ) treated, its supposed to make the blades } tougher and last longer.. } They are asking me if I can tell the metallurgical } difference between treated } and untreated samples. } So far the grain structure and elemental maps looks } similar to me. } Has anyone determined if cyro treated metal becomes } tougher? } How would one tell the difference between treated } and untreated? } Thanks } Terry Ellis } } } }
_____________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Bid and sell for free at http://auctions.yahoo.com
} Hi; } A couple of our engineers are having cutting blades cyro ( cooled in liquid } nitrogen ) treated, its supposed to make the blades tougher and last longer.. } They are asking me if I can tell the metallurgical difference between treated } and untreated samples. } So far the grain structure and elemental maps looks similar to me. } Has anyone determined if cyro treated metal becomes tougher? } How would one tell the difference between treated and untreated? } Thanks } Terry Ellis }
How about a standard Brinnel hardness tester? The Brinnel number is an ASTM measure of hardness.
} Antonio Molina wrote: } ============================================ } I have been asked if optical microscopy can be performed through a thick } (several mm) crystal (sapphire or diamond) window. The intent is to develo } a high pressure chamber for microscopy and the windows are needed to be s } thick. The working distance of a normal x40 objective is much less, but I } wonder if there would be a way, may be by a purpose-built objective } compensating for that given window or even a set of lenses inside the } pressure chamber. } } Can some of you think of a way to solve this? } ============================================
A similar problem arises in connection with light microscope-mounted cathodoluminescence attachments where a free working distance (FWD) of 8 to 10 mm is required. Several of the microscope manufacturers offered 20X and 40X objectives with FWD of 10 mm and some of these can still be obtained. If you want to contact me off line, I can send you some part numbers. Some of these were designed for use with a thin cover slip, however, so you may have some correction problems with a thick window.
Also the older microscopes with universal stages required objectives with long working distance and I have a 10X and 25 X in my demo lab that have 15 to 20 mm working distance. I rarely see these available in the used equipment catalogs.
Don Marshall
Donald J. Marshall Relion Industries P.O. Box 12 Bedford, MA 01730 Ph: 781-275-4695 FAX: 781-271-0252 email dmrelion-at-world.std.com
Cathodoluminescence, mass spectroscopy, electron beam technology "A weed is a flower out of place."
(Please note: Do not send email with attachments to this address. Instead, send it to donbarlen-at-aol.com. Thank you.)
Just for entertainment... Liquid Nitrogen cooling MAY be the slowest liquid cooling rate. I should get a rise out of a lot of you guys from saying this! -Always does. Liquid Nitrogen boils, creates an insulating shroud(or this is the theory that makes me feel warm and cozy at nite.). But Carefully!! don't depend on it lasting long!! I have been burned(frozen-2nd and 3rd degree) of couple of times. In many freezing rate and cooling rate studies I've observed(as a few others have) that warm water, oil, and cold water, ice cool faster, but the final temperature in Liquid N2,once you get to it, is colder. (and guess which is faster, warm or cold water?) OK...anyone care to present their theory, "cozy story", or dogma(and opposing observation) or comment on the mechanism(or lack of).
(prepared to be embarrassed..as usual) Jeff Day/JD In Hot Texas Email: wa5ekh-at-juno.com
Maybe through x-ray diffraction? The only thing I can think of that this treatment would do is to MAYBE cause retained austenite to go to martensite. Reference the retained austenite experiment in Elements of X-ray Diffraction by B.D. Cullity.
You probably wouldnt notice any difference in optical or SEM. I can't think of a reason why EDS spectra/maps would change either.
By the way, is there a real difference in the performance of the blades? Is the treatment anything more than just immersing the blades in LN2?
Milo Kral
} Hi; } A couple of our engineers are having cutting blades cyro ( cooled in liquid } nitrogen ) treated, its supposed to make the blades tougher and last longer.. } They are asking me if I can tell the metallurgical difference between treated } and untreated samples. } So far the grain structure and elemental maps looks similar to me. } Has anyone determined if cyro treated metal becomes tougher? } How would one tell the difference between treated and untreated? } Thanks } Terry Ellis
} To all, } } Is x-ray mapping quantitative or semi-quantitative? In other } words, would a pixel with 2x iron appear twice as bright as one that had 1x } iron? Perhaps another way of asking the question is how many "grey levels" } are there in a single pixel of an x-ray map? I am running a Noran Voyager } system. } } TIA } } Bob } } Dr. Robert R. Wise
The following does not explicitly answer the above question which has previously been answered by others, but is added to dispel some of the myths of the capabilities of true quantitative maps.
Quantitative mapping as opposed to ROI or dot mapping is mapping that collects and corrects the x-ray information at each pixel as if it were for a normal quantitative analysis. This may be done by either saving the entire spectrum(and processing later) or processing the full spectrum for a known number of elements at each pixel. The simplistic(and unrealistic) approach is to say that if the analysis time for each pixel was equivalent to the time that you would normally use to process an analysis, then the results would be the same. This is true for areas on the inage that are changing in composition rapidly. But if there are areas on the image with the same composition, then these areas may be grouped together to produce an analysis of equivalence to 'the usual' analysis. They are even more significant than a 'usual analysis' as the spatial information regarding variations in localised composition is incorporated into the result(by informed selection). Since quantitative maps can be obtained durng unattended operation it is actually possible to get better quantitative results than is normally thought possible with conventional analysis(A 10x100 pixel area at .5 sec/pixel=500 sec at 2.5kcps[or 10x10 pixel area at .5 sec at 25kcps] + spatial information). The statistical variation of these grouped pixels is rather poor when taken as a 'normal distribution' but since x-rays obey poisson statistics the 'variance' equals the total count making this result as good as any done with a static (or rastered) beam. For spatial information it then becomes important to collect as many pixels as sampling allows, and thus maps are best done at 512x512 of even 1024x1024 pixels. (A 512x512 pixel map takes around 40hrs at .5 sec/pixel at 2,500cps but only 4 hrs at 25kcps -at- .05sec/pixel. A 33x 33 area or 100sqr, a small area in this type of map is then equivalent to a 5 sec analysis at 25kcps or a 50 sec analysis at 2.5kcps. A reasonable analysis time for quantitation. A 1000 pixel area is then equivalent to 500sec at 2.5kcps. A 10,000 pixel area is equivalent to 5,000 sec analysis so you see that you can get some very good statistics.) Certainly there are many qualifying points to be considered just as there are in stationary (or rastered) beam analysis.
It is our experience that the detection limits for EDS analysis now approaches that of conventional WDS and that for mapping WDS is 10 times better than conventional WDS. Variations in composition for EDS of 0.1% at 10% levels and detection levels below .05% are easily achievable. We have even mapped at levels of 10 to 40ppm Nitrogen in steel with a WDS an a standard SEM.(Nitrogen is one of the most difficult of all the elements to analyse at trace levels). These results would not be meaningful with spot analysis as the spatial distributions can not be determined. This point is only obvious once you have mapped at these levels. Also full standards analysis is preferable to standardless.
Once you have realised the advantages of quantitative mapping it is very hard to go back to point analysis.
DOT mapping and ROI mapping can be very misleading as elemental distributions. Consider the case of 1% Al in a matrix of Mg next to 1% Al in an adjacent Si matrix. The ROI and Dot map will show a variation of Al of around 50% which does not exist! These maps are also misleading at low levels of composition(quite high for EDS) due to the continuum.
My two cents worth. I have a vested interest in true quantitative mapping and have been quant mapping for over 20 years. We run an annual 3 day quant mapping course to teach these and other advantages of this analysis technique.
Regards, Ken Moran.
Moran Scientific Pty Ltd P.O. Box 651 Goulburn NSW 2580 Australia Tel 02 4844 4234 (International, 61 2 48444234) Fax 02 4844 4291 (International, 61 2 48444291) Email {kmoran-at-goulburn.net.au} Web Page http://www.goulburn.net.au/~kmoran "Patience accomplishes its object, while hurry speeds to its ruin. Gulistan 1258"
Graduate and Technician Positions in Cell Biology and Computer Modeling of Neuronal Networks
Starting immediately
We use confocal and video imaging microscopy and 3-D software to study the development of the architecture of neuronal networks and the structure of synaptic connections. The candidates will visualize in real time molecular and cellular events leading to synapse formation and to non-random wiring in neuronal networks. For students with background in computers the work can be expanded to mathematical modeling of the biological findings. Our group provides excellent multidisciplinary training in a dynamic environment at the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology at McGill University in Montreal.
Please contact Dr. Danny Baranes: Tel: (514) 398-2580 Fax: (514) 398-5047 e-mail: czdb-at-musica.mcgill.ca
Danny Baranes, Ph.D.
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology McGill university Montreal, Canada Tel: (514) 398-2580 Fax: (514) 398-5047 e-mail: czdb-at-musica.mcgill.ca
I collected some EELS data of boron nitride (BN) from a Gatan 666 parallel-detection system attached in a FEG-TEM. I now met some problems in=C5-at-interpreting the data. I would be very grateful if any one could help to provide some explanations for my questions.
1. How to correct the raw spectra for the smearing of resolution caused by=C5-at-the scintillator that is used in the parallel detection scheme?
2. In the low-loss spectra of h-BN, there is usually an energy-loss peak at=C5-at-around 6 eV which is attributed to the interband pi to pi* transition, but this peak disappears in amorphous BN (a-BN, sp2 hybridyzed), why? Theoretically it may appear since the orbitals are not changed.
3. The diffrence in the spectra (fine structure) between sp3-hybridyzed a-BN and crystalline cubic BN (c-BN) seems never so distinct as that between sp3-hybridyzed carbon and diamond, why?
______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
I used to have a piece of equipment that did just that. It had a pressurized cell with a sapphire window. It was used to observe electronic chips under certain conditions. In the electronics industry, we have microscopes mounted on "probe stations" that have long working distance objectives which allow us to put very small probes on the circuitry for electrical tests. That is what was used for looking through the thick sapphire window, across a gap to the surface of the IC chip.
The vendor I have been most satisfied with is Mitutoyo. They have a new model that has a large zoom range, reducing the number of objective lens changes.
Usual Disclaimer: My opinions ONLY; Simply satisfied user.
I'm told that bacteria cannot be imaged with a SEM. One must use a TEM. If this is true, why? Is it a direct corollary to metallurgical reflected light microscopy vs. transmitted biological?
Well, I'm a LM guy, but have done a bit of SEM. Bacteria are pretty easy because they are nearly impossible to deform. Graded EtOH or acetone, critical point, sputter-coat and view. The only problem might be interpretation - is that little round (oblong, rod-shaped) thing really a bacterium? Now, I must confess that I don't look at cultured bacteria, but at bacteria on substrata (biofilms) - maybe with bugs from liquid culture things are trickier. Rob Palmer Director - Biofilm Imaging Facility CEB/UT
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I mostly agree with Robert about the ease at which bacteria are examined with the SEM. I've done a fair amount of it using critical point and HMDS methods and one still has to be careful about shrinkage. We have just installed a new ESEM with cryostage and I hope to use that with the next batch. I'm not sure why someone thinks that you can only see bacteria with a TEM unless they were referring to the internal organization.
Damian } } I'm told that bacteria cannot be imaged with a SEM. One must use } a TEM. If this is true, why? Is it a direct corollary to metallurgical } reflected light microscopy vs. transmitted biological? } } tnx, } gary g.
I guess you will have hundreds of replies saying "many of us are often seeing bacteria in the SEM". I do not have any references but you can su= re see them!
Steve Chapman
Senior Consultant E.M. Protrain, 16 Hedgerley, Chinnor, Oxford OX9 4TN, England. Tel & Fax 44 (0)1844 353161 E-mail - protrain-at-emcourses.com Web Site - http://emcourses.com For Consultancy and Courses in Electron Microscopy World Wide
I have been involved with a company in the USA who "cold treat" component= s which they claim (and produce papers) will increase the life of the components. Wear rate is said to be reduced and they do show micrographs=
but unfortunately I dumped the lot over a year ago. This is what the question is about I believe?
Steve Chapman
Senior Consultant E.M. Protrain, 16 Hedgerley, Chinnor, Oxford OX9 4TN, England. Tel & Fax 44 (0)1844 353161 E-mail - protrain-at-emcourses.com Web Site - http://emcourses.com For Consultancy and Courses in Electron Microscopy World Wide
I am interested to try to see the stress field and subsurface cracks in a GaAs device, by using near-IR microscopy (1-2 microns wavelength), where both illuminating and detected light pass through a polariser. I understand that this type of equipment is manufactured commercially, but I am still trying to find someone who actually has it !
If anyone has access to this kit, preferably in Europe, can you please contact me directly as soon as possible?
I don't know who told you that, but they can be imaged quite well. The resolution will not be as good as in TEM of course, I find that the flagella don't look as good (they charge up between the cell and substrate - looking whiter, then look less visible on the substrate because they don't charge) but they are visible, although I've not seen pili. You can get more information by shadowing, negative staining and or sectioning but SEM has advantages when you want to see more of a thicker 3-D surface such as Staphylococci, distribution of bacteriophage over the surface of an infected bacterium, or bacteria growing on a substrate. Now viruses are much more difficult - you can see shapes but little substructure in most SEMs.
If you have a choice between TEM and SEM then TEM would be better in most cases but it is worth trying both, some time. They usually need a simple fixation in glutaraldehyde, dehydrate in alcohol or acetone then Critical Point Dry or a chemical such as HMDS
Malcolm
Malcolm Haswell Electron Microscopy School of Sciences Fleming Building University of Sunderland SUNDERLAND SR1 3SD Tyne and Wear UK
Tel (0191) 515 2872 e-mail: malcolm.haswell-at-sunderland.ac.uk
---------- } From: Dr. Gary Gaugler To: MSA listserver
I'm told that bacteria cannot be imaged with a SEM. One must use a TEM. If this is true, why? Is it a direct corollary to metallurgical reflected light microscopy vs. transmitted biological?
id IAA03623; Mon, 9 Aug 1999 08:19:03 -0400 Received: from juno.bose.com by mingus.bose.com (4.1/SMI-4.1) id AA29653; Mon, 9 Aug 99 08:19:02 EDT Received: by juno.bose.com with Internet Mail Service (5.0.1460.8) id {PGC0RKRH} ; Mon, 9 Aug 1999 08:19:43 -0400 Message-Id: {D51E749A9525D311A0880090274FBE991A9B52-at-victoria.bose.com}
Terry,
There are many examples of cryo-treatments used to increase the wear properties of metals. I am still skeptical since I can find very little scientific information on how the process works, especially for non-ferrous metals and polymers.. However, I cannot dispute actual accounts that it does work (i.e. a friend that had his BMW rotors treated that now wear better and don't warp). The common theme seems to be a stress relief. ASM International has published several articles on this process, as well as a video article on the Discovery Channel. I also know of one Japanese study performed on ferrous based materials.
Joseph
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } } 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; } } A couple of our engineers are having cutting blades } } cyro ( cooled in liquid } } nitrogen ) treated, its supposed to make the blades } } tougher and last longer.. } } They are asking me if I can tell the metallurgical } } difference between treated } } and untreated samples. } } So far the grain structure and elemental maps looks } } similar to me. } } Has anyone determined if cyro treated metal becomes } } tougher? } } How would one tell the difference between treated } } and untreated? } } Thanks } } Terry Ellis } } } } } } } } } } _____________________________________________________________ } Do You Yahoo!? } Bid and sell for free at http://auctions.yahoo.com }
Hi Gary, If the bacteria are attached to a substrate, it's easy to sample the substrate + bacteria. In the case of a colony on the surface of nutrient agar, use a disposable pipette to take a plug of the agar with the colony attached and place it into fixative for 2 hours, dehydrate, critical point dry and sputter-coat. If the bacteria are attached to a planchette of a mineral or a raw food product, process the substrate with the bacteria attached. If the bacteria are suspended, filter the suspension through a 0.22 um polycarbonate filter and process it the same way. Specimen processing holders (EMS) are the most useful holders for both of these sample types. If the bacteria are in a food product such as milk or ice cream, it will be necessary to pretreat the product with a surfactant and/or enzyme before it can be filtered. Best of luck! Rosemary
It's been revealed that some vendors cryogenically treat (what I would hope to be) high carbon steel blades.
Here's an explanation as to how it works ... and why you should not try it at home.
High carbon (tool) steels tend to have large amounts of retained austenite (the soft precursor to hard martensite) more so when too much carbon is in the alloy and the part was quenched from rather too high a temperature. High speed steel falls in this category naturally, even when properly heat treated.
The retained austenite is much softer than properly tempered martensite, so getting rid of it will improve the hardness of the tool a little. The principal reason for developing cryogenic treatment was not so much to improve wear resistance as to improve dimensional stability of hardened steel gauges and fixtures, which turned out to be essential during WWII to allow the manufacture of close-tolerance interchangable parts. With the better dimensional stability (retained austenite tending to transform under time and stress, thereby distorting the gauge) the manufacturers could start to use higher carbon steel, thereby gaining wear resistance. Hence the touting of cryogenic treatment for wear resistance.
High speed steel tools are usually double tempered, but that's done more often than cryogenic treatment. The reason is the same, though - get rid of as much retained austenite as possible.
Low temperature treatment will encourage the retained austenite to transform to martensite; too-rapid cooling may cause the tool to break by creating too large a gradient in the progression of the transformation. So it's best not to dump the tool directly into the liquid nitrogen.
The martensite created by this low-temperature transformation must subsequently be tempered, because as-transformed martensite is brittle. Any retained austenite left over after the low temperature treatment is likely to transform to martensite after the tempering operation, so the part really ought to be tempered twice after the cryogenic treatment ... sigh.
It's best not to try this at home, because if you have a residual stress pattern consisting of compression at the surface and tension in the center, if there was hydrogen in the steel and any significant internal defect, it is possible for the tool to spontaeously fracture with dramatic results.
I saw the (noninjurious, thankfully) aftermath of such an event when a large mill roll broke. The pieces broke through the heavy (2X6 lumber) crate in which the roll was being shipped.
Why did it break ? Because it cooled down too much, sitting on the (unheated) loading dock.
Best regards, George Langford, Sc.D. amenex-at-amenex.com http://www.amenex.com/
I used to have a Reichert "Infrapol" with a Hamamatsu camera mounted on it. The Infrapol is an IR version of the Polyvar with no oculars, and all of the optical elements/attachments are for IR illumination. Among the attachments, I had a polarizer and an analyzer. I used the system for many things, one of which was to inspect GaAs laser diode chips internally for cracks and other anomalies. I do not know if this model is still avail- able. You may need to locate a used one. I was very happy with it's performance.
Usual Disclaimer: MY opinions; Just a satisfied customer.
You are correct about the limited cooling rate. You now have me dredging for my memories of my Chemical Engineering heat transfer class. Heat transfer nomrally goes up with temperature difference, but that rule gets superceded when you interpose a vapor layer between the solid and liquid. The vapor does not transfer heat near as well, so heat transfer slows down until the layer is dissipated, often by the temperature difference diminishing.
The example cited for us was water droplets placed on a hot griddle. Up to a some temperature, the droplets flung onto the griddle will spread out and evapotate almost instantly, evaporating faster the hotter the griddle gets. But at some higher temperature, the droplets start to dance around on the griddle for several seconds before they eventually spread out and evaporate. An even hotter griddle just prolongs the dancing. So it is with LN2. It will still be a mighty coolant, but it could be worse.
At 12:18 PM 8/7/1999 -0500, you wrote: } } Just for entertainment... } Liquid Nitrogen cooling MAY be the slowest liquid cooling rate. I } should get a rise out of a lot of you guys from saying this! -Always } does. Liquid Nitrogen boils, creates an insulating shroud(or this is the } theory that makes me feel warm and cozy at nite.). But Carefully!! don't } depend on it lasting long!! I have been burned(frozen-2nd and 3rd degree) } of couple of times. } In many freezing rate and cooling rate studies I've observed(as a } few others have) that warm water, oil, and cold water, ice cool faster, } but the final temperature in Liquid N2,once you get to it, is colder. } (and guess which is faster, warm or cold water?) OK...anyone care to } present their theory, "cozy story", or dogma(and opposing observation) } or comment on the mechanism(or lack of). } } (prepared to be embarrassed..as usual) } Jeff Day/JD } In Hot Texas } Email: wa5ekh-at-juno.com
As a Forensic Scientist doing Firearm and Toolmark analysis I've bumped int= o the Cryogenic Heat Treatment process claims a number of times=2E Includin= g favorable comments by instructors at gunsmithing classes=2E I do not kn= ow if they work but have heard some things that suggest that the stress rel= ief in rifle barrels is real and can help or hurt a finished barrel as the = stresses could be keeping it where it needs to be =28barrels are straighten= ed by bending=29=2E Some of the best barrel makers in the country are usin= g the process before the drilling and rifling process and report superior p= roducts to their own products before using the process=2E I have additiona= lly heard similar comments about the ware characteristic of machine tools s= o treated=2E My understanding is that this is a heat=2Fcool process that g= oes on over a period of time but that the heating portion of the cycle is n= ot up in the traditional stress relief temperature ranges=2E I am not a me= tallurgist and therefore do not know if it works or if these anecdotal stor= ies are based on mere coincidence=2E =
The following web sight does give their claims for what is happening=2E I = for one would be interested in knowing more about the process and what it d= oes=2E I've considered having some of my rifle barrels and machine tools t= reated=2E I have no connection with the co=2E AMTREAT CRYOGENICS=2E = I don't know if the claims are correct or not but their web sight is=3A =
http=3A=2F=2Fwww=2Evalint=2Enet=2Fchp=2Famtreat You can check it out an= d see if it makes sense yourself=2C this is just one sight that explains th= is process=2E The web sight makes the following claims for the process=2E
=22WHAT CRYOGENIC TREATING WILL DO=3A =
Transform Retained Austenite to Martensite =
Improve Abrasive Wear Resistance =
Eliminate Thermal Shock =
Decrease Brittleness =
Increase Tensile Strength=2C Toughness=2C and Stability Blend Coated Surface Material to Base Material =
Effect the Entire Component NOT Just the Surface=22 =
Hope this helps=2E It is just one sight that explains what is being put fo= rward in the firearms industry for the process I believe you are asking abo= ut=2E
Jim Roberts
Hi=3B A couple of our engineers are having cutting blades cyro =28 cooled in liqu= id nitrogen =29 treated=2C its supposed to make the blades tougher and last lo= nger=2E=2E They are asking me if I can tell the metallurgical difference between trea= ted and untreated samples=2E So far the grain structure and elemental maps looks similar to me=2E Has anyone determined if cyro treated metal becomes tougher=3F How would one tell the difference between treated and untreated=3F Thanks Terry Ellis = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
I hate to throw in my two cents worth on this one, because its worth less than that. But the new cryo treatments apparently do more than just transform the retained austenite. Just what is happening seems to be a little controversial. My limited understanding based on limited and incomplete data is that it changes the morphology of ultra fine carbides. The process is not just dipping into liquid nitrogen and thawing, but it involves time/temperature programing to achieve the desired effects.
Regards,
Alan Stone ASTON
At 10:28 AM 8/9/99 -0700, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I am just starting a position at a small private school. In my previous positions, I have been using an MT2 to section mouse brains at 1 micron for light microscopy, using a specially machined chuck to hold my tissue. I have the chuck, but now I have no MT2. I have very little budget, and as you all know, in order to get grant money, you need to be producing data. Does anyone have an MT2 they might be able to donate or loan, or know someone who might? It would be used by my students and me. I have a contact who might be able to repair one for me if someone has a non-functioning one. Thanks, Gayle Brosnan-Watters Gayle Brosnan-Watters, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Psychology Department Vanguard University of Southern California 55 Fair Drive Costa Mesa, CA 92626 Phone 714-556-3610 Ext. 454 Fax 714-966-6316 GBrosnanWatters-at-vanguard.edu
Hi Rosemary, Gary, I'm not a biologist but would SEM analysis of bacterium be improved if the substrate contributed less to the total signal. If the bacterium were say, dispersed on a carbon film as on a TEM grid this may improve the signal to noise. Russ, Xerox
-----Original Message----- } From: Rosemary Walsh [mailto:rw9-at-psu.edu] Sent: Monday, August 09, 1999 9:22 AM To: MSA listserver
Hi Gary, If the bacteria are attached to a substrate, it's easy to sample the substrate + bacteria. In the case of a colony on the surface of nutrient agar, use a disposable pipette to take a plug of the agar with the colony attached and place it into fixative for 2 hours, dehydrate, critical point dry and sputter-coat. If the bacteria are attached to a planchette of a mineral or a raw food product, process the substrate with the bacteria attached. If the bacteria are suspended, filter the suspension through a 0.22 um polycarbonate filter and process it the same way. Specimen processing holders (EMS) are the most useful holders for both of these sample types. If the bacteria are in a food product such as milk or ice cream, it will be necessary to pretreat the product with a surfactant and/or enzyme before it can be filtered. Best of luck! Rosemary
I believe within the last two weeks, there was a short discussion here that either an XRF forum, like this, exist or somebody was asking if one exists. Does one exist? Let me know,
You do indeed turn the filament to get the smallest, most uniform source. This ends up being about a 45 degree angle from horizontal. Be careful if you use bulbs that are not Durst supplied. As a former Durst dealer I can tell you of many cases where bulbs were used that had the filament very close to the end of the glass envelope. The curved surface in the end of the bulb can give a reflection that is imaged through the system. If you see a small bright spot slightly off center in every print you have this problem.
Neither Ventana Medical Systems or I have any financial interest in Durst at this time.
Visit our web site for specimen preparation for microscopy; www.ventanamed.com Steve Miller Sales Manager, North America Ventana Medical Systems, Inc. Microscopy Products Group Tucson, AZ Phone: 520-690-2753 Fax: 520-690-3580
} If the bacteria are suspended, filter the suspension } through a 0.22 um polycarbonate filter and process it the same } way. Specimen processing holders (EMS) are the most useful } holders for both of these sample types.
Also it can be attached on a poly-L-lysine coated coverslip after fixation and followed by routine SEM sample preparation procedures.
*********************************************** * 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 * ***********************************************
Dear Gary, Of course you can image bacteria in the SEM. For preparation, check any biological specimen preparation techniques handbook. Good luck, Jo Dee
"Dr. Gary Gaugler" 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'm told that bacteria cannot be imaged with a SEM. One must use } a TEM. If this is true, why? Is it a direct corollary to metallurgical } reflected light microscopy vs. transmitted biological? } } tnx, } gary g.
I am going to add my two cents as well. As a former tooling engineer for a major can company subzero cooling was used on critical tooling. The major purpose was to reduce the amount of retained austenite.
If you retain to much austenite your part can crack from internal stresses when the austenite converts to martensite during use. Austenite and martensite have different volumes so you want as much of the retained austenite converted as possible before the part is put into use. Other liquids you can use to subzero quench are oxygen, helium and hydrogen.
The composition of the metal being used for the tool, the heat treatment specified the initial quench media used, time before subzero quench is started will all have an effect on how successful the subzero quench is.
Tool Steels, Fourth Edition has 83 references on heat treating of tools steels.
Keith Collins DOE Albany Research Center 1450 Queen Ave. SW Albany, Oregon 97321
Hi all, Cryogenic treatment for properties enhancement is an ICE topic for a hot day There is a commercial website on the subject. www.onecryo.com They quote researchers at NIST on the process. Pay close attention to the location of the quotation marks, or you will loose track of the actual statements of the NIST researchers and attribute the whole commercial text to them. I read about this myself a while back but can't remember where. Jim Ballinger, R&D Tech & metallographer jballinger-at-nwaluminum.com Northwest Aluminum Co. The Dalles, Ore 97058
I am doing some work examining the environmental degradation of magnesium powder. I have done a lot of SEM work and one of the small side bits of work I did was to look at some of my samples in the SEM with different accelerating beam voltages. The assumption was that as the voltage increased, the depth of penetration increased and I would begin to see more sub surface information (I was interested in the sub surface info for my work and hence was using secondary electrons for this work). The SEM's did change as the voltage increased and the surface detail began to disappear. I got hold of a Monte Carlo simulation (Joy) which gave me the penetration depth and trajectories of the incident electrons into the sample (I assumed the sample was either magnesium, magnesium hydroxide or magnesium oxide) but it does not answer my questions. Although these incident electrons will penetrate to significant depths, I assume that the information I am seeing in the image is coming from secondary electrons that are nowhere nearly as deep in the sample. That is, the simulation indicates that say the maximum penetration depth for a 30kV accelerating voltage into Mg is 12.1 microns. However, a secondary electron at this depth will have little or no hope of escaping to the detector. What I need to know is how to determine at what depth the detected secondary electrons come from as the accelerating voltage is increased. I believe that there are computer programs around that allow this to be calculated but cannot track any down. Are you able to assist me with this? I look forward to your reply. Regards,
We are currently using a regular scanner with a transparency attachment to scan our negatives. It works fine for some negatives, but sometimes if the negative contrast is so high, we have to return to the darkroom to make the positives. I was wondering if someone else has experimented to use a negative scanner (Minolta or Nikon produces negative scanner for large format) to scan TEM negatives (6x9 cm).
Kazuo
o-------------------------------------------------------o | Carlos Kazuo Inoki | | Department of Physics - University at Albany | | 1400 Washington Ave.- Albany - NY - 12222 | o-------------------------------------------------------o
Thanks to all (20+) who have responded to my original post. There are some really great ideas and tips out there.
I must admit that all of the specimen prep jargon is lost on me. I'm an engineer....sorry about that. I had the "nack" at an early age and never shook it off. (nack.wav is available for those who are interested). Anyway, I take photos with LMs and SEM.
Jo Dee Fish gave me a good reference book for biological specimen prep and I am trying to find this out of print book (Electron Microscopy- Principles and Techniques for Biologists" by John J. Bozzola and Lonnie D. Russell). I am looking for similar titles and information.
I have a SEM (Amray 1830) and am not interested in getting a TEM. If I can get prepared specimen stubs for my Amray, I would be tickled. I shoot bugs and integrated circuits routinely. But the LM does not muster for good images of bacteria. I've got some code written to pseudo color the b/w transparencies from the SEM running on my Mac G3. But specimen prep is really a nightmare.
If you believe or know that bacteria can be imaged on a SEM, please tell me in simple terms how to do it. I would appreciate it. Likewise, if you want to know about computers, scanners, imaging and the digital world, I am pleased to reciprocate.
} I am doing some work examining the environmental degradation of magnesium } powder. ... } ... The assumption was that as the voltage } increased, the depth of penetration increased and I would begin to see more } sub surface information (I was interested in the sub surface info for my } work and hence was using secondary electrons for this work). } .... What I need to know is how to determine at what } depth the detected secondary electrons come from as the accelerating voltage } is increased. ...
I believe you are worng about increased HV showing you more sub-surface detail. Secondary electrons will never come from anywhere but the surface ... simply not enough energy to escape from depth. However, increased HV will increase the backscatter electron contribution and obliterate surface detail ... that is, sub-surface BSE emission will become more of a contribution to what the SE detector is seeing. The type of coating also will affect BSE contribution.
The SE information depth because of their low energy is related to the escape depth of the SE (metals ~ 5nm , insulators ~75nm) (Seiler H, 1983)
SE are produced within the whole electron interaction volume but do not escape from deeper.
The SE signal will carry information from greater depths because of the SE's produced by the escaping Backscattered Electrons (Peters KR, 1982)
There are plenty of other references but those two are a reasonable starting point acquired when doing my MSC. Seiler H 1983, is also good reference to the SE production with lots of other refs.
Seiler H.(1983) "Secondary Electron Emission in the scanning electron microscopy", J.App.Phys., 1983, V54 (11), Nov, pgs R1-R18
Peters KR (1982), "Conditions required for high quality high magnification images in secondary electron-I scanning electron microscopy" Scanning Electron Microscopy, 1982, vol 4, pgs 1359-1372
Stuart G McClure
At 10:02 10/08/99 +1000, Deyong, Leo wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America "There is a special providence in the fall of a sparrow; If it be now, it is not to come; If it be not to come, it will be now; If it be not now, yet it will come: The readiness is all." Hamlet ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Increasing the high voltage increases the electron/specimen reaction volu= me and increases the depth from which backscattered electrons are emitted.
Whilst backscattered electrons (BSE) produce SE type 2 the dominating feature at higher kV, and at low magnifications, even in a so called secondary electron detector will be the backscatter themselves. However = if you really wish to know what is going on under the surface of the specim= en use a dedicated backscattered electron detector. With a reasonable detector and some operating knowledge you should be able to image from ~4= kV upwards. This will cover from almost the same signal depth that you are getting for SE through to several microns, depending upon the material an= d the kV range available. As a crude estimation double the kV and you penetrate three times as far!
There is so much information in the BSE signal that we use it for a good deal of the time on our courses. Sectioning the specimen through the use = of BSE is one of the most informative SEM techniques I know, it is very popular with material science clients.
Steve Chapman
Senior Consultant E.M. Protrain, 16 Hedgerley, Chinnor, Oxford OX9 4TN, England. Tel & Fax 44 (0)1844 353161 E-mail - protrain-at-emcourses.com Web Site - http://emcourses.com For Consultancy and Courses in Electron Microscopy World Wide
Warren + Jeff: All very true, but consider a couple of additional points. Very important to cooling rate is also thermal conductivity (which includes specific heat) of the cooling substance. Stainless steel is a lousy heat conductor at low temperatures and diamond is the best. Conductivity/ heat transfer of a liquid is dramatically increased by rapid movement. 1. The coolant is warmed by the specimen and lesser temperature difference slows cooling. 2. A gas forming a shroud (Leidenfrost) provides an insulating barrier. So, small samples "shoot" into licit N2 or Propane, will cool much faster. Since Jeff wanted a (friendly) argument, I would like to note that the liquid nitrogen cooling rate is very good. Its the cooling rate of cold nitrogen GAS that is poor. Cheers Jim Darley ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com.au Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes www.proscitech.com.au
On Tuesday, August 10, 1999 12:44 AM, Warren E Straszheim [SMTP:wesaia-at-iastate.edu] wrote: } } } You are correct about the limited cooling rate. You now have me dredging } for my memories of my Chemical Engineering heat transfer class. Heat } transfer nomrally goes up with temperature difference, but that rule gets } superceded when you interpose a vapor layer between the solid and liquid. } The vapor does not transfer heat near as well, so heat transfer slows down } until the layer is dissipated, often by the temperature difference } diminishing. } } The example cited for us was water droplets placed on a hot griddle. Up to } a some temperature, the droplets flung onto the griddle will spread out and } evapotate almost instantly, evaporating faster the hotter the griddle gets. } But at some higher temperature, the droplets start to dance around on the } griddle for several seconds before they eventually spread out and } evaporate. An even hotter griddle just prolongs the dancing. So it is with } LN2. It will still be a mighty coolant, but it could be worse. } } At 12:18 PM 8/7/1999 -0500, you wrote: } } } } Just for entertainment... } } Liquid Nitrogen cooling MAY be the slowest liquid cooling rate. I } } should get a rise out of a lot of you guys from saying this! -Always } } does. Liquid Nitrogen boils, creates an insulating shroud(or this is the } } theory that makes me feel warm and cozy at nite.). But Carefully!! don't } } depend on it lasting long!! I have been burned(frozen-2nd and 3rd degree) } } of couple of times. } } In many freezing rate and cooling rate studies I've observed(as a } } few others have) that warm water, oil, and cold water, ice cool faster, } } but the final temperature in Liquid N2,once you get to it, is colder. } } (and guess which is faster, warm or cold water?) OK...anyone care to } } present their theory, "cozy story", or dogma(and opposing observation) } } or comment on the mechanism(or lack of). } } } } (prepared to be embarrassed..as usual) } } Jeff Day/JD } } In Hot Texas } } Email: wa5ekh-at-juno.com }
I want to clean the vacuum bell on an Edwards Coating system (E306A) so I can implement the brass color to keep a constant carbon thickness for my probe analysis. I have the impression the guy I am replacing never cleaned the bell and I hardly see the colors through. I tried a simple wipe but that is not enough.
I agree that cryo treatments do indeed help complete the austenite conversion into martensite. The issue here is that the more recent programmed cryo treatments achieve that plus something extra. It is the "extra" that is a subject of debate.
} } I am going to add my two cents as well. As a former tooling engineer } for a major can company subzero cooling was used on critical } tooling. The major purpose was to reduce the amount of retained } austenite. } } If you retain to much austenite your part can crack from internal } stresses when the austenite converts to martensite during use. } Austenite and martensite have different volumes so you want as } much of the retained austenite converted as possible before the part } is put into use. Other liquids you can use to subzero quench are } oxygen, helium and hydrogen. } } The composition of the metal being used for the tool, the heat } treatment specified the initial quench media used, time before } subzero quench is started will all have an effect on how successful } the subzero quench is. } } Tool Steels, Fourth Edition has 83 references on heat treating of } tools steels. } } Keith Collins } DOE Albany Research Center } 1450 Queen Ave. SW } Albany, Oregon 97321 } Alan Stone ASTON Metallurgical Services
You can critical point dry bacteria and image with an SEM, HOWEVER, in general you will not preserve the delicate exopolymer that surrounds many bacteria, and so will lose that information from pure culture cells and especially those growing in a biofilm. If it is the shape of the cell you are after, this isn't a bad method, though I have had cells collapse in the critical point dryer and deform. I suggest you make sure your cells are clean, ie. no gooey medium components, because these will stick to the cells during drying. Possibly the reason you have heard you should use TEM is because there are methods (freeze substitution) whereby you will preserve the polymer and, if this applies, metals, etc. associated with it.
Barbara Eaglesham Research Support Specialist Dept. of Microbiology Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14850 (607) 255-1218 bse3-at-cornell.edu
I had similar problems using a Leaf scanner. The scanner was run from PhotoShop. In the simplest mode of operation, a "prescan" was run prior to the actual scan. From this, the user selects a "black pixel" and a "white pixel" (using a mouse). The software then proceeded to discard all information darker than the "black pixel" and lighter than the "white pixel", and subsequently to scale all intervening information from 0....255 to make an 8 bit image. The result was a non-reproducible scanning process (depending on what one happened to select with the mouse), and was often unsatisfactory for high-contrast negatives.
We found an option in the software which allowed us to collect the raw signal from the scanner as a 16 bit greyscale image file. In most cases, the scanner hardware is capable of distinguishing different contrast levels from the darkest areas and the lightest areas of the negatives. The problem may be finding a way to get the software to actually give you all the information. Once you have it, it is in principle going to be possible to preserve this information in the final output (given some patience and perfectionism at image processing).
I'd suggest you contact your vendor to see if you can run your scanner in a mode similar to that which we've adopted in our work (i.e. you should try to get the raw scanner signal, with resolution } 8 bits).
Wharton ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Wharton Sinkler Argonne National Laboratory West P. O. Box 2528 Idaho Falls, ID 83403 Tel: (208) 533-7724 FAX: (208) 533-7863
mailto:wharton.sinkler-at-anlw.anl.gov
} Hi, } } We are currently using a regular scanner with a transparency } attachment to scan our negatives. It works fine for some negatives, but } sometimes if the negative contrast is so high, we have to return to the } darkroom to make the positives. I was wondering if someone else has } experimented to use a negative scanner (Minolta or Nikon produces negative } scanner for large format) to scan TEM negatives (6x9 cm). } } Kazuo } } o-------------------------------------------------------o } | Carlos Kazuo Inoki | } | Department of Physics - University at Albany | } | 1400 Washington Ave.- Albany - NY - 12222 | } o-------------------------------------------------------o }
I am looking for a multiple specimen holder for Hitachi-600 TEM, which can at least hold two samples at a time. Please let me know if any of you or your friends have such a holder and want to give away or trade it. I can pay a reasonable amount. Thanks
Gang Ning EM Facility Medical College of Wisconsin
There is an XRF listserver where you would probably find this information. I
think you can subscribe by sending a "SUBSCRIBE" command to LISTSERV-at-LISTSERV.SYR.EDU. If that doesn't work, contact the list administrator (Michael Cheatham {mmcheath-at-MAILBOX.SYR.EDU} ).
Jim McGee
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ James J. McGee (email: jmcgee-at-sc.edu) Department of Geological Sciences University of South Carolina Columbia, SC 29208
Tel: 803-777-6300 Fax: 803-777-6610
"Darus, Mark" 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 believe within the last two weeks, there was a short discussion } here that either an XRF forum, like this, exist or somebody was asking if } one exists. } Does one exist? Let me know, } } Thanks. } } Mark Darus, BFGoodrich Aerospace
} -----Original Message----- } } We are currently using a regular scanner with a transparency } attachment to scan our negatives. It works fine for some } negatives, but } sometimes if the negative contrast is so high, we have to } return to the } darkroom to make the positives. ...
I'm wondering if the deficiency you claim is "as displayed on the monitor" or is "as printed to digital hardcopy"??? I can well imagine a deficient printer (that is, there isn't a printer on the market which can provide the dynamic range of quality photographic paper), but I'd think a typical display could provide the dynamic range required (grayscale anyway). If it is the monitor, you could try a monitor profiler (Colorific, Adobe gamma) which usually use the monitor's maximum contrast. The other aspect of scanner acquisition is its response curve, or "gamma". It could be your scanner is providing something different than using your negative/enlarger/paper combination. This should be correctable ... and this is where you may need a better scanner, and possibly one designed for transparencies. The current scanners on the market can deliver 12-16bit depth to your editting software, therefore all the information you'd need for modifying the gamma with precision. I don't know that I'd depend on suggestions from the list regarding performance ... you should test the scanners with your most difficult nagatives. I would trust suggestions found here regarding various manufacturers technical support and the quality of the software. I can only attest to Nikon's 35mm scanner and an older HP flatbed (w/ transparency option). Nikon's support is "good" but the forums and focus appear weighted to their 35mm scanners. ... 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/
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
There is an ISI 100 scanning electron microscope on campus that is being sent to salvage. The question arose as to special handling. All manuals are gone so I was hoping someone familiar with this instrument can tell us if it has a mercury diffusion pump and if there is a high voltage tank which may have oil contaminated with PCB's. Are there any other potentially dangerous components in this system that would be of concern to our hazardous waste people?
We appreciate the information as we try to dispose of this "dinasaur" of an SEM.
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
Please help. This person is not on the list server so respond to
Robert G. Best {best-at-richmed.medpark.sc.edu}
Thanks
Susanne P Brandom MicroWorld Directory of Microscopy Products and Services www.mwrn.com
-----Original Message----- } From: Robert G. Best {best-at-richmed.medpark.sc.edu} To: spb-at-mwrn.com {spb-at-mwrn.com}
Deyong, Leo wrote:
} I am doing some work examining the environmental degradation of magnesium } powder. I have done a lot of SEM work and one of the small side bits of } work I did was to look at some of my samples in the SEM with different } accelerating beam voltages. The assumption was that as the voltage } increased, the depth of penetration increased and I would begin to see more } sub surface information (I was interested in the sub surface info for my } work and hence was using secondary electrons for this work). The SEM's did } change as the voltage increased and the surface detail began to disappear. } I got hold of a Monte Carlo simulation (Joy) which gave me the penetration } depth and trajectories of the incident electrons into the sample (I assumed } the sample was either magnesium, magnesium hydroxide or magnesium oxide) but } it does not answer my questions. Although these incident electrons will } penetrate to significant depths, I assume that the information I am seeing } in the image is coming from secondary electrons that are nowhere nearly as } deep in the sample. That is, the simulation indicates that say the maximum } penetration depth for a 30kV accelerating voltage into Mg is 12.1 microns. } However, a secondary electron at this depth will have little or no hope of } escaping to the detector. What I need to know is how to determine at what } depth the detected secondary electrons come from as the accelerating voltage } is increased. I believe that there are computer programs around that allow } this to be calculated but cannot track any down. Are you able to assist me } with this?
Dear Leo, Secondary electrons have energies below 50 eV, so the only ones which will enter the detector are from the first few atomic layers regardless of the energy of the incident beam. Since you need info from sub-surface layers, you will need to generate electrons with somewhat larger energies or other- wise obtain signal from the appropriate part of the sample. Perhaps back- scattered electrons from an incident beam of the appropriate energy will probe the region you want, or possibly Auger electrons could be useful. Another possibility is reflection electron diffraction, either low-angle with relatively large energy or low-energy ED (backscattered ED). Good luck. Yours, Bill Tivol
Belts and many other parts are listed on our web site: www.ventanamed.com, look for the Ventana/RMC link, then look for the Parts Catalog. Call us for prices after locating the part number. Phone: 520-903-9366
For outside the U.S. see the distributor guide under Ventana/RMC and call the distributor listed for your country for pricing.
Ventana Medical Systems manufactures specimen preparation equipment for microsopy including rotary and ultramicrotomes.
Steve Miller North American Sales Manager, Microscopy Products Group 3865 N. Business Center Dr. Tucson, AZ 85705
} I want to clean the vacuum bell on an Edwards Coating system } (E306A) ... I tried a simple wipe but that is not enough.
One would never guess carbon being so difficult to remove {smile} . I use a foaming window cleaner and scrub pad ... followed by rinsing well with water, followed by relatively dry alcohol. Others may suggest a final soapy film rinse to keep the carbon buildup to a minimum, but I rather clean often.
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/
If it is really tough, a trick that I picked up from a temporary undergraduate student while I was in graduate school was to use a wad of Aluminum foil. It took the coating off and didn't scratch the glass. You have to use several wads of aluminum foil. -Scott
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Glass Technology Center 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: "pbedard-at-saglac.qc.ca"-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
Hello,
I want to clean the vacuum bell on an Edwards Coating system (E306A) so I can implement the brass color to keep a constant carbon thickness for my probe analysis. I have the impression the guy I am replacing never cleaned the bell and I hardly see the colors through. I tried a simple wipe but that is not enough.
I had the same problem with our Edwards, it was nearly black! At first I tried acetone, but that only cleaned the lightly coated areas. After much scrubbing, I resorted to using Pol polishing compound and light gauze sponges. It doesn't scratch the glass and works quite well. Good luck! Jo Dee Fish
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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, } } I want to clean the vacuum bell on an Edwards Coating system } (E306A) so I can implement the brass color to keep a constant } carbon thickness for my probe analysis. I have the impression the } guy I am replacing never cleaned the bell and I hardly see the } colors through. I tried a simple wipe but that is not enough.
We find that 95% ethanol and a little elbow grease applied toa slightly abrasive material such as Kimwipes will readily remove the carbon. I've heard of materials that can be sprayed on to the bell jar surface after cleaning which will make the next cleaning much easier but I have not used them. I should invest some money in Kimberly-Clark, the manufacturer of Kimwipes. They are indispensable in the lab!
I've successfully used Bon Ami cleanser, and Al wool for this. I have no idea from where our supply of Al wool came, but I'd bet those bronze pads seen at the food store would work as well. I'd avoid any of the harder abrasive cleaners (e.g. the ubiquitous green scouring pads that people use to scratch glassware with). A scored bell jar and high vacuum sounds like a bad mix.
John Heckman MSU Center for Electron Optics
} Hello, } } I want to clean the vacuum bell on an Edwards Coating system } (E306A) so I can implement the brass color to keep a constant } carbon thickness for my probe analysis. I have the impression the } guy I am replacing never cleaned the bell and I hardly see the } colors through. I tried a simple wipe but that is not enough.
} Hi, } } We are currently using a regular scanner with a transparency } attachment to scan our negatives. It works fine for some negatives, but } sometimes if the negative contrast is so high, we have to return to the } darkroom to make the positives. I was wondering if someone else has } experimented to use a negative scanner (Minolta or Nikon produces negative } scanner for large format) to scan TEM negatives (6x9 cm). } } Kazuo
Scanning negatives is preferred to scanning transparencies since the dynamic range of the scanner is better for negs. Scanners have a D range specification and the higher the better. A D of 3.4 is good for a high end flat bed. If you have good D range, then I would suspect that your highlights are blown out on your neg (over exposed). Either readjust your brightness and contrast controls to even out the range. Another option is to adjust the scope's gamma control to compress the image's dynamic range. Lastly, if you have a video processor, a single or double level log compression will reduce the dynamic range and produce a nice image. Then put this on film.
Also, some films are more contrasty than others. For example, I have found that the Kodak T-MAX films are very high in contrast while the Ilford FP4+ and HP-5+ are very smooth in tonal range. The Ilford Delta series are also smooth but more critical in exposure (lacking somewhat on lattitude).
******* YES, YOU CAN TEST & UPGRADE YOUR COMPUTER =46OR Y2K COMPLIANC= E =46OR ONLY $24.95! IT'S =46AST AND EASY TOO!! *******
Simply click on: http://webtrends.cx/forms/fred1/
for more information.
Order your copy today!
Don't wait until it's too late..............
{ { { { { This message complies with the U.S. =46ederal requirements for commercial E-mail as well as the Washington State Commercial E-mail Bill. If you wish to be removed from our database and any future mailings, please send a reply to: mailto:mbok95-at-usa.net?subject=3Dremove
******* YES, YOU CAN TEST & UPGRADE YOUR COMPUTER =46OR Y2K COMPLIANC= E =46OR ONLY $24.95! IT'S =46AST AND EASY TOO!! *******
Simply click on: http://webtrends.cx/forms/fred1/
for more information.
Order your copy today!
Don't wait until it's too late..............
{ { { { { This message complies with the U.S. =46ederal requirements for commercial E-mail as well as the Washington State Commercial E-mail Bill. If you wish to be removed from our database and any future mailings, please send a reply to: mailto:mbok95-at-usa.net?subject=3Dremove
******* YES, YOU CAN TEST & UPGRADE YOUR COMPUTER =46OR Y2K COMPLIANC= E =46OR ONLY $24.95! IT'S =46AST AND EASY TOO!! *******
Simply click on: http://webtrends.cx/forms/fred1/
for more information.
Order your copy today!
Don't wait until it's too late..............
{ { { { { This message complies with the U.S. =46ederal requirements for commercial E-mail as well as the Washington State Commercial E-mail Bill. If you wish to be removed from our database and any future mailings, please send a reply to: mailto:mbok95-at-usa.net?subject=3Dremove
At 05:02 PM 8/9/99 , you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Have you seen the Electron Flight Simulator from SPI? It can be found at:
Again, thanks to all who responded to my post about whether bacteria could be viewed on a SEM. The overwhelming answer is YES! I used that to beat up the guy who told me that it could not be done without a TEM.
The key issues are fixing, drying and how the bacteria are cultured. Then, the stub material is a factor and finally, whether the flagella can be seen. I'm more interested in the overall shape than flagella detail.
So my last question (or so I presume) in this vein is to ask if there are any suppliers or outfits out there who can implement any of the specimen preparation protocols that support SEM examination and who have one or more of these bacterial subjects. I am looking for perhaps up to 50 different types of bacteria. I can supply the stubs and specimen stub boxes. I need buggers that have been prepared for SEM analysis. Are there places that can do this at reasonable prices?
I use Pella aluminum and graphite Amray 3.1mm stubs.
If you have any leads, please contact me via e-mail or telecon at 916.791.8191 or fax at 916.791.8186.
I received this inquiry and I don't have the answer. If any of you can help, please respond to the individual directly, as she is not on the listserver.
Best regards, Steven Slap ******************************************* Energy Beam Sciences, Inc. The Laboratory Microwave Company Adding Brilliance to Your Vision http://www.ebsciences.com {http://www.ebsciences.com} *******************************************
-----Original Message----- =46rom: Susanne S=F8rensen [SMTP:sus.sus-at-danbbs.dk] {mailto:[SMTP:sus.sus-at-danbbs.dk]} Sent: Monday, July 26, 1999 2:03 PM To: ebs-at-ebsciences.com {mailto:ebs-at-ebsciences.com}
We are using the same method for our Bal-tec sputter coater, and yes, it works. We are using lint-free paper, and I suppose it is similar to Kimwipes. This lint-free paper we are using comes in big sheets and we just cut it to approximately 5" by 7", so it is easy to keep them clean and dry in empty photographic paper boxes.
We requested that all users do a minor cleaning of the chamber with lint-free paper each time they finish coating, so that the carbon layer won't accumulate. Of course, the technical staff in-charge has to do the overall cleaning once a month at least if the usage is high.
Guess pbedard will have a hard time cleaning for this round, but trust me, it will be great to see the clean glass again.
Catherine Tang 7th APEM Organising Committee c/o Electron Microscopy Unit Faculty of Medicine National University of Singapore Tel: 65 874 3216 Fax: 65 776 4971
-----Original Message----- } From: "GANTZ-at-med-biophd.bu.edu"-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com [mailto:"GANTZ-at-med-biophd.bu.edu"-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com] Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 1999 4:57 AM To: MICROSCOPY-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com
We find that 95% ethanol and a little elbow grease applied toa slightly abrasive material such as Kimwipes will readily remove the carbon. I've heard of materials that can be sprayed on to the bell jar surface after cleaning which will make the next cleaning much easier but I have not used them. I should invest some money in Kimberly-Clark, the manufacturer of Kimwipes. They are indispensable in the lab!
I had the same problem with some molybdenum thrown in aswell. =20 We've got a tin of Alconox Detergent=20 For Cleaning Laboratory, Hospital, Clinical and Industrial Ware to a = Sparkling Brilliance. Its made by Alconox Inc in New York I turned the bell jar upside down filled it with hot water and added a = liberal amount of Alconox powder. The company recommend 30gm per gallon. = (Imperial and Metric units in one sentence, I was confused) After soaking for a couple of hours the carbon just floated off. It was = like a thin film on the surface and the stubborn spots required a bit of = scrubbing with paper towel. =20
Good luck! Thats my two cents.
George
George Theodossiou Dept Applied Physics RMIT GPO Box 2476V Melbourne 3001 Victoria Australia Ph: +61 3 9925 1793 +61 3 9925 2205 Fax: +61 3 9925 5290 Email: george.theodossiou-at-rmit.edu.au
Home Ph: +61 3 9808 9085
Impossible I Can Do Today, Miracles, Require 24 Hours Notice
Hi all This is one of these strange situations where you know what you're looking for but you cant find it.
We have a ISI SX 40 SEM with a focus drift problem. We know its the objective lens current that is fluctuating and suspect the reference or grounding resistor for the objective lens. Now this is one of these classic ISI mods which is very difficult to find. On the diag. it shows a mod which has this resistor plugged in via JN19 and is a 1.5 ohm 600watt resistor. That should be big enough to find. We can find all the other lens reference resistors, but for all the looking, we don't seem to be able to find this resistor anywhere. Does any one have some info on this and where we could possibly find this resistor ? On the cct diag N107N01 2/2 this resistor is on board N107N05 via JN 19. Top left corner of the diags.) Can any one help ?
Luc Harmsen Anaspec, South Africa Technical support on microscopy. Tel + 27 (0) 11 476 3455 Fax + 27 (0) 11 476 7290 anaspec-at-icon.co.za
Besides my SEM work I am in charge of an XRD lab. Not really being a matter of microscopy, I am looking for a reference material with more than 15% retained austenite in ferrite (I already have an NBS SRM485a, 5% austenite in ferrite).
I've used Bell Bright (I forget who sells it) to help eliminate the struggle of cleaning the walls of my sputter coater. After cleaning (or better yet, prior to running the sputter coater) I give the chamber wall a light spray- ing and the coating comes off with soap and a light brushing. I don't know if it would work with a carbon coater or not but it's worth a try.
Regards,
Stephen P. Cavender Metallographer Advanced Modular Power Systems, Inc. 4370 Varsity Drive Ann Arbor, MI 48108-2241 734-677-4260 x 209 voice 734-677-0704 fax scavender-at-ampsys.com www.ampsys.com
I use a household cleaner called Quick Job. One part Quick Job to 5 parts water and spray the solution into the bell jar. The carbon just wipes off with a paper towel, no steel wool, no Al-foil, no elbow grease. Its as easy as wiping water up off a floor. I follow with ethanol and end up with a sparkling clean bell jar in about 3 min. I bought a gallon some 5 years ago for $46....the following may be out of date:
JP Enterprises/Chemical Division 1835 Whittier Ave, B-9 Costa Mesa, Ca 92627 714-646-4167
************************************************ Dr. Scott Kuehner kuehner-at-u.washington.edu Dept. of Geological Sciences ph.206-543-8393 Box 351310 Fax 206-616-6873 The University of Washington Seattle, Washington 98195-1310 ************************************************
On Tue, 10 Aug 1999 GANTZ-at-med-biophd.bu.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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } We find that 95% ethanol and a little elbow grease applied toa } slightly abrasive material such as Kimwipes will readily remove the } carbon. I've heard of materials that can be sprayed on to the bell jar } surface after cleaning which will make the next cleaning much easier but } I have not used them. I should invest some money in Kimberly-Clark, } the manufacturer of Kimwipes. They are indispensable in the lab! } } Don Gantz } Boston Univ School of Medicine } }
Hello pbedard: I note that you had plenty of advice on cleaning. Here is a note to make future cleaning dead simple. Lightly coat the inside of the belljar with about 1:10 diluted household detergent. Leave to dry or speed drying with a hairdryer. For the next cleaning job use a sponge with a bit of warm water and the coating just floats off.
A detergent coated bell jar darkens faster because less carbon bounce occurs within. In theory that should result in sharper shadows and less carbon deposit on the uncoated part of the chamber. Vacuum is not affected if the belljar is properly dried. Cheers Jim Darley ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com.au Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes www.proscitech.com.au
On Tuesday, August 10, 1999 11:24 PM, "pbedard-at-saglac.qc.ca"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com [SMTP:"pbedard-at-saglac.qc.ca"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com] wrote: } } Hello, } } I want to clean the vacuum bell on an Edwards Coating system } (E306A) so I can implement the brass color to keep a constant } carbon thickness for my probe analysis. I have the impression the } guy I am replacing never cleaned the bell and I hardly see the } colors through. I tried a simple wipe but that is not enough. } } }
Leo and Bill: I don't understand Bill's intentions - what sub-surface structures? If you want atomic number imaging, than the secondary detector is the wrong detector to use. The secondary image renders topography based on edge contrast excellently. In other words, brightness largely increases with beam/ specimen angle of incidence. A grazing entry yields most secondaries and therefore is very bright. By definition there is no such thing as sub-surface topography. As the accelerating voltage is increased, secondaries which carry topographic information are swamped by secondaries which are generated by X-rays moving backwards, towards the surface. Since secondaries do not greatly differentiate atomic number contrast, there is little to be gained from using higher kV to produce secondary images. What you need for sub-surface imaging, besides reasonable high voltages is a good backscattered detector (I think the Robinson type is very good). Also, atomic number contrast works much better if all surface information is eliminated through the use of polished specimens. Another, probably better means of showing the various elements may be through a good quality (background subtracted, slowly accumulated) X-ray map of a polished specimen.
Bill's comments are right, but he has not fully explained why the secondaries will not work, with increased kV. It's true, secondaries are of such low energy and can only come from the very surface. With higher kV more secondaries will be released through interactions from below the surface. With higher kV, its not just the primary beam which penetrates further. X-rays generated by primary (and other) electrons travel further and will undergo on average several interaction (Monte Carlo model). This process will eventually release many more secondaries from the surface. These additional electrons are added to the less numerous secondaries which were generated by primary electrons entering the specimen. These "additional" secondaries do not carry much image information and cause the whitening out of fine surface structures. Cheers Jim Darley ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com.au Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes www.proscitech.com.au
On Wednesday, August 11, 1999 2:26 AM, William Tivol [SMTP:tivol-at-wadsworth.org] wrote: } } Deyong, Leo wrote: } } } I am doing some work examining the environmental degradation of magnesium } } powder. I have done a lot of SEM work and one of the small side bits of } } work I did was to look at some of my samples in the SEM with different } } accelerating beam voltages. The assumption was that as the voltage } } increased, the depth of penetration increased and I would begin to see more } } sub surface information (I was interested in the sub surface info for my } } work and hence was using secondary electrons for this work). The SEM's did } } change as the voltage increased and the surface detail began to disappear. } } I got hold of a Monte Carlo simulation (Joy) which gave me the penetration } } depth and trajectories of the incident electrons into the sample (I assumed } } the sample was either magnesium, magnesium hydroxide or magnesium oxide) } } but } } it does not answer my questions. Although these incident electrons will } } penetrate to significant depths, I assume that the information I am seeing } } in the image is coming from secondary electrons that are nowhere nearly as } } deep in the sample. That is, the simulation indicates that say the maximum } } penetration depth for a 30kV accelerating voltage into Mg is 12.1 microns. } } However, a secondary electron at this depth will have little or no hope of } } escaping to the detector. What I need to know is how to determine at what } } depth the detected secondary electrons come from as the accelerating } } voltage } } is increased. I believe that there are computer programs around that allow } } this to be calculated but cannot track any down. Are you able to assist me } } with this? } } } Dear Leo, } Secondary electrons have energies below 50 eV, so the only ones } which } will enter the detector are from the first few atomic layers regardless of } the } energy of the incident beam. Since you need info from sub-surface layers, } you will need to generate electrons with somewhat larger energies or other- } wise obtain signal from the appropriate part of the sample. Perhaps back- } scattered electrons from an incident beam of the appropriate energy will } probe the region you want, or possibly Auger electrons could be useful. } Another possibility is reflection electron diffraction, either low-angle with } relatively large energy or low-energy ED (backscattered ED). Good luck. } Yours, } Bill Tivol }
At 11:04 PM 8/10/99 , you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
600 Watts???? That would qualify it as a room heater!! 600 Watts is not a RETMA standard value, neither is 60 Watts or 6 Watts. They are 5, 10, 25, etc. If you can fax me a section of the schematic, I'd be glad to look at it.
gary g. 916.791.8186 fax USA Cheers, Gary Gaugler, Ph.D.
} I don't understand Bill's intentions - what sub-surface structures?
Dear Jim,
Check out the article by Leslie, et al. in Microscopy Research and Technique, Vol. 46, pp 160-177. On p 162 there is a description of LEED which implies that it can be used to get info about atomic positions from the first six atomic layers or so, if the electrons are backscattered out of the sample. I was the guest editor for this issue, so, although I do not get paid more if more people read it, I have, nonetheless, an interest in publicizing it. Yours, Bill
} I've used Bell Bright (I forget who sells it) to help eliminate the struggle } of cleaning the walls of my sputter coater. After cleaning (or better yet, } prior to running the sputter coater) I give the chamber wall a light spray- } ing and the coating comes off with soap and a light brushing. I don't } know if it would work with a carbon coater or not but it's worth a try. } } Regards, } } Stephen P. Cavender
I once used one of these products (I don't recall which one, possibly/possibly not Bell Bright/Brite), and had a difficult time generating carbon films that would hold together for preparation of carbon film grids. A rigorous cleaning of the bell jar with FL-70 detergent corrected the problem. (FL-70 is a biodegradable detergent our Biochem store stocks.) Thus, I don't like to use these products. I'm sure one of them probably works, but I have other things to do with my time than to try to trouble shoot them. I have heard that a light layer of dish soap will also take the elbow work out of bell jar cleaning, but again, I'd rather not run the risk of having it in my carbon films. As far as cleaning a bell jar, we soak the bell jar in hot water with FL-70 detergent, and as someone else reported, the carbon floats off. For those stubborn areas, a Kim-wipe with a little "Metalblau"(sp) metal polish seems to remove it without scratching. Then, wash as previously mentioned to remove residual metal polish. An ethanol rinse after washing can be used, but might be overkill. Randy -- Randy Nessler rnessler-at-emiris.iaf.uiowa.edu Views expressed are my own.
S=F8rensen Henning Sund wrote: } =20 } Besides my SEM work I am in charge of an XRD lab. } Not really being a matter of microscopy, I am looking for a reference } material with more than 15% retained } austenite in ferrite (I already have an NBS SRM485a, 5% austenite in } ferrite). } =20 } Does anyone know about a likely supplier? } =20 } Regards, } =20 } Henning Sorensen
Henning,
I cannot suggest a supplier for austenite in ferrite reference materials, but I have some additional information that might be valuable to you. In addition to SRM485a (5% austenite), NIST at one time produced and sold two other austenite in ferrite SRMs designed for calibrating XRD measurements of retained austenite in ferrous materials:
SRM487 30% Austenite in Ferrite SRM488 2.5% Austenite in Ferrite
It sounds like SRM487 is what you are looking for. NIST SRM487 does not appear on the NIST SRM webite, and a quick phone call to the SRM program at NIST confirmed that they no longer sell SRM487, but you may be able to get a disk and certificate from a colleague. I don't know the exact dates of production, but the certificate date is listed as May 1982, and 487 appears as late as 1995-1996, according to my (backdated) SRM catalogs.
Can you explain me in detail, how to do this type of positive making? I would like to try this. I have a SEM Topcon SM-510 and I work only with digital images and print them in a videoprinter. This SEM has also a Polaroid 545i camera but only works with instant photographs and they are very expensivse and don=B4t give a negative.... But I=B4ve visited other laboratories and I=B4ve worked in their dark room, so I have some negatives and I would like to try what you do with them and scanner. M.C. Ma. Guadalupe Nieto Lopez Laboratorio de Microscopia Electronica ECOSUR Tapachula Carr. Ant. Aeropuerto Km. 2.5 30700 Tapachula, Chis. Tel. (962) 81077 y 81103 Fax. (962) 81015
A student here would like to paste together images to make a mosaic. He may need 50 to 100 images to cover his total field of view. We have used U of Texas Image Tool's stack facility sucsessfully, but it is a bit tedious to open the image files one by one, especially when there may be sets for several elements plus BSE. We can easily export the images from our Cameca/Oxford-exl system to a PC, but need advice on suitable software to make the mosaic.
Thanks in advance, Maggy *****************************************************************
Maggy Piranian Electron Microprobe & X-Ray Diffraction Labs Dept. of Earth Sciences Memorial University of Newfoundland St. John's, Newfoundland Canada A1B 3X5
Does anybody know about EDX composition of clay minerals such as chlorite, smectite, Ilite..etc Thanks a lot ! Ailton Luis S. Souza=09 T=E9cnico de Explora=E7=E3o de Petr=F3leo PETROBRAS/CENPES/DIGER/SEGRES TEL 865 6568 FAX 865 6828
We have a problem on the focus board on a Phillips TEM and have traced the fault to some SN74111N IC's. These are Dual J-K Master/Slave IC's with Presets and Clears. These IC's seem to have been discontinued and are not available anywhere in South Africa. Phillips themselves cannot get them for us.
If anybody has some of these as spares it would be appreciated if you could let us know.
Much thanks
Luc Harmsen Anaspec, South Africa Technical support on microscopy. Tel + 27 (0) 11 476 3455 Fax + 27 (0) 11 476 7290 anaspec-at-icon.co.za
We adapted a Nikon SMZ-U for GFP studies with components purchased through Kramer Scientific, Elmsford, NY (914) 345-6060. They included a Leica lamp housing, a Ludl (LEP) power supply and an Endow filter set (from Chroma). These add on parts cost about $8000. Nikon now has an epi-fluorescent accessory. The Leica system also looks usable. Our experience in looking at GFP expression in drosophila embryos and larvae indicates that this level of microscope is okay for determining that a GFP pattern exists, yes or no, but not for determining the fine structure. For example, we can determine that there is GFP in axons but not if the axons are all present or have misroutings. If your signal is weak you may not be able to see it since the N.A. of the optics is comparatively low. Larry D. Ackerman Lily & Yuh Nung Jan Laboratories Howard Hughes Medical Institute UCSF, Box 0725, Rm U226 533 Parnassus Ave. San Francisco, CA 94143
The above address is a direct link to a discussion from a year ago I archive at "Tips & Tricks" which can be found at:
http://www.biotech.ufl.edu/~emcl/
Good luck
At 12:57 PM 8/11/1999 -0230, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} { GO GATORS Scott D. Whittaker 218 Carr Hall EM Technician Gainesville, FL 32610 University Of Florida ph 352-392-1184 ICBR EM Core Lab fax 352-846-0251 sdw-at-biotech.ufl.edu http://www.biotech.ufl.edu/~emcl/ The home of " Tips & Tricks "
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Thanks to all who responded to my query about the ISI 100 SEM. Arrangements are being made to have the instrument picked up for parts. Thanks to the listserve, another instrument will still serve a valuable purpose rather than be relegated to the scrap heap.
id NAA17519; Wed, 11 Aug 1999 13:55:27 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: {3.0.6.32.19990811150002.0096ba10-at-biotech.ufl.edu} X-Sender: sdw-at-biotech.ufl.edu X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Light Version 3.0.6 (32)
Any suggestions for this person. Pass along to him rather than me. Thanks
} Date: Wed, 11 Aug 1999 10:37:32 -0500 } From: Rena Krol {Rena.Krol-at-usm.edu} } Subject: Jellyfish for SEM } To: "Histonet-at-Pathology.swmed.edu" {Histonet-at-pathology.swmed.edu} } } Hello Histonetters, } I just received some small jellyfish (3/4 inch diameter) with attached } Vibrio. Does anyone have any experience with processing such a } gelatinous critter } for scanning electron microscopy? Your help is appreciated! } Rena Krol } } } }
} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} { GO GATORS Scott D. Whittaker 218 Carr Hall EM Technician Gainesville, FL 32610 University Of Florida ph 352-392-1184 ICBR EM Core Lab fax 352-846-0251 sdw-at-biotech.ufl.edu http://www.biotech.ufl.edu/~emcl/ The home of " Tips & Tricks "
We just use 409 cleaner sprayed on a paper towel, or better yet some Kim wipes, to clean carbon from the jar and stage. It's fast, efficient, and doesn't leave an outgassing residue. We also clean it after each use since it takes so little time.
Bill
-- ============================================================= Bill Chissoe III Electron Microscopist University of Oklahoma 770 Van Vleet Oval Norman, Ok. 73019 E-mail: wchiss-at-ou.edu Ph. (405)325-4391 =============================================================
Well Listers. While many of you were off wandering around Portland some of us were actually working. After more than a year and a half of neglect, the Tips & Tricks archive of this listserver is now up to date. There are more than 525 links spanning the last 4 years worth of biologic discussions in a searchable fromat. Just point your browser to:
www.biotech.ufl.edu/~emcl/
and follow the tips link.
As always if there is a biologic discussion you recall posted but can't find, let me know. It is probably sitting in my inbox and I will forward it to you.
Good luck
} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} { GO GATORS Scott D. Whittaker 218 Carr Hall EM Technician Gainesville, FL 32610 University Of Florida ph 352-392-1184 ICBR EM Core Lab fax 352-846-0251 sdw-at-biotech.ufl.edu http://www.biotech.ufl.edu/~emcl/ The home of " Tips & Tricks "
At 03:14 AM 8/11/99 , you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America=20
If you have a traditional polaroid holder, it is a Graflok mechanism. It= would be a clamshell affair between which the Polaroid 545 holder is mounted. By removing the holder, you can insert a standard 4x5" cut film holder loaded with black and white negative sheet film. The holders have two sides and so hold two sheets of film. Make your exposure and have the film developed. You will have a nice negative. Press the invert button on your scope, make the exposure, and you will have a transparency (a positive film image). Both of these will be very high quality and cost about 25 cents per sheet, plus processing.
Polaroid makes a positive/negative sheet film product for the 545 holder. It makes a b/w print and a b/w negative at the same time. It is not cheap though.
At 08:27 AM 8/11/99 , you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Try PanaVue's Visual Stitcher. I just got it and it works quite well. Much better than others I have used that were more expensive. This software costs $65 on CD, less for just download. You can find them at
A request to the chips mailing list will usually find anything that exist or a substitute for it. http://www.xs4all.nl/~ganswijk/chipdir/. The maintainer of the list Japp Ganswijk can be very helpful.
You should be able to find a substitute.
Good luck Gordon
Gordon Couger gcouger-at-couger.com 624 Cheyenne Stillwater, OK 74075-1411 405 624-2855 GMT -6:00 www.couger.com/gcouger } } We have a problem on the focus board on a Phillips TEM and have traced the } fault to some SN74111N IC's. These are Dual J-K Master/Slave IC's with } Presets and Clears. These IC's seem to have been discontinued and are not } available anywhere in South Africa. Phillips themselves cannot get them for } us. } } If anybody has some of these as spares it would be appreciated if you could } let us know. }
I have problem with mail from Gang Ning. I am using windows 98 SE and Outlook, every time when I try to open mail from and only Gang Ning my whole computer frozen and has to be manually reboot by reset switch, even Alt+crt+del do not work. Anyone has similar problem or it is only ma computer machine???
Keep care and be of good cheer.
Regards
(name) Vratislav Richard Eugene Maria John Baptist (surname) of Bejsak (Bayshark)-Collorado-Mansfeld
http://www.coleoptera.org Coleoptera - Australia, Tenebrionidae of World (incl. Lagriinae, Alleculinae)
University of Sydney The Wentworth Bldg., Box 62 NSW 2006 AUSTRALIA phone : +61 414 540 465 e-mail: vratislav-at-bigfoot.com ricardo-at-ans.com.au (before Ricardo-at-compuserve.com and ricardo-at-login.cz )
Only after the last tree has been cut down, only after the last river has been poisoned, only after the last fish has been caught, only then will you find that money can not be eaten.' CREE INDIAN PROPHECY.
Incoming mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.37 / Virus Database: 30 - Release Date: 6.4.1999
Without any data on your antigen or your antibody, it is a little = difficult to diagnose youre problem. However, my first thought would be = that you are looking at a serum protein that is present in the BSA you are = using as the blocking agent. As before, there is no background on formvar = film (unless you really mess up its preparation).
I hope this helps. If I am far off the mark, send me more data and give = me another go at it.
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
Hello Ebs! I hope that you can help me. I have a problem with background staining on my formvar film. I am doing ultracryosections on isolated neutrophils and do not use gelatine. I have space between the neutrophils and have a lot of gold on the formvar film. I block with 0,05% Glycin 1% BSA 10 min. Dilute the antibody in 0,1% BSA and wash in 1% BSA. I'm using a PBS pH 7,4. The control is negative, (I omit the primary antibody), so it is not the gold, and I can't see any reason to use normal serum. Do you think you can help me? With regards Sus S=F8rensen
RFC822 header -----------------------------------
Received: from Sparc5.Microscopy.Com [206.69.208.10] by mailhouse.hei.org (SMTPD32-4.07) id A5A7F83029E; Tue, 10 Aug 1999 23:18:15 PST Received: (from daemon-at-localhost) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11)= id TAA12108 for dist-Microscopy; Tue, 10 Aug 1999 19:09:13 -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 TAA12100 for "= MicroscopyFilteredEmail-at-msa.microscopy.com"; Tue, 10 Aug 1999 19:08:41 -= 0500 Received: from [206.69.208.21] (mac21.zaluzec.com [206.69.208.21]) by = Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) with ESMTP id TAA12090 for {= Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com} ; Tue, 10 Aug 1999 19:08:28 -0500 X-Sender: zaluzec-at-microscopy.com Message-Id: {v03007801b3d670ed282b-at-[206.69.208.21]} Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=3D"iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Date: Tue, 10 Aug 1999 19:14:42 -0500 To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com From: "Slap, Steven" {SSlap-at-ebsciences.com} Subject: FWD: Background problem on formvar film Errors-to: Microscopy-request-at-sparc5.microscopy.com X-UIDL: 228507931 Status: U =
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
Hello Pbedard: How about Olivine (Mg.Fe)2SiO4. Its part of our 53 Mineral Standard mount on page www.proscitech.com.au/48.htm There are several other Fe standards on that mount. Lose standards can be purchased, but they are not an efficient means of producing a standard mount for EDS/WDS I declare an obvious interest in these mounts. Cheers Jim Darley ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com.au Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes www.proscitech.com.au
On Wednesday, August 11, 1999 10:59 PM, Paul Bedard [SMTP:pbedard-at-saglac.qc.ca] wrote: } } Hello, } } I am looking for an Fe-rich olivine or pyroxene as a geochemical } reference sample for probing. } } Would you know where to get/buy one? } } Thanks for your help,
Hi all, Can anyone help with this query? Thanks, Rich.
We have had a person come in to our Microscopy Unit with a bit of a challenge which hopefully someone may be able to help us with.
This person has his fathers diary with the entries made in pencil. Some of the words (names and places it would seem) have been 'blacked out' with felt pen.
A local restoration expert has been able to remove the felt pen from one entry with bleach however beneath the felt pen we have found that the entry has been heavily 'blacked out' with pencil.
The story goes that the diary belongs to a soldier on Crete during WW11 who was one of the unlucky ones left behind after the Allied evacuation. He kept a diary of events however at some point blacked out in pencil places and names, presumably of people who had helped him and not wanting them to be revealed in case of capture.
Why the same entries where later blacked out with felt pen is unknown.
The person with the diary (the son) would like to find out if there is a way, using microscopy, that we can read the 'blacked out' entries.
Does anyone have any suggestions ?
Allan
------------------------------------------------------------ Allan Mitchell Technical Manager South Campus Electron Microscope Unit C/-Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology School of Medical Sciences P.O. Box 913 Dunedin New Zealand
Fax (03) 479 7254 Phone (03) 479 5642 or 479 7301
'The Southernmost EM Unit in the World'
,,, (o o) ------------------oOO-(_)-OOo----------------------------------
A colleague of mine, who is not a member of this list, is attempting to study, using a TEM, carbonate crystal of the (Ca, Mg)CO3 type. The crystals were grown under specific conditions and as such there is very little control on their size.
Typical sizes of the grown crystals range between 0.1mm to 1mm.
Due to their controlled growth it is anticipated that compositional as well as possible microstructural variation do exist within each crystal.
Ideally, we would like to prepare cross sections of these crystals for stydying them using conventional TEM microscopy coupled with EDS Microanalysis on the TEM.
The specific questions are:
a) Is anyone aware of a particular preparation technique for preparing electron transparent regions on these rather coarse crystals? Grinding the crystals to a powder form is not considered acceptable for identifying cross sectional crystal and compositional variations.
b) If we need to mount the crystals on a resin, and attempt to thin this composite, resin-crystal material, could you recommend a particular resin type that minimises incovience during examination under an electron beam?
C) Any good papers on TEM studies undertaken on similar Carbonate Crystals, especially ones that are referring to specific preparation routes?.
Many thanks in anticipation of your valuable comments.
George -- Dr Georgios FOURLARIS e-mail: fourlaris-at-postmaster.co.uk
It was reported to me that some remarks I made in haste at the end of my talk to the EBSD session at Portland were misinterpreted in the subsequen= t discussion (after I had to leave, to chair the session in the next room). Since I could not be there to clarify things at the time, I would like to do so now. =20
The question is what kind of SEM best serves the needs of EBSD. (If you have a choice.) My assumption is that the problem is to acquire the EB= SD pattern from the smallest possible region of the sample. If you have ve= ry large grains and no concern to get EBSD patterns from small regions, different criteria will apply. EBSD patterns are limited by signal to noise, so the limit comes from the current in the beam. To get patterns from small areas, the requirement is to get as much current as possible into the smallest beam. =20
I worked out an expression for how much current can be got into a beam as= a function of beam size. The expression is in the published abstract. The equation given is rather different from the standard equation in book= s, because I use the fact that EBSD requires the sample to be at a long working distance - not at the optimum distance for imaging. =20
The conclusions are:
1 The brighter the source the better. So field emission will always be b= est. 2 For a given source, the bigger the bore of the objective lens the bette= r. This means, typically, that a microscope designed for high resolution (= or to be operable at a very short working distance) will be worse than a mor= e =93conventional=94 microscope.
Those conditions are fixed by the microscope. As far as the operating conditions under your control are concerned:
1 Use the smallest, practical, working distance. 2 Use an aperture of the optimum size.
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
If the diary is intact there is a method of developing 'indented writing'. This is the physical imprint left on pages beneath the pages written on. There is a good chance that the imprint is distinguishable even though it has been overwritten.
The only two labs I know of that have a lot of experts are the FBI and the IRS (think about this for a while). They can sometimes differentiate between pencil leads by chemistry. You can hope two different pencils were used.
Last chance is get Kenneth Star convinced it has something to do with Clinton.
We once tried to embed and section organic crystals and could not get reasonable sections. We then changed our strategy and isolated the sma= llest particles in a powder by briefly sonicating the powder in an inert solv= ent (hexane for our crystals) and then letting the largest particles settl= e out. A drop of the suspension was then placed on a carbon filmed TEM g= rid and allowed to air dry leaving stable thin particles. If you sample ha= s some smaller particles this method might work.
Joe Neilly Abbott Laboratories D-45M, AP31 200 Abbott Park Rd. Abbott Park, IL 60064-6202 voice: (847)-938-5024 fax: (847)-938-5027 e-mail: joe.neilly-at-abbott.com =
Greetings Fellow Microscopists: I am having a problem cryosectioning tumor colonies that are suspended and grown in soft agar. These soft agar cylindrical chunks are approx. 4mm3 in dimension and are first fixed in 3.7 % formalin in PBS, rinsed in PBS, placed in OCT for 30 min. (in cryo-molds) and frozen in isobutane and dry ice. They are kept at -80C until ready to section. This procedure is taken from the instruction sheet from Trevigen for in situ detection of apoptosis. They are not specific as to any sectioning problems that may arise. Apparently, after the blocks and chuck are all temp. stabilized and faced off, one can see where the soft agar chunk should be in the OCT, there is a gaping hole....and this occurs immediately after the section is cut! This sounds like an infiltration problem to me. Any advise?.....Help...
Thanks to All,
Maria
Maria Fazio-Zanakis Bioimaging and Molecular Histology Hoechst Marion Roussel, Inc. 1-908-231-3357 Fax: 1-908-231-3962 Email: Maria.Fazio-Zanakis-at-hmrag.com
Correction: I erred, Nikon does not make an epi-fluorescence light source for their stereo microscopes but our local supplier, Technical Instruments, can supply one which I heard is made by MVI. I appologize for the confusion.
Larry D. Ackerman Lily & Yuh Nung Jan Laboratories Howard Hughes Medical Institute UCSF, Box 0725, Rm U226 533 Parnassus Ave. San Francisco, CA 94143
Hello - I want to use transmission electron microscopy to analyze carbonaceous phases using electron energy loss techniques (as well as EDX) and thus it would be desirable to have low-Z, carbon free, thin-films (100 Angstroms or so) on TEM grids. I wondered if anyone knows where I might obtain suitable thin-films on TEM grids for this purpose. I have purchased SiO thin-films on conventional TEM grids but would prefer a lower Z material for a number of reasons such as lower mean-free path and a need to do quantitative analysis on both Si and O.
Two possibiliites come to mind. The first would be a beryllium substrate on say a 200 mesh TEM grid but due to it's well-known toxicity I am unaware of any manufacturers that make these. A second possibility would be a boron substrate but again I am unaware of any producer of this substrate. Boron may not be an easy material to work with due to its relatively high melting point, ease of oxidation and perhaps other undesirable properties. It also has a somewhat high resistivity and thus charging could potentially be a problem.
My questions are: Does anyone know of a manufacturer who can produce Be or B or other low Z, non-carbon, thin-films on TEM grids? Has anyone had experience or experimented with producing these or other suitable thin-films? I have an evaporator in-house and could make my own thin-films if necessary.
Any insights would greatly be appreciated and help further the cause of probing interplanetary dust particles which are composed of multitudes of silicates, oxides, metals and carbon-bearing phases.
Dave Joswiak Dept. of Astronomy University of Washington Seattle, WA 98195 (206)543-7702 joswiak-at-astro.washington.edu
This is a note of thanks to thos of you who responded to my plaintive cry for help back in the middle of July (WTB; Chlorine-free, electron-stable encapsulating material for SEM applications).
Here's my list (this isn't an endorsement, as we have not yet had time to try either):
1. Electronic potting epoxy (from Brian Knight {tech-support-at-westsystem.com} )
2. Gougeon Brothers' "West System" resin system (http://www.westsystem.com/ ... from Orin Keplinger {orink-at-ix.netcom.com} - but Brian Knight (1) says it's not utterly free of chlorine)
which turns out to be a pretty short list ! Oh, well.
Thanks & best regards, George Langford, Sc.D. {amenex-at-amenex.com} http://www.amenex.com/
Have you considered using carbon coated lacey formvar films. If you can get the area of interest to hang out over a hole, you have no substrate at all! I use lacey films for looking at catalysts and other small particles. There are usually enough agglomerates that I can find some sticking out over the edge of a hole.
Let me know if you want the recipe for making holey formvar. It isn't difficult. You can also find my recipe along with others at http://www.biotech.ufl.edu/~emcl/ in the Tips and Tricks section under "holey grid recipie" (sic).
Cheers, Henk
At 09:54 AM 8/12/99 -0700, David Joswiak wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
} Dave Joswiak } Dept. of Astronomy } University of Washington } Seattle, WA 98195 } (206)543-7702 } joswiak-at-astro.washington.edu }
Hendrik O. Colijn colijn.1-at-osu.edu Campus Electron Optics Facility Ohio State University (614) 292-0674 http://web.ceof.ohio-state.edu An optimist believes that we live in the best of all possible worlds. A pessimist fears that this is true.
A month after asking what to do about Amenex's ever declining oxygen counts & anemic (wrong term - for the fewer little white dots we're getting) oxygen maps), I've gotten a wealth of information and advice as well as an entertaining airing of the former ETEC's internal politics ...
Omigosh, did I ever get advice & suggestions - for which I am truly grateful, if not sufficiently pecunious to act on them ...
Here's the list:
1. "Quantitative Electron Probe Microanalysis of Oxygen," by Dr. Ir. G.F. Bastin & Ir. H.J.M. Heijligers of the Laboratory of Solid State Chemistry & Material Science of the University of Technology Eindhoven, The Netherlands. ISBN 90-6819-012-1, dated December 1st 1989. A summary of work performed over a two-year period, generously delivered by mail. Very great detail; many references & much data. (from Hans Heijligers {H.J.M.Heijligers-at-tue.nl} . Reports on other elements are available from the same source at a nominal cost.
2. Crystals made by Jim Nicolino {jnicolino-at-ix.netcom.com} (from Hank Beebe {hbeebe-at-rjlg.com} , Gary M. Easton {gary.easton-at-scannerscorp.com} , Malcolm Roberts {malc-at-rock.ru.ac.za} , and Kenneth Converse {qualityimages-at-netrax.net} )
3. Commercial TAP crystal sources JEOL (from Malcolm Roberts) SPI Supplies {spi2spi-at-2spi.com} (from Charles Garber {cgarber-at-2spi.com} )
4. Source for used TAP crystals - Ken Moran of Moran Scientific {kmoran-at-goulburn.net.au} (from Arthur Day {ard-at-ansto.gov.au} )
5. Alternative crystals to TAP a. Synthetic multilayer by Ovonic Synthetic Mterials Co. Inc. (313) 362-1290 in Troy, MI (from James C. Mabon {mabon-at-uimrl17.mrl.uiuc.edu} , from Jim McGee {mcgee-at-geol.sc.edu} [if "Osmic" is the same as "Ovonic"], and from Sheila Rosenfield {SARosenf-at-rmc.com} ). b. WSi (also from Jim McGee) c. STE (also from Malcolm Roberts)
6. Realign the spectrometer ... an ETEC sore point ... (from Allen R. Sampson {ars-at-sem.com} )
7. New biaxial polyproylene window (from Ed {Edsworth-at-aol.com) made by Goodfellow Corporation, Chemplex, or MOXTEK's APl film (from Dr. Mark W. Lund {lundm-at-physics3.byu.edu)
I hope I haven't included anyone who wished to remain anonymous or omitted anyone because I overlooked his/her E-mail among the many received.
Best regards, George Langford, Sc.D. {amenex-at-amenex.com} http://www.amenex.com/
Henk - Thanks for the suggestion. I have considered using holey carbon films but due to the small grain sizes (often less than 100 - 200 angstroms) of the constituent phases in interplanetary dust particles (IDPs) and that these phases are only weakly held together, I feel that the material over the holes would not be very likely to stay intact on a 30 - 50 nanometer thick microtomed slice. Also, these materials are typically quite heterogeneous and thus I would need luck to find a suitable region dangling over a hole.
It takes significant effort to collect and mount each IDP thus every single microtomed slice is precious to us. Ideally, I would like to place the microtomed sections directly on a low Z, non-carbonaceous support film to have the opportunity to do quantitative analyses on the entire particle.
I will look up your recipe on producing holey-carbon films and store it away for possible future use.
Dave
Dave Joswiak Dept. of Astronomy University of Washington Seattle, WA USA (206)543-7702 joswiak-at-astro.washington.edu
On Thu, 12 Aug 1999, Hendrik O. Colijn wrote:
} David, } } Have you considered using carbon coated lacey formvar films. If you can } get the area of interest to hang out over a hole, you have no substrate at } all! I use lacey films for looking at catalysts and other small } particles. There are usually enough agglomerates that I can find some } sticking out over the edge of a hole. } } Let me know if you want the recipe for making holey formvar. It isn't } difficult. You can also find my recipe along with others at } http://www.biotech.ufl.edu/~emcl/ in the Tips and Tricks section under } "holey grid recipie" (sic). } } Cheers, } Henk } } } At 09:54 AM 8/12/99 -0700, David Joswiak 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 - I want to use transmission electron microscopy to analyze } } carbonaceous phases using electron energy loss techniques (as well as EDX) } } and thus it would be desirable to have low-Z, carbon free, thin-films (100 } } Angstroms or so) on TEM grids. I wondered if anyone knows where I might } } obtain suitable thin-films on TEM grids for this purpose. I have } } purchased SiO thin-films on conventional TEM grids but would prefer a } } lower Z material for a number of reasons such as lower mean-free path and } } a need to do quantitative analysis on both Si and O. } } } } {snip} } } } Dave Joswiak } } Dept. of Astronomy } } University of Washington } } Seattle, WA 98195 } } (206)543-7702 } } joswiak-at-astro.washington.edu } } } } Hendrik O. Colijn colijn.1-at-osu.edu } Campus Electron Optics Facility Ohio State University } (614) 292-0674 http://web.ceof.ohio-state.edu } An optimist believes that we live in the best of all possible worlds. } A pessimist fears that this is true. } }
Hello, To control budgets of the microscopes' usage while minimizing adm. time, I would like to consider automatic billing hardware/software solutions. Ideally, the system would require name / fund / password to activate the microscope. It would keep track of work hours. It would also have capabilities to forward the charges for the beam hours directly to the investigators' accounts. Any suggestions? Marek.
Marek Malecki, M.D., Ph.D. Director and Principal Investigator Electron Microscopy Facilities University of California in San Diego
} I believe within the last two weeks, there was a short discussion } here that either an XRF forum, like this, exist or somebody was asking if } one exists. } Does one exist? Let me know, } } Thanks. } } Mark Darus, BFGoodrich Aerospace
Mark, About two years ago I belonged to a news group for XRF.
To subscribe send email to: mailto:LISTSERV-at-LISTSERV.SYR.EDU} in the subject include
"SUBSCRIBE XRF-L and your name"
I hope that works for you.
Sincerely, Ed Hirsch
************************************************* Edward A. Hirsch Product Application Specialist Allied High Tech Products 2376 East Pacifica Place Rancho Dominguez, CA 90220 ph: (919) 846-9628 vm:(800)675-1118 x245 fx: (310)762-6808 http://www.alliedhightech.com *************************************************
} Two possibiliites come to mind. The first would be a beryllium substrate } on say a 200 mesh TEM grid but due to it's well-known toxicity I am } unaware of any manufacturers that make these.
I think that you are correct that Be is the best choice. Also you are correct about the toxicity. When I was considering setting up a dedicated evaporator for preparing Be films, I talked with the safety officer here. He had some major concerns, but thought that such a piece of equipment could be accomodated.
} I have an evaporator in-house and could make my own } thin-films if necessary. } This would not be too difficult. To get a sufficiently thin film might be tricky, but evaporating Be onto solid formvar, then dissolving the formvar away should work. You may have to experiment with solvents, so that the Be film would not be torn by, e.g., surface tension forces. Avoiding the creation of Be dust--the most toxic form--is a key. If you just let the Be fall on the glass shield of the evaporation unit-- the cylindrical piece with a C-shaped cross-section--you should be able to put the shield into HCl to dissolve the Be, and let the hazardous-waste folks get rid of the liquid. The Be which falls on the area surrounding the grids will be more problematical. I'd make formvar-coated grids as usual, then lift them off the substrate, put them on Al foil, evap the Be, take off the grids and discard the Al foil (into the hazardous waste), then put the grids on a piece of filter paper in a petri dish to dissolve the form- var. Do this by carefully removing the Al foil from the evaporator to a hood--don't let the evaporated Be flake off the foil! Gloves, a mask, and a lab coat are the minimal protection I'd use. You could also surround every part of the evaporator on which the Be could land with Al foil, which could be discarded relatively easily. Good luck. Yours, Bill Tivol
Hi, Does anyone know where to order the target for Polaron Sputter Coater E5100? At one time they were handled through BIO-RAD. But when I call BIO-RAD today, their salesperson has no clue about sputter coater. Has Polaron been bought by another company? Thanks inadvance!
Lucy Lucy Yin Microscopist Central Microscopy Facility Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA01003 TEL. 413-545-1817 FAX 413-545-1578
Hasn't someone in the past on this Listserver talked about supplying or using BN films? That is a possibility. You might have to talk to a group that is working with it. You could deposit BN on NaCl and float them off.
I think that SPI provides a low Z analysis standard that uses BN. Call Chuck Garber.
-Scott
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Glass Technology Center 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: David Joswiak To: Hendrik O. Colijn Cc: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
Henk - Thanks for the suggestion. I have considered using holey carbon films but due to the small grain sizes (often less than 100 - 200 angstroms) of the constituent phases in interplanetary dust particles (IDPs) and that these phases are only weakly held together, I feel that the material over the holes would not be very likely to stay intact on a 30 - 50 nanometer thick microtomed slice. Also, these materials are typically quite heterogeneous and thus I would need luck to find a suitable region dangling over a hole.
It takes significant effort to collect and mount each IDP thus every single microtomed slice is precious to us. Ideally, I would like to place the microtomed sections directly on a low Z, non-carbonaceous support film to have the opportunity to do quantitative analyses on the entire particle.
I will look up your recipe on producing holey-carbon films and store it away for possible future use.
Dave
Dave Joswiak Dept. of Astronomy University of Washington Seattle, WA USA (206)543-7702 joswiak-at-astro.washington.edu
On Thu, 12 Aug 1999, Hendrik O. Colijn wrote:
} David, } } Have you considered using carbon coated lacey formvar films. If you can } get the area of interest to hang out over a hole, you have no substrate at } all! I use lacey films for looking at catalysts and other small } particles. There are usually enough agglomerates that I can find some } sticking out over the edge of a hole. } } Let me know if you want the recipe for making holey formvar. It isn't } difficult. You can also find my recipe along with others at } http://www.biotech.ufl.edu/~emcl/ in the Tips and Tricks section under } "holey grid recipie" (sic). } } Cheers, } Henk } } } At 09:54 AM 8/12/99 -0700, David Joswiak 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 - I want to use transmission electron microscopy to analyze } } carbonaceous phases using electron energy loss techniques (as well as EDX) } } and thus it would be desirable to have low-Z, carbon free, thin-films (100 } } Angstroms or so) on TEM grids. I wondered if anyone knows where I might } } obtain suitable thin-films on TEM grids for this purpose. I have } } purchased SiO thin-films on conventional TEM grids but would prefer a } } lower Z material for a number of reasons such as lower mean-free path and } } a need to do quantitative analysis on both Si and O. } } } } {snip} } } } Dave Joswiak } } Dept. of Astronomy } } University of Washington } } Seattle, WA 98195 } } (206)543-7702 } } joswiak-at-astro.washington.edu } } } } Hendrik O. Colijn colijn.1-at-osu.edu } Campus Electron Optics Facility Ohio State University } (614) 292-0674 http://web.ceof.ohio-state.edu } An optimist believes that we live in the best of all possible worlds. } A pessimist fears that this is true. } }
Steve Miller's slam of a public figure was not necessary to his purpose.
Political references should be withheld from any communication to the Listserver. Such comments can elicit a variety of responses inappropriate to the purpose of the List.
Hello, I was wondering what solutions were available for replacing a film 35mm camera on a nikon petrographic microscope with a digital camera that can have it's output sent into a computer. We are looking for a simple system with high resolution. Thank you for the help.
\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ Gordon Ante Vrdoljak 1 Cyclotron Road ICQ 23243541 http://nature.berkeley.edu/~gvrdolja MS90-1116 GAVrdoljak-at-lbl.gov Ernest Orlando phone (510) 495-2829 Lawrence Berkeley fax (510) 486-7797 National Laboratory cell (510) 290-6793 Berkeley CA 94720
I'm no expert on this by any means, but I have read and heard of a few = tidbits that you can try. =20
First of I've used filt tipped pens, and white board markers to mark = samples for SEM. The ink can be seen using the secondary electrons. I = think this is because the ink has a lower electron yield. What I'm = thinking is that Lead with an atomic No. of 82 may well be significantly = will appear brighter and the ink darker in a SE image. However this is = not going to work if the writer has blacked out everything with pencil = also. =20
Second, I've also heard of UV light being used to look at writing that has = been painted over. Perhaps this might work. =20
You might also try these techniques, looking at the back side of the paper = and reading the words backwards. =20
As for getting an imprint of the words, try photographing the front and = back of the paper and using some image analysis. If it doesn't work it'll = at least be fun. =20
If all this doesn't work, then go to your local police force, and spend a = day in forensics. I guarantee that will be fun. =20
Good luck=20 George=20
George Theodossiou Dept Applied Physics RMIT GPO Box 2476V Melbourne 3001 Victoria Australia Ph: +61 3 9925 1793 +61 3 9925 2205 Fax: +61 3 9925 5290 Email: george.theodossiou-at-rmit.edu.au
Home Ph: +61 3 9808 9085
Impossible I Can Do Today, Miracles, Require 24 Hours Notice
At 01:20 PM 8/12/99 , you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Energy Beam Sciences handles these. http://www.2spi.com or call them at 1.800.992.9037
Lucy: When looking for sputter targets its more productive to look for the required disk diameter or washer dimensions. Thickness does not matter to fit a target, but affects durability and price. Targets are available from us and many other suppliers. By seeking for "originals" (certainly not made by the coater's manufacturer) you are least likely to make the "best buy". Cheers Jim Darley ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com.au Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes www.proscitech.com.au
On Friday, August 13, 1999 6:20 AM, Lucy Yin [SMTP:lyin-at-bio.umass.edu] wrote: } } } Hi, } Does anyone know where to order the target for Polaron Sputter Coater E5100? } At one time they were handled through BIO-RAD. But when I call BIO-RAD } today, their salesperson has no clue about sputter coater. Has Polaron been } bought by another company? } Thanks inadvance! } } Lucy } Lucy Yin } Microscopist } Central Microscopy Facility } Univ. of Massachusetts, } Amherst, MA01003 } TEL. 413-545-1817 } FAX 413-545-1578 }
i have a denton vacuum evaporator and have used POL metal polish at the recommendation of a tech person at Denton. it easily removes evaporated metal buildup but i have not tried it on carbon.
chris marotta northeastern university cmarotta-at-lynx.neu.edu
We are thinking of buying a Jet Polisher. I've got info from a few = companies (I won't mention them, I don't think its relevant). What I'm = doing is covering all the options. If anyone has a unit that they would = like to reccomend, please let me know. We want to get a unit which best = meets our needs, within our budget. =20
Thank you for your help
George
George Theodossiou Dept Applied Physics RMIT GPO Box 2476V Melbourne 3001 Victoria Australia Ph: +61 3 9925 1793 +61 3 9925 2205 Fax: +61 3 9925 5290 Email: george.theodossiou-at-rmit.edu.au
Home Ph: +61 3 9808 9085
Impossible I Can Do Today, Miracles, Require 24 Hours Notice
If you can find some difference in opacity in any band of light you can spread the histogram and possibly find something. You might also try very low angle lighting and try to pickup shadows.
Another thing to try is if the pencil leads are different you might be able to react one with something or the x ray fluorescent might be different. I have never seen paper bombarded with gamma rays and the fluoresced x-rays measured. But some pretty small differences can be detected in some materials. Finding a .5 or .25 mm gamma beam might be a trick. Drilling a long hole in tungsten, lead or copper is an interesting exercise. The energy, angle and strength of the x-rays all help in determining the source.
A card swipe system might be the easiest. I have seen them running on Linux boxes used to access computer labs. They would need to swipe in an log out. It is a pretty low tech thing that lets one server (an old 386) monitor all the devices. Card swipes are about 1 to 2 hundred US new an d 15 bucks surplus.
I can't find you a supported commercial system but I can probably find you the source code and a little advice on how to get it running.
The nice think about cards is you can pull an inspection in the lab and see who is using who's card.
Gordon
Gordon Couger gcouger-at-couger.com 624 Cheyenne Stillwater, OK 74075-1411 405 624-2855 GMT -6:00 www.couger.com/gcouger -----Original Message----- } From: Marek Malecki {mmm-at-biomail.ucsd.edu} To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com {Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com}
Hi all Herewith the answer to my search for the "super" resistor on the ISI SEM's. As there were quite a few people interested in this matter, I have taken the liberty of putting this info on the listserver. Thanks to all who took the time to answer my first call. Cheers Luc Harmsen Anaspec, South Africa Technical support on microscopy. Tel + 27 (0) 11 476 3455 Fax + 27 (0) 11 476 7290 anaspec-at-icon.co.za
-----Original Message----- } From: Fred Littlefield [mailto:voyager-at-wvi.com] Sent: Friday, August 13, 1999 7:59 PM To: anaspec-at-icon.co.za Cc: Powell, Bill
Dear Allan,
If the pencil that was used to 'black out' the original writing has a slightly different chemical composition than the pencil used in the original writing then EDS X-ray mapping might help distinguish between the two. In a conventional SEM this would require coating the sample with carbon, which might be undesirable. A better alternative would be to use a Low Vacuum microscope or even an ESEM, which allow you to analyze uncoated paper.
As an alternative you could also think about X-Ray fluorescence. Modern energy-dispersive XRF systems can 'focus' the primary X-ray beam to less than 100 micron diameter, which is sufficiently small for this application. The advantage of ED-XRF is that you do not need to coat the sample, and the detection limit for trace elements is at least a factor of 10 better than in EDS analysis. Modern ED-XRF systems can produce X-ray maps, not by scanning the beam over the sample, but by moving the sample-stage in small steps under the fixed primary X-ray beam. ED-XRF is used in many forensic laboratories handling evidence like crossed-out writings.
Best regards,
Hans Dijkstra
Disclaimer: Don't blame your local EDAX rep for any of my statements. And yes, EDAX sells both EDS and the Eagle u-probe ED-XRF system, and so we have a vested interest in seeing as many people as possible use this kind of equipment. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- EDAX Europe Tel.: +31 - 13 - 5364000 P.O.Box 4144 Fax.: +31 - 13 - 5356279 5004 JC Tilburg E-mail: hans.dijkstra-at-edax.nl the Netherlands Web: www.edax.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---
} } We have had a person come in to our Microscopy Unit with a bit of a } challenge which hopefully someone may be able to help us with. } } This person has his fathers diary with the entries made in pencil. Some of } the words (names and places it would seem) have been 'blacked out' with } felt pen. } } A local restoration expert has been able to remove the felt pen from one } entry with bleach however beneath the felt pen we have found that the entry } has been heavily 'blacked out' with pencil. } } The story goes that the diary belongs to a soldier on Crete during WW11 who } was one of the unlucky ones left behind after the Allied evacuation. He } kept a diary of events however at some point blacked out in pencil places } and names, presumably of people who had helped him and not wanting them to } be revealed in case of capture. } } Why the same entries where later blacked out with felt pen is unknown. } } The person with the diary (the son) would like to find out if there is a } way, using microscopy, that we can read the 'blacked out' entries. } } Does anyone have any suggestions ? } } Allan } } ------------------------------------------------------------ } Allan Mitchell } Technical Manager } South Campus Electron Microscope Unit } C/-Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology } School of Medical Sciences } P.O. Box 913 } Dunedin } New Zealand } } Fax (03) 479 7254 } Phone (03) 479 5642 or 479 7301 } } 'The Southernmost EM Unit in the World' } } ,,, } (o o) } ------------------oOO-(_)-OOo----------------------------------
"11th International Congress of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry (ICHC 2000)"
I think that many on this list will find this meeting of interest to them. Please take a minute to have a look at our web-site at http://www.med.ic.ac.uk/external/ichc_2000
Best wishes
Gary Coulton Dr. Gary Coulton Molecular Pathology Division of Biomedical Sciences Imperial College School of Medicine The Sir Alexander Fleming Building South Kensington London SW7 2AZ
tel 0044 (0)171 594 3190 fax 0044 (0)171 594 3022
e-mail g.coulton-at-ic.ac.uk
------------------------------------- Announcing the 11th International Congress of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry (ICHC 2000)
"Understanding Biocomplexity: The Post-Genome Challenge"
September 3-8, 2000, York, United Kingdom
ICHC 2000 will comprise 27 symposia addressing the latest developments and applications of histochemistry and cytochemistry in the life sciences including medicine.
SPEAKERS CONFIRMED (so far) Lance Liotta (Bethesda) Roger Tsien (La Jolla) Dennis Noble (Oxford) Paul Nakane (Mountain View) Fre Bosman (Lausanne) Margaret Buckingham (Paris) John Couchman (Alabama) Jim Coull (Boston) Roel van Driel (Amsterdam) David Eppel (Pacific Grove) Reinhart Gossrau (Berlin) Martin Green (Bebington) Tom Just (Copenhagen) Jeff Lichtman (St. Louis) Joseph Mazurkiewicz (Albany) Peter Nielsen (Copenhagen) John O'Leary (Dublin) Dennis Baskin (Washington) Ralf Paus (Berlin) Francesco Ramirez (New York) Jim Smith (London) John Stegeman (Woods Hole) Hans Tanke (Leiden) Anthony Thody (Bradford) David Vaux (Oxford) Lars-Inge Larsson (Frederiksberg) Keith Miller (London) Mike Grant (Manchester) Martin Humphries (Manchester) Paul Martin (London) Peter Mathiessen (Burnham on Crouch) David Hinton (Davis)
For further details of the meeting and how to pre-register please visit our web-site at http://www.med.ic.ac.uk/external/ichc_2000
I've been unsuccessfully trying to source uranyl formate for TEM neg staining . Does anyone know a supplier ? It appears in old catalogues but not on the websites for one or 2 vendors. Please reply directly unless you think there's a wider interest.
Laurence
Dr Laurence Tetley Division of Infection & Immunity, IBLS, Integrated Microscopy Facility Joseph Black Building University of Glasgow Glasgow G12 8QQ
I & I Divisional web pages: http://www.gla.ac.uk/Acad/IBLS/II/ Integrated Microscopy Facility web pages: http://www.gla.ac.uk/Acad/IBLS/II/em/mcb-em.htm Cryo Microscopy Group: http://www.gla.ac.uk/Acad/IBLS/II/cmg/index.htm
Hello Lucy, To obtain a sputter target for your Polaron coater, you must contact Energy Beam Sciences. They are the new distributor for all Polaron past and present productsand their located right near you in Mass. They also have an entire range of other parts in the event that you need to replace any. The only part that they don't have is the rubber gasket on the bell jar. Their number is 413-786-9322.
Blessings, Maria Maria Fazio-Zanakis Bioimaging and Molecular Histology Hoechst Marion Roussel, Inc. 1-908-231-3357 Fax: 1-908-231-3962 Email: Maria.Fazio-Zanakis-at-hmrag.com
Lucy Yin 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, } Does anyone know where to order the target for Polaron Sputter Coater E5100? } At one time they were handled through BIO-RAD. But when I call BIO-RAD } today, their salesperson has no clue about sputter coater. Has Polaron been } bought by another company? } Thanks inadvance! } } Lucy } Lucy Yin } Microscopist } Central Microscopy Facility } Univ. of Massachusetts, } Amherst, MA01003 } TEL. 413-545-1817 } FAX 413-545-1578
Lucy,
Ladd Research, along with most of the other supply houses, can supply you with the targets you need. If you contact me off-line, addresses below, and let me know which metal target you want I can get you a quote.
Thanks,
JD Arnott
Disclaimer: Ladd Research manufactures and sells targets for various sputter coaters. -- LADD RESEARCH 13 Dorset Lane Williston, VT 05495 TEL 1-800-451-3406 (US) or 1-802-878-6711 (anywhere) FAX 1-802-878-8074 e-mail ladres-at-worldnet.att.net web site http://www.ladd.cc
I just happen to have a discussion archived. Basically you will have to make it yourself unless these guys have turned up any sources in the last year. Discussion is archived at"
At 12:39 PM 8/13/1999 +0100, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} { GO GATORS Scott D. Whittaker 218 Carr Hall EM Technician Gainesville, FL 32610 University Of Florida ph 352-392-1184 ICBR EM Core Lab fax 352-846-0251 sdw-at-biotech.ufl.edu http://www.biotech.ufl.edu/~emcl/ The home of " Tips & Tricks "
"11th International Congress of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry (ICHC 2000)"
11th International Congress of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry (ICHC 2000)
As many of you have noticed we are having local difficulties with our Web server. Please wait a couple of days before trying again, I promise it will be worth the wait.
Don't these things happen always at the most embarrassing time?
A lot depends on the resolution you want/need. The Kodak digital SLR cameras and comparable professional digital cameras (also useful as standard hand-held SLR cameras) probably provide the best readily available resolution (I think it was 2280x2700). However, we found focussing inconvenient and ended up deciding that we didn't need the extra resolution of those cameras. Their price tags as of a year ago were about $8k and $12k for the DCS 420 and DCS 520, respectively. Kodak also sells cheaper cameras with lower resolution.
After a series of demonstrations, the three cameras which appealed to us are: (1) Olympus DM-10, which I think is currently being upgraded (2) Polaroid DMC (3) Diagnostics Instruments SPOT camera I think prices run in the ballpark of $3k, $4k, and $9k, respectively for these cameras (more for the higher end DMC or SPOT-II). Besides the cost, personal tastes will vary widely on the operation of the cameras. While I preferred the operation of the SPOT system, many others saw it as too complex and cumbersome. The simplicity of the DMC appealed to many of the other users here, and a colleague in New Zealand preferred the DM-10. For our purposes, we ruled out some of the other cameras based on too low resolution or ultra-slow image acquisition.
A couple points to keep in mind when comparing digital cameras. How long does it take to acquire an image? A 5-minute exposure will severely extend any session where you take a number of images. The focussing technique is also important. It was very difficult to take an in-focus picture on some cameras due to the small focussing window. In addition, focussing can range from easy to very inconvenient depending on the microscope configuration and camera type. For our metallograph, we had to kneel on the floor to focus the image through the viewfinder during some camera demos.
One of the most important criteria for the camera is the resolution. However, there are many ways to report "resolution". The quoted "resolution" is often the size of the CCD. The images of many of the lower cost cameras are acquired with adjacent pixels filtered to receive the R, G, or B signal. Adjacent pixels are then averaged to yield the final color image. Some cameras (I believe the DMC is one) acheive their ultimate resolution by an additional extrapolation. The SPOT is the only one we saw demoed that acquired 3 consecutive images, one each for R, G, and B, which were then combined for a full resolution (non-extrapolated) color image. Although this triples the exposure time, the sensitivity of the SPOT allows very short exposures. Anyway, the stability of petrographic samples should make that a non-issue.
Considering the many differences between digital cameras, I would suggest determining what resolution you require/want, and then getting demos of at least a couple cameras in that resolution range (or above). In addition to providing good images, you want to make sure that your personnel will be comfortable with the operation of the camera system you buy. Good luck!
Richard Fonda
P.S. I'll send along separately a similar discussion on the listserver from a few years ago. It helped us with our comparisons and interpretations of the sales literature.
_____________________________________________________________ Richard W. Fonda Naval Research Laboratory (202) 767-2622 Code 6324 (202) 767-2623 fax Washington DC 20375 _____________________________________________________________
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
We are trying to settle on usage fees for a newly installed Hitachi S4700 FESEM and would be very interested in knowing what other institutions are charging. We are a university, multi-user facility, primarily biological.
Any information would be very much appreciated.
All the best, Randy
Randy Tindall EM Specialist Electron Microscopy Core Facility W122 Veterinary Medicine Bldg. University of Missouri Columbia, MO 65211
Energy Beam Sciences, Leica Microsystems, British Biocell, Delaware Diamond Knives and Harvard Medical School will be presenting a workshop on "Cryo-Ultramicrotomy and Immunolabeling" on October 5, 6 and 7, at the Harvard Medical School. The instructor is Dr. Paul Webster. For further information, please contact Sonja White (swhite-at-ebsciences.com) {mailto:swhite-at-ebsciences.com)} .
Best regards, Steven E. Slap, Vice-President ******************************************* Energy Beam Sciences, Inc. The Laboratory Microwave Company Adding Brilliance to Your Vision http://www.ebsciences.com {http://www.ebsciences.com} *******************************************
At 04:22 PM 8/12/99 , you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Do you care if the final image dimensions are smaller than the 35mm frame? What is high resolution for your requirements?
Energy Beam Sciences in Agawam, Mass. is he official VG Microtech (old Polaron line) distributor in U.S.A.
Jean-Pierre
----- Original Message ----- } From: Lucy Yin {lyin-at-bio.umass.edu} To: {Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com} Sent: Thursday, August 12, 1999 4:20 PM
Gordon Couger wrote:
} I have never } seen } paper bombarded with gamma rays and the fluoresced x-rays measured. But some } pretty small differences can be detected in some materials. Finding a .5 or } .25 mm } gamma beam might be a trick. Drilling a long hole in tungsten, lead or } copper is } an interesting exercise. The energy, angle and strength of the x-rays all } help in } determining the source. } } It sounds like an interesting exercise.
Dear Gordon, Another possibility is to irradiate with a proton beam. Tom Cahill has done this kind of thing at the UC Davis cyclotron. he has examined a Gutenberg Bible, so there is certainly no problem with looking at unique and valuable specimens.
PIXE is more sensitive than EDS, but the spatial resolution is not as good. It is not too difficult, however, to get a smaller proton than gamma beam. Yours, Bill Tivol
Here are my two cents as a conservator and conservation scientist. If I recall correctly the original query, the historic article is a piece of paper with various pencil inscriptions, over-written in pencil and again in felt-tip type marker.
We would approach this problem using some combination of non-invasive techniques that would include visible light examination (normal, raking, and transmitted), ultraviolet visible fluorescence examination, infrared examination, and radiography. These techniques are generally available and relatively low cost. Instrumental techniques for elemental analysis, such as SEM-EDS or air XRF, would be useful in determining the composition of the various inscription media, but would not provide areal images of the inscriptions.
Ultraviolet visible fluorescence examination is made using a long-wave ultraviolet lamp in a darkened room. One observes visible fluorescence induced by selective absorption of the UV wavelengths. As UV energy can be damaging to organic materials (e.g., paper), exposure time should be minimized. Paper fibers will fluoresce strongly; pencil and felt tip inks will probably show little or no fluorescence, depending on total composition. Slight disparities in fluorescence might elucidate detail.
Infrared examination is made using an infrared vidicon system (video camera) or infrared photography. The method relies on selective absorption and reflectance (or transmittance) of infrared radiation (ca. 700-2000 nm). A principal application of this method in art conservation is inspection of drawing or inscriptions concealed beneath paint. Charcoal, carbon black inks, and graphite pencil are usually are made more legible.
If the original pencil inscription was made using a lead pencil, x-radigraphy -- specifically beta-radiography -- might prove most useful. Beta-radiography is used to study the structure and watermarks in historic papers. Lead, being more radio-opaque or dense than graphite (or cellulose) should stand out in the resulting beta-radiography. One will have to experiment with exposure times, but the technique is non-destructive.
Yet another approach we might take is to scan the document in reflectance and transmittance using a 600x1200 dpi scanner. The resulting TIFF files would then be manipulated in PhotoShop or similar graphics program to enhance contract and color differences.
James Martin Director of Analytical Services & Research Williamstown Art Conservation Center http://members.tripod.com/~James_Martin/dasrhome.htm
Research Scientist in Chemistry Williams College http://members.tripod.com/~James_Martin
*** Please don't send e-mail attachments. Cut-and-paste text into the body of an e-mail message. ***
On Thu, 12 Aug 1999, Gordon Couger wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } If you can find some difference in opacity in any band of light you can } spread the } histogram and possibly find something. You might also try very low angle } lighting } and try to pickup shadows. } } Another thing to try is if the pencil leads are different you might be able } to react } one with something or the x ray fluorescent might be different. I have never } seen } paper bombarded with gamma rays and the fluoresced x-rays measured. But some } pretty small differences can be detected in some materials. Finding a .5 or } .25 mm } gamma beam might be a trick. Drilling a long hole in tungsten, lead or } copper is } an interesting exercise. The energy, angle and strength of the x-rays all } help in } determining the source. } } It sounds like an interesting exercise. } } Good luck } Gordon } } } } }
To all who may help, We are setting up a standard fixation on C. elegans and word is they are hard to fix (outer coating). Any expertise would be appreciated, this is for TEM, and I am inclined to go with 4% paraform. 2% glutarald. and 1% DMSO (possibly microwave in fix also). Thank you.
It is with great saddness that I must report the passing of Dr. Gary W. Grimes on the evening of Wednesday, August 11, 1999. Dr. Grimes ran the Electron Microscopy Laboratory at Hofstra University (located in Hempstead, Long Island, NY) since 1973. He earned his B.A., M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Indiana and developed the graduate Electron Microscopy Program at Hofstra. His main research interest was in cytoplasmic inheritance relative to the ciliary patterning of various protozoans. Aside from his authorship of numerous research articles, monographs and successful grant proposals, Gary was an extraordinary teacher and mentor. Many of us working in the EM field in the NY metro area, and elsewhere, owe our careers to the dedication of Dr. Grimes in the classroom. He will be greatly missed, however, his spirit will live on in his many students, who like myself, teach the very discipline he so loved!
A memorial service is being held tomorrow, Saturday August 14 at Hofstra University in room 210 of the Business Development Center of the Axinn Library. A scholarship fund has been established at Hofstra (http://www.hofstra.edu) in his name.
BTW, the next time you look through a general biology, microbiology or protozology text and see that classic image of a Didinium swallowing a Paramecium whole don't be surprised if the photo credit belongs to Dr. Grimes!
Stephen J. Beck Associate Professor Bio-Imaging Center/Electron Microscopy Department of Biology Nassau Community College Garden City, NY 11530 Voice Mail: (516) 572-7829 Email: {becks-at-sunynassau.edu} URL: {http://www.sunynassau.edu/webpages/biology/becks.htm}
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
George, Having used jet polishers on a daily basis since 1970, I feel obligated to share my observations of them with you. Since microscope facilities have millions of dollars invested in 'scopes, etc., the best jet polisher can be a bargain, even if it costs a bit more. I have no financial interest in the products mentioned below. Our lab has used South Bay Technology's 550 series jet polishers since 1972 with excellent results-many recipes & techniques were published in a 66 page report with some 1,000 copies used worldwide. They feature a magnified, in-situ view of the polishing "cell", line of sight optical shut-off path for adj.,high sensitivity. LED light sources of infrared, red, green, & yellow have been used to thin metals such as W,Ta,Nb, and a host of other metals and alloys. Si & Ge have been electropolished, the former also was chemically thinned using parts from the manufacturer's kit for that purpose-allowing use of Hf/nitric acid as well as perchloric acid baths at -50 degrees C. The thin, perforated, membrane retaining the specimen has little resistance to higher viscosity baths, a KEY to smoother specimens! The unit has been slightly modified to polish the entire surface of a 3 m.m.disc before ion implantation, etc. By using a timer & external D.C.power, as little as 50 nanometers can be removed from a metal surface before back thinning it-provided a means of measuring the step heigth left by strippable lacquer is available. We use Microshield, designed for electroplating for this as well as covering the "first side" dimple. Lastly, the time saved developing a good polish on "new" materials with in-situ viewing is substantial. We use 6 550's-two for radioactive materials-and feel they are fine instruments. Contact me directly for more info.
Bernard Kestel Materials Science Division E-mail {kestel-at-anl.gov} Argonne National Laboratory 9700 South Cass Avenue Argonne, Illinois, 60439
id {3PFWAY30} ; Fri, 13 Aug 1999 09:44:45 -0700 Message-ID: {E1F2A0806146D111B9BA0060B06CED5B1A1B30-at-hpsrv1.nwaluminum.com} ils of the time were graphitized Carbon as today, but without the uniform ity of particle size and polymer binders used today
George, Allan, I'm not sure, but I think that the "lead" in pencils of the time was graphitized Carbon as today, but without the uniformity of particle size and polymers used as binders today. I was thinking about what you said George about image analysis and the paper surfaces, and the impressions and there might be an artifact of the initial writing in the way the paper fibers on the front face of the paper are damaged/broken differrently than the "blacked out" but unrwitten paper AND if they used the usual parallel horizontal strokes used in "blacking out" words and especially sentences. Light microscopy and a good image analysis routine might be able to process this quicker and cheaper too. I guess you probably would only be able to detect the original writing in the disturbed fiber pattern in the portions of each letter that are not parallel with the later "blacking out" pencil strokes of the second pencil but at least you can see the orientation of this pencil stroke and therefore the "background" pattern. The second pencil, if differrent could have had a differrent graphite particle texture, or chemical contaminants, If you are lucky the initial writing was done to be legible and he used a SHARPER pencil and that would cause more fiber damage than the later "blacking out" parallel, horizontal pencil strokes. The felt pen is another issue, more scrubbing and redistributing graphite from both pencil layers! a real puzzler! I think the paper fiber damage pattern would be the least affected by the second (probably duller, who sharpens a pencil for that) pencil blackout and the felt pen blackout.
Good luck!
Jim Ballinger jballinger-at-nwaluminum.com Metallographer Northwest Aluminum Co.
RESEARCH ASSISTANT III #39419 Pediatrics-Allergy/Pulmonary $20,290-commensurate. Initial advertising period ends 8/18/99. Requires Master's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience in the natural sciences, and experience in histological and molecular biology techniques. Desire supervisory experience; a track record of productive participation in research; and experience with molecular biology techniques and in situ hybridization. To assist in the operation of the Morphology Core of the UI Gene Therapy Center. Responsibilities include performing and developing new methodologies for the identification of gene and protein expression in tissues and cells. Send resume to: Janine McBride-Rahn,Personnel Coordinator The University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics Pediatrics 200 Hawkins Drive 2633 JCP Iowa City, IA 52242-1083 phone 319/356-8154.
-- Randy Nessler rnessler-at-emiris.iaf.uiowa.edu Views expressed are my own.
We need to polish a polymer mounted in the standard metallurgical (1.25") diameter mount. We need to polish it at the temp. below the glass transition (LN temp would do). The nature of the sample does not allow utilizing the cryotome. The actual analysis could be conducted at room temp, but the sample prep cannot.
Does anyone know who would offer such service,..or how to approach the problem. Thank you in advance for your input or suggestions.
-. } } } Hi Listers, } } We are trying to settle on usage fees for a newly installed Hitachi S4700 } FESEM and would be very interested in knowing what other institutions are } charging. We are a university, multi-user facility, primarily biological. } } Any information would be very much appreciated. } } All the best, } Randy } }
I'd like to know too....we have a LEO982 and i'm currently charging $80/hr and $140/hr for internal and external work, respectively (1/2 off if i don't do the analysis).
Brian McIntyre mailto:mcintyre-at-optics.rochester.edu Sr. Engineer lab: 716-275-3058/4875 River Campus EMLab fax: 716-244-4936 University of Rochester Rochester, NY 14620
"The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother." - Unknown
At 05:26 AM 8/13/99 , you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
They have the gaskets for the 5200. If the jars are the same, the gaskets ought to be the same.
BTW, I gave the wrong URL for EBS. It is http://www.ebsciences.com
Greetings, I am attempting to objectively assess the number of individual subunits in a radially symmetrical protein molecule. I have produced quality TEM micrographs of the protein which allow relatively convincing subjective assesment of the quarternary conformation of this molecule through visual inspection, however I would like to produce a rotational power spectrum of the molecule to add more weight to this data. Crowther and Amos (J. Mol. Biol. 60 (1971) 123) introduced rotational power spectrum analysis of individual particles. This technique has since been productively used in many studies. In this method,based on the Fourier Transform, a line graph is produced which plots the rotational frequency against the log of power. The rotational frequency value which corresponds to the highest power is taken to be the correct number of subunits composing radially symmetrical particle. I have a rather limited background in mathematics, signal processing and programming although I am trying to familiarize myself with the more general concepts of these areas as they apply to this problem. To date I am able to generate the frequency transform of an isolated image in NIH Image using the FFT macro, and I'm pretty much stuck not knowing where to go from this point. Comments from others more knowledgeable than I in the area of image analysis would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Sincerely, Karl Garsha-Lowly Graduate Student University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Department of Biological Sciences
Greetings, I am attempting to objectively assess the number of individual subunits in a radially symmetrical protein molecule. I have produced quality TEM micrographs of the protein which allow relatively convincing subjective assesment of the quarternary conformation of this molecule through visual inspection, however I would like to produce a rotational power spectrum of the molecule to add more weight to this data. Crowther and Amos (J. Mol. Biol. 60 (1971) 123) introduced rotational power spectrum analysis of individual particles. This technique has since been productively used in many studies. In this method,based on the Fourier Transform, a line graph is produced which plots the rotational frequency against the log of power. The rotational frequency value which corresponds to the highest power is taken to be the correct number of subunits composing radially symmetrical particle. I have a rather limited background in mathematics, signal processing and programming although I am trying to familiarize myself with the more general concepts of these areas as they apply to this problem. To date I am able to generate the frequency transform of an isolated image in NIH Image using the FFT macro, and I'm pretty much stuck not knowing where to go from this point. Comments from others more knowledgeable than I in the area of image analysis would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Sincerely, Karl Garsha-Lowly Graduate Student University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Department of Biological Sciences
A post-doctoral research position is open immediately in the Division of Experimental Pathology to study interactions of tumor suppressors with cell cycle regulatory proteins and the mitotic spindle apparatus. Candidates should have a Ph.D. in cell biology or related field. Experience with confocal microscopy is required; protein chemistry and molecular biology desired. A highly competitive salary and benefits package is available to the motivated candidate. Send a full C.V. with names and addresses of three references to: Wilma L. Lingle, Ph.D., Division of Experimental Pathology, Guggenheim 10, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, or email to lingle-at-mayo.edu. The Mayo Clinic is an equal opportunity employer.
Wilma L. Lingle, Ph.D. Experimental Pathology 1001B Guggenheim Building Mayo Clinic Foundation Rochester, MN 55905 507-538-1287 (phone) 507-284-8105 (FAX) lingle-at-mayo.edu
I have been following this discussion since you posted the first message and it has been quite an education in the types of microscopic techniques available which could help you. I am currently a researcher at the UC San Diego School of Medicine, but am pursuing my masters in order to teach high school students. Your query is a most interesting one, and one that I feel would be an excellent scenario to present to students as an interesting use of scientific technology. With your permission, I would like to use your scenario as a project question for my students. Would you mind emailing me a quick note that explains the issue once again, as I have accidentally deleted the original message. For the rest of the list serve group, forgive this personal email... I did not know to whom to address my note specifically. Thanks!
Sincerely, Laurie Wallin UCSD Department of Anesthesiology 9500 Gilman Drive, 0629, La Jolla, CA 92093
I have seen a few sites that have telpresence, control, or viewing capabilities of various SEM's. Does anyone know of any commercial or free software to do this or was it created in-house. I would love to make the live screen shots of our Hitachi 4500's and 5000 FESEM's available to interested parties. Our network is Windows NT based. Thank you in advance.
Brian
Brian Wajdyk Senior Electron Microscopist Motorola - Digital DNA Laboratories Product and Materials Chracterization Laboratory Tel: 480-655-4337 email: r3488c-at-sps.mot.com
Polaron Sputter Coaters are now made by VG Microtech in East Grinstead UK. Their agents in the USA are Energy Beam Sciences based in MA. Phone number 413 786 9322.
Regards
Alan
At 16:20 1999-08-12 -0400, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Hello Brian, How did you calculate these charges? Is this for instrument access only or for staff assistance also? I am recalculating the hourly fees based upon total facilities budgets. How about you? Marek.
} Date: Fri, 13 Aug 1999 16:01:30 -0400 } From: Brian McIntyre {mcintyre-at-optics.rochester.edu} } Subject: Re: Charges for FESEM Usage } To: "Tindall, Randy D." {TindallR-at-missouri.edu} } CC: microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } Mime-Version: 1.0 } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Marek Malecki, M.D., Ph.D. Director and Principal Investigator Electron Microscopy Facilities University of California at San Diego
The going rate for most analytical services dealing with instruments is usually split into "instrument time" and "operator time" and sometimes even "consulting time". The going rate(s) here in the Chicago area is approx.... SEM/$110 hr. (photo only) SEM wEDS/$175 hr. These rates DO NOT include operators time of $200 hr. There is also a minimum of $500 per project or sample. But this usually includes a small written report and a couple micrographs. When visitors or potential customers hear these figures they always roll their eyes like I'm trying to take advantage of them. But when an SEM with associated hardware can cost a cool half million or more it takes along time to recover that initial investment, not including the operator/consultant's expertise.
Stephen P. Cavender wrote: ============================================= I've used Bell Bright (I forget who sells it) to help eliminate the struggle of cleaning the walls of my sputter coater. After cleaning (or better yet, prior to running the sputter coater) I give the chamber wall a light spray- ing and the coating comes off with soap and a light brushing. I don't know if it would work with a carbon coater or not but it's worth a try. =============================================== As one of the two co-inventors, some years ago, of the SPI Bell Bright™ spray product, I believe I am qualified to make here a few comments. The product has been available continuously from SPI Supplies since 1979.
The goal of the product was to deposit onto a clean bell jar surface a water soluble polymer with certain narrowly defined characteristics so that when it came time for cleaning, water alone plus a lint free cotton wiper would be all that would be needed for bell jar clean up. The product was (and is) as effective for carbon as for the metal deposits typically found in EM applications. On the SPI website, more information can be found about the product on URL http://www.2spi.com/catalog/supp/supp3.html
One word of caution: The product is designed for use on glass surfaces, not plastic, which will stress crack if Bell Bright is applied.
Disclaimer: SPI Supplies manufactures the SPI Bell Bright Spray product and we clearly have a vested interest in seeing more laboratories using it as part of their bell jar maintenance program.
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.spi.cc ######################## ============================================
Brian: this is an interest of mine, too. I've got some Hitachi S-4700's and I'm also NT-based. I know our very own SysOp, Nestor, is the main man in telepresence, so perhaps he could point us in the right direction.
There is a wealth of information on his Web page at Argonne National Labs. The URL is http://www.amc.anl.gov/docs/anl/TPM/TPMHomePage.html
I'll admit I haven't done more than skim the contents (due to my own workload) but what I've seen is pretty darn spiffy.
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Fellow microscopists, } } I have seen a few sites that have telpresence, control, } or viewing capabilities of various SEM's. Does anyone } know of any commercial or free software to do this or } was it created in-house. I would love to make the live } screen shots of our Hitachi 4500's and 5000 FESEM's } available to interested parties. Our network is Windows } NT based. Thank you in advance. } } Brian } } } Brian Wajdyk } Senior Electron Microscopist } Motorola - Digital DNA Laboratories } Product and Materials Chracterization Laboratory } Tel: 480-655-4337 } email: r3488c-at-sps.mot.com }
In a message dated 8/11/99 4:16:47 PM Pacific Daylight Time, wchiss-at-ou.edu writes:
} } } We just use 409 cleaner sprayed on a paper towel, or better yet some Kim } wipes, to clean carbon from the jar and stage. It's fast, efficient, and } doesn't leave an outgassing residue. We also clean it after each use } since it takes so little time. } } Bill }
..which, considering the active ingredient in 409 is a cationic detergent sometimes used as a spreading agent for DNA makes beautiful sense....
Gordon - many CCD cameras render petrographic images in B+W only. Single polarising is no problem, but double polarised images come out minus the "diagnostic" colours. Make sure the camera you buy can handle double polarised images. Cheers Jim Darley ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com.au Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes www.proscitech.com.au
On Friday, August 13, 1999 9:22 AM, Gordon Vrololjak [SMTP:gvrdolja-at-nature.Berkeley.EDU] wrote: } } } Hello, } I was wondering what solutions were available for replacing a } film 35mm camera on a nikon petrographic microscope with a digital } camera that can have it's output sent into a computer. We are looking } for a simple system with high resolution. } Thank you for the help. } } } \/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ } Gordon Ante Vrdoljak 1 Cyclotron Road } ICQ 23243541 http://nature.berkeley.edu/~gvrdolja MS90-1116 } GAVrdoljak-at-lbl.gov Ernest Orlando } phone (510) 495-2829 Lawrence Berkeley } fax (510) 486-7797 National Laboratory } cell (510) 290-6793 Berkeley CA 94720 }
G'Day All, especially Steven Celotto who asked for the information,
I've got a large amount of information on jet polishers, too much to = discuss in an email. What I'll do is give you a list of companies and = internet sites and you can browse at your liesure. =20 I have responses from four companies, they are: Struers South Bay Technology ProSciTech Alltech
Check out the following internet sites =20 http://www.struers.com/=20 http://www.proscitech.com.au=20 http://www.southbaytech.com=20
Alltech Associates Australia Pty Ltd, I think are the Australian agents = for Agar, mainly because they sent me the Aar catalog. =20 Agar Scientific Limited 66A Cambridge Rd Stansted, Essex CM24 8DA, England Tel: (01279) 813519 Fax: (01279) 815106
As for the other companies find out who your local agent is or go direct = to the parent company if you want more information. If you want some more = info or to talk just email me. =20 If anyone can give me an internet address for Fischione or some other = contact, I'd be most grateful. =20
Thanks everyone and I hope this proves useful to others looking for Jet = Polishers. =20
George
George Theodossiou Dept Applied Physics RMIT GPO Box 2476V Melbourne 3001 Victoria Australia Ph: +61 3 9925 1793 +61 3 9925 2205 Fax: +61 3 9925 5290 Email: george.theodossiou-at-rmit.edu.au
Home Ph: +61 3 9808 9085
Impossible I Can Do Today, Miracles, Require 24 Hours Notice
Dear all, Is there a optimum thickness (or range) for carbon extraction replicas?
I wish to extract from a iron matrix the carbides and other particles that range in size from 10nm to about a micron.
Thanks in advance for your advice.
-- Steven Celotto Netherlands Institute of Metals Research (NIMR) Department of Applied Physics, University of Groningen Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands Ph: +31 50 363 4344 Fax: +31 50 363 4881 email: s.celotto-at-phys.rug.nl http://www.phys.rug.nl/mk/people/celotto/celotto.html http://www.nimr.nl/
} Greetings, } I am attempting to objectively assess the number of individual subunits in a } radially symmetrical protein molecule. I have produced quality TEM } micrographs of the protein which allow relatively convincing subjective } assesment of the quarternary conformation of this molecule through visual } inspection, however I would like to produce a rotational power spectrum of } the molecule to add more weight to this data. Crowther and Amos (J. Mol. } Biol. 60 (1971) 123) introduced rotational power spectrum analysis of } individual particles. This technique has since been productively used in } many studies. In this method,based on the Fourier Transform, a line graph } is produced which plots the rotational frequency against the log of power. } The rotational frequency value which corresponds to the highest power is } taken to be the correct number of subunits composing radially symmetrical } particle. } I have a rather limited background in mathematics, signal processing and } programming although I am trying to familiarize myself with the more general } concepts of these areas as they apply to this problem. To date I am able to } generate the frequency transform of an isolated image in NIH Image using the } FFT macro, and I'm pretty much stuck not knowing where to go from this } point.
Hi Karl,
you have to center the particles first, then transform to polar coordinates and then Fourier transform just along the angular dimension for each radius. Then you can average the magnitudes of the FTs over a chosen range of radii.
I don't think you can do any of those steps in NIH-image without writing your own software, but there are a lot of Unix based programs for free which you could use. Check http://rcr-www.med.nyu.edu/3dem/HomePage.html. A good source of information is the special issue of the Journal of Structural Biology Vol. 116, Number 1, 1996.
Philip
-- Philip Koeck Karolinska Institutet Dept. of Bioscience Novum S-14157 Huddinge Sweden Tel.: +46-8-608 91 86 Fax.: +46-8-608 92 90 Email: Philip.Koeck-at-csb.ki.se http://www_scem.csb.ki.se/pages/philip.html
I prepared a number of carbon extraction replicas of Cr/Mo/V boiler tube steels during a research program at Lehigh University. I must admit, however, that I never went to the trouble of determining the exact thickness of the carbon.
My method was to prepare the steel in a standard, phenolic metallographic=
mount first. Then I etched the sample heavily (Truthfully, I don't remember th= e etchant used, but it was designed to heavily etch the matrix material and expose the carbides). =
Carbon coating was performed with the sample sitting on a white filter paper, and with the old Denton system we had, it required at least two sputterin= g session to get a heavy tan color on the filter paper. =
Replica removal was performed using a 4%Bromine/Methanol solution. =
(Extreme care should be taken with this etchant!!!)
The sample was carefully dipped into a beaker of the etchant, which just covered the top of the mounted specimen. (It's a good idea to use a razor blade to scribe the =
carbon into appropriately sized grid sections prior to etching). When th= e carbon =
completely separated from the specimen, it was fished onto a TEM grid usi= ng tweezers. This part took some skill, since many times the carbon would fold upon itself making a double thickness. Two ethanol baths were then used to rinse the replic= as (Carefully) =
prior to air drying.
This method resulted in fantastic replicas. =
Hope this helps.
Best regards, Scott D. Holt BUEHLER LTD. PO Box 1 41 Waukegan Rd. Lake Bluff, IL 60044 (847)295-6500 http://www.buehlerltd.com
********************************* NEW YORK SOCIETY OF EXPERIMENTAL MICROSCOPISTS 1999 PRESIDENTIAL SYMPOSIUM
"THE LIVING BRAIN"
HUNTER COLLEGE OF CUNY SEPTEMBER 17th 1999 09:00 A.M. * 05:00 P.M. ROOM 714, HUNTER WEST BUILDING 68th STREET AT LEXINGTON AVENUE, NEW YORK CITY
SPEAKERS:
MARY E. HATTEN, THE ROCKEFELLER UNIVERSITY Mechanism of Glial Guided Migration in Developing CNS
MARK H. ELLISMAN, National Center for Microscopy and Imaging Research, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT SAN DIEGO Advanced 3-D Microscopes and Multiscale Views of Nervous System
ANDREA BRAND, WELLCOME/CRC INSTITUTE, UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE Asymmetric Segregation of Cell Fate Determinants in the Embryonic Nervous System
NICHOLAS C. SPITZER, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT SAN DIEGO Regulation of Neuronal Differentiation by the Frequency of Spontaneous Calcium Transients
DAVID R. COLMAN, THE MOUNT SINAI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE The Molecular Architecture of Nerve and Synapse
RONALD D. McKAY, NINDS, NIH Constructing the Brain with Stem Cells
Microscopy equipment vendors will be on hand to display the latest microscopes and imaging accessories.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Dr. Philip L. Leopold, Secretary of NYSEM by: E-Mail: pleopold-at-mail.med.cornell.edu Fax: 212-746-8808
Leona Cohen-Gould, M.S. Sr. Staff Associate Director, Electron Microscopy Core Facility Manager, Confocal Microscopy Core Facility Joan & Sanford I. Weill Medical College of Cornell University voice (212)746-6146 fax (212)746-8175
} } Hello Brian, } How did you calculate these charges? } Is this for instrument access only or for staff assistance also? } I am recalculating the hourly fees based upon total facilities budgets. How } about you? } Marek. } } } } } } } } } } Hi Listers, } } } } } } We are trying to settle on usage fees for a newly installed Hitachi S4700 } } } FESEM and would be very interested in knowing what other institutions are } } } charging. We are a university, multi-user facility, primarily biological. } } } } } } Any information would be very much appreciated. } } } } } } All the best, } } } Randy } } } } } } } } } } I'd like to know too....we have a LEO982 and i'm currently charging $80/hr } } and $140/hr for internal and external work, respectively (1/2 off if i } } don't do the analysis). } } } } b- *********************************
i used a simple formula:
2000 hrs/work-year
~1000 actual beam-time hours (the rest is spent doing prep and other "stuff"...in my case teaching and class labs as well as computer/network support)
i need about $80,000 to keep the doors open....
80,000/1000= 80$/hr
i'll probably be making some changes as my service contract rates go up, but i'm already feeling some resistance to these rates. can't keep everybody happy...
Brian McIntyre mailto:mcintyre-at-optics.rochester.edu Sr. Engineer lab: 716-275-3058/4875 River Campus EMLab fax: 716-244-4936 University of Rochester Rochester, NY 14620
"The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother." - Unknown
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America =
George, Having used jet polishers on a daily basis since 1970, I feel obligated to share my observations of them with you. Since microscope facilities have millions of dollars invested in 'scopes, etc., the best = jet polisher can be a bargain, even if it costs a bit more. I have no = financial interest in the products mentioned below. Our lab has used South Bay Technology's 550 series jet polishers since 1972 with excellent results-= many recipes & techniques were published in a 66 page report with some 1,000 copies used worldwide. They feature a magnified, in-situ view of the polishing "cell", line of sight optical shut-off path for adj.,high sensitivity. LED light sources of infrared, red, green, & yellow have been used to thin = metals such as W,Ta,Nb, and a host of other metals and alloys. Si & Ge have been electropolished, the former also was chemically thinned using parts from the manufacturer's kit for that purpose-allowing use of Hf/nitric acid as well as perchloric acid baths at -50 degrees C. The thin, perforated, membrane retaining the specimen has little resistance to higher viscosity baths, a KEY to smoother specimens! The unit has been slightly modified to polish the entire surface of a 3 m.m.disc before ion implantation, etc. By using a timer & external D.C.power, as little as 50 nanometers can be removed from a metal surface before back thinning it-provided a means of measuring the step heigth left by strippable lacquer is available. We use Microshield, designed for electroplating for this as well as covering the "= first side" dimple. Lastly, the time saved developing a good polish on "new" materials with in-situ viewing is substantial. We use 6 550's-two for radioactive materials-and feel they are fine instruments. Contact me = directly for more info.
Bernard Kestel Materials Science Division E-mail {kestel-at-anl.gov} Argonne National Laboratory 9700 South Cass Avenue Argonne, Illinois, 60439
=
RFC822 header -----------------------------------
Received: from oberon.ctd.anl.gov (dns2.anl.gov [146.139.254.3]) by horus.= et.anl.gov (8.6.11/8.6.11) with ESMTP id KAA13532; Fri, 13 Aug 1999 10:46:= 45 -0500 Received: from Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (sparc5.microscopy.com [206.69.208.= 10]) by oberon.ctd.anl.gov (8.9.1a/8.9.1) with SMTP id KAA03430; Fri, 13 Aug 1999 10:46:45 -0500 (CDT) Received: (from daemon-at-localhost) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11)= id KAA02968 for dist-Microscopy; Fri, 13 Aug 1999 10:16:39 -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 KAA02958 for "= MicroscopyFilteredEmail-at-msa.microscopy.com"; Fri, 13 Aug 1999 10:16:07 -= 0500 Received: from horus.et.anl.gov (horus.et.anl.gov [146.139.240.27]) by = Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) with ESMTP id KAA02949 for {= Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} ; Fri, 13 Aug 1999 10:15:49 -0500 Received: from 146.139.240.184 (et212mac184.et.anl.gov [146.139.240.184]) = by horus.et.anl.gov (8.6.11/8.6.11) with SMTP id KAA13329 for {Microscopy-at-= MSA.Microscopy.Com} ; Fri, 13 Aug 1999 10:23:46 -0500 Message-Id: {199908131523.KAA13329-at-horus.et.anl.gov} Date: 13 Aug 99 10:23:47 -0500 From: Bernard Kestel {kestel-at-anl.gov} Subject: Re: Jet Polishers, user's experiences To: Microscopy Listserver {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} X-Mailer: QuickMail Pro 1.5.4 (Mac) X-Priority: 3 Reply-To: Bernard Kestel {kestel-at-anl.gov} MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Errors-to: Microscopy-request-at-sparc5.microscopy.com Content-Type: text/plain; charset=3D"US-Ascii" Content-Length: 2331 Status: = =
id Q6BSWS6H; Mon, 16 Aug 1999 16:01:06 -0500 Mime-Version: 1.0 X-Sender: PhillipsT-at-pop.email.missouri.edu Message-Id: {v04210100b3de2bffa75b-at-[128.206.162.35]}
The University of Missouri's search for an Assistant or Associate Director of their Molecular Cytology Core Facility remains open. Individuals who feel they may be qualified for the position are encouraged to either apply or contact Tom Phillips for further details.
The ideal candidate will be an individual with experience in some or all of the following areas:
* confocal scanning laser microscopy * bright field microscopy * wide field fluorescence microscopy * low light video microscopy * image processing/analysis * deconvolution * all types of microtomy * immunocytochemistry * in situ hybridization * Adobe Photoshop
The Assistant/Associate Director will be responsible for training users, maintaining instruments and developing protocols for a campus-wide multi-user facility. PhD desirable but not required for individuals with extensive experience. Although an ideal candidate would have experience in all of the areas listed above, candidates with extensive experience in selected areas and who have the desire and capacity to learn the additional areas will be considered. Excellent oral and written communication skills are essential. Experience in a multi-user core facility would be viewed positively. Electron microscopy is not a component of this core facility. Women and minority candidates are especially encouraged to apply. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until an appropriate candidate is hired.
Address applications (CV and 3 letters of reference) or inquires to:
Thomas E. Phillips, Ph.D. Division of Biological Sciences 3 Tucker Hall, University of Missouri Columbia, MO 65211-7400. 573-882-4712 PhillipsT-at-missouri.edu.
I agree with Charles Butterick. I feel that a political reference is unwarranted since the List seems to be set up for helping microscopists with various problems in microscopy. Nelson Conti
On Thu, 12 Aug 1999, Charles Butterick 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Steve Miller's slam of a public figure was not necessary to his } purpose. } } Political references should be withheld from any communication to the } Listserver. Such comments can elicit a variety of responses } inappropriate to the purpose of the List. } } } } } } } }
Seeking advice on low-budget photomicroscopy video recording (LM) under ordinary visible lighting conditions (transmission, phase contrast, no requirement for extremely low light levels) for making educational videos about protozoal biology, blood cells etc. I am working on a proposal for a non-profit foundation with a limited budget. I have access to a Zeiss Photomicroscope 3 but need to obtain a camera. One suggestion I received was to use one of the usual 3-chip CCD cameras and hook it to a mini-DV deck which would cost a total (camera plus deck) of around $6,000. It would save about $2000 if it were possible to use a miniDV camera directly (e.g., the Canon XL1 which has removable lenses and could conceivably be adapted to the photo tube on the Zeiss) and the camera could later be used for other functions, e.g. interviews, conferences etc.
Canon's customer service states they have no experience with using the XL1 for photomicroscopy.
Does anyone have any experience with using miniDV cameras for video LM? Any other suggestions for obtaining high quality videos in the under $7000 range would be appreciated.
Robert Harman 170 Line Road, Office 13 Bellemead, NJ 08502 email: harmanmd-at-alumni.caltech.edu
The recent thread on hourly rates for microscopy reeks of commercialism on two counts:
1. It used to be an anti-trust violation even to discuss competitive rates for business services. I know; my grandfather lost some key patents & his business failed because he was caught telling someone how much the firm charged for performing a service (about 1948).
2. University and research labs get their equipment largely with public funds and are usually not-fot-profit organizations to boot, so it is plainly unfair to set rates for outside services absent the profit motive and in competition with labs that have to survive in the real world by charging realistic rates.
Best regards, George Langford, Sc.D. {amenex-at-amenex.com} http://www.amenex.com/
p.s. Ironically, the listserver rejected this at first because I had the word, "profit" in the phrase, "not-for-profit" in the subject line.
Accurel Systems International Corp., a leading provider of analytical services, has the following job openings for their Sunnyvale-CA laboratories:
1. TEM Engineer: Applicant is expected to handle all aspects of TEM work, including sample preparation, TEM operation, darkroom work and contact with customers. The ideal candidate should have a B.S. and/or M.S. in Engineering or the Physical Sciences with academic training in the field of transmission electron microscopy. Excellent oral and written communication skills are also required. Prior experience with semiconductor materials, dimpling, ion-milling, tripod polishing and FIB is desirable.
2. FIB Engineer: Applicant will work with state-of-the-art FIB systems to perform device modification work. The position requires a B.S. and/or M.S. in Engineering or the Physical Sciences. Knowledge of semiconductor devices and processes is highly desirable.
3. Dual Beam FIB Engineer: Candidate will work on an FEI 820 Dual Beam FIB system primarily preparing SEM and TEM cross-sections. . The candidate should have a B.S. and/or M.S. in Engineering or the Physical Sciences. Prior experience with SEM or FIB and knowledge of semiconductor processing is highly desirable.
Please send resume to:
David Su Accurel Systems International Corp 785 Lucerne Drive Sunnyvale, CA 94086 Email: davids-at-accurel.com
My dear Bernard, Below message was posted on the 14 August and again on 17 August, the latter with a copy to David Henriks, the proprietor of South Bay Techn., the manufacturer of this wonderful equipment. I do not doubt that you are very happy with the equipment and that it performs well. Certainly you are entitled to post such a message and some subscribers would be interested in your endorsement. Since you have previously also endorsed this equipment so enthusiastically on this forum, I am interested to learn about your "arrangement" with David Henriks. I think that the addition of a disclaimer to your message was required and appropriate. Cheers Jim Darley ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com.au Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes www.proscitech.com.au
On Tuesday, August 17, 1999 2:52 AM, Bernard Kestel [SMTP:kestel-at-anl.gov] wrote: } } George, } Having used jet polishers on a daily basis since 1970, I feel } obligated to share my observations of them with you. Since microscope } facilities have millions of dollars invested in 'scopes, etc., the best jet } polisher can be a bargain, even if it costs a bit more. I have no financial } interest in the products mentioned below. Our lab has used South Bay } Technology's 550 series jet polishers since 1972 with excellent results-many } recipes } & techniques were published in a 66 page report with some 1,000 copies } used worldwide. They feature a magnified, in-situ view of the polishing } "cell", line of sight optical shut-off path for adj.,high sensitivity. LED } light sources of infrared, red, green, & yellow have been used to thin metals } such as W,Ta,Nb, and a host of other metals and alloys. Si & Ge have been } electropolished, the former also was chemically thinned using parts from } the manufacturer's kit for that purpose-allowing use of Hf/nitric acid as } well as perchloric acid baths at -50 degrees C. The thin, perforated, } membrane retaining the specimen has little resistance to higher viscosity } baths, a KEY to smoother specimens! The unit has been slightly modified to } polish the entire surface of a 3 m.m.disc before ion implantation, etc. By } using a timer & external D.C.power, as little as 50 nanometers can be } removed from a metal surface before back thinning it-provided a means of } measuring the step heigth left by strippable lacquer is available. We use } Microshield, designed for electroplating for this as well as covering the } "first } side" dimple. Lastly, the time saved developing a good polish on "new" } materials with in-situ viewing is substantial. We use 6 550's-two for } radioactive materials-and feel they are fine instruments. Contact me directly } for } more info. } } Bernard Kestel } Materials Science Division E-mail {kestel-at-anl.gov} } Argonne National Laboratory } 9700 South Cass Avenue } Argonne, Illinois, 60439 } } } } } } } } RFC822 header } ----------------------------------- } } Received: from oberon.ctd.anl.gov (dns2.anl.gov [146.139.254.3]) by } horus.et.anl.gov (8.6.11/8.6.11) with ESMTP id KAA13532; Fri, 13 Aug 1999 } 10:46:45 -0500 } Received: from Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (sparc5.microscopy.com [206.69.208.10]) } by oberon.ctd.anl.gov (8.9.1a/8.9.1) with SMTP id KAA03430; } Fri, 13 Aug 1999 10:46:45 -0500 (CDT) } Received: (from daemon-at-localhost) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) id } KAA02968 for dist-Microscopy; Fri, 13 Aug 1999 10:16:39 -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 KAA02958 for } "MicroscopyFilteredEmail-at-msa.microscopy.com"; Fri, 13 Aug 1999 10:16:07 -0500 } } Received: from horus.et.anl.gov (horus.et.anl.gov [146.139.240.27]) by } Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) with ESMTP id KAA02949 for } {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} ; Fri, 13 Aug 1999 10:15:49 -0500 } Received: from 146.139.240.184 (et212mac184.et.anl.gov [146.139.240.184]) by } horus.et.anl.gov (8.6.11/8.6.11) with SMTP id KAA13329 for } {Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com} ; Fri, 13 Aug 1999 10:23:46 -0500 } Message-Id: {199908131523.KAA13329-at-horus.et.anl.gov} } Date: 13 Aug 99 10:23:47 -0500 } From: Bernard Kestel {kestel-at-anl.gov} } Subject: Re: Jet Polishers, user's experiences } To: Microscopy Listserver {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} } X-Mailer: QuickMail Pro 1.5.4 (Mac) } X-Priority: 3 } Reply-To: Bernard Kestel {kestel-at-anl.gov} } MIME-Version: 1.0 } Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit } Errors-to: Microscopy-request-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-Ascii" } Content-Length: 2331 } Status: }
I don't understand the point of your message. He has two statements in his posting that basically states that he has no financial connection with SBT. The first is his direct statement and the second is his affiliation with Argonne National Lab. He can't have an arrangement with SBT -it would be illegal. With the insights that have come out of Bernie's lab, I for one, pay particular attention to when he posts a message. Do we really want to post anything in anyway to cause someone like him to feel like maybe he shouldn't post? I've read quite a few of his papers on jet polishing and they are very good. Some of them do deal with the unique aspects of the SBT jet polisher, but most of the techniques can be adapted to other polishers.
Keep up the good work Bernie.
Just my two cents.
-Scott
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Glass Technology Center 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: jim To: 'Bernard Kestel'; Microscopy Listserver -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
My dear Bernard, Below message was posted on the 14 August and again on 17 August, the latter with a copy to David Henriks, the proprietor of South Bay Techn., the manufacturer of this wonderful equipment. I do not doubt that you are very happy with the equipment and that it performs well. Certainly you are entitled to post such a message and some subscribers would be interested in your endorsement. Since you have previously also endorsed this equipment so enthusiastically on this forum, I am interested to learn about your "arrangement" with David Henriks. I think that the addition of a disclaimer to your message was required and appropriate. Cheers Jim Darley ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com.au Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes www.proscitech.com.au
On Tuesday, August 17, 1999 2:52 AM, Bernard Kestel [SMTP:kestel-at-anl.gov] wrote: } } George, } Having used jet polishers on a daily basis since 1970, I feel } obligated to share my observations of them with you. Since microscope } facilities have millions of dollars invested in 'scopes, etc., the best jet } polisher can be a bargain, even if it costs a bit more. I have no financial } interest in the products mentioned below. Our lab has used South Bay } Technology's 550 series jet polishers since 1972 with excellent results-many } recipes } & techniques were published in a 66 page report with some 1,000 copies } used worldwide. They feature a magnified, in-situ view of the polishing } "cell", line of sight optical shut-off path for adj.,high sensitivity. LED } light sources of infrared, red, green, & yellow have been used to thin metals } such as W,Ta,Nb, and a host of other metals and alloys. Si & Ge have been } electropolished, the former also was chemically thinned using parts from } the manufacturer's kit for that purpose-allowing use of Hf/nitric acid as } well as perchloric acid baths at -50 degrees C. The thin, perforated, } membrane retaining the specimen has little resistance to higher viscosity } baths, a KEY to smoother specimens! The unit has been slightly modified to } polish the entire surface of a 3 m.m.disc before ion implantation, etc. By } using a timer & external D.C.power, as little as 50 nanometers can be } removed from a metal surface before back thinning it-provided a means of } measuring the step heigth left by strippable lacquer is available. We use } Microshield, designed for electroplating for this as well as covering the } "first } side" dimple. Lastly, the time saved developing a good polish on "new" } materials with in-situ viewing is substantial. We use 6 550's-two for } radioactive materials-and feel they are fine instruments. Contact me directly } for } more info. } } Bernard Kestel } Materials Science Division E-mail {kestel-at-anl.gov} } Argonne National Laboratory } 9700 South Cass Avenue } Argonne, Illinois, 60439 } } } } } } } } RFC822 header } ----------------------------------- } } Received: from oberon.ctd.anl.gov (dns2.anl.gov [146.139.254.3]) by } horus.et.anl.gov (8.6.11/8.6.11) with ESMTP id KAA13532; Fri, 13 Aug 1999 } 10:46:45 -0500 } Received: from Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (sparc5.microscopy.com [206.69.208.10]) } by oberon.ctd.anl.gov (8.9.1a/8.9.1) with SMTP id KAA03430; } Fri, 13 Aug 1999 10:46:45 -0500 (CDT) } Received: (from daemon-at-localhost) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) id } KAA02968 for dist-Microscopy; Fri, 13 Aug 1999 10:16:39 -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 KAA02958 for } "MicroscopyFilteredEmail-at-msa.microscopy.com"; Fri, 13 Aug 1999 10:16:07 -0500 } } Received: from horus.et.anl.gov (horus.et.anl.gov [146.139.240.27]) by } Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) with ESMTP id KAA02949 for } {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} ; Fri, 13 Aug 1999 10:15:49 -0500 } Received: from 146.139.240.184 (et212mac184.et.anl.gov [146.139.240.184]) by } horus.et.anl.gov (8.6.11/8.6.11) with SMTP id KAA13329 for } {Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com} ; Fri, 13 Aug 1999 10:23:46 -0500 } Message-Id: {199908131523.KAA13329-at-horus.et.anl.gov} } Date: 13 Aug 99 10:23:47 -0500 } From: Bernard Kestel {kestel-at-anl.gov} } Subject: Re: Jet Polishers, user's experiences } To: Microscopy Listserver {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} } X-Mailer: QuickMail Pro 1.5.4 (Mac) } X-Priority: 3 } Reply-To: Bernard Kestel {kestel-at-anl.gov} } MIME-Version: 1.0 } Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit } Errors-to: Microscopy-request-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-Ascii" } Content-Length: 2331 } Status: }
Gordon, I have used a Snappy image capture device with pretty good results. It is a small module that plugs into the parallel port of a PC. See additional information at http://www.play.com/products/snappy/index.html
I have no financial interest in Snappy, just personal observations.
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: Gordon Couger [SMTP:gcouger-at-RFdata.net] } Sent: Monday, August 16, 1999 10:19 PM } To: Microscopy Listserver } Subject: vidio capture } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 video capture device to use with a laptop. } } It needs to interface with standard video cameras. I am setting } up a portable (well at least moveable) setup with a triocular Leitz. } } Does anyone have any experience with anything out there. } } Thanks } Gordon } } Gordon Couger gcouger-at-couger.com } 624 Cheyenne } Stillwater, OK 74075-1411 } 405 624-2855 GMT -6:00 www.couger.com/gcouger } }
I for one agree, but that unfortunately is life, whether we like it or not. I understand the need to make a profit in business, but business men should keep their damn hands off science.
As a microscopist who got his start in asbestos analyses, I have became appalled and cynical of the business aspect. Good analytical methods were developed by by excellent scientists for a good cause. Business men turned it into a joke by applying a "fast food " and assembly line approach to it. It gave microscopy a bad name due to greedy competition, shoddy work, and less than ethical intent, placing invisible quotos on microscopists. Today, you can get a PLM asbestos analysis done cheaper than a meal at McDondalds. That same mentality has made its way into other microscopy/materials analysis venues.
Over the past few years, I have spoken to environmental labs that claimed they were interested in developing real microscopy, materials analysis labs. I heard many grandiose promises but saw the truth. They wanted to apply the same asbestos analysis mentality to other microscopy methods and techniques.......Cheap and fast without much, if any instrumentation investment. Three times I said "no thanks" to lucrative offers. I will not have my name associated with that type of "science", and can do quite fine without the BMW and boat trips to the Caribbean.
As far as academia is concerned, its activities should be restricted from using university equipment, grad students and staff for paid laboratory services provided to industry and the general public. They are there for teaching and research. If they provide paid services, it should be kept separate for fair competition to legitimate business.
Enough soap box rhetoric for one day, and I didnt use the "P" word once!
Respectfully; Lou Solebello
At 10:08 PM 8/16/99 -0400, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Hello, Can anyone suggest a (preferably east coast) field service / repair person for a S-570 with what I think is a badly misaligned column. I know Hitachi can do this, I am hoping to find someone closer with better rates. We are in southwest Virginia. Thanks! David Sherrer dsherrer-at-ACTMicroDevices.com 540-639-1986x15
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
There have been some requests for the report mentioned recently in my comments about jet polishers. Here is the source-it costs about $27 but I don't receive it!
Polishing Methods for Metallic and Ceramic Transmission Electron Microscopy Specimens
By: Bernard J. Kestel
ANL No. 80-120, Rev.1, March, 1986
Ask for: Article No. DE82003251
Order From: National Technical Information Service U.S. Department of Commerce 5285 Port Royal Road Springfield, Virginia, 22161 Their Phone: (703) 487-4650
This note should save me from responding to individual requests for this info. Disclaimer: I do not have any financial interest in South Bay Technology or Microshield Co's. (The former has kindly made some improvements on their equipment due to my suggestions as a user-which we can all use to lessen the tedium of specimen preparation).
Bernard Kestel E-mail: {kestel-at-anl.gov.} Materials Science Division Argonne National Laboratory Ph: (630) 252-4945 9700 South Cass Avenue Argonne,Illinois, 60439
id {RCGPLZV9} ; Tue, 17 Aug 1999 09:48:07 -0500 Message-ID: {52246021B94FD311B4B900609451548D01407732-at-umc-mail02.missouri.edu} {microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com}
Hi,
I assume the attached message is a response to my query about FESEM rates being charged by various labs.
To repeat, we are a university facility almost exclusively serving researchers within the university. To ask about the rates being charged by comparable facilities around the country is simply a way to judge how others handle the conflicting problems of non-profit service vs. reasonable cost recovery. We do not earn a profit(trust me on this one), and we certainly don't constitute a monopoly of any kind.
There have been other strings on this listserver in the past concerning cost-recovery vs. service to the academic community. These discussions have been very valuable and are not meant to be some sort of commercial "price fixing" scheme. To tell the truth, I think most EM people working in academic labs would much prefer to offer their services internally at no charge, freeing us up to do slow, careful research without the need to constantly consider financial pressures. But the world doesn't work like that.
I hope this helps to clarify the context of my question.
Best wishes, Randy
-----Original Message----- } From: George Langford, Sc.D. [mailto:amenex-at-amenex.com] Sent: Monday, August 16, 1999 9:09 PM To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com Cc: Garber, Charles A.
Hallo Microscopists !
Has anyone read the FAQ recently ?
The recent thread on hourly rates for microscopy reeks of commercialism on two counts:
1. It used to be an anti-trust violation even to discuss competitive rates for business services. I know; my grandfather lost some key patents & his business failed because he was caught telling someone how much the firm charged for performing a service (about 1948).
2. University and research labs get their equipment largely with public funds and are usually not-fot-profit organizations to boot, so it is plainly unfair to set rates for outside services absent the profit motive and in competition with labs that have to survive in the real world by charging realistic rates.
Best regards, George Langford, Sc.D. {amenex-at-amenex.com} http://www.amenex.com/
p.s. Ironically, the listserver rejected this at first because I had the word, "profit" in the phrase, "not-for-profit" in the subject line.
Dear all, With reference to Scott Walck's comments, I would just like to add that I have very successfully used one of Bernie Kestel's recipes for an electropolishing electrolyte with another brand named jet polisher. Whether this other well known brand has the same controllability as the SBT equipment, I do not know, since we only had the one brand. It was necessary to adapt parameters of voltage and flow to the different equipment for best results.
So my points are:
1) Many of the techniques that he has learned can be adapted to other polishers.
and
2) If there are particular advantages to one piece of equipment, then it is good to know about them from users, not just from sales literature. Hopefully, this will also have the side effect of encouraging competing manufacturers to find ways of improving their equipment.
So, I for one appreciate tips about good experiences with equipment, or how to get the best out of equipment.
Perhaps when it comes to bad experiences with equipment, and slating manufacturers, we should (of course) be much more careful about what we say on a forum like this.
Best wishes to all
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Ian MacLaren Department of Experimental Physics Chalmers University of Technology S-412 96 G=F6teborg Sweden Tel: +46 31 772 36 33 FAX: +46 31 772 32 24 email: maclaren-at-fy.chalmers.se or: ian.maclaren-at-physics.org Research Group Homepage: http://fy.chalmers.se/microscopy/ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hey boys, calm down. Steve's point was that it may take a major forensics effort to solve the problem, and he did it in a humorous way. I (a yellow dog republican) saw no slam, and I am sure that it was not intended. I think that it is far worse to slam a fellow list member for an innocent comment than to make a point at an attorney's expense.
best regards mark
Nelson wrote:
I agree with Charles Butterick. I feel that a political reference is unwarranted since the List seems to be set up for helping microscopists with various problems in microscopy. Nelson Conti
On Thu, 12 Aug 1999, Charles Butterick 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Steve Miller's slam of a public figure was not necessary to his } purpose. } } Political references should be withheld from any communication to the } Listserver. Such comments can elicit a variety of responses } inappropriate to the purpose of the List. } } } } } } } }
If Pat Barber (sp?) at Cold Spring Harbor Labs is reading this, or if someone knows her email address or phone number, I would very much appreciate receiving them. Her message on my phone was incomplete, and the phone numbers that long distance information gave me don't work.
Thanks!
Phil
****be famous! send in a tech tip or question*** Philip Oshel Technical Editor, Microscopy Today PO Box 620068 Middleton, WI 53562 Address for courier deliveries: 6319 Pheasant Lane #A-12 Voice: (608) 833-2885 Fax: (608) 836-1969 (please make sure my name is on any fax) oshel-at-terracom.net
We're no experts, but we finally got some fixed (after initial glut fixing for several hours) by slicing them with a razor blade (under a dissecting scope) to get the fix in. We also had some other smaller little critters (??) that we pelleted, surrounded with agar, and then "chopped" with a razor blade. Fix was OK on ones that got cut, not on ones that weren't under the blade. Some folks fix yeasts by removing the cell wall with enzymes. I have no idea what will take of the cuticle of these worms.
Other ideas welcome.
S. Miller
On Fri, 13 Aug 1999, MICHAEL DELANNOY wrote:
} Date: Fri, 13 Aug 1999 10:25:55 -0400 (EDT) } From: MICHAEL DELANNOY {delannoy-at-welch.jhu.edu} } To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: C. elegans std fix? } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } To all who may help, } We are setting up a standard fixation on C. elegans and word is } they are hard to fix (outer coating). Any expertise would be appreciated, } this is for TEM, and I am inclined to go with 4% paraform. 2% glutarald. and } 1% DMSO (possibly microwave in fix also). Thank you. } } Mike D. } } }
Sara E. Miller, Ph. D. P. O. Box 3020 Duke University Medical Center Durham, NC 27710 Ph: 919 684-3452 FAX: 919 684-8735
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
National Technical Information Service
Current phone number: (703) 605-6000 Customer service no.: 1-888-584-8332
Current publication price is: $31.50 plus shipping & handling for a total of $36.50. Thanks to Sarah Hebert of Los Alamos National Laboratory for the correction. (We in the bench labs tend to forget the changing world out there).
Research Engineer Position: Electron Microscopy and Analysis
ORNL's Solid State Division has one of the world's premier facilities for scanning transmission electron microscopy of materials. Its two VG microscopes, the 100 kV HB501 and 300 kV HB603 produce probe sizes of 2.2 and 1.3 angstroms respectively, sufficiently small to allow direct imaging and spectroscopy of individual atomic columns in materials. Information transfer has been demonstrated to 1.3 and 0.7 angstrom. As part of a new program to improve the performance to a predicted 1.0 and 0.5 angstroms, respectively, an engineer position is available to oversee the instrumental aspects of this development. The program involves the addition of a spherical aberration corrector on each microscope. Nion Co. will undertake design and construction of the correctors, and initial installation on the microscopes. The research engineer will be responsible for all other instrumental aspects of the project. Specifically, it is certain that much of the existing electronics and detection systems will need to be updated and/or computerized, including electron detectors used for recording images and diffraction patterns (both serial and parallel data collection), the electron energy loss spectrometer, the electron beam scanning and alignment systems, and the high voltage stability may need to be improved or corrected dynamically. In addition the vacuum system will be upgraded to an oil-free system. Initial performance may well be limited by magnetic fields in the vicinity and/or by mechanical vibrations, which may require electromagnetic screening and anti-vibration treatments. Depending on background, the research engineer will be able to assist group members in research, and/or carry out their own materials research investigation. If you are interested in becoming part of this pioneering development into direct imaging and spectroscopy of atoms with sub-angstrom probes, contact:
Dr. Stephen J. Pennycook ORNL Corporate Fellow Electron Microscopy Group Leader Oak Ridge National Laboratory Solid State Division PO Box 2008 Oak Ridge TN 37831-6030 {pennycooksj-at-ornl.gov} *************************************************************** Stephen J. Pennycook ORNL Corporate Fellow Electron Microscopy Group Leader Oak Ridge National Laboratory Solid State Division PO Box 2008 Oak Ridge TN 37831-6030
I have worked with some setups using CCD color cams to beam light microscopy into the computer. Hopefully, I am not repeating too much of common list-members knowledge with this:
After doing exhaustive product information before the purchase of a camera for my personal use, I found out, that
- a 1-chip camera is completely enough (as opposed to a multi-chip thing that costs more) for still image purposes
- video signal input into the computer is usually 768 x 512 pixels (PAL format)
- a 1/2-inch-chip is the camera-chip to use to transmit standard PAL-images, as the resolution of the chip does not have to be bigger than the video-PAL-TV-card interface
- included in the price, but check that with the dealer to be sure, most industry standard cameras seem to have a "C-mount" adapter
- microscope manufacturers offer an add-on C-mount adapter for the microscope, which often costs as much as the camera, if necessary with an eye-piece as well
There are several single chip (1/2-inch) cameras available. I bought a Sony SSC-DC50P for roughly about 1'700 Swiss Franks. Digitizing through the ix-Turbo-TV-card (another about 150 sFr.) is instantaneous, although some multi-pass-scan-software may improves image quality somewhat. Quicktime movies still may be recorded, although it is not a high-speed-movie-recording setup.
My demo (check http://www.dplanet.ch/users/swisswuff/water_animal.qt) shows a quicktime movie with a little "thing" (yes, we named it using one of these catalogue books ..). The moving gray images in the background are partly caused by the flow of water on the slide containing some debris, probably caused by warming up water locally under the microscope, and caused by searching for the little stuff by moving the slide. The regular still image does not flicker. By the way, that thing is part of the Swiss fresh water fauna. I found it where it shouldn't have been, i.e., inside a person who died from drowning. We usually check the peripheral lung tissue for additional signs of drowning, and although the courtroom value of these things is not yet undisputed (just in case you wondered), these findings look nice and certainly increase the likelihood of our diagnosis to be correct if not to 100%, by still some % higher than zero (sometimes we use Bayesian methods to think). The images are not enhanced, just a one-click-quicktime recording. And the size of the scanned field of view is only half the maximum, so the full resolution would be visible at double the height AND double the length of that window. So I am happy with the performance of the thing.
Anyway good luck with the setups, cheers from Bern
I am looking for the protocol that I can use for cultured cells EM cryosectioning. Are there anybody can help me for the method starting with fixation and then sectioning.I will do immunolabeling.
thank you
qing zhao Dept. of Anatomy and Cell Biology McGill University qzhao-at-med.mcgill.ca
Dear Gordon, Another possibility you might consider for this purpose is the Pixera Professional camera. It is a reasonably low-cost ($1100US), reasonably high resolution color CCD camera that works well on a microscope. We just put one on the Nikon metallograph and are very pleased with the results. Their latest software allows focussing on a full screen image. Look them up at: www.pixera.com., then follow "Biomedical and Scientific" and "Professional" links. At 04:22 PM 8/12/99 -0700, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
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 e-mail: mager-at-interchg.ubc.ca
I haven't done worms, but for Drosophila embryos a nifty trick is to puncture the beasties with a very fine (= freshly homemade) tungsten needle. Still invasive, but less damaging than cutting with a razor! The PI who taught me this also preferred to use acrolein along with glutaraldehyde and formaldehyde in the primary fix. Nasty stuff, but it penetrates very rapidly.
Should work for C. elegans - the actual puncturing part was more a function of caffeine intake (by the puncturer, not the puncturee) than any great technique. You hold the needle close to the sample and hope that your hands aren't too steady that day! You don't want to puncture enough to destroy, just enough that you have a little hole. I've also done large anthers this way - worked pretty well.
If you want more info, let me know and I'll see what I can dredge up.
The 4-th International Conference Simulation, Designing and Control of Foundry Processes POLAND & BULGARIA & GERMANY
KRAK=D3W POLAND25-26 November 1999 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ FOCOMP'99 is organized by: oFoundry Research Institute Krak=F3w-Poland=20
in cooperation with: oAcademy of Mining and Metallurgy Krak=F3w-Poland oDepartment of Automatics oDepartment of Computer Science=20
oInstitute for Metal Science of Bulgarian Academy of Sciences Sofia-Bulgaria=20
oFoundry Institute of the RWTH Aachen Aachen-Germany=20 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Scopes of FOCOMP'99
The FOCOMP'99 Conference will include the presentation of papers on the=20 application of the modern mathematical and numerical methods, control=20 theory in the investigation of foundry processes, designing and control=20 of these processes in real time.
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The foreseen topics:
oMathematical and numerical modelling: otechnological processes omicrostructure of casting alloys=20 oComputer methods for process control oTools for designing of the casting= =20 processes oNumerical simulation oOptimisation and control of the casting=20 process oThe internet knowledge bases for foundries oQuality computer=20 systems in foundries=20
------------------------------------------------------------------------ Important dates and details
During conference a plenary session is assumed.=20 The prospective authors are requested to submit the tittle of the paper=20 to conference secretariat. E-mail contact is preferred. The complete text of paper (6 pages with tables, figures and references)=20 should be submitted before 30.09.99. The papers will be revised by Conference Scientific Committee and=20 published in conference proceedings the cost of which will be included in= =20 the registration fee. Instruction for the preparation of the paper will be sent to authors=20 after receiving the paper title.
Conference language Conference language is English
Registration=20 Please, return the completed registration form to: Conference Secretariat before the 30.09.1999=20
Registration fee The conference fee will include conference proceedings, meals and a=20 conference dinner Registration fee for participants from abroad is 190 US$ Registration fee for Polish participants is 95 US$
Payment Registration fee should paid by bank transfer no later than 30.10.1999
Deadlines: Full registration form: 30.09.1999=20 Payment of the registration fee: 30.10.1999 Full text of paper: 30.09.1999 Instruction for the preparation of the paper will be sent to authors=20 before 01.09.1999.
------------------------------------------------------------------------ Information and Contact:
FOCOMP'99 - Secretariat Foundry Research Institute ul.Zakopia=F1ska 73 30-418 Krak=F3w, POLAND
Phone: Dr H.Po=B3cik (+4812)2618333 Dr M.Warmuzek (+4812)2618317
-----Original Message----- } From: Stephen J. Pennycook [mailto:pyk-at-ornl.gov] Sent: Tuesday, August 17, 1999 22:37 To: microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com; vgusers-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov; ruehle-at-hrem.mpi-stuttgart.mpg.de; merkle-at-anl.gov; j-gibson-at-uiuc.edu; jsilcox-at-msc.cornell.edu; UDahmen-at-lbl.gov; spence-at-asu.edu; david.smith-at-asu.edu; rez-at-csss2.la.asu.edu; cel1-at-lehigh.edu; del-at-sol1.lrsm.upenn.edu; BABCOCK-at-coeadm.engr.wisc.edu; carpenter-at-csss2.la.asu.edu; cbcarter-at-amethyst.tc.umn.edu
Research Engineer Position: Electron Microscopy and Analysis
ORNL's Solid State Division has one of the world's premier facilities for scanning transmission electron microscopy of materials. Its two VG microscopes, the 100 kV HB501 and 300 kV HB603 produce probe sizes of 2.2 and 1.3 angstroms respectively, sufficiently small to allow direct imaging and spectroscopy of individual atomic columns in materials. Information transfer has been demonstrated to 1.3 and 0.7 angstrom. As part of a new program to improve the performance to a predicted 1.0 and 0.5 angstroms, respectively, an engineer position is available to oversee the instrumental aspects of this development. The program involves the addition of a spherical aberration corrector on each microscope. Nion Co. will undertake design and construction of the correctors, and initial installation on the microscopes. The research engineer will be responsible for all other instrumental aspects of the project. Specifically, it is certain that much of the existing electronics and detection systems will need to be updated and/or computerized, including electron detectors used for recording images and diffraction patterns (both serial and parallel data collection), the electron energy loss spectrometer, the electron beam scanning and alignment systems, and the high voltage stability may need to be improved or corrected dynamically. In addition the vacuum system will be upgraded to an oil-free system. Initial performance may well be limited by magnetic fields in the vicinity and/or by mechanical vibrations, which may require electromagnetic screening and anti-vibration treatments. Depending on background, the research engineer will be able to assist group members in research, and/or carry out their own materials research investigation. If you are interested in becoming part of this pioneering development into direct imaging and spectroscopy of atoms with sub-angstrom probes, contact:
Dr. Stephen J. Pennycook ORNL Corporate Fellow Electron Microscopy Group Leader Oak Ridge National Laboratory Solid State Division PO Box 2008 Oak Ridge TN 37831-6030 {pennycooksj-at-ornl.gov} *************************************************************** Stephen J. Pennycook ORNL Corporate Fellow Electron Microscopy Group Leader Oak Ridge National Laboratory Solid State Division PO Box 2008 Oak Ridge TN 37831-6030
Thanks to all that responded. The overwhelming recomedation was a Snappy. I just ordered a delux 3.0 Snappy. Since I have a wide choice of vidio cameras I think it is just what I need and the price is right.
I was impressed by the number of responses. I have been subscribing to mail list for several years and this is one of the best. It unquestionably the most responsive to newbies.
Thanks
Gordon
Gordon Couger gcouger-at-couger.com 624 Cheyenne Stillwater, OK 74075-1411 405 624-2855 GMT -6:00 www.couger.com/gcouger
} Hi Gordon, } I wanted a system that I could take to different optical u-scopes. My } quick, cheap ( {$150US) solution was to buy a Snappy video interface & } machine a few tube adapters for my relay optics & camera. The module is } ~6x2x1" & plugs into your parallel port. Runs on a 9V batt. I suggest using } a short parallel cable with it if your not going to leave it set up. Makes } the connect/disconnect a lot less annoying. } } I have no financial interest in the sale of this product. } } Bruce Brinson } Rice U. } } } Gordon Couger 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 video capture device to use with a laptop. } } } } It needs to interface with standard video cameras. I am setting } } up a portable (well at least moveable) setup with a triocular Leitz. } } } } Does anyone have any experience with anything out there. } } } } Thanks } } Gordon } } } } Gordon Couger gcouger-at-couger.com } } 624 Cheyenne } } Stillwater, OK 74075-1411 } } 405 624-2855 GMT -6:00 www.couger.com/gcouger }
Marco Arienti LEO Elektronenmikroskopie GmbH Tel.: +49-(0)7364-94-4080 Abteilung LEO COE-TEM Fax.: +49-(0)7364-94-4079 Carl Zeiss Str. 56 E-Mail : arienti-at-leo.de D-73446 Oberkochen
We have a sample of biological cells inside of a polyurethane containment. We want to embed the hole sample into paraffin. Therefore we start with a fixation and then with a series of ethanol-water mixtures ending with pure ethanol. The next step (using xylol before the embedding) is not possible due to the polyurethane containment, because the polyurethane is solved. Are there other solutions which will not solve the polymer.
Kind regards
Rainer
------------------------------------------------------------- Dipl.-Phys. Rainer Ziel Acordis Research GmbH Obernburg ARO/RMG-EM 63784 Obernburg Germany
He wants a 100 watt lamp version of an Olympus BH2 light microscope. This is the "S" version. These went unavailable a few years ago. He only really needs the body as he has all the attachements, but if necessary ............?
The application is dual-headed polarised light investigation where two people need to view and confirm findings simultaneously. The standard 20 watt version isn't bright enough. The company have been unable to help.
Any offers, suggestions etc. would be appreciatively received.
Keith Ryan Marine Biological Association of the UK Plymouth, England
When I was a student, we did some class experiments on fixation of C.elegans, and we got good results using a Karnovsky fixative with microwaves, for a few minutes. Also, my former supervisor co-authored a paper on microwave fixation for nematodes, which you may find useful:
Jones JT & Gwynn IA 1991, A METHOD FOR RAPID FIXATION AND DEHYDRATION OF NEMATODE TISSUE FOR TRANSMISSION ELECTRON-MICROSCOPY JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY-OXFORD vol 164 (1) pp. 43-51.
Regards, Michelle Grundy Dunstaffnage Marine Lab PO Box 3 OBAN PA34 4AD UK
CCD cameras are going to predominantly have small CCD chips. This means that if you are used to taking 35mm frames, your CCD image will be a small fraction of that size. If that is OK, then you have many options. Cost, speed and interface are the tradeoffs...along with effective white balance and resolution. The cheaper cameras use larger pixel sizes (usually } 10 microns) whereas the better (more expensive models) use pixels of about 6 micron size. Don't expect a CCD camera to replace film as a 1:1 device. If you want to image a small area, really small, a CCD can do this. The makeup action is to stitch separate frames together to yield an equivalent 35mm frame or even larger. If you want high quality images, get the highest quality CCD and stitch multiple images.
The other factor to consider is whether the camera does a single shot or makes multiple passes. Typically, a single shot camera will produce a file in about 2 seconds while a multiple pass camera takes up to 10 seconds.
Check the specs very carefully.
gg
At 02:23 PM 8/16/99 , you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
When I was a student, we did some class experiments on fixation of C.elegans, and we got good results using a Karnovsky fixative with microwaves, for a few minutes. Also, my former supervisor co-authored a paper on microwave fixation for nematodes, which you may find useful:
Jones JT & Gwynn IA 1991, A METHOD FOR RAPID FIXATION AND DEHYDRATION OF NEMATODE TISSUE FOR TRANSMISSION ELECTRON-MICROSCOPY JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY-OXFORD vol 164 (1) pp. 43-51.
Regards, Michelle Grundy Dunstaffnage Marine Lab PO Box 3 OBAN PA34 4AD UK
An associate of mine would like an Olympus POS microscope stand, with or without oculars and objectives. This is their monocular, vertical tube, microscope with a rotating stage and a polarizer and rotating push in-pullout top analyzer.
They were a very sturdy microscope but Olympus discontinued them a few years ago.
Thanks.
Don Marshall
Donald J. Marshall Relion Industries P.O. Box 12 Bedford, MA 01730 Ph: 781-275-4695 FAX: 781-271-0252 email dmrelion-at-world.std.com
Cathodoluminescence, mass spectroscopy, electron beam technology
"A weed is a flower out of place."
(Please note: Do not send email with attachments to this address. Instead, send it to donbarlen-at-aol.com. Thank you.)
Has anyone tried chitinase? The main component of nematode cuticle, and the cell wall of many fungi -- don't know about yeast -- is chitin, as in arthropods.
Phil
} We're no experts, but we finally got some fixed (after initial glut } fixing for several hours) by slicing them with a razor blade (under } a dissecting scope) to get the fix in. We also had some other smaller } little critters (??) that we pelleted, surrounded with agar, and then } "chopped" with a razor blade. Fix was OK on ones that got cut, not on } ones that weren't under the blade. Some folks fix yeasts by removing } the cell wall with enzymes. I have no idea what will take of the cuticle of } these worms. } } Other ideas welcome. } } S. Miller } } } To all who may help, } } We are setting up a standard fixation on C. elegans and word is } } they are hard to fix (outer coating). Any expertise would be appreciated, } } this is for TEM, and I am inclined to go with 4% paraform. 2% glutarald. and } } 1% DMSO (possibly microwave in fix also). Thank you. } } } } Mike D.
****be famous! send in a tech tip or question*** Philip Oshel Technical Editor, Microscopy Today PO Box 620068 Middleton, WI 53562 Address for courier deliveries: 6319 Pheasant Lane #A-12 Voice: (608) 833-2885 Fax: (608) 836-1969 (please make sure my name is on any fax) oshel-at-terracom.net
We are Ms-students and research assistants in Middle East Technical University. Our thesis is related with fe based Bulk amorphous metallic glasses. We are concentrated on Fe3Zr system. We know that this system has D8a structure. But we can not find the lattice parameter of this system. Can you help about this subject. Best Regards Burcu ALTINOLUK (burcua-at-metu.edu.tr) Beril DILSIZOGLU
Not really my area of expertise and you didn't specify if this was for light microscopy or for electron microscopy.
There are a # of cryoprotectants designed to reduce ice damage (sucrose for example) and different freezing media to use as heat sinks (liquid nitrogen, isopentane, propane ...). sample size also plays an important role. I will leave the bulk of explaination to others more qualified. I have forwarded this message to the microscopy list and they should have some good suggestions. Good luck
At 06:21 AM 8/18/1999 -0700, you wrote: } Hi, I am a senior at Aleghany High School in Western North } Carolina. I am involved in a special projects science class. I have } selected the a question, "Can I minimize the negative effects on } tissue during preservation by freezing?" } I have found a lot of information, but I am still looking for some } different substances or solutions in which to freeze the tissue in } order to reduce damage during preservation. } I am going to be using a lot of diiferent samples of tissue. For } example, cow tongue, liver brains, muscle tissue, and a few more } possibilities. } Any hints or information anyone could give me would be very much } appreciated. } Thanks for your time and consideration. } } } Juliette Nicole } Harris } } _________________________________________________________ } Do You Yahoo!? } Get your free -at-yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com } } }
} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} { GO GATORS Scott D. Whittaker 218 Carr Hall EM Technician Gainesville, FL 32610 University Of Florida ph 352-392-1184 ICBR EM Core Lab fax 352-846-0251 sdw-at-biotech.ufl.edu http://www.biotech.ufl.edu/~emcl/ The home of " Tips & Tricks "
Scott and List readers: I have not doubted that Bernie is a great researcher, well published and well regarded. His experience and contributions I am certain are welcome in this forum. However I have reasons to be a skeptic in one regard only: Why extol to such an extend one make of equipment? Why post the same ringing endorsement twice, but four days apart, with the second posting copied to the proprietor of the endorsed product? Why were similar ringing endorsements given by the same laboratory for the same product at earlier occasions? Why did he bother to send emails to a prospective purchaser, George T.?
Ian MacLaren noted that he was able to adapt Bernie's techniques to another instrument. It appears to me that Jet Polishers are not at the very cutting edge of technology, rather it is the techniques that are demanding and numerous. I did not mean to suggest that Bernie may have had some personnel benefit for promoting a product. That is crass and I expect is very uncommon in science. The disclaimer denied only such personnel benefit. The more common "arrangement" in science are benefits for the lab. Unless my above questions can be properly answered I have reasons to be skeptical and believe that somebody ought to ask such questions in this forum.
Others my ask about my motive. Please forget about the sour grapes - I don't suffer those and don't really care about selling a Jet Polisher. Neither is stirring the Microscopy Server an effective sales vehicle for an Australian business. I suggest that in our society the famed "eternal vigilance" should be used to control wayward business practices, they are nowadays the greatest threat to liberty.
It is possible that my skepticism was misplaced, in which case I would be sorry to have caused some annoyance, but I hope that subscribers will learn to be cautious when reading repeated ringing endorsements from an "independent" labs for all manner of things, be it Jet Polishers, Plasma Ashing Cleaners or Cr Sputter Coaters. Cheers Jim Darley ProSciTech
On Tuesday, August 17, 1999 11:21 PM, Walck. Scott D. [SMTP:walck-at-ppg.com] wrote: } } I don't understand the point of your message. He has two statements in his } posting that basically states that he has no financial connection with SBT. } The first is his direct statement and the second is his affiliation with } Argonne National Lab. He can't have an arrangement with SBT -it would be } illegal. With the insights that have come out of Bernie's lab, I for one, } pay particular attention to when he posts a message. Do we really want to } post anything in anyway to cause someone like him to feel like maybe he } shouldn't post? I've read quite a few of his papers on jet polishing and } they are very good. Some of them do deal with the unique aspects of the SBT } jet polisher, but most of the techniques can be adapted to other polishers. } } Keep up the good work Bernie. } } Just my two cents. } } } -Scott } } Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. } PPG Industries, Inc. } Glass Technology Center } 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: jim } To: 'Bernard Kestel'; Microscopy Listserver } Subject: RE: Jet Polishers, user's experiences } Date: Tuesday, August 17, 1999 1:34AM } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } My dear Bernard, } Below message was posted on the 14 August and again on 17 August, the latter } with a copy to David Henriks, the proprietor of South Bay Techn., the } manufacturer of this wonderful equipment. I do not doubt that you are very } happy with the equipment and that it performs well. Certainly you are } entitled } to post such a message and some subscribers would be interested in your } endorsement. } Since you have previously also endorsed this equipment so enthusiastically } on } this forum, I am interested to learn about your "arrangement" with David } Henriks. I think that the addition of a disclaimer to your message was } required } and appropriate. } Cheers } Jim Darley } ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS } PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia } Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com.au } Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes } www.proscitech.com.au } } On Tuesday, August 17, 1999 2:52 AM, Bernard Kestel [SMTP:kestel-at-anl.gov] } wrote: } } } } George, } } Having used jet polishers on a daily basis since 1970, I feel } } obligated to share my observations of them with you. Since microscope } } facilities have millions of dollars invested in 'scopes, etc., the best } jet } } polisher can be a bargain, even if it costs a bit more. I have no } financial } } interest in the products mentioned below. Our lab has used South Bay } } Technology's 550 series jet polishers since 1972 with excellent } results-many } } recipes } } & techniques were published in a 66 page report with some 1,000 copies } } used worldwide. They feature a magnified, in-situ view of the polishing } } "cell", line of sight optical shut-off path for adj.,high sensitivity. LED } } light sources of infrared, red, green, & yellow have been used to thin } metals } } such as W,Ta,Nb, and a host of other metals and alloys. Si & Ge have been } } electropolished, the former also was chemically thinned using parts from } } the manufacturer's kit for that purpose-allowing use of Hf/nitric acid as } } well as perchloric acid baths at -50 degrees C. The thin, perforated, } } membrane retaining the specimen has little resistance to higher viscosity } } baths, a KEY to smoother specimens! The unit has been slightly modified to } } polish the entire surface of a 3 m.m.disc before ion implantation, etc. By } } using a timer & external D.C.power, as little as 50 nanometers can be } } removed from a metal surface before back thinning it-provided a means of } } measuring the step heigth left by strippable lacquer is available. We use } } Microshield, designed for electroplating for this as well as covering the } } "first } } side" dimple. Lastly, the time saved developing a good polish on "new" } } materials with in-situ viewing is substantial. We use 6 550's-two for } } radioactive materials-and feel they are fine instruments. Contact me } directly } } for } } more info. } } } } Bernard Kestel } } Materials Science Division E-mail {kestel-at-anl.gov} } } Argonne National Laboratory } } 9700 South Cass Avenue } } Argonne, Illinois, 60439 } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } RFC822 header } } ----------------------------------- } } } } Received: from oberon.ctd.anl.gov (dns2.anl.gov [146.139.254.3]) by } } horus.et.anl.gov (8.6.11/8.6.11) with ESMTP id KAA13532; Fri, 13 Aug 1999 } } 10:46:45 -0500 } } Received: from Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (sparc5.microscopy.com } [206.69.208.10]) } } by oberon.ctd.anl.gov (8.9.1a/8.9.1) with SMTP id KAA03430; } } Fri, 13 Aug 1999 10:46:45 -0500 (CDT) } } Received: (from daemon-at-localhost) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } (8.6.11/8.6.11) } id } } KAA02968 for dist-Microscopy; Fri, 13 Aug 1999 10:16:39 -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 KAA02958 for } } "MicroscopyFilteredEmail-at-msa.microscopy.com"; Fri, 13 Aug 1999 10:16:07 } -0500 } } } } Received: from horus.et.anl.gov (horus.et.anl.gov [146.139.240.27]) by } } Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) with ESMTP id KAA02949 for } } {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} ; Fri, 13 Aug 1999 10:15:49 -0500 } } Received: from 146.139.240.184 (et212mac184.et.anl.gov [146.139.240.184]) } by } } horus.et.anl.gov (8.6.11/8.6.11) with SMTP id KAA13329 for } } {Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com} ; Fri, 13 Aug 1999 10:23:46 -0500 } } Message-Id: {199908131523.KAA13329-at-horus.et.anl.gov} } } Date: 13 Aug 99 10:23:47 -0500 } } From: Bernard Kestel {kestel-at-anl.gov} } } Subject: Re: Jet Polishers, user's experiences } } To: Microscopy Listserver {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} } } X-Mailer: QuickMail Pro 1.5.4 (Mac) } } X-Priority: 3 } } Reply-To: Bernard Kestel {kestel-at-anl.gov} } } MIME-Version: 1.0 } } Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit } } Errors-to: Microscopy-request-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } } Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-Ascii" } } Content-Length: 2331 } } Status: } } }
At the MSA symposium on cryo methods, I seem to recall that someone (Kent McDonald?) suggested freeze substitution fixation as the best method. One would have to have access to a high pressure freezer. 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
Folks: for those of you out there doing immunogold labelling with a FEG SEM. What is the best type of detector to use for the backscattered signal? As people generally seem to use low accelerating voltages, does a microchannel plate offer advantages over the conventional detector? I guess I would like to know peoples kV vs detector combos which are most successful for this application
Tx Simon
------------------------------------------------------------- Simon C. Watkins Ph.D. MRCPath Associate Professor Director: Center for Biologic Imaging University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh PA 15261 tel:412-648-3051 fax:412-648-8330 URL: http://sbic6.sbic.pitt.edu
I recently picked up a used Leitz microscope, sans eyepieces. While I have a collection of spares, I don't have the right magnification. Does anyone out there have a pair of Leitz Periplan GW 10X eyepieces to sell? Standard is fine, high points (for eyeglasses) would be preferred. Please respond to my email address directly to avoid unwanted traffic for the list.
Thanks.
Alan Stone ASTON Metallurgical Services 773/528-9830 Alan Stone ASTON Metallurgical Services
Gary, Mary, Gary, you have a good point. The optics of most microscopes means a camera will sample a significantly smaller area and in turn give a significant increase in magnification. To compensate for this we use optical couplers with a 0.6X mag factor on all our scopes. We use couplers made by Diagnostic Instruments. They are quite expensive but provide a dimentionally accurate representation. Russ Gillmeister, Xerox I have no finantial interest in Diagnostic Instruments.
-----Original Message----- } From: Dr. Gary Gaugler [mailto:gary-at-gaugler.com] Sent: Wednesday, August 18, 1999 6:19 AM To: Mary Mager Cc: MSA listserver
CCD cameras are going to predominantly have small CCD chips. This means that if you are used to taking 35mm frames, your CCD image will be a small fraction of that size. If that is OK, then you have many options. Cost, speed and interface are the tradeoffs...along with effective white balance and resolution. The cheaper cameras use larger pixel sizes (usually } 10 microns) whereas the better (more expensive models) use pixels of about 6 micron size. Don't expect a CCD camera to replace film as a 1:1 device. If you want to image a small area, really small, a CCD can do this. The makeup action is to stitch separate frames together to yield an equivalent 35mm frame or even larger. If you want high quality images, get the highest quality CCD and stitch multiple images.
The other factor to consider is whether the camera does a single shot or makes multiple passes. Typically, a single shot camera will produce a file in about 2 seconds while a multiple pass camera takes up to 10 seconds.
Check the specs very carefully.
gg
At 02:23 PM 8/16/99 , you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Hello Rainer, you should try if chloroforme does not solute your containments. It works as well as xylol and is compatible with many plastics. Don=B4t hestitate to contact me for further information.
Good luck, Michael
Michael Reiner Institute for Anatomy I University of Cologne Germany
Ziel, R. (Rainer) schrieb: } =20 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------= - } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Co= m } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.htm= l } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } =20 } We have a sample of biological cells inside of a polyurethane containme= nt. } We want to embed the hole sample into paraffin. Therefore we start with= a } fixation and then with a series of ethanol-water mixtures ending with p= ure } ethanol. The next step (using xylol before the embedding) is not possib= le } due to the polyurethane containment, because the polyurethane is solved= . Are } there other solutions which will not solve the polymer. } =20 } Kind regards } =20 } Rainer } =20 } ------------------------------------------------------------- } Dipl.-Phys. Rainer Ziel } Acordis Research GmbH Obernburg } ARO/RMG-EM } 63784 Obernburg } Germany } =20 } Tel: +49 (0)6022 81-2645 } Fax: +49 (0)6022 81-2896 } E-mail: Rainer.Ziel-at-AkzoNobel.com
We are trying to locate in the Houston area an individual or firm capable of performing routine preventive maintenance on our two ultramicrotomes: Sorvall MT-2B and RMC 7000. In previous years our contract [with RMC] was a reasonable cost; recently they propose to increase that cost by a factor of six.
Any help in locating such a contractor will be appreciated. -- Chris Kuether, Instrument Designer Technical Services Manager CollegeOfOptometry, UniversityOfHouston 4901 Calhoun Blvd. Houston TX 77204-6052 vox:(713)743-2049 fax:--2053; ckuether-at-uh.edu --- remember folks, reality is ANALOG --- --- Intolerance will NOT be tolerated ---
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
qing zhao wrote:
} I am looking for the protocol that I can use for cultured cells EM } cryosectioning. Are there anybody can help me for the method starting } with fixation and then sectioning.I will do immunolabeling. } } thank you } } qing zhao } Dept. of Anatomy and Cell Biology } McGill University } qzhao-at-med.mcgill.ca
REPLY
Methods in Molecular Biology vol 117 ch 4, pages 49 - 76 "Methods in = Molecular Biology: Electron Microscopy Methods and Protocols" Ed N. = Hajibagheri (1999) should be what you are looking for. =
An annotated version of this protocol can be accessed on the web {http://= www.hei.org/htm/cryo.htm} .
I can send you a reprint if you supply me with your full address.
For hands-on experience contact Leica {http://www.leica.com/} or RMC {= phone: (520) 903-9366} for details of their practical courses.
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 http://www.hei.org/htm/aemi.htm
id {R133760M} ; Wed, 18 Aug 1999 13:16:13 -0400 Message-ID: {5063A0AB7328D211BCAA0008C7A446770475CD-at-RIDMSG05} To: TindallR-at-missouri.edu, amenex-at-amenex.com Cc: microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com
I generally don't get into this kind of discussion, but the "over-the-top" responses display an attitude toward "business" and "accounting" that any multi-user facility must deal with. As someone who has managed facilities in both "academic" and "business" settings, I can say that it is imperative that the manager know what the costs are to operate the facility. If one can factor out the costs of the equipment (e.g. within an academic setting with equipment purchased through grants), it is still necessary to account for utilities, service contracts, support personnel, supplies, etc. It is a fact of life that even within academia the use of such facilities and the charge backs are essential to maintaining a viable service. Microscopy services are perhaps not in as much demand as they could be due to the cost of instrumentation and the attendant basic infrastructure. Multi-user facilities help to meet the need that is there. If this occurs within an academic (or not-for -profit) setting, costs are usually set to differentiate between not-for-profit and for-profit (i.e. business) users. In the for-profit arena, one cannot avoid accounting for equipment and infrastructure costs, and the idea that the owners of a business are not due some income is nonsensical. It is the tension between the facts of life, be it in academic, business or other institutional settings, that determine whether or not microscopy facilities are established, and whether or not they survive. The original request for how to determine those costs by the initiator was well within the parameters of a listserver such as this. Individuals with experience in setting up multi-user facilities should also feel free to respond without being flamed.
Roger Moretz Dept of Toxicology
"The opinions expressed are my own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of my employer."
} -----Original Message----- } From: Tindall, Randy D. [SMTP:TindallR-at-missouri.edu] } Sent: Tuesday, August 17, 1999 10:48 AM } To: 'amenex-at-amenex.com' } Cc: 'microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com' } Subject: RE: Antitrust & unfair competition in microscopy } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 assume the attached message is a response to my query about FESEM rates } being charged by various labs. } } To repeat, we are a university facility almost exclusively serving } researchers within the university. To ask about the rates being charged } by } comparable facilities around the country is simply a way to judge how } others } handle the conflicting problems of non-profit service vs. reasonable cost } recovery. We do not earn a profit(trust me on this one), and we certainly } don't constitute a monopoly of any kind. } } There have been other strings on this listserver in the past concerning } cost-recovery vs. service to the academic community. These discussions } have } been very valuable and are not meant to be some sort of commercial "price } fixing" scheme. To tell the truth, I think most EM people working in } academic labs would much prefer to offer their services internally at no } charge, freeing us up to do slow, careful research without the need to } constantly consider financial pressures. But the world doesn't work like } that. } } I hope this helps to clarify the context of my question. } } Best wishes, } Randy } } } } -----Original Message----- } } From: George Langford, Sc.D. [mailto:amenex-at-amenex.com] } Sent: Monday, August 16, 1999 9:09 PM } To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } Cc: Garber, Charles A. } Subject: Antitrust & unfair competition in microscopy } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Hallo Microscopists ! } } Has anyone read the FAQ recently ? } } The recent thread on hourly rates for microscopy reeks of } commercialism on two counts: } } 1. It used to be an anti-trust violation even to discuss } competitive rates for business services. I know; my } grandfather lost some key patents & his business failed } because he was caught telling someone how much the firm } charged for performing a service (about 1948). } } 2. University and research labs get their equipment largely with } public funds and are usually not-fot-profit organizations to } boot, so it is plainly unfair to set rates for outside services } absent the profit motive and in competition with labs that have } to survive in the real world by charging realistic rates. } } Best regards, } George Langford, Sc.D. {amenex-at-amenex.com} } http://www.amenex.com/ } } p.s. Ironically, the listserver rejected this at first because } I had the word, "profit" in the phrase, "not-for-profit" in } the subject line.
As a former employee of South Bay Technology, I had occasion to =
visit the laboratory of Bernie Kestel at Argonne National Laboratory on a sales call. I can tell you from the perspective of a past employee, that Bernie was not associated with, and did not have any =
'arrangements' with SBT at the time, and I doubt very seriously if he =
does now. Bernie used some SBT products and consumables, but his laboratory had a variety of other vendor's products which he =
also used. It just happened that the jet polisher he had was SBT's.
The reason, I suspect, that Bernie has listed his posting twice, and that he has extolled the virtues of the SBT Jet Thinner is because he works in a laboratory which is supported by government funding. =
As a result, money is always tight, and one must often make do =
with equipment at hand. Since the early '70s when Argonne first purchased the SBT jet thinner, Bernie has worked with what was given him to produce exceptional specimens and preparation methods. Of course he is proud of his accomplishments, and has every =
right to be. With such vast quantities of time (life) devoted to working with a particular piece of equipment, it is normal to mention this piece of equipment when referring to the results of one's work. =
At the time in which I worked at SBT, we often referred to Bernies vast wealth of jet thinning methods since it was of advantage to us. This I think is normal. Bernie, I hope, was happy to have his work discussed and disseminated to others in the same field. That was as close as the relationship ever was.
I salute Bernie and all of those who contribute to this list. I also am happy to hear of their positive and negative experiences with a particular product. I am intellegent enough to weigh these opinions for myself along with 'sales literature', and determine whether a =
product is right for my needs or not. All I ask is that those giving =
their opinions also state their relationship (or lack of relationship) =
to the vendor. Bernie has done so, and that is enough.
Just my opinion (Not that of BUEHLER, LTD. or anyone else).
Scott D. Holt BUEHLER LTD. PO Box 1 41 Waukegan Rd. Lake Bluff, IL 60044 (847)295-6500 =
Who's flaming ? My original posting was directed to those who were openly discussing rates outside the context of proper cost accounting and was addressed to no one in particular. Those discussions violate anti-trust laws; if you think that not-for-profit organizations are exempt from adhering to such niceties, just review the recent legal history of those admissions policies that involved combinations between universities to restrict offers to new students.
Discussions that concern the arbitrary setting of rates in competition with other universities or for-profit vendors are not allowed. Those of us who read The Microscopy List are at risk of being accused of profiting from such discussions, just by reading them, and to have such information stored on one's computer may be reason enough to have trouble. [Thanks, Chuck, for putting those words at my fingertips.] My arguments would be more clearly understood if The Microscopy List were to distribute pornographic images of children as attachments [Thanks, Nestor, for not permitting attachments] and I were to point out that it is illegal and immoral not only to post the attachments but also to download, view, or save them. Less incendiary subjects may take more time before a reaction is felt; mine was such a reaction, after the number of discussions on the subject of costs went on and on.
On the other hand, discussions about how to get the "Administration" to take heed of the necessity of proper cost accounting seem perfectly fine, just as are the discussions of how properly to roll steel into rails; just don't talk about the costs involved in rolling those rails. If we discuss how properly to roll rail steel, then the customer gets better rails; if we discuss the costs to make those rails, the same customer gets dearer rails. That's the gist of it.
The debate therefore centers around the allocation of costs; getting rate information based on others' costs circumvents the processes of getting cost data just like peering at the adjacent student's exam paper externalizes the cost of preparation. Arbitrarily setting hourly rates to be competitive with a local private lab (rather than covering one's internal costs, including the cost of replacing the equipment) externalizes costs by using public money to take business away from an entity whose costs are mostly internalized. I say, "mostly," because Amenex gets certain tax breaks for "increasing research expenditures." How ? I dunno; ask your accountant. See what I mean ?
Best regards, George Langford, Sc.D. {amenex-at-amenex.com} http://www.amenex.com/
The University of California Electron Microscope Laboratory (EML) has an opening for a mid-to-senior level Staff Research Associate. The job description and duties are as follows:
Operate and maintain scanning and transmission electron microscopes, freeze-fracture machine, and EM support equipment, including PC-based digital imaging and analysis system. Train students, staff and other users in equipment use and EM techniques, including specimen preparation. Direct some work of one SRAII and work-study secretary. Work with equipment service representatives to troubleshoot problems.
Should have a minimum of five years working experience with electron microscopes and support equipment, and demonstrated experience in troubleshooting and maintaining such equipment. Good communications skills are essential. Demonstrated experience with computers, digital image processing, and EM specimen preparation methods including cryotechniques. The successful candidate must be able to work independently, make original contributions to research projects and be willing to learn new techniques as they develop or become available. Prefer someone with image-processing program experience such as NIH Image, and experience with Philips transmission microscopes and Hitachi and/or ISI scanning microscopes. Would also prefer someone who has experience with EM immunlabeling methods.
To apply, you should go to the UC Berkeley Home page at: {www.berkeley.edu} and select the following options: 1- Employment Opportunities, 2 - Staff Employment Opportunities, 3 - New Listings (if you are in the week of 8/16 - 8/20), or Previous Listings if you are in the week of 8/23 or later, 4 - Scientific/Laboratory, and 5 - scroll down until you see the heading: "Staff Research Associate III (A&PS 2), Electron Microscope Laboratory". If you are interested, then click on "How to Apply" at the top of the page.
It is important for those in industry to realize that there is a move in most Universities to get facilities providing research services to collect a much larger proportion of their expenses in the form of fees than was previously required. Since many of us would prefer not spend our time trying to collect fees, especially from starving graduate students and underfunded faculty, we generally fight these initiatives. The response is nearly always: "What are other Universities doing?"
I think that the question being asked is not so much, "What are they charging?" but "What proportion of their costs is being provided by the University to support research and education, and what proportion is being recovered from grants and contracts in the form of fees?" This is a policy question, the answer to which involves many implications about the interactive nature of higher education and research.
Perhaps one way to provide useful information on the listserver without violating antitrust laws is to discuss only the ratio of institutional support to fee support, rather than the actual dollar amounts (since costs of personnel and service contracts are relatively uniform).
Dr. Marie E. Cantino Dept. of Physiology and Neurobiology University of Connecticut Storrs, CT 06269-2131 Phone: 860-486-3588 Fax: 860-4861936
I do not know about other states but in Florida any and all information about state agencies or institutions is in the public domain. Anyone has the right to request and receive such information. This would include the cost accounting and charging for services by a microscopy lab. Hardly seems to fit within the definition of an anti-trust violations. 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
} Hi Roger & Microscopists ! } } Who's flaming ? My original posting was directed to those } who were openly discussing rates outside the context of proper } cost accounting and was addressed to no one in particular. } Those discussions violate anti-trust laws; if you think that } not-for-profit organizations are exempt from adhering to such } niceties,
So if I ask a colleague how much his lab charges for XY service and I also offer that service I am breaking the law. I my (non-legal) opining I doubt that anyone could prove in a court of law that such conversation equates with price fixing.
} just review the recent legal history of those admissions } policies that involved combinations between universities to restrict } offers to new students.
. What do admissions policies have to do with EM services? Let's compare apples to apples.
} Discussions that concern the arbitrary setting of rates in } competition with other universities or for-profit vendors are } not allowed.
Is that really happening here?
} Those of us who read The Microscopy List are at } risk of being accused of profiting from such discussions, just } by reading them, and to have such information stored on one's } computer may be reason enough to have trouble.
Get real.
} My arguments would } be more clearly understood if The Microscopy List were to } distribute pornographic images of children as attachments
Now there is a great analogy! I am reminded why I deleted all previous posts on this subject.
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 mcauliff-at-umdnj.edu **********************************************
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
At 06:21 AM 8/18/1999 -0700, you wrote: } Hi, I am a senior at Aleghany High School in Western North } Carolina. I am involved in a special projects science class. I have } selected the a question, "Can I minimize the negative effects on } tissue during preservation by freezing?" } I have found a lot of information, but I am still looking for some } different substances or solutions in which to freeze the tissue in } order to reduce damage during preservation. } I am going to be using a lot of diiferent samples of tissue. For } example, cow tongue, liver brains, muscle tissue, and a few more } possibilities. } Any hints or information anyone could give me would be very much } appreciated. } Thanks for your time and consideration. } } } Juliette Nicole } Harris
Your message is a little vague about why you are looking at freezing = damage. Do you want to freeze living organisms, freeze so that you can = examine the materila for microscopy or do you want to investigate the use = of freezing for preserving foodstuffs? I can't help you with food but I = can give you some pointers for the first two subjects.
Commonly used compounds for freezing living tissue are glycerol and = dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). They pass through the membranes of cells and = act as a cryoprotectant, facilitating cooling to the solid state such that = the organisms survive after thawing. See the folloing references for more = details: Mazur P. 1970 Cryobiology: the freezing of biological systems. Science vol = 168, pages 939-949. Mazur P. 1984 Freezing of living cells: mechanisms and implications = American Journal of Physiology vol 247(16), pages C125-C142.
Another interesting paper on the subject of freezing living tissue without = damage is by Rall and Fahy (Ice-free preservation of mouse embryos at -196 = degrees Celcius by vitrification. 1985 Nature vol 313, pages 573-575). = They soaked live, whole mouse embryos in a complex mixture of solvents = prior to freezing by immersion in liquid nitrogen. After re-thawing, they = found a mortality rate of 15% which control experiments showed to be a = result of the solvent mixture alone. Maybe there is hope for us when we = have our heads frozen!
For electron microscopists, the goal is to freeze so rapidly that ice = crystals do not have time to form. This gives us biological material that = has not been exposed to chemicals (either for cryopreservation or fixation)= which can produce artifactual information in the material understudy. To = get these rapid freezing conditions requires much skill and in many = instances, expensive equipment. However, the preservation of morphology = can be excellent. =
Currently, high pressure freezing seems to offer the best results. Even = so, this can only be performed on very small samples. There is a chapter = in "Methods in Molecular Biology: Electron Microscopy Methods and = Protocols" vol 117 Editor N. Hajibagheri (1999) by Kent MacDonald which = covers this protocol in great detail. =
For more detailed papers on the theory of freezing look at the article by = Mazur (cited above) and F. Franks (Biological freezing and cryofixation. = Journal of Microscopy 1977 vol 111 pages 3-16). There is also a review by = Dubochet et al (Cryoelectron microscopy of vitrified specimens) but it = might not be easy to find (Quarterly Review of Biophysics 1988 vol 21, = pages 129-228). =
There are many sceintists putting these theories into practice. See the = web site from Martin Muller's lab {http://www.em.biol.ethz.ch/} and {http:/= /www.em.biol.ethz.ch/em-lab/hpflit/hpflit.html} for some examples. =
If you are freezing material so that is can be used for food after thawing,= then I suggest you put your question to someone in the food industry. = Neither glycerol or DMSO would work well for this application.
I hope this helps with your search for information.
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 http://www.hei.org/htm/aemi.htm
by spamraaa.compuserve.com (8.9.3/8.9.3/SUN-REL-1.0) id TAA28192 for microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com; Wed, 18 Aug 1999 19:45:21 -0400 (EDT) Sender: geos-at-goldrush.com Received: from sibbald (sfr-tgn-sfz-vty26.as.wcom.net [216.192.43.26]) by spamraaa.compuserve.com (8.9.3/8.9.3/SUN-REL-1.0) with SMTP id TAA28150; Wed, 18 Aug 1999 19:45:12 -0400 (EDT) Message-ID: {03ae01bee9d3$98560ca0$74c0dad1-at-sibbald} Reply-To: "george sibbald" {geos-at-goldrush.com} "Phil Wolf" {testsolutions-at-worldnet.att.net} , "Ed Sandke" {ed-at-molec.com}
A workshop at the ACS conference on "AFM for Physical Property Measurements". The workshop will be held on Wednesday, August 25, starting at 1:30pm in room 236 at the Morial Convention Center. Please stop by at Molecular Imaging booth #963 and check out MI's web-site www.molec.com
We have recently started to receive specimens of skins to process for TEM. Up to now, the majority of our specimens have been renal and tumour. The problem that has arisen is splitting of sections at the stratum lucidium. We have tried some modifications to our existing processing schedule which uses epon 812 (increased infiltration times etc) and recently tried using spurrs but the problem has not yet been completely solved.
We are hoping that someone out there may have the definitive processing schedule for dermatological samples which they are willing to share and in so doing save us some time and agro. Thanks in advance.
Mark Donovan M.Donovan-at-Alfred.org.au Anatomical Pathology Alfred Hospital Victoria, Australia
I have been on vacation for the past 10 days and wouldn't normally spend = my "family" time responding to such messages. However, you have posted a message that is so insulting that I made an exception. If you had nasty things to say about South Bay Technology or me personally, I wouldn't giv= e it a second thought. After all, you've done that several times in the past. However, you have used this forum to publicly question the ethics = of Bernie Kestel who happens to be a very fine human being and a good friend=
of mine. Bernie is a man who is as honest and straightforward as anyone you will ever meet and has always openly shared his experience and "secrets" with great pride, but absent of ego. It is his dedication to h= is work and his willingness to share his knowledge with others that earned h= im the MSA Outstanding Technologist Award several years ago.
I am here to tell you that there is absolutely no financial "arrangement"=
between South Bay Technology and Bernie Kestel or Argonne National Laboratory. I have known Bernie since I joined South Bay Technology in 1985 and Bernie has been a satisfied customer since the early 70's. As most people can attest, sample preparation is very much an art and it tak= es people who are dedicated to a particular technique to really get the mos= t out of it. Bernie has spent more time with jet polishing than anyone on earth and is without a doubt, the most successful jet polisher around. H= e has taken our single jet polisher and used it in ways that have enabled = us to do things that we never dreamed possible. Since the early 70's we hav= e worked with Bernie to refine the instrument and the techniques and we are=
both very proud of our accomplishments. =
At South Bay Technology, we do not do product development in a vacuum. = We find customers who are interested in a particular technique or in solving= a particular problem and we work with them to develop the equipment. In mo= st cases, those customers end up being very satisfied with the results. Wit= h Bernie, we are fortunate enough to have a satisfied customer who is willi= ng to share his experience with others through publishing papers and posting=
responses to this list. You are right, he has done it before. So have several of our other customers. We do not, as you suggest, have financia= l relationships with them either. These are people we call SATISFIED CUSTOMERS. =
Perhaps at ProSciTech you just assume that one needs to pay for endorsements. Over the past 35 years in this business, we at South Bay Technology have earned them.
} } } } } Please visit us at http://www.southbaytech.com { { { { {
Celebrating 35 years manufacturing precision sample preparation equipment=
and supplies for metallography, crystallography and electron microscopy.
Message text written by "jim-at-proscitech.com.au" } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America =
My dear Bernard, Below message was posted on the 14 August and again on 17 August, the latter =
with a copy to David Henriks, the proprietor of South Bay Techn., the =
manufacturer of this wonderful equipment. I do not doubt that you are ver= y =
happy with the equipment and that it performs well. Certainly you are entitled =
to post such a message and some subscribers would be interested in your =
endorsement. Since you have previously also endorsed this equipment so enthusiasticall= y on =
this forum, I am interested to learn about your "arrangement" with David =
Henriks. I think that the addition of a disclaimer to your message was required =
and appropriate. Cheers Jim Darley ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com.au Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes www.proscitech.com.au
On Tuesday, August 17, 1999 2:52 AM, Bernard Kestel [SMTP:kestel-at-anl.gov]= =
wrote: } } George, } Having used jet polishers on a daily basis since 1970, I feel } obligated to share my observations of them with you. Since microscope } facilities have millions of dollars invested in 'scopes, etc., the best=
jet } polisher can be a bargain, even if it costs a bit more. I have no financial } interest in the products mentioned below. Our lab has used South Bay } Technology's 550 series jet polishers since 1972 with excellent results-many } recipes } & techniques were published in a 66 page report with some 1,000 copies } used worldwide. They feature a magnified, in-situ view of the polishing=
} "cell", line of sight optical shut-off path for adj.,high sensitivity. LED } light sources of infrared, red, green, & yellow have been used to thin metals } such as W,Ta,Nb, and a host of other metals and alloys. Si & Ge have be= en } electropolished, the former also was chemically thinned using parts fro= m } the manufacturer's kit for that purpose-allowing use of Hf/nitric acid = as } well as perchloric acid baths at -50 degrees C. The thin, perforated, } membrane retaining the specimen has little resistance to higher viscosi= ty } baths, a KEY to smoother specimens! The unit has been slightly modified=
to } polish the entire surface of a 3 m.m.disc before ion implantation, etc.=
By } using a timer & external D.C.power, as little as 50 nanometers can be } removed from a metal surface before back thinning it-provided a means o= f } measuring the step heigth left by strippable lacquer is available. We u= se } Microshield, designed for electroplating for this as well as covering t= he } "first } side" dimple. Lastly, the time saved developing a good polish on "new" } materials with in-situ viewing is substantial. We use 6 550's-two for } radioactive materials-and feel they are fine instruments. Contact me directly } for } more info. } } Bernard Kestel } Materials Science Division E-mail {kestel-at-anl.gov} } Argonne National Laboratory } 9700 South Cass Avenue } Argonne, Illinois, 60439 }
Hi Ya'll: I'm looking for suggestions on the best method/format to send large scanned image files via e-mail. Recently, I have been sending compressed jpg files that are inserted into a powerpoint presentation (thus sending the image within the powerpoint file). This seems to be an effective method to make sure that the image I see on my computer looks the same as the image that the recipient sees on their computer.
The reason why I do this, is that I have had experiences when I have sent a Photoshop manipulated image, that it doesn't always look as good on the recipients' computer as it did when I was done with it in Photoshop on my computer (eg. the recipient sees a grainy image that looked great on my computer--this especially seems to happen after I sharpen the image in Photoshop and the recipient views it in Microsoft imager, but also can occur with other imaging programs).
My method has two drawbacks:
1) The file size is still too large (up to 1mb) 2) The printed image isn't as good as it looks on the computer screen.
I'm looking for a format that retains the information in the image- especially for printing, but does not distort it and uses a manageable file size. Any experiences would be greatly appreciated.
Mike Coviello Lab Manager UT Arlington Arlington, TX
Let's us end this thread now. Enough has been said and it can easily escalate into a bashing event, which I is not permited. If you have any other comments please send them off-line.
You should be using FTP for this process not Email. Email is not designed to handle, large files such as this . Another alternative is to upload your image to a private WWW site and then let your colleague view the images via their browser. From the browser window you can do a local save to disk.
The graininess may be due to the bit depth of the monitor/program your colleague is using. Make sure you are both using the same "number of colors" . Alternatively, when you save the file, save it as Indexed Color -at- 8 bits( 256 colors), use an Adaptive pallette and a Diffusion Dither/Interpolation in Photoshop. You won't have true colors etc.. but you probably don't have calibrated monitors. The photo should look okay then.
You can test this out yourself by simply chaning the bit depth of your monitor. Go from 16 bit to 8 bit mode and see what happens to the image on your screen. On mine it goes from a good to grainy.
Nestor Your Friendly Neighborhood SysOp
======================================
} Hi Ya'll: } I'm looking for suggestions on the best method/format to send large } scanned image files via e-mail. -----------------balance of message deleted -----------------
You can zip the image files and they will compress without loss.
I have been using Adobe Acrobat to send images out. They are compromised, but they are very much suited for printing at the receiving end, especially if you output the pdf file at 600 dpi. I've checked the output to a printer from both the original application (Photoshop in my case) and PDF and there is little difference in quality. I've taken 10Mb Word files with several images to where they are below our 1Mb file transfer limit. I have no trouble with my customers getting Adobe Acrobat Reader and viewing and printing the documents that I send to them.
The beauty of Adobe Acrobat is that you can create a pdf file from any program and read it on any platform without any other software package.
-Scott
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Glass Technology Center 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: Michael Coviello To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
Hi Ya'll: I'm looking for suggestions on the best method/format to send large scanned image files via e-mail. Recently, I have been sending compressed jpg files that are inserted into a powerpoint presentation (thus sending the image within the powerpoint file). This seems to be an effective method to make sure that the image I see on my computer looks the same as the image that the recipient sees on their computer.
The reason why I do this, is that I have had experiences when I have sent a Photoshop manipulated image, that it doesn't always look as good on the recipients' computer as it did when I was done with it in Photoshop on my computer (eg. the recipient sees a grainy image that looked great on my computer--this especially seems to happen after I sharpen the image in Photoshop and the recipient views it in Microsoft imager, but also can occur with other imaging programs).
My method has two drawbacks:
1) The file size is still too large (up to 1mb) 2) The printed image isn't as good as it looks on the computer screen.
I'm looking for a format that retains the information in the image- especially for printing, but does not distort it and uses a manageable file size. Any experiences would be greatly appreciated.
Mike Coviello Lab Manager UT Arlington Arlington, TX
Dear David: Why do you raise the issue that Bernie is a great man? Several of his peers have said so and I have not expressed any doubt about that. Why do you claim that I have said "nasty" things about you on several occasions? I do not recall anything that fits that definition. If you find my comments unpleasant, I cannot help that. If you think they were spiteful, abusive or ill-natured you require an interpreter. My comments are to defend an important principle: subscribers should be able to trust that posted information is not subject to obvious bias (interests).
David, it would have been better had you tried to clear up the reasons for my skepticism. I reiterate, from my last posting: "} I have not doubted that Bernie is a great researcher, well published and well } regarded. His experience and contributions I am certain are welcome in this forum. } However I have reasons to be a skeptic in one regard only: } Why extol to such an extend one make of equipment? } Why post the same ringing endorsement twice, but four days apart, with the } second posting copied to the proprietor of the endorsed product? } Why were similar ringing endorsements given by the same laboratory for the same } product at earlier occasions? } Why did he bother to send emails to a prospective purchaser, George T.?"
You and others have instead just said: Bernie is great. Great, but what about my questions. Unwittingly you did give the answers: "} Since the early 70's we have worked with Bernie to refine the instrument and the techniques } and we are both very proud of our accomplishments." Hmmm, Bernie has worked with your company on product developments over the course of over 25 years. Nothing wrong there, in fact I applaud that. However, this should have been stated in his product recommendation on the listserver. Did he have an interest or an "arrangement" with South Bay Technology? I cannot know, but again I am the skeptic: if neither Bernie nor the laboratory received some recompense for the effort, I suggest that the company was particularly miserable and the lab should have curtailed Bernie's involvement with that company. I think that these are the obvious and logical conclusions. It would have been preferable if subscribers to the listserver had not been deceived. Cheers Jim Darley ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com.au Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes www.proscitech.com.au
On Thursday, August 19, 1999 2:43 PM, David Henriks [SMTP:Henriks-at-compuserve.com] wrote: } Dear Jim: } } I have been on vacation for the past 10 days and wouldn't normally spend my } "family" time responding to such messages. However, you have posted a } message that is so insulting that I made an exception. If you had nasty } things to say about South Bay Technology or me personally, I wouldn't give } it a second thought. After all, you've done that several times in the } past. However, you have used this forum to publicly question the ethics of } Bernie Kestel who happens to be a very fine human being and a good friend } of mine. Bernie is a man who is as honest and straightforward as anyone } you will ever meet and has always openly shared his experience and } "secrets" with great pride, but absent of ego. It is his dedication to his } work and his willingness to share his knowledge with others that earned him } the MSA Outstanding Technologist Award several years ago. } } I am here to tell you that there is absolutely no financial "arrangement" } between South Bay Technology and Bernie Kestel or Argonne National } Laboratory. I have known Bernie since I joined South Bay Technology in } 1985 and Bernie has been a satisfied customer since the early 70's. As } most people can attest, sample preparation is very much an art and it takes } people who are dedicated to a particular technique to really get the most } out of it. Bernie has spent more time with jet polishing than anyone on } earth and is without a doubt, the most successful jet polisher around. He } has taken our single jet polisher and used it in ways that have enabled us } to do things that we never dreamed possible. Since the early 70's we have } worked with Bernie to refine the instrument and the techniques and we are } both very proud of our accomplishments. } } At South Bay Technology, we do not do product development in a vacuum. We } find customers who are interested in a particular technique or in solving a } particular problem and we work with them to develop the equipment. In most } cases, those customers end up being very satisfied with the results. With } Bernie, we are fortunate enough to have a satisfied customer who is willing } to share his experience with others through publishing papers and posting } responses to this list. You are right, he has done it before. So have } several of our other customers. We do not, as you suggest, have financial } relationships with them either. These are people we call SATISFIED } CUSTOMERS. } } Perhaps at ProSciTech you just assume that one needs to pay for } endorsements. Over the past 35 years in this business, we at South Bay } Technology have earned them. } } Best regards- } } David } Writing at 4:03:11 PM on 8/18/99 } } *************************************************************************** } ************************ } } David Henriks TEL: } 800-728-2233 (toll free in the USA) } South Bay Technology, Inc. +1-949-492-2600 } 1120 Via Callejon FAX: +1-949-492-1499 } San Clemente, CA 92673 USA e-mail: henriks-at-southbaytech.com } } *************************************************************************** } ************************ } } } } } } } Please visit us at http://www.southbaytech.com { { { { { } } Celebrating 35 years manufacturing precision sample preparation equipment } and supplies for metallography, crystallography and electron microscopy. } } Message text written by "jim-at-proscitech.com.au" } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } My dear Bernard, } Below message was posted on the 14 August and again on 17 August, the } latter } with a copy to David Henriks, the proprietor of South Bay Techn., the } manufacturer of this wonderful equipment. I do not doubt that you are very } happy with the equipment and that it performs well. Certainly you are } entitled } to post such a message and some subscribers would be interested in your } endorsement. } Since you have previously also endorsed this equipment so enthusiastically } on } this forum, I am interested to learn about your "arrangement" with David } Henriks. I think that the addition of a disclaimer to your message was } required } and appropriate. } Cheers } Jim Darley } ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS } PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia } Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com.au } Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes } www.proscitech.com.au } } On Tuesday, August 17, 1999 2:52 AM, Bernard Kestel [SMTP:kestel-at-anl.gov] } wrote: } } } } George, } } Having used jet polishers on a daily basis since 1970, I feel } } obligated to share my observations of them with you. Since microscope } } facilities have millions of dollars invested in 'scopes, etc., the best } jet } } polisher can be a bargain, even if it costs a bit more. I have no } financial } } interest in the products mentioned below. Our lab has used South Bay } } Technology's 550 series jet polishers since 1972 with excellent } results-many } } recipes } } & techniques were published in a 66 page report with some 1,000 copies } } used worldwide. They feature a magnified, in-situ view of the polishing } } "cell", line of sight optical shut-off path for adj.,high sensitivity. } LED } } light sources of infrared, red, green, & yellow have been used to thin } metals } } such as W,Ta,Nb, and a host of other metals and alloys. Si & Ge have been } } electropolished, the former also was chemically thinned using parts from } } the manufacturer's kit for that purpose-allowing use of Hf/nitric acid as } } well as perchloric acid baths at -50 degrees C. The thin, perforated, } } membrane retaining the specimen has little resistance to higher viscosity } } baths, a KEY to smoother specimens! The unit has been slightly modified } to } } polish the entire surface of a 3 m.m.disc before ion implantation, etc. } By } } using a timer & external D.C.power, as little as 50 nanometers can be } } removed from a metal surface before back thinning it-provided a means of } } measuring the step heigth left by strippable lacquer is available. We use } } Microshield, designed for electroplating for this as well as covering the } } "first } } side" dimple. Lastly, the time saved developing a good polish on "new" } } materials with in-situ viewing is substantial. We use 6 550's-two for } } radioactive materials-and feel they are fine instruments. Contact me } directly } } for } } more info. } } } } Bernard Kestel } } Materials Science Division E-mail {kestel-at-anl.gov} } } Argonne National Laboratory } } 9700 South Cass Avenue } } Argonne, Illinois, 60439 } }
} } We have recently started to receive specimens of skins to process for TEM. } Up to now, the majority of our specimens have been renal and tumour. The } problem that has arisen is splitting of sections at the stratum lucidium. We } have tried some modifications to our existing processing schedule which uses } epon 812 (increased infiltration times etc) and recently tried using spurrs } but the problem has not yet been completely solved. } } We are hoping that someone out there may have the definitive processing } schedule for dermatological samples which they are willing to share and in } so doing save us some time and agro. } Thanks in advance. } } Mark Donovan } M.Donovan-at-Alfred.org.au } Anatomical Pathology } Alfred Hospital } Victoria, Australia
Mark -
Have you tried LR White? My enthusiasm for that acrylic started with its excellent performance with skin samples. Use a conventional dehydrartion, rather than a compressed series that skips 100% ethanol.
Caroline
Caroline Schooley Project MICRO 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/PMHomePage.html Intertidal invertebrates: http://www.fortbragg.k12.ca.us/AG/PCI/pci.html
I have been amazed as I'm sure many of you have been by what I see as an unwarranted attack on Bernie Kestel's integrity. I have been a member of this ListServer for over three years and I have never seen this type of personal attack before and I hope that this is the last time our membership is subjected to this kind of nonsense.
Bernie Kestel certainly does not need me to defend his honor in fact other than by "the list", I don't even know him but in my opinion he is a valuable asset. I too, do materials sample preparation for TEM and from time to time I have requested help from this list. Bernie has always been among those who have taken the time to answer my questions and offer helpful suggestions.
I would hate to see one individual's personal jealousy or grudge cause damage to the ListServer, surely if there are questions of this sort they are better addressed off line.
How large is "large"? If the image pixel array is larger than the physical display size of the viewing screen, some of the pixels are discarded to fit it on the screen. How well this works can be a function of the viewing software.
Another question... Does the recepient have enough video ram to display the same color depth as you? 8 bit images on newer computers are usually no problem. OTOH, Large color (i.e. 24 bit) images may be displayed at reduced color depth on systems with little video ram. This will result in a grainy appearance.
I use uncompressed TIFF images whenever I can. The data for TIFF is not modified when saved. Jpg compression (there are a number of degrees of compression) can be quite useful to reduce file size, but it should be used carefully for scientific imaging since it does modify the data. Note that every time an image is saved using jpg, the data is compressed again. To preserve image integrety when working with images, stay with TIFF until the "last save", then use jpg - if necessary. TIFF images can be loss-less compressed slightly using "LZW".
Has anyone tried the new Kodak Electron Image Film SO-163? I'm interested in your opinions, particularly if you notice the improvements over the old 4489 film. (as applied to TEM applications)
I love this mailing list as a great source of information.
Garry
Garry Burgess Charge Technologist - Electron Microscopy Department of Pathology Health Sciences Centre Winnipeg
You have not explained your experiment enough that I can be sure about what you wish to measure.
One of the issues you will encounter is the frequency of the x-ray events and the counting statistics as you move to shorter collection times per measurement. I really doubt that any lag in the detector or the electronics would be significant. I assume that you want to measure change in x-ray intensities over short periods of time. You would need to measure many x-ray events to determine a count rate and that will be limited by your x-ray throughput. There are detectors that can process hundreds of thousands of counts per second. But let me assume that you would want a standard deviation of 10% on any measurement, that means you would need to count 1 ms periods for an input count rate of 100 kcps to get about 100 counts in each measurement.
I suppose you would also have to deal with the software/hardware treatment of the counts as they arrive. I don't know if the current stock EDS systems are setup so that you could track the change in intensity over time. But I do remember our old TN-2000 having a mode where the channels could be setup in terms of time instead of energy and the counts in an energy ROI could be tallied over time. We never used it in that mode, but it could be along the lines of what you want.
I suppose if there was some way to tag each arriving x-ray for time as well as energy, you could determine the time between events and use that to determine rates. However, I expect that to be far outside the current capabilities of most (if not all) x-ray systems. That sounds more like some of the instrumentation used in nuclear physics and likely requires specialized design. If you are interested in that kind of measurement, I could give you the names of some on campus here who have designed and built such equipment for experiments in Europe.
Hope it helps some. Warren S.
At 12:32 PM 8/18/1999 +0100, you wrote: } Dear microprobe listers, } I am considering some time resolved experiments using EDX and/or WDX. } Does anyone know with what accuracy the time of arrival of a pulse from an } X-ray detector can be determined?. Is it limited by the detector, or the } counting electronics? I hope to look at some very fast events.... } } Regards } Chris Walker
---------------------------------------------------- Warren E. Straszheim 23 Town Engineering Iowa State University Ames IA, 50011-3232
SO-163 is not a new film. It has a thicker emulsion and hence takes longer to pump down than the 4489. But... you have 3 choices for developing conditions. Medium grain is twice the speed of 4489. Small grain is the same speed. See the EK web pages for more info
} Has anyone tried the new Kodak Electron Image Film SO-163? I'm interested } in your opinions, particularly if you notice the improvements over the old } 4489 film. (as applied to TEM applications) } } I love this mailing list as a great source of information. } } Garry } } } Garry Burgess } Charge Technologist - Electron Microscopy } Department of Pathology } Health Sciences Centre } Winnipeg
Hendrik O. Colijn colijn.1-at-osu.edu Campus Electron Optics Facility Ohio State University (614) 292-0674 http://web.ceof.ohio-state.edu An optimist believes that we live in the best of all possible worlds. A pessimist fears that this is true.
I have been meaning to post this question for awhile and haven't done so.
The SO-163 is faster. I think that with the speed the contrast is less flat than 4489.
I am finally just about out of all of the 4489 film that we had when I got here and will be switching over to SO-163. Does anyone know what the relative sensitivity setting on a JEOL 1200EX should be? The current setting for the 4489 film is 9. I'm guessing that the setting should be 12 or 13. If you know the settings for both of these films for a JEOL 1200EX, please let me know what they are.
-Scott ---------- } From: Garry Burgess To: 'Microscopy Society of America - Mailing List' -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
Has anyone tried the new Kodak Electron Image Film SO-163? I'm interested in your opinions, particularly if you notice the improvements over the old 4489 film. (as applied to TEM applications)
I love this mailing list as a great source of information.
Garry
Garry Burgess Charge Technologist - Electron Microscopy Department of Pathology Health Sciences Centre Winnipeg
Hello. I'm very new to SEM work and I would like to prepare a slide that contains bacteria, and hopefully magnetite particles that are {1 micron. The problem is that I don't know: 1. if I will be able to see the magnetite with the cell wall of the bacteria around it 2. what the proceedure is to prepare a slide from a sample that is fixed in about 30 ml of glutaraldehyde.
Thank you for taking the time to help out. I'm struggling with my inexperience.
The reason that I thought that this film was new, was because in the = full page Kodak add, at the top in LARGE PRINT, they have the words: = AVAILABLE NOW!!!.... as though it was something new. (ad in Microscopy and = Analysis July 1997 issue)
Then, they claim: -higher resolution -improved contrast -finer grain -superior overall image quality -variable speed - greater flexibility -superior packaging and finally, no change in protocols required.
Strangely, the price was significantly higher for 250 sheets when = bought as 250 sheets, vs the 100 sheet boxes.
Garry
} ---------- } From: John F. Mansfield[SMTP:jfmjfm-at-engin.umich.edu] } Sent: Thursday, August 19, 1999 2:07 PM } To: Garry Burgess } Subject: Re: Kodak SO-163 Electron Image Film } =20 } } I didnt realise it was new, we have been using it for 12 years now.=20 } } It is grainier and faster than the 4489 stuff. But we use it for=20 } } all our high resolution work. } =20 } =20 } =20 } =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 } = } -----------------------------------------------------------------------=
Garry, is there a new SO-163 as opposed to say the SO-163 I have used since ~1993? Can't give you a comparison but I don't have complaints. I am interested in the feed back your query produces.
Hi Sorry about the job ad placed earlier.we made some correction.Please make a note of it. The University of California Electron Microscope Laboratory (EML) has an opening for a mid-to-senior level Staff Research Associate. The job description and duties are as follows:
Operate and maintain scanning and transmission electron microscopes, freeze-fracture machine, and EM support equipment, including PC-based digital imaging and analysis system. Train students, staff and other users in equipment use and EM techniques, including specimen preparation. Direct some work of one SRAII and work-study secretary. Work with equipment service representatives to troubleshoot problems.
Should have a minimum of five years working experience with electron microscopes and support equipment, and demonstrated experience in troubleshooting and maintaining such equipment. Good communications skills are essential. Demonstrated experience with computers, digital image processing, and EM specimen preparation methods including cryotechniques. The successful candidate must be able to work independently, make original contributions to research projects and be willing to learn new techniques as they develop or become available. Prefer someone with image-processing program experience such as NIH Image, and experience with Philips transmission microscopes and Hitachi and/or ISI scanning microscopes. Would also prefer someone who has experience with EM immunlabeling methods.
To apply, you should go to the UC Berkeley Home page at: {www.berkeley.edu} and select the following options: 1- Employment Opportunities, 2 - Staff Employment Opportunities, 3 - Previous and Still Open Listings (August 18-25), 4 - Scientific/Laboratory, and 5 - scroll down until you see the heading: "Staff Research Associate III (A&PS 2), Electron Microscope Laboratory". It is second from the bottom of the S/L listings. If you are interested, then click on "How to Apply" at the top of the page.
Hello everybody Only one format I know, which preserves most settings including printing-settings, is "TIFF". This format does not modify data when it saved on disk. The disadvantage of the "TIFF" format is file-size: the files are huge. You may compress files by 30-50% using, for instance LZV in Photoshop. "GIF" may be suitable for B&W images 256 levels gray-scale as a compromise between quality and file-size. "JPEG" - provides smallest files but transform the original image. I always store my data in non-compressed "TIFF" and use "JPEG" when the quality is not so important. I find useful to save most of my data in two formats: "TIFF" - as a source of original data and "JPEG" - for fast viewing, making slide-show, demonstration, correspondence and so on.
} Date: Thu, 19 Aug 1999 09:22:00 -0400 } From: "Walck. Scott D." {walck-at-ppg.com} } Subject: RE: EM-Need help sending large image files } To: Michael Coviello {coviello-at-mae.uta.edu} , } Micro {microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} } X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2650.10) } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Dr. Sergey Ryazantsev UCLA School of Medicine Department of Biological Chemistry Box 951737 Los Angeles, CA 90095-1737
I have an exciting and fun opportunity for all of you. I am currently acting as a technical contributor of an exhibit for the Arizona Science Center (http://www.azscience.org/) and want the input from the rest of the microscopy community.
Let me first discuss the Arizona Science Center for those of you that are not from the Phoenix valley area. ASC is a non-profit organization designed to increase scientific awareness through various hands on and interactive exhibits. A little of every science is represented. The audience are families and no particular age group is represented. It's goal is that it will spark interest in the sciences and encourage life-long learning.
The microscopy exhibit itself is a silicon graphics workstation enclosed in a kiosk type format. Images from all aspects of light, electron, acoustic, and the scanning probe microcopies are to be included. Navigation will be in a internet web browser format. People will click on links to learn about the various aspects of out field. There will also be other little programs such as 3D reconstruction from microscopy that will be manipulated by the user.
Our greatest opportunity will be the activities portion that will go with the exhibit. I would like to have hands on learning to be conducted by a staff member with a small group of ASC visitors. I currently have some of the more typical activities planned such as pond critter and cheek cell study. The problem is I would like very much to represent more than optical microscopy. I need ideas how to represent the workings of electron microscopes and scanning probe microscopes to a novice level. The opportunity is wide open for any ideas keeping in mind the available, but limited budget of a non-profit organization.
Now I must mention that I am currently a professional microscopist myself Motorola, but I am volunteering my time and resources. No ideas will be used for commercial purposes in any way. If you would like to submit ideas for the hands-on learning, micrographs, software, or equipment (tax deductible) please contact myself at eletrons-at-att.worldnet.net. Thank you for your time and minds.
Brian Wajdyk Senior Electron Microscopist Motorola - Product and Materials Characterization Laboratory Mail Drop:360 2200 W. Broadway Rd. Mesa, AZ 85202 Ph: 480-655-4337 Fax: 480-655-4316
I apoligise. My email is electrons-at-worldnet.att.net. Thank you.
Brian
} -----Original Message----- } From: Brian Wajdyk [mailto:bwajdyk-at-worldnet.att.net] } Sent: Thursday, August 19, 1999 4:27 PM } To: Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } Cc: electrons-at-worldnet.att.net } Subject: Educational Ideas to increase awareness of microscopy } } } Fellow microscopists, } } I have an exciting and fun opportunity for all of you. I am } currently acting as a technical contributor of an exhibit for the } Arizona Science Center (http://www.azscience.org/) and want the } input from the rest of the microscopy community. } } Let me first discuss the Arizona Science Center for those of you } that are not from the Phoenix valley area. ASC is a non-profit } organization designed to increase scientific awareness through } various hands on and interactive exhibits. A little of every } science is represented. The audience are families and no } particular age group is represented. It's goal is that it will } spark interest in the sciences and encourage life-long learning. } } The microscopy exhibit itself is a silicon graphics workstation } enclosed in a kiosk type format. Images from all aspects of } light, electron, acoustic, and the scanning probe microcopies are } to be included. Navigation will be in a internet web browser } format. People will click on links to learn about the various } aspects of out field. There will also be other little programs } such as 3D reconstruction from microscopy that will be } manipulated by the user. } } Our greatest opportunity will be the activities portion that will } go with the exhibit. I would like to have hands on learning to } be conducted by a staff member with a small group of ASC } visitors. I currently have some of the more typical activities } planned such as pond critter and cheek cell study. The problem } is I would like very much to represent more than optical } microscopy. I need ideas how to represent the workings of } electron microscopes and scanning probe microscopes to a novice } level. The opportunity is wide open for any ideas keeping in } mind the available, but limited budget of a non-profit organization. } } Now I must mention that I am currently a professional } microscopist myself Motorola, but I am volunteering my time and } resources. No ideas will be used for commercial purposes in any } way. If you would like to submit ideas for the hands-on } learning, micrographs, software, or equipment (tax deductible) } please contact myself at eletrons-at-att.worldnet.net. Thank you } for your time and minds. } } Brian Wajdyk } Senior Electron Microscopist } Motorola - Product and Materials Characterization Laboratory } Mail Drop:360 } 2200 W. Broadway Rd. } Mesa, AZ 85202 } Ph: 480-655-4337 } Fax: 480-655-4316
It has been brought to my attntion that i have sent the wrong email address. Please respond my previous email about microscopy educational ideas to the address at the header of this email or to: electrons-at-worldnet.att.net . Thank you, I look forward to your responses.
} -----Original Message----- } From: Brian Wajdyk [mailto:bwajdyk-at-worldnet.att.net] } Sent: Thursday, August 19, 1999 4:27 PM } To: Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } Cc: electrons-at-worldnet.att.net } Subject: Educational Ideas to increase awareness of microscopy } } } Fellow microscopists, } } I have an exciting and fun opportunity for all of you. I am } currently acting as a technical contributor of an exhibit for the } Arizona Science Center (http://www.azscience.org/) and want the } input from the rest of the microscopy community. } } Let me first discuss the Arizona Science Center for those of you } that are not from the Phoenix valley area. ASC is a non-profit } organization designed to increase scientific awareness through } various hands on and interactive exhibits. A little of every } science is represented. The audience are families and no } particular age group is represented. It's goal is that it will } spark interest in the sciences and encourage life-long learning. } } The microscopy exhibit itself is a silicon graphics workstation } enclosed in a kiosk type format. Images from all aspects of } light, electron, acoustic, and the scanning probe microcopies are } to be included. Navigation will be in a internet web browser } format. People will click on links to learn about the various } aspects of out field. There will also be other little programs } such as 3D reconstruction from microscopy that will be } manipulated by the user. } } Our greatest opportunity will be the activities portion that will } go with the exhibit. I would like to have hands on learning to } be conducted by a staff member with a small group of ASC } visitors. I currently have some of the more typical activities } planned such as pond critter and cheek cell study. The problem } is I would like very much to represent more than optical } microscopy. I need ideas how to represent the workings of } electron microscopes and scanning probe microscopes to a novice } level. The opportunity is wide open for any ideas keeping in } mind the available, but limited budget of a non-profit organization. } } Now I must mention that I am currently a professional } microscopist myself Motorola, but I am volunteering my time and } resources. No ideas will be used for commercial purposes in any } way. If you would like to submit ideas for the hands-on } learning, micrographs, software, or equipment (tax deductible) } please contact myself at eletrons-at-att.worldnet.net. Thank you } for your time and minds. } } Brian Wajdyk } Senior Electron Microscopist } Motorola - Product and Materials Characterization Laboratory } Mail Drop:360 } 2200 W. Broadway Rd. } Mesa, AZ 85202 } Ph: 480-655-4337 } Fax: 480-655-4316
Way back in 1966 when I first started my industrial career at U.S. Steel's Edgar C. Bain Laboratory for Fundamental Research (which is what it was called before it became a grease spot in Corporate America) Gene Fischione and Dick Glenn were engaged in a "moon race" of sorts to bring out some of the earliest electrolytic jet polishers. Remy Schoone helped Gene build his model; and Bob Sober helped Dick make the competition. Dick's was the model of simplicity; Gene's had all the bells & whistles. I was partial to Dick's because he taught me how to polish my teensie little cross sections of iron wires, even letting me use the prototype. I was under penalty of death & disfigurement if I failed to clean it thoroughly after each session; I'm still pretty, so you know I held up my end of the bargain. Gene was always friendly and encouraging and even made some of my experimental apparatus, so the rivalries remained friendly.
So now I'm wondering: Gene's company still survives as:
http://www.fischione.com/products.html
(I'm giving a subsidiary page URL because the "index.html" file may be somewhat awry)
And his electrolytic jet polisher is apparently still being made.
But what ever happened to Dick Glenn's design ? I heard (from Dick himself) that the rights were sold to a laboratory supply house, but I rarely see any of Dick's units around.
I haven't used either one of these fine instruments in nearly thirty years, so the only connection is historical and the good feelings I have about the four nice guys who made them.
Best regards, George Langford, Sc.D. {amenex-at-amenex.com} http://www.amenex.com/
Whole-hearted congratulations on this response! Maybe you industry types should just sign off to avoid being prosecuted by the SEC or whomever you think might really care about this. And, if you think this cyber-chat is a real problem, then maybe you ought to call a quick phone conference with those who posted to this thread. That way everybody can have their say without a record existing. Except of course for your personal notes... Notes? What notes? Do you seriously think this is the same magnitude as the scams those greedy %$#*&^ at Microsoft are pulling? Do you really think somebody with the power to come after you might do it over this? Maybe if you run for public office..... As below: GET REAL (or get out). Rob Palmer
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Actually, the target is probably a 0.33x mag factor. Many of the new CCds are 1/3rd inch while the older adapters figured a 1-inch TV camera or 35 mm camera. Getting that low in mag takes a little bit of optics and gets expensive. I remember seeing a 0.31x adapter somewhere, maybe from D.I.
We opted for a simply relay lens from Edmund Scientific at a cost of about $230. It has about a 0.5x factor and doesn't have all the fancy parfocality adjustments of some of the other solutions, but it was a good basic solution for the price.
At 10:34 AM 8/18/99 -0400, you wrote: } } Gary, Mary, } Gary, you have a good point. The optics of most microscopes means a camera } will sample a significantly smaller area and in turn give a significant } increase in magnification. To compensate for this we use optical couplers } with a 0.6X mag factor on all our scopes. We use couplers made by Diagnostic } Instruments. They are quite expensive but provide a dimentionally accurate } representation. Russ Gillmeister, Xerox } I have no finantial interest in Diagnostic Instruments.
I am interested in electrojet polishing and window thinning for HRTEM and ATEM sample preparation: 1) Can you suggest me some way to save the carbides from falling apart from a ferritic steel thin foil sample. 2) Will Ni electroplating be a good idea for edge protection while preparing ferritic thin foils near the failed region. 4) Which is better technique for sample preparation in dissimilar metal welds, jet polishing or window thinning.
with kind regards,
V Chaswal, Materials Technology Division, IGCAR, India
11th International Congress of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry (ICHC 2000), 3-8th Sept. 2000, York, UK.
Our web-site problem is now solved so please take a moment to visit the site at http://www.med.ic.ac.uk/external/ichc_2000
Best wishes
Gary Dr. Gary Coulton Molecular Pathology Division of Biomedical Sciences Imperial College School of Medicine The Sir Alexander Fleming Building South Kensington London SW7 2AZ
tel 0044 (0)171 594 3190 fax 0044 (0)171 594 3022
e-mail g.coulton-at-ic.ac.uk
------------------------------------- Announcing the 11th International Congress of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry (ICHC 2000)
"Understanding Biocomplexity: The Post-Genome Challenge"
September 3-8, 2000, York, United Kingdom
ICHC 2000 will comprise 27 symposia addressing the latest developments and applications of histochemistry and cytochemistry in the life sciences including medicine.
SPEAKERS CONFIRMED (so far) Lance Liotta (Bethesda) Roger Tsien (La Jolla) Dennis Noble (Oxford) Jonathon Slack (Bath) Angus Lamond (Dundee) Johannes hegemann (Dusseldorf) Paul Nakane (Mountain View) Fre Bosman (Lausanne) Margaret Buckingham (Paris) John Couchman (Alabama) Jim Coull (Boston) Roel van Driel (Amsterdam) David Eppel (Pacific Grove) Reinhart Gossrau (Berlin) Martin Green (Bebington) Tom Just (Copenhagen) Jeff Lichtman (St. Louis) Joseph Mazurkiewicz (Albany) Peter Nielsen (Copenhagen) John O'Leary (Dublin) Dennis Baskin (Washington) Ralf Paus (Berlin) Francesco Ramirez (New York) Jim Smith (London) John Stegeman (Woods Hole) Hans Tanke (Leiden) Anthony Thody (Bradford) David Vaux (Oxford) Lars-Inge Larsson (Frederiksberg) Keith Miller (London) Mike Grant (Manchester) Martin Humphries (Manchester) Paul Martin (London) Peter Mathiessen (Burnham on Crouch) David Hinton (Davis)
For further details of the meeting and how to pre-register please visit our web-site at http://www.med.ic.ac.uk/external/ichc_2000
} .........I have had experiences when I } have sent a Photoshop manipulated image, that it doesn't always look as } good on the recipients' computer as it did when I was done with it in } Photoshop on my computer (eg. the recipient sees a grainy image that } looked great on my computer--this especially seems to happen after I } sharpen the image in Photoshop and the recipient views it in Microsoft } imager, but also can occur with other imaging programs). }
One way this can happen in PhotoShop is that if the image is displayed on the monitor at less than "100% size" and too agressive a sharpening operation is performed, then it can look fine at the smaller display size. However the real "damage" in terms of too grainy an appearance and so on will become visible when all of the pixels are displayed on the monitor, such as when the image is viewed at 100% either in PhotoShop or in another application on the recipient's machine.
(Not that us microscopists would ever make a regular practice of sharpening things up before sending them off to our clients of course ;-))
} I'm looking for a format that retains the information in the image- } especially for printing, but does not distort it and uses a manageable } file size. Any experiences would be greatly appreciated. }
If the images are 8 bit then you could try GIF. That should give you some degree of lossless compression, although I think the amount of compression decreases with the more fine detail that is present in the image.
Arthur Day, Electron Microscope Unit Phone: 61-2-9717-3457 Ansto Materials Division Fax: 61-2-9543-7179 PMB 1, Menai (Sydney), NSW, 2234 Email: ard-at-ansto.gov.au Australia www: http://www.ansto.gov.au/
Because it's PROFITABLE! A certain percentage of people buy from them. They do it because it works each and everytime they send.
"Sales, it's a numbers game"
This is a great method BUT the cost can add up. When you mail 1000 or more, you have to consider postage, brochures, envelopes, and etc...
Did you know that there is a method of that cost less, WITHOUT postage, envelopes and brochures but have the same effect?
You can now compete with the big boys, with exposure in MASSIVE NUMBERS, without expensive investments such as those associated with television commercials, radio advertising or direct postal mail.
THE SOLUTION - Direct E-mail Marketing
We maintain a database of E-MAIL LEADS in MILLIONS covering the internet. We gather the leads from "hits" at certain targeted web sites, the internet and numerous reliable sources. Do you want to reach 9+ million E-mail leads? Now you can for pennies compared to other expensive mediums !
TARGETED LEADS: If your product or service is targeted to a specific market such as country, state, gender, hobby occupation, or industry, we also have targeted leads.
Mark, With skin you should have better luck with Spurr's resin than Epon since it's less viscous. I use the same protocol as in other tissues except that the pieces must be VERY small and I leave the samples in a vacuum overnight for the infiltration step. Good luck. Mary Gail Engle Electron Microscopy & Imaging Facility University of Kentucky
At 10:05 AM 8/19/99 +1000, Donovan, Mark wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
We had changed to SO-163 from 4489 many years ago on our Philips 400T because it allowed us to obtain better dark field images (g/3g and 5g) with its increased sensitivity, hence shorter exposure times.
The issues we had when changing over was the increased out gassing and the care required in the darkroom because it is difficult to see the emmulsion side of the film, unlike 4489 which is easy to distinguish. All we did to remind users was to put a cardboard sign showing the orientation of the film's notch position when the emulsion side was up.
One other issue we have had is delivery from Kodak. There has been at least one time when we ordered a large quantity (2 cases) and had to wait several months for delivery. I believe this was because they don't produce it on a regular basis. This may also be the reason for their ad stating that it is Now Available!
At 2:10 PM -0400 8/19/99, Garry Burgess wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
David R. Hull NASA Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field Advanced Metallics Branch Mail Stop 49-1 21000 Brookpark Road Cleveland, OH 44135
Having just purchased a new JEOL 1010 microscope, I was reading through the manual (action of last resort I suppose) to learn as much as possible about the instrument, and I noticed in the section of WEHNELT CAP CLEANING, that they just suggest to "wipe of the contaminant on the cap using cotton or guaze moistened with solvent (non-inflammable, nontoxic organic solvent).
There is no mention of POL or any metal polish of any kind. Previously I had always cleaned these small parts with metal polish moistened in acetone, followed by pure acetone, and finally alcohol in a sonicator. (freon before it became politically incorrect to use it because of it's ozone layer killing effects)
I was just wondering what other people do to clean their wehnelt caps, to see if perhaps I still might be better served to use POL or the equivalent to polish this metal.
Garry
PS: thanks to those who gave me comments on Kodak SO-163 film.
This is really an easy problem. The greatest difficulty you'll have is trying to preserve flagellae or pili. Probably you won't be able to.
To answer your questions: 1) Yes. The idea will be to low at the bugs with low kV, say 1 kV or less, and then again *after* you've gotten your images of the bugs with low kV, look at them again with 10 kV or more. The lower kV will image the cell surface, and the higher kV will penetrate the cells and show where the magnetite crystals are (since they are more electron dense).
2) Processing: there are several references in basic EM texts, but briefly you can pretend the bugs are small tissue samples or that you're going to look at them with negative staining in a TEM. Buffer wash 3 times Post-fix in Osmium (may not be necessary, but I'd do this the first time at least) dehydrate through a standard EtOH series, but you can most likely start at 50% or even 70%, and not 30%. Maybe. Use 5 minute changes in the various solutions. Stop at the final 100% EtOH, and then go to the drying technique. To dry: I'd suggest using HMDS (hexamethyldisilizane) *in a fume hood!*. 2:1 =} 1:1 =} 1:2 EtOH : HMDS (you might be able to just use 1:1) 100% HMDS X 3 Air dry in a fume hood for (most likely) 2 hours. Have some cover over the specimens to keep air from blowing directly over them and crud falling on them, but with lots of venting to allow the evaporating HMDS to escape.
The question is, are these guys on agar or in fluid culture? If on agar, punch out a bit of bacteria colony + agar and treat as a tissue specimen (agar punch should be no more than 1mm in any dimension)
If in fluid, suspend the culture, place in a microfuge tube, spin down gently (there go the flagellae & pili), draw off the fix from the pellet, add buffer wash, suspend, let sit 5 minutes, spin gently ... etc. Repeat these steps for each fluid change until the final HMDS. When in final HMDS, suspend critters, take a drop, and place on a prepared stub. Note: careful! you don't want to overload the bacteria on the stub, but want them spread out so that individual bacteria can be seen.
Prepared stub: take a bit of porous membrane filter, Poretics, Nucleopore, something like that that uses radiation to punch holes in the membrane, *not* a tortorous-path filter like most Millipore filters. Can't tell the bug from the filter then. You want nice round holes for the filter. Use filters the same size or slightly smaller than the SEM stubs. Note: a solid sheet will work for this also. Sputter coat of bunch of these filters on *both* sides to make conductive surfaces. Note: this can be fun, as the membranes like to fly around inside the sputter coater when the gas in let in. Stick the coated filters to stubs with silver paint. The alternative to this is to by silver membrane filters. These are expensive, but do not require any preparation, which saves time. But is less entertaining for your labmates.
When the drop is dried, the next choice is to coat or not. If the bugs were Osmium post-fixed, coating may not be necessary. This will mean the magnetite inside the critters shows up better at the higher kV, but also increases the likelihood of charging. For the first try at least, I'd give them a light sputter-coat.
Note: if the bacteria in life come equipped with an extra-cellualar coat of some kind (this is likely), then this method will likely lose the coat, most probably during dehydration. This could be avoided if an environmental or low-vacuum SEM is available. Then forget all the processing, just mount some cells on a stub, and stick them in the SEM alive and screaming. There is a chance that they may even survive the examination in the scope, which means that if you use good sterile procedure, they could be returned to culture for future study. Time-course experiments and the like.
Finally, if the SEM has an EDX on it, this could be used to pick up the Fe lines from the magnetite.
Enjoy!
Phil P.S. This would work for the bacteria that Gary Gaugler wanted to prepare. Sorry I didn't get a more complete method posted.
} Hello. I'm very new to SEM work and I would like to prepare a slide that } contains bacteria, and hopefully magnetite particles that are {1 micron. } The problem is that I don't know: } 1. if I will be able to see the magnetite with the cell wall of the } bacteria around it } 2. what the proceedure is to prepare a slide from a sample that is fixed } in about 30 ml of glutaraldehyde. } } Thank you for taking the time to help out. I'm struggling with my } inexperience. } } Marlene Heller
****be famous! send in a tech tip or question*** Philip Oshel Technical Editor, Microscopy Today PO Box 620068 Middleton, WI 53562 Address for courier deliveries: 6319 Pheasant Lane #A-12 Voice: (608) 833-2885 Fax: (608) 836-1969 (please make sure my name is on any fax) oshel-at-terracom.net
a) email is not the right medium for large files. Sometimes it works, sometimes not. It all depends how the files are routed. Use something like FTP or a website for large files.
b) If email is required, the files should be as small as possible. Compression can reduce the file size (especially JPEG), but can introduce artifacts. Lossless Compression (LZW, runtime encoding, etc.) does not introduce artifacts, but usually gives you a compression factor of less than 2 (half the original file size, depending on content). It can even INCREASE file size under certain circumstances.
c) I am not sure about GIF. Some time ago there were some lawsuits about royalties for using this format (not that that could be enforced), but I think TIFF is a better format and probably more widely used. Have the lawsuits been resolved? It had to do with GIF being widely used on the Internet and the "owner" of GIF suddenly started to collect royalties.
d) One option that has not been mentioned here is to use something like "ZIP" to compress the files, then split the compressed file up into smaller files. Those files can then be send via email. It does require some "assembly", though, on the receiving end.
Michael
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 1675 Carr St., #105N Lakewood, CO 80215 =================================== phone: (888) FIND SIS (303) 234-9270 fax: (303) 234-9271 email: mailto:info-at-soft-imaging.com web: http://www.soft-imaging.com ===================================
} ---------- } From: ard-at-ansto.gov.au[SMTP:ARD-at-ANSTO.GOV.AU] } Sent: Friday, August 20, 1999 2:56:53 AM } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: Re: EM-Need help sending large image files } Auto forwarded by a Rule } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
} .........I have had experiences when I } have sent a Photoshop manipulated image, that it doesn't always look as } good on the recipients' computer as it did when I was done with it in } Photoshop on my computer (eg. the recipient sees a grainy image that } looked great on my computer--this especially seems to happen after I } sharpen the image in Photoshop and the recipient views it in Microsoft } imager, but also can occur with other imaging programs). }
One way this can happen in PhotoShop is that if the image is displayed on the monitor at less than "100% size" and too agressive a sharpening operation is performed, then it can look fine at the smaller display size. However the real "damage" in terms of too grainy an appearance and so on will become visible when all of the pixels are displayed on the monitor, such as when the image is viewed at 100% either in PhotoShop or in another application on the recipient's machine.
(Not that us microscopists would ever make a regular practice of sharpening things up before sending them off to our clients of course ;-))
} I'm looking for a format that retains the information in the image- } especially for printing, but does not distort it and uses a manageable } file size. Any experiences would be greatly appreciated. }
If the images are 8 bit then you could try GIF. That should give you some degree of lossless compression, although I think the amount of compression decreases with the more fine detail that is present in the image.
Arthur Day, Electron Microscope Unit Phone: 61-2-9717-3457 Ansto Materials Division Fax: 61-2-9543-7179 PMB 1, Menai (Sydney), NSW, 2234 Email: ard-at-ansto.gov.au Australia www: http://www.ansto.gov.au/
We have a diatome diamond knife which was bought in 1984. It has been used a lot and has never been resharpened. It is now at a stage where I am doing better using glass knives. We have the following options now:
1) trade it in for a new diatome knife 2) trade it in for a Microstar or Edgecraft knife 3) have it resharpened (not by diatome, but by some other company)
Option 1) is about 1.5 times the price of options 2 or 3. On the other hand, we can be fairly sure to get a good knife. From what I heard there are big differences in the quality of knives. They all look good in the beginning but some of them deteriorate pretty quickly. With only 30 days to test them, you won't be able to tell. Does anybody have experience with Microstar or Edgecraft knives?
As far as the resharpening is concerned: is there a difference in the quality of the job between the different companies? And if so, can anybody recommend one?
Thanks a lot for your help,
Anja
Anja Schulze Tel: +(250)721-8858 Biology Department Fax: +(250)721-7120 University of Victoria P.O. Box 3020 Victoria, B.C. V8W 3N5 Canada
We recently published on the listserver a technique that does not need an= y polishing, simply place the cathode assembly in an ammonia solution: 1 pa= rt water to two parts ammonia. Ultrasonic for 15 minutes, flush with runnin= g water and dry after a wash in alcohol. No effort at all, total time abou= t 20 minutes.
Steve Chapman
Senior Consultant E.M. Protrain, 16 Hedgerley, Chinnor, Oxford OX9 4TN, England. Tel & Fax 44 (0)1844 353161 E-mail - protrain-at-emcourses.com Web Site - http://emcourses.com For Consultancy and Courses in Electron Microscopy World Wide
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Having just purchased a new JEOL 1010 microscope, I was reading through the manual (action of last resort I suppose) to learn as much as possible about the instrument, and I noticed in the section of WEHNELT CAP CLEANING, that they just suggest to "wipe of the contaminant on the cap using cotton or guaze moistened with solvent (non-inflammable, nontoxic organic solvent).
There is no mention of POL or any metal polish of any kind. Previously I had always cleaned these small parts with metal polish moistened in acetone, followed by pure acetone, and finally alcohol in a sonicator. (freon before it became politically incorrect to use it because of it's ozone layer killing effects)
I was just wondering what other people do to clean their wehnelt caps, to see if perhaps I still might be better served to use POL or the equivalent to polish this metal.
Garry
PS: thanks to those who gave me comments on Kodak SO-163 film.
A colleague, Janie Smith, is researching the Automatic Ultrostainers for possible purchase...
She has asked me about the Leica Ultrostainer and the EMS Stainer-Taroh.
I have no experience with the EMS Stainer-Taroh and would appreciate hearing from other users.
We've used the LKB 2168 Ultrostainers for years and have been very happy with them. (mainly because we had a great service engineer to take care of it)
Recently we looked into the new Leica Ultrostainer and tried it on a trial basis. I wasn't too happy with the water pressure.. it seems stronger and more liable to cause wrinkles and holes in my sections. However, the sections were very clean and well stained. We tried changing the length of the wash cycles, etc (sections had more stain dirt with shorter wash cycles) ... This stainer also allows you to separate the Uranyl Acetate and Lead Citrate waste for waste disposal, which our Chemical and Radiactive Waste departments would greatly appreciate!
We also use the Ultrostain I and II and have been happy with the results (as long as the tissue has been en bloc mordanted).
The New 2x Concentrated Uranyl Acetate also seems to work well. However, it seems to cause the automatic stainer to accumulate dirt much quicker. Do you have any suggestions on how to take care of this other than more frequent cleaning with 10x Nitric Acid solution.
What has been your experience with these two Automatic Stainers and any other stainers that may be on the market.?
Thanks in advance,
Virginia Tanner Crocker NIH, NINDS EM Facility
and
Janie Smith, PhD. Dept. Biological Sciences Ohio University
Scott: We use our 1200EX (w/ SO-163 film) for materials scence type applications (eg, semiconductors) and we actually try for low contrast negatives and then print them with high contrast Kodak paper (Kodabrome F4). This method helps to retain the information that is lost during printing if the negatives are too contrasty. I have also gotten excellent scans from an Agfa Duoscan with a gamma setting of about 1.0 on these same negatives.
If you are doing materials science type applications and would like to try this, we have our sensitivity setting on 19 on our 1200EX.
Regards, Mike Coviello LAb Manager UT Arlington. Arlington, TX
o"Walck. Scott D." 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 been meaning to post this question for awhile and haven't done so. } } The SO-163 is faster. I think that with the speed the contrast is less flat } than 4489. } } I am finally just about out of all of the 4489 film that we had when I got } here and will be switching over to SO-163. Does anyone know what the } relative sensitivity setting on a JEOL 1200EX should be? The current } setting for the 4489 film is 9. I'm guessing that the setting should be 12 } or 13. If you know the settings for both of these films for a JEOL 1200EX, } please let me know what they are. } } -Scott } ---------- } } From: Garry Burgess } To: 'Microscopy Society of America - Mailing List' } Subject: Kodak SO-163 Electron Image Film } Date: Thursday, August 19, 1999 2:10PM } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Has anyone tried the new Kodak Electron Image Film SO-163? I'm interested } in your opinions, particularly if you notice the improvements over the old } 4489 film. (as applied to TEM applications) } } I love this mailing list as a great source of information. } } Garry } } Garry Burgess } Charge Technologist - Electron Microscopy } Department of Pathology } Health Sciences Centre } Winnipeg
I would just like to say thankyou to for the numerous helpful responses to my query about Wehnelt cap cleaning. I'm going to try this new technique, since I usually have a lot of trouble removing POL metal polish after cleaning with that technique.
The mailing list truly is an incredible resource, and I just wanted to let you folks know that I appreciate very much your help with these technical matters.
Anja, First, I'm impressed that you have a knife for 15 years without a resharp!
Most of the knife manufacturers now offer a trade-in: you send an old knife (any brand) and for the resharpening price they send you a new one. You can ask whichever company you decide on if they do it.
I only have personal experience with Diatome (and Dupont, but let's not go there!), and have always been very satisfied. A very good friend of mine, who is VERY picky about such things has been very happy with DDK, and another friend who does clinical work at a major LA hospital(high volume) likes Drukker.
So much for my 2 cents. Good luck.
Lee
Leona Cohen-Gould, M.S. Sr. Staff Associate Director, Electron Microscopy Core Facility Manager, Confocal Microscopy Core Facility Joan & Sanford I. Weill Medical College of Cornell University voice (212)746-6146 fax (212)746-8175
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 everybody, } } We have a diatome diamond knife which was bought in 1984. It has been used } a lot and has never been resharpened. It is now at a stage where I am doing } better using glass knives. We have the following options now: } } 1) trade it in for a new diatome knife } 2) trade it in for a Microstar or Edgecraft knife } 3) have it resharpened (not by diatome, but by some other company) } } Option 1) is about 1.5 times the price of options 2 or 3. On the other } hand, we can be fairly sure to get a good knife. From what I heard there } are big differences in the quality of knives. They all look good in the } beginning but some of them deteriorate pretty quickly. With only 30 days to } test them, you won't be able to tell. Does anybody have experience with } Microstar or Edgecraft knives? } } As far as the resharpening is concerned: is there a difference in the } quality of the job between the different companies? And if so, can anybody } recommend one? } } Thanks a lot for your help, } } Anja } } Anja Schulze Tel: +(250)721-8858 } Biology Department Fax: +(250)721-7120 } University of Victoria } P.O. Box 3020 } Victoria, B.C. V8W 3N5 } Canada } } Dear Anja,
I have used Diatome knives for 15 years. We have a large laboratory and we now have 22,000 dollars worth of Diatome knives which are in my care. We have a lot of students, post-docs, etc. In the last 8 years I have had numerous knives resharpened by Diatome. I have quit testing them when they come into the laboratory about 6 years ago, because I found it to be a total waste of time. I have never received a less than perfect knife from Diatome in the 15 years of using them. Meanwhile I have had plenty of opportunity in 28 years of doing electron microscopy using different knives. Some companies send out knives that test perfectly, but they deterioate quickly. This actually happened to me some years ago. I will not name the company. (I also have no commercial or personal financial interest in Diatome). Last year when I was under pressure to buy a knife from a different company, I said I would buy it, but I would not test it, use it, or use it to teach a student. The person could have it, but it was totally their responsibility. To resharpen a Diatome knife by any other company is a huge mistake. The reason your original Diatome knife lasted so long is because of its quality and its particular arrangement of diamond crystals. When you get it resharpend by Diatome it will be in its original condition and it will last a very long time. If you have some other company resharpen it, you have no idea how long it will last.
Hildegard H. Crowley Sr. Electron Microscopy Specialist Department of Biological Sciences University of Denver Denver, CO 80208
Hi Garry, Did you say new? SO-163 has been around a long time. I started using it at least 10 years ago. The reason I switched is that it is about twice the speed of 4489, at least at 60 or 80 KV. It works fine although I havn't used film is a long time. I wonder if any of the T-grain films work in electron exposure? Anyone tried? Russ Gillmeister, Xerox
-----Original Message----- } From: Garry Burgess [mailto:GBurgess-at-exchange.hsc.mb.ca] Sent: Thursday, August 19, 1999 2:10 PM To: 'Microscopy Society of America - Mailing List'
Has anyone tried the new Kodak Electron Image Film SO-163? I'm interested in your opinions, particularly if you notice the improvements over the old 4489 film. (as applied to TEM applications)
I love this mailing list as a great source of information.
Garry
Garry Burgess Charge Technologist - Electron Microscopy Department of Pathology Health Sciences Centre Winnipeg
There are not that many realistic options for for lossless compression, though some are probably on the way. JPEG is lossy, but it probably conveys all the details that you need to for a quick review.
If the receiver needs to examine the fine detail in an image, I suggest that overall you are probably space and time ahead to send multiple compressed JPG files highlighting the areas of interest at appropriate magnifications and moderate resolutions rather than trying to send a single, large, TIFF image and affording the recipient the ability to digitally zoom.
Compression in TIFF micrographs has been not worth mentioning in my experience. The extra time to (de)compress the image offsets the minimal space savings. GIF compression is also often negligible or even negative. As noted below, compression decreases with increasing detail in the image. Even for grayscale images I have often seen the GIF file LARGER than the original TIFF file. This is because GIF normally uses "run-length encoding" to indicate the number of successive pixels at the same gray level in order to save space. If you have 10 pixels in a row at the same gray value, then GIF stores 2 values (the number of pixels and their value) instead of the 10 that would be present in a TIFF file. However, you have to have 3 pixels in a row before you get any space savings, and most of my images just don't have that many. Now if you are trying to convey a spectrum bitmap or other graphic, then there are lots of areas at a fixed color and there is lots of savings to be found. Thats why it is often used on the web for icon or other graphics.
Now a question - I am used to the Office 95 series of products storing graphics at full resolution and even at the color depth the monitor was set to. However, I notice PowerPoint 97 appears to employ some kind of compression. I helped a fellow with a presentation that stored much smaller than the sum of its component images. Does anyone know about the compression in use there?
Warren S.
At 06:56 PM 8/20/1999 +1000, you wrote: } } } I'm looking for a format that retains the information in the image- } } especially for printing, but does not distort it and uses a manageable } } file size. Any experiences would be greatly appreciated. } } } } If the images are 8 bit then you could try GIF. That should give you some } degree of lossless compression, although I think the amount of compression } decreases with the more fine detail that is present in the image.
Hello: Concerning diamond knives, I have been using Microstar knives for eleven years to cut plant tissue- always those tough cell walls- and have been very happy with them.
Maureen Petersen
************************************************************************ Maureen Petersen Department of Plant Pathology 1453 Fifield Hall University of Florida
Never, ever consider trading in a Diatome for another companies knife. A Diatome can be resharpened 5 times, guaranteed. If you traded in a Diatome for another type, you would probably give away a real pearl and get a plastic pearl in its place! Meanwhile, please contact EMS and ask for Stacy Kirsch. Sometimes Diatome has special prices, etc.
Has anyone used it at higher KV's (200 or better), and for high resolution imaging of zeolites? My understanding is that when it is processed for a high speed your signal to noise ratio also increases, although I don't know by how much. Greg
-- ================================================================== Greg Strout Electron Microscopist, University of Oklahoma WWW Virtual Library for Microscopy: http://www.ou.edu/research/electron/www-vl/ e-mail: gstrout-at-ou.edu Opinions expressed herein are mine and not necessarily those of the University of Oklahoma ================================================================== "Gillmeister, Russ" 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 Garry, Did you say new? SO-163 has been around a long time. I started } using it at least 10 years ago. The reason I switched is that it is about } twice the speed of 4489, at least at 60 or 80 KV. It works fine although I } havn't used film is a long time. I wonder if any of the T-grain films work } in electron exposure? Anyone tried? Russ Gillmeister, Xerox } } -----Original Message----- } } From: Garry Burgess [mailto:GBurgess-at-exchange.hsc.mb.ca] } Sent: Thursday, August 19, 1999 2:10 PM } To: 'Microscopy Society of America - Mailing List' } Subject: Kodak SO-163 Electron Image Film } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Has anyone tried the new Kodak Electron Image Film SO-163? I'm interested } in your opinions, particularly if you notice the improvements over the old } 4489 film. (as applied to TEM applications) } } I love this mailing list as a great source of information. } } Garry } } Garry Burgess } Charge Technologist - Electron Microscopy } Department of Pathology } Health Sciences Centre } Winnipeg
-- ================================================================== Greg Strout Electron Microscopist, University of Oklahoma WWW Virtual Library for Microscopy: http://www.ou.edu/research/electron/www-vl/ e-mail: gstrout-at-ou.edu Opinions expressed herein are mine and not necessarily those of the University of Oklahoma ==================================================================
Garry, we are using Kodak SO-163 films more than 5 years. They are really good if you use Kodak developer D-19 and Kodak fixer. We use to use the product of
Eastman Kodak Company Rochester, New York 14650.
They supply both of them as a powder in a packages, each for 1 U.S. Gallon - 3.8L.
Sincerely, Tigran Dolukhanyan Post-Doctoral Associate Center for Advanced Materials University of Massachusetts Lowell
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Colleagues, We have recently been putting TEM images on individual researchers' web sites but are not happy with the resulting images. They appear grainy and do not show the fine detail well. I would appreciate any suggestions as to how to put images on the web so as to retain the best possible quality without extremely long loading times.
Thanks, 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
I use Pol on a 'Q-Tip' then run the solvent/solvent&ultrasonic. Pretty much the same thing (if it ain't broke, don't fix it).
Stephen P. Cavender Metallographer Advanced Modular Power Systems, Inc. 4370 Varsity Drive Ann Arbor, MI 48108-2241 734-677-4260 x 209 voice 734-677-0704 fax scavender-at-ampsys.com www.ampsys.com
Hello, I have long history using DIATOME with very good results on different samples (even 10 nm oriented sections of the ribosomal crystal) in the past. My one-year experience with nearly new DDK knife was dramatic. I find DDK's knife unacceptable for my application (nothing special - plastic embedded tissue) soon after receiving it (new one). It starts scratch sections very soon. After a year of my headache with that I find extra 2000$ and bought DIATOME. Now I don't have any problem with even sophisticated samples. In my point of view, the quality and technique for diamond sharpening is very important in diamond knife manufacturing. It's better to buy smaller size knife from company with good reputation on the market than cheap big one. I don't remember details, but it seems to me that after educational discount DIATOME offered to me, their knife has pretty the same price than chipper brands.
I don't have any interest in DIATOME, just customer.
} Date: Fri, 20 Aug 1999 08:22:56 -0700 } From: Anja Schulze {aschulze-at-uvic.ca} } Subject: different brands of diamond knives } X-Sender: aschulze-at-pop.uvic.ca } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Light Version 3.0.5 (32) } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Dr. Sergey Ryazantsev UCLA School of Medicine Department of Biological Chemistry Box 951737 Los Angeles, CA 90095-1737
This precisely why this list should exist. I've been using SO-163 since the mid 1980's and figured the rest of the world had switched, as well. Please don't everyone shift at once as that will certainly mess with the supply.
We use it at voltages between 100 and 300 daily. The best sensitivity is that which works best for your samples under the conditions you prefer. Try a bracketing experiment up front. One small point: when imaging with low contrast such as for weak-beam dark fields and some HREM images, you can up the contrast by using D-19 developer at full strength, rather than diluted 2:1 as per usual.
Rob Dickerson
} -----Original Message----- } } From: Garry Burgess [mailto:GBurgess-at-exchange.hsc.mb.ca] } Sent: Thursday, August 19, 1999 2:10 PM } To: 'Microscopy Society of America - Mailing List' } Subject: Kodak SO-163 Electron Image Film } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Has anyone tried the new Kodak Electron Image Film SO-163? I'm interested } in your opinions, particularly if you notice the improvements over the old } 4489 film. (as applied to TEM applications) } } I love this mailing list as a great source of information. } } Garry } } Garry Burgess } Charge Technologist - Electron Microscopy } Department of Pathology } Health Sciences Centre } Winnipeg ********************************************************* Robert M. Dickerson Mailto:dickerson-at-lanl.gov MST-CMS Mailstop K765 Tel: ph:505-667-6337 Los Alamos National Laboratory Fax: 505-665-2992 Los Alamos, NM 87545 TA-03 Bldg.1698 Rm.C-136 *********************************************************
Our lab (Microscopy Group at Steven Institute of Technology) has always used Kodak SO-163 for our CM30 (300kv) and CM20-FEG (200kv) since I've been here for 4 years and it seems to give us good high resolution images, etc.
But I don't know anything about the signal to noise ratio. I've never heard my seniors talk about it, that is.
Daraporn Arayasantiparb Graduate student Stevens Institute of Technology
On Fri, 20 Aug 1999, Greg Strout 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Has anyone used it at higher KV's (200 or better), and for high resolution } imaging of zeolites? My understanding is that when it is processed for a high } speed your signal to noise ratio also increases, although I don't know by how } much. } Greg } } -- } ================================================================== } Greg Strout } Electron Microscopist, University of Oklahoma } WWW Virtual Library for Microscopy: } http://www.ou.edu/research/electron/www-vl/ } e-mail: gstrout-at-ou.edu } Opinions expressed herein are mine and not necessarily those of } the University of Oklahoma } ==================================================================
} Date: Thu, 19 Aug 1999 17:04:53 -0700 } To: PostMaster {coviello-at-mae.uta.edu} } From: "Dr. Gary Gaugler" {gary-at-gaugler.com} } Subject: Re: EM-Need help sending large image files } } At 04:46 AM 8/19/99 , you wrote: } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
At 07:16 AM 8/20/99 , you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
[snip]
But where can I buy prepared specimen stubs? I got lots of protocols but no one seems to offer the service for a fee. I'd really rather not grow any bacteria here.
} ===== Original Message From "Dr. Gary Gaugler" {gary-at-gaugler.com} =====
} } There is no reason not attach a file to e-mail. It will simply pass along with } } the msg. One can upload files via ftp but it still takes the same clock time } } to send a binary file. When attached to an e-mail, it is clear what the } } attached file is for.
One reason attaching to e-mail is not a good idea is that you never know when an e-mail server will put a limit on the attachment's size. My server for example, has a limitation of 1Mb, but in use it is more like 0.8Mb. For large files which simply can't be compressed below 0.5Mb (which should get by anyone's server), one needs to turn to JPEG if it has to be via e-mail. Another option which does allow point-to-point transfers are the newer "messengers" ... for example, ICQ, MSN Messenger and AOL. My recommendation here is to try and find ICQ's older verson (v.98) which doesn't include a lot of the invasive garbage these messegers are beginning to allow. In any case, point-to-point file transfers is one of the strong points of these softwares.
I am waiting with bated breath for someone to accuse Hildegard Crowley about being another 'Bernie Kestel', but, so far so good, and we are sticking to the business of hearing a number of useful personal opinions on diamond knives.
At my lab in Ottawa, we have been doing 'materials science' ultramicrotomy for ~15 years on metals, alloys, powders, fibres, wires, minerals, etc. We have about a dozen knives on hand; DDK, Drukker, Microstar, but mostly Diatome (over half). In the opinion of our operator (I don't section, I just blather on about materials microtomy a lot), he has always preferred the Diatomes, especially the 35 degree knife for demanding 'hard' materials. Interestingly, a histo knife, meant for semithin sectioning, is our prime backup for thin sectioning of first-time demanding materials when we are unsure of the risk to the 35's .
However, all of the others perform quite well. Listening to students at the several workshops with which I have been involved, horror stories concerning knives are relatively rare. We have had two 'stinkers' in the last 15 years, both of which were promptly replaced with decent knives by the two suppliers. Sergey, did you contact Joe Tabeling? I would be surprised if he didn't give a positive response.
So, Anja, two points: - 15 years of frequent sectioning on the same edge tells me that you do not have very demanding materials, making the exact brand perhaps somewhat less important. - 'easy' materials notwithstanding, you are wise in sticking with diamond. In all other forms of EM specimen prep, I have never encoutered a crucial component which is so delicately engineered, yet performs so well so consistently. - absolutely always send a knife back to its origin for resharpening. Ditto for asking about details of cleaning and other forms of maintenance.
Best of luck.
Tom Malis Group Leader - Characterization Materials Technology Laboratory Natural Resources Canada, Govt. of Canada 568 Booth St., Ottawa, Canada K1A 0G1 613-992-2310 malis-at-nrcan.gc.ca
} ---------- } From: Anja Schulze } Sent: Friday, August 20, 1999 11:22 AM } To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } Subject: different brands of diamond knives } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 everybody, } } We have a diatome diamond knife which was bought in 1984. It has } been used } a lot and has never been resharpened. It is now at a stage where I am } doing } better using glass knives. We have the following options now: } } 1) trade it in for a new diatome knife } 2) trade it in for a Microstar or Edgecraft knife } 3) have it resharpened (not by diatome, but by some other company) } } Option 1) is about 1.5 times the price of options 2 or 3. On the other } hand, we can be fairly sure to get a good knife. From what I heard there } are big differences in the quality of knives. They all look good in the } beginning but some of them deteriorate pretty quickly. With only 30 days } to } test them, you won't be able to tell. Does anybody have experience with } Microstar or Edgecraft knives? } } As far as the resharpening is concerned: is there a difference in the } quality of the job between the different companies? And if so, can anybody } recommend one? } } Thanks a lot for your help, } } Anja } } Anja Schulze Tel: +(250)721-8858 } Biology Department Fax: +(250)721-7120 } University of Victoria } P.O. Box 3020 } Victoria, B.C. V8W 3N5 } Canada } }
A colleague needs to study rate of crystal growth as they form out of two solutions.
So far, I have set up an inverted microscope that has HMC optics and digital camera to feed images into an image analysis program. I made slides with a well chamber by cutting test tubes with a diamond saw into sections about 2 cm high and bonding the wells to the slide with a standard epoxy. We need the inverted scope as the crystals settle to the bottom and we need a larger volume than what would be under the coverglass of a simple slide prep. We have checked the temperature to assure ourselves that there is no rise in temperature. This works fine as far as it goes.
The problem: mixing the solutions in a glass beaker, test tube, etc. and pouring it into the well slide takes too much time. Mixing must be rather vigorous, i.e. we use a vortex mixer as the two solutions, initially, do not mix well.
The question: does anyone know of a way to do the mixing IN the well slide? Are there any off-the-shelf-systems available?
I've had a few ideas such as: make a very small glass propeller on a shaft and hook it up to a small motor. This would require a sealed feed through and a cover to prevent dispersing the solution onto the lab walls.
We would appreciate any ideas including and especially anything that I haven't thought about regarding such a setup.
Thanks so much in advance for your help.
Damian
Damian Neuberger, PhD Baxter Healthcare, Inc. WG3-2S Route 120 & Wilson Rd Round Lake, IL 60073 Tel: 847.270.5888 Fax: 847.270.5897
I think, this is similar to the other thread running on the listserver at the moment (EM-Need help sending large image files).
Image files can be large (several MB). If you want to compress them, you have the choice of lossy or loss-less compression. Lossy compression can reduce the size of the image tremendously, but you lose information. The compression you can reach with loss-less compression depends on the image content and is typically a factor of 2 (half size), but can be better or worse or even negative (compressed files are larger).
If you want to put the images on the web, you have to make a decision: If the images are there just for "looking" at them, you may get away with some loss (try JPEG compression and experiment with the quality factors, 100% usually means loss-less compression). If the images are meant to be further processed, you should use loss-less compression to keep all information and not introduce artifacts. In this case JPEG with a 100% quality factor or LZW ("ZIP") compression would work. You can also use LZW within the TIF specs, but not every software supports that.
On the web, you could give your customers a choice: Put up a thumbnail for quick view, then provide the full image at different compression levels. The customers can then decide themselves.
Michael
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 1675 Carr St., #105N Lakewood, CO 80215 =================================== phone: (888) FIND SIS (303) 234-9270 fax: (303) 234-9271 email: mailto:info-at-soft-imaging.com web: http://www.soft-imaging.com ===================================
} ---------- } From: Debby Sherman[SMTP:SHERMAN-at-BTNY.PURDUE.EDU] } Sent: Friday, August 20, 1999 4:00:53 PM } To: message to: MSA list } Subject: TEM's on the Web } Auto forwarded by a Rule } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Colleagues, We have recently been putting TEM images on individual researchers' web sites but are not happy with the resulting images. They appear grainy and do not show the fine detail well. I would appreciate any suggestions as to how to put images on the web so as to retain the best possible quality without extremely long loading times.
Thanks, 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
The original poster's question was how to send intrinsically large files without suffering degradation associated with compression. The answer to this question is to use lossless conversion. Hence, JPEG, GIF (worst), MPEG, etc. are not the answer. Use fractals. This is purely a mathematical representation of the image and allows a simple resizing of the original image to a small size file which contains the information necessary to create any size duplicates at the receiving end. Or even convert for your own archive to save local disk space. Compression methods will always be based on compromises between quality and file size.
The second part of the issue is that of transmission and reception of "large" files. This is artificially set by an ISP. It can be limited to outgoing, incoming or both. Additionally, e-mail programs can also be set to limit the size of incoming messages and attachments. Warren Straszhein and Sergey Ryazantsev for example use Eudora, as do I. There is an option to restrict the size of files or simply let any size in or out. Microsoft Outlook supports this feature as well.
If an ISP limits the size of mail and/or attachments, get another ISP. There is no reason for such limits to be placed on users other than to reduce the hardware investment costs of the ISP. We users are not driven by this... we want and need service. You will generally find that local ISPs are very user friendly and will provide plenty of service. If you travel often, you will likely want to check your e-mail on the road. In this case, get a separate account with an ISP that has national and/or global POPs. With this asset, you make your TCP/IP connection to the net via the national POP and then log into your home ISP account. The national ISP effectively becomes a great big long modem cable. AOL, Compuserve, MSN, etc. are not known for great user features. But they have national POPs.
Users at universities may also see limits set on file sizes. Again, this is locally set. typically this is to limit students from downloading binary images from alt.* newsgroups. As faculty, one should be able to have their own account unrestricted on a selective basis. If there is a firewall, that too can be selectively modified.
I routinely send 15-25 800K-22MB files to my agencies around the World each week. I rarely have any problem. My local ISP passes them through. Sometimes the receiver has a size problem but once disclosed, and followed by thrashing of their ISP, the problem goes away. These are always send as MIME attachments to one or more e-mails. Some agencies do prefer to download directly, in which case I encode and password protect the files and place them on one of my web sites. The agency can download the file(s) using their browser. The key is e-mailed separately. Helix Stronghold is used to provide this encoding and password protection method. Of course, if included as in-line data, PGP can be used to encode the file.
If you want industrial strength performance and functions, you will need industrial strength tools. Fractals is one part of the equation. A good ISP is the major part. Then, the e-mail reader is the final key. High quality e-mail programs like Qualcomm Eudor Pro are essential in my line of work. And it makes my life ever so much easier.
Sending and receiving BIG files should not be a BIG deal--if you are set up correctly. Regardless of the programs and the ISPs, you actual connection to the backbone will be the throttle or limiting factor on speed of transfer, not whether you can send or receive. Just the amount of time that it takes to accomplish the send or receive action. since I do this often, I use a 2-BRI ISDN router and an ADSL router on my local office LAN. The ISDN link does symmetrical 128K bits/second uncompressed and up to 384K bps compressed. The ADSL is 384K bps upstream and 1.1M bps download. the ideal would be a T-1 line but at $2000 per month, it is not for my budget!
In summary, the three factors are: method of file encoding, ability of an ISP to allow unrestricted file sizes, and third, the utility of the mail reader program. With the right pieces, life is easy....well, at least in this regard.
} FTP is faster than attachments. } STMP is not efficient for large messages. } Additionally, attachments are "twice!!" the } size of the original image. } } JQ
Why is FTP faster than attachments? If so, how much faster? If the data to be externally accessed is loaded on a secondary host, you incur the upload time and the receiver incurs the download time. I submit that the difference in times is minimal since if you email and they receive, there are still two transactions times involved--one for msg sending and a second for msg reception.
I think that you might mean "SNMP" rather than STMP. SNMP is a network management protocol--not a message transfer system. SNMP is like Unix mail system and is similar to X.400 but is less functional than that protocol.
SMTP (simple mail transfer protocol) is a basic mail transfer protocol. It adds mailing lists, return receipts and forwarding. SMTP does not specify the manner in which messages are to be created. However, some local mail facility (mail reader) is required to format the message. SMTP uses TCP to the message to an SMTP module at the receiving end. This received package is stored at the receiving end in the recipient's mailbox. Why are SMTP messages twice their original size?? There is some formatting required but I have never seen why it would add twice the size.
FTP supports binary and text data. A TCP connection is established and a user ID and password are checked. After this initial TCP connection is established, a second TCP connection is established to effect the data transfer. This transfer occurs without the overhead of any headers or control information at the application level. When the transfer is complete, the data transfer operation ends and the control connection can be used to initiate another FTP data transfer.
According to RFC821, SMTP can handle 7-bit US-ASCII lines no longer than 1K characters, including cr-lf. RFC1652 added unencoded 8-bit data. Per ISO-8859-1, base64 US-ASCII encoding was added and constitutes the current standard MIME transmission and reception protocol and features. Binary encoding uses Privacy Enhanced Mail, RFC1421, and incurs less than 30% overhead for encoding. However, the material transmitted is totally arbitrary in content and is completely transparent between PC and Mac platforms. Consequently, MIME attachments are the ideal way to send binary data as part of an e-mail.
MIME was intended to handle arbitrary types of data and to replace SMTP and UUCP and "other types of Procrustean mail transport protocols. [http://www.cs.uu.nl/wais/html/na-dir/mail/mime-faq/part1.html]
For additional info on MIME, check out this URL: http://www.oac.uci.edu/indiv/ehood/MIME/MIME.html
I suspect that if we continue on this topic, we will outlive our welcome and Nestor will cut us off. If anyone wants to discuss this further, I welcome direct e-mail correspondence. And yes, you can include MIME attachments.
Hello All: We are in the process of installing our 430 and have found we only have only one wehnelt cap. Is there anyone out there who has a spare in good condition that they are not using and would like to sell or donate to us? Thanks, Mike Coviello Lab Manager UT Arlington
Review article on SPM in Biology! First draft, posted for comments/feedback only, final version will be published by John Wiley in the book "Scanning Tunneling Microscopy and related techniques" ed. D. Bonnell. http://green.la.asu.edu/index.html
Msg to Phil keeps bouncing back. So here it is to all viewers:
} } Marlene, } } This is really an easy problem. The greatest difficulty you'll have is } trying to preserve flagellae or pili. Probably you won't be able to. } } [snip] } Phil } P.S. This would work for the bacteria that Gary Gaugler wanted to prepare. } Sorry I didn't get a more complete method posted.
[snip]
But where can I buy prepared specimen stubs? I got lots of protocols but no one seems to offer the service for a fee. I'd really rather not grow any bacteria here.
Has anyone used it at higher KV's (200 or better), and for high resolution
} imaging of zeolites? My understanding is that when it is processed for a high } speed your signal to noise ratio also increases, although I don't know by how } much. } Greg }
Dear Greg, We have used SO-163 at the HVEM up to 1200 kV, but not for zeolites. The signal-to-noise ratio is degraded like that for push-processing any film. There is, in my experience, not too large an increase in background, and that can be tested by developing two films, one with normal processing--4 min in D19 diluted 2:1--and one pushed--12 min in undiluted D19. The other effect of pushing is larger grain size, and you have to decide which gives better resolution: less sensitivity, which means greater dose to the specimen, or more sensitivity, which gives poorer signal-to-noise. This is clearly a specimen-dependent problem. Good luck. Yours, Bill Tivol
} From: postmaster-at-notes.zeiss.de } Conversion: Allowed } Original-Encoded-Information-Types: IA5-Text } Priority: normal } Disclose-Recipients: Prohibited } Alternate-Recipient: Allowed } Date: 22 Aug 1999 03:58:18 +0200 } To: gary-at-gaugler.com } Subject: Undeliverable Mail } } ------------------------- Could not deliver Message to ------------------------- } CN=Stefan Mueller-Pfeiffer/OU=Jena/O=Zeiss/C=DE } } No route found to server CZJNOTES01/Jena/Zeiss/DE from server CZONOTES04/EDV/OBERKOCHEN/ZEISS/DE. Check Server and Connection documents in Name & Address Book. } } ----------------------------- Your Original Message ---------------------------- } } Date: 08/22/99 03:56 AM } From: gary-at-gaugler.com-at-EMAIL } Subject: Bio SEM preparations } NRRQ } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Dear Tom, Actually, it was a strange story about DDK knife. Generally, I did not do so much with sections in my current project. From time to time users ask me about something. Post Doc from our Department asking to help with yeast sectioning. For that purpose, his PI was willing to buy diamond knife. They did it without consultation with me and it was DDK. Post Doc used that knife a lot with my minimal supervision. After he finished his project, the knife was not used for wild. Later people asked me to make ultrathin sections and it was, actually, first time I was using DDK seriously. I find that knife makes scratches on the sections. The plastic was relatively soft and I spent a lot of time trying to adjust speed and angle to produce reasonable quality 30 nm sections. All sections were hardly scratched. It was so hard to find some good place for publication, but I got it. I told to owner of the knife that knife is in the bad conditions and need to be resharpened. They resharp it at DDK. New knife was sitting on my desk for half of year before I open it. Even with absolutely new resharpened knife, I find some knife-marks on the sections. I did not cal DDK because it was too late in my point of view (1/2 year since receiving the knife) and because I was not involved in the correspondence with DDK directly. So, I decide, it is easy to me to make sections with glass knife from time to time, than figured out what's wrong with DDK's knife owned by another person. Some student currently uses it for routine job, I believe. As for me, as soon as I find extra money, I quickly ordered DIATOME and had no problem at all since that time. When I was working in Russia, I had two Diatome knifes. It was 10 years ago and Diatome knifes come in the boxes sealed by old-fashioned red wax-seal. One of them was used hardly for 5 years. The wax-seal on the second one - newer had been broken! Simply because I did not have a problems with the first one.
You see, my experience with DDK was so limited. May be this is why I was such unhappy with this knife. In addition to scratches, it leaves vibration marks on the sections (curiously, that vibration immediately disappeared when I switched to DIATOME). I believe, it was my bad luck and most DDK's knifes are better than knife I had.
} Date: Sat, 21 Aug 1999 10:57:02 -0400 } From: "Malis, Tom" {malis-at-nrcan.gc.ca} } Subject: RE: different brands of diamond knives } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com, 'Anja Schulze' {aschulze-at-uvic.ca} } X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2448.0) } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Dr. Sergey Ryazantsev Department of Biological Chemistry UCLA School of Medicine Box 951737 Los Angeles, CA 90095-1737 Phone: (310)825-1144 (Lab) FAX (departmental): (310) 206-5272 mailto: sryazant-at-ucla.edu mailto:sryazant-at-ucla.edu http://www.bol.ucla.edu/~sryazant E. mail: sryazant-at-ucla.edu http://www.ben2.ucla.edu/~sryazant
There is a lot of interesting stuff going on in the Biotech arena. Nanogen and Caliper seem to the be leaders in channel and mixing technology on the micro scale. Suggest that you contact: Dr. Anne Kopf-Sill at Caliper (650)842-0700, ex 0709. Dr. Mike Heller at Nanogen (619)546-7700.
Please let me know how you make out.
Best regards, Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater productivity.
125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} ****************************************************** MME is America's first national consortium providing customized on-site workshops in all areas of microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis.
At 10:42 AM 8/21/99 -0500, D, Neuberger wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
We've got a JEOL 2010 STEM and a JEOL 100-CX. =20 In both of these istruments we use KODAK SO-163 film, for the JEOL 2010 = the sensitivity is set at 11 and for the JEOL 100-CX at 9. The 2010 is = mainly used for CBD, whereas the 100-CX is used for imaging and diffraction= . It is also used by biologists. So far we have had no complaints about = image quality. Hope this proves useful to someone. =20
George
George Theodossiou Dept Applied Physics RMIT GPO Box 2476V Melbourne 3001 Victoria Australia Ph: +61 3 9925 1793 +61 3 9925 2205 Fax: +61 3 9925 5290 Email: george.theodossiou-at-rmit.edu.au
Home Ph: +61 3 9808 9085
Impossible I Can Do Today, Miracles, Require 24 Hours Notice
Have an immdediate need of a suitable CM12/CM20 TEM. Ideally said instrument would be of 7-8 years old, in good performing order, attached with STEM unit and SED. CCD, EDS, PEELS welcome. Will consider basic TEM as well.
If you have or know of a like instrument, please contact me soon.
Bob Roberts EM Lab Services, Inc. 2409 S Rural Rd Tempe, Arizona 85282 480.967.3946
A third year student is doing a project on cathodoluminesence and she's = asked me more some help. She needs some references. She's searched our = library and I've done a search of our 'lab library' but to no avail. What = she needs is something a little basic, that describes the technique, how = it works in an SEM, and some practical applications. Nothing overly = theoretical. =20
Thanx people
George
George Theodossiou Dept Applied Physics RMIT GPO Box 2476V Melbourne 3001 Victoria Australia Ph: +61 3 9925 1793 +61 3 9925 2205 Fax: +61 3 9925 5290 Email: george.theodossiou-at-rmit.edu.au
Home Ph: +61 3 9808 9085
Impossible I Can Do Today, Miracles, Require 24 Hours Notice
We need to obtain a new sputter target for our Edwards S150A sputter coater. Can anyone suggest a current supplier for targets and accessories? Thanks in advance.
Once upon a time, I scrubbed the things too. I was then shown the easy way.
I should not have left out the final step when describing the cleaning. That is the rinse. To avoid NaOH deposits, I flush well with warm water. If the water is pure, that is all that is needed. Since I usually flush with tap water, I follow with a rinse of pure isopropanol (before the water dries). This will wash away most water borne impurities. I then blow the cap dry with compressed nitrogen.
Though cotton swabs won't last too long, they are used to wipe off the deposits after soaking (before rinse). Also, the swabs have a wooden handle which I bend-to-break forming a fine taper which is used as a "bore brush" to (spin it) clean the orifice.
BTW, I do sometimes use a metallurgical polishing wheel to touch up the cap face polish if it has suffered some serious arcing.
I use a tungsten hairpin filament and clean the Wehnelt on an "as needed basis". By that, I mean that I don't have a calendar schedule, but watch for performance degredations to indicate the need for cleaning (poor brightness, poor resolution, etc) of the column. ...Firm believer in the saying: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". The scope is used daily, the beam is actually on about 4-6 hours/day. I don't have my records before me now, but cleaning is done about 2-3 times per year, so my frequency is not too far off from yours - maybe 250 hours??
I'm curious, I just read your response to Gary Burgess and was wondering how often you have to clean the cap. I would tend to think that sodium hydroxide would build a charged residue on the cap after a few hours of use. I'm also curious on what kind of filament you use. I personally use the standard Pol Polish with a toluene ultrasonic bath and an acetone rinse. I can get about 200 hours of use before I reclean it. I use two scopes both tungsten filaments. If you can tell me how often I would appreciate it.
Dear Robin, We (Soft Imaging System SIS)have a few options that you may want to look at for acquiring digital images from your SEM. This is where you can find a listing of our products on the web: http://www.soft-imaging.de/products/p_one.htm
The first solution is our ADDA II, slow-scan interface for active or passive digital image acquisition from SEM/STEM. Technical data: Resolution: 4096 x 4096 pixel, 4096 gray values. 8 analog (ADC) inputs. 16 logical input and output channels. http://www.soft-imaging.de/products/hardware/h_add.htm
The second solution is our framegrabber (the grabBit) and our software (analySIS) for acquisition of standard video images generated on your microscope. The image quality, S/N ratio, is much worse for video images than it is for the slow-scan interface.
Our software is a state-of-the-art image acquisition, processing, analysis, and archiving package. We have application specific modules, like STEREO, for generating and viewing height mapped images from a stereo pair.
Please contact me if you have any further questions about either of these solution. I would be glad to send out brochures describing our products, or discuss your specific application. By telephone, (888) FIND SIS, or e-mail ac-at-soft-imaging.com
-Sincerely,
Andrew Cahill Soft Imaging System Corp. 1675 Carr St., #105N Lakewood, CO 80215 phone: (888) FIND SIS (303) 234-9270 fax: (303) 234-9271 web: www.soft-imaging.com, www.soft-imaging.de email: ac-at-soft-imaging.com
At 03:44 PM 3/16/99 -0600, you wrote: } ----------------------------------------------------------------------- - } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America=20
Don and all the other folks, I think that it would be great to have them online... I have a bit of drive space on one of the servers that I use and am going to scan in what I have here once I get the page scanner hooked up... I have obtained some Xeroxes of some also from some of the folds here (thanks folks)! and will add those also but orig. manuals are best to work with. I am willing to help in any capacity I can. Ed Sharpe
} Subj: manuals } Date: 4/7/99 1:43:23 PM US Mountain Standard Time } From: dmrelion-at-world.std.com (donald j marshall) } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } I would just like to support and reinforce some of the many comments } recently made about getting copies of older instruction manuals. It would be } } a real service to our community if a master compilation of these manuals, } with a suitable index and regular updates, could be put together. I wish } that I had the time and the resources to volunteer for this task but I } don't at the moment. Hope somebody else does. } } Don Marshall }
My two cents: When I was sectioning for a living, we needed to replace a diamond knife. Diatome was more expensive, so we went with Microstar. After the fifth Microstar was returned, (all the knives were horribly hydrophilic) I was considering a move to molecular biology following ~8 mo. of inability to produce sections. We came through with the extra money and bought a Diatome. I could section again. I cannot praise highly enough the customer service I got from Microstar: they are a wonderful company to deal with. If you want a reliable knife, however, I would recommend Diatome. The extra cost will be recouped in time and section quality. Regards,
Andrew Ochalski, Microscopy Technician, Dept. of Biology, University of Ottawa Room 108, Gendron Bldg. 130 Louis Pasteur, Ottawa, Ontario CANADA K1N 6N5 613-562-5800 x6343 FAX: 613-562 5486
Rob, I love your enthusiasm. That film is the right one for you and most material scientists. I suggest that for most biologist and some material scientist 4489 is better.
Yes, the SO type has greater speed, but this has costs and benefits. Some readers will find a few basic facts useful. Both of these TEM emulsions are essentially document films: low in red sensitivity and speed under 10 ISO. Though speed is not stated for such emulsions. Apparent film speed varies with exposure and development, but these films have very little exposure latitude and this makes an ISO number near meaningless. In general, slower films have greater resolution, greater contrast, but less exposure latitude.
Generally biologists require greater contrast and so prefer the slower 4489. Material specimens tend to produce greater electron scattering (greater atomic number and thickness ranges) and so the SO type is in more common use. The following consideration may change the film preference for some.
In light photography, denser negatives are grainier, whereas greater electron exposure (denser negatives) give less grainy and more enlargeable negatives. Slightly over-exposed negatives are more contrasty in electron imaging (not so in light photography). Therefore, for the biologist denser negatives taken with the slower 4489 are usually preferable.
Additionally, slower emulsions (the 4489) require more electrons to form a properly exposed image. In visible light, photo grain is due to the emulsion, in TEM "enlargeability" is usually limited by to "too few electrons". Slower film requires more electrons to expose properly and this results in less "noisy" images. This is especially important for high-resolution work, since it is much easier to prepare these, when using high (10 -20x) photographic magnification.
For the material scientist who can live with the higher contrast, or who can reduce contrast to some extent through development (reasonably full development time is required for a full tonal range), there is not just a price advantage in favour of the 4489. More electrons do result in a better image - beam damage is of course another argument. Cheers Jim Darley ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com.au Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes www.proscitech.com.au
On Saturday, August 21, 1999 8:51 AM, Rob Dickerson [SMTP:dickerson-at-lanl.gov] wrote: } } Gary and all, } } This precisely why this list should exist. I've been using SO-163 } since the mid 1980's and figured the rest of the world had switched, } as well. Please don't everyone shift at once as that will certainly } mess with the supply. } } We use it at voltages between 100 and 300 daily. The best sensitivity } is that which works best for your samples under the conditions you } prefer. Try a bracketing experiment up front. One small point: when } imaging with low contrast such as for weak-beam dark fields and some } HREM images, you can up the contrast by using D-19 developer at full } strength, rather than diluted 2:1 as per usual. } } Rob Dickerson } } } -----Original Message----- } } } From: Garry Burgess [mailto:GBurgess-at-exchange.hsc.mb.ca] } } Sent: Thursday, August 19, 1999 2:10 PM } } To: 'Microscopy Society of America - Mailing List' } } Subject: Kodak SO-163 Electron Image Film } } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } } 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 } } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } Has anyone tried the new Kodak Electron Image Film SO-163? I'm interested } } in your opinions, particularly if you notice the improvements over the old } } 4489 film. (as applied to TEM applications) } } } } I love this mailing list as a great source of information. } } } } Garry } } } } Garry Burgess } } Charge Technologist - Electron Microscopy } } Department of Pathology } } Health Sciences Centre } } Winnipeg } ********************************************************* } Robert M. Dickerson Mailto:dickerson-at-lanl.gov } MST-CMS } Mailstop K765 Tel: ph:505-667-6337 } Los Alamos National Laboratory Fax: 505-665-2992 } Los Alamos, NM 87545 TA-03 Bldg.1698 Rm.C-136 } *********************************************************
We used to use Pol and acetone or later isopropyl alcohol but a tip from a Phillips engineer recomended an aquas base cleaner like Softscrub. It does not seem to be too abrassive and you wash it off with running water then sonicate it (in a container ) in a series of distilled water. I then drizzle a little isopropyl over the parts pour this off, next, if I realy want them clean and dry in a hurry I drizzle freon 113 (which is used over for other needs -- trying to keep the environment clean). We have been using this method for six years and my filament hours increased significantly.
Our laboratory had been using LaB6 filaments (SEM and TEM) for about seven years and has recently (mid-June) switched to CeB6 filaments with mixed results.
I'm interested in hearing from anyone who has any experience with cerium hexaboride filaments and any references to published papers on the subject.
I have picked up some excellent information about a number of different subjects from postings on the list server and commend all who use it as an open forum for discussion.
Our University's Path EM lab and my Research facility has been using DDK knives for over 10 years with no problems to speak of (the older knives started out as Dupont). When one knife did not perform well we sent it back and they took care of it right away. Both labs have a Diatome now also, and they have performed well, but too new to say anything about longivity. The boat style and colors will probably be more of a thing to get used to or accept. Not to say some products are better than others, we all get comfortable with the equipment we work with and think any thing new is awkward, and inevitably, not as good.
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
We have two Philips EM-300 TEM's which are available immediately. One is not working and was being held for parts. The other is working at the moment. However, due to the age of these instruments and the resultant brittle wires and cables, it is doubtful that it can be moved and still put back into service. Thus we feel that both instruments would be useful for parts but not as working instruments.
If you are interested in obtaining these instruments for the cost of moving them, contact Matt Mcdonough at: mmcdono-at-bilbo.bio.purdue.edu or call Matt at 765-494-4971
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
Electron holography studies of piezoelectric fields in GaN/InGaN/AlGaN stru= ctures
Applications are invited for the above post tenable for 3 years from 1 Octo= ber 1999, or as=20 soon as possible thereafter, for an EPSRC-funded project to study electric = fields generated in=20 GaN-based structures at strained layers and at defects. The project will i= nvolve electron=20 holography carried out using an electron biprism in a FEG TEM equipped with= an imaging=20 filter, in conjunction with image processing and image simulations to accou= nt for diffraction=20 contrast effects. Studies will concentrate on high quality InGaN/GaN and A= lGaN/GaN layers=20 grown by collaborating groups both in the UK and overseas. Preference will= be given to=20 candidates with a background in electron microscopy. Experience in working= with=20 semiconductors would be helpful but is not essential.
Applications including a c.v., list of publications and the names and addre= sses of 2 referees=20 should be sent to Dr. D. Cherns, H. H. Wills Physics Laboratory, University= of Bristol,=20 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TL, UK. For further details, contact Dr.=20 Cherns on telephone=20 0117 928 8702 or e-mail d.cherns-at-bristol.ac.uk. The closing date for appli= cations will be 13=20 September 1999 and starting salary will be in the range =A316,286 - =A31891= 5.
Further Particulars
The new PDRA will work under the direction of Dr. D. Cherns in the Microstr= uctures Group=20 in the H. H. Wills Physics Laboratory. The Microstructures Group, which pr= esently=20 comprises ~25 staff, post-doctoral researchers, research students along wit= h technical staff=20 and a secretary, has a strong tradition in the development and application = of electron=20 microscopy techniques. The Group is perhaps best known for the development= of convergent=20 beam electron diffraction (CBED) methods of analysing the structure and sym= metry of=20 crystals and more recently the development of large angle CBED methods of s= tudying defects=20 and interfaces. In addition to CBED, current interests in TEM include the = development fo=20 electron holography, electron energy loss spectroscopy and cathodoluminesce= nce. The=20 materials studied include diamond, a range of III-V and II-VI semiconductor= s including GaN,=20 metal multilayers (grown in-house) and metal alloys. The Group has 4 TEMs = including a=20 Hitachi HF2000 field emission microscope equipped with an electron biprism = for electron=20 holography, a Gatan imaging filter and EDX, and a Philips EM430 microscope = with EDX=20 and EELS, 3 SEMs and various scanning probe instruments (STM, AFM). There = is a wide=20 range of ancilliary equipment for specimen preparation and a suite of netwo= rked PCs and=20 workstations on which image processing and image simulation are carried out= using both=20 standard software packages and programs developed in-house.
The Microstructures Group has worked extensively on GaN and InGaN/GaN structures over=20 the past 4 years with PL/Raman studies by Professor J. W. Steeds and Dr. M.= Kuball, and=20 electron microscopy studies under Dr. D. Cherns. Dr. Cherns' group, which = currently=20 comprises 1 PDRA and 3 research students, has identified a range of new def= ects in GaN and=20 is correlating defect structure with optical properties studied by SEM cath= odoluminescence. =20 In very recent work (see D. Cherns, J. Barnard and F. A. Ponce, Solid State= Communications=20 111 (1999) 281), the Group has shown that electron holography can be used t= o detect and=20 measure, for the first time, large piezoelectric fields (~4MVcm-1) develope= d across a thin=20 InGaN layer ("quantum well") in GaN. Such fields are believed to play a ke= y role in=20 determining the optical and electronic properties of InGaN/GaN devices and = are a "hot topic"=20 attracting worldwide interest.
The new PDRA position will be funded on a 3 year EPSRC grant for electron h= olography=20 studies of electric fields in GaN/InGaN/AlGaN structures. This project wil= l involve studies=20 of a range of high quality InGaN/GaN and AlGaN/GaN layers grown by groups w= ith which=20 we have collaborative links in the UK and overseas (particularly Germany an= d the US). The=20 aim here is first to clarify the nature of the electric fields involved whi= ch may depend on=20 strain, i.e. a piezoelectric field, or may have a polarisation component, a= nd then to examine=20 spatial variations present at defects and layer irregularities. A key aim = of the project will be=20 to carry out image simulations to examine diffraction contrast effects whic= h are a major=20 uncertainty at present. The method will also be used to profile electric f= ields at defects which=20 are expected to be important not only in GaN but a range of other semicondu= ctors.
The project will enable the successful applicant to work on an important ma= terials system=20 where exciting scientific and technological advances are taking place, and = to develop both=20 experimental skills and experience in image processing and simulation metho= ds.
The Department of Physics at Bristol is one of the largest in the UK, and w= as rated 5=20 (international excellence in some sub-areas of activity and national excell= ence in virtually all=20 others) in the last HEFCE Research Assessment exercise
I am looking for a LOW-COST 8-bit ccd camera that can image fluorescently-labelled cells for routine student use. Currently, I am considering a Sony XC-series camera. A company called Electrim offers a low-cost system, complete with frame-grabber and rudimentary software. Frame averaging/integration capability would be useful. Signal strength is more important than resolution and SNR is not the prime consideration, since the staining pattern has been well-characterised and digital images will be compared with those obtained by conventional photography. Does anyone have experience with Electrim's systems or suitable alternatives? Thanks in advance. Regards,
Andrew Ochalski, Microscopy Technician, Dept. of Biology, University of Ottawa Room 108, Gendron Bldg. 130 Louis Pasteur, Ottawa, Ontario CANADA K1N 6N5 613-562-5800 x6343 FAX: 613-562 5486
Dear George, I have done some cathodoluminesence and, like any other SEM discipline, you just plug it in and take a look at what you see. The hardest part is learning to spell it. What is your student trying to look at? What problems is she having? I found that the voltage of the beam has to be high and beam current usually had to be raised considerably, depending on the material you examine and the amount of light it gives off. Like BSE, there are different detector types with different characteristics. Like BSE, you have to fiddle with beam voltage, beam current, working distance and gain and brightness settings on the signal amp to find the condition that shows you what you want. The first time I did cathodoluminesence I simply removed the P47 button from the secondary electron detector and let the light in from the sample directly. Worked fine. If you have the journals from Scanning Electron Microscopy, there is a good coverage of cathodo. in 1980, Vol 1. At 04:42 PM 8/23/99 +1000, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
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 e-mail: mager-at-interchg.ubc.ca
To all: Thank you all for your great suggestions. I will look into the options you all suggested. Long term, I believe I will use FTP and have the users download the files themselves, that seems like the best long term option. Again thanks for being such a great resource.
Mike Coviello Lab Manager Materials Science UT Arlington
Michael 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 Ya'll: } I'm looking for suggestions on the best method/format to send large } scanned } image files via e-mail. Recently, I have been sending compressed jpg } files that are inserted into a powerpoint presentation (thus sending } the } image within the powerpoint file). This seems to be an effective } method } to make sure that the image I see on my computer looks the same as the } image that the recipient sees on their computer. } } The reason why I do this, is that I have had experiences when I } have sent a Photoshop manipulated image, that it doesn't always look as } good on the recipients' computer as it did when I was done with it in } Photoshop on my computer (eg. the recipient sees a grainy image that } looked great on my computer--this especially seems to happen after I } sharpen the image in Photoshop and the recipient views it in Microsoft } imager, but also can occur with other imaging programs). } } My method has two drawbacks: } } 1) The file size is still too large (up to 1mb) } 2) The printed image isn't as good as it looks on the computer screen. } } I'm looking for a format that retains the information in the image- } especially for printing, but does not distort it and uses a manageable } file size. Any experiences would be greatly appreciated. } } Mike Coviello } Lab Manager } UT Arlington } Arlington, TX
We are looking to sell our JEOL 1200EX microscope. It is equipped with STEM, BF/DF/SE/BSE, free lens control, and a Noran TN5500 microanalyzer system with a BE window detector in the high takeoff position. There is a dual cup JEOL double-tilt holder that has been modified with Gatan Be cups, hexrings, and anti-twist washers. Also included are a dual position single tilt holder and a bulk holder. The microscope is currently under a full JEOL service contract and is in excellent working condition.
I'm looking for a letter of intent to purchase the microscope for $30,000.
-Scott
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Glass Technology Center Guys Run Rd. (packages) P. O. Box 11472 (letters) Pittsburgh, PA 15238-0472
} I have a customer that needs to find potential suppliers for LN transfer } dewars. Could you help me out? Are they available from the LN suppliers? }
Dear Joe, Practically all the scientific supply houses whose catalogs I perused had LN dewars. Cole-Parmer seemed to have the largest variety. Yours, Bill Tivol
At 04:19 AM 8/23/99 , you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
It seems to me that for fluorescence imaging, the main challenge is low light intensity. This would necessitate a very sensitive CCD camera with low SNR. Since the signal is low, a high SNR cannot be readily achieved.
Cooled CCD cameras would do what you want, but they are not CHEAP.
Check the units you have found so far for suitability to your application.
Take a material with a bandgap (no metal) and irradiate it with energetic electrons. This will create electron-hole pairs (e-h pairs) in the material. These e-h pairs can now relax by different methods:
1) they get separated in an electric field and create a current through an external wire (EBIC) 2) they recombine directly 3) they relax to a defect level in the bandgap and recombine from there
Option 3 can have two parts
a) radiative recombination b) non-radiative recombination
Numbers 2) and 3a) will give rise to light being emitted. Numbers 1) and 3b) will not produce light.
Note, that even though 1 and 3b do not CREATE light, they can reduce the light compared to an area with no such events. In this case they will show up as areas with reduced CL efficiency.
You can collect the light either panchromatic, which does not give you spectral information, but it is fairly easy to make a detector (a few photodiodes might do), or you collect the light spectrally resolved, in which case you need much higher detection efficiency. In this case you might need special mirrors, light pipes, spectrometers and detectors.
As to references: part of my Ph.D. had to do with CL. I will check the references in there and send them to you. Would a simply copy of the reference pages faxed to you work?
Michael
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 1675 Carr St., #105N Lakewood, CO 80215 =================================== phone: (888) FIND SIS (303) 234-9270 fax: (303) 234-9271 email: mailto:info-at-soft-imaging.com web: http://www.soft-imaging.com ===================================
} ---------- } From: George Theodossiou[SMTP:GEORGE.THEODOSSIOU-at-RMIT.EDU.AU] } Sent: Monday, August 23, 1999 12:42:47 AM } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: Cathodoluminesence } Auto forwarded by a Rule } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
G'day all,
A third year student is doing a project on cathodoluminesence and she's asked me more some help. She needs some references. She's searched our library and I've done a search of our 'lab library' but to no avail. What she needs is something a little basic, that describes the technique, how it works in an SEM, and some practical applications. Nothing overly theoretical.
Thanx people
George
George Theodossiou Dept Applied Physics RMIT GPO Box 2476V Melbourne 3001 Victoria Australia Ph: +61 3 9925 1793 +61 3 9925 2205 Fax: +61 3 9925 5290 Email: george.theodossiou-at-rmit.edu.au
Home Ph: +61 3 9808 9085
Impossible I Can Do Today, Miracles, Require 24 Hours Notice
Mark, To avoid the frustration of your resin embedded skin sample sections separating at the outer stratum corneum layer from the rest of the epidermis and to improve the quality of fixation and resin penetration you might consider using the following method as mostly described by Van den Bergh, et.al.,(l997): Remove the subcutaneous fat, cut extremely thin (ideally use a dermatome for ~250 um or less) samples. Use 0.1% soybean trypsin solution to isolate the more impermeable outer stratum corneum from the rest of the epithelium and proceed by processing the two separately with the same method. Fix: 2% glutaraldehyde in 0.1%M cacodylate buffer at pH 7.2 at 4oC overnight in the dark. Rinse: 3 X in buffer Postfix: 1% OsO4 in same buffer.for 1 hr. 2nd postfix:* 0.2% RuO4 + 0.25wt% K3Fe(CN)6 in same buffer for 1 hr. with a fresh change after 30 min. at 4oC in the dark. Rinse: 3 X Dehydrate: 30, 50, 70, 90, 100% acetone or ethanol at room temp. Embed: in a series of Spurr's resin in acetone (1:2, 1:1, 2:1, v/v) before embedding in 100% Spurr's. Note: LR White would be another alternative resin to use. *RuO4 is indispensable in the characterization of lipid bilayer ultrastructure of the stratum corneum (Eichelberger,1999). The addition of K3Fe(CN)6 is recommended for the overall improvement of membrane fixation and retention of lipids(De Bruijn, W.C. & Den Breejen,P., 1975). If you are seeking to stain glycogen, glycoproteins, elastin, and other structures, K4Fe(CN)6 is advocated by Goldfischer, et. al., (1981). To increase the accessibility of RuO4, use a vibratome for 50um thick sections (Van der Meulen, 1996), or frozen sections can be made (Hou, et. al , 1991). References: De Bruijn, W.C. & Den Breejen, P. 1975. Histochem. J. 7:205. Eichelberger, H. H., 1999. Microscopy Today,99:24 Goldfischer,S., et.al., 1981. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 29:ll05. Hou, S. Y. E., et. al., 1991. J. Invest. Dermatol. 96:215. Van den Bergh, et.al., 1997. J. Microsc., 187:125. Van der Meulen, et. al.,(1996). J. Microsc.,184:67. ********************************************** Mark Donovan (8/18/1999) wrote: "We have recently started to receive specimens of skins to process for TEM. Up to now, the majority of our specimens have been renal and tumour. The problem that has arisen is splitting of sections at the stratum lucidium. We have tried some modifications to our existing processing schedule which uses epon 812 (increased infiltration times etc) and recently tried using spurrs but the problem has not yet been completely solved.
We are hoping that someone out there may have the definitive processing schedule for dermatological samples which they are willing to share and in so doing save us some time and agro. Thanks in advance."
Mark Donovan M.Donovan-at-Alfred.org.au Anatomical Pathology Alfred Hospital Victoria, Australia
I wish this topic had been discussed 4 months ago when I was tasked with the ordering of a new diamond knife in my lab. I took over a lab here at the University of Nebraska Medical center last December and inherited a plethora of diamond knives...well, about 4 anyway. The thing is I had 3 DDK (the knife of choice for my predicessor) and one microstar. I Had limited experience prior to coming here, and after working with the "best" knife on hand realized that I would be better off using the plastic wear from the cafeteria to section with. Now I only do clinical specimens here, mostly renal tissue and some skin, nerve, muscle and tumor tissue. None of these I would consider to be problematic tissues except for the occasional nerve. So when I decided (after consulting my resident guru downstairs in the research lab) to purchase the Diatom and send in one of my old DDK knives and pay the resharp price I thought I had found a bargain. I even had Stacie put a 4mm knife in a large histo boat because I just like that feeling of having a municple swimming pool to pile up sections in. That turned out to not be needed. I mount the Diatom knife and after all the preliminaries are completed can turn on my Leica and chop 6 sections in the 50nm range in about 8 wacks! The best part is they are all perfect and completely free of defect. This has cut my sectioning time down to about 1/10th the time I used to spend. So as it turns out, I am happy I bought the Diatom. For what it is worth, don't waste good hard lobbied for money on second rate knives even if your not cutting difficult tissue. Buy the Diatom and know you are getting a good quality product which will outlast the competition by far.
Doug Rennie coordinator electron microscopy lab Department of Pathology University of Nebraska Medical Center
Joe: We buy all of our transfer dewars from Southland Cryogenics. I like their 4-liter all-steel ones. No chance of breakage if you are fumble-fingered like me. Below is the mailing address and the web site of their page on the parent company's web site.
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 Listserver, } } I have a customer that needs to find potential suppliers for LN transfer } dewars. Could you help me out? Are they available from the LN suppliers? } } Thank you, } } Joe Ullmer } NORAN Instruments Inc } Joexray123-at-aol.com
this is really strange folks..... this just shoed up from the listserv in my mailbox but it is something I replied to a long time ago...... I am confused.... Look at the date on dons message I replied right after that ... now look at the date on this message I got ... like sent to me today though the listserv.
Ed Sharpe
} Subj: Re: manuals } Date: 8/23/99 10:50:48 AM US Mountain Standard Time } From: COURYHOUSE-at-aol.com-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Don and all the other folks, } I think that it would be great to have them online... I have a bit of drive } space on one of the servers that I use and am going to scan in what I have } here once I get the page scanner hooked up... I have obtained some Xeroxes } of } some also from some of the folds here } (thanks folks)! and will add those also but orig. manuals are best to work } with. I am willing to help in any capacity I can. } Ed Sharpe } } } Subj: manuals } } Date: 4/7/99 1:43:23 PM US Mountain Standard Time } } From: dmrelion-at-world.std.com (donald j marshall) } } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.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 } } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } } } I would just like to support and reinforce some of the many comments } } recently made about getting copies of older instruction manuals. It would } be } } } } a real service to our community if a master compilation of these manuals, } } with a suitable index and regular updates, could be put together. I wish } } that I had the time and the resources to volunteer for this task but I } } don't at the moment. Hope somebody else does. } } } } Don Marshall } } }
I have been watching the discussion on Cathode cleaning. I know "if it aint broke don't fix it" but it does seem to me that we all treat our =
cathode cleaning procedures like our own bit of alchemy, our own bit of magic, the more complicated the better and not to be changed as we will break the spell?
As I travel round the world I see and hear of all sorts of methods, using=
the polish provided by the manufacturer, that used by the engineer, or se= en in another laboratory, or simply the only cleaning media we could find. =
How many product names do I see that go one step better than the last, which complex chemical can we use to try and dissolve it away? It seems = to get more and more complex? Then we have the drill specialists who grind away at the cathode aperture and years later wonder why they cannot corre= ct the astigmatism? Sure I too have passed on "my method" with my "bought in=
France" bamboo sticks, saying this is the way you do it in hundreds of laboratories, but I reckon I was wrong! As probably the person who teach= es more people to clean electron microscopes than anyone else in the world I=
perpetuated the magic; I was wrong!
Why not keep it simple. On one of our mid year courses we found a method=
which is simple and efficient. We used one part water to three parts =
Ammonia solution (stock) in an ultrasonic cleaner for 15 minutes. Wash with running water, rinse in alcohol and dry. Here you are using a solve= nt for tungsten, no abrasion needed, no scum, no bits of cotton or paste to leave behind, no magic, very simple and no nasty chemicals, natural media=
that is all environmentally friendly, and it clears the head into the bargain!
I believe you should clean the cathode every time you replace a filament (we are talking the basic tungsten hairpin here) Clean the anode every other filament change and give the chamber a wipe round (assuming it has been thouroghly cleaned to start with) with a dry clean chamois leather o= r similar, each time you go into the gun. The column should be cleaned by your own magic methd (not the ammonia clean mentioned above) ONLY when yo= u can prove that dirt is the problem in the system. If you need to know mo= re reference my book "Maintaining & Monitoring the Transmission Electron Microscope" for a detailed explanation on how to judge your column problems.
Be aware that in my days as a service engineer running my own business, I=
had as many problems caused by the way the cuatomer cleaned the microscop= e, as I had caused by the miscroscope itself. The engineers today would be able to put me straight on current trends, and I guess they will, just ho= w many will I upset this time?
Steve Chapman
Senior Consultant E.M. Protrain, 16 Hedgerley, Chinnor, Oxford OX9 4TN, England. Tel & Fax 44 (0)1844 353161 E-mail - protrain-at-emcourses.com Web Site - http://emcourses.com For Consultancy and Courses in Electron Microscopy World Wide
Dear Friends, I have been using a philips CM 200 for some time and it recently beam has been flickering a lot. Generally, at higher HT the flickering is seen to increase and at higher magnifications its resolutions deteriorates very much. Also, I have monitored the lens currents and found that with objective lens current is also fluctuating a lot. This flickering is foud to occur onlyy when the objective is switched on. Luckily, the day my service engineer has come, the flickering didnt surface at all for the full day! and he had nothing to daignose, but I have often faced the problem. Can you kindly help me find out the possible reasons/remedy for this erratic behaviour.
with regards, Vibhor
V Chaswal Materials Technology Division IGCAR India 603102
I also get messages turning up months after they were sent. I presume that they got lost in the ether and then found their way! Maybe they get stuck in a server that goes down for a while? A little like trying to contact a website that gives "DNS unknown", try again immediately and you reach it?
Keith Ryan Marine Biological Association Plymouth UK
When you have situations like this, you should include the message headers along with the message. Depending on your mail program, the headers are accessed via different means. Eudora has a "Blah,Blah,Blah" button which brings up all of the header fields.
Without these, its tough to troubleshoot.
gary g.
At 07:43 PM 8/23/99 , you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
} Hi } } I have been watching the discussion on Cathode cleaning. I know "if it } aint broke don't fix it" but it does seem to me that we all treat our } cathode cleaning procedures like our own bit of alchemy, our own bit of } magic, the more complicated the better and not to be changed as we will } break the spell?
[snip]
It seems that the discussion of cleaning revolves around those Wenhelts used for tungsten filaments. If this is correct, is there any difference in cleaning the caps for LaB6 or CeB6 guns?
Ed, I pressed the "Blah, Blah, Blah" key on my Eudora to expand the header details and see what stops and when this message might have made on the way. Sorry, but it looked like it left your station yesterday. I have seen cases where messages have been held up for days somewhere along the chain, but this doesn't appear to be one of them.
I know that I can get started on a message, set it aside for something else, and by the time I get back to it, I am ashamed how long it has been, I have some little notes in my OutBox that I started back in April. I thought you might have done the same thing. Good luck solving the mystery.
WS
At 10:43 PM 8/23/1999 -0400, you wrote: } this is really strange folks..... this just shoed up from the listserv in my } mailbox but it is something I replied to a long time ago...... I am } confused.... Look at the date on dons message I replied right after that ... } now look at the date on this message I got ... like sent to me today though } the listserv. } } } Ed Sharpe } } } Subj: Re: manuals } } Date: 8/23/99 10:50:48 AM US Mountain Standard Time } } From: COURYHOUSE-at-aol.com-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } } To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } } {SNIP}
Hi, Thanks for many replies on where to order target for my Polaron sputter coater. Those information saved me a lot of serching time. Energy Beam Sciences of Agawarm, MA is the the distributor for Polaron's product. Their phone number is :800-992-9037. Email at:75767,640-at-compuserve.com
Best regards,
Lucy Lucy Yin Microscopist Central Microscopy Facility Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA01003 TEL. 413-545-1817 FAX 413-545-1578
Yes there are differences and you may find past discussions archived at Tips & Tricks dealing with both.
http://www.biotech.ufl.edu/~emcl/tips.html
At 07:25 AM 8/24/1999 -0700, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} { GO GATORS Scott D. Whittaker 218 Carr Hall EM Technician Gainesville, FL 32610 University Of Florida ph 352-392-1184 ICBR EM Core Lab fax 352-846-0251 sdw-at-biotech.ufl.edu http://www.biotech.ufl.edu/~emcl/ The home of " Tips & Tricks "
Joe, Cole-Parmer sells several type and sizes of LN dewars. Their number is (800) 323-4340.
Mary Gail Engle Electron Microscopy & Imaging Facility University of Kentucky
At 11:08 AM 8/23/99 EDT, Joexray123-at-aol.com"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I've been follow this discussion about alternate procedures used in the cleaning of Wehnelt caps. The ammonia method is the most appealing alternative to polishing. I need to know if the ammonia mentioned in the procedure is the concentrated ammonium hydroxide or the diluted supermarket variety.
} ===== Original Message From "Dr. Gary Gaugler" {gary-at-gaugler.com} =====
} [snip] } } It seems that the discussion of cleaning revolves around those Wenhelts } used for tungsten filaments. If this is correct, is there any difference } in cleaning the caps for LaB6 or CeB6 guns? } Personally, I've found the hydroxide cleaning procedure to work for LaB6 deposits, but the Cebix to be more difficult to remove.
Hi Ya'll: I wanted to ask one more time if anyone out there has a spare Philips 430 wehnelt assembly. I thought my message may have been lost in the weekend e-mail. Thanks, Mike Coviello Lab Manager UT Arlington Arlington, Tx
I've found that LaB6 will clean off the wehnelt quite nicely with dilute nitric acid - and more quickly than with abrasive paste.
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 think I saw this thread previously on the listserver, but of course I trashed the messages.
A colleague of mine is looking for a CCD camera to mount on a Zeiss EM109 TEM. The objective is to send the images to an IBM PC compatible computer for analysis and archiving.
If anyone has the history of this thread, or if you can send me a synopsis / recommendation on who to contact, I would very much appreciate it. Vendor replies are welcome.
Please contact me directly off-list if you have any info to pass on.
The ammonia used to clean a W filament cathode is the stock solution as purchased from the chemical supplier.
For those using LaB6 clean the deposits from cathodes by soaking them f= or about a minute in a solution consisting of 1 part by volume of concentrat= ed hydrochloric acid and 4 parts water, then rinsing sequentially with water= , dilute ammonia, water, and isopropyl alcohol, and then drying with a bla= st of clean warm air or with a gas blaster.
Steve Chapman
Senior Consultant E.M. Protrain, 16 Hedgerley, Chinnor, Oxford OX9 4TN, England. Tel & Fax 44 (0)1844 353161 E-mail - protrain-at-emcourses.com Web Site - http://emcourses.com For Consultancy and Courses in Electron Microscopy World Wide
I have polymer samples to study on the TEM. It is a Jeol 2000FX with LaB6 gun equiped with EDS and PEELS. Usually, I work on metallurgical samples, so I am not very skillfull for this type of study. Can you tell me more about the preparation techniques and the precautions during the experiment? Maybe you can give me some references in the litterature.
Thank you \\_// -(-at- -at-)- ----------------------oOO--(_)--Ooo-------------------------
Eric LEROY Dr. Laboratoire de Chimie Metallurgique des Terres Rares UPR 209 - CNRS Groupe des Laboratoires de Thiais 2-8, rue Henri Dunant 94320 THIAIS cedex
I have been asked to write an article about transferring digital image files across the Internet. I'd be glad to present some facts and opinions on the subject but I need some of your help.
There are EM folks out there as well as LM users. We all probably generate, manipulate and use digital files. I would appreciate as much feedback as possible, or practical, in knowing what the different reasons are for transferring these digital files from one place to another. Quantifying the size, type, source, format (b/w, RGB, TIF, PNG, etc.) will help. And of course, what is the ultimate use of the transferred image file?
Direct e-mail to me is I'm sure going to make Nestor much happier than general listserver posts!! Cheers, Gary Gaugler, Ph.D.
The provisional schedule for EuroFE '99 (15th - 19th November in Toledo, Spain) is now online at http://www.cmp-cientifica.com/EuroFE/schedule.htm
This conference covers all aspects of Field Emission Technologies, with t= he emphasis on applications. Topics include displays, microscopy, ion source= s, space application, and methods of characterisation of materials used for Field Emission sources.
Also a reminder that the last date for registrations at the reduced rate= is the 15th September 1999.
Regards
Tim
*********************************************************** EuroFE Field Emission Network A Network of the European Science Foundation http://www.esf.org Tim E. Harper EuroFE Network Co Chairman CMP Cient=EDfica s.l Tel +34 91 640 71 85 Fax: +34 91 640 71 86 http://www.cmp-cientifica.com/Eurofe
At 05:22 AM 8/25/99 -0700, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I am very much interested in your topic. I run a diagnostic EM lab in the Pathology Dept. of a big medical school. I generate a fair number of images that pathologists at several nearby hospitals need to view to make diagnoses. So I generate large numbers of "working" images (10 to 15 per case, 2 to 5 cases per day). These are primarily gray scale although it would be nice to bundle a few light level color images from H & E preps or thick plastic sections as well. I have thought of zipping them with WinZip to make sure images remain with their specific cases. The idea is to transfer them to the computers on pathologists' desks where they can view them on their monitors without having to print them out. They must be of high enough quality to see what needs to be seen, yet small enough in file size to be easily handled. Right now I am scanning TEM negatives with a flatbed scanner, and adjusting gamma in PhotoShop. The process needs to be streamlined. I look forward to seeing what you have to say as well as coments from others who may be doing the same thing.
Joiner Cartwright, Jr., Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Pathology and Director, Electron Microscopy Laboratory
Department of Pathology, Rm.286-A Baylor College of Medicine One Baylor Plaza Houston, Texas 77030 U.S.A.
I've been asked by a colleague sending supplies to Antarctica about "freeze-resistant formalin", a commercially available product. I never needed it when I worked down there, but I wasn't ordering gallons that were stored in unheated storage buildings either. The "freezing-resistance" seems to be from increased levels of methanol.
So, for the folks who've used this stuff, at either pole, or shipping specimens in the winter in Montana or Alaska: Does the "freezing protection" affect fixation and preservation of morphology or antigen sites? At the light microscopy level as well as the EM level. Does the protection actually work, and to how low a temperature? Is this protection really needed? I assume the need is for stored 37-40% formalin.
Thanks!
Phil
****be famous! send in a tech tip or question*** Philip Oshel Technical Editor, Microscopy Today PO Box 620068 Middleton, WI 53562 Address for courier deliveries: 6319 Pheasant Lane #A-12 Voice: (608) 833-2885 Fax: (608) 836-1969 (please make sure my name is on any fax) oshel-at-terracom.net
if you are looking for literature, a very good book to start with is:
Sawyer, L.C. and Grubb, D.T.: Polymer Microscopy (2nd edition), Chapman & Hall (1996)
It is difficult to give more specific advice unless you define a little more precise what kind of polymer you want look at.
Petra
At 10:20 25.08.99 +0200, you wrote: } Hi everybody, } } I have polymer samples to study on the TEM. It is a Jeol 2000FX with LaB6 } gun equiped with EDS and PEELS. Usually, I work on metallurgical samples, } so I am not very skillfull for this type of study. Can you tell me more } about the preparation techniques and the precautions during the experiment? } Maybe you can give me some references in the litterature. } } Thank you
-------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Petra Wahlbring Centre de Recherche Public - Gabriel Lippmann Laboratoire d'Analyse des Materiaux (LAM) 162a, av. de la Faiencerie L-1511 Luxembourg tel. +352-466644-402 fax +352-466644-400 e-mail: petra.wahlbring-at-crpgl.lu Visit our WWW site! http://www.crpgl.lu/~wahlbrin
} Date: Wed, 25 Aug 1999 10:47:07 -0500 } To: histonet-at-pathology.swmed.edu } From: Sue Danielson {sdaniels-at-post.its.mcw.edu} } Subject: hiring a tech w/ no experience } } Hello histonetters, } } An issue has arisen in our laboratory which can benefit from replies from ANYONE who currently works in histology and electron microscopy as a lab manager. } } A position opening exists in our Neuromuscular Diagnostics laboratory for a lab technologist. Duties involve primarily TEM prep and, to a lesser extent, frozen sectioning and histochemical staining of skeletal muscle and peripheral nerve biopsies. } } Our laboratory is fairly small/specialized; we process tissues from approximately 30 area hospitals throughout Wisconsin & Illinois. When this open position is filled, there are two of us working full time and one part time technician who works weekend hours. } } Our superiors ( 2 M.D.'s who are neurologists) are pushing to hire a particular applicant who has ZERO electron microscopy and histology experience (she is a bacteriologist by trade). This individual is very bright and willing to learn; however from my standpoint as lab coordinator and the sole person responsible for training this individal I am against this. Especially since I am in class 3 afternoons per week as a part-time medical student! } } Time is currently of the essence. I would prefer to wait for an applicant who is better qualified; however, have been told that if I am not able to produce any more qualified applicants by the end of next week that I will be overruled. } } Please reply! My superiors do not understand the intricacies of TEM and histology techniques. I consider myself an excellent and patient teacher but I fear that I cannot train this person in a timely enough manner to keep the lab running smoothly. } } I also suspect that by hiring this person that we would be violating some CLIA regulation. PLEASE COMMENT, anyone who is willing, so I may turn in these responses to my superiors before it is too late. } } Sincerely, } } } Susan K. Danielson, MS } Neuromuscular Laboratory Coordinator } Froedtert Hospital, Medical College of Wisconsin } ph: 414.259.3836 } fax: 414.454.7905 } email: sdaniels-at-mcw.edu } }
Suggest that you visit the Illumea site at www.Illumea.com. The HTML side of their site loads faster but the Flash side has more info. For the latter, you need Flash 3.0 (the program checks automatically for you). Don't be scared off by the download time on the status bar. These guys use streaming technology and their site began to download in under 40 seconds, even on my slow connection.
I interviewed them in depth for a recent article in Advanced Imaging, "Telemicroscopy & Telepathology: Remote Imaging Revolution" (July, 1999, Pp 40). (If you'd like a copy, email me your address). They use a proprietary algorithm which combines layered codec and streaming technology which uses the Internet and Ethernets as they were meant to be used. Currently, they are able to control a light microscope as well (X, Y, Z, and nosepiece and illumination, if automated). Since they don't use the standard NTSC signal, their images are really remarkable. They exhibited at M&M and seemed to be well received by both biologists and material scientists, so this system has interesting cross-disciplinary implications.
Bill Miller is their VP of Sales and can be reached at 860-672-0068. If he can't answer your questions, he can direct you to the right source.
Hope this is helpful, Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater productivity.
125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} ****************************************************** MME is America's first national consortium providing customized on-site workshops in all areas of microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis.
At 05:22 AM 8/25/99 -0700, Dr. Gary Gaugler wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I need to polish polycarbonate disks of 0.5mm thick. I am considering to adhere the disks to the mount with TED PELLA adhesive tabs. The problem is what kind of chemical I should use to remove the glue without attacking the disk surface. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
According to Goldstein (1977) and Reed (1982), a single scattering mode can be regarded as a good approximation in estimating the electron beam broadening through out the thickness of TEM thin foils. The broadening b is propotional to Z and A-1/2, where Z and A are atomic number and atomic weight, respectively. I have found many published experimental examples in which the single scattering model was used. However, all these experiments were for materails with single elements. For the multiple-element compounds, for example SiC, how should we determine the values for Z and A, add up, oraverage, or others? Your opinion is appreciated.
The methanol in many formalin solutions definitely affects ultastructure and antigens. We routinely use methanol free 10% formaldehyde from Polysciences for just this reason. If storage is the issue why not get paraformaldehyde powder and just mix up a batch as needed?
At 09:48 AM 8/25/99 -0500, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Thanks very much for the information I am receiving from you all. Please keep it coming. The diversity is very surprising and fascinating.
I erred in not saying that this article is for Microscopy Today. Several folks have asked where they could find my final work. It will be in MT. I'm still working on another article about color correction and light microphotography. Therefore, this is a good interlude period to gather as much info about the digital realm as I can.
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 waiting with bated breath for someone to accuse Hildegard Crowley about } being another 'Bernie Kestel', but, so far so good, and we are sticking to } the business of hearing a number of useful personal opinions on diamond } knives. } } At my lab in Ottawa, we have been doing 'materials science' ultramicrotomy } for ~15 years on metals, alloys, powders, fibres, wires, minerals, etc. We } have about a dozen knives on hand; DDK, Drukker, Microstar, but mostly } Diatome (over half). In the opinion of our operator (I don't section, I } just blather on about materials microtomy a lot), he has always preferred } the Diatomes, especially the 35 degree knife for demanding 'hard' materials. } Interestingly, a histo knife, meant for semithin sectioning, is our prime } backup for thin sectioning of first-time demanding materials when we are } unsure of the risk to the 35's . } } However, all of the others perform quite well. Listening to students at the } several workshops with which I have been involved, horror stories concerning } knives are relatively rare. We have had two 'stinkers' in the last 15 } years, both of which were promptly replaced with decent knives by the two } suppliers. Sergey, did you contact Joe Tabeling? I would be surprised if } he didn't give a positive response. } } So, Anja, two points: } - 15 years of frequent sectioning on the same edge tells me that you do not } have very demanding materials, making the exact brand perhaps somewhat less } important. } - 'easy' materials notwithstanding, you are wise in sticking with diamond. } In all other forms of EM specimen prep, I have never encoutered a crucial } component which is so delicately engineered, yet performs so well so } consistently. } - absolutely always send a knife back to its origin for resharpening. Ditto } for asking about details of cleaning and other forms of maintenance. } } Best of luck. } } Tom Malis } Group Leader - Characterization } Materials Technology Laboratory } Natural Resources Canada, Govt. of Canada } 568 Booth St., Ottawa, Canada K1A 0G1 } 613-992-2310 } malis-at-nrcan.gc.ca } } } ---------- } } From: Anja Schulze } } Sent: Friday, August 20, 1999 11:22 AM } } To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } } Subject: different brands of diamond knives } } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } } 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 everybody, } } } } We have a diatome diamond knife which was bought in 1984. It has } } been used } } a lot and has never been resharpened. It is now at a stage where I am } } doing } } better using glass knives. We have the following options now: } } } } 1) trade it in for a new diatome knife } } 2) trade it in for a Microstar or Edgecraft knife } } 3) have it resharpened (not by diatome, but by some other company) } } } } Option 1) is about 1.5 times the price of options 2 or 3. On the other } } hand, we can be fairly sure to get a good knife. From what I heard there } } are big differences in the quality of knives. They all look good in the } } beginning but some of them deteriorate pretty quickly. With only 30 days } } to } } test them, you won't be able to tell. Does anybody have experience with } } Microstar or Edgecraft knives? } } } } As far as the resharpening is concerned: is there a difference in the } } quality of the job between the different companies? And if so, can anybody } } recommend one? } } } } Thanks a lot for your help, } } } } Anja } } } } Anja Schulze Tel: +(250)721-8858 } } Biology Department Fax: +(250)721-7120 } } University of Victoria } } P.O. Box 3020 } } Victoria, B.C. V8W 3N5 } } Canada } } } } } } Hi Folks,
Who is Bernie Kestel? Anyway, an interesting happening which baffled me no end until I engaged the person sharpening my knife into a long conversation, and found out the reason for my problem with my knife (Not a Diatome). I used to get knives from a certain source. They were wonderful when tested out, super sharp, a dream. But within a few months they were dull (used only on tissue embedded in medium hard epoxy). As it turned out the knives were so great when I got them because the company who supplied them would sharpen them, and at the very end make the edge super sharp by making the entire edge slightly concave. The thinned edge at the top wore out in weeks, and then the thicker part of the knife appeared. It was a total nightmare. (I don't even put a concave edge on my carbon steel kitchen knives!) So, you never know. Bye, Hildy Crowley My other name is not Bernie Kestel, but sometimes I do use the name of Maynard Heinrich Schlundt.
I have been following this discussion with interest. I'm amazed that nobody has mentioned Quadralene. About 35 years ago microscopists were cleaning gun assemblies with a mixture of 5% ammonia and polishing alumina. They then had to clean up the mess it made. Then Quadralene became available. This is a concentrated mixture of detergent and ammonia. To use, it is diluted with 9 parts distilled water to one part of Quadralene. Dirty gun parts are immersed in the solution and sonicated in the usual way for 5 - 10 minutes. The results are very impressive, and the additional advantage is that Quadralene is safe to use for cleaning delicate brass and copper components, and is very effective.
I have been using Quadralene for the past 30 years, and is it routinely stocked in practically every EM lab in the UK that I have worked in. I have no financial interest in the product, I'm just a satisfied user.
Quadralene is made by:- Quadralene Chemical Products Ltd., Liversage Works, Bateman Street, Derby, DE3 8JL UK The full title of the product is: Quadralene Instrument Cleaner (Grade QIC/2)
Regards to all Bob Phillips ********************* MicroServiS Electron Microscopy Services, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, UK **************************************************
My thesis deals with electron diffraction of Liquid Crystal Polymers (LCP) and biological materials. I use a Philips CM20 TEM with a FEG. The patterns are collected with a slow scan CCD camera. Although using electrons to study polymers may once have been controversial, there is no reason to exclude electron techniques today with the advent of some technologies such as those listed above. Some people believe that there is mass loss associated with radiation damage to the specimen, which may eventually contaminate the microscope. However our thought is that this is negligible.
A really nice and easy book to understand is:
Polymer Microscopy, 2nd Ed., by Sawyer and Grubb (a lot of pictures)
There are a ton of other sources, but most are specific to certain techniques (such as diffraction).
} According to Goldstein (1977) and Reed (1982), a single scattering mode } can be regarded as a good approximation in estimating the electron beam } broadening through out the thickness of TEM thin foils. The broadening } b is propotional to Z and A-1/2, where Z and A are atomic number and } atomic weight, respectively. I have found many published experimental } examples in which the single scattering model was used. However, all } these experiments were for materails with single elements. For the } multiple-element compounds, for example SiC, how should we determine the } values for Z and A, add up, oraverage, or others? Your opinion is ap- } preciated. } Dear Xiao-Feng, If there is only a single scattering it must be off of only one component of a compound or mixture. In that case, the broadening is the same as for foils of each of the components of thicknesses proportional to their fractions in the compound/mixture stacked one behind the other. This is a first approximation which does not account for multiple scat- tering (assumed negligible) or scattering off intramolecular bonding electrons, etc. Yours, Bill Tivol
Dr. Eric LEROY wrote: ================================================ I have polymer samples to study on the TEM. It is a Jeol 2000FX with LaB6 gun equiped with EDS and PEELS. Usually, I work on metallurgical samples, so I am not very skillfull for this type of study. Can you tell me more about the preparation techniques and the precautions during the experiment? Maybe you can give me some references in the literature. ================================================= This is the polymer analog to the question "How do I prepare a metallurgical sample"!
The nature of the polymer you are studying and what it is that you want to learn about it are the two main considerations that determine not only the experimental approach but also the proper selection of control samples, without which an unambiguous interpretation is impossible. The physical form of the sample is also important.
So please tell us what is the polymer (e.g. polyethylene, PTFE, ABS, HIPS, etc.) and what it is that you are trying to determine (e.g. domain structure and morphology of a multiphase system or copolymer, pigment or additive distribution, orientation effects, etc.) and also something about the physical form (is it a coating, a molded plastic, blown film, powder, etc.).
Many polymer problems are more samples for SEM or LM than TEM. On the other hand, many important problems need a multi-microscope kind of approach where more than one microscope technique is needed.
Once you specify more about your characterization objectives and samples, it should be straightforward for someone with experience to propose an appropriate approach. If you are skilled for metallurgical samples, a quickie overview of polymer solid state structure would put you on the path to being a good polymer microscopist as well!
Hope this is helpful.
Chuck
Disclaimer: Since 1970, our firm has been providing polymer microscopy and failure analysis services as an independent laboratory service to clients worldwide.
============================================
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.spi.cc ######################## ============================================
Thank you all for your responses to my concerns about hiring a technician. I am calmer now and am of the belief that this situation will indeed happy ending.
Sincerely,
Susan Danielson MS Neuromuscular Lab Coordinator Froedtert Hospital, Medical College of Wisconsin
A short while ago, someone asked about locating this IC. I replied asking how many were needed. Not getting a reply, I presume the need no longer exists. I have an ample supply of these ICs and I don't use them.
While I have never run a histo lab I have run a lot of projects.
In my experiance some one the is truly bright, willing to work and a hard worker that will stay with you a while is worth the effort to train.
A bacteriologist should understand how to dig their own information of the literature and follow proceedures.
It has been my considerble experiance that intellegnece and willingness to work are the most valuble assest an employee can have.
Gordon
Gordon Couger gcouger-at-couger.com 624 Cheyenne Stillwater, OK 74075-1411 405 624-2855 GMT -6:00 www.couger.com/gcouger
} } } } An issue has arisen in our laboratory which can benefit from replies from } ANYONE who currently works in histology and electron microscopy as a lab } manager. } } } } A position opening exists in our Neuromuscular Diagnostics laboratory for a } lab technologist. Duties involve primarily TEM prep and, to a lesser } extent, frozen sectioning and histochemical staining of skeletal muscle and } peripheral nerve biopsies. } } } } Our laboratory is fairly small/specialized; we process tissues from } approximately 30 area hospitals throughout Wisconsin & Illinois. When this } open position is filled, there are two of us working full time and one part } time technician who works weekend hours. } } } } Our superiors ( 2 M.D.'s who are neurologists) are pushing to hire a } particular applicant who has ZERO electron microscopy and histology } experience (she is a bacteriologist by trade). This individual is very } bright and willing to learn; however from my standpoint as lab coordinator } and the sole person responsible for training this individal I am against } this. Especially since I am in class 3 afternoons per week as a part-time } medical student! } } } } Time is currently of the essence. I would prefer to wait for an applicant } who is better qualified; however, have been told that if I am not able to } produce any more qualified applicants by the end of next week that I will be } overruled. } } } } Please reply! My superiors do not understand the intricacies of TEM and } histology techniques. I consider myself an excellent and patient teacher } but I fear that I cannot train this person in a timely enough manner to keep } the lab running smoothly. } } } } I also suspect that by hiring this person that we would be violating some } CLIA regulation. PLEASE COMMENT, anyone who is willing, so I may turn in } these responses to my superiors before it is too late. } } } } Sincerely, } } } } } } Susan K. Danielson, MS } } Neuromuscular Laboratory Coordinator } } Froedtert Hospital, Medical College of Wisconsin } } ph: 414.259.3836 } } fax: 414.454.7905 } } email: sdaniels-at-mcw.edu } } } } } }
I am desperately searching for a high tension cable for a Zeiss 10CR Transmission Electron Microscope and was wondering if anyone may have one somewhere in their pile of spare parts. Needless to say, I would be most grateful if anyone can help out.
Thanks,
Emma Thiel
Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute Villa 2, Prince of Wales Hospital High Street, Randwick, N.S.W., 2031 Australia.
At 01:41 PM 8/25/99 , you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
[snip]
I think that we/I need to make a distinction about what type of Wenhelt aperture design we are talking about. For my Amray 1830, the W Wenhelt aperture is a 500 micron platinum aperture disc. For the LaB6 Wenhelt, it is about 5 times larger in overall diameter but still with a 500 micron hole and is an integral part of the gun rather than an insertable sub-component.
If the issue is cleaning a $25 platinum aperture disc, I'd just discard it and put in a new one. The big one on my LaB6 gun is $275 each and I would certainly try to clean it as often as possible before replacing it. This is supposed to be possible for at least 5 years.
So....what Wenhelts are we talking about? What sources?
If you do not find a genuine HT cable for the microscope consider contacting a "high voltage" company? There are many other applications where high voltages in excess of our use are being applied. In many majo= r cities you will find a capacitor or generator manufacturer who are very capable of providing a suitable cable or making a cable complete with you= r connections. =
This has happened to me in a couple of countries, where a little researc= h turned an impossible HT situation into happy microscope!
Steve Chapman
Senior Consultant E.M. Protrain, 16 Hedgerley, Chinnor, Oxford OX9 4TN, England. Tel & Fax 44 (0)1844 353161 E-mail - protrain-at-emcourses.com Web Site - http://emcourses.com For Consultancy and Courses in Electron Microscopy World Wide
Just a small query to ask all your advise as to what brand of sputter coaters and vacuum evaporators you recommend. We need one that is extremely reliable and provides the required vacuum in a short period of time. We are looking into the Edwards and Denton brands since I've worked with them previously; and are considering purchasing a dedicated sputter coater and a dedicated evaporator or carbon evaporator for both carbon and metal shadowing. So, what do you all think? Is it worth purchasing them separately or obtaining one which does everything?
Much Appreciation,
Maria Maria Fazio-Zanakis Bioimaging and Molecular Histology Hoechst Marion Roussel, Inc. 1-908-231-3357 Fax: 1-908-231-3962 Email: Maria.Fazio-Zanakis-at-hmrag.com
I'm in Materials Science but a few years ago I had a similar experience. We were in need of hiring a new person to learn/perform TEM in polymers. The duties were to include RT and cryo sectioning, embedding, TEM and darkroom work. I was pushing to get some one with at least some experience in TEM while my managers wanted to save money and get someone fresh out of college with or without TEM experience. I explained to them that (at least at that time) it was difficult to get someone fresh out of college with TEM experience. Eventually we settled with a person internal to the company. She had no experience in TEM. She was very capable and learned fast, but she did not like TEM work. Eventually she left and the vacancy was filled with a second person who had never done polymer work. She detested it and she also left. So, my point is, unless the person has some experience you could be wasting valuable effort training a person that will leave in a short time because he/she did not like the type of work. If possible, I would press to get a person with some experience so they know what they are getting themselves into.
Good luck !
Jordi Marti
} } An issue has arisen in our laboratory which can benefit from replies from } ANYONE who currently works in histology and electron microscopy as a lab } manager. } } } } A position opening exists in our Neuromuscular Diagnostics laboratory for a } lab technologist. Duties involve primarily TEM prep and, to a lesser } extent, frozen sectioning and histochemical staining of skeletal muscle and } peripheral nerve biopsies. } } } } Our laboratory is fairly small/specialized; we process tissues from } approximately 30 area hospitals throughout Wisconsin & Illinois. When this } open position is filled, there are two of us working full time and one part } time technician who works weekend hours. } } } } Our superiors ( 2 M.D.'s who are neurologists) are pushing to hire a } particular applicant who has ZERO electron microscopy and histology } experience (she is a bacteriologist by trade). This individual is very } bright and willing to learn; however from my standpoint as lab coordinator } and the sole person responsible for training this individal I am against } this. Especially since I am in class 3 afternoons per week as a part-time } medical student! } } } } Time is currently of the essence. I would prefer to wait for an applicant } who is better qualified; however, have been told that if I am not able to } produce any more qualified applicants by the end of next week that I will be } overruled. } } } } Please reply! My superiors do not understand the intricacies of TEM and } histology techniques. I consider myself an excellent and patient teacher } but I fear that I cannot train this person in a timely enough manner to keep } the lab running smoothly. } } } } I also suspect that by hiring this person that we would be violating some } CLIA regulation. PLEASE COMMENT, anyone who is willing, so I may turn in } these responses to my superiors before it is too late. } } } } Sincerely, } } } } } } Susan K. Danielson, MS } } Neuromuscular Laboratory Coordinator } } Froedtert Hospital, Medical College of Wisconsin } } ph: 414.259.3836 } } fax: 414.454.7905 } } email: sdaniels-at-mcw.edu } } } } } }
Our laboratory examines a wide variety of biological tissues and have used MicroStar diamond knives for a number of years. We have always been very happy with the quality of knives and have four knives. We have also been very pleased with the service that MicroStar has provided both in regards to new knives as well as resharpening knives. MicroStar, as well as many other manufacturers, has a policy of not requiring payment until we are 100% satisfied with the knife edge. The members of the laboratory section a great deal of material over the course of the year and are very demanding in their standards for knives. In 1984 there were very few diamond knife manufacturers to choose from as compared to today. MicroStar should certainly be on your list for consideration.
Mitchell D. McCartney, Ph.D. EM Unit Alcon Laboratories
-----Original Message----- } From: HILDEGARD CROWLEY [mailto:hcrowley-at-du.edu] Sent: Wednesday, August 25, 1999 3:41 PM To: Malis, Tom Cc: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com; 'Anja Schulze'
On Sat, 21 Aug 1999, Malis, Tom 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 waiting with bated breath for someone to accuse Hildegard Crowley about } being another 'Bernie Kestel', but, so far so good, and we are sticking to } the business of hearing a number of useful personal opinions on diamond } knives. } } At my lab in Ottawa, we have been doing 'materials science' ultramicrotomy } for ~15 years on metals, alloys, powders, fibres, wires, minerals, etc. We } have about a dozen knives on hand; DDK, Drukker, Microstar, but mostly } Diatome (over half). In the opinion of our operator (I don't section, I } just blather on about materials microtomy a lot), he has always preferred } the Diatomes, especially the 35 degree knife for demanding 'hard' materials. } Interestingly, a histo knife, meant for semithin sectioning, is our prime } backup for thin sectioning of first-time demanding materials when we are } unsure of the risk to the 35's . } } However, all of the others perform quite well. Listening to students at the } several workshops with which I have been involved, horror stories concerning } knives are relatively rare. We have had two 'stinkers' in the last 15 } years, both of which were promptly replaced with decent knives by the two } suppliers. Sergey, did you contact Joe Tabeling? I would be surprised if } he didn't give a positive response. } } So, Anja, two points: } - 15 years of frequent sectioning on the same edge tells me that you do not } have very demanding materials, making the exact brand perhaps somewhat less } important. } - 'easy' materials notwithstanding, you are wise in sticking with diamond. } In all other forms of EM specimen prep, I have never encoutered a crucial } component which is so delicately engineered, yet performs so well so } consistently. } - absolutely always send a knife back to its origin for resharpening. Ditto } for asking about details of cleaning and other forms of maintenance. } } Best of luck. } } Tom Malis } Group Leader - Characterization } Materials Technology Laboratory } Natural Resources Canada, Govt. of Canada } 568 Booth St., Ottawa, Canada K1A 0G1 } 613-992-2310 } malis-at-nrcan.gc.ca } } } ---------- } } From: Anja Schulze } } Sent: Friday, August 20, 1999 11:22 AM } } To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } } Subject: different brands of diamond knives } } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } } 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 everybody, } } } } We have a diatome diamond knife which was bought in 1984. It has } } been used } } a lot and has never been resharpened. It is now at a stage where I am } } doing } } better using glass knives. We have the following options now: } } } } 1) trade it in for a new diatome knife } } 2) trade it in for a Microstar or Edgecraft knife } } 3) have it resharpened (not by diatome, but by some other company) } } } } Option 1) is about 1.5 times the price of options 2 or 3. On the other } } hand, we can be fairly sure to get a good knife. From what I heard there } } are big differences in the quality of knives. They all look good in the } } beginning but some of them deteriorate pretty quickly. With only 30 days } } to } } test them, you won't be able to tell. Does anybody have experience with } } Microstar or Edgecraft knives? } } } } As far as the resharpening is concerned: is there a difference in the } } quality of the job between the different companies? And if so, can anybody } } recommend one? } } } } Thanks a lot for your help, } } } } Anja } } } } Anja Schulze Tel: +(250)721-8858 } } Biology Department Fax: +(250)721-7120 } } University of Victoria } } P.O. Box 3020 } } Victoria, B.C. V8W 3N5 } } Canada } } } } } } Hi Folks,
Who is Bernie Kestel? Anyway, an interesting happening which baffled me no end until I engaged the person sharpening my knife into a long conversation, and found out the reason for my problem with my knife (Not a Diatome). I used to get knives from a certain source. They were wonderful when tested out, super sharp, a dream. But within a few months they were dull (used only on tissue embedded in medium hard epoxy). As it turned out the knives were so great when I got them because the company who supplied them would sharpen them, and at the very end make the edge super sharp by making the entire edge slightly concave. The thinned edge at the top wore out in weeks, and then the thicker part of the knife appeared. It was a total nightmare. (I don't even put a concave edge on my carbon steel kitchen knives!) So, you never know. Bye, Hildy Crowley My other name is not Bernie Kestel, but sometimes I do use the name of Maynard Heinrich Schlundt.
Our research group has got a Philips CM200 Transmission Electron Microscope. Lately we have been having problems to switch on the microscope, and have traced the problem to a pair of 15 volt power supplies (Philips PE 1130/15 Switched Mode Power Supplies).
We have tested the power supplies outside the microscope and have found that they take a long time to start up (about a minute or even more). When the microscopoe is switched on, it checks within a few seconds whether the power supplies are working properly. Since these take longer to start up, the microscope detects a fault and automatically switches off.
When tested outside the microscope, once the power supplies start up they work fine. Furthermore, after running properly for a few minutes, if they are switched off and again switched on only a few seconds later, they start up immediately. The operating manual of the power supplies does not have enough information to trace the fault. We have not been able to obtain a service manual with additional information.
The local Philips dealer has kindly offered to sell us a couple of new power supplies, but this will take at least 3 to 4 months. If anyone has come across this problem in the past, or has any suggestion as to what can be done we would appreciate any help you can give us.We would also appreciate an e-mail or fax number of Philips Service Power Supplies Department in order to ask for further information.
} ===== Original Message From "Dr. Gary Gaugler" {gary-at-gaugler.com} =====
} [snip] } } I think that we/I need to make a distinction about what type of Wenhelt } aperture design we are talking about. For my Amray 1830, the W Wenhelt } aperture is a 500 micron platinum aperture disc.
} So....what Wenhelts are we talking about? What sources?
I believe we're talking about stainless steel wehnelts ... of which most assemblies are made, including the cathode aperture (... altho my Cameca SX-50 ass't has a replaceable moly ap ... (or is it tungsten?) ...)
We currently run a Link (now Oxford Instruments) AN10000 EDX system and= would like to convert all of our archived spectra into a format which can be read by a PC. It is possible to convert individual spectra to an ASCII list containin= g counts per channel, but this is laborious and with thousands of spectra to convert, not practical. Has anyone come across, or written a routine to perform this as a batch=
function?
Paul Rennie
Kidde International Research Mathisen Way Colnbrook Slough Berks SL3 0HB England
Is your material crystalline or is it amorphous? In any case you might be able to get at least an impression of the condition in your sample by looking at crystalline samples and then calculating the pendelloesung oscillations for the diffracted beams. These are the intensities of the various diffracted beams as a function of sample thickness. If you look at the transmitted beam, you can assume kinematic (single scattering) conditions to be in place as long as your sample thickness is smaller than the thickness indicated by the first minimum for that beam. Above that you are in the multiple scattering regime.
The samples have to be very thin to be in the kinematic regime. I used to do these calculations all the time, but haven't done them for a few years. I think, the thicknesses are below a couple of hundred Angstroms for materials like Si or GaAs. I will check that and let you know. This thickness changes with angle, as the projected potential changes. For amorphous materials it is more difficult, but the thicknesses should be similar for similar materials.
Michael
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 1675 Carr St., #105N Lakewood, CO 80215 =================================== phone: (888) FIND SIS (303) 234-9270 fax: (303) 234-9271 email: mailto:info-at-soft-imaging.com web: http://www.soft-imaging.com ===================================
} ---------- } From: William Tivol[SMTP:TIVOL-at-WADSWORTH.ORG] } Sent: Wednesday, August 25, 1999 3:48:23 PM } To: XFZhang-at-lbl.gov } Cc: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: Re: Single scatering model } Auto forwarded by a Rule } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
} According to Goldstein (1977) and Reed (1982), a single scattering mode } can be regarded as a good approximation in estimating the electron beam } broadening through out the thickness of TEM thin foils. The broadening } b is propotional to Z and A-1/2, where Z and A are atomic number and } atomic weight, respectively. I have found many published experimental } examples in which the single scattering model was used. However, all } these experiments were for materails with single elements. For the } multiple-element compounds, for example SiC, how should we determine the } values for Z and A, add up, oraverage, or others? Your opinion is ap- } preciated. } Dear Xiao-Feng, If there is only a single scattering it must be off of only one component of a compound or mixture. In that case, the broadening is the same as for foils of each of the components of thicknesses proportional to their fractions in the compound/mixture stacked one behind the other. This is a first approximation which does not account for multiple scat- tering (assumed negligible) or scattering off intramolecular bonding electrons, etc. Yours, Bill Tivol
As a former lab manager, I agree with Gordon 100%. Intelligence, common sense, the desire to learn and a willingness to work were always the qualities I looked for in employees. I have had several bad experiences with people who were very well qualified on paper, (not hired by me, I might add), but who had no real interest in their work. In one case, the situation was so bad the person's manager felt it necessary to call the university to confirm that the person did in fact have the degree stated. Genuine enthusiasm for the job is worth a lot.
Jan
-----Original Message----- } From: Gordon Couger [mailto:gcouger-at-rfdata.net] Sent: Wednesday, August 25, 1999 5:07 PM To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com; Sue Danielson
Susan,
While I have never run a histo lab I have run a lot of projects.
In my experiance some one the is truly bright, willing to work and a hard worker that will stay with you a while is worth the effort to train.
A bacteriologist should understand how to dig their own information of the literature and follow proceedures.
It has been my considerble experiance that intellegnece and willingness to work are the most valuble assest an employee can have.
Gordon
Gordon Couger gcouger-at-couger.com 624 Cheyenne Stillwater, OK 74075-1411 405 624-2855 GMT -6:00 www.couger.com/gcouger
} } } } An issue has arisen in our laboratory which can benefit from replies from } ANYONE who currently works in histology and electron microscopy as a lab } manager. } } } } A position opening exists in our Neuromuscular Diagnostics laboratory for a } lab technologist. Duties involve primarily TEM prep and, to a lesser } extent, frozen sectioning and histochemical staining of skeletal muscle and } peripheral nerve biopsies. } } } } Our laboratory is fairly small/specialized; we process tissues from } approximately 30 area hospitals throughout Wisconsin & Illinois. When this } open position is filled, there are two of us working full time and one part } time technician who works weekend hours. } } } } Our superiors ( 2 M.D.'s who are neurologists) are pushing to hire a } particular applicant who has ZERO electron microscopy and histology } experience (she is a bacteriologist by trade). This individual is very } bright and willing to learn; however from my standpoint as lab coordinator } and the sole person responsible for training this individal I am against } this. Especially since I am in class 3 afternoons per week as a part-time } medical student! } } } } Time is currently of the essence. I would prefer to wait for an applicant } who is better qualified; however, have been told that if I am not able to } produce any more qualified applicants by the end of next week that I will be } overruled. } } } } Please reply! My superiors do not understand the intricacies of TEM and } histology techniques. I consider myself an excellent and patient teacher } but I fear that I cannot train this person in a timely enough manner to keep } the lab running smoothly. } } } } I also suspect that by hiring this person that we would be violating some } CLIA regulation. PLEASE COMMENT, anyone who is willing, so I may turn in } these responses to my superiors before it is too late. } } } } Sincerely, } } } } } } Susan K. Danielson, MS } } Neuromuscular Laboratory Coordinator } } Froedtert Hospital, Medical College of Wisconsin } } ph: 414.259.3836 } } fax: 414.454.7905 } } email: sdaniels-at-mcw.edu } } } } } }
I've been sectioning biological samples for over 25 years. I've used DuPont, Diatome, Edge Craft and Micro Star diamond knives. Over the past 15 years I've have exclusively used Micro Star diamond knives for a variety of reasons. The price, quality and service. If I ever received a knife that had knife lines in it (only happened once) they immediately sent a new knife in it's place. The price is very reasonable especially if your trading in for a new or resharpening of same.
I've been very happy with Micro Star and can't see using a more expensive knife with equal quality.
Jan F. Endlich Owner, JFE Enterprises 18657 Shady View Lane Brookeville , MD 20833 jfe1-at-erols. com
We are trying to do TEM on a two phase alloy consisting of Ba and a barium titanate. The sample does contain a fair amount of porosity. I would appreciate some suggestions on how to prepare the foil. Originally we started by trying microtomy but the sample distorts way too much . We need to prevent/minimize heating and/or distortion during sample prep. Any suggestions ?
At MSA, I tried the Gatan and the AMT systems. I like the AMT with the Hamamatsu orca camera.
Patty Jansma Tel:520-621-6671 plj-at-manduca.neurobio.arizona.edu Arizona Research Labs Division of Neurobiology University of Arizona
On Tue, 24 Aug 1999 RCHIOVETTI-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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Fellow Listians, } } I think I saw this thread previously on the listserver, but of course I } trashed the messages. } } A colleague of mine is looking for a CCD camera to mount on a Zeiss EM109 } TEM. The objective is to send the images to an IBM PC compatible computer } for analysis and archiving. } } If anyone has the history of this thread, or if you can send me a synopsis / } recommendation on who to contact, I would very much appreciate it. Vendor } replies are welcome. } } Please contact me directly off-list if you have any info to pass on. } } Thank you! } } Bob Chiovetti } }
___________________________________________________________________ Get the Internet just the way you want it. Free software, free e-mail, and free Internet access for a month! Try Juno Web: http://dl.www.juno.com/dynoget/tagj.
At 05:43 AM 8/26/99 , you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I've been looking at gold coaters. I have narrowed down to the SPI Option #2 unit. Manual. Most agree that automatic is not useful. Also, the units made in England usually don't come with schematics (Polaron is an exception, Cressington is an example). I won't buy anything without having a schematic. Also watch out for parts availability.
As for one universal unit? I'm not sure. I would guess that it would suboptimize both processes at the tradeoff of cost. Best approach is to check them out during a 30 day trial period. Also watch out for cross contamination problems.
I must apologize for the wrong information. In writing my posting I mixed information from two different projects. The materials involved should have read Bi and BiTe, nothing to do with Ba and BatiO. Obviously the properties and problems are very different. I noticed my mistake as soon as I had finished sending the e-mail. So, here it goes again:
We are having problems obtaining TEM samples from a material consisting of two phases, Bi and BiTe. We tried embedding and sectioning hoping we could avoid high temperatures and deformations induced by polishing. In all cases the sections were highly deformed and smeared. I would appreciate suggestions or ideas. With Bi having such a low melting temperature we prefer not to try ion milling although maybe we should give it a try. Any thoughts on this ?.
Thanks .
Jordi Marti
PS. Thanks to those who responded to my previous, incorrect, message.
Fazio-Zanakis, Maria, HMR/US wrote: } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------} The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------.} } Dear Fellow Microscopists: } } Just a small query to ask all your advise as to what brand of sputter } coaters and vacuum evaporators you recommend. We need one that is extremely } reliable and provides the required vacuum in a short period of time. We are } looking into the Edwards and Denton brands since I've worked with them } previously; and are considering purchasing a dedicated sputter coater and a } dedicated evaporator or carbon evaporator for both carbon and metal } shadowing. So, what do you all think? Is it worth purchasing them } separately or obtaining one which does everything? } } } Much Appreciation, } } Maria } Maria Fazio-Zanakis } Bioimaging and Molecular Histology } Hoechst Marion Roussel, Inc. } 1-908-231-3357 } Fax: 1-908-231-3962 } Email: Maria.Fazio-Zanakis-at-hmrag.com
Dear Maria,
Ladd, like all other suppliers, will suggest that our sputter coating and evaporator systems are the most reliable and effective. As for what type of system you need, I would like to discuss more in depth your uses and weather you really need everything, or can get away with one of the smaller options. I will fax over some data on our system and if you would like to discuss it further please contact me by any of the ways listed below.
Thanks,
John Arnott Chairman
Disclaimer: Ladd Research has made and sold Evaporaors and Sputtering systems since the 1960's. -- LADD RESEARCH 13 Dorset Lane Williston, VT 05495 TEL 1-800-451-3406 (US) or 1-802-878-6711 (anywhere) FAX 1-802-878-8074 e-mail ladres-at-worldnet.att.net web site http://www.ladd.cc
We have successfully ion beam thinned cross sections of Ge/Bi thin films using a cold stage (liquid N2) without any problems. We subsequently observed the specimen during annealing at 150C when it was quite active. I would have expected to see any effects if the specimen had been heated significanlty above room temperature in the ion mill.
Good luck, Ron
On Thu, 26 Aug 1999 14:15:00 -0700 "Marti, Jordi" {Jordi.Marti-at-alliedsignal.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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } I must apologize for the wrong information. In writing my posting I mixed } information from two different projects. The materials involved should have } read Bi and BiTe, nothing to do with Ba and BatiO. Obviously the } properties and problems are very different. I noticed my mistake as soon as } I had finished sending the e-mail. So, here it goes again: } } We are having problems obtaining TEM samples from a material consisting } of two phases, Bi and BiTe. We tried embedding and sectioning hoping we } could avoid high temperatures and deformations induced by polishing. In } all cases the sections were highly deformed and smeared. I would } appreciate suggestions or ideas. With Bi having such a low melting } temperature we prefer not to try ion milling although maybe we should give } it a try. Any thoughts on this ?. } } Thanks . } } Jordi Marti } } PS. Thanks to those who responded to my previous, incorrect, message. } } }
---------------------- Mr. R.C. Doole Department of Materials, University of Oxford. Parks Road, Oxford. OX1 3PH. UK. Phone +44 (0) 1865 273701 Fax +44 (0) 1865 283333 ron.doole-at-materials.ox.ac.uk
I have recently attempted to study catalyst particles in STEM mode. The idea was to focus the electron beam on a crystallite and obtain an EDS spectrum. Unfortunately a large contamination layer had built up on and around the crystallite within about a minute. When looking at the area in TEM mode one sees a large oval shape that covers the whole area.
I have not seen this effect on our samples in TEM mode before and was wondering if there is any way to prevent it. Apparently, there is a plasma cleaner on the market that cleans the sample and the sample holder, thereby reducing the contamination rate. Is it effective on porous catalyst samples as well ?
Alfredo, I read your note with particular interest as our Philips CM20 has experienced the same problem. Our CM20 was installed in late 1990 and in March of 1995 the +15V power supply failed, followed by the -15V power supply in October of the same year. Discussions with the service representative from Philips led us to believe that the failures were caused by a mains spike in the building following a power outage. We installed the recommended peak suppression device, a TYCOR TY Filter yet had another +15V power supply failure in August of 1997. We have had no further occurrences of such failures but the cause of the problem remains unclear to me. I am very interested in the outcome of discussions on this subject.
Regards, Paul
Paul J. Gerroir Microscopy Materials Characterization Xerox Research Centre of Canada 2660 Speakman Drive Mississauga, Ontario L5K 2L1
} -----Original Message----- } From: Alfredo Tolley [SMTP:tolley-at-cab.cnea.gov.ar] } Sent: Thursday, August 26, 1999 9:45 AM } To: Microscopy ListServer } Subject: TEM-Problems with 15V Power supply in Philips CM200 } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Our research group has got a Philips CM200 Transmission Electron } Microscope. Lately we have been having problems to switch on the } microscope, and have traced the problem to a pair of 15 volt power } supplies (Philips PE 1130/15 Switched Mode Power Supplies). } } We have tested the power supplies outside the microscope and have found } that they take a long time to start up (about a minute or even more). } When the microscopoe is switched on, it checks within a few seconds } whether the power supplies are working properly. Since these take longer } to start up, the microscope detects a fault and automatically switches } off. } } When tested outside the microscope, once the power supplies start up } they work fine. Furthermore, after running properly for a few minutes, } if they are switched off and again switched on only a few seconds later, } they start up immediately. The operating manual of the power supplies } does not have enough information to trace the fault. We have not been } able to obtain a service manual with additional information. } } The local Philips dealer has kindly offered to sell us a couple of new } power supplies, but this will take at least 3 to 4 months. If anyone has } come across this problem in the past, or has any suggestion as to what } can be done we would appreciate any help you can give us.We would also } appreciate an e-mail or fax number of Philips Service Power Supplies } Department in order to ask for further information. } } Many thanks, } } Alfredo Tolley } Metals Physics Group } Tel: (54) 2944 445268 } Fax: (54) 2944 445299 } tolley-at-cab.cnea.gov.ar }
How are your catalyst sample supported? If you disperse the powder over "clean" holey carbon grids (which contain no residual plastic film from the production process), by simply dipping the grid into the catalyst powder and shaking off the excess, you should find that contamination is not a problem. Typically, powder specimens dangling over holes in carbon films do not offer enough surface over which to diffuse molecules that cause contamination buildup under the beam. Of course, the other source of contamination could be the microscope itself, but that's another story...
We have found that a plasma cleaner for the TEM specimen/specimen holder works very well in the instances that we have contamination problems with fine probe analysis using our Hitachi HF-2000. Our cleaner happens to be a Fischione, and a couple of minutes treatment generally suffices to cure the problem. If you suspect that the grids are the source of the contamination, you might want to clean a grid in the plasma cleaner prior to deposition of the catalyst specimen. I would be surprised if these efforts did not produce satisfactory results for you.
Good luck...
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
Maria - Don't disregard any brand just because you have no experience with it. Its akin to only hiring people that you know; you would be unlikely to employ the worst, but never the best. Evaporators and sputter coaters are easy to operate - any make. Look for and compare: What you require; performance; versatility, price and warranty.
Some things to consider: Fast pumping speed is important but this much depends on the size of the pumps employed and the size of the chamber. Larger pumps are expensive but if you require a larger chamber than you are looking at an expensive system. If you also want a clean, oil-free system, large turbo pumps are the best, but not the cheapest option. Sputter coaters with a carbon fibre attachment are an economic solution and fine for many applications, but not for high resolution TEM and of course you cannot evaporate metals. If you require versatility then you need a real evaporator.
I suggest that you have a good look at our online information ("K" section, enter from Contents page) featured are Emitech instruments (which I cannot sell to America, don't even ask), but they would give a good grounding on the large range of instruments available. This you could use as a basis for further comparisons. Disclaimer: ProSciTech is Emitech's agent in Australasia (S of Singapore) Cheers Jim Darley ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com.au Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes www.proscitech.com.au
On Thursday, August 26, 1999 10:44 PM, Fazio-Zanakis, Maria, HMR/US [SMTP:Maria.Fazio-Zanakis-at-hmrag.com] wrote: } } Dear Fellow Microscopists: } } Just a small query to ask all your advise as to what brand of sputter } coaters and vacuum evaporators you recommend. We need one that is extremely } reliable and provides the required vacuum in a short period of time. We are } looking into the Edwards and Denton brands since I've worked with them } previously; and are considering purchasing a dedicated sputter coater and a } dedicated evaporator or carbon evaporator for both carbon and metal } shadowing. So, what do you all think? Is it worth purchasing them } separately or obtaining one which does everything? } } } Much Appreciation, } } Maria } Maria Fazio-Zanakis } Bioimaging and Molecular Histology } Hoechst Marion Roussel, Inc. } 1-908-231-3357 } Fax: 1-908-231-3962 } Email: Maria.Fazio-Zanakis-at-hmrag.com }
I have tried posting this question several times to the listserver and have never seen or gotten any response:
We're looking for third party repair/maintenance services in the Midwest that handle the following: microtomes, ultramicrotomes, cryostats, knifemakers, TEM's, SEM's and the like. Can anyone recommend any such services in this area?
Thank you,
Jaclynn M. Lett, Research Assistant
Fay and Carl Simon Center for the Biology of Hearing and Deafness Central Institute for the Deaf 818 S. Euclid Ave. St. Louis, MO 63110
We have been using a Tracor-Northern 2210 EDS on our Cambridge S-250 SEM for many years. About 8-10 years ago, I noticed "small" gold/palladium peaks on our EDS spectra from carbon-coated samples. Our primary sputter coater was (and is) a Hummer ll. Although we cleaned the bell jar and the stub holder stage, it was evident all metal deposits could not be eliminated nor would it be logical to much spend time cleaning the system often.
Fortunately, we had salvaged an almost new Polaron coating system from government surplus. We dedicated this unit for carbon fiber evaporation to solve the contamination problem. I suspect evaporators should be checked for sample contamination if EDS is studied in TEM/STEM modes.
Good luck!
Bruce F. Ingber Biologist- Electron Microscopy USDA-ARS, SRRC 1100 Robert E. Lee Blvd. New Orleans, LA 70124-4305
} ---------- } From: Fazio-Zanakis, Maria, } HMR/US[SMTP:Maria.Fazio-Zanakis-at-hmrag.com] } Sent: Thursday, August 26, 1999 7:43 AM } To: 'Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com' } Cc: Ying, Xiaoyou, HMR/US; Cavallo, Jean, HMR/US } Subject: sputter coaters and carbon evaporators } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 Fellow Microscopists: } } Just a small query to ask all your advise as to what brand of sputter } coaters and vacuum evaporators you recommend. We need one that is } extremely } reliable and provides the required vacuum in a short period of time. We } are } looking into the Edwards and Denton brands since I've worked with them } previously; and are considering purchasing a dedicated sputter coater and } a } dedicated evaporator or carbon evaporator for both carbon and metal } shadowing. So, what do you all think? Is it worth purchasing them } separately or obtaining one which does everything? } } } Much Appreciation, } } Maria } Maria Fazio-Zanakis } Bioimaging and Molecular Histology } Hoechst Marion Roussel, Inc. } 1-908-231-3357 } Fax: 1-908-231-3962 } Email: Maria.Fazio-Zanakis-at-hmrag.com } }
Not sure if this counts as IRM, but I want to look at the emitted black-body infra-red from exposed integrated circuits.
I would like to be able to identify the relative temperatures of different areas.
Ideally, the system would be able to identify the temperatures of areas ranging from 25C to 150C, able to resolve differences of 10C or so.
I would like as high a resolving power as possible ( in the territory of microns if possible )
The application is to look at the temperature distribution across integrated circuits during operation.
Does anyone make such equipment? Has anyone tried this sort of thing? What is possible?
I have used an infra-red camera system in the past to look at sizeable pieces of equipment, but the resolution of the system was too coarse to be of use in this application.
Hello All: I am interested in looking at alternatives to renewing our service contract with the manufacturer for a Philips 420T STEM. I am in Virginia. Can anybody recommend independents who can do the job. Thanks
------------------------------ Stephen McCartney Research Associate Virginia Tech Materials Institute 2108 Hahn Hall Blacksburg, VA 24061-0344 USA
Dear Jordi, I routinely jet polish and then ion-mill aluminum alloys to remove the oxide layer. In order to prevent any heating of the aluminum, which will change with even slight heating, we use a liquid nitrogen-cooled stage on the ion-mill. Is jet polishing a disc of your material possible? I know there are special concerns about electro-polishing Bi materials, so check the safety resources. I would probably try dimple polishing and ion milling on a sample like that, if it is strong enough to hold together. You might ask the manufacturers of the Dimplers and ion-mills for help. At 02:15 PM 8/26/99 -0700, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
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 e-mail: mager-at-interchg.ubc.ca
A colleague of mine has a problem with autofluorescence in cryosections of mouse cardiac tissue. They are embedded with OCT prior to freezing and and are unfixed. They appear brightest with a fluorescein filterset, but autofluorescence can also be seen with a TRITC filterset.
Has anyone had a problem like this and know how to stop it and does anyone know what might cause this autofluorescence? Also, does anybody have a good technique for preparing such cryosections which does not generate autofluorescence?
Thanks,
Matthew J. Schibler Ph.D. UCLA Brain Research Institute 1524A Gonda (Goldschmied) Center for Neuroscience and Genetics Los Angeles, CA 90095-1761
If I understand your question, it sounds as if you are interested in doin= g backside photoemission microscopy. If that is the case, there are a few companies that make such systems that you may want to contact. I would suggest calling one of the following:
Quantum Focus Instruments, Inc. TEL: 203-926-4119 FAX: 203-926-1778
Hypervision TEL: 510-651-7768 FAX: 510-651-1415
DISCLAIMER: I have no financial interest in any of these companies. =
However, South Bay Technology does manufacture the BEAPS=AE system, as we= ll as other tools, for the preparation of samples for backside photoemissiom=
} } } } } 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 David Grant } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America =
Not sure if this counts as IRM, but I want to look at the emitted black-body infra-red from exposed integrated circuits.
I would like to be able to identify the relative temperatures of differen= t areas.
Ideally, the system would be able to identify the temperatures of areas ranging from 25C to 150C, able to resolve differences of 10C or so.
I would like as high a resolving power as possible ( in the territory of microns if possible )
The application is to look at the temperature distribution across integrated circuits during operation.
Does anyone make such equipment? Has anyone tried this sort of thing? Wha= t is possible?
I have used an infra-red camera system in the past to look at sizeable pieces of equipment, but the resolution of the system was too coarse to b= e of use in this application.
this thread may be dead but i purchased a gold target from "refining systems inc." of las vegas, NV....a little cheaper than other suppliers and good delivery. i think the guy's name is "abe" and his phone# is 702-368-0579.
sorry if this is too late to be of any service.
b-
**************************************************************** Brian McIntyre Electron Microscopy Lab Institute of Optics University of Rochester Rochester, NY 14627
716-275-3058 716-244-4936(fax)
"You may get to the top of the ladder of success only to find its been leaning against the wrong wall" A. Raime
I am looking for a formula and procedure to check plant material for the presence of lipids using Sudan Black B. The formula I am using now stains everything black. I am specifically checking palm flowers and fruits. Thank you in advance. Please reply to my email:
Jaclynn M. Lett wrote: ============================================================ I have tried posting this question several times to the listserver and have never seen or gotten any response:
We're looking for third party repair/maintenance services in the Midwest that handle the following: microtomes, ultramicrotomes, cryostats, knifemakers, TEM's, SEM's and the like. Can anyone recommend any such services in this area? ============================================================== Take a look at our "Hot Services" page at URL http://www.2spi.com/hot-service.html
These listings of third party service providers could cover some of your requirements.
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.spi.cc ######################## ============================================
Ron Veil sent me a good list of independent service folks around the country. It is in Excel format. I won't post it without his permission. If you want it directly from him, please contact him at
veilcs-at-juno.com
or
veilcs-at-earthlink.net
I'm not certain which is the most current address.
The University of Houston College of Optometry is seeking an experienced candidate to fill the position of Supervisor: Histology and Microscopy Laboratory. This is a full-time, permanent appointment.
Job Description:
This position is in direct support of research and teaching faculty where the subject of interest is typically ocular and neural tissue. The duties range from tissue preparation, embedment, sectioning and mounting, to operation of light and transmission electron microscopes, and development and printing of photographic results. Knowledge and competency in operation of ultramicrotomes and the transmission electron microscope as well as current techniques in morphology, histology, and immunocytochemistry is required. Experience with cryo-microscopy, in situ hybridization, and computer image analysis is desirable. The successful candidate also may participate as co-author of research papers describing research performed in the laboratory.
The supervisor is responsible for maintenance of stocks of laboratory supplies and care of the equipment, and keeping the lab clean and usable, including proper disposal procedures for hazardous wastes. Other duties include instructing graduate students in common and specialized anatomical techniques required for their various projects, and supervision and consultation on their work as required. Some effort also is applied to teaching of undergraduate optometry students including preparation of teaching slides and technical instruction in anatomical methods.
Interested persons should forward a short resume, either by e-mail, s-mail or fax to Mr. Kuether at the address shown. Relevant publications and ocular related research are of particular interest.
Ron Veil compiled this list and has indicated that it is public domain according to him. You may find someone close to you that can help service your particular system.
You can download it from my web site at http://gaugler.com/EMservice.xls Please not the different case in the filename.
} Date: Sat, 28 Aug 1999 13:19:42 -0700 } To: MSA listserver } From: "Dr. Gary Gaugler" {gary-at-gaugler.com} } Subject: 3rd party service providers } } Ron Veil compiled this list and has indicated that it is public domain } according to him. You may find someone close to you that can help } service your particular system. } } You can download it from my web site at http://gaugler.com/EMservice.xls } Please not the different case in the filename. } } Any problems, pls let me know. } } gary g.
Please note that there is also an http://gaugler.com/EMservice.htm page to allow clicking from it. If you cannot get the file successfully, I will be glad to email it to you as an attachment.
I recently (today) got my 1830 up and running. It is a non-standard 1830 since it has a 6" wafer load lock. Other than this, it is a standard 1830 T6. I am adding a GW Systems Infrared Chamberscope camera. That is about all.
The system power fails to zero vacuum by de-energizing V2 at J27. This is dumb in my opinion since if power fails, all vacuum is lost. And since I use 80CF tanks of N, they would just empty for as long as power is lost. I reversed this logic via a few board jumpers and a different V2. Total cost is about $50. If power fails now, the system locks tight and waits for power to come back on. This make much more sense. And it saves me expensive UHP N2 tanks.
I'd like to converse with other users of this scope and exchange notes. I am running an FEI LaB6 emitter and rarely vent the main chamber. This is a challenge since I look at rather large specimens and use the stub holder carrier that is substantially recessed. I also find that the column high pressure line leaks. High pressure is only needed for gate valve operation and load lock transfer. However, it also runs the MicroG anti-vibration table. I think that I will use filtered air for the platform and N2 for the valves. Sort of a bummer but I can't find the column leak.
I will be adding computer control--active and passive--in the near future. I am rather certain of using the Soft Imaging ADDA-II system. I like the idea of active and passive and the PCI interface card avenue.
Are there folks out there who would like to exchange experiences with this 1830 system? I intend to keep this one for several years. So far, I really like it.
I strongly recommend that you use the fluorescent lipid dye Nile red instead of Sudan Black. Nile red partitions into lipids rendering them intensely fluorescent. You may use either FITC or RITC filter sets, as you prefer. What makes Nile red preferable to the Sudan dyes is that there is virtually no fluorescence from the dye unless it is in a lipid environment. Therefore the specimen may be mounted in an aqueous solution containing a low concentration of the dye, and de-staining the non-lipid parts of the specimen is completely unnecessary. Furthermore, because the specimen is immersed in a stock of fluorochrome, there is minimal photobleaching.
Chris Jeffree
Date sent: Fri, 27 Aug 1999 09:44:47 -1000 To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } From: "Melany H. Chapin" {mchapin-at-ntbg.org}
I have the pleasure to announce you that my book on morphological image analysis has just been released:
-at-Book{soille99, author = "P.~Soille", author-url = "http://web.ukonline.co.uk/soille", title = "Morphological Image Analysis", subtitle = "Principles and Applications", publisher = "Springer-Verlag", year = 1999, isbn = "3-540-65671-5", address = "\htmladdnormallink{Berlin, Heidelberg}{http://www.springer.de/cgi-bin/search_book.pl?isbn=3-540-65671-5}, \htmladdnormallink{New York}{http://www.springer-ny.com/catalog/np/apr99np/3-540-65671-5.html}", url = "http://web.ukonline.co.uk/soille/book1st" }
} From the backcover: ==================
Mathematical morphology (MM) or simply morphology can be defined as a theory for the analysis of spatial structures. It is called morphology because it aims at analysing the shape and form of objects. MM is not only a theory, but also a powerful image analysis technique.
The purpose of this book is to provide the reader with a detailed presentation of the principles and applications of morphological image analysis. This is achieved through a step by step process starting from the basic morphological operators and pursued until the most recent advances which have proven their practical usefulness. All concepts are illustrated with real applications to help the reader acquiring the expert knowledge necessary for building the chain of operators to resolve his/her own image analysis problem. The emphasis is therefore put on the technique rather than the theory underlying MM.
This volume will be valuable to all engineers, scientists, students, and practitioners dealing with the analysis and processing of digital images.
For further information and updates, please check:
-- Dr. Ir. habil. Pierre Soille |Ph.: int+44-1525 860 000 BBSRC Silsoe Research Institute |Fax: int+44-1525 861 735 Wrest Park, Silsoe |Email: Pierre.Soille at bbsrc.ac.uk Beds, MK45 4HS, U.K.
I am not positive, but I believe that shutting off the N2 vent will lead to sucking the oil out of the roughing pump. I believe that the 1830 does not have an isolation valve to seal off the chamber from the foreline. You would need to add another valve for that, without affecting your transconductance.
I tried to send this off line, but was unable to. Could you please send me information on how I may purchase this book? I am always looking for new references for image analysis, and this seems like a good one to add to my library. I would like to know who I can order from and the cost in US dollars.
Thanks for your time,
David Bell Scientist Electron Microscopy Lab Millipore Corporation 80 Ashby Road Bedford, MA 01730 USA (800) 221-1975 x2108
With all the discussion concerning diamond knives, I learned that many of the diamond knife mfgs. have a policy in which they accept any diamond knife plus the standard resharpening fee in exchange for a new knife. I have a knife by a major mfg. with a botched edge (the knife not the mfg.) - I got it as part of a trade and don't feet it is appropriate trying to get the mfg. to make good on it. I do think it might be useful as trade-in material - I would to that end be willing to sell it at about 10 percent of it's initial value (which was around $2K), or trade for something interesting - I do only LM, and am always in need of components for my Leitz system, or for stereo scopes, or ??. Just a thought.
Hi all, A co-worker asked me for info on table-top SEMs. He says that he has seen (years ago) a small SEM (big laser printer sized) that sat on a bench top. He wants one (new preferred). Any info would be appreciated. Brad Storey Los Alamos National Lab
We have done a lot of Imunnohist on unfixed cryosections. Not heart tissue, however. Occassionally we have seen higher autofluorescence. Some things to check:
1. Make sure that all glassware and plasticware has never come into contact with histochemical stains like eosin or evans blue. Even a whiff of residue can cause great fluorescence.
2. Make sure that your mounting media is not causing it- try a different kind.
3. Make sure that no glutaraldehyde residue is in any labware. This will also cause tissue to light up.
Sometimes we have seen autofluorescence that is tissue specific and we have never figured out what it was. We just threw the blocks away out of frustration.
Hope this helps..I know it's not much and you have probably already thought of these.
Bob University of Washington
On Fri, 27 Aug 1999, Schibler, Matthew 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 List, } } A colleague of mine has a problem with autofluorescence in cryosections of } mouse cardiac tissue. They are embedded with OCT prior to freezing and and } are unfixed. They appear brightest with a fluorescein filterset, but } autofluorescence can also be seen with a TRITC filterset. } } Has anyone had a problem like this and know how to stop it and does anyone } know what might cause this autofluorescence? Also, does anybody have a good } technique for preparing such cryosections which does not generate } autofluorescence? } } Thanks, } } Matthew J. Schibler Ph.D. } UCLA Brain Research Institute } 1524A Gonda (Goldschmied) Center } for Neuroscience and Genetics } Los Angeles, CA 90095-1761 } } (310) 825-9783 } FAX (310) 206-5855 } E-mail: mschibler-at-mednet.ucla.edu } } }
The matter of how to clean Wehnelt cylinders is a topic that has been discussed on this listserver several times previously. With apologies for repeating myself, I would like to inform all listserver members that methods for cleaning these devices, and other parts of the vacuum systems of electron microscopes and other vacuum apparatus used in electron microscope laboratories, are discussed at some length on pp. 69 - 74 of my book 'Vacuum Methods in Electron Microscopy' (for a description of this book, a table of contents, and a summary of reviewers' comments see http://www.2spi.com/catalog/books/book48.html).
In this discussion I particularly point out that it is not a good practice to use grease-based polishing compounds (such as Wenol, Pol, Pical, etc.) for this purpose. The rather obvious reason for this is that one of the objectives when cleaning parts of modern electron microscopes is to keep the level of hydrocarbon (grease and oil) vapors in their vacuum systems to as low a level as possible so as to minimize specimen contamination due to the interaction of the electron beam with these materials. Using a grease- or oil-based polishing compound as the primary cleaning agent means that you are spreading large amounts of grease and/or oil over every part, and this then greatly increases the amount of work necessary to remove such materials from the parts before they are reinserted into the instrument. This is the equivalent of taking a bath in the barnyard, which doesn't make much sense at all. Instead, I have described alternative water-based procedures that are fast, efficient, and preferable to the traditional grease-based ones.
Also, I do not particularly agree with the longstanding recommendation of using a soft chamois leather to wipe the interior parts of modern electron microscopes. The reason for this is that it is my experience that these nice soft chamois skins have been treated with an oil or a grease to make them soft and pliable after the tanning process is completed, and I fear that this lubricant will be transferred from the chamois to the internal parts of the instrument during the wiping process, thereby increasing the potential for specimen contamination. If you don't believe chamois contain such a lubricant, try washing a chamois skin thoroughly in warm water and detergent to remove such grease and/or oil, and see how stiff and hard it is after drying. Professional bike rider commonly use chamois leather to line their biking shorts, and bike supply shops frequently stock 'chamois fat' for use in softening this chamois lining after the shorts have been washed. Because of their widespread use in the electronics industry, lint-free and grease-free cloths and tissues are widely available these days. In my mind, these are a much better choice than chamois leather for wiping the parts of vacuum systems.
Disclaimer: I obviously have an interest in selling as many copies of the above-mentioned book as possible - if everyone using this listserver were to buy a copy I would make about $1 for every hour I spent gathering, organizing, and composing the extensive information it contains relating to vacuum practice that is useful to electron microscopists.
Best regards to all, W.C.B.
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
Would like information on where to locate, to purchase, a "demand" dry nitrogen regulator. This regulator will dispense N2 for backfill (i.e. camera chamber vent) when a vacuum is present on the diaphram of the regulated side. This elimanates the need to open the tank main valve each time needed.
B. Roberts EM Lab Services, Inc. Tempe, Arizona 85282
Bob: Demand valves are used by divers on SCUBA. The diver sucks and air is delivered. Likewise when the EM is vented, it no longer "sucks" and the nitrogen flow stops. Obviously pressure must be reduced a lot before the demand valve. Since the pressure is low, its not difficult to make the join airtight with some silicone sealant. Some years ago I adapted a simple divers demand valve from a local Dive Shop (not difficult to find next to the Barrier Reef). If there is no Dive Shop in your town you may need to phone a centre where these activities are common. Cheers Jim Darley ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com.au Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes www.proscitech.com.au
On Tuesday, August 31, 1999 10:27 AM, "bobrob-at-uswest.net"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com [SMTP:"bobrob-at-uswest.net"-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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Would like information on where to locate, to purchase, a } "demand" dry nitrogen regulator. This regulator will dispense } N2 for backfill (i.e. camera chamber vent) when a vacuum is } present on the diaphram of the regulated side. This elimanates } the need to open the tank main valve each time needed. } } B. Roberts } EM Lab Services, Inc. } Tempe, Arizona 85282 } }
I was very interested in your comments about cleaning microscopes and pleased to see we are one on the refusal to recommend the greasy polishin= g media favoured by so many.
I also picked up your words relating to the use of leather skins when cleaning gun chambers. I was introduced to what became known as a "dry chamois" technique in the 60s by a senior Japanese engineer whilst workin= g with Hitachi. Should we have a gun chamber that only smelt of discharge (oily ozone type smell but no visible contamination) he would suggest cleaning with some effort using a "washed" chamois. We went to great pai= ns to obtain bland leather soap to ensure the leather was clean and in my ca= se I always had two leathers, one in the wash one to use. =
I have used the technique for many years, I guess the roughish texture drags off the "hidden dirt", without any apparent problems when the moder= n papers or cloths (I have not tried selvyt) do not seem to move the smell = so easily.
Now, I am a great believer in that far far too many people use the wrong technique with the idea that if they have used it for many years it canno= t be wrong; I see that everyday in SEM and EDX training! Please put me straight as I refuse to fall into the trap?
Thanks
Steve Chapman
Senior Consultant E.M. Protrain, 16 Hedgerley, Chinnor, Oxford OX9 4TN, England. Tel & Fax 44 (0)1844 353161 E-mail - protrain-at-emcourses.com Web Site - http://emcourses.com For Consultancy and Courses in Electron Microscopy World Wide
I will shortly start working on the structural characterization of thin SnO2 films on allumina substrates, by transmission electron micrscopy . These materials are commonly used as gas sensors. SnO2 films are deposited by sol-gel.
I need to obtain prepare plan views and cross sections, and i am a little concerned about the preparation, as Allumina is very hard.
I should very much appreciate if anyone could give me some information and/or suggestions about the best way to obtain tem samples from these materials.
Thanks a lot
Massimo
Dr. Massimo Catalano member of the Boards of Directors of Italian Society for Electron Microscopy CNR-IME Campus Universitario Via Arnesano 73100 Lecce - ITALY tel: + 39 0832 322362 * fax: + 39 0832 325299 * email: massimo.catalano-at-ime.le.cnr.it http://www.ime.le.cnr.it http://www.ime.le.cnr.it/sime/sime.htm
* Please note that, effective June 1998, a zero has to be dialed right after the country code (39) before the city code (832).
I will shortly start working on the structural characterization of thin SnO2 films on allumina substrates, by transmission electron micrscopy . These materials are commonly used as gas sensors. SnO2 films are deposited by sol-gel.
I need to obtain prepare plan views and cross sections, and i am a little concerned about the preparation, as Allumina is very hard.
I should very much appreciate if anyone could give me some information and/or suggestions about the best way to obtain tem samples from these materials.
Thanks a lot
Massimo
Dr. Massimo Catalano member of the Boards of Directors of Italian Society for Electron Microscopy CNR-IME Campus Universitario Via Arnesano 73100 Lecce - ITALY tel: + 39 0832 322362 * fax: + 39 0832 325299 * email: massimo.catalano-at-ime.le.cnr.it http://www.ime.le.cnr.it http://www.ime.le.cnr.it/sime/sime.htm
* Please note that, effective June 1998, a zero has to be dialed right after the country code (39) before the city code (832).
I will shortly start working on the structural characterization of thin SnO2 films on allumina substrates, by transmission electron micrscopy . These materials are commonly used as gas sensors. SnO2 films are deposited by sol-gel.
I need to obtain prepare plan views and cross sections, and i am a little concerned about the preparation, as Allumina is very hard.
I should very much appreciate if anyone could give me some information and/or suggestions about the best way to obtain tem samples from these materials.
Thanks a lot
Massimo
Dr. Massimo Catalano member of the Boards of Directors of Italian Society for Electron Microscopy CNR-IME Campus Universitario Via Arnesano 73100 Lecce - ITALY tel: + 39 0832 322362 * fax: + 39 0832 325299 * email: massimo.catalano-at-ime.le.cnr.it http://www.ime.le.cnr.it http://www.ime.le.cnr.it/sime/sime.htm
* Please note that, effective June 1998, a zero has to be dialed right after the country code (39) before the city code (832).
You might try using the low pressure stage of a modern SCUBA regulator (single hose). This added after a standard inert gas regulator should give you back-filling without over-pressure. Now, can one find a dive shop in the Tempe area?
A cheaper, but less attractive, approach is to put a solenoid valve on a conventional inert gas regulator. I've used this method for years with no ill effect and it might be easier to explain to your bean counters than SCUBA gear in the desert. I worry about students adjusting the regulator but so far nobody has blown out any detectors or windows.
good luck
John Heckman
MSU Center for Electron Optics } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
We had bought one several years ago for use with JEOL 2000 EX II. I = don't have the details now. The unit has a label 'Oxford' on the front = and the 4 page manual says model DN-02. Not happy with it since the gas = used to leak out. We use the main gas cylinder valve manually.
-----Original Message----- } From: "bobrob-at-uswest.net"-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com = [SMTP:"bobrob-at-uswest.net"-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com] Sent: Tuesday, August 31, 1999 5:46 PM To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com
Would like information on where to locate, to purchase, a "demand" dry nitrogen regulator. This regulator will dispense N2 for backfill (i.e. camera chamber vent) when a vacuum is present on the diaphram of the regulated side. This elimanates the need to open the tank main valve each time needed.
B. Roberts EM Lab Services, Inc. Tempe, Arizona 85282
Bob, Ten years ago we bought a demand valve from CD Labs in Sarver(?), PA. It works great although I thought it was quite expensive for a simple demand valve. I'm not sure if they are still in business. Their address was 344 Parker Rd. Sarver, PA 16055 (412) 282-4116 Russ Gillmeister, Xerox
-----Original Message----- } From: "bobrob-at-uswest.net"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com [mailto:"bobrob-at-uswest.net"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com] Sent: Monday, August 30, 1999 8:27 PM To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
Would like information on where to locate, to purchase, a "demand" dry nitrogen regulator. This regulator will dispense N2 for backfill (i.e. camera chamber vent) when a vacuum is present on the diaphram of the regulated side. This elimanates the need to open the tank main valve each time needed.
B. Roberts EM Lab Services, Inc. Tempe, Arizona 85282
At the beginning of August Antonio Molina posted an inquiry about long working distance microscope for a high pressure chamber. I recently visited Nick Beeler at the USGS and he is using a Questar QM100 microscope. These are long distance microscopes (15 to 35 cm working range) with capability to resolve 1.1 micron separation at this range.
For what it's worth........
Don Marshall
Donald J. Marshall Relion Industries P.O. Box 12 Bedford, MA 01730 Ph: 781-275-4695 FAX: 781-271-0252 email dmrelion-at-world.std.com
Cathodoluminescence, mass spectroscopy, electron beam technology
"A weed is a flower out of place."
(Please note: Do not send email with attachments to this address. Instead, send it to donbarlen-at-aol.com. Thank you.)
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Try a valve of the type used by scuba divers to regulate air flow. They work great. We have them on dry nitrogen lines leading to each of our microscopes and pre-pump film desiccators. The ones we used are labeled Aqua Lung-Octopus and have been in use for 15 years without any problems.
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
--------------------------------------
Would like information on where to locate, to purchase, a "demand" dry nitrogen regulator. This regulator will dispense N2 for backfill (i.e. camera chamber vent) when a vacuum is present on the diaphram of the regulated side. This elimanates the need to open the tank main valve each time needed.
B. Roberts EM Lab Services, Inc. Tempe, Arizona 85282
RFC822 header -----------------------------------
Received: from SPARC5.MICROSCOPY.COM by mailcenter.btny.purdue.edu with SMTP (QuickMail Pro Server for Mac 2.0r1b2); 31 AUG 99 00:03:01 UT Received: (from daemon-at-localhost) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) id TAA09381 for dist-Microscopy; Mon, 30 Aug 1999 19:15:28 -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 TAA09376 for "MicroscopyFilteredEmail-at-msa.microscopy.com"; Mon, 30 Aug 1999 19:14:57 -0500 From: "bobrob-at-uswest.net"-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com Received: from phnxpop4.phnx.uswest.net (phnxpop4.phnx.uswest.net [206.80.192.4]) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) with SMTP id TAA09367 for {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} ; Mon, 30 Aug 1999 19:14:43 -0500 Received: (qmail 24309 invoked by alias); 31 Aug 1999 00:23:21 -0000 Delivered-To: fixup-Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com-at-fixme Received: (qmail 24294 invoked by uid 0); 31 Aug 1999 00:23:20 -0000 Received: from zdialup143.phnx.uswest.net (HELO pop.phnx.uswest.net) (209.181.132.143) by phnxpop4.phnx.uswest.net with SMTP; 31 Aug 1999 00:23:20 -0000 Message-ID: {37CB215F.8D5F980-at-pop.phnx.uswest.net} Date: Mon, 30 Aug 1999 17:27:11 -0700 Reply-To: bobrob-at-uswest.net X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.04 [en] (WinNT; U) MIME-Version: 1.0 To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com Subject: TEM Need Vendor/Source of N2 Regulator Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Errors-to: Microscopy-request-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
(peer crosschecked as: 1Cust215.tnt3.danvers.ma.da.uu.net [63.21.116.215]) id QQheqt10685 for {Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com} ; Tue, 31 Aug 1999 14:48:09 GMT Reply-To: {rshuman-at-micrion.com}
Dear Brad,
In 1976 Hitachi Ltd. produced a table-top SEM with the model name S-310 FE SEM. As the name implies, the gun was a field emission type (cold cathode). Accelerating voltage range was 4-8kV. Resolution was 10nm at 8 kV and the magnification range was 50X-45,000X. The entire system could fit on a small table top and was in two parts - the controls/CRT and column/stage assembly. A roughing pump could either be located under the table or in an adjacent service chase. Samples were typically mounted on Cambridge pin-type stubs and could then be loaded directly onto a small goniometer stage that completely pulled out from the microscope body. As I recall, sample size was ~25mm square. X and Y micrometers had plus or minus 25mm travel and tilt was plus or minus 45 degrees in either direction from zero. The pumping system was oil free; Hitachi was one of the first manufacturers to use non-evaporative getter pumps in the gun area. These getters could be regenerated by periodic bake-outs of the column. I believe the cost of this system was ~50K. Although Hitachi no longer manufactures this microscope, you can still occasionally find them on the used market.
Regards,
/Rich Shuman Micrion division/FEI Corp.
-----Original Message----- } From: Brad Storey [mailto:storey-at-lanl.gov] Sent: Monday, August 30, 1999 12:55 PM To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com
Hi all, A co-worker asked me for info on table-top SEMs. He says that he has seen (years ago) a small SEM (big laser printer sized) that sat on a bench top. He wants one (new preferred). Any info would be appreciated. Brad Storey Los Alamos National Lab
I've worked with some researchers at Univ. of Illinois on GaN on sapphire using the small angle cleavage technique, AKA microcleaving. We made beautiful cross sections with the technique. John McCaffrey has made plan view samples using SACT, but I don't know how well it will work with sapphire. I suspect that it will. Contact South Bay Technology who sells a Microcleaving kit. -Scott Walck
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Glass Technology Center 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: Massimo Catalano To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
Hi colleagues,
I will shortly start working on the structural characterization of thin SnO2 films on allumina substrates, by transmission electron micrscopy . These materials are commonly used as gas sensors. SnO2 films are deposited by sol-gel.
I need to obtain prepare plan views and cross sections, and i am a little concerned about the preparation, as Allumina is very hard.
I should very much appreciate if anyone could give me some information and/or suggestions about the best way to obtain tem samples from these materials.
Thanks a lot
Massimo
Dr. Massimo Catalano member of the Boards of Directors of Italian Society for Electron Microscopy CNR-IME Campus Universitario Via Arnesano 73100 Lecce - ITALY tel: + 39 0832 322362 * fax: + 39 0832 325299 * email: massimo.catalano-at-ime.le.cnr.it http://www.ime.le.cnr.it http://www.ime.le.cnr.it/sime/sime.htm
* Please note that, effective June 1998, a zero has to be dialed right after the country code (39) before the city code (832).
Dear Brad, The ISI people made a small, table-top SEM many years (} 10) ago. ISI is now the Topcom company. I worked on one of these SEM's a few years ago, but, in my opinion, it was less useful than a light microscope and had about the same magnification capabilities. The chamber was very tiny, stage movement was crude and the only view screen was a small CRT. I'm not even sure it had slow scan available. I don't think Topcon makes one any more. At 10:54 AM 8/30/99 -0600, you wrote:
} } Hi all, } A co-worker asked me for info on table-top SEMs. He says that he has seen } (years ago) a small SEM (big laser printer sized) that sat on a bench } top. He wants one (new preferred). Any info would be appreciated. } Brad Storey } Los Alamos National Lab } 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 e-mail: mager-at-interchg.ubc.ca
Ms./Mr. Roberts: Try VBS at 408-371-3320. Ask for Alex Zeigler and tell him that we sent you.
Hope this helps.
Elinor Solit, The Microscope Book 800-440-0311
On Mon, 30 Aug 1999 bobrob-at-uswest.net-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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Would like information on where to locate, to purchase, a } "demand" dry nitrogen regulator. This regulator will dispense } N2 for backfill (i.e. camera chamber vent) when a vacuum is } present on the diaphram of the regulated side. This elimanates } the need to open the tank main valve each time needed. } } B. Roberts } EM Lab Services, Inc. } Tempe, Arizona 85282 } } }
We purchased the demand valve that is used on our Jeol 2000FX from our local compressed gas vendor -- no problem.
-- ================================================================== Greg Strout Electron Microscopist, University of Oklahoma WWW Virtual Library for Microscopy: http://www.ou.edu/research/electron/www-vl/ e-mail: gstrout-at-ou.edu Opinions expressed herein are mine and not necessarily those of the University of Oklahoma ==================================================================
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Would like information on where to locate, to purchase, a } "demand" dry nitrogen regulator. This regulator will dispense } N2 for backfill (i.e. camera chamber vent) when a vacuum is } present on the diaphram of the regulated side. This elimanates } the need to open the tank main valve each time needed. } } B. Roberts } EM Lab Services, Inc. } Tempe, Arizona 85282
I want to thank everyone who replied regarding the autofluorescence problem with the mouse cardiac tissue. My colleague says he was amazed and gratified by the responses. If anyone has any more suggestions, he would be pleased and grateful to hear them.
Thanks again.
Matthew J. Schibler Ph.D. UCLA Brain Research Institute 1524A Gonda (Goldschmied) Center for Neuroscience and Genetics Los Angeles, CA 90095-1761
Dear Colleagues: I have received partial funding for a 2Kx2K CCD digital = camera. The company I requested the camera from is AMT, due not only to = price but also to the fact that the sales representative from Gatan was = slow or never responded to my requests. At this point the camera will = have to go out on bid. I would be interested in finding out if any of you = have dealt with or own a camera from AMT or Gatan and what your experiences= have been in terms of the camera itself (reliability, ease of use, etc) = and in terms of service (ie answering questions, response time, etc). =20
Thank you all in advance. Please respond directly to me at: meshulc-at-ohsu.= edu
We have three Lintech Electron Beam Testers (around 1989 vintage) that we need to get rid of. The electron optics of the systems are recoverable and the electronics would need work. We are willing to donate these systems to a good home (shipping cost not included) if anyone is interested.
Stephen Wood Meridian Scientific Services Inc. Ottawa Canada Tel: 613 836 6749 Fax: 613 836 5880 e-mail: stephenwood-at-meridiansci.com
I know this has been asked before but I cannot easily lay my hand on the information.
What is the current knowledge about the longevity of ink-jet prints (black and white and colour) from medium to low end ink-jets (eg Epson 640 or Phote EX, HP 710). How much difference does the paper make to the expected life of the print.
Thanks
Ian
Ian Hallett HortResearch Mt Albert Research Centre Private Bag 92 169 Auckland, New Zealand Fax 64-9-815 4201 Telephone 64-9-815 4200 EMail ihallett-at-hort.cri.nz
Ian Since these products are recent, their permanence in storage has not yet been tested. My Epson 800/1520 prints stored in the dark seem to be OK *so far*. However, I have noticed fading of displayed Epson 800 and 1520 prints on Epson Glossy Photo paper over a period of about 15 months. These prints are mounted on a boared in an internal corridor, exposed to fluorescent lighting only, and daylight exposure would no doubt further accelerate fading. The assumption should be that these madia are not of archival quality, and it would probably be unwise to sell the prints as artworks, for example.
You might like to know that Marrutt (of darkroom rotary door fame) market Lyson long-life inks and media for Epson ink-jet printers Information about this can be found on the following url
http://www.marrutt.com/
Photo buffs may relish the fact that black inks can now be purchased in selenium and sepia tones, in addition to neutral black. Media Available include 120 and 170 gsm Matt Paper, 180 gsm Gloss Paper Backlight film and fine art papers in different surfaces and grades.
I have no experience of these products, and would be interested to hear any users' observations on colour and print quality, etc. when using these products.
Yours sincerely Chris Jeffree
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 know this has been asked before but I cannot easily lay my hand } on the information. } } What is the current knowledge about the longevity of ink-jet prints } (black and white and colour) from medium to low end ink-jets (eg } Epson 640 or Phote EX, HP 710). How much difference does the } paper make to the expected life of the print. } } Thanks } } Ian } } Ian Hallett } HortResearch } Mt Albert Research Centre } Private Bag 92 169 } Auckland, New Zealand } Fax 64-9-815 4201 } Telephone 64-9-815 4200 } EMail ihallett-at-hort.cri.nz }
===================================================================== DR CHRIS JEFFREE BIOSEM - BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES EM FACILITY UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH Daniel Rutherford Building King's Buildings, Mayfield Road EDINBURGH, EH9 3JH, Scotland, UK Tel. #44 131 650 5345 FAX. #44 131 650 6563 Mobile 0410 585 401 email c.jeffree-at-ed.ac.uk SEM / TEM bookings sem-at-ed.ac.uk =====================================================================
} Date: Fri, 27 Aug 1999 08:39:03 -0400 } From: Larry Allard {l2a-at-ornl.gov} } Subject: Re: Plasma cleaner } To: "Erasmus, Willem (WJ)" {willem.erasmus-at-sasol.com} } Cc: microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } WJ: } } How are your catalyst sample supported? If you disperse the powder over } "clean" holey carbon grids (which contain no residual plastic film from the } production process), by simply dipping the grid into the catalyst powder } and shaking off the excess, you should find that contamination is not a } problem. Typically, powder specimens dangling over holes in carbon films } do not offer enough surface over which to diffuse molecules that cause } contamination buildup under the beam. Of course, the other source of } contamination could be the microscope itself, but that's another story... } } We have found that a plasma cleaner for the TEM specimen/specimen holder } works very well in the instances that we have contamination problems with } fine probe analysis using our Hitachi HF-2000. Our cleaner happens to be a } Fischione, and a couple of minutes treatment generally suffices to cure the } problem. If you suspect that the grids are the source of the } contamination, you might want to clean a grid in the plasma cleaner prior } to deposition of the catalyst specimen. I would be surprised if these } efforts did not produce satisfactory results for you. } } Good luck... } } Larry
Please, be careful not to use the plasma cleaner on holey carbon grids as, to my experience, often the carbon film itself is removed.
Albert Dr. Albert Romano-Rodriguez Professor Titular Dept. of Electronics Faculty of Physics University of Barcelona c/ Marti i Franques, 1 E-08028 BARCELONA Spain tel: +34-93-402 90 69 (+34-93-402 11 47) FAX: +34-93-402 11 48 e-mail: romano-at-el.ub.es
You are quite right. I forgot to mention this...but it turns out that with our Fischione we can plasma-clean holey carbon films for 1-2 minutes and still preserve the film. I think it is gone after about 5 minutes under standard cleaning conditions however. It may be the case that with just an inert gas, say nitrogen, there would be some cleaning benefit also, with perhaps not as much effect on the carbon film, since oxygen is eliminated as the reactive component in the plasma.
Larry
} } Please, be careful not to use the plasma cleaner on holey carbon } grids as, to my experience, often the carbon film itself is removed. } } Albert } Dr. Albert Romano-Rodriguez } Professor Titular } Dept. of Electronics } Faculty of Physics } University of Barcelona } c/ Marti i Franques, 1 } E-08028 BARCELONA } Spain } tel: +34-93-402 90 69 (+34-93-402 11 47) } FAX: +34-93-402 11 48 } e-mail: romano-at-el.ub.es
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
} } What is the current knowledge about the longevity of ink-jet prints } (black and white and colour) from medium to low end ink-jets (eg } Epson 640 or Phote EX, HP 710). How much difference does the } paper make to the expected life of the print.
I can't speak for these specific printers, but archival inks and papers are available for the Epson printers ... e.g., see:
www.dygraphics.com ... or search the wwweb for "lysonic inks"
I have Jim Mancuso's (AMT) older system that used a Kodak 1K 8 bit camera. It has worked fine but is developing hick-ups due to age (purcased 5 years ago) and incompatability with new computer's hardware/software. I reviewed his new system at the MSA 99 meetings and was impressed with it's design (and adaptability to some of my current hardware) and ease of use. His responce to problems has usually been good and he now has additional people working for him so I imagin he won't have to respond to all the calls himself now. Jim has always been good at "working with you " to solve hardware/software, merging your equipment with his, and to come up with a system you can afford. Your lucky, I just wish some one would come up with some money to help me get a 2K system... heck, even one of the new 1K systems!
In the past I too have had problems with getting info from Gatan sales people. I did get a good responce from this last meeting on a specimen holder though.
To be fair, I also looked at Soft Imaging System's and it's design was also good and the poster showing a comparison of their cameras showed very detailed images. I don't know how their price compares with the others though.
As I mention with AMT's system, ask about how well anyones system now will upgrade their older systems so you don/t have to buy a whole system every couple of years. Good Luck.
Roberts, Walck, Grant and Zaluzec conducted some experiments on plasma cleaning crushed zirconolate on holey carbon grids (MRS Spring Meeting 1997) and found the technique to be quite useful. The sample was processe= d in pure argon for a short time which removed most of the contamination. = As the plasma cleaner had 2 independent gas inlets, they were able to perfor= m a final short cleaning with pure oxygen which improved the sample without=
damaging the film. They were also able to reduce the power on the system=
to better control the cleaning process. I suspect that you were using a fixed power machine with a single gas inlet and an argon/oxygen mixture. =
Using that configuration it would be easy to "over process" the sample an= d remove the holey carbon grid. If you still have a need to clean samples = on a holey carbon grid, I would suggest running with the argon and then switching the gas line to run with pure oxygen for a short time. If you cannot reduce the power on your unit, you will still want to be very careful not to over process the sample.
You can find more details on the cleaning of holey carbon grids on our we= b site at www.southbaytech.com/pc150.html. On that page you will find a lin= k to the relevant paper under "Materials Research Society Spring-97 Meeting= ". I also have several other papers on plasma cleaning, plasma trimming and=
plasma etching available (some of those are on the web site). I would be=
happy to send you copies of any or all of them if you have an interest.
DISCLAIMER: The above mentioned work was done with a South Bay Technology= , Inc. Plasma Cleaner. Consequently I have a vested interest in promoting=
Ann No. Nile red is a lipid stain, therefore will stain the wax (though it may have trouble penetrating it to any depth). Wax-embedded tissues will in any case have non-polymerized lipids extracted during processing, so the answer is that Nile red is really applicable only to fresh tissues, deembedded tissues where e.g the cuticle remains after processing - it stains cuticle v. well - or tissues embedded in very polar media (PEG?). It is great for confocal microscopy on live cells and tissues
Chris
} I assume that you are talking about wax embedded tissue. Would Nile red work on resin embedded tissue? } } Ann Fook } } Ann Fook Yang } EM Unit, } Eastern Cereal and Oilseed Research Centre, } Rm 2091, K.W. Neatby Bldg., } Central Farm, } Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0C6 } } Phone: 613-759-1638 } Fax; 613-759-1701 } } } } } "Chris Jeffree" {cjeffree-at-srv0.bio.ed.ac.uk} 08/29 2:17 PM } } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 strongly recommend that you use the fluorescent lipid dye Nile } red instead of Sudan Black. Nile red partitions into lipids rendering } them intensely fluorescent. You may use either FITC or RITC filter } sets, as you prefer. What makes Nile red preferable to the Sudan } dyes is that there is virtually no fluorescence from the dye unless it } is in a lipid environment. Therefore the specimen may be mounted } in an aqueous solution containing a low concentration of the dye, } and de-staining the non-lipid parts of the specimen is completely } unnecessary. Furthermore, because the specimen is immersed in } a stock of fluorochrome, there is minimal photobleaching. } } Chris Jeffree } } Date sent: Fri, 27 Aug 1999 09:44:47 -1000 } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } } From: "Melany H. Chapin" {mchapin-at-ntbg.org} } Subject: Sudan Black B } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } } 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 formula and procedure to check plant material for the } } presence of lipids using Sudan Black B. The formula I am using now stains } } everything black. I am specifically checking palm flowers and fruits. Thank } } you in advance. Please reply to my email: } } } } mchapin-at-ntbg.org } } } } ________________________________________________________________________ } } } } Melany H. Chapin Herbarium (PTBG) } } Curator & Plant Records Manager ph: 808-332-7324 ext. 133 } } National Tropical Botanical Garden (NTBG) fax: 808-332-9765 } } P.O. Box 340 www.ntbg.org } } End of Papalina Road email: mchapin-at-ntbg.org } } Lawai, Kauai, Hawaii 96765 } } USA } } ___________________________________________________________________________ } } } } } } } } } ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ } Dr Chris Jeffree } University of Edinburgh } Biological Sciences EM Facility } Daniel Rutherford Building } King's Buildings EDINBURGH EH9 3JH } Tel: +44 (0) 131 650 5345 } FAX: +44 (0) 131 650 6563 } } Inveresk Cottage, 26 Carberry Road, } Inveresk, Musselburgh, Midlothian EH21 8PR, UK } Tel. +44 (0) 131 665 6062 / Mobile 0410 585 401 } ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ } }
===================================================================== DR CHRIS JEFFREE BIOSEM - BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES EM FACILITY UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH Daniel Rutherford Building King's Buildings, Mayfield Road EDINBURGH, EH9 3JH, Scotland, UK Tel. #44 131 650 5345 FAX. #44 131 650 6563 Mobile 0410 585 401 email c.jeffree-at-ed.ac.uk SEM / TEM bookings sem-at-ed.ac.uk =====================================================================
This is an informative web site I stumbled across last year with comments about ink jet printers, inks and links to digital imaging info. I just checked and it still exists. Updated March 1999.
} } } I know this has been asked before but I cannot easily lay my hand } on the information. } } What is the current knowledge about the longevity of ink-jet prints } (black and white and colour) from medium to low end ink-jets (eg } Epson 640 or Phote EX, HP 710). How much difference does the } paper make to the expected life of the print. } } Thanks } } Ian } } Ian Hallett } HortResearch } Mt Albert Research Centre } Private Bag 92 169 } Auckland, New Zealand } Fax 64-9-815 4201 } Telephone 64-9-815 4200 } EMail ihallett-at-hort.cri.nz }
James S. Romanow The University of Connecticut Physiology and Neurobiology Department Electron Microscopy Facility U-131 Storrs, CT 06269-2131 bsgphy3-at-uconnvm.uconn.edu 860 486-2914 voice 860 486-1936 fax
If your interested in cleaning Carbon support films, my experiences have shown that a pure Argon plasmsa works very well.
I have used this on holey carbon and lacey carbon films with a variety of materials (crushed powders, catalysts, etc...)
Processing time varies with the degree of contamination and power/geometry of the unit. I prefer to use low power (~ 10 W) and longer processing times (5-10 minutes) this way you don't run the risk of destroying the support film on a processing time which is too fast. Remember you can clean a sample many times in small increments. The experimental data indicates that successive cleaning in small increments is effective.
If a film is particuliarly dirty I might use a few minutes of pure Oxygen, but as mentioned by the previous postings, the Oxygen is very aggressive to the carbon support.
Having a unit that allows multiple gas sources is advantageous in this respect.
Nestor Your Friendly Neighborhood SysOp
Disclaimer: ANL holds the patent on Plasma cleaning for TEM/AEM/SEM specimens and receives royalities from commerical sales of this technology.
I have a client who wants to look at biofilms existing on middle ear mucosa biopsies. The principle constituents of the biofilm are Pseudomonas, Strep. pneumon., and Haem. influ. I have referred him to the U Fl. Tips and Tricks page, but I am sure I have seen a thread on biofilms; I just didn't save them. Does anybody remember when this thread appeared so I can go check the archives or do you have a proven protocol that works? I'm not sure if he wants them with or without capsules. There is a group at Montana St. who do this using a cryo stage apparently because they so many bacteria. TIA for your help. -- ============================================================= Bill Chissoe III Electron Microscopist University of Oklahoma 770 Van Vleet Oval Norman, Ok. 73019 E-mail: wchiss-at-ou.edu Ph. (405)325-4391 =============================================================
Hi everyone, Anyone (else) out there have a cryo-stage on the SEM that does service for "outsiders"? I have a project I may not be able to handle due to internal problems with our cryo system {EMSCOPE SP2000A} ie: vacuum leak somewhere in LN2 lines to the stage as well as sputter head lack of coating even with plasma evident in the prep. system. We modified our JEOL 5800LV SEM to fit the system and had it operational ... years ago ( {gulp} ). I am also swamped...ah love the university beginning-of-semester-you-must-do-all-my-microscopy-in-one-month time. =) Thanks!!!
Tracey
Tracey Pepper Supervisor Bessey Microscopy Facility Iowa State University ph: 515-294-3872 fax: 515.294.1337
I work with a research and development group that prototypes semiconductor processes. Presently, there is a need in my company for a critical point dryer that can accomodate 8" wafers, an exceptionally large chamber size from what I have seen so far. If anyone has any knowledge as to the expandability of critical point dryers, or a source from which such a dryer could be purchased, please let me know.
Thermal microscopy is getting to be big business. You can now do thermal studies with Environmental SEM (ESEM, from Phillips), AFM (ex: Digital Instruments, ThermoMicroscopes, and newcomer JEOL), and light microscopy (see Mettler for a variety of stages and inquire of Leica to see if they still make the elegant VacuTherm, a chamber which sits on an inverted metallograph and permits all sorts of thermal and atmospheric controls).
See also: American Lab, July, 1999 for my review of this sort of instrumentation from the recent PITTCON meeting. If you can't find acopy in the UK, just drop me an email and we'll send you a Xerox.
Best regards, Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater productivity.
125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} ****************************************************** MME is America's first national consortium providing customized on-site workshops in all areas of microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis.
At 01:13 PM 9/1/99 -0500, Chengge JIAO wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I received many helpful recipes for preparing bacteria for SEM analysis. These are all very informative and useful. Some can be performed by me using what I have at hand.
However, I had subsequently asked for sources/suppliers of prepared specimen stubs for my SEM and wound up with only one potential source.
Am I correct in concluding that no one will prepare SEM specimens of bacteria on a fee basis? Thus, I have to do it myself? What about non-bacterial specimens? Mites, lice, etc.? I have to do these as well?
If no one will provide this service, this helps me justify the investment in the necessary coating, CPD and other equipment necessary to make these specimen preparations.
Seems rather odd that no one does this. I guess that this is reality in this regard.
University of Queensland Postdoctoral Research Fellow Department of Mining, Minerals and Materials Engineering and the Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis
Applications are invited for the above position. The Department of Mining, Minerals and Materials Engineering (MMM) and the Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis (CMM) are looking to expand our efforts in the examination of phase transformations in ceramic materials. In this regard, we are specifically interested in the olivine to spinel transformation that is thought to be responsible for the production of deep earthquakes.
To aid us in this project, we are seeking an experienced Electron Microscopist (transmission electron microscopy) with a postgraduate research degree (preferably a PhD) in either materials science, physics, chemistry or earth sciences. The candidate should also have some knowledge of basic crystallography.
This is a full-time position for up to two years and is externally funded via an ARC grant. The successful candidate will be jointly attached to the MMM and the CMM. Salary will be in the range of $41,199.15 - $45,910.62 per annum. We are looking to fill this position as soon as possible. For further information, including position description, selection criteria please contact Dr. John Drennan, Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, Telephone: 61-7-3365 6353, Fax 61-7-3365 4422. E-mail: j.drennan-at-mailbox.uq.edu.au.
Closing date for applications 24th September, 1999.
-- ************************************************************ Duncan Waddell (BSc) Senior Scientific Officer Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis The University of Queensland. St. Lucia. Qld. 4072 Telephone: +61-7-3365-4216 Facsimile: +61-7-3365-4422 WWW: http://www.uq.edu.au/nanoworld/nanohome.html ************************************************************ Any opinion expressed is that of the writer, and not necessarily that of CMM or of the University. ************************************************************
I would like to thank everyone for the helpful, competent and sometimes friendly replies to my posting. I now have a few different options to start working on the preparation of my samples, and some new techniques to exploit too.
Thanks a lot
Massimo
Dr. Massimo Catalano member of the Boards of Directors of Italian Society for Electron Microscopy CNR-IME Campus Universitario Via Arnesano 73100 Lecce - ITALY tel: + 39 0832 322362 * fax: + 39 0832 325299 * email: massimo.catalano-at-ime.le.cnr.it http://www.ime.le.cnr.it http://www.ime.le.cnr.it/sime/sime.htm
* Please note that, effective June 1998, a zero has to be dialed right after the country code (39) before the city code (832).
Tracey Pepper wrote: ======================================================= Hi everyone, Anyone (else) out there have a cryo-stage on the SEM that does service for "outsiders"? I have a project I may not be able to handle due to internal problems with our cryo system {EMSCOPE SP2000A} ie: vacuum leak somewhere in LN2 lines to the stage as well as sputter head lack of coating even with plasma evident in the prep. system. We modified our JEOL 5800LV SEM to fit the system and had it operational ... years ago ( {gulp} ). I am also swamped...ah love the university beginning-of-semester-you-must-do-all-my- microscopy-in-one-month time. =) Thanks!!! ======================================================= Our firm was either the first or among the first independent laboratories, at least in the USA to offer a cryo-SEM service some very many years ago. 100% of our laboratory services business is for "outsiders". We now operate with an Oxford system interfaced to a JEOL Model 840 SEM. We have had experience over the years with just about all the various kinds of samples one might want to look at this way. We would be happy to quote you on your requirements. More information about our services can be found on our website given below.
Chuck
=================================================== Charles A. Garber, Ph. D. Ph: 1-(610)-436-5400 President 1-(800)-2424-SPI Structure Probe, Inc. 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: www.2spi.com ############################ ==================================================
Prices of SEMs can vary from free (for an old "fixer-up") to over a half million -for top of the line equipment with all the accessory goodies/analytical attachments available.
I'd like to add Nanonics Imaging, Ltd. to your list of providers of Scanning Thermal Microscopy (AFM). While Nanonics is primarily known for NSOM applications, it provides capabilities in Thermal, ElectroChemical, and Chemical Scanning Probe Microscopy.
Sincerely, Dave Eglinton Eglinton Instruments Specializing in Advanced Technologies representing . . . Nanonics Imaging, Ltd
PO Box 2686 Kennebunkport, ME 04046 T: 800-673-2430; F: 207-967-8741; E: eglinton-at-int-usa.net
Barbara Foster 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 Chennge, } } Thermal microscopy is getting to be big business. You can now do thermal } studies with Environmental SEM (ESEM, from Phillips), AFM (ex: Digital } Instruments, ThermoMicroscopes, and newcomer JEOL), and light microscopy } (see Mettler for a variety of stages and inquire of Leica to see if they } still make the elegant VacuTherm, a chamber which sits on an inverted } metallograph and permits all sorts of thermal and atmospheric controls). } } See also: American Lab, July, 1999 for my review of this sort of } instrumentation from the recent PITTCON meeting. If you can't find acopy } in the UK, just drop me an email and we'll send you a Xerox. } } Best regards, } Barbara Foster } Consortium President } Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater } productivity. } } 125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 } PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com } Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} } ****************************************************** } MME is America's first national consortium providing } customized on-site workshops in all areas of } microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis. } } At 01:13 PM 9/1/99 -0500, Chengge JIAO wrote: } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } } } } } Hi, } } } } I am looking for the name and email address of companies who can make or } } supply the High Temp. Micro-scope and Liquid Metal Density Tester. } } } } Does anybody know above items, please send email to: } } } } c.jiao-at-bham.ac.uk } } } } Thanks. } } } } } } } } } }
We need to get information about CL Detectors for a grant proposal. The application has to be submitted within two days, and has just arrived to us.
Does anyone have any information about CL detector types and cost ? Any help would be much appreciated as it will help us to meet the deadline. Information directly from vendors would be very welcome.
Please respond directly to me off list.
Thanks,
Colin
Colin Reid, Electron Microscope Unit, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland. Tel: 353-1-6081820 Fax: 353-1-6770438 email: creid-at-tcd.ie
Hello, Has anyone seen circles ~1.4 um diameter , after immunofluroescence in lipofectamine transfection of HeLa cells with the corressponding DNA? What are these structures and what might it colocalize with?
We need to clean our tantalum final (fixed) aperture in a Hitachi 2460 variable pressure SEM. Since they are quite expensive ($600-800) does anyone know of a safe and effective procedure to clean such disc apertures? We are considering heating in a vac evaporator using a tungsten boat. But this procedure is tricky.
Thanks,
John B.
#################################################################### John J. Bozzola, Ph.D., Director Center for Electron Microscopy 750 Communications Drive - MC 4402 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 ####################################################################
A colleague is getting ready to service two Porter Bloom MT2-B ultramicrotomes, and I would appreciate if someone would provide the name, phone or whatever contact information you may have of independent service engineers for these microtomes.
Thank you.
John B.
#################################################################### John J. Bozzola, Ph.D., Director Center for Electron Microscopy 750 Communications Drive - MC 4402 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 ####################################################################
Are these in the cytoplasm? Or all over the place (in/on cells and the coverslip)? I haven't used any of the "new and improved" lipid-based transfection systems, but we used to get lipid droplets in/around HeLa...the cytoplasm sometimes was packed with them!
Have you tried electroporating, FU-Gene, adenovirus, etc. instead of lipid? All are cleaner (in terms of background) in our hands and the efficiency is higher. BUT, again, I haven't tried lipofection lately.
No financial interest in any of the above methods (I should be so lucky!).
Tamara Howard CSHL
On Thu, 2 Sep 1999, MICHAEL DELANNOY 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, } Has anyone seen circles ~1.4 um diameter , after immunofluroescence in } lipofectamine transfection of HeLa cells with the corressponding DNA? What } are these structures and what might it colocalize with? } } Thanks, } } Mike D } } }
Hi. I am running a freeze fracture experiment. I have been tried to get a double replica device for a while. We have a Cressington freeze fracture CFE-50 but we don't have a Cressington double replica kit. I was told that Cressington doesn't supply double replica kit anymore. I talked to Balzers distributor in NH this morning. It seemed they had no idea what I was talking about. Does anybody there know where I can get a double replica device which fits Cressington freeze fracture CFE-50? Any ideas and suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.
Shanling Shi Unilever Research US 45 River Road Edgewater, NJ 07020 Email: Shanling.Shi-at-unilever.com
I also am looking for a someone with cryo-optical and possibly cryo-SEM capabilities, preferably in the Chicago area. This will be for a potential project looking at several polymer and wax-like materials. thanks, Brad Huggins, EM Lab BPAmoco Naperville, IL
} ---------- } From: Tracey M. Pepper[SMTP:tpepper-at-iastate.edu] } Sent: Wednesday, September 01, 1999 3:54 PM } To: microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } Subject: cryo-sem } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Hi everyone, } Anyone (else) out there have a cryo-stage on the SEM that does } service for } "outsiders"? I have a project I may not be able to handle due to internal } problems with our cryo system {EMSCOPE SP2000A} ie: vacuum leak somewhere } in LN2 lines to the stage as well as sputter head lack of coating even } with } plasma evident in the prep. system. We modified our JEOL 5800LV SEM to } fit } the system and had it operational ... years ago ( {gulp} ). I am also } swamped...ah love the university } beginning-of-semester-you-must-do-all-my-microscopy-in-one-month time. =) } Thanks!!! } } Tracey } } } } Tracey Pepper } Supervisor } Bessey Microscopy Facility } Iowa State University } ph: 515-294-3872 } fax: 515.294.1337 } }
} We need to clean our tantalum final (fixed) aperture in a Hitachi 2460 } variable pressure SEM. Since they are quite expensive ($600-800) does } anyone know of a safe and effective procedure to clean such disc apertures? } We are considering heating in a vac evaporator using a tungsten boat. But } this procedure is tricky.
Dear John, The Handbook of Chemistry and Physics says, "Tantalum is almost immune to chemical attack at temperatures below 150 [deg] C ... At high temperatures, tantalum becomes much more reactive." Heating in a vac- uum, where there are no chemicals to react, should be OK, but I'd be sure to let the aperture cool completely before airing the chamber, and I'd make sure all the parts in the evaporator were clean to begin with. I'd plasma- clean to get rid of organics, and use NH4OH for W-residue without heating the aperture. Yours, Bill
Hello everyone - Another lurker pokes his head up out of the foxhole. We are beginning or Fall Semester Biological TEM course and one of the women signed up for the course just discovered that she will be a mother in the fullness of time. It is my opinion - and only that, really- that a biological EM labe with four or five fixation/dehydration/infiltration/embedment cycles proceeding at all times, some in cacodylate buffer, some in s-collidine, or whatever, plus exposure to resin components, etc., is no place for a small human being that is developing very rapidly, even if the packaging is sturdy and intelligent. We have had two other cases in the remembered past where this was a question and both women made an informed decision to stay in the class, against the advice of both the lab director and me. Both delivered healthy, full term babies with no problems (one of the "babies" is at least 13 years old now).
What do the rest of you think is the best course of action? Have there been decent studies of EM lab associated teratogens? Since I have never been a parent myself, this is one of those health hazard questions that I have simply decided to be very conservative about - but I have no hard and fast data that back me up.
Thanks very much for any help - data OR informed opinion that the group comes up with.
William P. Sharp Arizona State University Dept. Plant Biology, box 871601 Tempe, AZ 85287-1601 Phone - (602)-965-3210 Fax - (602)-965-6899
} Fall Semester Biological TEM course and one of the women signed up for the } course just discovered that she will be a mother in the fullness of time. } It is my opinion - and only that, really- that a biological EM labe with } four or five fixation/dehydration/infiltration/embedment cycles proceeding } at all times, some in cacodylate buffer, some in s-collidine, or whatever, } plus exposure to resin components, etc., is no place for a small human } being that is developing very rapidly, even if the packaging is sturdy and } intelligent.
If you assembled the MSDS's on all the chemicals used for bio- logical specimen preparation, I'm sure you would be horrified at their potential for harm. Given that ethanol, perhaps the least harmful of the organic solvents, can cause problems--fetal alcohol syndrome if there is enough exposure--I'd be extremely cautious with the more harmful chemicals. Also, many of the chemicals have the specific pur- pose of denaturing (fixing) biological material. The only saving grace--if one can call it that--is that some of these chemicals are so reactive that they will never get as far as the fetus. In this case, they would just damage the mother directly; damage to the fetus would be indirect. Have the woman in question read all the MSDS's before deciding. Remember also that the radiation exposure limits for preg- nant women are at least an order of magnitude lower than for the rest of the population, so the same might be expected for chemical exposure.
} We have had two other cases in the remembered past where this } was a question and both women made an informed decision to stay in the } class, against the advice of both the lab director and me. Both delivered } healthy, full term babies with no problems (one of the "babies" is at least } 13 years old now). } A very small N, and the control experiment was not done. We do not know how much subtle damage was inadvertantly done. Since Pb in very small amounts will lower the IQ a small, but measurable amount, it can be assumed that other environmental insults can also have small effects. Would the expectant mother want to take a year off her child's life expectancy? Increase the chances of cancer by 1%? Such potential problems are not possible to assess from the fact that one child has survived to adolescence.
} What do the rest of you think is the best course of action? Have there been } decent studies of EM lab associated teratogens? Since I have never been a } parent myself, this is one of those health hazard questions that I have } simply decided to be very conservative about - but I have no hard and fast } data that back me up.
I'd (again) get the MSDS's, look up the referrences listed on them, show all this to the woman, and let her decide. But, make sure she makes a fully informed decision. Yours, Bill Tivol
we are exploring the use of our new on-axis CCD camera on our Philips CM200 200 kV FEGTEM.
High resolution images are excellent but we have difficulty with low magnification modes and with capturing diffraction patterns due to the small field of view and the dynamic range in the pattern.
We are interested in conventional and convergent beam patterns.
If anyone out there has solved these problems please respond.
Thanks,
***************************************************** Mel Dickson, Deputy Director. Electron Microscope Unit, University of New South Wales. Sydney NSW 2052 Australia
A colleague of mine is exploring the purchase of a used SEM with (or without) EDS. They would prefer a more compact design but would consider others (such as a JEOL 840, for instance). If anyone out there has a system that they've been thinking of getting rid of, and it is in working condition, please contact me directly at the email address shown below. Think of what a good excuse this would be to upgrade your current system!
Cheers, JSV *************************** John Vetrano Pacific Northwest National Laboratory MSIN P8-16 P.O. Box 999 Richland, WA 99352 Phone: (509)372-0724 Fax: (509)376-6308 Email: mailto:john.vetrano-at-pnl.gov
I have problems with sintering B4C and stabilized zirconia together to obtain dense ceramic materials. A lower processing temperature (e.g., 1500=9AC) is favorable and the reaction between B4C and zirconia should be avoided. I sintered the compact pellet of B4C/ZrO2 mixed powders either in air at 1450=9AC (oxidation was insignificant) or in a hot isostatic press a= t 1250=9AC. But the products were very porous. Any suggestions are welcome an= d appreciated.
Weiliang Gong
Center for Radioactive Waste Management Advanced Materials Laboratory University of New Mexico 1001 University Blvd. SE Albuquerque, NM 87106 (505) 272-7142 (O) (505) 2727304 (FAX) } wgong-at-unm.edu (email address)
William, This issue has been addressed in our laboratories, where there is risk of infection as well as hazardous chemical exposure. As long as all standard precautions are observed and PPE is available for each task, there should be no exposure. All hazards must be addressed in your written procedures and safety criteria must be enforced. Make sure that your fume hood is certified and used correctly, and that gloves are chemical resistant and fit properly. Your institution should have a dept. of environmental and occupational safety and health. They can be a good source for information and policies. Bob Santoianni Emory University Hospital Atlanta, GA
John: For many years we have had Bill McGee of MTS service our Porter Bloom MT2-B ultramicrotomes and can recommend him for the prompt and always satisfactory service. He can be reached by phone at (315) 451-1404. His address is Microtome Service Co. 7568 Florian Way Liverpool, NY 13088 ######################################################## Henry Eichelberger, Manager Electron Microscopy Facility Department of Biological Sciences Binghamton University Binghamton, NY 13902-6000
Gloves, and a fume hood and some common sense are all that is needed
At 02:29 PM 9/2/1999 -0700, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} { GO GATORS Scott D. Whittaker 218 Carr Hall EM Technician Gainesville, FL 32610 University Of Florida ph 352-392-1184 ICBR EM Core Lab fax 352-846-0251 sdw-at-biotech.ufl.edu http://www.biotech.ufl.edu/~emcl/ The home of " Tips & Tricks "
Bill: I would like to add to your comments. A not uncommon mistake when cleaning moly or tantalum apertures is overheating, because we all know that these metals have very high melting points and so white-heat seem alright. Unfortunately high heat leads to large crystal formation and the aperture becomes useless after a couple of heating cycles. I used to clean moly and tantalum apertures on a moly (or tungsten) boat. This too should be previously heated for cleaning. Apertures may be stored in a strong solvent and rinsed in ethanol and than water prior to heat cleaning. I suppose the plasma ashing may do that better. Heat cleaning should be for a couple of minutes, but only at a cherry red heat. Leave a couple of minutes to cool before venting the system.
I don't know that aperture, but the appear rather pricey - has John tried to get it trough another supplier? Most suppliers can get just about any aperture made to order, at usually lower prices than EM manufacturer's apertures. Disclaimer: ProSciTech supplies apertures. Cheers Jim Darley ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com.au Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes www.proscitech.com.au
On Friday, September 03, 1999 6:29 AM, William Tivol [SMTP:tivol-at-wadsworth.org] wrote: } } John J. Bozzola wrote: } } } We need to clean our tantalum final (fixed) aperture in a Hitachi 2460 } } variable pressure SEM. Since they are quite expensive ($600-800) does } } anyone know of a safe and effective procedure to clean such disc apertures? } } We are considering heating in a vac evaporator using a tungsten boat. But } } this procedure is tricky. } } Dear John, } The Handbook of Chemistry and Physics says, "Tantalum is almost } immune to chemical attack at temperatures below 150 [deg] C ... At high } temperatures, tantalum becomes much more reactive." Heating in a vac- } uum, where there are no chemicals to react, should be OK, but I'd be sure } to let the aperture cool completely before airing the chamber, and I'd make } sure all the parts in the evaporator were clean to begin with. I'd plasma- } clean to get rid of organics, and use NH4OH for W-residue without } heating the aperture. } Yours, } Bill }
Recording diffraction patterns using 12 bit dynamic range or more should preserve sufficient information in the pattern, though it may be invisible to the human eye. Hence, you'll need to perform some image analysis in order to filter out the bell-shaped background. See e.g.
S. Zaefferer and R. A. Schwarzer Z. Metallk. 85 (1994), p585.
A customized scintillator (or fluorescent screen) for the camera may be used in order to reduce the strong transmitted beam intensity. Alternatively, a customized beam-stop may be used.
The magnification problem may be solved by recording overlapping images from different parts of the diffraction pattern and then stitch them together using image correlation matching. This procedure can be fully automated, though it will require some efforts in software development (CM remote control and image processing). I believe the CM200 is capable of imaging diffraction patterns at very low camera lengths. It may therefore be a better option to reduce the distortion in these patterns by applying a suitable deconvolution procedure.
Cheers, Paul
=================== Paul Baggethun Alcoa Technical Center Alcoa Center, PA 15069 USA =================== + 724 - 337-1760 (tel) + 724 - 337-2044 (fax) ===================
NOTE: The opinions expressed here represent the opinions of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions of those who hold other opinions.
} ---------- } From: Melvyn Dickson[SMTP:M.Dickson-at-unsw.edu.au] } Sent: Thursday, September 02, 1999 6:47 PM } To: microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } Subject: Diffraction patterns with on-axis CCD camera } } Dear All, } } we are exploring the use of our new on-axis CCD camera on our Philips } CM200 } 200 kV FEGTEM. } } High resolution images are excellent but we have difficulty with low } magnification modes and with capturing diffraction patterns due to the } small field of view and the dynamic range in the pattern. } } We are interested in conventional and convergent beam patterns. } } If anyone out there has solved these problems please respond. } } Thanks, } } } ***************************************************** } Mel Dickson, } Deputy Director. } Electron Microscope Unit, } University of New South Wales. } Sydney NSW 2052 Australia } } Phone (+612) 9385-6383 } Fax (+612) 9385-6400 } Website {http://srv.emunit.unsw.edu.au} } ***************************************************** }
Hi there, does anyone know of a supplier of Teledyne Hastings=20 thermocouple gauges in the MidWest? I ma looking for a replacement=20 for a DV-23 Vacuum Gauge Tube from a Gatan Ion Miller. I can buy=20 this part from Gatan, but I was wondering if I could avoid paying any=20 markup by going a more direct route. Any info would be appreciated
Please note new FAX number.
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) 763-2282 Cellular Phone: (734) 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"
I have been trying in vain for the past two weeks to download the most recent version of UTHSCSA's ImageTool program. The two links I have been trying from a variety of approaches are: http://ddsdx.uthscsa.edu and ftp://maxrad6.uthscsa.edu. Are these still valid, are there more current links or is the software no longer available ? Thanks for any information on this matter. Regards,
Andrew Ochalski, Microscopy Technician, Dept. of Biology, University of Ottawa Room 108, Gendron Bldg. 130 Louis Pasteur, Ottawa, Ontario CANADA K1N 6N5 613-562-5800 x6343 FAX: 613-562 5486
i am interested in etching thin sputtered palladium films approx. 500-1000 angstroms thick. would you please assist me in finding the appropriate chemical to etch with. i would like to have an etch time less than one minute.
As you know Ladd manufactures and cleans thousands of moly and tantalum apertures for numerous applications besides electron microscopes. Some of those applications, such as for satllites, x-ray or medical equipment, require ultra-clean apertures where even the appearance of transient debris is a problem.
In the hope that some of our experience might be of benefit let me tell you what we do:
1. We have a proprietary chemical pre-cleaning process after the aperture is manufactured.
2. We then heat the aperture in a tungsten boat in our evaporator. We feel it's critical in this process to: a) Heat only till cherry red for approximately 5 minutes. b) Turn the current up slowly and back down slowly. c) Be sure the aperture returns to its normal color before venting to air.
3. We will also store and ship in acid cleaned containers.
Hope this helps in some way.
Disclaimer: Ladd does manufacture and sell evaporators and apertures in a variety of materials for electron microscopes.
John Arnott -- LADD RESEARCH 13 Dorset Lane Williston, VT 05495 TEL 1-800-451-3406 (US) or 1-802-878-6711 (anywhere) FAX 1-802-878-8074 e-mail ladres-at-worldnet.att.net web site http://www.ladd.cc
I am looking for an instruction manual for an Reichert-Jung model ''Histoslide 2000'' slinding Microtome. Any suggestions? Thanks. I look forward to your responses.
JOSE ULLAN SERRANO --------------------------- Departamento de ANATOMIA Universidad Panamericana c/ Donatello, 59 Col. Insurgentes-Mixcoac 03920 MEXICO, D.F.
Hello, I have a couple echants you might want to try. 1) Aqua Regia in Glycerol, used cold. I am not sure of the ratios. 2) Another fast etch is hot Nitric Acid. I am sure there are other etches but many employ some fairly noxious chemicals. Here is an example of a slow etch which can be speeded up with the addition of a 3% solution of Sodium Iodide. Potassium Cyanide 20% in water and Amonium Persulphate 20% in water.
Good luck and be careful. This information was gleaned from some dusty old notes.
Alex Greene SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTATION SERVICES, INC. PMB-499, 1807 West Slaughter Lane, Number 200 Austin, Texas 78748-6200 Phone: 512/282-5507 FAX 512/280-0702
QUALITY ELECTRON MICROSCOPE SERVICE -----Original Message----- } From: Corcelius, Brian {BCorcelius-at-krautkramer.com} To: 'microscopy-at-msa.microscopy.com' {microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com}
The Imaging Technology Group at the Beckman Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is seeking a research specialist in light microscopy who will be responsible for operation, maintenance and training for the light microscopes in the ITG microscopy suite.
Responsibilities will include:
=B7 Operating/maintaining light, fluorescence, confocal and stereology microscopes. =B7 Application development: Work in conjunction with users to appl= y new LM techniques to their research. =B7 Supervise and train others in the use of the light microscopy instruments. =B7 Develop novel applications to take advantage of the unique capabilities of the instruments.
More information on facilities and instrumentation can be found at http://www.itg.uiuc.edu/
This position requires a Bachelor's degree with experience in all aspects of light microscopy (specimen preparation, imaging, data analysis). Desirable skills would include experience with data analysis packages for light microscopy.
This is a 12-month, 100% time regular appointment with standard university benefits. Salary will be commensurate with education and experience. At this time, the position is available for a period of three years. The position is available immediately. In order to ensure full consideration, applications must be received by September 21, 1998. Please send letter of application and resume to:
Tricia Ware Imaging Technology Group Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology 405 N. Mathews Urbana, IL 61801 (217)244-0170 e-mail: pware-at-uiuc.edu
The University of Illinois is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.
Stephen Rogers University of California at Davis Section of Molecular and Cellular Biology Briggs Hall, Room 149 Davis, CA 95616 tel: 530.752.2273 email: steverog-at-life.uiuc.edu
Dear John, According to my sources in Hitachi Service Canada, this should be a Molybdenum aperture and should be cleaned by the standard high-vacuum, cherry-red heat in a Mo boat. The Mo boat should be heated empty first to clean it. This method should also work on a tantalum aperture. At 02:22 PM 9/2/99 -0500, you wrote:
} } We need to clean our tantalum final (fixed) aperture in a Hitachi 2460 } variable pressure SEM. Since they are quite expensive ($600-800) does } anyone know of a safe and effective procedure to clean such disc apertures? } We are considering heating in a vac evaporator using a tungsten boat. But } this procedure is tricky. } } Thanks, } } John B. } 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 e-mail: mager-at-interchg.ubc.ca
Vetrano, John S 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 colleague of mine is exploring the purchase of a used SEM with (or without) } EDS. They would prefer a more compact design but would consider others (such as } a JEOL 840, for instance). If anyone out there has a system that they've been } thinking of getting rid of, and it is in working condition, please contact me } directly at the email address shown below. Think of what a good excuse this } would be to upgrade your current system! } } Cheers, JSV } *************************** } John Vetrano } Pacific Northwest National Laboratory } MSIN P8-16 } P.O. Box 999 } Richland, WA 99352 } Phone: (509)372-0724 Fax: (509)376-6308 } Email: mailto:john.vetrano-at-pnl.gov
We sell SEM's, TEM's and related Instruments. Available: AMRAY 1200 $4,900.00 1200B 9,000.00 1700, LaB6/W, turbo pumped $19,000.00 Vacuum Evaporators, Sputter coaters, Crit. Point Dryers and other equipment. Regards, Markus F. Meyenhofer Microscopy Labs
John F. Mansfield 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 there, does anyone know of a supplier of Teledyne Hastings } thermocouple gauges in the MidWest? I ma looking for a replacement } for a DV-23 Vacuum Gauge Tube from a Gatan Ion Miller. I can buy } this part from Gatan, but I was wondering if I could avoid paying any } markup by going a more direct route. Any info would be appreciated } } Please note new FAX number. } } 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) 763-2282 } Cellular Phone: (734) 358-7555 } Email: jfmjfm-at-engin.umich.edu } URL: http://emalwww.engin.umich.edu/people/jfmjfm/jfmjfm.html } Location: Lat. 42° 16' 48" Long. 83° 43' 48"
John,
You can buy DV-23 vac. gauge tube from Kurt J. Lesker Company (vacuum products): (800)245-1656 - lesker.com
Disclaimer: I have no business affiliation with the KJL Company other than being satisfied customer.
I think UTHSCA ImageTool was taken over by Scion Image(???) At any rate, Scion has an easy to use image analysis program that can be downloaded for free from their site:
http://scioncorp.com
Sometimes I have LUT problems, but not when I'm doing image analysis. (Before I got Photoshop, I used to use it to draw pictures ;-) )
-------------------------------------
On Fri, 3 Sep 1999, Andrew Ochalski wrote:
} } Dear Microscopists, } } I have been trying in vain for the past two } weeks to download the most recent version of } UTHSCSA's ImageTool program. The two links } I have been trying from a variety of approaches } are: } http://ddsdx.uthscsa.edu } and } ftp://maxrad6.uthscsa.edu. } Are these still valid, are there more current links } or is the software no longer available ? Thanks ..
We have just analyzed your website's global visibility and your image indicates that you expect to develop business contacts from your site. We found that your site is comprehensive, but due to lack of exposure, you're most probably only capturing a few percent of your potential outreach to on-line potential customers.
Reports show that 95% of all web traffic flows through the major search engines. So, positioning is the main key to the success of your business on-line. Standard search engine registry techniques and traditional print ads are just NOT enough because your homepage is one of billions annexed. Also, only 1-3% of users view listings past the first 3 result pages.
AIM Asia acquires and maintains year-round top listings for "keywords" across the major Search Engines, which continually drives targeted traffic to ones site and maximizes their profitability at all times.
Upon your request, we will provide you FREE-OF-CHARGE with an initial in-depth analysis report on your website's current "keyword" positioning in the major Search Engines. This will give you a "bird's eye" view of the real exposure performance of your site.
After reviewing our visibility report you will know better who we are, what we can do for you, and perhaps most important, what value we can bring to your website.
Best regards,
Mr. Gerald A. Alleva Chairman
************************ AIM Asia Ltd. 704-06 CC Wu Building 302 Hennessy Road Wanchai, Hong Kong
Shanling Shi: I know that double replica devices were available years ago. I still don't know why, so if you require one for your project, let me know. This is how I understand the FE technique and the replica device.
During the FE process a very cold blade removes a series of thin shavings from the sample frozen specimen, to expose a surface of an internal cross section. This results not in a smooth cut (on a microscopic scale) but follows lines of natural weakness, often over and under organelles. "Etching" in Freeze Etching, refers to a short time period, when the much colder knife (minus 170, versus the specimen at minus 100 degrees C) is "parked" above the specimen and some ice sublimes onto the knife, thus increasing relief. Subsequently the samples is coated with Pt/C at an angle and C to make the replica. After cleaning the replica is viewed. These replicas give a surprisingly detailed and somewhat three-dimensional impression of the specimen, which is not prepared using conventional fixation. Now - Shadows from the Pt coating are not electron dense and appear to us negative, meaning "hills and valleys" are reversed. For this reason FE images were often printed as negatives. If you were to prepare one negative and one positive print you would have the impression of the two matching sides, like from a double replica device.
The only reason for a double replica device I can think off, is that the fracture would be much coarser than the one exposed by conventional FE "shaving" method. With the event of high resolution SEM. which has partially replaced the need for the elegant, but difficult FE (TEM) method, there is basically no need for the double replica device. I saw no other posted reply on this topic, but would love to learn from users of the double replica device if there are any special merits today.
Disclaimer: ProSciTech handles some FE technique supplies, but not the apparatus. Cheers Jim Darley ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com.au Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes www.proscitech.com.au
On Friday, September 03, 1999 3:54 AM, Shanling Shi [SMTP:Shanling.Shi-at-unilever.com] wrote: } } } Hi. I am running a freeze fracture experiment. I have been tried to get a } double replica device for a while. We have a Cressington freeze fracture CFE- } 50 } but we don't have a Cressington double replica kit. I was told that } Cressington } doesn't supply double replica kit anymore. I talked to Balzers distributor in } NH this morning. It seemed they had no idea what I was talking about. Does } anybody there know where I can get a double replica device which fits } Cressington freeze fracture CFE-50? Any ideas and suggestions would be } appreciated. Thanks. } } Shanling Shi } Unilever Research US } 45 River Road } Edgewater, NJ 07020 } Email: Shanling.Shi-at-unilever.com }
For what it's worth: I heard Gladys Fiedler speak at a meeting of the AAAS in 1991 about the topic of teratogens and motherhood, and interestingly, she said that the only known case at that time of working with teratogenic materials actually affecting a fetus was that of a man who had worked with heavy metals and his child was born with some kind of defect. At the time Dr. Fiedler was speaking, the government was making some rule that women of child-bearing age couldn't even work in certain jobs for fear that they might affect their offspring, and the point she was making - probably because, as I understand it, this was (is?) her area of study - was that teratogenic affects are perhaps even more likely to affect the sperm which is constantly being made than to affect the child in the uterus, unless of course the woman ingests the teratogen. Just a thought. Gayle Brosnan-Watters
Gayle Brosnan-Watters, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Psychology Department Vanguard University of Southern California 55 Fair Drive Costa Mesa, CA 92626 Phone 714-556-3610 Ext. 454 Fax 714-966-6316 GBrosnanWatters-at-vanguard.edu
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } Dear Microscopists, } } I have been trying in vain for the past two } weeks to download the most recent version of } UTHSCSA's ImageTool program. The two links } I have been trying from a variety of approaches } are: } http://ddsdx.uthscsa.edu } and } ftp://maxrad6.uthscsa.edu. I had the same difficulty. I finally got it at http://macorb.uthscsa.edu/dig/itdesc.html.
I did not "trace" the freeze-fracture discussion. In my point of view, people used "double replicas" technique when for some reason they want to see complementary surfaces of the sample. Double replicas device was available many years ago from BALZERS. Simplest construction is two copper/brass small plates with joint. Plates may rotate by hard spring 180 degree in the manner of the book's cover when you open the book. In the start position, the plates are closed (like closed book) with sample between the plates (say pages in the book) and fixed in such position by some kind of "stopper". The "book" than quickly frozen and mounted in the vacuum evaporator. Vacuum evaporator equipped with some simple device to release "stopper" in time. After all necessary manipulation, "stopper" is released then plates are "opened" by force of the hard spring and breaks the frozen sample. With good luck, the sample broke in the middle than both plates exposure the part of sample with complementary surfaces. The surfaces are shadowed and so as usual. I think, such device is so easy to make in machine shop. Described "book"-like device was developed many years ago in the Institute of Biophysics, Pushchino, Russia. I don't know who was author of this device, but it was used in the Lab. Prof. Borovyagin. I newer used such device in my experiments but was frequent "witness" how people used that. If my description of the "device" is not clear (it is better to draw it), please, E.mail me and I will share with you all I know in this matter. If people from ListServer interested, I may prepare some drawing to illustrate the principle and sent it privately upon request.
Best regards,
} Date: Sun, 05 Sep 1999 22:42:05 +1000 } From: jim {jim-at-proscitech.com.au} } Subject: RE: Freeze fracture Need Help } To: 'Shanling Shi' {Shanling.Shi-at-unilever.com} , } "Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com" {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} } Reply-to: "jim-at-proscitech.com.au" {jim-at-proscitech.com.au} } Organization: ProSciTech } X-Mailer: Microsoft Internet E-mail/MAPI - 8.0.0.4211 } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Dr. Sergey Ryazantsev Department of Biological Chemistry UCLA School of Medicine Box 951737 Los Angeles, CA 90095-1737 Phone: (310)825-1144 (Lab) FAX (departmental): (310) 206-5272 mailto: sryazant-at-ucla.edu mailto:sryazant-at-ucla.edu http://www.bol.ucla.edu/~sryazant E. mail: sryazant-at-ucla.edu http://www.ben2.ucla.edu/~sryazant
I have a problem obtaining diffraction patterns on our CCD camera. We have a Philips CM200 TEM fitted with a Gatan Image Filter. Due to an extra magnification factor introduced by the GIF the image on the TEM viewing screen is much smaller than the image seen on the computer screen. Although bothersome, this does not present too much of a problem in ordinary imaging.
However, when obtaining a diffraction pattern I find that one cannot shield the CCD camera from the centre spot (transmitted beam) with the beam-stop because the image of the beam-stop covers the diffraction pattern. The only thing visible on the screen is the beam-stop.
At the moment I am recording diffraction patterns on film, but is there a way to use the CCD camera for this purpose ?
Dear members of the list, I think I remember that some food researchers are on the list. They could help me or anyone of you with a better biochemical background or somebody who knows other sources which could help me on this question:
Who can give me some general information on caramels and caramelization? What influences the fluidity/viscosity of caramel? Are there ways to induce caramelization at lower temperatures than 65=B0C?
Thanks in advance and best wishes for you all, Michael Reiner
I am looking for the recipe for Dalton's Osmium Solution. I have a couple of references, but the details of the recipe are different. Does anyone have the citation of the original reference? Thank you very much!
Hello, This may seem a strange solution but why not use a smaller beam stop? All the beam stop is is a wire of Aluminum. You could make another beam stop of a lesser diameter. Try pulling some Aluminum wire. You can get a very small diameter, provided the alloy has enough ductility. I would suggest that it is not good idea to blast your CCD camera with the strong diffracted beam.
Good luck.
Alex Greene SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTATION SERVICES, INC. PMB-499, 1807 West Slaughter Lane, Number 200 Austin, Texas 78748-6200 Phone: 512/282-5507 FAX 512/280-0702
QUALITY ELECTRON MICROSCOPE REPAIR
-----Original Message----- } From: Erasmus, Willem (WJ) {willem.erasmus-at-sasol.com} To: 'microscopy-at-msa.microscopy.com' {microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com}
Could someone please point me to an on-line resource (or previous letter to this group) that provides a protocol for embedding early post-implantation (E8-9.5) mouse embryos in paraffin?
We have tried embedding in gelatin as for cryostating, but the wax does not infiltrate properly.
Many thanks,
-Ron Goldstein -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Ron Goldstein email goldst-at-mail.biu.ac.il Dept. Life Sciences Tel. 972-3-531-8216 Bar-Ilan Univ FAX 972-3-535-1824 52900 Ramat-Gan, ISRAEL http://www.biu.ac.il/NAT/ls/goldstein.html -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
} Hi- } } I am looking for the recipe for Dalton's Osmium Solution. I have a couple } of references, but the details of the recipe are different. Does anyone } have the citation of the original reference? Thank you very much! }
Dalton, A.J. Anatomical Record 121:281, 1955
-- ********************************************** 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 mcauliff-at-umdnj.edu **********************************************
} } Subject: Re: Freeze fracture Need Help } } } } Dear freeze fracturers, } } } } We (BAL-TEC / Balzers) still manufacture double replica devices. Please } check our } } home page at bal-tec.com . For any questions please contact me off line. } } Best regards } } Alex Vogt } } BAL-TEC is a manufacturer of preparation equipment. } }
We would like to acquire STEM, SE, and BSE attachments for JEOL's JEM1200EX. Dealers welcome.
Marek Malecki, M.D., Ph.D. Director and Principal Investigator
Electron Microscopy Facilities and Department of Biology University of California at San Diego
address: 1500 Bonner Hall, University of California at San Diego 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0368 telephone - lab: 8585342484 telephone - office: 8588223373 pager: 8586161420 email: mmm-at-biomail.ucsd.edu
Dear list members! I am servicing the SEM Hitachi S-800 at the Moscow State University. It is time now to replace the field emission cathode in this microscope. But unlike the substitution of heating cathodes the substitution of field emission ones is rather composite procedure. Could anybody prompt anything about any FEGSEM in this occasion? I shall take your advises with gratitude. Please you could reply by E-mail: antron-at-space.ru, or by fax (in USA): 603-761-3208.
Victor Sidorenko, ANTRON Co. Ltd., scientific service, Moscow, Russia.
Well, I think you do not have to shield the camera from the direct beam. In fact, I recorded a lot of EDs on our CCD (a 679 1k x 1k from Gatan) of biological 2D crystals (Brink & Chiu, J. Struct. Biol. (1994) 113:23). About the only thing ocurring when recording ED like this is overflow of the charge from the pixels with incident irradiation to neighbouring pixels (spike formation). At really high dose per ED (more than 1 e/angstrom^2 on the specimen, equivalent to about 10^7 e in the central beam) you may get some remnant of this spike in subsequent EDs. This imprint result from charge that gets deposited into the bulk of the silicon. However, if you are recording ED from inorganic materials, more than likely you should not have these problems. Besides, the imprint can easily be removed by raising the CCD temperature from -30C to RT. Alternatively, if you are afraid you may damage the CCD without using a beam stop (although we recorded well over 10,000 on our SSC without any signs of damage) you could inquire with your EM manufacturer about a custom built beam stop. I'm afraid though you may find the cost of such a beam stop prohibitively high.
Good luck with your efforts.
Jaap
-- Jaap Brink, Ph.D. Biochemistry, One Baylor Plaza, Baylor College of Medicine, Rm. N420 Alkek Building, Houston, TX 77030 Phone: (713)798-6989 -- Fax: (713)796-9438 -- Email: jbrink-at-bcm.tmc.edu URL : http://ncmi.bioch.bcm.tmc.edu/~brink
On Mon, 6 Sep 1999, Erasmus, Willem (WJ) wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Dear Microscopists } } I have a problem obtaining diffraction patterns on our CCD camera. We have a } Philips CM200 TEM fitted with a Gatan Image Filter. Due to an extra } magnification factor introduced by the GIF the image on the TEM viewing } screen is much smaller than the image seen on the computer screen. Although } bothersome, this does not present too much of a problem in ordinary imaging. } } } However, when obtaining a diffraction pattern I find that one cannot shield } the CCD camera from the centre spot (transmitted beam) with the beam-stop } because the image of the beam-stop covers the diffraction pattern. The only } thing visible on the screen is the beam-stop. } } At the moment I am recording diffraction patterns on film, but is there a } way to use the CCD camera for this purpose ? } } }
The program is set for the meeting to be held at San Francisco State University on October 2nd. The program and abstracts are available at the meeting web page (http://online.sfsu.edu/~camicro/). Registration is also via this web page. Please join us.
greg antipa
Program Highlights below:
For program, flyers, and registration go to: http://online.sfsu.edu/~camicro/ or search camicro either at www.sfsu.edu or your favorite search engine
5th California Microscopy Colloquium The California State University & Northern California Society for Microscopy Saturday, October 2, 1999
Seven Hills Conference Center San Francisco State University
All fields of light and electron microscopy. Participants include scientists and students from academia and industry.
to include presentations by:
David Blake Life on Mars and life in the Mars Meteorite. Has the latter taken on a life of its own?
Jacek Gaertig Molecular and microscopic analysis of organelle assembly in Tetrahymena.
David Scharf Scanning Electron Microscopy in the 21st Century.
and 40 others
Register Online (http://online.sfsu.edu/~camicro/) Registration (From August 3rd to September 24th): Regular - $35, Student - $15 Registration includes both lunch and breaks Late Registration after September 24th & On Site: Regular - $35, Student - $15 For Late Registration, lunch may not be included dep. on the date of your registration.
or, in a pinch Greg Antipa Phone: (415) 338-2951 or EMail: antipa-at-sfsu.edu or FAX (415) 338-2295
Gregory A. Antipa Department of Biology San Francisco State University San Francisco CA 94132 Office/Lab (415) 338-2951 Email antipa-at-sfsu.edu FAX (415) 338-2295
The replacement of a Hitachi S-800 FE tip is fairly straightforward. A detailed procedure is in the service manual which you may or may not have.
This is not a trivial procedure but it is also not an overwhelming procedure: just tedious and not for someone who doe not have a "feel" for equipment. What I mean by a ""feel" for equipment' is someone who can work well with tools and instrumentation. If you have not don't try this at the lab.
Conversely, I would not be afraid of this either. A man put this together, a man can take it apart and repair it.
You will be working with an ultra-high vacuum system and consequently all the common sense procedures regarding cleanliness and attention to detail apply. Do not leave fingerprints, use several sets of lint-free gloves, rinse contaminated areas with reagent grade methanol, etc. I pre-clean the tools I use with acetone then methanol.
Make sure you have all the replacement parts including 6-inch conflat, new FE tip and springs.
As I can recall the procedure is as follows:
1. I usually ensure that I have all the replacement parts including a new FE tip, new springs, conflat gasket, new lint free gloves, aluminum foil, tweezers, 13mm socket with torque wrench. 2. I turn off all three the ion pump power supplies. 3. Remove the four piece shroud covering the ion pumps. Be careful not to short anything or turn the SEM power off then turn power back on to continue. 4. Turn off the " Display Power". 5. Remove the high voltage cable at the FE gun end. 6. Remove the three mu-metal shield from the column. 7. Clean and dust the FE surfaces. I use a dry paintbrush then follow the area using a lint-free cloth soaked in methanol. 8. Prepare a tabletop area to work on the gun. I dust the surface then follow with a lint-free cloth soaked in methanol. I then cover the area with aluminum foil. 9. Open the Ion-pump bypass valves (4) located to the right side of each of the ion pumps. CCW opens them. 10. Vent the specimen chamber. This will also vent the gun as the bypass valves are open. Venting with N2 helps. 11. Unbolt all 16 conflat bolts located at the top of the gun. Mark the gun chamber and gun with felt pen as a reference. 12. Refer to the operation manual: there are three silver sleeves and corresponding bolts in the toolkit. Looking at the gun studs from the top locate three studs that have the threads for the sleeve installation. remove the three studs and install the three sleeves and bolts. See manual for description as the manual has pictures that are difficult to descibe here. 13. CAREFULLY lift out the gun assembly. Lifting upward only. 14. Flip the gun assembly over and place on prepared table. 15. Use gloves at this point. Remove and discard old conflat. Replace with new, clean conflat opened from package. Cover open gun chamber with aluminum foil. 16. We are now working on the gun assembly. The FE tip has two pins:one insulated the other grounded to the assembly. Note the pin position. Loosen the two allen screw holding the pins. Remove the old FE tip. 17. The springs located on either side of the FE tip are now distorted and damaged. Remove the springs. Remove the pins located at the end of the springs. make sure the spring pins are not distorted. reshape them if necessary. Replace springs with the new ones ordered. When replacing the springs only screw on the springs with one turn at each end. In other words, do NOT screw the springs on as tight as they can. make the spring as straigjht as you can. 18. Re-install the FE tip observing the "polarity" - one side is insulated from the rest of the housing. Tighten the allen head screws after placing the FE tip in place. 19. Remove the aluminum foil from the gun chamber. 20. CAREFULLY re-install the gun ensuring that the pins align to the corresponding posts located down in the gun chamber. Not a easy task. 21. Using an ohm-meter, measure the resistance down in the gun assembly from the two side pins. These are the same two pins that you connect the "inner bake" cable to when baking the system.The resistance should be around 28 ohms. 22. If you have measured the proper resistance of 28 to 30 ohms, CONGRATULATIONS the worst is over. If not remove the gun and find out why. You may need to replace the pins again. 23. Remove the silver alignment bolt & sleeves. Tighten the gun bolts using a cross pattern and the proper torque listed in the instruction manual. Check resistance again. 24. Pump column down with bypass valves open. When pressure is better than 10-6, I bake the system (inner and outer) for at least 6 hours. 25. Close the three bypass valves along side of the ion pumps. The fourth bypass valve (bottom)is recommeded to be left open for some reason. 26. Follow the bake cycle procedure described in the instruction manual for a inner and out bake. 27. I usually bake the system three times before conditioning the gun for use. Gun conditioing is described in the instruction manual. 28. After the gun conditioning, the tip needs to be "blunted". Blunting is done by heavy flashing the tip three times in sucession. 29. The mu metal shields and the shrouds can be re-installed and the gun & column can be aligned. Gun & column alignment is also described in the instruction manual.
Easy wasn't it.
The gun replacement procedure should take 4 hours. Baking should take another three days for a total of about four days at best. This may seem like an overwhelming task but Hitachi has one of the best and easiest gun replacement procedures. Other designs require factory replacement and are the tip replacement cannot be done in the field.
Regards,
Earl Weltmer
Victor Sidorenko 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 list members! } I am servicing the SEM Hitachi S-800 at the Moscow State University. } It is time now to replace the field emission cathode in this } microscope. But unlike the substitution of heating cathodes the } substitution of field emission ones is rather composite procedure. } Could anybody prompt anything about any FEGSEM in this occasion? I } shall take your advises with gratitude. } Please you could reply by E-mail: antron-at-space.ru, } or by fax (in USA): 603-761-3208. } } Victor Sidorenko, ANTRON Co. Ltd., scientific service, Moscow, Russia.
I forgot to add the following step after step 24: activate the ion pumps.
Earl Weltmer 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } The replacement of a Hitachi S-800 FE tip is fairly straightforward. A } detailed procedure is } in the service manual which you may or may not have. } } This is not a trivial procedure but it is also not an overwhelming } procedure: just tedious and not for } someone who doe not have a "feel" for equipment. What I mean by a ""feel" } for equipment' is someone who } can work well with tools and instrumentation. If you have not don't try this } at the lab. } } Conversely, I would not be afraid of this either. A man put this together, a } man can take it apart and repair it. } } You will be working with an ultra-high vacuum system and consequently all } the common sense procedures } regarding cleanliness and attention to detail apply. Do not leave } fingerprints, use several sets of lint-free gloves, } rinse contaminated areas with reagent grade methanol, etc. I pre-clean the } tools I use with acetone then methanol. } } Make sure you have all the replacement parts including 6-inch conflat, new } FE tip and springs. } } As I can recall the procedure is as follows: } } 1. I usually ensure that I have all the replacement parts including a new FE } tip, new springs, conflat gasket, } new lint free gloves, aluminum foil, tweezers, 13mm socket with torque } wrench. } 2. I turn off all three the ion pump power supplies. } 3. Remove the four piece shroud covering the ion pumps. Be careful not to } short anything or turn the SEM power off then turn power back on to } continue. } 4. Turn off the " Display Power". } 5. Remove the high voltage cable at the FE gun end. } 6. Remove the three mu-metal shield from the column. } 7. Clean and dust the FE surfaces. I use a dry paintbrush then follow the } area using a lint-free cloth soaked in methanol. } 8. Prepare a tabletop area to work on the gun. I dust the surface then } follow with a lint-free cloth soaked in methanol. } I then cover the area with aluminum foil. } 9. Open the Ion-pump bypass valves (4) located to the right side of each of } the ion pumps. CCW opens them. } 10. Vent the specimen chamber. This will also vent the gun as the bypass } valves are open. Venting with N2 helps. } 11. Unbolt all 16 conflat bolts located at the top of the gun. Mark the gun } chamber and gun with felt pen as a reference. } 12. Refer to the operation manual: there are three silver sleeves and } corresponding bolts in the toolkit. } Looking at the gun studs from the top locate three studs that have the } threads for the sleeve installation. } remove the three studs and install the three sleeves and bolts. See } manual for description as the manual } has pictures that are difficult to descibe here. } 13. CAREFULLY lift out the gun assembly. Lifting upward only. } 14. Flip the gun assembly over and place on prepared table. } 15. Use gloves at this point. Remove and discard old conflat. Replace with } new, clean conflat opened from package. } Cover open gun chamber with aluminum foil. } 16. We are now working on the gun assembly. The FE tip has two pins:one } insulated the other grounded to the assembly. } Note the pin position. Loosen the two allen screw holding the pins. } Remove the old FE tip. } 17. The springs located on either side of the FE tip are now distorted and } damaged. Remove the springs. Remove the pins } located at the end of the springs. make sure the spring pins are not } distorted. reshape them if necessary. Replace } springs with the new ones ordered. When replacing the springs only } screw on the springs with one turn at each end. } In other words, do NOT screw the springs on as tight as they can. make } the spring as straigjht as you can. } 18. Re-install the FE tip observing the "polarity" - one side is insulated } from the rest of the housing. Tighten the allen head screws } after placing the FE tip in place. } 19. Remove the aluminum foil from the gun chamber. } 20. CAREFULLY re-install the gun ensuring that the pins align to the } corresponding posts located down in the gun chamber. } Not a easy task. } 21. Using an ohm-meter, measure the resistance down in the gun assembly from } the two side pins. These are the same two pins } that you connect the "inner bake" cable to when baking the system.The } resistance should be around 28 ohms. } 22. If you have measured the proper resistance of 28 to 30 ohms, } CONGRATULATIONS the worst is over. } If not remove the gun and find out why. You may need to replace the } pins again. } 23. Remove the silver alignment bolt & sleeves. Tighten the gun bolts using } a cross pattern and the proper torque listed in the } instruction manual. Check resistance again. } 24. Pump column down with bypass valves open. When pressure is better than } 10-6, I bake the system (inner and outer) for at least 6 hours. } 25. Close the three bypass valves along side of the ion pumps. The fourth } bypass valve (bottom)is recommeded to be left open for some reason. } 26. Follow the bake cycle procedure described in the instruction manual for } a inner and out bake. } 27. I usually bake the system three times before conditioning the gun for } use. Gun conditioing is described in the instruction manual. } 28. After the gun conditioning, the tip needs to be "blunted". Blunting is } done by heavy flashing the tip three times in sucession. } 29. The mu metal shields and the shrouds can be re-installed and the gun & } column can be aligned. Gun & column alignment } is also described in the instruction manual. } } Easy wasn't it. } } The gun replacement procedure should take 4 hours. Baking should take } another three days for a total of about four days at best. } This may seem like an overwhelming task but Hitachi has one of the best and } easiest gun replacement procedures. } Other designs require factory replacement and are the tip replacement cannot } be done in the field. } } Regards, } } Earl Weltmer } } Victor Sidorenko 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 list members! } } I am servicing the SEM Hitachi S-800 at the Moscow State University. } } It is time now to replace the field emission cathode in this } } microscope. But unlike the substitution of heating cathodes the } } substitution of field emission ones is rather composite procedure. } } Could anybody prompt anything about any FEGSEM in this occasion? I } } shall take your advises with gratitude. } } Please you could reply by E-mail: antron-at-space.ru, } } or by fax (in USA): 603-761-3208. } } } } Victor Sidorenko, ANTRON Co. Ltd., scientific service, Moscow, Russia.
Yes, the danger of damaging the CAMERA itself is very low. I am not aware of any camera that is exposed to the beam directly. This would pose problems with sensitivity, damage to the CCD chip and many X-rays being recorded as well.
Cameras usually use some form of electron-light converter (Phosphor, YAG), then funnel the light to the CCD chip by use of a lens system or fiber-optic channel plate. Most CCD chips react to overexposure with light simply by "spilling" charge into the next pixels, which leads to "blooming". There are chips available that have anti-blooming guard rings around each pixel, but they are very expensive and they reduce sensitivity, as the guard ring area is not photo sensitive.
The part that suffers the most from exposure to high beam currents (as in the central diffraction spot) is probably the phosphor or YAG, which can be burned. Unlike during regular TEM, where the viewing screen is only used for viewing, a camera uses the same phosphor for viewing and recording images. You should try to avoid burning the phosphor to maintain good image quality later on.
Michael
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 1675 Carr St., #105N Lakewood, CO 80215 =================================== phone: (888) FIND SIS (303) 234-9270 fax: (303) 234-9271 email: mailto:info-at-soft-imaging.com web: http://www.soft-imaging.com ===================================
-----Original Message----- } From: Exchange Administrator Sent: Tuesday, September 07, 1999 12:08 AM To: Michael Bode
Well, I think you do not have to shield the camera from the direct beam. In fact, I recorded a lot of EDs on our CCD (a 679 1k x 1k from Gatan) of biological 2D crystals (Brink & Chiu, J. Struct. Biol. (1994) 113:23). About the only thing ocurring when recording ED like this is overflow of the charge from the pixels with incident irradiation to neighbouring pixels (spike formation). At really high dose per ED (more than 1 e/angstrom^2 on the specimen, equivalent to about 10^7 e in the central beam) you may get some remnant of this spike in subsequent EDs. This imprint result from charge that gets deposited into the bulk of the silicon. However, if you are recording ED from inorganic materials, more than likely you should not have these problems. Besides, the imprint can easily be removed by raising the CCD temperature from -30C to RT. Alternatively, if you are afraid you may damage the CCD without using a beam stop (although we recorded well over 10,000 on our SSC without any signs of damage) you could inquire with your EM manufacturer about a custom built beam stop. I'm afraid though you may find the cost of such a beam stop prohibitively high.
Good luck with your efforts.
Jaap
-- Jaap Brink, Ph.D. Biochemistry, One Baylor Plaza, Baylor College of Medicine, Rm. N420 Alkek Building, Houston, TX 77030 Phone: (713)798-6989 -- Fax: (713)796-9438 -- Email: jbrink-at-bcm.tmc.edu URL : http://ncmi.bioch.bcm.tmc.edu/~brink
On Mon, 6 Sep 1999, Erasmus, Willem (WJ) wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Dear Microscopists } } I have a problem obtaining diffraction patterns on our CCD camera. We have a } Philips CM200 TEM fitted with a Gatan Image Filter. Due to an extra } magnification factor introduced by the GIF the image on the TEM viewing } screen is much smaller than the image seen on the computer screen. Although } bothersome, this does not present too much of a problem in ordinary imaging. } } } However, when obtaining a diffraction pattern I find that one cannot shield } the CCD camera from the centre spot (transmitted beam) with the beam-stop } because the image of the beam-stop covers the diffraction pattern. The only } thing visible on the screen is the beam-stop. } } At the moment I am recording diffraction patterns on film, but is there a } way to use the CCD camera for this purpose ? } } }
re: DV-23 Vacuum Gauge Tube for a Gatan Ion Miller
Hi all, Obviously I was not thinking very clearly last week, several people=20 pointed out that Duniway Stockroom was the perfect place to go for=20 this part! Many thanks for the help.
Here is a summary of the response I got (not attributions)
1. Kurt Lesker has the DV-23 for $58. Duniway Stockroom has an equivalent for $56.
2. Have you tried Lesker (www.lesker.com)? They are in western PA but usua= lly ship stuff out quickly.
3. You should give Duniway a call. They had a booth at M&M
4. Teledyne Hastings Chicago office: (804) 723-3925 As of 1994!
5. Yeah--call Teledyne Hastings-Raydist and ask for the name of your local dealer. When I did this, they had a $75 minimum order (2 tubes), so I had a spare....
6. Try Duniway Stock Room www.duniway.com 800-446-8811. Their=20 replacement for the DV-23 is part DST-023
7. Teledyne Hastings - Tel:757-723-6531, Fax:757-723-3925, E-mail :=20 Charles fulmer-at-teledyne.com
Please note new FAX number.
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) 763-2282 Cellular Phone: (734) 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"
We routinely record selected-area and parallel-nanopobe diffraction patterns with a bottom-mounted Gatan 1K x 1K CCD camera on our JEOL 2010F FEGTEM. Typical indicated camera lengths in the microscope are 15-20 cm to record spot or ring patterns for phase identification, and a bit less to get wide-angle patterns for orientation analysis from Kikuchi lines. The (12-bit) dynamic range of this camera is just about sufficient to capture the entire pattern intensity range up to the intense central beam with no beam stop. This usually takes a few adjustments of the exposure time so that the pattern center is just at or a little above saturation (at 14K to 16 K counts, depending whether you use dark current subtraction). To get the pattern intensity in range for recording times up to a few seconds, and of course to avoid damaging the YAG scintillator with the direct beam, you can reduce the intensity by choosing a small condenser aperture.
If you use dark current subtraction, be sure the beam deflection system of the microscope is set up to completely blank diffraction patterns. Otherwise, the automatically recorded dark current pattern will actually be a displaced diffraction pattern and the subtraction result will not be what you want. I usually use a continuous recording mode, and start recording with the camera blanked by the microscope viewing screen. In this mode, you can dynamically adjust the exposure time, set the contrast, and make other corrections before recording the final pattern.
Finally, lens hysteresis in the microscope can have a large effect on pattern (camera constant) calibration at these small camera lengths.
Larry
Larry Thomas Battelle, Pacific Northwest Laboratories Richland, WA
Larry.Thomas-at-pnl.gov (509) 372-0793
---------- From: Michael Bode Sent: Tuesday, September 7, 1999 6:50 AM To: 'Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com' Subject: RE: Diff patterns
------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
Yes, the danger of damaging the CAMERA itself is very low. I am not aware of any camera that is exposed to the beam directly. This would pose problems with sensitivity, damage to the CCD chip and many X-rays being recorded as well.
Cameras usually use some form of electron-light converter (Phosphor, YAG), then funnel the light to the CCD chip by use of a lens system or fiber-optic channel plate. Most CCD chips react to overexposure with light simply by "spilling" charge into the next pixels, which leads to "blooming". There are chips available that have anti-blooming guard rings around each pixel, but they are very expensive and they reduce sensitivity, as the guard ring area is not photo sensitive.
The part that suffers the most from exposure to high beam currents (as in the central diffraction spot) is probably the phosphor or YAG, which can be burned. Unlike during regular TEM, where the viewing screen is only used for viewing, a camera uses the same phosphor for viewing and recording images. You should try to avoid burning the phosphor to maintain good image quality later on.
Michael
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 1675 Carr St., #105N Lakewood, CO 80215 =================================== phone: (888) FIND SIS (303) 234-9270 fax: (303) 234-9271 email: mailto:info-at-soft-imaging.com web: http://www.soft-imaging.com ===================================
-----Original Message----- } From: Exchange Administrator Sent: Tuesday, September 07, 1999 12:08 AM To: Michael Bode Subject: FW: Diff patterns
} ---------- } From: "brink-at-tiger.3dem.bioch.bcm.tmc.edu"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com[SMTP:"BRINK-at-T IGER.3DEM.BIOCH.BCM.TMC.EDU"-at-SPARC5.MICROSCOPY.COM] } Sent: Monday, September 06, 1999 8:24:38 PM } To: Erasmus, Willem (WJ) } Cc: 'microscopy-at-msa.microscopy.com' } Subject: Re: Diff patterns } Auto forwarded by a Rule } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
Well, I think you do not have to shield the camera from the direct beam. In fact, I recorded a lot of EDs on our CCD (a 679 1k x 1k from Gatan) of biological 2D crystals (Brink & Chiu, J. Struct. Biol. (1994) 113:23). About the only thing ocurring when recording ED like this is overflow of the charge from the pixels with incident irradiation to neighbouring pixels (spike formation). At really high dose per ED (more than 1 e/angstrom^2 on the specimen, equivalent to about 10^7 e in the central beam) you may get some remnant of this spike in subsequent EDs. This imprint result from charge that gets deposited into the bulk of the silicon. However, if you are recording ED from inorganic materials, more than likely you should not have these problems. Besides, the imprint can easily be removed by raising the CCD temperature from -30C to RT. Alternatively, if you are afraid you may damage the CCD without using a beam stop (although we recorded well over 10,000 on our SSC without any signs of damage) you could inquire with your EM manufacturer about a custom built beam stop. I'm afraid though you may find the cost of such a beam stop prohibitively high.
Good luck with your efforts.
Jaap
-- Jaap Brink, Ph.D. Biochemistry, One Baylor Plaza, Baylor College of Medicine, Rm. N420 Alkek Building, Houston, TX 77030 Phone: (713)798-6989 -- Fax: (713)796-9438 -- Email: jbrink-at-bcm.tmc.edu URL : http://ncmi.bioch.bcm.tmc.edu/~brink
On Mon, 6 Sep 1999, Erasmus, Willem (WJ) wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Dear Microscopists } } I have a problem obtaining diffraction patterns on our CCD camera. We have a } Philips CM200 TEM fitted with a Gatan Image Filter. Due to an extra } magnification factor introduced by the GIF the image on the TEM viewing } screen is much smaller than the image seen on the computer screen. Although } bothersome, this does not present too much of a problem in ordinary imaging. } } } However, when obtaining a diffraction pattern I find that one cannot shield } the CCD camera from the centre spot (transmitted beam) with the beam-stop } because the image of the beam-stop covers the diffraction pattern. The only } thing visible on the screen is the beam-stop. } } At the moment I am recording diffraction patterns on film, but is there a } way to use the CCD camera for this purpose ? } } }
A few years ago I saw at an MSA meeting a poster detailing how a low vibration room for TEM's had been designed and constructed as part of a new building. It involved the pouring of a concrete slab uniquely for a TEM and separate from the walls to minimize vibration. I thought I had a copy of the information provided by the poster but cannot seem to find it. Does anyone know:
1) Who authored the poster and a contact number? 2) Where I might find MSA poster information archived? 3) Any other information related to building a low vibration room as part of a new building?
Thanks in advance for your time and help.
Sincerely,
Mick Thomas ------------------------- Mick Thomas UHV-STEM Laboratory E-1 Clark Hall Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14853
At 04:20 PM 9/7/99 -0700, Mick Thomas wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Hendrik O. Colijn colijn.1-at-osu.edu Campus Electron Optics Facility Ohio State University (614) 292-0674 http://web.ceof.ohio-state.edu Murphy's Law: "If anything can go wrong, it will." Commentary: "Murphy was an optimist."
A paper covering the installation concerns, including vibration, for a FEG-TEM can be found in the proceedings from the MRS Spring 1999 symposium "Electron Microscopy of Semiconducting Materials and ULSI Devices."
C.J.D. Hetherington, et.al., "Installing and Operating FEGTEM's," Mater. Res. Soc. Proc. Vol. 523, ed. by C. Hayzelden, C. Hetherington, and F. Ross, pp. 171-6.
Philip L. Flaitz IBM Analytical Services, Hopewell Junction, NY http://www.chips.ibm.com/services/asg Ph.......(914) 892-3094, FAX -2003 flaitz-at-us.ibm.com
Mick Thomas {mgt3-at-msc.cornell.edu} on 09/07/99 07:20:44 PM
To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com cc:
Fellow microscopists,
A few years ago I saw at an MSA meeting a poster detailing how a low vibration room for TEM's had been designed and constructed as part of a new building. It involved the pouring of a concrete slab uniquely for a TEM and separate from the walls to minimize vibration. I thought I had a copy of the information provided by the poster but cannot seem to find it. Does anyone know:
1) Who authored the poster and a contact number? 2) Where I might find MSA poster information archived? 3) Any other information related to building a low vibration room as part of a new building?
Thanks in advance for your time and help.
Sincerely,
Mick Thomas ------------------------- Mick Thomas UHV-STEM Laboratory E-1 Clark Hall Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14853
Mick, The poster you saw was probably: "Design and implementation of a site for a one-Ångstrom TEM", John H. Turner, Michael A. O'Keefe and Robert Mueller, in 55th Ann. Proc. MSA, Cleveland, Ohio (1997) 1177-1178. Contact me or John turner if you want more details. -Mike O'Keefe p.s. see http://ncem.lbl.gov/frames/oam.htm for images obtained using the microscope in that room.
Mick Thomas {mgt3-at-msc.cornell.edu} wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
} of the information provided by the poster but cannot seem to find it. Does } anyone know: } } 1) Who authored the poster and a contact number? } 2) Where I might find MSA poster information archived? } 3) Any other information related to building a low vibration room as part } of a new building? } } Thanks in advance for your time and help. } } Sincerely, } } Mick Thomas } ------------------------- } Mick Thomas } UHV-STEM Laboratory } E-1 Clark Hall } Cornell University } Ithaca, NY 14853 } } Phone: 607-255-0650 } Fax: 607-255-7658 } e-mail: mgt3-at-msc.cornell.edu } }
Mick Thomas 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Fellow microscopists, } } A few years ago I saw at an MSA meeting a poster detailing how a low } vibration room for TEM's had been designed and constructed as part of a new } building. It involved the pouring of a concrete slab uniquely for a TEM } and separate from the walls to minimize vibration. I thought I had a copy } of the information provided by the poster but cannot seem to find it. Does } anyone know: } } 1) Who authored the poster and a contact number? } 2) Where I might find MSA poster information archived? } 3) Any other information related to building a low vibration room as part } of a new building? } } Thanks in advance for your time and help. } } Sincerely, } } Mick Thomas } ------------------------- } Mick Thomas } UHV-STEM Laboratory } E-1 Clark Hall } Cornell University } Ithaca, NY 14853 } } Phone: 607-255-0650 } Fax: 607-255-7658 } e-mail: mgt3-at-msc.cornell.edu
Mick,
Contact Black Engineering Company (shock, vibration and noise isolation): (800)747-2523 or (404)578-0999. It may or may not be the one on the poster, yet they do exactly what you are looking for. Cheers.
Does anyone on the list have any idea or experience in measuring the volume of fingerprints? Many Thanks in advance Dr. G.Sanders -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------Dr. Giles SandersZeneca / SmithKline Beecham Centre for Analytical SciencesChemistry DepartmentImperial College of Science, Technology and MedicineLondonSW7 2AY
Dear William: It is so nice and comforting to see a gentleman who expresses concerns over such important matters. I wish I had you as an instructor. Thank you. Now to respond...I was pregnant with my first child while working as an EMst and left work in my 11th month. This was also the time when everyone was hopping on the bandwagon in AIDS research and I found myself working with blood serum etc. trying to image this virus. As a result, I gave birth to a healthy baby girl and experienced no problems. She is now a beautiful 15-year old. If all the precautions are taken: nitrile gloves, using an exhaust hood pulling at least 100 feet per sec., disposable lab coats, goggles, etc., there should be no problem. A whole unit ought to be devoted to these issues for all students when learning EM methods. Also if the scopes are monitored for X ray leakage and the meter shows only background readings, then don't worry. My only concern is when changing the filaments...maybe some residual x ray exposure. But I don't see any big problem. Just monitor this woman to make sure if she is using all the precautionary steps and she should be fine....and have fun!!!!
Regards, Maria
Maria Fazio-Zanakis Bioimaging and Molecular Histology Hoechst Marion Roussel, Inc. 1-908-231-3357 Fax: 1-908-231-3962 Email: Maria.Fazio-Zanakis-at-hmrag.com
What exactly do you mean by "volume of fingerprints"?
Is that the volume of the residue left by the finger? Is it the volume of the finger that left the imprint? Do you mean the area of the fingerprint?
I am by no means an expert on fingerprints, but unless you have some additional information, I would guess that the extraction of a volume from 2-dimensional data (such as a print) is very difficult. On the other hand, if you do have additional information that applies to all fingers of all people (perhaps something as an "internal finger pressure"), and you know the force that was used by the finger that left the imprint, you might be able to calculate the volume of the finger from the area of the fingerprint.
Michael
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 1675 Carr St., #105N Lakewood, CO 80215 =================================== phone: (888) FIND SIS (303) 234-9270 fax: (303) 234-9271 email: mailto:info-at-soft-imaging.com web: http://www.soft-imaging.com ===================================
} ---------- } From: Giles Sanders[SMTP:G.SANDERS-at-IC.AC.UK] } Sent: Wednesday, September 08, 1999 1:06:46 AM } To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: Fingerprints } Auto forwarded by a Rule } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Does anyone on the list have any idea or experience in measuring the volume of fingerprints? Many Thanks in advance Dr. G.Sanders ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------- -----------------------Dr. Giles SandersZeneca / SmithKline Beecham Centre for Analytical SciencesChemistry DepartmentImperial College of Science, Technology and MedicineLondonSW7 2AY
We are looking for a conductive(minimize charging) epoxy to backfill cracks and voids in metals to minimize water, solvent and etchant leakage after polishing.
It is most distressing to attempt to do probe analysis on a leaking sample.
Michael: the solution is often simple depending on the level of accuracy = required. If one knows the density of fingerprint oil then one can = "weigh" several fingerprints and average out the volume. Also one could = acetone clean the finger free of natural oil and ink up the finger with = fingerprinting ink (which you could more easily determine the density of) = transfer to previously weighed gelatin paper and weigh a number of prints = (by subtraction) on a high quality analytical balance and determine the = volume since volume equals weight (actually mass) divided by density. = thanks
I am in need of updated information or websites on the transmission electron microscope and the scanning-tunneling microscope. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.
Has anyone had success in performing LM autoradiography on GMA (JB4 gly= col methacrylate) sections? I'm having trouble keeping the emulsion on the=
sections during the wash step, after the slides have been fixed in photographic fixer. The area of emulsion overlying the sections only p= uckers and peels off within 3 minutes into the wash step. So far I've tried c= asting Kodak NTB2 undiluted or Ilford K.5 (dil=3D1:1) emulsions on clean slid= es with 4 um GMA sections, on gelatin subbed and unsubbed slides.
To develop autoradiograms I'm using:
D-19 developer (dil=3D1:1) ------4 minutes Stop bath (0.5% acetic acid in dist water)-----30 sec 30% sodium thiosulfate fixer (no hardener) -----5 minutes distilled water wash (slides vertical in vessel)----15 minutes
Next, I will be trying diluted Kodak NTB2 emulsion (dil=3D 1:1), elimin= ating the acid in the stop bath, and switching to a fixer with hardener added= (eg. Kodak fixer).. maybe a few other things, but I'm running short on time.=
Any suggestions or references would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance :)
Figen Seiler Microscopist Abbott Laboratories Department of Microscopy & Microanalysis E-mail: figen.a.seiler-at-abbott.com
A soulution that works as well is to cut a hole in the floor and drive wooden piles in the hole. It only work on lower floors. but it is better a killing vibrations than concrete.
Gordon Couger 624 Cheyenne Stillwater, OK 74075 405 624 2855 GMT - 6:00 -----Original Message----- } From: Vitaly Feingold {vitalylazar-at-worldnet.att.net} To: Mick Thomas {mgt3-at-msc.cornell.edu} Cc: microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com {microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com}
A soulution that works as well is to cut a hole in the floor and drive wooden piles in the hole. It only work on lower floors. but it is better a killing vibrations than concrete.
Gordon Couger 624 Cheyenne Stillwater, OK 74075 405 624 2855 GMT - 6:00 -----Original Message----- } From: Vitaly Feingold {vitalylazar-at-worldnet.att.net} To: Mick Thomas {mgt3-at-msc.cornell.edu} Cc: microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com {microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com}
Introducing HGH:(Human Growth Hormone): "It Is The Most Powerful Anti-Obesity Drug Ever Discovered!" "It Is Like Metabolic Liposuction Vacuuming Off Excess Body Fat!" "It Is The Age Reversal Miracle of the 21st Century! "It Is The Ultimate Anti-Aging Therapy! "It Is Cosmetic Plastic Surgery In A Bottle!" "Maybe The Most Powerful Aphrodisiac Ever Discovered!"
These are statements from physician researchers - as they try to find appropriate words to describe some of the amazing health benefits they have noted and documented in their clinical research work with this incredible substance!
"The Most Powerful Anti-Obesity Drug Ever Discovered!" HGH (Human Growth Hormone) may turn out to be the "magic pill" for fat loss, we have all been waiting for. Inside the body, HGH is like Metabolic Liposuction, vacuuming off excess fat from under the belly, waist, hips, thighs etc.! It revs up metabolism to youthful levels, and resculptors the body by selectively reducing the fat in the waist, abdomen, hips and thighs, while at the same time increasing muscle mass!
"The Ultimate Anti-Aging Therapy & The Reversal Miracle Of The 21st Century!" HGH affects nearly every cell in our bodies, rejuvenating the skin and bones, regenerating the heart, liver, lungs, and kidneys, bringing organ and tissue function back to youthful levels!
"Cosmetic Plastic Surgery In A Bottle!" HGH smoothes out facial wrinkles, it restores the elasticity, thickness and contours of youthful skin, and it reverses the loss of extracellular water that makes old people look like dried up prunes!
"The Most Powerful Aphrodisiac Ever Discovered!" HGH may be the most powerful aphrodisiac ever discovered, reviving flagging sexuality and potency in older men!
And the list/the story just goes on and on!
Prior to now, this miracle substance was only available by injections through licensed physician practitioners. It was also very expensive - costing anywhere from $1,000.00 to $2,500.00 per month! But now, these near miraculous HGH effects and more can be safely enjoyed by every adult, especially if you are 35 to 40 years of age or more, because our company has come out with a product that contains potent HGH releasers, precursors and secretagogues! Inside the body, these cause the release of the actual/natural HGH which has the same above mentioned health benefits and more. Our nutrient based HGH precursor/releaser product is 100% Safe! Works with your body. It is a liquid, taken orally, and it is now available to the general public, without prescription, and at a very affordable price!
SPECIFIC HEALTH BENEFITS OF HGH:
HGH has been shown by researchers to have the following specific health benefits when regularly used over a period of at least 6 months:
SPECIFIC HEALTH BENEFITS OF HGH: ~ 14.4% Loss of excess fat on average, after 6 months,without dieting or exercise! ~ 8.8% Average Increase in Muscle Mass after 6 months without exercise! ~ Eliminate Cellulite! ~ Higher Energy Level ~ Younger, Tighter, Thicker skin ~ Wrinkle Removal ~ Hair Regrowth ~ Improved Cholesterol Profile, with higher HDL (good) cholesterol, and lower LDL (bad) cholesterol. ~ Stronger Bones and Increase in Bone Density ~ Lowered Blood pressure ~ Greater Cardiac Output ~ Superior Immune Function ~ Re-Growth of heart, liver, spleen, kidneys, and other organs that shrink with age. ~ Faster Wound Healing ~ Increased Memory Retention ~ Sharper Vision ~ Mood Elevation ~ Improved Sleep ~ Enhanced Sexual performance!
TESTIMONIALS: Below are a few unsolicitated testimonials on file from people using our Nutrient-Based HGH precursor liquid product:
Martial Arts Master Danny Lane endorses Alph 'Mega Nutraceuticals' Products! “Being a professional athlete and training all my life, I have tried about every supplement on the market over the years to stay in shape, lose that last few pounds and cut my body fat to lean muscle mass percentage ration. I spend countless hours every week in the gym lifting weights, cardio kickboxing and teaching martial arts classes with little change. But recently I discovered and tried all the products from the Alph 'Mega System. After 6 weeks, I can honestly say that I’ve never taken any supplements that trimmed my bodyfat and increased my muscle mass as fast and effective as the Slim-A-Weigh HGH precursor liquid supplement. My energy has increased, not to mention my social and sex life. I also used the Anti-Cellulite and Reaffirming Cream to dissipate and shrink those dreaded love handles around my oblique and waist with tremendous success. I now even use the reaffirming cream on my face to tighten the small wrinkles and lines around my eyes and forehead. I just turned 50 years old and my friends and business associates are astonished at the sudden difference in my appearance, my physique and my physical skills. I feel like I’m 25 again. I have had a ton of compliments and must say I owe it to the Alph 'Mega System. I highly recommend all their products. Danny Lane 7th Degree Black Belt.
I have almost completed my 1st bottle of your HGH precursor liquid product. I am amazed. almost 10lbs I have lost!! There have been no side effects- I feel great!!. Please send me another bottle.I am going home for my daughter’s wedding in August.17 years later! I am going to have the body I left with. Attached is my cheque for another bottle. Send asap. Thank you! ~ M.L.F. Escondido CA
"Hi, I'm currently experiencing your HGH precursor liquid product in conjunction with other products (under medical control), and since 4 weeks I've already lost about 12 pounds. As it seems to be a good product, I'd like to have 2 (two) additional 16 fluid oz. bottles". R.W - La Chaux-De-Fonds, Switzerland.
" I have been on the product for about three months now and I love it. I've lost around 21 pounds and have a lot more energy" ~R.W.: Alabama
"I have been taking your HGH precursor product for 4 months and the results are astounding. I have lost 12 pounds of fat without dieting, have much more energy for my daily workout which I am also getting better results from, my hair is starting to go back to its original color, and not to offend anyone, but my sex life has gone through the roof! I will never be without a bottle of this product! " ~ J.R.: Texas.
"I am recovering from a broken neck sustained two years ago. In the last 5 years, I have gained up to 180 pounds. Since I started taking your product, I have gone from a size 16 to a size 10 in one month and I am still loosing inches. My weight as of today is 148 pounds and I'm walking for the first time without my cane. I didn't plan on selling this product, but people keep seeing me and end up signing up." ~ M.W.A Arizona.
" I have been on the product for a little over three months. I have noticed a lot of positive health benefits. First, I have lost a stubborn ten pounds, that just would not go away for years no matter what I did. The cellulite puckers on my upper thighs are almost totally gone! My vision is much clearer. I am sleeping like a baby, and I wake up very rested. I have a lot more energy, and don't feel as hungry as I used to feel. My hair is thicker and has taken on an added bounce and youthful glow. People keep commenting on how young I look and how I seem to be looking younger and younger with each passing day. My libido is so much improved, and my husband loves it. I could go on and on. But suffice it to say that I will never be without a bottle of this incredible product!" ~ C.A Oklahoma.
YOU MAYBE WONDERING: WHAT ABOUT SIDE EFFECTS?
Best way to answer this question is to give you a reprint from Dr Klatz's book: "Grow Young With HGH - The Medically Proven Plan to Reverse Aging...." etc; (Available at your local bookstore and definitely available at Barnes & Noble. Dr Klatz is the current President of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine). Note: Our HGH product was formulated based on the recommendations in Chapter 16 of this great HGH reference book. If you don't already own this book, we highly recommend you get a copy for yourself ASAP!
Side Effects From GH (Growth Hormone)Releasers:(Here Is The Reprint): "If you are using nutrient-based growth hormone releasers (note: :this is what our product is), at the suggested doses, you should not encounter any adverse side effects. However, even the most innocuous substance, such as wheat or nuts can cause a dangerous reaction in a vulnerable individual. And anything strong enough to produce a desired effect has the potential for producing an undesirable one." (End of Reprint). For this reason, we, the writers of this message, recommend that you work with your physician, while you are taking our nutrient-based HGH precursor/releaser liquid product and indeed any other weight loss or nutrient-based product.
What Does It Cost?
Answer: A lot less than $1,000.00 to $2,500.00, which as mentioned above is the range of what you would normally pay to get it via injections through a licensed physician, for a month. No, save yourself a bundle! Especially if you order now, during our Introductory PRICE DISCOUNT SPECIAL.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR PRICE DISCOUNT SPECIAL BUT, HURRY! THIS SPECIAL PRICE DISCOUNT MAYBE WITHDRAWN AT ANYTIME WITHOUT NOTICE!
Our nutrient based HGH precursor liquid product: Slim-A-Weigh, normally retails for $129.00 (16 fluid oz. bottle), which is the same as a full month's supply. But if you order now, we will deeply discount this price for you down to only $79.99! But you must hurry and order NOW! Before this Introductory Price Discount Special is withdrawn. Quote Product Ad Code: HGH/FBK/059909A1.
Wait, that’s not all! If you order a second bottle at the same time, you will get the second bottle (or any number of additional bottles), at the same deeply discounted price of $79.99 per bottle plus FREE SHIPPING & HANDLING for all the additional bottles!
ORDERING INSTRUCTIONS:
You can order by phone, by fax, or by postal mail. (Postal Mailing address at the end of this message). To order by phone, call our 24Hour Automated Order Taking Line -at-: 918-748-3700. To get this product at the deeply discounted price of $79.99, you must quote Product Ad Code: HGH/FBK/059909A1. If no product ad code is given when prompted by the system, we must assume that you are responding from another ad source, and will have no choice than to charge you the full retail price of $129.00.
To order by fax, Use the Fax Payment Order Form below and fax your order to our 24Hour Dedicated Fax Line -at-:918-877-3301 or 918-877-3302.
To order by mail, see mailing address below at the end of this message.
Shipping & Handling is $8.95 per bottle for orders going to a US destination, and $35.00 for orders bound for Canada and other International destinations. For multiple orders bound for Canada and other overseas destinations, shipping & handling is 30% of total amount of the order.
DON'T DELAY! TO AVOID DISAPPOINMENT, PLACE YOUR ORDER TODAY!
We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express and the Discover Card. Credit Card Orders and Check Orders may also be placed via Fax.
To place your order via Fax using your Credit Card or Check by fax, Just Print the Fax Payment Form Below. Complete it LEGIBLY please (Best to type it), and Fax it to our 24Hr Dedicated Fax Line -at-: 918-877-3301 or 918-877-3302.
FAX ORDER PLACEMENT/PAYMENT FORM: Fax form to: 918-877-3301 or 918-877-3302. Product Ad Code: HGH/FBK/059909A1.
[ ] Yes, Please send me ONE 16fl. oz. bottle of your Nutrient-based HGH Precursor Liquid Product at the deeply discounted price of $79.99 per 16fl. oz bottle (one month's supply), plus $8.95 for shipping & handling per 16fl.oz bottle. I live in the United States. Please allow up to two weeks for delivery. [ ] Yes, I want to take advantage of the FREE shipping & handling for the second or subsequent bottles. Please send me additional bottles in the same shipment as the first bottle ordered above at same discounted price of $79.99 for each additional bottle, plus FREE shipping & handling for each additional bottle. Sorry, but this offer of FREE shipping & handling for the extra bottles ordered is available ONLY for United States bound orders. Quantity being ordered in addition to the first bottle ordered above:__________________ [ ] Please, send my product to the International address below, and charge me $35.00 per 16 fluid oz bottle ordered. For multiple bottles, then charge me 30% of total amount of my order for international delivery via International Express Shipment. Please note: Canada is considered an international destination, and same international shipping & handling charges apply.
CREDIT CARD INFORMATION:(If paying by Credit Card).
Signature: ________________________ Date Signed: _______________
Thank You For Your Order. Your product will be shipped within one week of the date you placed your order and you should receive your product within two weeks.
ORDER TODAY! And Start TODAY on that exciting, soul lifting and age reversing journey which will also eventually land you onto the Beautiful/Handsome Slim Firm Figure of your Dreams!
Remember: To order by fax, fax in your LEGIBLY completed fax order form to: 918-877-3301 or 918-877-3302 To order by phone, call our 24 Hour Automated Order Taking Line -at-: 918-748-3700. Remember To Quote Product Ad Code: HGH/FBK/059909A1.
To order by mail, send Check or Money Order (International Money Order for Overseas customers), to the address below. Note: all checks will await bank clearance prior to shipment. This normally takes 10 to 14 days for US based checks, and six to eight weeks for checks originating from abroad.
Mailing Address:
Alph ‘Mega Nutraceuticals, Inc. P.O Box 470470 Tulsa, Oklahoma OK 74147-0470
Make checks or money order payable to: Alph ‘Mega Nutraceuticals, Inc. Remember, in your mail, to Quote Product Ad Code: HGH/FBK/059909A1
GUARANTEE: Your satisfaction is absolutely GUARANTEED. Just use the product(s) according to the dosage instructions provided on the bottle for 30 to 90 days. If not absolutely satisfied, simply send the empty product bottle(s) back for a full refund of the purchase price you paid for the product(s).
********************************************************************************* To be removed reply to: mailto:fdyr76-at-yahoo.com?subject=remove ********************************************************************************
This is a common problem when examining polished sections in the SEM. Due to shrinkage, there is often a gap between the edge of the sample and the plastic. This depends on the type of resin used and the speed of cure. Slower is better. The next important step is adequate ultrasonic cleaning in iso-propanol to remove all traces of the polishing compound. If the gap is very large, we infill with some more of the same epoxy and repeat the process, finally drying the solvent out with a hot air gun. Of course, we give a flash carbon coat and use carbon dag to give a good conducting path.
This seems to work for us, good luck!
Barry
} -----Original Message----- } From: Giles, Bill [SMTP:William.Giles-at-TIMET.com] } Sent: Wednesday, September 08, 1999 5:51 PM } To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } Subject: Conductive epoxy for SEM/microanalysis use? } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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, } } We are looking for a conductive(minimize charging) epoxy to backfill } cracks } and voids in metals to minimize water, solvent and etchant leakage after } polishing. } } It is most distressing to attempt to do probe analysis on a leaking } sample. } } Someone out there must have a solution!! } } Any suggestions? } } Bill Giles } TIMET }
Kelvin Conference Centre=20 University of Glasgow Wednesday 10 November 1999=20
The format for this successful series of one day meetings remains largely u= nchanged, with a programme of talks=20 interspersed with time for posters and the Trade Exhibition.
The following topics will be presented by key-note speakers:
(a) Microscopy of the Underworld; Looking at the adhesive surface of cells by techniques including Interferen= ce reflection, TIRFM, Forster Energy transfer and Surface Plasmon Resonance Microscopy.=20 Prof. Adam Curtis, Institute of Biomedical and Life Sciences, University of= Glasgow=20
(b) Using electrons to explore materials. Prof. Alan Craven, Department of = Physics and Astronomy, University of Glasgow
(c) Egg Tapping; Biomineralisation studied by SEM, Acoustic Resonance and L= aser Scanning Microscopy. Prof. Sally Solomon, Veterinary Anatomy, University of Glasgow
(d) Digital Information Acquisition in the TEM. Dr Timon Fliervoet, Phillips Electron Optics Applications Laboratory, Eindh= oven =20 A special feature this year will be short, contributed, prize talks by youn= g "first time" speakers.
There will be sponsored Prizes and these enjoyable, interesting and useful = meetings provide an opportunity to meet and discuss ideas and tips with microscopists in all fields.
The Conference Centre provides interspersed Meeting, Exhibition, Poster, Bu= ffet and Bar facilities and there is ample car parking. The cost per head is =A320, including the buffet lunch, coffee and tea. Subsidised buses= will run from Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow (contact the local User Group). This one day meeting is CPD accredited.
Web site: http://www.abdn.ac.uk/~nhi691/smg99.htm has abstracts form=20 the following meetings: 1998 Dundee Meeting=20 1997 Dunblane Meeting=20 1996 Aberdeen Meeting=20 =20
---------------------- Kevin Mackenzie Electron Microscope unit Dept Zoology University of Aberdeen Tillydrone avenue Aberdeen AB24 2TZ ----------------- Tel 01224 272847 Fax 01224 272396 email k.s.mackenzie-at-abdn.ac.uk
I need to collect the general and special ideas and tips on how to prepare the multilayered thin film TEM specimens (Both plan view and cross sections), especially for the magnetic films.
Thank you very much for your help !
You can reply the message to: c.jiao-at-bham.ac.uk
Many EM immuno protocols using colloidal gold on grid mounted thin sections employ a 1% glutaraldehyde step after the grid is incubated in the secondary gold-conjugated antibody and washed. Does anybody know whether this step is really necessary (i.e., is there a paper that compares fix vs no fix after labeling). I would have thought the affinity of the antibody would have precluded the need for this step. Comments welcome.
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 65211-7400 (573)-882-4712 (voice) (573)-882-0123 (fax)
Dear Bill, The last time I looked at buying conductive mounting epoxy, most suppliers listed a hot-press conductive resin, but not cold curing. I found a cold-curing, copper filled resin called Technovit 5000, from Germany. Kulzer: is the name of the company that makes it, but I ordered it from Energy Beam Sciences. It is a bit viscous to fill cracks, though. At 10:51 AM 9/8/99 -0600, you wrote: } } Greetings, } } We are looking for a conductive(minimize charging) epoxy to backfill cracks } and voids in metals to minimize water, solvent and etchant leakage after } polishing. } } It is most distressing to attempt to do probe analysis on a leaking sample. } } Someone out there must have a solution!! } } Any suggestions? } } Bill Giles } TIMET } 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 e-mail: mager-at-interchg.ubc.ca
I have a student in my introductory electron microscopy course who has an implanted microprocessor controlled drug delivery pump. I am at the point where the "field trips" to the lab will start soon, and he asked me whether being close to the working microscopes (TEM at 75 kV, SEM at 5 kV) could interfere with his device. Although my initial thought was "I don't think so", I would like to make sure. One of the main things I've learned from reading the discussions that take place on this listserve is that there's a whole lot of physics out there that I don't know enough about.
I've posed this question to our environmental health and safety department (no answer yet), looked through some EM lab safety chapters in books, and checked the most excellent "Tips and Tricks of Microscopy" website to see if this has been discussed before. So far I haven't found any information.
I'd appreciate hearing from anyone who has insight into this kind of situation.
Thanks in advance,
Heather Owen
Heather A. Owen, Director Electron Microscope Laboratory Department of Biological Sciences University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee (414)229-6816
If we can answer any questions, give us a call at 800-440-0311.
Hope this is helpful.
Elinor Solit The Microscope Book
On Wed, 8 Sep 1999 Joelis99-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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } I am in need of updated information or websites on the transmission electron } microscope and the scanning-tunneling microscope. Any help would be } appreciated. } Thank you. } } Joel Simons } joelis99-at-aol.com }
looks like you want to measure the volume of the actual fingerprint.
I could think of 4 ways to do that:
Use an AFM type of instrument. This may or may not work, depending on the characteristics of the fingerprint oil. It also may have a field of view that is too restricted. But if you can use such an instrument, it could give you the volume immediately.
Use a confocal microscope to get at the height data. If you can do that, it should be fairly easy to extract the volume. You may have problems if the fingerprint oil is transparent to the frequency used, or if the "height" of the fingerprint is below the resolution limit of the instrument.
Use a standard light microscope and take pictures at different focus settings. If the fingerprints have enough depth, you can reconstruct the surface from these images and get the volume that way.
Use a Stereo pair and calculate the 3rd dimension. This requires that the depth of the fingerprint is considerable. I would guess, that this does not work, but may be worth a try.
We have software to analyze all these measurements. Please contact me off-line if you want more info.
Thanks.
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 1675 Carr St., #105N Lakewood, CO 80215 =================================== phone: (888) FIND SIS (303) 234-9270 fax: (303) 234-9271 email: mailto:info-at-soft-imaging.com web: http://www.soft-imaging.com ===================================
} ---------- } From: Robert Mixon[SMTP:MIXONR-at-OHSU.EDU] } Sent: Wednesday, September 08, 1999 3:35:35 PM } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: RE: fingerprints } Auto forwarded by a Rule } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Michael: the solution is often simple depending on the level of accuracy required. If one knows the density of fingerprint oil then one can "weigh" several fingerprints and average out the volume. Also one could acetone clean the finger free of natural oil and ink up the finger with fingerprinting ink (which you could more easily determine the density of) transfer to previously weighed gelatin paper and weigh a number of prints (by subtraction) on a high quality analytical balance and determine the volume since volume equals weight (actually mass) divided by density. thanks
No great theory here but, by way of anecdotal input, this. In the past I've "borrowed" a TA for my TEM course from our MSM department. He has an insulin pump that, I believe, has a microprocessor control. He hangs around all sorts of TEM and SEM equipment for extend periods of time with no apparent (at least to my untrained eye) ill effects. He may even be lurking out there now and reply. cheers, John
John Heckman TEM Supervisor MSU Center for Electron Optics
Has anyone ever done in situ hybridization in cultured cells using 96-well culture plates? If so, do you have a favorite procedure that is followed? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. Linda Chicoine Clinton, CT lchicoine-at-snet.net
I am soliciting contributors (or names of potential contributors) for a symposium for the Microscopy & Microanalysis meeting to be held on August 13-17, 2000 in Philadelphia, Pa.
Talks may range in length from 15 to 45 minutes.
A description of the symposium follows.
SYMPOSIUM: EXTREME ORGANISMS
This symposium will deal with organisms that represent extremes, as for example: the ability to grow in extreme environments, having extreme virulence or invasiveness, or being extremely difficult to visualize using conventional preparatory procedures. Hopefully, the participants shall describe some of the unique features of extreme organisms that give rise to these capabilities. Of particular interest shall be talks dealing with organisms able to grow in challenging environments such as high salt, high or low temperatures, high or low pressure and highly toxic conditions. In addition, speakers are invited to discuss organisms that are extremely virulent or invasive, as would be the case with certain pathogens. In this instance, whenever possible, speakers may identify the features of the organisms giving rise to this capability. Finally, extreme organisms are often difficult to visualize using standard preparatory procedures. Papers describing procedures to prepare the specimens for visualization would be germane to this symposium.
Please respond directly to me with the name of the individual and possible topic.
John Bozzola
#################################################################### John J. Bozzola, Ph.D., Director Micro-Imaging and Analysis Center 750 Communications Drive - MC 4402 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 ####################################################################
Just to clarify my origninal question, by volume of the fingerprint I meant the volume of material left by the fingerprint, not a volume of imprint. Thanks in adavnce and for those who have already replied. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------Dr. Giles SandersZeneca / SmithKline Beecham Centre for Analytical SciencesChemistry DepartmentImperial College of Science, Technology and MedicineLondonSW7 2AY
Recently I got very interesting results on PET/PMMA extrudate morphology(10 ~ 1 wt% of PMMA and PET was crystalline). Instrument: Hitachi S800 SEM Sampling method: hand fracturing or knife cutting under liquid nitrogen temperature. Results: Unexpectedly, hand fracturing sample has little matrix burrs while knife cutting sample has many. This is strange because it is usually think cutting is better way than fracture. Any suggestions? Thank inadvance for your help. Dr. Zeng JijunVisiting Scholar of Toray Home Address: Nakatogari 734-2-5 Nagaizumi-cho, Sunto-gun Shizuoka, 411-0942 Japan Tel: +81-559-884601(H)E-mail: sentoray-at-izu.co.jpPersonal Homepage:http://www.geocities.com/ResearchTriangle/Forum/1786
There are only five openings left for the "Cryoultramicrotomy and Immunolabelling Workshop" being held at Harvard Medical School, October 5-7, 1999. The deadline for registration has been extended until 9/13/99 for those needing hotel accommodations and until 9/28/99 for those who do not. For further information, please contact Sonja White (swhite-at-ebsciences.com) {mailto:swhite-at-ebsciences.com)} .
Best regards, Steven Slap .******************************************* Energy Beam Sciences, Inc. The Laboratory Microwave Company Adding Brilliance to Your Vision http://www.ebsciences.com {http://www.ebsciences.com} *******************************************
Hello everyone I have just started a new season of "Small Wonders" on Discovery Channel. This is a picture puzzle, usually taken on an SEM, with clues. You have to guess the answer and win a prize!
It is only shown on TV in Canada as it is on -at-Discovery Canada, every Monday evening 8-9pm (Pacific time). It is usually the last item on the show. If you are not in Canada, you can still participate in the competition from the website. If you want to see the show, you can download "RealPlayer" onto your computer.
-at-Discovery website: www.exn.ca/-at-discovery.ca Click on the Small Wonders icon down the right hand side
If you go to the Archives at the bottom of the Small Wonders page, you can see some of the images from last year. Challenge: see if you can tell what the picture is before you see the answer!
Last year was fun and I hope to have more fun this year. If you have any ideas, please let me know off line - we wouldn't want to give all the answers away would we?! Elaine
Dr. Elaine Humphrey Biosciences Electron Microscopy Facility University of British Columbia 6270 University Blvd, mail-stop Botany Vancouver, BC CANADA, V6T 1Z4 Phone: 604-822-3354 FAX: 604-822-6089 e-mail: ech-at-unixg.ubc.ca
Mary & Bill: Conductive silver epoxy in small twin tubes is available from ProSciTech and I expect some other "EM Suppliers". Its cold curing too. Cheers Jim Darley
ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes www.proscitech.com
On Friday, September 10, 1999 2:36 AM, Mary Mager [SMTP:mager-at-interchange.ubc.ca] wrote: } } Dear Bill, } The last time I looked at buying conductive mounting epoxy, most suppliers } listed a hot-press conductive resin, but not cold curing. I found a } cold-curing, copper filled resin called Technovit 5000, from Germany. } Kulzer: is the name of the company that makes it, but I ordered it from } Energy Beam Sciences. It is a bit viscous to fill cracks, though. } At 10:51 AM 9/8/99 -0600, you wrote: } } } } Greetings, } } } } We are looking for a conductive(minimize charging) epoxy to backfill cracks } } and voids in metals to minimize water, solvent and etchant leakage after } } polishing. } } } } It is most distressing to attempt to do probe analysis on a leaking sample. } } } } Someone out there must have a solution!! } } } } Any suggestions? } } } } Bill Giles } } TIMET } } } 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 } e-mail: mager-at-interchg.ubc.ca }
I have an Eico sputter coater with a gold target. I used to coat my ceramic samples with the coater for several years, and did not have any problem. A couple of weeks ago, I tried to coat biological sample which was a part of an animal tongue The sample was dried thoroughly, accroding to the person who prepared the sample, but the other sample prep process he used was unknown, unfortunately. After the sputter coating, something went wrong, and I could not coat my ceramic samples well any more. I checked the gold target with an optical microscope, and I found that green particles or at least particle-like stuffs were inside the pits or grooves on the gold target. It seems that my ceramic samples were not coated with gold but with the green stuffs. And also, I found the surface of the gold target was very rough and the color was a little reddish, comparing with the other side of the target, but I was not sure if this resulted from the coating procedure of biological sample or from the long time wear. My question is how I can clean the gold target. Have any of you exprienced this kind of problem before? Any comment is appreciated.
Jondo Yun Electron Microscopy Laboratory Center for the Instrumental Analysis Kyungnam University Masan, Korea
I would dis-assemble, clean and rinse with acetone, for the parts that ca= n take acetone (non-plastics), then follow with an alcohol rinse. Changing the r= otary pump oil would not hurt either.
Earl Weltmer
=C0=B1=C1=B8=B5=B5 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Dear all } } I have an Eico sputter coater with a gold target. I used to coat my } ceramic samples with the coater for several years, and did not have any } problem. } A couple of weeks ago, I tried to coat biological sample which was a pa= rt of } an animal tongue The sample was dried thoroughly, accroding to the pers= on } who prepared the sample, but the other sample prep process he used was } unknown, unfortunately. After the sputter coating, something went wrong= , and } I could not coat my ceramic samples well any more. } I checked the gold target with an optical microscope, and I found that = green } particles or at least particle-like stuffs were inside the pits or groo= ves } on the gold target. It seems that my ceramic samples were not coated wi= th } gold but with the green stuffs. } And also, I found the surface of the gold target was very rough and the } color was a little reddish, comparing with the other side of the target= , but } I was not sure if this resulted from the coating procedure of biologica= l } sample or from the long time wear. } My question is how I can clean the gold target. Have any of you exprien= ced } this kind of problem before? } Any comment is appreciated. } } Jondo Yun } Electron Microscopy Laboratory } Center for the Instrumental Analysis } Kyungnam University } Masan, Korea } } jdyun-at-hanma.kyungnam.ac.kr
Dear Listers, I'm inquiring about the quality of the carbon coating one can obtain using the table top coaters equipped with a mechanical pump. Also, has anyone has upgraded such a system with a turbomolecular pump? Rosemary
My rough pumped (only) carbon yarn evaporator works quite well for SEM specimens. I have no experience using it for TEM specimens, but believe the turbo type is better suited for that application.
Woody White
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Dear Listers, I'm inquiring about the quality of the carbon coating one can obtain using the table top coaters equipped with a mechanical pump. Also, has anyone has upgraded such a system with a turbomolecular pump? Rosemary
We have tried both ways many times due to trouble shooting when the labeling doesn't work. For us it doesn't make any difference. If the primary stuck, the secondary seemed to stick and it didn't make any change in label frequency or efficiency whether it is fixed after the secondary or not.
Bob Morphology Core Seattle
On Thu, 9 Sep 1999, Tom Phillips 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Many EM immuno protocols using colloidal gold on grid mounted thin } sections employ a 1% glutaraldehyde step after the grid is incubated } in the secondary gold-conjugated antibody and washed. Does anybody } know whether this step is really necessary (i.e., is there a paper } that compares fix vs no fix after labeling). I would have thought } the affinity of the antibody would have precluded the need for this } step. Comments welcome. } } 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 65211-7400 } (573)-882-4712 (voice) } (573)-882-0123 (fax) } }
Dear Gaetan, The S-570 cahmber is circular, with a flat front and is about 11.5 inches O.D. and 10 inches I.D. At 09:01 PM 9/9/99 -0500, you wrote:
} } Hi everybody, } Is there anybody who could give me the standard size of the chamber of the } Hitachi S-570? } } Thanks, } } Ga=EBtan } 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 e-mail: mager-at-interchg.ubc.ca
Dear Jondo, I have wiped my gold target with acetone on a tissue to clean it. Sounds like something outgassed from the sample. Slimy biologists.;-) At 04:04 PM 9/10/99 +0900, you wrote:
} } Dear all } } I have an Eico sputter coater with a gold target. I used to coat my } ceramic samples with the coater for several years, and did not have any } problem. } A couple of weeks ago, I tried to coat biological sample which was a part of } an animal tongue The sample was dried thoroughly, accroding to the person } who prepared the sample, but the other sample prep process he used was } unknown, unfortunately. After the sputter coating, something went wrong, and } I could not coat my ceramic samples well any more. } I checked the gold target with an optical microscope, and I found that green } particles or at least particle-like stuffs were inside the pits or grooves } on the gold target. It seems that my ceramic samples were not coated with } gold but with the green stuffs. } And also, I found the surface of the gold target was very rough and the } color was a little reddish, comparing with the other side of the target, but } I was not sure if this resulted from the coating procedure of biological } sample or from the long time wear. } My question is how I can clean the gold target. Have any of you exprienced } this kind of problem before? } Any comment is appreciated. } } Jondo Yun } Electron Microscopy Laboratory } Center for the Instrumental Analysis } Kyungnam University } Masan, Korea } } jdyun-at-hanma.kyungnam.ac.kr } 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 e-mail: mager-at-interchg.ubc.ca
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Reply to: RE: colloidal gold staining Dear Tom,
The glutaraldehyde step has been used for two primary purposes. The first = (and original) was to cross-link the gold probe to the primary antibody = and thus keep the signal in its correct location. However, binding of = antibodies or protein A to other antibodies is reasonably stable so many = protocols often omit this crosslinking step. The sections are often dried = soon after fixation which may also keep the gold in place. Other than the = original papers where the use of glutaraldehyde is described I don't know = of any papers comparing signal with and without this step.
The second use of 1% glutaraldehdye is when sections are being labeled with= two antibodies and two sizes of protein A gold. The usual protocol for = this in sequential labeling is: 1st antibody First gold probe (usually the smaller size) Blocking 2nd antibody Second gold probe.
To prevent the second gold probe from binding to the first antibody = earlier papers suggested the use of free protein A between the first gold = probe and the second antibody (the "Blocking" step). This effectively = covered any free protein A-binding sites that could confuse the double = labeling results. More recently, a 1% glutaraldehyde step has been used = to replace the free protein A-step. It seems to work better than the = protein A and is generally accepted to be a usable protocol for multiple = labeling. = = The reference for this is: van Genderen, I.L. van Meer G. Slot J.W. Geuze H.J. & Voorhout W.F. 1991. = Subcellular localization of Forssman glycolipid in epithelial MDCK cells = by immuno-electronmicroscopy after freeze-substitution. J. Cell Biol. 115:= 1009-1019. =
Regards,
Paul Webster, Ph.D House Ear Institute 2100 West Third Street Los Angeles, CA 90057 213 273 8026 213 413 6739 (fax) pwebster-at-hei.org http://www.hei.org/htm/aemi.htm
Tom Phillips wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America =
by attila.stevens-tech.edu (8.9.3/8.9.3/7) with ESMTP id NAA02448 for {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} ; Fri, 10 Sep 1999 13:53:50 -0400 (EDT) Message-ID: {37D9468D.B9519533-at-stevens-tech.edu}
Greetings,
Recently I have embedded biological polymer fibers in epoxy to section for TEM samples. Unfortunately, the fibers with very small diameters dissolved in the epoxy. The fibers are used for applications requiring the polymer to be absorbed in the human body. Therefore, they also dissolve in water. Does anyone have any suggestions for either alternate methods to obtain a TEM sample or ways to alleviate this problem?
I don't know where to start, so any advice would be very useful.
Thanks,
Jennifer Taylor Ph.D. candidate Stevens Institute of Technology Hoboken, New Jersey 07030
I have a former student who is working with hyaluronic acid microspheres. These microspheres are clearly visible under the stereomicroscope, however, the desire is to view them using SEM. The problem is that when they are applied to a stub and allowed to air dry they disrupt in some way leaving a film layer behind. They wish to visualize the intact microspheres. In addition, they might also want to try observing them using a TEM (having worked with embedding and sectioning spheres/bubbles of surfactant from the lungs I realize how difficult this might be). If they could be embedded and sectioned what stain(s) might be employed?
The following is a description of how these microspheres are prepared. Any assistance with even just a SEM protocol would be greatly appreciated!
HA Preparation: " A hyaluronic acid (HA)solution and an organic oil (with a small amount of emulsifying agent) are mixed thoroughly until an emulsion forms. ONce the emulsion forms, polymerizing and cross-linking chemicals are added to cross-link the HA. The mixture is then centrifuged and the oil layer is discarded. The HA microsphere pellet is then washed several times with isopropanol and resuspended in a minimum amount of distilled water and then lyophilized."
Regards,
Steve
Stephen J. Beck Associate Professor Bio-Imaging Center/Electron Microscopy Department of Biology Nassau Community College Garden City, NY 11530 Voice Mail: (516) 572-7829 Email: {becks-at-sunynassau.edu} URL: {http://www.sunynassau.edu/webpages/biology/becks.htm}
I have a question I have not been able to locate the answer to anywhere. I run a clinical EM lab here at the University of Nebraska and we have recently become associated with the College of Anatomic Pathologists (CAP) and I am having trouble locating any set regulations or even guidelines as to the duration we should retain records, as well as specimen blocks, thick section slides and EM photos. Does anyone have any info to get me headed in the right direction?
Thank you,
Doug Rennie Coodinator-EM Facility University of Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, Nebraska.
We are familiar with vacuum impregnation and the usual thermosetting products.
One of the problem areas that we have with using "normal" epoxy and carbon coating is that we primarily are trying to quantify nitrogen in titanium(Mary's ears perk up!) and our detection ability is so poor that we dont care to add the carbon layer.
Most EM grade silver epoxies seem to have a particle size of 10um, we are trying for something smaller. Master Bond sells a standard grade at 7um and a special grade at 3.5um also the epoxy is a NASA grade for low outgassing. I'm going to try some of the standard grade first and see how it performs.
Ill keep the list updated, if anyone else has other suggestions I'm all ears(well, not ALL).
I have been tasked with investigating feasibility of calcium ratioing for some of our researchers. Not knowing much about it, I wanted to see if anyone has any experience with systems doing this.
What manufacturers systems are recommended/not recommended? (Please reply privately if you feel you will offend manufacturers publicly).
Specifically, why do you recommend/not recommend that configuration?
What should I look for/look out for when asessing calcium ratioing systems? (Features, functionality, capabilities, etc.)
Suggest you talk to Ted Dixon, now with BPI in Waterloo, Ontario: 519-886-9013 aedixon-at-confocal.com Ted has worked for years on a confocal macro/microscope which images fingerprints on incredible surfaces... even the black plastic bags which, as he puts it, "seems to be the favorite wrap for murderers and criminals". He also does great physics and should be able to take you through the math to convert from the image to the measurement.
Let me know how it goes.
Best regards, Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater productivity.
125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} ****************************************************** MME is America's first national consortium providing customized on-site workshops in all areas of microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis.
At 02:06 AM 9/8/99 -0500, Giles Sanders wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
You should keep records, blocks, etc. on clinical material at least 10 years. So far, we have never thrown any out, but some is stored off campus. If you want help with CAP go to:
www.cap.org
On Fri, 10 Sep 1999 drennie-at-UNMC.EDU-at-sparc5.microscopy.com wrote:
} Date: Fri, 10 Sep 1999 13:34:37 -0500 } From: drennie-at-UNMC.EDU-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: Regulations for records keeping in clinical work } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Good afternoon, } } I have a question I have not been able to locate the answer to anywhere. I run a clinical } EM lab here at the University of Nebraska and we have recently become associated with the } College of Anatomic Pathologists (CAP) and I am having trouble locating any set } regulations or even guidelines as to the duration we should retain records, as well as } specimen blocks, thick section slides and EM photos. Does anyone have any info to get me } headed in the right direction? } } Thank you, } } Doug Rennie } Coodinator-EM Facility } University of Nebraska Medical Center } Omaha, Nebraska. } } } }
Sara E. Miller, Ph. D. P. O. Box 3020 Duke University Medical Center Durham, NC 27710 Ph: 919 684-3452 FAX: 919 684-8735
The phenomenon won't be that strange at all if you take into consideration the following factors: 1. Fracture may include crack nucleation and expansion; 2. In LN, most polymers are brittle macroscopically, but may be ductile microscopically; 3. Loading effects on fracture mode (speed of loading, magnitude and distribution of stress). In your case, when you bend your sample, I would suspect that some pre-existed defects/cracks work as fracture nuclei and because of stress concentration in those locations (specifically at the sharp tips of the microcracks according to fracture mechanics), cracks expand much more easily and rapidly than the cutting case where the tip of the cut may actually be blunt microscopically depending on how good your Japanese knife is.
cy, PhD Rodel, The King of Polishing 451 Bellevue Rd Newark, DE 19713
On Thu, 9 Sep 1999, Zeng Jijun wrote:
} Date: Thu, 9 Sep 1999 21:02:22 -0500 } From: Zeng Jijun {sentoray-at-izu.co.jp} } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: SEM - sampling method of PET } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Recently I got very interesting results on PET/PMMA extrudate } morphology(10 ~ 1 wt% of PMMA and PET was crystalline). Instrument: } Hitachi S800 SEM Sampling method: hand fracturing or knife cutting under } liquid nitrogen temperature. Results: Unexpectedly, hand fracturing sample } has little matrix burrs while knife cutting sample has many. This is } strange because it is usually think cutting is better way than fracture. } Any suggestions? Thank inadvance for your help. Dr. Zeng JijunVisiting } Scholar of Toray Home Address: Nakatogari 734-2-5 Nagaizumi-cho, } Sunto-gun Shizuoka, 411-0942 Japan } Tel: } +81-559-884601(H)E-mail: sentoray-at-izu.co.jpPersonal } Homepage:http://www.geocities.com/ResearchTriangle/Forum/1786 } } } }
I archieved good labelling after stabilisizing my sections with 2% aqueous Glut. Without Glut, my signal was very weak. But collegues in my lab avoid this step, they say it caughts a lot of dirt or they see no diffence. So I would propose you should try it with Glut if your Immuno shows weak staining (with low background!) and you would like to enhance it.
Best wishes and good luck, Michael
Tom Phillips schrieb: } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Many EM immuno protocols using colloidal gold on grid mounted thin } sections employ a 1% glutaraldehyde step after the grid is incubated } in the secondary gold-conjugated antibody and washed. Does anybody } know whether this step is really necessary (i.e., is there a paper } that compares fix vs no fix after labeling). I would have thought } the affinity of the antibody would have precluded the need for this } step. Comments welcome. } } 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 65211-7400 } (573)-882-4712 (voice) } (573)-882-0123 (fax)
Hi Folks, Does anyone have a feeling for the electric fields that a heated filiment sees as the "extraction field" in a typical TEM or SEM electron gun? Does this change for the Hexaboride filiments?
What is the effective emitting area of the cathode?
best regards mark
Mark W. Lund, PhD VP Engineering } } 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
"This is a YOUNG business...How can I tell you what YOUR job is when I don't know what MINE is?" --Pogo
I have two rooms which I plan to convert into a confocal microscope suite during the makeover of our building. Our present experience is that the microscopes are sensitive to low frequency vibration caused by foot traffic in corridors and nearby stairs, closing of doors and movement of lifts. I want to minimize the effects of seismic and acoustic disturbance in the new room as near absolutely as is practicable, and proposed to the architects that we construct a vibration-isolated floor. This sounded like a brilliant idea until I was asked how exactly I would recommend them to do this. I have heard anecdotal accounts of a wide variety of solutions, many of which were outrageously expensive or totally impractical. Can anyone recommend the method that combines the *least* bangs per buck with proven efficacy?
Yours sincerely
Chris Jeffree ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dr Chris Jeffree University of Edinburgh Biological Sciences EM Facility Daniel Rutherford Building King's Buildings EDINBURGH EH9 3JH Tel: +44 (0) 131 650 5345 FAX: +44 (0) 131 650 6563
The emitting area of a thermionic filament is typically significantly smaller for LaB6 than for Tungsten (I believe approximate numbers will be 5-15 microns for LaB6 and around 30 for tungsten hairpin). The area depends sensitively on Wehnelt bias.
Several textbooks have good sections treating this, for example the section In L. Reimer's textbook (Transmission Electron Microscopy, Springer-Verlag). In that text, there is a plot of calculated equipotential lines around a filament, with a reference to an article by Haine and Einstein (not Albert), J. Appl. Phys. vol. 3, (1952) p. 40
Regards, Wharton
------- } From: "Dr. Mark W. Lund" {lundm-at-physc3.byu.edu} } To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Cc: lundm-at-physc3.byu.edu } Subject: Filiment fields } Date: Sat, Sep 11, 1999, 2:53 AM }
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
} Does anyone have a feeling for the electric fields } that a heated filiment sees as the "extraction field" } in a typical TEM or SEM electron gun? Does this change } for the Hexaboride filiments?
Judging from the two assemblies for my JEOL SEM, i.e., a W assy and a LaB6 assy, the answer to your question is that the electrostatic fields are essentially the same, but that there are slight differences. That is, both my wehnelt assemblies are identical unless you get out the calipers and actually measure.
I made a program for you. It's a 32 bit Windows program. You can select as many LINK spectrum files (in their original, not converted format) as you need. All the selected files will be converted in one run. I have = tried it with more than 1700 spectra. The result of the conversion is a text = file with the same name but with different file extension. An example from a converted spectrum file (from a series): -------------------------------LAK11S103.SP------------------------------= ------ lak11s** 3
preset live time: 40 live time: 40 real time: 49 20.000000 eV/channel
Energy[keV], counts -0.200000, 0 -0.180000, 0 -0.160000, 0 -0.140000, 0 -0.120000, 3 -0.100000, 16 -0.080000, 42 -0.060000, 98 .. -------------------------------------------------------------------------= ------------ If you are still interested in a program like this, drop me a line and = I'll send it to you.
With the best regards: Laszlo Varga -----Eredeti =FCzenet----- Felad=F3: Paul Rennie (KIDDE) [SMTP:Paul.Rennie-at-kidde-hq.com] K=FCldve: 1999. augusztus 26. 17:29 C=EDmzett: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com T=E1rgy: EDX - Link AN10000 file conversion
------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dear list members,
We currently run a Link (now Oxford Instruments) AN10000 EDX system and = would like to convert all of our archived spectra into a format which can be read by a PC. [...] =20 Has anyone come across, or written a routine to perform this as a batch function?
Does anyone have a clever way of dealing with cryosections that stick to the knife? I can't dislodge them with a paintbrush or probe. The sections are stuck only along the cutting edge. Pulling them off with tweezers sometimes works, but more often than not they tear. The sections won't ribbon (which is okay, I prefer to get them one at a time) they just pile up. I tried touching the roll guard so that the section would stick to it, but that doesn't work. The sections are very nice otherwise.
Stephen J. Beck wrote: ========================================================= I have a former student who is working with hyaluronic acid microspheres. These microspheres are clearly visible under the stereomicroscope, however, the desire is to view them using SEM. The problem is that when they are applied to a stub and allowed to air dry they disrupt in some way leaving a film layer behind. They wish to visualize the intact microspheres. In addition, they might also want to try observing them using a TEM (having worked with embedding and sectioning spheres/bubbles of surfactant from the lungs I realize how difficult this might be). If they could be embedded and sectioned what stain(s) might be employed?
The following is a description of how these microspheres are prepared. Any assistance with even just a SEM protocol would be greatly appreciated!
HA Preparation: " A hyaluronic acid (HA)solution and an organic oil (with a small amount of emulsifying agent) are mixed thoroughly until an emulsion forms. ONce the emulsion forms, polymerizing and cross-linking chemicals are added to cross- link the HA. The mixture is then centrifuged and the oil layer is discarded. The HA microsphere pellet is then washed several times with isopropanol and resuspended in a minimum amount of distilled water and then lyophilized." ================================================ When a system of microspheres is vacuum sensitive, one approach we have taken over the years is to use our own SPI Supplies "Wet Replica" Kit (see our website below for details). It is a silicone based system that cures quickly, creating a "negative" replica of the vacuum sensitive microspheres. When cured, the silicone is then thoroughly rinsed with an appropriate solvent to remove all remains of the microspheres of interest. The microspheres are now represented as hollow spheres in the "negative".
Using another component from the kit, we then replicate the replica generating a "positive" replica from the negative. The positive is very stable, can be gold coated conventionally and examined by SEM.
There is one potential drawback of this method, and that is that above 700X, one starts to see structure from the replicating materials. However, for particle size measurements and structural observations below about 700X, this system should work just fine. We have not ourselves used it on HA, but on similar organic vacuum sensitive materials, including vacuum sensitive catalyst particles, it has worked just fine.
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.spi.cc ######################## ============================================
} Date: Thu, 09 Sep 1999 09:09:03 +1200 } To: Microscopy-at-MSA.Com } From: Alfred Harris {a.harris-at-waikato.ac.nz} } Subject: SEM of Bacteriophage } } Hi everyone } I have had a request for electron microscope images of bacteriophage. I am familiar with standard TEM negative staining methods. Is it possible to obtain SEM images? Are they as good? What are best methods? } } Alfred Harris
"Fazio-Zanakis, Maria, HMR/US" wrote: } My only concern is when changing the } filaments...maybe some residual x ray exposure. But I don't see any big } problem.
There can't be any x-ray exposure as there is no x-ray output as there is no electron beam hitting anything to cause x-ray emission. This is self-evident (no e-beam) as you are changing the filament..
"Residual radiation" from x-ray tubes etc. with no HV and no filament heating is just an urban myth. It's impossible.
So, don't worry about changing filaments to your EM.
I have been trying to get decent plastic sections (3-5 um) of a succulent halophyte species, Salicornia virginica (perennial pickleweed). Preliminary work was done with paraffin embedding and sectioning. Results were good enough to get basic embryological sequence but really need better and thinner sections, especially for the very early prepollination stages. I have been using NaPO4 buffer pH 7.6, adjusted to match osmolality of tissue ( up to 1000 + msosm). Did inital fixation in 2.5 % glut + 2% paraformaldehyde + drop DMSO in .05 M buffer. Postfixed in 2% osmium ( also in buffer of same osmolality), then rinsed and dehydrated in graded EtOH. Finally embedded in LR White resin. All done on ice. Results are very poor. tissue appears badly shrunken and distorted, much of the cellular contents are gone. I have done the fixation without the DMSO and have also tried just fixing directly in osmium. It seems to me that the dehydration is what is causing the damage. I would appreciate any suggestions from the group. thanks, Mary Pfauth, Portland State University.
We have our own Ca-ratio imaging system with Fura-2. We developed the system in SCIL Image 1.4, a multipurpose image analysis platform. You can buy turnkey systems, but make sure they do it right:
The speed of the excitation filter canger is limiting for the speed of the application (besides equilibration of your Calcium-probe), if you use Fura-2. There are severla types of filterchangers possible.
If you also want morphological information and you want to use a camera, the videorate of a classical PAL camera is limited to 40ms time resolution (a bit faster for NTSC). A frame splitter gives you about 10 ms time resolution if it splits the frame in four. Alternatives (digital camera systems) can give you a better time resolution. Systems which only detect the luminance or faster camera-systems give you a better time resoloution.
You have to be careful to make the calculations right, as there are two pitfalls in the procedure:
1) Correct for the darkcurrent of your camera 2) Correct for the background noise, coming from the preparation.
Make sure that the detection system matches the dynamic range of the probe.
Sincerely yours,
Peter Van Osta, MD
Senior Scientist Medical Image Analysis Biological Imaging Laboratory Life Sciences Department I - 6065 Janssen Research Foundation Turnhoutseweg 30 B-2340 Beerse Belgium Europe
-----Original Message----- } From: "Mortro-at-aol.com"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com [mailto:"Mortro-at-aol.com"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com] Sent: Friday, September 10, 1999 10:56 PM To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
Hello all!
I have been tasked with investigating feasibility of calcium ratioing for some of our researchers. Not knowing much about it, I wanted to see if anyone has any experience with systems doing this.
What manufacturers systems are recommended/not recommended? (Please reply privately if you feel you will offend manufacturers publicly).
Specifically, why do you recommend/not recommend that configuration?
What should I look for/look out for when asessing calcium ratioing systems?
Hello, We work with a weight loss physician (also American Board Certified in =46amily Medicine), who has formulated a topical gel product that has been very successful in the elimination of cellulite fat.
This cellulite-reducing topical gel product is simply amazing! You literally have to measure yourself before and after using this product to believe it. Testimonials are flooding into this physician =92s office from people who have lost both inches and pounds, after just the first week of using the system. Here is just one of them:
"I lost nine and half inches total, after my very first week of applying the gels. After my second and third weeks of application, I lost an additional 18 inches. My inches loss, as well as my weight loss, accelerated tremendously, when I started using the weight loss pills that came in my pak. In three months, I have lost a total of 42 inches and 22 pounds! What=92s more, I have more energy than ever, I sleep better and I fee= l so much healthier. Presently, my friends, having seen the great results I have had with Dr A=92s Cellulite Reducing & Weight Loss System, are now using the system as well. One of them lost an astounding 18 inches total after her very first week of applying the gels. Her self esteem is so much improved.=94
Need we say more?
If you will like to receive =46REE info about Dr A=92s Cellulite Reduc= ing & Weight Loss System, fill the Info Request =46orm below, and fax it to:=
208-246-1506
Info Request =46orm: Yes, please send me the =46REE info on Dr A=92s Cellulite Reducing & Weight Loss System. Please forward the said info to my LEGIBLY written or typed email address below. Thanks.
Note: Info is only sent by email. Thank you for your time. You will receive complete info within 72Hours on regular weekdays.
********************************************************************* To be removed reply to: mailto:reessdavis-at-netscape.net?subject=3Dremov= e *********************************************************************
has anybody positive or negative experience with the digital camera DC200 or DC100 for light microscopy sold by Leica? Before we bought DC200 we tested DC100 with lower resolution and found it useful. With DC200 we bought also a lot of problems. The main problems were that the programm under Win NT was not running properly and the white balance does not work. We always get a brown background. As we are investigating fungal infected plant tissues you can imagin that we cannot discriminate between health and necrotic tissue. .Now, we are waiting for month that Leica will solve the software problems with the white balance. It would be interesting for me, if anybody has got the same experiences with this system
Dr. Anne Heller Arbeitsgruppe Elektronenmikroskopie Institut fuer Botanik (210) Universitaet Hohenheim Garbenstr.30 D-70593 Stuttgart Tel.0049-711-459-2180 Fax 0049-711-459-3355
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Cryo-SEM should work fine for this sample. The freezing will stabilize the structure and careful sublimation should effectively remove enough ice to image the microspheres. You did not indicate the diameter of the microspheres but, providing they are not too small (probably not since they are readily seen with the stereomicroscope), they should be readily visible using cryo-SEM. We have done this with microspheres before with good success. For TEM, you may have the best luck with negative staining...again depending partially on size of the microspheres. The prep may take some experimentation....whether fixing will help stabilize the structure (as with using osmium to fix lipid microscpheres) and which negative stain works best. You may want to look at your sample prior to lyophilizing as this step could affect the size and shape of the microspheres.
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 --------------------------------------
Dear Colleagues,
I have a former student who is working with hyaluronic acid microspheres. These microspheres are clearly visible under the stereomicroscope, however, the desire is to view them using SEM. The problem is that when they are applied to a stub and allowed to air dry they disrupt in some way leaving a film layer behind. They wish to visualize the intact microspheres. In addition, they might also want to try observing them using a TEM (having worked with embedding and sectioning spheres/bubbles of surfactant from the lungs I realize how difficult this might be). If they could be embedded and sectioned what stain(s) might be employed?
The following is a description of how these microspheres are prepared. Any assistance with even just a SEM protocol would be greatly appreciated!
HA Preparation: " A hyaluronic acid (HA)solution and an organic oil (with a small amount of emulsifying agent) are mixed thoroughly until an emulsion forms. ONce the emulsion forms, polymerizing and cross-linking chemicals are added to cross-link the HA. The mixture is then centrifuged and the oil layer is discarded. The HA microsphere pellet is then washed several times with isopropanol and resuspended in a minimum amount of distilled water and then lyophilized."
Regards,
Steve
Stephen J. Beck Associate Professor Bio-Imaging Center/Electron Microscopy Department of Biology Nassau Community College Garden City, NY 11530 Voice Mail: (516) 572-7829 Email: {becks-at-sunynassau.edu} URL: {http://www.sunynassau.edu/webpages/biology/becks.htm}
RFC822 header -----------------------------------
Received: from SPARC5.MICROSCOPY.COM by mailcenter.btny.purdue.edu with SMTP (QuickMail Pro Server for Mac 2.0r1b2); 10 SEP 99 18:47:57 UT Received: (from daemon-at-localhost) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) id NAA15527 for dist-Microscopy; Fri, 10 Sep 1999 13:14:57 -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 NAA15517 for "MicroscopyFilteredEmail-at-msa.microscopy.com"; Fri, 10 Sep 1999 13:14:26 -0500 Received: from lib.acs.sunynassau.edu (LIB.ACS.SUNYNASSAU.EDU [198.38.8.2]) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) with SMTP id NAA15510 for {Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com} ; Fri, 10 Sep 1999 13:14:10 -0500 Received: from nov1.acs.sunynassau.edu ([198.38.9.253]) by lib.acs.sunynassau.edu with ESMTP for Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com; Fri, 10 Sep 1999 14:22:14 -0400 Received: from NCC_VOL2/SpoolDir by nov1.acs.sunynassau.edu (Mercury 1.40); 10 Sep 99 14:28:31 -500 Received: from SpoolDir by NCC_VOL2 (Mercury 1.31); 10 Sep 99 14:28:29 -500 Received: from [198.38.8.22] by nov1.acs.sunynassau.edu (Mercury 1.31) with ESMTP; 10 Sep 99 14:28:24 -500 X-Sender: becks-at-nov1.acs.sunynassau.edu Message-Id: {l03010d03b3fefb765ba6-at-[198.38.8.22]} Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Date: Fri, 10 Sep 1999 14:28:42 -0400 To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com From: Steve Beck {becks-at-sunynassau.edu} Subject: Microsphere Preparation Errors-to: Microscopy-request-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
by ultra.ultra.net.au (8.9.3/8.9.3) with SMTP id AAA16326; Tue, 14 Sep 1999 00:27:19 +1000 (EST) Received: by localhost with Microsoft MAPI; Tue, 14 Sep 1999 00:27:13 +1000 Message-ID: {01BEFE47.E4202E80.jim-at-proscitech.com.au}
Alfred: I expect that FESEM could produce good images showing phages attached to bacteria. Conventional SEM does not have sufficient resolution. If, however, you need to show some structures within the phages or the shape of their heads, FESEM too is insufficient and negative staining/TEM with a final magnification in excess of 400k is required. Negative staining, to show bacteria and phages together at medium powers are rather difficult. Bacteria are too large for good negatively stained images, but you can be lucky. If no FESEM is available you could try your hand doing some metal shadow casting. Cheers Jim Darley ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes www.proscitech.com
On Monday, September 13, 1999 6:40 AM, Alfred Harris [SMTP:a.harris-at-waikato.ac.nz] wrote: } } } Date: Thu, 09 Sep 1999 09:09:03 +1200 } } To: Microscopy-at-MSA.Com } } From: Alfred Harris {a.harris-at-waikato.ac.nz} } } Subject: SEM of Bacteriophage } } } } Hi everyone } } I have had a request for electron microscope images of bacteriophage. I am } familiar with standard TEM negative staining methods. Is it possible to } obtain SEM images? Are they as good? What are best methods? } } } } Alfred Harris }
I am interested in receiving comments on the Soft Imaging System's AnalySIS Software including colorview 12 (LM) and Megaview II (TEM) cameras, specifically for biological applications. Please respond to me directly or to the list for comments of general interest. Commercial responses are welcome. Thanks.
Hello All, The LKB Ultrastainer 2168 in my lab is not functioning properly. The stain chamber is not filling completely and there is not enough stain flow through the tubing as well as water flowing through the rinse and wash cycles. The excellent service engineer for Leica is now working at a new company.
I would appreciate any help from anybody as to how to troubleshoot and fix this problem.
In a clinical EM setting, there is not much time allowed for malfunctioning instruments, especially if you work alone. Thanks, Winnie
At several colloidal gold workshops that I have attended, I was informed that the glut. fixation would also prevent the loss of signal during staining. Apparently, in some cases the rapid change in pH that occurs when moving a grid from a buffer or water rinse, into a uranyl acetate or lead citrate stain can cause the gold conjugates to break away from the antibodies. I must admit that I have never tried to stain without the glut. fixation so I don't know if there is any signal loss or not.
Tim Wakefield ----- / 101 Cary Hall / | \ / Auburn University, AL / --|-- \/ 36849 \ | /\ 334-844-3908 \ | / \ ----- \
I am in dire need of a camera for my Philips PSEM 500, but am starting to realize that this microscope is not exceptionally common. I understand that the same photomonitor module was used on the Philips STEM 400.
Does anyone out there have such a camera for sale?
Please? Pretty Please?
Paul Grover Microvista Laboratory Lafayette, Indiana USA
Additional comment on imaging microspheres which have been prepared by low temperature methods. Make sure you use the very lowest kV 2? if you must 3 and really low beam currents in the 10-20 pA range. If you have any ice in or around the sample, they are very beam sensitive.
Good luck
Patrick Echlin Cambridge UK On 13 Sep 1999, Debby Sherman 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Cryo-SEM should work fine for this sample. The freezing will stabilize } the structure and careful sublimation should effectively remove enough ice } to image the microspheres. You did not indicate the diameter of the } microspheres but, providing they are not too small (probably not since they are } readily seen with the stereomicroscope), they should be readily visible } using cryo-SEM. We have done this with microspheres before with good } success. } For TEM, you may have the best luck with negative staining...again } depending partially on size of the microspheres. The prep may take some } experimentation....whether fixing will help stabilize the structure (as with } using osmium to fix lipid microscpheres) and which negative stain works } best. } You may want to look at your sample prior to lyophilizing as this step } could affect the size and shape of the microspheres. } } 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 } -------------------------------------- } Date: 9/10/1999 1:28 PM } } From: Steve Beck } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 have a former student who is working with hyaluronic acid microspheres. } These microspheres are clearly visible under the stereomicroscope, } however, } the desire is to view them using SEM. The problem is that when they are } applied to a stub and allowed to air dry they disrupt in some way leaving } a } film layer behind. They wish to visualize the intact microspheres. In } addition, they might also want to try observing them using a TEM (having } worked with embedding and sectioning spheres/bubbles of surfactant from } the } lungs I realize how difficult this might be). If they could be embedded } and } sectioned what stain(s) might be employed? } } The following is a description of how these microspheres are prepared. } Any } assistance with even just a SEM protocol would be greatly appreciated! } } HA Preparation: } " A hyaluronic acid (HA)solution and an organic oil (with a small amount } of } emulsifying agent) are mixed thoroughly until an emulsion forms. ONce the } emulsion forms, polymerizing and cross-linking chemicals are added to } cross-link the HA. The mixture is then centrifuged and the oil layer is } discarded. The HA microsphere pellet is then washed several times with } isopropanol and resuspended in a minimum amount of distilled water and } then } lyophilized." } } Regards, } } Steve } } } } } Stephen J. Beck } Associate Professor } Bio-Imaging Center/Electron Microscopy } Department of Biology } Nassau Community College } Garden City, NY 11530 } Voice Mail: (516) 572-7829 } Email: {becks-at-sunynassau.edu} } URL: {http://www.sunynassau.edu/webpages/biology/becks.htm} } } } } } } RFC822 header } ----------------------------------- } } Received: from SPARC5.MICROSCOPY.COM by mailcenter.btny.purdue.edu } with SMTP (QuickMail Pro Server for Mac 2.0r1b2); 10 SEP 99 } 18:47:57 UT } Received: (from daemon-at-localhost) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } (8.6.11/8.6.11) id NAA15527 for dist-Microscopy; Fri, 10 Sep 1999 13:14:57 -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 NAA15517 for } "MicroscopyFilteredEmail-at-msa.microscopy.com"; Fri, 10 Sep 1999 13:14:26 -0500 } Received: from lib.acs.sunynassau.edu (LIB.ACS.SUNYNASSAU.EDU } [198.38.8.2]) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) with SMTP id NAA15510 for } {Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com} ; Fri, 10 Sep 1999 13:14:10 -0500 } Received: from nov1.acs.sunynassau.edu ([198.38.9.253]) } by lib.acs.sunynassau.edu with ESMTP } for Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com; Fri, 10 Sep 1999 14:22:14 } -0400 } Received: from NCC_VOL2/SpoolDir by nov1.acs.sunynassau.edu (Mercury } 1.40); } 10 Sep 99 14:28:31 -500 } Received: from SpoolDir by NCC_VOL2 (Mercury 1.31); 10 Sep 99 14:28:29 } -500 } Received: from [198.38.8.22] by nov1.acs.sunynassau.edu (Mercury 1.31) } with ESMTP; } 10 Sep 99 14:28:24 -500 } X-Sender: becks-at-nov1.acs.sunynassau.edu } Message-Id: {l03010d03b3fefb765ba6-at-[198.38.8.22]} } Mime-Version: 1.0 } Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" } Date: Fri, 10 Sep 1999 14:28:42 -0400 } To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } From: Steve Beck {becks-at-sunynassau.edu} } Subject: Microsphere Preparation } Errors-to: Microscopy-request-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } } } } }
Patrick Echlin Cambridge UKOn Mon, 13 Sep 1999, jean michel Wulveryck wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Dear microscopists, } I'm looking for the thermal conductivity of kraft. could someone give me } this feature. } Thanking You in advance, } Jean-Michel } } }
I am looking for a 3rd party to provide service and repairs to a used sem we will be purchasing in Nov. The prime SEM candidates are JEOL 6400FE or Hitachi 4000FE.
Bill Delaney Senior Fab Engineer Digital Optics Corp. Charlotte, NC bill-at-doc.com {mailto:bill-at-doc.com}
Jennifer Taylor wrote: ====================================== Recently I have embedded biological polymer fibers in epoxy to section for TEM samples. Unfortunately, the fibers with very small diameters dissolved in the epoxy. The fibers are used for applications requiring the polymer to be absorbed in the human body. Therefore, they also dissolve in water. Does anyone have any suggestions for either alternate methods to obtain a TEM sample or ways to alleviate this problem? ======================================= We have had this kind of problem with small polymer particles which tend to dissolve in any of the standard embedding systems. We solved this problem by taking the following approach:
• Take a flat clear embedding mold, for example, like our SPI 2442C-AB (see website address given below) and fill it half way with either SPI Pon™ 812 or one of the other popular "Epon® substitute" resins.
• After polymerizing into a block, apply sparingly some of the fibers, preferably in a dry form. It deposited from a liquid, surface tension forces interfere with being able to coat the underside of the fibers.
• Then metallize with Pt in a sputter coater. Au is OK if you don't have Pt, but Pt tends to be less likely to smear when thin sectioning.
• Then "disturb" (by shaking, or a slight blast with a duster) the fibers to the extent that at least some have been moved with the unmetallized side up and metallize again. We do this three times. The idea is to encapsulate the fibers in a passivation layer to provide protection from contact with the embedding resin.
• The cavity can then be filled up with resin and when cured, the block sectioned, resulting in undisturbed and umodified (by the resin) cross- sections for TEM. The resin should be put in in two steps, the first one being a very thin additional layer with the second layer deep enough to fill the cavity.
We would be very interested in doing a demo run for you using osmium instead of platinum since in theory at least, an osmium coating should be better than platinum (because of its amorphous nature and zero grain size). Let us know if you would be interested in our doing this.
Disclaimer: SPI Supplies manufactures and distributes some of the products mentioned so we would have a vested interest in their greater use. We have also been performing these kinds of laboratory analytical services since 1970.
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.spi.cc ######################## ============================================
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Dear all,
I notice lots of calls for recommendations of software, CCD cameras, = diamond knives and other microscopy-related equipment appearing on this = list.
As I too am interested in comments about these products, and as I know = most replies occur off-line where I don't get to see them, wouldn't it be = great if there was a central site where we could submit our own reviews of = the equipment we use, and read other users comments?
At one of the on-line book sellers, the site allows for submission of book = reviews. When added together, the sum of these reviews gives a new reader = a good idea of what to expect. =
Couldn't we do this for our stuff too? In addition to giving the buyer an = informed view of expensive equipment, it might help suppliers identify = potential problems early enough to correct them.
Any comments, volunteers etc.?
Best regards,
Paul Webster, Ph.D. House Ear Institute 2100 West Third Street Los Angeles CA 90057 213 273 8026 http://www.hei.org/htm/aemi.htm
by williams.edu (PMDF V5.2-32 #39697) with SMTP id {0FI000GJZY90CZ-at-williams.edu} for microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com; Mon, 13 Sep 1999 20:48:36 -0400 (EDT) Received: from localhost by colrain.williams.edu (5.65v4.0/1.1.8.2/16Jul96-0543PM) id AA13780; Mon, 13 Sep 1999 20:48:35 -0400
I've followed previous threads on printers, read published reviews, and spoken with the sales rep. Now I am seeking the opinions from users on the output, reliability, and service of four full-page, color, 300 dpi (or better) printers:
- Sony UP-D70A - Kodak 8660 or 8670PS - Fuji Pictography 3000
- also Codonics printers (sorry, no specific model)
We've been very pleased with the Epson 740 and 750 inkjet printers and glossy film, and now want to improve image quality and printing speed. We're running PCs on a LAN and can connect via parallel port, USB, Adaptec SCSI interface, or Ethernet. Our principal output will be high-resolution images embedded in desktop publishing software such as Word (and some Postscript programs too).
I am seeking opinions on a microspectrophotometer from SensorPhysics and Ocean Optics, called the Lambdascope. If you've used this system and are willing to share your opinions, please contact me off-list.
Hi all, A colleague has asked me to find out if anyone knows of any papers published on the use of environmental SEM to look at slurry. Any references or other information would be appreciated. Thanks.
Lyn Waterhouse CEMMSA Centre for Electron Microscopy and Microstructure Analysis University of Adelaide Adelaide SA 5005 Ph: (08) 8303 4074 Fax: (08) 8303 4356
Thanks to all the people who sent in suggestions; once again, this list has saved the day (or more accurately, the week).
Linda Barthel's ( http://www-personal.umich.edu/~praymond/protocol.html ) suggestion of cutting the block face into a diamond shape did the trick. And no compression at all !!! And you can forgo the roll guard if you're careful (though it worked for me with the roll guard as well).
In accumulating what I want I have come up with some extra Nikon, Zeiss, AO and Swift stuff that I would like to trade for things more useful to me. Everything is subject to return if is not what it is represented to be. I ask the same for what I trade for. I am looking for functional thing and cosmetics are not a sticking point. Optical quality is.
What I have:
A Zeiss Epi attachment for material work with an epiplan 40/.85 objective. It has bright field and dark field. It has a couple of filter slots and a diaphragm. It looks to be in great shape. This is the light tube that attaches to a stand and includes the turret. There is also an Attachment that allows it to attach directly to a binocular head.
A Zeiss condenser that probably went with the epi stuff it has a Epiplan .63 and 0.32 lens with two swing out filter trays that snap into place. The condenser has centering screws.
A focusing gear for the cream colored Zeiss. I wish I had got to it before some scraped it for metal:{
A black Nikon triocular head with a 1.2 relay lens and lighted pointer. The camera port is odd in that it comes off horizontally instead of vertically. It is for a TV camera and is not of standard eyepiece size. It has some dings in the paint but nothing that can't be detailed out. It says CirCon MV9585 micro optical system.
I have the Nikon binocular eyepiece head for it. It is a 95108 and has some chipping on the paint and needs cleaning. It has been forced from the retting ring and has a couple of ding on the curricular dove tail.These are not bad and can easily be filed out with no loss of functionality.
A Zeiss binocular eyepiece head is cream and folds in the center. It needs cleaning and the paint needs retouching here and there. There no dings or dents. Looking in the top at a good angle I can see some dirt or discoloration on the edges of one of the prisms where it is attached to the scope. This cannot be seen looking directly into the eyepieces and with eyepieces in the head. It appears to be normal to the mounting process.
A AO cycloptic that has a loose prism. It shows use. No stand or eyepieces. I would like to get the prism repaired and find a stand for this.
A 170 mm Leitz missing eyepieces and condenser but having a triouclar head. This is the 50 or 60 model that the course and fine focus is on the same knob. I really intend to keep this scope and most of what I am looking for is for it.
A Binkmann Medical scope that I believe was made by Zeiss in east Germany. Binkmann swears it is Zeiss and Zeiss says They never made it. It is a nice scope to use and is very nice condition. I am very happy with the scope. The only reason I mention it is that it might be of interest to a Zeiss collector if it is in fact made by Zeiss.
A 1 and 2 x head for a Swift binocular. It uses large Eyepieces and is missing eye pieces and stand. I would either like to find eyepieces and a stand or trade this. If I can find a stand I will machine adapters for standard eye pieces.
I have a Zeiss IKon 35mm w/focal plane shutter and front reflex housing and an attachment to eyepiece tube with photo eyepiece. I also have a single eyepiece tube. I know where there is a Second I can lay hands on if the deal is right. I are not very interested in trading these but would do it for the right stuff. Is in excellent shape
Now my want list. I am willing to trade most anything to end up with what I want.
I need some eyepieces; a pair of 8x, 15 x and a couple pairs of 10 x.
A good condenser for the Leitz. It is the one that rides on a Dovetail.
I would like a good phase setup for the Leitz and darkfeild would Be nice.
I need a stage micrometer. And I would be open to trade for some books on invertebrates and protozoa.
I need a stand for the Cycoplotic if I can get it fixed or I need a Stand for the Swift.
I would like to have a triocular head for the Binkman. It has A larger flange than the Zeiss. I can turn an adapter ring if necessary.
I am interested in adding functionality to the 170mm Leitz
A couple of mirrors.
A good light source.
I am currently in the San Francisco area for the next couple of weeks. I have some of the stuff with me. wold prefer to do business in person but I have done a great deal of internet business and have no problems with that.
My goal is to end up with two working binoculars and two working compounds with TV capability. Eyepiece cameras will be satisfactory For the binoculars. There are two of us working on this and most of My work under 100x will be done with a macro camera not a binocular Microscope. We have the video stuff already.
I am a ham radio operator and I have a good collection of stuff and access To a lot more. So if you want something in the electronics line I might have it.
Gordon Couger
408 249 7483 until the 27 of September. Call afternoon or evenings. Gordon Couger 624 Cheyenne Stillwater, OK 74075 405 624 2855 GMT - 6:00
I will setup Q & A forum about equipment at my Microscopy Vendors Database (http://www.kaker.com/mvd/vendors.html).
Henrik
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, } } I notice lots of calls for recommendations of software, CCD cameras, diamond knives and other microscopy-related equipment appearing on this list. } } As I too am interested in comments about these products, and as I know most replies occur off-line where I don't get to see them, wouldn't it be great if there was a central site where we could submit our own reviews of the equipment we use, and read other users comments? } } At one of the on-line book sellers, the site allows for submission of book reviews. When added together, the sum of these reviews gives a new reader a good idea of what to expect. } Couldn't we do this for our stuff too? In addition to giving the buyer an informed view of expensive equipment, it might help suppliers identify potential problems early enough to correct them. } } Any comments, volunteers etc.? } } Best regards, } } Paul Webster, Ph.D. } House Ear Institute } 2100 West Third Street } Los Angeles CA 90057 } 213 273 8026 } http://www.hei.org/htm/aemi.htm
} Chesapeake Society for Microscopy } presents } The Fall Dinner Meeting of 1999 } } Date: October 6th, 1999 } } Time: Social Hour at 6:00 PM } Graciously Sponsored by Ray Gundersdorff, JEOL } } Dinner: 7:00 PM--$20.00 (Students $10.00) } Menu includes several Chinese dishes } } Location: Far East Restaurant } } Speaker: Dennis Ward from the FBI } "Applications of Scanning Electron Microscopy at the FBI" } } } } Far East Restaurant } 5055 Nicholson Lane } Rockville, MD 20852 } (301) 881-5552 } From Beltway, North on 355 (Rockville Pike) } Make Right onto Nicholson Lane (Street right after Whiteflint Mall) } At 3rd light make left into parking lot } } Please make reservations by Oct. 5th } Contact Andrea Weisberg at (301) 435-1977 } Andrea S. Weisberg } NIH/NIAID/LVD } Bldg.4/Rm.210 } 4 Center Dr. } Bethesda,MD 20892-0445 } office (301) 435-1977 } Fax (301) 480-1147 } e-mail: aweisberg-at-nih.gov } }
ATHENE DONALD (Cambridge University) is one of our UK experts on ESEM - perhaps these three articles might be helpful:
(2) TI: The study of water in heterogeneous media using environmental scanning electron microscopy AU: Thiel_BL, Donald_AM JN: JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR LIQUIDS, 1999, Vol.80, No.2-3, pp.207-230
(14) TI: Direct observation of water-oil emulsion systems in the liquid state by environmental scanning electron microscopy AU: Stokes_DJ, Thiel_BL, Donald_AM JN: LANGMUIR, 1998, Vol.14, No.16, pp.4402-4408
(16) TI: Environmental scanning electron microscopy for the study of 'wet' systems AU: Donald_AM JN: CURRENT OPINION IN COLLOID & INTERFACE SCIENCE, 1998, Vol.3, No.2, pp.143-147
On Tue, 14 Sep 1999, Lyn Waterhouse wrote:
} A colleague has asked me to find out if anyone knows of any papers } published on the use of environmental SEM to look at slurry. Any } references or other information would be appreciated. Thanks.
} Lyn Waterhouse
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 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 | +------------------------------------------------------------------------+
First of all the application framework I will talk about is NOT a commercial application, it is our own in-house developped digital image analysis framework for analysing microscopical images. I want to know if there are any commercial equivalents on the market to what we have here ?
We have developed (already a copule of years ago) a multi-mode multi-position automated image analysis system for micrscopy. The system is based on SCIL Image 1.x (http://carol.wins.uva.nl/~koelma/isis/projects/scilimage.html), an image analysis framwork from the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands.
In one setup for fluorescence micrscopy, we are capable of acquiring 28380 grey-scale image in less than 4 hours from the central 60 wells of a 90 well plate (473 images per well), including focussing every 4 positions in the well. We use a ZEISS Axiovert 135, with a 40x objective, a motorised stage and an intensified camera to acquire the images. Our (patented) focusing algorithm is capable to focus even if the S/N ratio is 5 dB, ie. low quality fluorescence images.
The position recording system allows us to scan the plates in several modes, ie. different fluorochromes or different imaging modes (brightfield, phase contrast, DIC,...).
Analysis of the 28380 images takes about 9 hours, depending a bit on the application. The acquisition (SGI O2) and the analysis (SGI Origin200) is done on Silicon Graphics workstations.
Are there any commercial systems that are capable of doing this ? Our application is NOT for sale, so this is not a commercail spam.
Sincerely yours,
Peter Van Osta, MD
Senior Scientist Medical Image Analysis Biological Imaging Laboratory Life Sciences Department I - 6065 Janssen Research Foundation Turnhoutseweg 30 B-2340 Beerse Belgium Europe
Hey, a "Comsumer Reports" of microscopy equipment. Great idea. Are you volunteering to catalog them???? Maybe it's a project MSA would support with a small grant to keep the data base????
On 13 Sep 1999, Paul Webster wrote:
} Date: 13 Sep 99 17:44:04 -0700 } From: Paul Webster {pwebster-at-mailhouse.hei.org} } To: MSA listserver submission {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} } Subject: Recommnedations } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Dear all, } } I notice lots of calls for recommendations of software, CCD cameras, diamond knives and other microscopy-related equipment appearing on this list. } } As I too am interested in comments about these products, and as I know most replies occur off-line where I don't get to see them, wouldn't it be great if there was a central site where we could submit our own reviews of the equipment we use, and read other users comments? } } At one of the on-line book sellers, the site allows for submission of book reviews. When added together, the sum of these reviews gives a new reader a good idea of what to expect. } Couldn't we do this for our stuff too? In addition to giving the buyer an informed view of expensive equipment, it might help suppliers identify potential problems early enough to correct them. } } Any comments, volunteers etc.? } } Best regards, } } Paul Webster, Ph.D. } House Ear Institute } 2100 West Third Street } Los Angeles CA 90057 } 213 273 8026 } http://www.hei.org/htm/aemi.htm } } } }
Sara E. Miller, Ph. D. P. O. Box 3020 Duke University Medical Center Durham, NC 27710 Ph: 919 684-3452 FAX: 919 684-8735
What you have provided is the URL for Scion Image which was developed from NIH image. That is good to know, too.
However, Image Tool is a different product from the University of Texas Health Sciences Center. It is true that the links below do not work. Unfortunately, they are the ones listed officially on all of the UTHSCA pages that I found. I finally called Dr. Dove, who was involved in developing the program, and he directed me to the correct site. It is available through the main UTHSCA page following a "Resources" link, and finding the "Image Tool" listing. The end URL is http://macorb.uthscsa.edu/dig/itdesc.html
The demand was outstripping their old server and they had to move the site. Also, there is apparently more demand for improving and updating the program itself than there is for updating the web pages.
At 06:50 PM 9/3/1999 -0700, you wrote: } } I think UTHSCA ImageTool was taken over by Scion Image(???) At any rate, } Scion has an easy to use image analysis program that can be downloaded for } free from their site: } } http://scioncorp.com } } Sometimes I have LUT problems, but not when I'm doing image analysis. } (Before I got Photoshop, I used to use it to draw pictures ;-) ) } } ------------------------------------- } } On Fri, 3 Sep 1999, Andrew Ochalski wrote: } } } } } Dear Microscopists, } } } } I have been trying in vain for the past two } } weeks to download the most recent version of } } UTHSCSA's ImageTool program. The two links } } I have been trying from a variety of approaches } } are: } } http://ddsdx.uthscsa.edu } } and } } ftp://maxrad6.uthscsa.edu. } } Are these still valid, are there more current links } } or is the software no longer available ? Thanks } .. }
Hi all - taking a slurry as any mixture of solid particles in liquid? we have looked at a few fibre/oil mixes, and found the influence of kV to be crucial. 25kV imaged particles through the surface of the liquid without giving any detail of the liquid, at 10kV the liquid/gas boundary was more apparent, but at 5kV there was quite a dramatic shift, as detail on the surface of the liquid phase became visible (mixed SE/BSE signal) - what looked like a perfectly smooth surface even at 10-15kV was actually covered in gunk or had its own microstructure. You need (IMHO) helium (around 1 torr. give or take a bit) in the chamber to work comfortably at 5kV. Lower kV than 5 is probably practical on the newer model VP or ESEMS.
But if its a pure water slurry you are looking at, maybe it would be possible to drop the temperature as much as you can, and to mix in something else, to cut the evaporation rate to let you work at lower pressure to let you work at lower kV....?
cheers
Sally
Dr Sally Stowe Facility Coordinator Australian National University EM Unit Research School of Biological Sciences Box 475, ACT 2601, Canberra, Australia FAX 06 (0)2 6279 8525 http://www.anu.edu.au/EMU/home.htm
} } } Lyn Waterhouse wrote:
Hi all, A colleague has asked me to find out if anyone knows of any papers published on the use of environmental SEM to look at slurry. Any references or other information would be appreciated. Thanks.
Lyn Waterhouse CEMMSA Centre for Electron Microscopy and Microstructure Analysis University of Adelaide Adelaide SA 5005 Ph: (08) 8303 4074 Fax: (08) 8303 4356
I use a Kodak DS8650PS dye sublimation printer with Kodak ExtraLife XL paper and ribbon, 8-1/2"x12" paper. It is connected to a 10BaseT LAN with Macs and PCs (Win95) and HP Laserjets.
The quality of the Kodak is very good. However, each page costs about $2, between the cost of the paper and the ribbon. Printing speed is rather slow, even with 64MB of RAM. Sending anything higher than 300dpi is a waste. 220 dpi works well and does speed things up. The printer is a CMYK + coating so it makes 5 passes. Each print takes about 3-4 minutes to print. But it can take up to 5 minutes to just get the data file into the printer. So from hitting the Print command in a program, you can expect to wait at least 10 minutes for a printed page to emerge.
The ExtraLife is very good stuff since it is for all practical purposes, indestructible and does not fade with age. You can soak it in water and just wipe off and there is no damage to the print.
I have had sporadic luck doing direct printer port outputs to the 8650PS. But the Ethernet link never fails from the PC or Mac.
These printers can be found used for between $2,000 and $4,000. The newer models are supposedly faster but I'd suspect the difference is not all that much. But I have not seen one in action to verify that.
gary g.
At 05:48 PM 9/13/99 , you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I have the space to keep the data base. I don't have the expertise to edit it. It is a pretty good link. It is not as fast as the best but the congestion is low enough it makes up for it most of the time.
I will consider any form of internet publication. I am looking for a small circulation juried journal. I am primarily interested in increasing the speed of information distribution and reducing the cost.
My experience with some of my own publications where it took a year to get it published after acceptance and $700 bucks for reprints and they kept the copyright left a bad taste in my mouth.
If we are going to increase the rate of progress in technology we need to get the time to publication down as low as possible. I think it should be possible to get a non controversial jurried article out in two months and letters out in hours.
I am interested in publishing only. I am no editor. All copyrights stay with the author and no page cost at this point. The cost of publication on the internet is very low. My cost for keeping a box on the net are 50 a month and hardware replacement. $1,000 a year covers the cost including administration after the first time set up. So very modest page charges would be very attractive to and ISP. My interest is getting it started.
My cost will go up with a lot of net acess. But not much.
Gordon Gordon Couger 624 Cheyenne Stillwater, OK 74075 405 624 2855 GMT - 6:00 -----Original Message----- } From: Sara Miller {saram-at-duke.edu} To: Paul Webster {pwebster-at-mailhouse.hei.org} Cc: MSA listserver submission {Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com}
You Can Work At Home & Set Your Own Hours. Start earning Big Money in a short time
NO Newspaper Advertising!
Your job will be to stuff and mail envelopes for our company. You will receive $.25 for each and every envelope you stuff and mail out.
Just follow our simple instructions and you will be making money as easy as 1… 2… 3
For example stuff and mail 200 envelopes and you will receive $50.00. Stuff and mail 1000 and you will receive $250.00. Stuff and mail 2000 and you will receive $500.00 and more
Never before has there been an easier way to make money from home!
Our Company's Home Mailing Program is designed for people with little or no experience and provides simple, step by step instructions.
There is no prior experience or special skills necessary on your part, Just stuffing envelopes.
We need the help of honest and reliable home workers like you. Because we are overloaded with work and have more than our staff can handle. We have now expanded our mailing program and are expecting to reach millions more with our offers throughout the US and Canada.
Our system of stuffing and mailing envelopes is very simple and easy to do! You will not be required to buy envelopes or postage stamps.
We will gladly furnish all circulars at no cost to you. We assure you that as a participant in our program you will never have to mail anything objective or offensive.
There are no quotas to meet, and there no contracts to sign. You can work as much, or as little as you want. Payment for each envelope you send out is Guaranteed!
Here is what you will receive when you get your first Package. Inside you will find 100 envelopes, 100 labels and 100 sales letters ready to stuff and mail
As soon as you are done with stuffing and mailing these first letters, your payment will arrive shortly, thereafter. All you have to do is to order more free supplies and stuff and mail more envelopes to make more money.
Our sales literature which you will be stuffing and mailing will contain information outlining our highly informative manuals that we are advertising nationwide. As a free gift you will receive a special manual valued at $24.95, absolutely free, just for joining our Home Mailers Program.
Plus you will get your own special code number, so that we will know how much you are to get paid. And to make re-ordering of more envelopes, that our company supplies very simple for you.
We are giving you this free bonus because we want you to be confident in our company and to ensure that we will be doing business with you for a long time.
Benefits Of This Job:
1. You do not have to quit your present job, to earn more money at home 2. You can make between $2,500 to $4,500 a month depending on the amount of time you are willing to spend stuffing and mailing envelopes 3. This is a great opportunity for the students, mothers, disabled persons or those who are home bodies.
To secure your position and to show us that you are serious about earning extra income at home we require a one-time registration fee of $35.00. This fee covers the cost of your initial start up package, which includes 100 envelopes, 100 labels and 100 sales letters and a manual, your registration fee will be refunded back to you shortly thereafter.
Money Back Guarantee!
We guarantee that as soon as you stuff and mail your first 300 envelopes You will be paid $75.00 and your registration fee will be refunded.
Many of you wonder why it is necessary to pay a deposit to get a job. It is because we are looking for people that seriously want to work from home.
* If 3.000 people told us they wanted to start working from home and we sent out 3.000 packages free to every one. And then half of the people decided not to work, this would be a potential loss of more than $60,000 in supply's and shipping that we have sent out to people that don't want to work
We have instituted this policy to make sure that you really want to work and at least finish your first package.
To Get Started Today Please Enclose Your Registration Fee of $35 Check,Cash Or Money Order and fill out the application below and mail to:
MOHW Co 11054 Ventura Blvd PMB #126 Studio City, CA 91604 Name_____________________________________________________
* To be multi-orgasmic * To greatly increase the intensity of his orgasm * Triple the length of his orgasm * The secrets to penis enlargement * Discover the male G-spot * To greatly increase semen volume * The facts about Viagra, plus new drugs * To eliminate premature ejaculation * The secrets of getting his partner to want more sex * To eliminate impotence at any age * To have up to a three hour erection
New, Easy to Read Book on Men's Sexual Secrets Male Sexual Secret's Written by Robert Winter and Jeff Rutgard, M.D.
Most Men Only Get A Fraction of The Pleasure They Can } From Sex-After Only A Few Pages You Can Easily Triple That Amount Of Pleasure.
This is a fantastic new book covering so many little known and unknown sexual secret's you'll be amazed. If you don't learn something new in the first few pages that greatly increases your sex life we'll return your money.
The total cost of this book is only $12.95 plus $3.95 shipping and handling.
To order " Male Sexual Secrets" Call 800-426-5921 24 hours a day or you can send your check or money order for $16.90 to
Avatar Publishing 168 second Ave #PBM 285 New York, NY. 10003
This message is sent in compliance of the new e-mail bill: SECTION 301. Per Section 301, Paragraph(a)(2)(c) of S.1618
To be removed from our e-mail list please call 888-248-2594
We are considering revamping our billing software in a multi-user, multi-instrument imaging facility. Can anyone suggest a good software package that they currently use for billing?
Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
Doug Taatjes
Dr. Douglas J. Taatjes Department of Pathology Director, Cell Imaging Facility University of Vermont Burlington, VT 05405 USA 802-656-0373 (voice) 802-656-8892 (FAX)
Web Page: http://pathology.uvm.edu/cifweb/cif_home/cif_index.html
Glutaraldehyde fixation after immunogold staining prevents the loss of signal that may be induced by low pH contrasting, such as in Uranyl salt solutions. Next to this Uranyl salts may have chaotropic effects. Both chemical characteristics are exploited in eluting antibodies form antigens in affinity chromatography purification techniques, as well as in eluting immunoglobulins from Protein A or Protein G affinity columns. In our experience the effect of the fixation step is more obvious with protein A or G reagents than with secondary antibody gold conjugates, where it will depend on Kd-values for the individual reactions beteen primary and secondary antibody. In fact Protein A gold may even become uncoupled from the primary antibody simply by washing in water. Of course it is necessary to rinse well after the gold incubation step before the on-set of fixation, since all adhering gold conjugates may become fixed to the specimen, both the ones bound to the primary as the unbound ones which should first be removed by washing. The fixation time can be relatively short, in the order of minutes, for on-section labeling and may have to be applied for a longer period of time for pre-embedding applications.
Hope this helps to clarify this =========================== Jan Leunissen AURION http://www.aurion.nl Costerweg 5 6702 AA Wageningen The Netherlands phone: 31-317-497676 fax: 31-317-415955 You will find more technical info on our web site
I notice lots of calls for recommendations of software, CCD cameras, diamond knives and other microscopy-related equipment appearing on this list.
As I too am interested in comments about these products, and as I know most replies occur off-line where I don't get to see them, wouldn't it be great if there was a central site where we could submit our own reviews of the equipment we use, and read other users comments?
At one of the on-line book sellers, the site allows for submission of book reviews. When added together, the sum of these reviews gives a new reader a good idea of what to expect. Couldn't we do this for our stuff too? In addition to giving the buyer an informed view of expensive equipment, it might help suppliers identify potential problems early enough to correct them.
A super idea! The problem for me as for anyone else who volunteers will be finding the time but it will be well spent. Count me as a volunteer! Rosemary
Our Fuji Pictrography has developed a problem where the donor paper gets jammed almost every cycle (often at 1/2 but also at further along the pathway). Have any Fuji owners had this problem and solved it? Any help would be gratefully appreciated.
Someone asked recently about high end printers including the Fuji. We love ours but the St. Louis Service rep that is responsible for our territory is terrible and is hard to even get to them to return a call. Fuji doesn't have a help line, they refer us to our rep. So despite having a great printer, their technical help suffers.
Thanks, Tom
Thomas E. Phillips, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Biological Sciences Director, Molecular Cytology Core Facility
3 Tucker Hall Division of Biological Sciences University of Missouri Columbia, MO 65211-7400 (573)-882-4712 (voice) (573)-882-0123 (fax)
I totally agree with this, Journal review is taking far too long now. Scientists should really put more effort in reviewing their co-workers paper submissions. Papers sitting on someone's desk for six months without review is unacceptable. I personally try to finish a review once I receive it within two weeks. Many people asked to review papers often never reply to the publishers, which I think is a serious offence in the scientific field.
I know the NIH is considering doing rapid article publication on their website. After screening of the articles, they are placed onto the web for anyone to download or read. I think there are other journals going this route as well. It is the communication method of the future. I think that publications will go this way. More respected online journals will have extensive peer review and screening. Other rapid publication journals will have less, and still be immensely useful in being able to do online searching for specific information.
I have a lot of experience in programming, web design, and system administration. I am interested in forming a rapid publication web site for the scientific community and will readily offer my skills and time. Gordon Vrdoljak.
\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ Gordon Ante Vrdoljak 1 Cyclotron Road ICQ 23243541 http://nature.berkeley.edu/~gvrdolja MS90-1116 GAVrdoljak-at-lbl.gov Ernest Orlando phone (510) 495-2829 Lawrence Berkeley fax (510) 486-7797 National Laboratory cell (510) 290-6793 Berkeley CA 94720
On Tue, 14 Sep 1999, Gordon Couger 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 space to keep the data base. I don't have the expertise } to edit it. It is a pretty good link. It is not as fast as the best but } the congestion is low enough it makes up for it most of the time. } } I will consider any form of internet publication. I am looking for } a small circulation juried journal. I am primarily interested in } increasing the speed of information distribution and reducing } the cost. } } My experience with some of my own publications where it took } a year to get it published after acceptance and $700 bucks for } reprints and they kept the copyright left a bad taste in my mouth. } } If we are going to increase the rate of progress in technology we } need to get the time to publication down as low as possible. I think } it should be possible to get a non controversial jurried article out } in two months and letters out in hours. } } I am interested in publishing only. I am no editor. All copyrights } stay with the author and no page cost at this point. The cost of } publication on the internet is very low. My cost } for keeping a box on the net are 50 a month and hardware } replacement. $1,000 a year covers the cost including administration } after the first time set up. So very modest page charges would } be very attractive to and ISP. My interest is getting it started. } } My cost will go up with a lot of net acess. But not much. } } Gordon } Gordon Couger } 624 Cheyenne } Stillwater, OK 74075 } 405 624 2855 GMT - 6:00 } -----Original Message----- } } From: Sara Miller {saram-at-duke.edu} } To: Paul Webster {pwebster-at-mailhouse.hei.org} } Cc: MSA listserver submission {Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com} } Date: Tuesday, September 14, 1999 4:22 PM } Subject: Re: Recommnedations } } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } } 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 } } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } } } Hey, a "Comsumer Reports" of microscopy equipment. Great idea. Are you } } volunteering to catalog them???? Maybe it's a project MSA would support } } with a small grant to keep the data base???? } } } } } } On 13 Sep 1999, Paul Webster wrote: } } } } } Date: 13 Sep 99 17:44:04 -0700 } } } From: Paul Webster {pwebster-at-mailhouse.hei.org} } } } To: MSA listserver submission {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} } } } Subject: Recommnedations } } } } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } } } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } } } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } } } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } } } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } } } } } } Dear all, } } } } } } I notice lots of calls for recommendations of software, CCD cameras, } diamond knives and other microscopy-related equipment appearing on this } list. } } } } } } As I too am interested in comments about these products, and as I know } most replies occur off-line where I don't get to see them, wouldn't it be } great if there was a central site where we could submit our own reviews of } the equipment we use, and read other users comments? } } } } } } At one of the on-line book sellers, the site allows for submission of } book reviews. When added together, the sum of these reviews gives a new } reader a good idea of what to expect. } } } Couldn't we do this for our stuff too? In addition to giving the buyer } an informed view of expensive equipment, it might help suppliers identify } potential problems early enough to correct them. } } } } } } Any comments, volunteers etc.? } } } } } } Best regards, } } } } } } Paul Webster, Ph.D. } } } House Ear Institute } } } 2100 West Third Street } } } Los Angeles CA 90057 } } } 213 273 8026 } } } http://www.hei.org/htm/aemi.htm } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } Sara E. Miller, Ph. D. } } P. O. Box 3020 } } Duke University Medical Center } } Durham, NC 27710 } } Ph: 919 684-3452 } } FAX: 919 684-8735 } } } } } }
There is an immediate opening for a Manager of a Materials Characterization Facility at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. The facility is housed within the buildings of the Laboratory for Research on the Structure of Matter (LRSM) and is closely affiliated with the Department of Materials Science. The facility houses primary research equipment for electron microscopy and spectroscopy, ion scattering and scanned probe microscopy. Included in the equipment are a loaded FEG-TEM (JEOL 2010F), HREM (JEOL 4000), FEG-SEM (JEOL 6300F), thermionic SEM (JEOL 6400), STEM-TEM (Philips 400, likely upgraded soon), Scanning Auger (Phi) w/ SIMS, ion accelerator (NEC) w/ three beam lines and two AFMs (Digital).
The University of Pennsylvania is located in Philadelphia, one of the nation's most vibrant cities. The university, a member of the Ivy League, was founded by Ben Franklin and is the fourth oldest, and first secular, university in the US. The LRSM was constructed to house one of the original three Materials Research Laboratories (MRLs) in the US. The university has a continuing tradition of leading materials research and has housed the MRL (now MRSEC) continuously for 40 years.
The text of the official job listing from the University of Pennsylvania website follows. Please refer to the Penn Human Resources website for the official hiring policy of the university at www.hr.upenn.edu. For information about the specific position, please contact Professor David E. Luzzi at luzzi-at-lrsm.upenn.edu.
Text of website listing
Reference Number: 99083647DL Job Title: MANAGER D School/Center: ENGINEERING & APPLIED SCIENCE Department: MATERIALS CHARACTERIZATION Date Posted: 8/30/99 Salary Grade: 028 Minimum: $41,500.00 Top of First Third: $52,533.00 Top of Second Third: $63,566.00 Maximum: $74,600.00 Position Length: Ongoing
Duties: Manage Materials Characterization Facility/Service Center; develop short & long term use agreements with industrial & academic users; assist in experiments by users; compose & present reports bi-weekly to faculty oversight committee; coordinate work assignments of technical staff; assist or coordinate assistance of faculty in teaching & equipment acquisition; train or coordinate training of users; maintain or coordinate maintenance of equipment.
Qualifications: BA/BS in Physical Science or Engineering is required, advanced degree preferred; extensive experience in operation & use of transmission & scanning electron microscopes for imaging, diffraction & spectroscopy; knowledge of vacuum systems, ion scattering techniques, spectroscopic techniques & surface force techniques required.
My thanks to all who replied to my post. Thanks for all the good } suggestions, some of which were suggested by more than one person. My } question for Geoff Williams is this: how does one measure the osmolarity } of cytoplasm only or vacuolar contents only? I have just been grinding tissue, spinning it, and measuring osmolarity of the supernatent. Also, } these plants sequester NaCl in their vacuoles as part of their salt } tolerance mechanism. Don^Ot they require a balancing osmoticum in the } cytoplasm? I thought that was what prolines and betaines did. Do you have any references on this point? Thanks again. Mary
Thanks to all who offered suggestions. Chip Montrose came up with a number for a Fuji Tech line. We have called in the past and they have simply referred us to our worthless dealer. This time we explained our dealer wasn't helping so they connected us with a tech rep. The rep said we could open an account (free for telephone help) and be able to call directly in the future.
The rep then instantly diagnosed the problem as a sticky trip switch adjacent to the cutter for the donor paper. We confirmed this switch was sticking and have a new one on order. Thanks again (esp to Chip!). Tom
Thomas E. Phillips, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Biological Sciences Director, Molecular Cytology Core Facility
3 Tucker Hall Division of Biological Sciences University of Missouri Columbia, MO 65211-7400 (573)-882-4712 (voice) (573)-882-0123 (fax)
At 05:20 PM 9/14/99 , you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
[snip]
Another option is to host material and links to materials. Rather than taking on the work of absorbing and managing all material, one would be greatly relieved by only having to manage links. Most folks have web sites available to them. They can post their own materials at those sites and submit those specific URLs. Periodically, a snake can validate each URL for currency. For those folks who do not have web sites available, then of course they would submit the material.
I suspect that hosting only a mass of material could chew up a good sized chunk of disk space. Furthermore, unless the disk is regularly backed up, a crash means that all material will have to either be re-submitted or reconstructed from the last backup.
At 01:39 PM 9/12/99 , you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I asked this same question about a month ago. The resounding answer is yes, a SEM will image bacteria. But it is not easy. I'm working on some samples right now and can get good images at about 2,000X but above about 5,000X, the resolution falls off. I'm using a LaB6 instrument and it should have good resolution up to perhaps 70,000X. I think and hope that operator error is the main culprit right now. I'd like to fire the SEM operator but I'm the operator. So, the struggle goes on. But I think that I will succeed.
I would prefer links but I can store the data and the system is regulary backed up. It host some small international web pages and mailer. It is backed up weekly to a second on board hard drive downloaded to CDROM. The last disaster recovery took 45 minutes. A rebuild from CDROM would take a couple of hours right now. This will increase with more data.
With 10 gig drives at $300 and falling the cost of storage does not worry me much.
Gordon Gordon Couger 624 Cheyenne Stillwater, OK 74075 405 624 2855 GMT - 6:00 } } Another option is to host material and links to materials. Rather than taking } on the work of absorbing and managing all material, one would be greatly } relieved by only having to manage links. Most folks have web sites } available to them. They can post their own materials at those sites and } submit those specific URLs. Periodically, a snake can validate each } URL for currency. For those folks who do not have web sites available, } then of course they would submit the material. } } I suspect that hosting only a mass of material could chew up a good sized } chunk of disk space. Furthermore, unless the disk is regularly backed up, } a crash means that all material will have to either be re-submitted or } reconstructed from the last backup. } } gary g. }
I have got six or seven replies for my question on the sputter coater target. Most of them suggested to use a solvent or detergent type liquid like an alcohol, or an acetone. One of them suggested polishing, and another of them suggested to use an acid cleaning. I tried ultrasonic cleaning with acetone and got a reasonably good, even not the best, result. Still some red stuff was left, but the coater works OK.
To the people who responded to my question about using ESEM to look at slurry, thank you for your suggestions - I've taken note of your ideas and appreciate the help.
Lyn Waterhouse CEMMSA Centre for Electron Microscopy and Microstructure Analysis University of Adelaide Adelaide SA 5005 Ph: (08) 8303 4074 Fax: (08) 8303 4356
Chaps, Some time ago there was commercially produced a wall chart (Germany??) that displayed the different types of fracture surfaces (+ a few errors) as observed using an SEM and which was used as an aid / display by metallurgists. Does anyone out there have a similar wall chart in their SEM / Metallurgy lab or perhaps know any of the details of similar types of wall charts. Possibly, it is no longer available?? Thankyou for your help Barry M UNIT UNSW
Barry: I have the answer to your query. One of these charts is hanging in my lab. Here are the detail: Title: FRACTOGRAPHY IN MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING published by ASM International, The Materials Information Society, Materials Park, OH 44073-0002 USA Tel: 216-338-5151 Fax: 216-338-4634
The chart has been photographed and designed by Mohan Chaudhari, Ph.D.,P.E Columbus Metallurgical Services,Inc. 4348 Reynolds Drive Hillard, OH 43026-1260 USA Tel: 614-529-1311 Fax: 614-529-1818 If you have any difficulty please let me know off line. I know Mohan well.
Vin Berry Analytical Technology, GE Plastics, Washington, WV 26181 Tel: 304-863-7528, fax -7108 GE Dial: 8*572-7528 e.mail: vinod.berry-at-gep.ge.com
-----Original Message----- } From: Barry Searle [mailto:B.Searle-at-unsw.edu.au] Sent: Thursday, September 16, 1999 4:17 AM To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
Chaps, Some time ago there was commercially produced a wall chart (Germany??) that displayed the different types of fracture surfaces (+ a few errors) as observed using an SEM and which was used as an aid / display by metallurgists. Does anyone out there have a similar wall chart in their SEM / Metallurgy lab or perhaps know any of the details of similar types of wall charts. Possibly, it is no longer available?? Thankyou for your help Barry M UNIT UNSW
I am in need of the specimen cassette holder (part no 0303) for an A/S 325 microtome. I have tried contacting the company direct but get no response, so i am asking you all whether any of you have one of these microtomes sitting in a corner somewhere gathering dust and would be prepared to part with the holder. If not does any one know where i may be able to obtain one?
Cheers Phil Mutch
Mr Philip Mutch, School of Biomedical Science, E Floor Medical School, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2UH. UK. E-mail Philip.Mutch-at-nottingham.ac.uk
While I agree that traditional publication procedures are slow and cumbersome, they do provide an important service: reviewing. Without review, the quality of the publications will quickly degrade to a point that makes publishing useless. Just check out the physics newsgroups on the net. When I last looked there, there were a number of whackos who were arguing for the weirdest ideas (Earth core is made of strawberry jelly kind of thing). I am afraid, that these people would quickly take over any unreviewed publishing site, and make it completely useless for scientific publications.
Also look at the scientific journals: the ones with the strictest screening are in general respected the most.
I would think, that in order to provide a value to the science community, it is a good idea to go digital on the publications WITHOUT sacrificing the quality of the publications, i.e., without giving up reviewing.
I remember a few years back there was a big uproar in the physics community about some research that was published in the New York Times before it made it into a scientific journal (I forgot, what exactly it was. Cold Fusion??).
Just my thoughts...
Michael
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 1675 Carr St., #105N Lakewood, CO 80215 =================================== phone: (888) FIND SIS (303) 234-9270 fax: (303) 234-9271 email: mailto:info-at-soft-imaging.com web: http://www.soft-imaging.com ===================================
} ---------- } From: Gordon Vrololjak[SMTP:GVRDOLJA-at-NATURE.BERKELEY.EDU] } Sent: Wednesday, September 15, 1999 11:50:57 AM } To: Gordon Couger } Cc: Sara Miller; Paul Webster; MSA listserver submission } Subject: Re: Recommnedations } Auto forwarded by a Rule } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I totally agree with this, Journal review is taking far too long now. Scientists should really put more effort in reviewing their co-workers paper submissions. Papers sitting on someone's desk for six months without review is unacceptable. I personally try to finish a review once I receive it within two weeks. Many people asked to review papers often never reply to the publishers, which I think is a serious offence in the scientific field.
I know the NIH is considering doing rapid article publication on their website. After screening of the articles, they are placed onto the web for anyone to download or read. I think there are other journals going this route as well. It is the communication method of the future. I think that publications will go this way. More respected online journals will have extensive peer review and screening. Other rapid publication journals will have less, and still be immensely useful in being able to do online searching for specific information.
I have a lot of experience in programming, web design, and system administration. I am interested in forming a rapid publication web site for the scientific community and will readily offer my skills and time. Gordon Vrdoljak.
\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/ \/\/\ Gordon Ante Vrdoljak 1 Cyclotron Road ICQ 23243541 http://nature.berkeley.edu/~gvrdolja MS90-1116 GAVrdoljak-at-lbl.gov Ernest Orlando phone (510) 495-2829 Lawrence Berkeley fax (510) 486-7797 National Laboratory cell (510) 290-6793 Berkeley CA 94720
On Tue, 14 Sep 1999, Gordon Couger 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 space to keep the data base. I don't have the expertise } to edit it. It is a pretty good link. It is not as fast as the best but } the congestion is low enough it makes up for it most of the time. } } I will consider any form of internet publication. I am looking for } a small circulation juried journal. I am primarily interested in } increasing the speed of information distribution and reducing } the cost. } } My experience with some of my own publications where it took } a year to get it published after acceptance and $700 bucks for } reprints and they kept the copyright left a bad taste in my mouth. } } If we are going to increase the rate of progress in technology we } need to get the time to publication down as low as possible. I think } it should be possible to get a non controversial jurried article out } in two months and letters out in hours. } } I am interested in publishing only. I am no editor. All copyrights } stay with the author and no page cost at this point. The cost of } publication on the internet is very low. My cost } for keeping a box on the net are 50 a month and hardware } replacement. $1,000 a year covers the cost including administration } after the first time set up. So very modest page charges would } be very attractive to and ISP. My interest is getting it started. } } My cost will go up with a lot of net acess. But not much. } } Gordon } Gordon Couger } 624 Cheyenne } Stillwater, OK 74075 } 405 624 2855 GMT - 6:00 } -----Original Message----- } } From: Sara Miller {saram-at-duke.edu} } To: Paul Webster {pwebster-at-mailhouse.hei.org} } Cc: MSA listserver submission {Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com} } Date: Tuesday, September 14, 1999 4:22 PM } Subject: Re: Recommnedations } } } } ----------------------------------------------------------------------- - } } 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 help us with fixing our LKB Utrotome IIIs by faxing circuit diagram? Much appreciated.
Marek Malecki, M.D., Ph.D. Director and Principal Investigator
Molecular Imaging Laboratories (MIL) and Department of Biology University of California at San Diego
address: 1500 Bonner Hall, University of California at San Diego 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0368 telephone - lab: 8585342484 telephone - office: 8588223373 pager: 8586161420 fax: 8588223715 email: mmm-at-biomail.ucsd.edu www site: http://mil.ucsd.edu
I am seeking your help in preparing a multimeric protein (800kDa) -oligomeric form. I used a single C layer film + negative stain (UA) and would like to know if any one has used a double C layer technique. Rosemary
We will replace our primary SEM with a new ESEM in a few months. Consequently, some of our older instrumentation will become available for excess, surplus, or some other sort of disposition (spare parts?). Please e-mail if there is there any interest for the following items? Note: the items will be disposed by the usual official government protocols.
1. Cambridge S-250 SEM, was working well until CRT problem this past May (horizontal line showing on screen). May be corrected for $5000-$10000 by Leo, Inc. although some parts are not available any longer.
2. Tracor-Northern 2010 EDS, still functional as of May, 1999. Replaced CPU board this past January.
3. Microspec WDX-2A with detector, probably functional. Since Oxford can upgrade these WDS units, we may keep it. Not my decision.
Bruce F. Ingber Biologist- Electron Microscopy USDA-ARS, SRRC 1100 Robert E. Lee Blvd. New Orleans, LA 70124-4305
Dear Listers, I'm lookling for a commercial source in the US for a low viscosity vinyl silicone (dental impression material). I found a commercial product in a paper -GC EXAFLEX. It was obtained from a GC Dental Industries Corp in Japan. Rosemary
Our Ohio company is seeking engineering / scientist support for analysis of chemistry and microstructure of solid lubricant and hard coatings used in lubrication of aerospace systems. Work will involve preparing SEM & TEM specimens of thin films and wear scars on steel and ceramic substrates; correlating thin film properties with deposition plasma characteristics; and making recommendations for improving lifetime and performance of such materials in different environments: e.g., vacuum, moist air, high temperature, etc.
It is important that candidates have capabilities in cross-section TEM, analytical TEM, analysis of unique microstructures; and understand TEM of thin films on a fundamental level. It is desirable that the candidate have knowledge of tribological materials and experience with TEM/XTEM of wear tracks.
Contact Ronald Decker - mailto:decker-at-utcdayton.com
{} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} Ronald C. Decker Program Manager Universal Technology Corporation 1270 N FAIRFIELD RD DAYTON OH 45432-2600
Voice (937) 426-8530, Fax (937) 426-7753 (Voice mail is available at my extension, 270)
SEM Fractographs by Svend Engell-Nielson The Technological Institute DK - 2630 Tastrup, Denmark =AE1975
J. Roy Nelson Material Testing Laboratory Pennington, NJ 08534
"Barry Searle (by way of Nestor J. Zaluzec)" 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Chaps, Some time ago there was commercially produced a wall cha= rt } (Germany??) that displayed the different types of fracture surfaces (+= a } few errors) as observed using an SEM and which was used as an aid / dis= play } by metallurgists. Does anyone out there have a similar wall chart in } their SEM / Metallurgy lab or perhaps know any of the details of simila= r } types of wall charts. Possibly, it is no longer available?? Thanky= ou } for your help Barry M UNIT UNSW
These materials should be available from any good dental supply agent we have used various polyvinylsiloxane materials: Extrude (polyvinylsiloxane) (Kerr Manufacturing Co, Romulusm MI 48174) and Express (3M Dental Products Division, St Paul, MN 55144- 1000) this latter had a note on the box - U.S. Federal Law restricts this device to sale by or on the order of a dental professional.
Hope this helps
Ian
} Dear Listers, } I'm lookling for a commercial source in the US } for a low viscosity vinyl silicone (dental impression material). } I found a commercial product in a paper -GC EXAFLEX. It } was obtained from a GC Dental Industries Corp in Japan. } Rosemary } } }
Ian Hallett HortResearch Mt Albert Research Centre Private Bag 92 169 Auckland, New Zealand Fax 64-9-815 4201 Telephone 64-9-815 4200 EMail ihallett-at-hort.cri.nz
Hi all, We have just a biopsy arrive in our lab, which is a platelet sample in paraffin wax. Now we were wondering, do we just de-paraffinize as usual in xylene, but spinning it down between each change? Then spinning it down at each re-hydration step til into buffer where when we can embed it into agarose or something like that?
We havent had one of these before, and as usual, would hate to loose what precious little we have been given!
Would appreciate hearing from people who have done this before,
Ta!!
Rich.
----------------------------------------------------------------------- Richard Lander Electron Microscopist South Campus Electron Microscope Unit Otago School of Medical Sciences P.O. Box 913 Dunedin New Zealand. Tel. National 03 479 7301 Fax. National 03 479 7254 mailto:richard.lander-at-stonebow.otago.ac.nz http://www.otago.ac.nz/anatomy/emunit/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------
I agree with this and would like to add another concern. In library school, my rare books professor would always say, "Bibliographic description forms the basis of textual criticism", meaning that you have to have a way of identifying the item that you are commenting on so that all scholarly discussion of the publication is 'on the same wavelength'. So if you have links to publications on people's own servers and they decide to make a few updates here and there, you have to have a way of identifying the different versions of the documents and this method should be standardized. Having the publications go through a centralized review process and having static versions available on a server or group of mirror servers is preferable, I think.
I don't know what the NIH project is going to be like, but I'm looking forward to it, considering what a success Medline is. Another project to watch for is SPARC http://www.arl.org/sparc
Electronic publishing might provide the opportunity to come up with solutions to the problems of lag time and undue cost. However, electronic publishing in and of itself is not the answer (some ejournals are very expensive and e-publications can suffer massive delays just like print).
Back to the original subject of the post: an online site for product reviews and information sounds like a very good idea.
PS - An entertaining account of the "cold fusion" debacle (as well as "Biosphere II" and others) can be found in the book _Yes, We Have No Neutrons..._
On Thu, 16 Sep 1999, Michael Bode 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Let me throw in a few thoughts... } } While I agree that traditional publication procedures are slow and } cumbersome, they do provide an important service: reviewing. Without } review, the quality of the publications will quickly degrade to a point } that makes publishing useless. Just check out the physics newsgroups on } the net. When I last looked there, there were a number of whackos who } were arguing for the weirdest ideas (Earth core is made of strawberry } jelly kind of thing). I am afraid, that these people would quickly take } over any unreviewed publishing site, and make it completely useless for } scientific publications. } } Also look at the scientific journals: the ones with the strictest } screening are in general respected the most. } } I would think, that in order to provide a value to the science } community, it is a good idea to go digital on the publications WITHOUT } sacrificing the quality of the publications, i.e., without giving up } reviewing. } } I remember a few years back there was a big uproar in the physics } community about some research that was published in the New York Times } before it made it into a scientific journal (I forgot, what exactly it } was. Cold Fusion??). } } Just my thoughts... } } Michael } } Michael Bode, Ph.D. } Soft Imaging System Corp. } 1675 Carr St., #105N } Lakewood, CO 80215 } =================================== } phone: (888) FIND SIS } (303) 234-9270 } fax: (303) 234-9271 } email: mailto:info-at-soft-imaging.com } web: http://www.soft-imaging.com } =================================== } } } } } ---------- } } From: Gordon Vrololjak[SMTP:GVRDOLJA-at-NATURE.BERKELEY.EDU] } } Sent: Wednesday, September 15, 1999 11:50:57 AM } } To: Gordon Couger } } Cc: Sara Miller; Paul Webster; MSA listserver submission } } Subject: Re: Recommnedations } } Auto forwarded by a Rule } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 totally agree with this, } Journal review is taking far too long now. Scientists should really put } more effort in reviewing their co-workers paper submissions. Papers } sitting on someone's desk for six months without review is unacceptable. } I personally try to finish a review once I receive it within two weeks. } Many people asked to review papers often never reply to the publishers, } which I think is a serious offence in the scientific field. } } I know the NIH is considering doing rapid article publication on their } website. After screening of the articles, they are placed onto the web } for anyone to download or read. I think there are other journals going } this route as well. It is the communication method of the future. I } think that publications will go this way. More respected online } journals } will have extensive peer review and screening. Other rapid publication } journals will have less, and still be immensely useful in being able to } do } online searching for specific information. } } I have a lot of experience in programming, web design, and system } administration. I am interested in forming a rapid publication web site } for the scientific community and will readily offer my skills and time. } Gordon Vrdoljak. } } \/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/ } \/\/\ } Gordon Ante Vrdoljak 1 Cyclotron Road } ICQ 23243541 http://nature.berkeley.edu/~gvrdolja MS90-1116 } GAVrdoljak-at-lbl.gov Ernest Orlando } phone (510) 495-2829 Lawrence } Berkeley } fax (510) 486-7797 National } Laboratory } cell (510) 290-6793 Berkeley CA } 94720 } } On Tue, 14 Sep 1999, Gordon Couger 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 space to keep the data base. I don't have the expertise } } to edit it. It is a pretty good link. It is not as fast as the best } but } } the congestion is low enough it makes up for it most of the time. } } } } I will consider any form of internet publication. I am looking for } } a small circulation juried journal. I am primarily interested in } } increasing the speed of information distribution and reducing } } the cost. } } } } My experience with some of my own publications where it took } } a year to get it published after acceptance and $700 bucks for } } reprints and they kept the copyright left a bad taste in my mouth. } } } } If we are going to increase the rate of progress in technology we } } need to get the time to publication down as low as possible. I think } } it should be possible to get a non controversial jurried article out } } in two months and letters out in hours. } } } } I am interested in publishing only. I am no editor. All copyrights } } stay with the author and no page cost at this point. The cost of } } publication on the internet is very low. My cost } } for keeping a box on the net are 50 a month and hardware } } replacement. $1,000 a year covers the cost including administration } } after the first time set up. So very modest page charges would } } be very attractive to and ISP. My interest is getting it started. } } } } My cost will go up with a lot of net acess. But not much. } } } } Gordon } } Gordon Couger } } 624 Cheyenne } } Stillwater, OK 74075 } } 405 624 2855 GMT - 6:00 } } -----Original Message----- } } } From: Sara Miller {saram-at-duke.edu} } } To: Paul Webster {pwebster-at-mailhouse.hei.org} } } Cc: MSA listserver submission {Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com} } } Date: Tuesday, September 14, 1999 4:22 PM } } Subject: Re: Recommnedations } } } } } } } } ----------------------------------------------------------------------- } - } } } 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 recently had my EDS detector repaired and upgraded from a Be window to an ATW window. I am in the process of recalibrating standards for use in ZAF/PB on an AN 10000 system. I have successfully calibrated elements from Na upwards. I have succesfully created profiles for C , N and O but when trying to calibrate the standard to derive FST and RST the system crashes with errors. Is anyone sucessfully using ZAF/PB with a light element detector? Or has anyone any idea why the system might object to light element quant? 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 http://www.empgu.man.ac.uk
Dear All, I enclose details of a post-doc vacancy at the University of Barcelona, Spain. The starting date would be about April-May 2000, so we have extended the deadline for applications. Any one interested please reply directly to paqui-at-el.ub.es and/or send applications and a CV by mail before 30 November 1999.
Kind regards
F. Peir=F3
**************************************************************************= ** Laboratory: Electronic Materials and Engineering, Department of Electronics, University of Barcelona.
Duration: 12-18 months, starting April-May 1999.
Raising the subject yet again:
We are seriously considering purchasing a scanner for negatives ranging from 35mm (from optical mic., SEM, Philips 310) and plates about 3x4" (from Philips CM20).
I've looked through the archive, and come up with recommendations for:
Agfa Duoscan (web page kindly provided) Polaroid Sprintscan 45 Nikon LS-4500 for $6500 ** Minolta Dimage Scan Multi for $2500 ** UMAX (generally)
** (from Publishing Perfection)
People over this side of the pond have generally recommended Heidelberg "Saphir" or similar.
Could anybody give me up-to-date recommendations, in particluar addressing the question as to whether it makes sense to have (1) a dedicated scanner for negatives and one for A4 (2) one to do everything.
Solution 1 recommends itself, as the prints, etc, to be scanned might be sometimes be a little grubby from storage.
Pointers to WEB SITES would be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 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 | +------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Robin Cross emailed the diagram. We have the unit fixed. Cordial thanks to all who replied.
Amazing place. Amazing people.
Marek Malecki, M.D., Ph.D. Director and Principal Investigator
Molecular Imaging Laboratories (MIL) and Department of Biology University of California at San Diego
address: 1500 Bonner Hall, University of California at San Diego 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0368 telephone - lab: 8585342484 telephone - office: 8588223373 pager: 8586161420 fax: 8588223715 email: mmm-at-biomail.ucsd.edu www site: http://mil.ucsd.edu
Your AS 325 Microtome was produced by Anglia Scientific who were taken over by Shandon who in turn became part of Life Sciences International. The last address I have for them is as follows:
Life Sciences International (Europe) Ltd 93-96 Chadwick Road Astmoor Runcorn Cheshire WA7 1PR Tel 01928 566611 Fax 01928 565845
Many microtomes have drifted under the bridge since these changes but if you have any problems please contact me and I may be able to trace something,
Regards
Terry Cooper TAAB Laboratories Equipment Ltd 3 Minerva House, Calleva Park Aldermaston, Berks, RG7 8NA, UK
Postdoctoral Position to Develop Advanced Microscopy Capabilities in a Microscopy User Center
The Materials Analysis User Center (MAUC) at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, is seeking a postdoctral candidate to perform research to facilitate the use of electron microscopes remotely, and to improve TEM resolution using electron beam monochromators and hardware aberration correctors.
There are two primary areas that the person selected for this position will be expected to contribute. First, this center and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory have strongly supported the concept of a virtual electron microscopy laboratory over the last years and will continue to move in that direction. Second, in support Department of Energy research programs aimed at reducing both gaseous and particulate emissions from gasoline and diesel engines, the ultimate in TEM atomic resolution (at intermediate voltages) for nano-particles and other materials is a critical need for this center.
The successful candidate should have a PhD in physics (although other disciplines will be considered, depending upon overall qualifications). The candidate must have a strong background in all of the following: (1) electron optics (preferably in the design and use of electron monochromators and aberration correctors), (2) programming skills including C and C++ (Java experience is desired), and (3) hands-on experience with TEM and STEM instrumentation. The researcher will work with many DOE contractors, industrial and university researchers, including some as a part of DOE-ORNL user programs; thus he or she should enjoy collaborating with others. This position is for one year, extendable to two.
ORNL, a multipurpose research laboratory managed by Lockheed Martin Energy Research Corporation for the U.S. Department of Energy, is an equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a diverse work force.
Please send curriculum vitae and bibliography to:
Ted Nolan Manager, Materials Analysis User Center High Temperature Materials Laboratory Oak Ridge National Laboratory 1 Bethel Valley Road Bldg. 4515, MS 6064 Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6064
Also very narrow groups could get wider representation. Cross feild porject have been the best project I have worked on.
Gordon
} } I agree with this and would like to add another concern. } In library school, my rare books professor would always say, } "Bibliographic description forms the basis of textual criticism", } meaning that you have to have a way of identifying the item that you are } commenting on so that all scholarly discussion of the publication is } 'on the same wavelength'. So if you have links to publications on people's } own } servers and they decide to make a few updates here and there, you have to } have a way of identifying the different versions of the documents and this } method should be standardized. Having the publications go through a } centralized review process and having static versions available on a } server or group of mirror servers is preferable, I think. } } I don't know what the NIH project is going to be like, but I'm looking } forward to it, considering what a success Medline is. Another project to } watch for is SPARC } http://www.arl.org/sparc } } Electronic publishing might provide the opportunity to come up } with solutions to the problems of lag time and undue cost. However, } electronic publishing in and of itself is not the answer (some ejournals } are very expensive and e-publications can suffer massive delays just like } print). } } Back to the original subject of the post: } an online site for product reviews and information sounds like a very good } idea. } } PS - An entertaining account of the "cold fusion" debacle } (as well as "Biosphere II" and others) can be found in the book } _Yes, We Have No Neutrons..._ } } On Thu, 16 Sep 1999, Michael Bode 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 } } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } } } Let me throw in a few thoughts... } } } } While I agree that traditional publication procedures are slow and } } cumbersome, they do provide an important service: reviewing. Without } } review, the quality of the publications will quickly degrade to a point } } that makes publishing useless. Just check out the physics newsgroups on } } the net. When I last looked there, there were a number of whackos who } } were arguing for the weirdest ideas (Earth core is made of strawberry } } jelly kind of thing). I am afraid, that these people would quickly take } } over any unreviewed publishing site, and make it completely useless for } } scientific publications. } } } } Also look at the scientific journals: the ones with the strictest } } screening are in general respected the most. } } } } I would think, that in order to provide a value to the science } } community, it is a good idea to go digital on the publications WITHOUT } } sacrificing the quality of the publications, i.e., without giving up } } reviewing. } } } } I remember a few years back there was a big uproar in the physics } } community about some research that was published in the New York Times } } before it made it into a scientific journal (I forgot, what exactly it } } was. Cold Fusion??). } } } } Just my thoughts... } } } } Michael } } } } Michael Bode, Ph.D. } } Soft Imaging System Corp. } } 1675 Carr St., #105N } } Lakewood, CO 80215 } } =================================== } } phone: (888) FIND SIS } } (303) 234-9270 } } fax: (303) 234-9271 } } email: mailto:info-at-soft-imaging.com } } web: http://www.soft-imaging.com } } =================================== } } } } } } } } } ---------- } } } From: Gordon Vrololjak[SMTP:GVRDOLJA-at-NATURE.BERKELEY.EDU] } } } Sent: Wednesday, September 15, 1999 11:50:57 AM } } } To: Gordon Couger } } } Cc: Sara Miller; Paul Webster; MSA listserver submission } } } Subject: Re: Recommnedations } } } Auto forwarded by a Rule } } } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } } 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 totally agree with this, } } Journal review is taking far too long now. Scientists should really put } } more effort in reviewing their co-workers paper submissions. Papers } } sitting on someone's desk for six months without review is unacceptable. } } I personally try to finish a review once I receive it within two weeks. } } Many people asked to review papers often never reply to the publishers, } } which I think is a serious offence in the scientific field. } } } } I know the NIH is considering doing rapid article publication on their } } website. After screening of the articles, they are placed onto the web } } for anyone to download or read. I think there are other journals going } } this route as well. It is the communication method of the future. I } } think that publications will go this way. More respected online } } journals } } will have extensive peer review and screening. Other rapid publication } } journals will have less, and still be immensely useful in being able to } } do } } online searching for specific information. } } } } I have a lot of experience in programming, web design, and system } } administration. I am interested in forming a rapid publication web site } } for the scientific community and will readily offer my skills and time. } } Gordon Vrdoljak. } } } } \/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/ } } \/\/\ } } Gordon Ante Vrdoljak 1 Cyclotron Road } } ICQ 23243541 http://nature.berkeley.edu/~gvrdolja MS90-1116 } } GAVrdoljak-at-lbl.gov Ernest Orlando } } phone (510) 495-2829 Lawrence } } Berkeley } } fax (510) 486-7797 National } } Laboratory } } cell (510) 290-6793 Berkeley CA } } 94720 } } } } On Tue, 14 Sep 1999, Gordon Couger 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 space to keep the data base. I don't have the expertise } } } to edit it. It is a pretty good link. It is not as fast as the best } } but } } } the congestion is low enough it makes up for it most of the time. } } } } } } I will consider any form of internet publication. I am looking for } } } a small circulation juried journal. I am primarily interested in } } } increasing the speed of information distribution and reducing } } } the cost. } } } } } } My experience with some of my own publications where it took } } } a year to get it published after acceptance and $700 bucks for } } } reprints and they kept the copyright left a bad taste in my mouth. } } } } } } If we are going to increase the rate of progress in technology we } } } need to get the time to publication down as low as possible. I think } } } it should be possible to get a non controversial jurried article out } } } in two months and letters out in hours. } } } } } } I am interested in publishing only. I am no editor. All copyrights } } } stay with the author and no page cost at this point. The cost of } } } publication on the internet is very low. My cost } } } for keeping a box on the net are 50 a month and hardware } } } replacement. $1,000 a year covers the cost including administration } } } after the first time set up. So very modest page charges would } } } be very attractive to and ISP. My interest is getting it started. } } } } } } My cost will go up with a lot of net acess. But not much. } } } } } } Gordon } } } Gordon Couger } } } 624 Cheyenne } } } Stillwater, OK 74075 } } } 405 624 2855 GMT - 6:00 } } } -----Original Message----- } } } } From: Sara Miller {saram-at-duke.edu} } } } To: Paul Webster {pwebster-at-mailhouse.hei.org} } } } Cc: MSA listserver submission {Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com} } } } Date: Tuesday, September 14, 1999 4:22 PM } } } Subject: Re: Recommnedations } } } } } } } } } } } } ----------------------------------------------------------------------- } } - } } } } 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 } } } } } } ----------------------------------------------------------------------- } } } } } }
Robert, I use a Linotype-Hell Saphir Ultra (purchased before Linotype-Hell was bout out by Heidelberg Press). Very nice machine, but: 1) There is no provision (at least in the version of software that I have) for setting the darkest and brightest parts of the image in preview. You just have to go with whatever automatic correction the software uses. 2) I have had some reliability problems, the power supply died about three months after I bought it and it still has an intermittent fault in transparency mode where the light source above and CCD array below do not align correctly - giving poor quality images.
I used an Agfa some years ago which had (1) and it was much easier to use for scanning TEM negatives. I don't know whether my problems (2) are just for my machine or a reflection on the machines generally. I believe that the CCD and mechanical parts are from UMAX (also the case for Agfa)? I also believe that the maximum OD and optical (not interpolated) resolution has increased somewhat since I got my scanner about 18 months ago.
Despite the niggles, it is a very good and generally reliable machine which must have scanned about 2000 pictures in the last 18 months. It is used for everything from TEM negatives and X-ray radiographs to taking pictures from old reports (and of course holiday/wedding/old family photos out of hours!)
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } Raising the subject yet again: } } We are seriously considering purchasing a scanner for negatives ranging } from 35 mm (from optical mic., SEM, Philips 310) and plates about 3x4" } (from Philips CM20). } } I've looked through the archive, and come up with recommendations for: } } Agfa Duoscan (web page kindly provided) } Polaroid Sprintscan 45 } Nikon LS-4500 for $6500 ** } Minolta Dimage Scan Multi for $2500 ** } UMAX (generally) } } ** (from Publishing Perfection) } } People over this side of the pond have generally recommended Heidelberg } "Saphir" or similar. } } Could anybody give me up-to-date recommendations, in particular addressing } the question as to whether it makes sense to have } (1) a dedicated scanner for negatives and one for A4 } (2) one to do everything. } } Solution 1 recommends itself, as the prints, etc., to be scanned might be } sometimes be a little grubby from storage. } } Pointers to WEB SITES would be much appreciated. } } Thanks in advance, } } +------------------------------------------------------------------------+ } | Robert H.Olley Phone: | } | J.J.Thomson Physical Laboratory {direct line +44 (0) 118 9318572 | } | University of Reading {University internal extension 7867 | } | Whiteknights Fax +44 (0) 118 9750203 | } | Reading RG6 6AF Email: R.H.Olley-at-reading.ac.uk | } | England URL: http://www.reading.ac.uk/~spsolley | } +------------------------------------------------------------------------+ } }
I have an EDS system with a 30 mm premium detector which had original spec's of 136 eV. The crystal pack needed repair and was replaced. The resolution now is 142 eV. I need to decide a course of action. Here are my options.
1. Keep the repaired 30 mm detector at 142 eV and be back up and running. 2. Here the vendor replace the crystal pack until it meets the 136 eV spec, which will take time and I might be down for a while. 3. Go to a 10 mm detector that I am told they can insure a resolution of 136 or better.
Question for the group, if I can live with the down time should I hold out for the 30 mm detector at 136eV?
Michael Ingram Rodel, Inc. 451 Bellevue RD Newark, DE 19713 Phone: 302.366.0500, ext. 2545 Fax: 302.455.1124
Does anyone in the Rochester, NY area have a JEOL 5800 SEM (or similar conventional SEM)? I will be in that region and I must test some equipment, so I need to gain access to a SEM similar to mine for a short period.
Please contact me off-line if this is possible, and for further info. Marisa Ahmad
I am rather surprised this a.m. to arrive at the lab to find that the = blocks I've embedded in LR White are not polymerized. This is not a = technique we routinely use. I followed the schedule for EM ICC, tissues = are .25-.5mm, no OSO4, ETOH dehydration to 95%, several infiltration = changes over hours and overnight, oven calibrated to 50 degrees, gelatin = capsules totally filled and capped, in the oven since Friday. Help -- What's going wrong?? What to do now ?? Linda Fox lfox1-at-wpo.it.luc.edu
I have a Gatan 600 Duo Mill Ion Miller of the 1985 vintage.
The Thermocouple gauge controller is malfunctioning and will not allow the difusion pump to turn on. It is the gauge on the right side of the miller. The gauge model number is CVH-3.
If anyone has the circiuit diagram of the interior of the controller I would appreciate a copy.
It can be faxed to (905) 521-2773. When faxing please use fine resolution since detail on the diagram is rather small.
Thanks in advance
Fred
******************************************************** Fred Pearson Brockhouse Institute for Materials Research McMaster University 1280 Main St. West Hamilton, Ontario Canada L8S 4M1
Wow, 136 eV with a 30 mm detector is exceptional, and I can see why you are a little bummed out that the repair came back 6 eV worse. But is that 6 eV important to you? I would guess that in practice you won't see much difference. Personally I would rather have the big detector.
best regards, mark
Mark W. Lund, PhD VP Engineering } } 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
"This is a YOUNG business...How can I tell you what YOUR job is when I don't know what MINE is?" --Pogo
Mike Ingram wrote:
:I need opinions. : :I have an EDS system with a 30 mm premium detector which had original spec's :of 136 eV. The crystal pack needed repair and was replaced. The resolution :now is 142 eV. I need to decide a course of action. Here are my options. : :1. Keep the repaired 30 mm detector at 142 eV and be back up and :running. :2. Here the vendor replace the crystal pack until it meets the 136 eV :spec, which will take time and I might be down for a while. :3. Go to a 10 mm detector that I am told they can insure a resolution :of 136 or better. : :Question for the group, if I can live with the down time should I hold out :for the 30 mm detector at 136eV? : :Michael Ingram :Rodel, Inc. :451 Bellevue RD :Newark, DE 19713 :Phone: 302.366.0500, ext. 2545 :Fax: 302.455.1124
Hello every one Here is a quandary for you If you HAD to keep tissue (in this case 50 micron vibratome sections) at either the primary fixation step (2% PF and 2% Glut), or in a buffer at 4 degrees C after the primary fix. Which would be the most stable over several weeks time? Lets assume they will be looking for general ultrastructure. I know there are lots of variables but I'm looking for an "in general" answer.
I get request from people to do EM but I can not get their sample processed into resin at the time, so here I have a sample to store or in other cases they want to store it until they know if they will need the EM.
In the above experiment, another "EM" investigator told them to store the sample in a phosphate buffer at 4 degree. Due to the number of samples I won't be able to process them all at once so I'm not sure whether to leave them the way they are or transfer them back into fix. I personally think it's best to leave the sample in the primary fix at 4 degree. In the Path EM lab we used to keep samples this way, at room temp, and the tissue showed no discernible loss of ultrastructure even when stored a month or two. Thanks for your advice.
At 09:51 AM 9/20/99 -0500, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
****************************** If you post fix in osmium, you might carry it to the buffer rinse after the osmium step and store it in buffer at 4C. The tissue isn't fixed completely until it has been osmicated. This way both proteins and lipids will be well preserved.
Joiner Cartwright, Jr., Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Pathology Baylor College of Medicine Houston, Texas U.S.A.
I had the similar problem once before. I checked the LR white resin (which is newly purchased) withOUT sample and polymerized overnight at 50 or 70 C. It did NOT polymerize either. I called the supplier (EMS) and they sent me a new one. It worked fine?!
Linda Fox 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 rather surprised this a.m. to arrive at the lab to find that the blocks I've embedded in LR White are not polymerized. This is not a technique we routinely use. I followed the schedule for EM ICC, tissues are .25-.5mm, no OSO4, ETOH dehydration to 95%, several infiltration changes over hours and overnight, oven calibrated to 50 degrees, gelatin capsules totally filled and capped, in the oven since Friday. } Help -- What's going wrong?? What to do now ?? } Linda Fox } lfox1-at-wpo.it.luc.edu
Zhaojie Zhang Program in Molecular and Cell Biology Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation 825 NE 13th Street Oklahoma City, OK 73104
Dear Michael and Mark, 136 eV is not so exceptional if you are willing to put up with the long process times and high dead time %. If you are getting 142 eV with the longest process time, it might be worth it to wait for a better detector. I don't think the resolution is as important as the loss in counts and time you will incurr. We don't set our detector at the highest resolution so that we can get more counts per real time. It makes a difference for X-ray mapping where every nanosecond counts. You may also twist their arm into giving you a loaner. Ciao for now, Ken
} Dear Michael, } } Wow, 136 eV with a 30 mm detector is exceptional, and I can see } why you are a little bummed out that the repair came back 6 eV } worse. But is that 6 eV important to you? I would guess that } in practice you won't see much difference. Personally I would } rather have the big detector. } } } best regards, } mark } } Mark W. Lund, PhD } VP Engineering } } 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 } } Mike Ingram wrote: } } :I need opinions. } : } :I have an EDS system with a 30 mm premium detector which had original spec's } :of 136 eV. The crystal pack needed repair and was replaced. The resolution } :now is 142 eV. I need to decide a course of action. Here are my options. } : } :1. Keep the repaired 30 mm detector at 142 eV and be back up and } :running. } :2. Here the vendor replace the crystal pack until it meets the 136 eV } :spec, which will take time and I might be down for a while. } :3. Go to a 10 mm detector that I am told they can insure a resolution } :of 136 or better. } : } :Question for the group, if I can live with the down time should I hold out } :for the 30 mm detector at 136eV? } : } :Michael Ingram } :Rodel, Inc. } :451 Bellevue RD } :Newark, DE 19713 } :Phone: 302.366.0500, ext. 2545 } :Fax: 302.455.1124
I have an old JEOL JAMP-30 Auger Microprobe, and the monitor for the PDP 11/70 microcomputer (the computer that runs the auger software) has just died. The monitor is a Nissho Electronics Pictus 80I. Does anyone have a replacement for sale (or donation) or any idea where I might find one? Any assistance is greatly appreciated.
Brian M. Robin Research Assistant Analytical Instrumentation Facility North Carolina State University
The Alberta Research Council -Vegreville site has a Hitachi H600 TEM (with STEM attachment and Kevex 700 microanalysis system) available for the cost of moving it from our site to yours. The TEM requires a new high tension cable to be functional.
If anyone is interested in the entire unit (or maybe just parts of it) please contact either Rosemary Harris (rosemary-at-arc.ab.ca or telephone 780-632-8451) or Arlene Oatway (arlene-at-arc.ab.ca or telephone 780-632-8454).
Vegreville is located about 60 miles east of Edmonton in Alberta, Canada.
How you store it depends on your ultimate goal. If you're not going to do immunolabeling, store it in glut/paraform. These don't fix some structures well and are somewhat reversible; thus, storing in buffer for long times afterward could leach out contents. It would be even better if you could process tissue through osmium and then store in buffer.
If you're going to do IEM, don't store tissue long periods in fix, unless you know that your antigen survives this treatment. Some do; some don't.
Sara E. Miller, Ph. D. P. O. Box 3020 Duke University Medical Center Durham, NC 27710 Ph: 919 684-3452 FAX: 919 684-8735
We have a Kevex 8000 EDS spectrometer we do not need. The detector is a three year old thin window Quantum detector. The analyzer is probably ten years old. The Kevex detector has been horizontally mounted on an Amray 1000A scanning electron microscope, with which we are parting.
In addition, we have an Edax 9100 EDS system we do not need.
We are open to offers on both the Kevex 8000 system and the Edax 9100 system. If someone wanted both the Kevex 8000 system and the Amray 1000A SEM, that could be arranged.
I have nine un-opened 1.5 GB rewritable optical disks (double-sided) that I will never use:
Panasonic # LM-R1500A
Originally purchased for use in an Optical Access International optical disk drive.
If anyone is certain they can use these disks, please contact me.
Peter Guthrie Department of Neurobiology & Anatomy University of Utah School of Medicine 50 N Medical Drive Salt Lake City, UT 84132 (801) 581-8336 (801) 581-4233 fax Peter.Guthrie-at-hsc.utah.edu
Hello, My company is interested in obtaining an EDAX system for our JEOL T220A SEM. As this system is used on a limited basis, purchasing an entirely new system is not cost effective. Can anyone suggest resources for finding used equipment, or know of any directly? Thank you in advance.
Dysktra (spelling? this is off the top of my head) in his EM text showed micrographs of monkey kidney that had been in Trump's fix for 4 years and didn't look all that bad. (Trump's is basically the same as what you're using, slightly different %s of glut & formaldehyde.) I'd keep the specimens in fix in the frig.
Phil
} Hello every one } Here is a quandary for you } If you HAD to keep tissue (in this case 50 micron vibratome sections) at } either the primary fixation step (2% PF and 2% Glut), or in a buffer at 4 } degrees C after the primary fix. Which would be the most stable over } several weeks time? Lets assume they will be looking for general } ultrastructure. } I know there are lots of variables but I'm looking for an "in general" } answer. } } I get request from people to do EM but I can not get their sample processed } into resin at the time, so here I have a sample to store or in other cases } they want to store it until they know if they will need the EM. } } In the above experiment, another "EM" investigator told them to store the } sample in a phosphate buffer at 4 degree. Due to the number of samples I } won't be able to process them all at once so I'm not sure whether to leave } them the way they are or transfer them back into fix. I personally think } it's best to leave the sample in the primary fix at 4 degree. In the Path } EM lab we used to keep samples this way, at room temp, and the tissue } showed no discernible loss of ultrastructure even when stored a month or } two. Thanks for your advice. } } Rick Vaughn } RLVAUGHN-at-UNMC.EDU
****be famous! send in a tech tip or question*** Philip Oshel Technical Editor, Microscopy Today PO Box 620068 Middleton, WI 53562 USA Address for courier deliveries: 6319 Pheasant Lane #A-12 Voice: (608) 833-2885 Fax: (608) 836-1969 (please make sure my name is on any fax) oshel-at-terracom.net
Dear All, Greetings of the day. Last year I had registered to attempt the MSA certification exam. Logistical problem of taking the exam from outside the US prevented me, hence, I could not take it in the previous cycles. Could any of you provide me with the new dates for the upcomming two cycles of this exam. Then again, I shall follow it up with the chair of the exam and the businessoffice of the MSA. Thanks
Mohammed Yousuf Dept. of Zoology King Saud University POB 2455 Riyadh 11451 Saudi Arabia
Hi everyone, If you know anybody that could be interested by the following job offer, please forward this email. Thanks Cecile
ps : don't sent any enquiries to me , send them to Professor J.S. Abell or Dr. T.W. Button School of Metallurgy and Materials University of Birmingham Birmingham B15 2TT
School of Metallurgy and Materials in Collaboration with Oxford Instruments Plc Research Fellowship in the Development of Superconducting Coated Tapes Applications are invited for a post-doctoral research position to work on the fabrication and characterisation of bi-axially textured YBCO films on metallic substrates. The post is supported by funding from one of the leading international industrial companies involved in the development of practical superconducting wires and tapes. The successful candidate will join an established interdisciplinary research group at the University, but will benefit from close interaction with the company both in the UK and US. Some experience of thick or thin film technology of HTC materials would be an advantage, with expertise in pulsed laser deposition being particularly attractive. The appointment will be for two years initially. Interested candidates should have a PhD in materials science or related subject.
The vacancy will be advertised formally in a short time, but informal enquiries should be sent to
Professor J.S. Abell or Dr. T.W. Button School of Metallurgy and Materials University of Birmingham Birmingham B15 2TT
J.S. Abell-at-bham.ac.uk ( 0121 414 5168 ) T.W. Button-at-bham.ac.uk ( 0121 414 5237 ) ****************************** Dr. Cecile Prouteau School of Metallurgy & Materials The University of Birmingham Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT UK E-mail : c.prouteau-at-bham.ac.uk tel : (UK=44)- (0)121 414 5170 fax : (UK=44)- (0)121 414 5232
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I saw the post on LR white and noticed the no OsO4 part of the protocol. I'm having problems with some LR white just now and I'm wondering if its because the tissue (brown fat in this case) was Osmicated. The block seems hard enough except where the tissue is and around there its like rubbery butter. Interestingly enough the non osmicated blocks seem fine if maybe a little too hard. Any ideas out there?
Rod Nicholls Head Technician EM Unit University of Ottawa
Rick, its not a quandary for me. Microscopists unwilling to put in any additional effort to assure good EM results - if that course was to be subsequently chosen, pay later for their omissions. The rules are simple: For best results, tissues should be post-fixed in osmium as soon as possible. Fully fixed tissues may be stored in the cold in either buffer or a low, say 50% alcohol.
Sabatini advocated that GA fixed tissue could be held for six months in buffer and then postfixed, but only some tissues will give good results after that delayed fixation. Similarly, tissues stored in GA (forget storing in osmium!), will continue crosslinking and at high powers show a more granular texture. Sjostrand thought that he could avoid this false granularity completely, by fixing single cells for under a minute in GA. He had hoped to retain cellular details to a resolution well below 1nm. This is ancient stuff now and you may not obtain true details at such resolution from tissue sections, but storing tissues in fixative is not a good idea. Cheers Jim Darley ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes www.proscitech.com
On Tuesday, September 21, 1999 12:52 AM, "rlvaughn-at-unmc.edu"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com [SMTP:"rlvaughn-at-unmc.edu"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com] wrote: } } Hello every one } Here is a quandary for you } If you HAD to keep tissue (in this case 50 micron vibratome sections) at } either the primary fixation step (2% PF and 2% Glut), or in a buffer at 4 } degrees C after the primary fix. Which would be the most stable over } several weeks time? Lets assume they will be looking for general } ultrastructure. } I know there are lots of variables but I'm looking for an "in general" } answer. } } I get request from people to do EM but I can not get their sample processed } into resin at the time, so here I have a sample to store or in other cases } they want to store it until they know if they will need the EM. } } In the above experiment, another "EM" investigator told them to store the } sample in a phosphate buffer at 4 degree. Due to the number of samples I } won't be able to process them all at once so I'm not sure whether to leave } them the way they are or transfer them back into fix. I personally think } it's best to leave the sample in the primary fix at 4 degree. In the Path } EM lab we used to keep samples this way, at room temp, and the tissue } showed no discernible loss of ultrastructure even when stored a month or } two. Thanks for your advice. } } Rick Vaughn } RLVAUGHN-at-UNMC.EDU }
I am not sure if this is the right place, but maybe somebody can help.... A colleague of mine send this to me since I operate our EM's, but before I run a serious search:
"We do laser marking of anodised aluminum, and have a problem. Some mark extremely well and other samples mark extremely poorly. I need to find out the reason for this, and have a number of things I would like to test :
1) the difference between different aluminum alloys 2) the difference between anodised thicknesses 3) the difference between anodised colors 4) the effect of surface finish.
Can you help with any of these ...or suggest some technique do to measure the anodised thickness etc etc. "
Any help would be much appreciated.
Many thanks Sara
Sara Prins CSIR-National Metrology Laboratory PO Box 395 Pretoria South Africa Tel +27 12 841 3974 Cell +27 83 2972643 Fax +27 12 841 2131 e-mail sprins-at-csir.co.za http://nml.csir.co.za
:I need opinions. : :I have an EDS system with a 30 mm premium detector which had original spec's :of 136 eV. The crystal pack needed repair and was replaced. The resolution :now is 142 eV. I need to decide a course of action.} }
You probably paid more to have a 136 detector, 142's are pretty much off the reject pile IMHO.
We have also been having trouble with LR White, specifically with embedding plant cells and tissue. We have tried dehydrating though 70% ethanol, then through 100%. We have increased infiltration times, played with embedding times and temperatures, and tried different bottles of resin. We get sections that fall apart in the boats and resembled tattered napkins on the grids. The tissues and cells have been processed for immunolabeling and the labeling is working perfectly on the surviving portions of the sections, but the sections themselves look awful.
Our other resins are all working fine. So we join the ranks of the puzzled ones on this question. Any help would be appreciated.
Randy Tindall EM Specialist Electron Microscopy Core Facility W122 Veterinary Medicine Bldg. University of Missouri Columbia, MO 65211 (573)882-8304 http://www.biotech.missouri.edu/emc/
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } } 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 rather surprised this a.m. to arrive at the lab to find that the } } blocks I've embedded in LR White are not polymerized. This is not a } } technique we routinely use. I followed the schedule for EM ICC, tissues } } are .25-.5mm, no OSO4, ETOH dehydration to 95%, several infiltration } } changes over hours and overnight, oven calibrated to 50 degrees, gelatin } } capsules totally filled and capped, in the oven since Friday. } } Help -- What's going wrong?? What to do now ?? } } Linda Fox } } lfox1-at-wpo.it.luc.edu } } I saw the post on LR white and noticed the no OsO4 part of the protocol. } I'm having problems with some LR white just now and I'm wondering if its } because the tissue (brown fat in this case) was Osmicated. The block seems } hard enough except where the tissue is and around there its like rubbery } butter. Interestingly enough the non osmicated blocks seem fine if maybe a } little too hard. Any ideas out there? } } Rod Nicholls } Head Technician } EM Unit } University of Ottawa } } } } Hi,
Osmicated fat or even poorly osmicated fat interferes with polymerization of epoxies. This became absolutely clear to me when I tried to embed some M and Ms for paperweights. The shell cracked, the cocoa butter ran out and the area around it stayed gooey. (I had to design a special formulation which would embed M and Ms) It is possible that the same applies to the acrylics. I have done a lot of studying of Acrylics and have never seen anywhere that fat does interfere. Try dehydration to 100% and see if there is any improvement. Are you infiltrating with vigor? A number of changes, etc. Another possibility is, of course, that the fat takes up large quantities of osmium which forms a barrier to infiltration. This we see regularly in nerve bundles both in epoxies and acrylics.
If the problem does not solve itself, let me know, and I can give you some places where you might get help.
Hildy Crowley Sr. Electron Microscopist University of Denver {hcrowley-at-du.edu}
What kind of elements are typically present in your samples? If you don't routinely analyze for Cd, In, Sn and Sb, or for Pb and Bi, I think you could get along quite well with your resolution at 142 eV. The primary need for the improved resolution would be for resolving peak overlaps, although it may also provide a slight improvement in detectable limit.
Hopefully you can get some adjustment to the repair price for not restoring original performance.
Warren
At 09:29 AM 9/20/1999 -0400, "Ingram, Mike" wrote: } } I need opinions. } } I have an EDS system with a 30 mm premium detector which had original spec's } of 136 eV. The crystal pack needed repair and was replaced. The resolution } now is 142 eV. I need to decide a course of action. Here are my options. } } 1. Keep the repaired 30 mm detector at 142 eV and be back up and } running. } 2. Here the vendor replace the crystal pack until it meets the 136 eV } spec, which will take time and I might be down for a while. } 3. Go to a 10 mm detector that I am told they can insure a resolution } of 136 or better. } } Question for the group, if I can live with the down time should I hold out } for the 30 mm detector at 136eV? } } Michael Ingram } Rodel, Inc. } 451 Bellevue RD } Newark, DE 19713 } Phone: 302.366.0500, ext. 2545 } Fax: 302.455.1124
Thanks again!! The problem may be that there was no catalyst added to the resin...(one should always ask the obvious questions when novices are about ... Thank you) I re-read all the proceedures and nowhere does it state to add the benz. perox. to the resin. I assumed that the b.p. was needed for the cold cure method, where excess heat might be generated, so I did not add any. I reinfiltrated the tissues with another bolttle of resin, from EMS, catalyst added by manufacturer, and returned them to the oven. We will see!! Thanks for all the tips. Many called for higher temps. for polymerization. I am wondering if this will hinder immuno work? I will be persuing this technique for one scientist over the next few months and would appreciate all the tips, tricks and protocols you can spare. Thanks, Linda Fox lfox1-at-wpo.it.luc.edu Fax: 1-708-216-3676
I'm wondering if vapor osmication will work on dry sections. I have sections stained for immuno gold and the protocol calls for grids to be floating on pbs during the vapor fix. I'm wondering if I need to have them wet and then have to wash them or can they be done dry and thus save the sections from the rigors of washing and pbs floating. Thanks in advance.
Rod Nicholls Head Technician EM Unit University of Ottawa
Does any information or publication exist that describes or defines the "typical" variability or range that may be observed between analysts for particle counting techniques using LM? Thanks.
Robb Calabro Pharmaceutical Scientist AstraZeneca Pharmaceutical Westborough, MA USA
Did you mix in the benzoyl peroxide catalyst? really thoroughly? it takes a while to mix in properly. I needed LR White in a hurry once and ordered it from Sigma and found out to my dismay that Sigma supplies LR White without the b.p.
To Rod Nicholls: The literature I have says osmium is not compatible (causes focal points of heat).
Rod Nicholls 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } } 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 rather surprised this a.m. to arrive at the lab to find that the } } blocks I've embedded in LR White are not polymerized. This is not a } } technique we routinely use. I followed the schedule for EM ICC, tissues } } are .25-.5mm, no OSO4, ETOH dehydration to 95%, several infiltration } } changes over hours and overnight, oven calibrated to 50 degrees, gelatin } } capsules totally filled and capped, in the oven since Friday. } } Help -- What's going wrong?? What to do now ?? } } Linda Fox } } lfox1-at-wpo.it.luc.edu } } I saw the post on LR white and noticed the no OsO4 part of the protocol. } I'm having problems with some LR white just now and I'm wondering if its } because the tissue (brown fat in this case) was Osmicated. The block seems } hard enough except where the tissue is and around there its like rubbery } butter. Interestingly enough the non osmicated blocks seem fine if maybe a } little too hard. Any ideas out there? } } Rod Nicholls } Head Technician } EM Unit } University of Ottawa
-- Sonia Cawsey McGowan Copley Library, University of San Diego email: scawsey-at-acusd.edu home page: http://www.acusd.edu/~scawsey
I have noticed similar problems with various biolog. tissues and especially with many carbon materials like charcoal, coke, activated carbons, and others. I have always attributed this problem to the oxygen interference issue in the polymerisation of many of the acrylics. It has been my thought that the "carbon" materials and some tissues have enough absorbed O2, or similar chemistry is going on, such that it inhibits LR White polymerisation at the localized interface of the tissue. This is when I give up and use epoxy based embedding (usually Spurrs low viscosity or similar). Brad Huggins BPAmoco EM Lab Naperville, IL
} ---------- } From: Rod Nicholls[SMTP:nicholls-at-uottawa.ca] } Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 1999 10:02 AM } To: microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } Subject: Re: LR White polymerization } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } } 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 rather surprised this a.m. to arrive at the lab to find that the } } blocks I've embedded in LR White are not polymerized. This is not a } } technique we routinely use. I followed the schedule for EM ICC, tissues } } are .25-.5mm, no OSO4, ETOH dehydration to 95%, several infiltration } } changes over hours and overnight, oven calibrated to 50 degrees, gelatin } } capsules totally filled and capped, in the oven since Friday. } } Help -- What's going wrong?? What to do now ?? } } Linda Fox } } lfox1-at-wpo.it.luc.edu } } I saw the post on LR white and noticed the no OsO4 part of the protocol. } I'm having problems with some LR white just now and I'm wondering if its } because the tissue (brown fat in this case) was Osmicated. The block seems } hard enough except where the tissue is and around there its like rubbery } butter. Interestingly enough the non osmicated blocks seem fine if maybe a } little too hard. Any ideas out there? } } Rod Nicholls } Head Technician } EM Unit } University of Ottawa } } }
I am learning to using DTSA to analyse EDX spectra collected with a Link Premium 136eV Si(Li) detector with a super atmospheric thin window. The detector is attached to a JEOL 2010F TEM and has a 30mm2 active area.
I would like to generate simulated spectra within DTSA and compare them with actual spectra. The idea is to determine values for the detector's physical parameters that allow's reasonably good agreement between generated and real spectra.
The problem is I have no idea of the approximate layer thicknesses and compositions appropriate for my detector. I would appreciate learning from DTSA users with similar detectors what parameters they are using. I could then treat these values as a starting point for fine tuning my own values.
I look forward to your replies. Cheers,
Mark Blackford TEM Group Materials Division, ANSTO PMB 1, Menai, N.S.W. Australia 2234
Phone 61 2 9717 3027 Fax 61 2 9543 7179
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this E-mail message do not necessarily represent the official views of ANSTO from which this message was conveyed.
Good question. We used to use the 30 mm wafer detector in the SEM because we thought we needed it for extra surface area in x-ray mapping. We now use 10 mm in one SEM and it works fine for our applications. We still have a 30 mm in the system on our 420T (TEM), to maximize counts. If it is TEM or FESEM, there might be some significant benefit to the larger surface. I also will be interested in the opinion of the experts on this one. Brad Huggins BPAmoco
} ---------- } From: Giles, Bill[SMTP:William.Giles-at-TIMET.com] } Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 1999 10:24 AM } To: microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } Subject: RE: EDS Question } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } { {Mike Ingram wrote: } } :I need opinions. } : } :I have an EDS system with a 30 mm premium detector which had original } spec's } :of 136 eV. The crystal pack needed repair and was replaced. The } resolution } :now is 142 eV. I need to decide a course of action.} } } } You probably paid more to have a 136 detector, 142's are pretty much off } the } reject pile IMHO. } } } Bill } TIMET }
Only thing I can tell here is that oxigen is toxic to the resin. If you leave it open to air, it will not polymerize. I always overfill gelatin capsule to exclude as much air as possible. It is messy, but I have not found a clean way yet.
Increase infiltration time would not help much as the resin penetrate rather quicker into tissue. Even though the data sheet claims that you can stop at 70% alcohol step. I found you need always dehydrate more than that. Here is what I do after osmication with nervous tissue of 1-3mm size:
dehydrate 50, 70, 95, 100X2, 10 minutes each step
1:1 LR white with 100% Alcohol for 30 minutes on a rotator
Leave in pure LS white for 3hrs to overnight (for convenience only)
Put tissue in fresh LR white in a gelatin capsule. Fill as much as you can and cover it up. Make sure you close it tightly. It is always messy step.
Polymerize at 50oC over for at least 24 hrs. I have not done it for a while now. But I believe if you stop it by taking it out of oven. Then it will not polymerize any more. Put it back to oven will not help.
If no osmication is required, try UV polymerization.
LR white is alway britle and difficult to deal with. You need section a bit thicker than normally do with other resin (e.g. Epon ). I never go below 75nm. Add a bit of grease (YES!) to the boat will help to keep the section together. Use tiny wood picker, touch your "oily face". Dip it into boat. This is enough to keep the sections together.
I am not sure if this helps. But that is how I did it.
Xuejun
On Tue, 21 Sep 1999, Tindall, Randy D. 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, } } We have also been having trouble with LR White, specifically with embedding } plant cells and tissue. We have tried dehydrating though 70% ethanol, then } through 100%. We have increased infiltration times, played with embedding } times and temperatures, and tried different bottles of resin. We get } sections that fall apart in the boats and resembled tattered napkins on the } grids. The tissues and cells have been processed for immunolabeling and the } labeling is working perfectly on the surviving portions of the sections, but } the sections themselves look awful. } } Our other resins are all working fine. So we join the ranks of the puzzled } ones on this question. Any help would be appreciated. } } Randy Tindall } EM Specialist } Electron Microscopy Core Facility } W122 Veterinary Medicine Bldg. } University of Missouri } Columbia, MO 65211 } (573)882-8304 } http://www.biotech.missouri.edu/emc/ } } }
*********************************************************************** Xuejun Sun, Ph.D. Dept. of Experimental Oncology Cross Cancer Institute 11560 University Ave. Edmonton Alberta T6G 1Z2, Canada
Yes Rod, The instructions advise not to use osmium and our extensive online application notes also make that point. Anyway, what is the point of using osmium with LR White. That resin is well suited to immuno and cytochem processing, but these reactions are "killed" by osmium. Cheers Jim Darley
ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes www.proscitech.com
} } } } I am rather surprised this a.m. to arrive at the lab to find that the } } blocks I've embedded in LR White are not polymerized. This is not a } } technique we routinely use. I followed the schedule for EM ICC, tissues } } are .25-.5mm, no OSO4, ETOH dehydration to 95%, several infiltration } } changes over hours and overnight, oven calibrated to 50 degrees, gelatin } } capsules totally filled and capped, in the oven since Friday. } } Help -- What's going wrong?? What to do now ?? } } Linda Fox } } lfox1-at-wpo.it.luc.edu } } I saw the post on LR white and noticed the no OsO4 part of the protocol. } I'm having problems with some LR white just now and I'm wondering if its } because the tissue (brown fat in this case) was Osmicated. The block seems } hard enough except where the tissue is and around there its like rubbery } butter. Interestingly enough the non osmicated blocks seem fine if maybe a } little too hard. Any ideas out there? } } Rod Nicholls } Head Technician } EM Unit } University of Ottawa } }
Although established as a tool in materials science and physics, scanning probe microscopy (SPM) is at the beginning of its application in biomaterials science. On 2 April 1998 the first workshop entitled "Scanning Probe Microscopy in Biomaterials Science, Dentistry and Medicine" was held in Bristol, UK. What was planned to be a small workshop evolved to be an international conference with high calibre delegates and speakers from all over the world. Encouraged by the success of the meeting and supported by international academics and industrial researchers we are organising a 2nd conference.
Since this first conference in 1998 more researchers have applied atomic force microscopy and related SPM methods in biomaterials science. Therefore a definitive need for a broad scientific exchange between researchers involved in these studies exists. This is the purpose of The 2nd International Conference on Scanning Probe Microscopy in Biomaterials Science, which will be hosted by the University of Bristol and Veeco Instruments Limited.
Contributions should cover, but are not limited to, the following areas:
- Imaging of biomaterials surfaces (polymers, metals ceramics etc.) - Interfaces between biomaterials and biological materials (e.g. protein-biomaterial interfaces) - Investigation of local properties of biomaterials (mechanical, chemical etc.) - Structural change of biomaterials - Aspects of medicine and dentistry relevant for SPM (e.g. SPM on mineralised tissues or DNA) - Instrumental developments in SPM and combination with other methods in the investigations of biomaterials
Deadlines and dates
1 September 1999: early registration starts 1 January 2000: registration starts 1 April 2000 Deadline for abstract submission 1 June 2000 registration closes =96 late registration (at an increased fee rate) possible until the date of the conference.
---------------------- Manuela Finke University of Bristol Department of Oral and Dental Science Dental Materials and Biomaterials Group Lower Maudlin Street Bristol BS1 2LY tel:0117/9284537 fax:0117/9284780 e-mail:M.Finke-at-bris.ac.uk
} I'm wondering if vapor osmication will work on dry sections. I have } sections stained for immuno gold and the protocol calls for grids to be } floating on pbs during the vapor fix. I'm wondering if I need to have them } wet and then have to wash them or can they be done dry and thus save the } sections from the rigors of washing and pbs floating. Thanks in advance. } } Rod Nicholls } Head Technician } EM Unit } University of Ottawa
I have successfully both reosmicated sections that had the Os chemically removed and osmicated sections of various polymer blends using the vapor phase. I mount the dry grids on a glass microscope slide place it in a glass Petri dish and add a ml or so of 2% OsO4/H2O to the dish bottom (not touching the grids) put the top on and let it sit for some period of time (I usually figure an hour or so, but have never tested the rate). Do this under an approved fume hood.
Good luck
John Heckman TEM Specialist MSU Center for Electron Optics
VG Scientific has a vacancy for a DEVELOPMENT SCIENTIST in the Development Group.
We are looking for a suitably qualified Physicist/Materials Scientist to work on the design of electron beam and Surface Science instrumentation. The candidate should be qualified to Ph.D. or Post-Doctorate level and have experience in the design and application of electron/ion beam or Surface Science instruments. Experience in modelling of electron and/or ion optics is particularly desirable.
VG Scientific is a leading manufacturer of Scanning Auger Microscopes, X-Ray Photoelectron Spectrometers and related UHV instrumentation for research and industrial applications.
A competitive salary is offered for a suitable candidate.
For further information, please contact Sebastian von Harrach. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dr.H.S.von Harrach, Technical Manager, VG Scientific, The Birches Industrial Estate, Imberhorne Lane, E. Grinstead, W. Sussex, RH19 1UB, UK.
Tel:+44 (0)1342 327211, direct line 310318 Fax:+44 (0)1342 315074 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have used OsO4 vapour fixation, both on floating and dry grids and have found that adequate results are achieved either way. If your resin is slightly hydrophilic (e.g. LR White), then, floating the grids on aqueous OsO4 will produce better results without causing widespread deposition, of Os around the gold particles.
} } } I'm wondering if vapor osmication will work on dry sections. I have } sections stained for immuno gold and the protocol calls for grids to be } floating on pbs during the vapor fix. I'm wondering if I need to have them } wet and then have to wash them or can they be done dry and thus save the } sections from the rigors of washing and pbs floating. Thanks in advance. } } Rod Nicholls } Head Technician } EM Unit } University of Ottawa } } }
Regards,
Andrew Ochalski, Microscopy Technician, Dept. of Biology, University of Ottawa Room 108, Gendron Bldg. 130 Louis Pasteur, Ottawa, Ontario CANADA K1N 6N5 613-562-5800 x6343 FAX: 613-562 5486
I'd be willing to bet that the omission of accelerator is the cause of your trouble. Usually, I used temperatures of about 60C for 48-72 hr ,in the absence of oxygen (important), to achieve polymerisation.. Best results for immunohistochemistry were achieved using UV polymerisation at 0-4C for 24-48 hrs, though others have attributed loss of antigenicity to the UV. I have been able to achieve polymerisation of the resin using osmicated tissue, and my understanding is that heat generated locally around the Os deposits interferes with antigenicity rather than with resin polymerisation. For IHC work, aqueous uranyl acetate produces some increase in contrast, particularly of cell membranes, which are tough to see in the absence of osmium. Some respondents have mentioned sectioning problems. LR White is tough to section! I concur with others who advised REALLY infiltrating the tissue. Dehydration to 100% ethanol seemed to help, followed by LR White:EtOH (1:1) 1-3 hrs (depending on block size) LRW:EtOH (3:1) 1-3hrs Then, three changes of 100% LRW over 24 hrs at 4C before embedding. Having said all this, the rather poor appearance of non-osmicated , LR White-embedded sections led us to move away from IHC on embedded sections, to using pre- embeddibg methods whenever possible (more often than the literature might lead one to believe). } Thanks again!! The problem may be that there was no catalyst added } to the resin...(one should always ask the obvious questions when } novices are about ... Thank you) I re-read all the proceedures and } nowhere does it state to add the benz. perox. to the resin. I assumed } that the b.p. was needed for the cold cure method, where excess heat might } be generated, so I did not add any. I reinfiltrated the tissues with } another bolttle of resin, from EMS, catalyst added by manufacturer, and } returned them to the oven. We will see!! Thanks for all the tips. Many } called for higher temps. for polymerization. I am wondering if this will } hinder immuno work? I will be persuing this technique for one scientist } over the next few months and would appreciate all the tips, tricks and } protocols you can spare. Thanks, Linda Fox lfox1-at-wpo.it.luc.edu Fax: } 1-708-216-3676 }
Regards,
Andrew Ochalski, Microscopy Technician, Dept. of Biology, University of Ottawa Room 108, Gendron Bldg. 130 Louis Pasteur, Ottawa, Ontario CANADA K1N 6N5 613-562-5800 x6343 FAX: 613-562 5486
For many years we have taught the practical aspects of SEM & TEM to post-graduate students to enable them to undertake their EM projects. We are now considering the possibility of instituting a 12 week module (1 lecture + 1 prac per week) on electron microscopy (history, development, optics, vacuum, sample prep etc) We'll probably only just touch on EDX in this particular module. The students are likely to be 3rd year Science (including Geology)/Health Science undergrads most of whom have come from a technically disadvantaged background. I'm sure there are many out there who have/are successfully teaching such a module. I would like to make contact with you to get information on how you structured your course.
Thanks in advance
Mike Gregory Professor Mike Gregory Electron Microscope Unit, University of Durban-Westville Private Bag X54001 Durban, Natal, South Africa 4000
rod, i have used osmium vapour on dry lrwhite immuno-gold labbeled sections of plant tissue prior to uranyl and lead citrate staining. 30 mins vapour exposeure gave me good staining of the cell wall. vapour exposeure was carried out in chamber designed by owen& vesely vol.20/6 proceedings rms november 1985.
for preparing support films on grids we use Pioloform instead of Formvar because it is said that Pioloform support films are little more stable. When we use Grids mesh size 200 we have no problems. Now, for grids mesh size 100 our procedure does not work. The film always breaks. Does anybody know any tricks for preparing support films for grids with large mesh size?
-- Dr. Anne Heller, AG Elektronenmikroskopie, Institut f=FCr Botanik (210), Universit=E4t Hohenheim, Garbenstra=DFe 30 D-70593 Stuttgart
I thought I was alone in the tattered sections on grids department.
My algal tissue is generally pretty holey too, even after extended infilration times (up to 2 weeks). I put it down to the material being difficult, but maybe it is the resin. Ultrastructure is excellent in the bits that remain intact, and the blocks section pretty well. They were dehydrated to 100% alcohol, polymerised at 50C, and an immuno label is attatching to tissue components. I have a feeling the problem is tissue related, but how long infiltration in resin is required I cannot guess.
So no help really, but the more information available the more chance we have of somebody coming up with an idea.
Peter Bond Plymouth Electron Microscopy Unit University of Plymouth Drake Circus Plymouth Devon UK PL4 8AA Tel/Fax: 01752 233092 email: pbond-at-plymouth.ac.uk
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
"Can't leave biological tissues in glutaraldehyde for long periods; Immunological and cytochemical reactions are killed by osmium; Must use glutaradehyde after labeling reactions on sections."
You are all under arrest for spreading widespread panic without producing = supporting documentation or direct personal experiences.
Paul Webster, Ph.D. House Ear Insititute 2100 West Third Street Los Angeles, CA 90057 213 273 8026 pwebster-at-hei.org http://www.hei.org/htm/aemi.htm
by alumni.Princeton.EDU (8.9.1/8.9.1) with ESMTP id NAA28743 for {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} ; Wed, 22 Sep 1999 13:10:26 -0400 (EDT) Sender: rick-at-alumni.princeton.edu Message-ID: {37E90F94.45D82069-at-alumni.princeton.edu}
Mike Ingram wrote:
} 1. Keep the repaired 30 mm detector at 142 eV... } 2. ... replace the crystal pack until it meets the 136 eV... } 3. Go to a 10 mm detector...
It depends on how you most often use the detector. For most applications, count rate (solid angle) is more valuable than resolution because you get more counts for less beam current, avoiding all the bad effects of high current (specimen damage, nuisance of changing apertures, worse contamination, and so on). So I would not recommend dropping back to a 10-sq-mm detector unless resolution is your primary criterion.
It also depends on how much light element work you do. Because the noise and energy-dependent terms for resolution add in quadrature, a 6 eV loss at 5.9 keV turns into a 10 or 11 eV loss at O Ka, which is also a more significant fraction of the peak width at O. If you do a lot of oxygen directly rather than by stoichiometry, for example, then maybe a 10 sq-mm detector is a better choice. But if you need resolution and paid for a premium detector, don't settle for a 136 eV 10-square. It should get down to 133 or 134 anyway.
Although this has always been a "magic number" for selling EDS, unless you do a lot of light-element work or trace analyses, a few eV one way or another isn't all that critical. How you feel about getting what you paid for is a different question.
After moaning about the poor ultrastructure for immuno achieved with LR White (a known downside of all acrylics) we switched to LR Gold (cold-UV). The ultrastructure was immensely better than LR White, although it did not approach that of epon embedments. When "White" or "Gold" capsules come out of the oven or out of the freeze box, keep the capsules closed and immediately place in a small vaccuum jar. Oxygen does seep through the gelatin when the capsules are left on the bench and thus will make it impossible to polymerize the blocks further a week later when one decides that the blocks are too soft. We put LR Gold capsules from the freezer box directly into a -20 freezer. This way there seems to be no adverse activity between the resin and the air, and we can at a later date decide what we want to do with the blocks before sectioning. I have used LR White extensively with osmium (oven cured). Obviously this was not an immuno project. At any rate, if you have difficulty with adequate ultrastructure (no osmication) for immuno, try the LR Gold. Have fun! Bye, Hildy
P.S. Do not try to embed chocolate in an acrylic. It is an ultra-mess!
Responding to the message of {37E8E69C.26A51222-at-uni-hohenheim.de} from Anne Heller {heller-at-Uni-Hohenheim.DE} : } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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, } } for preparing support films on grids we use Pioloform instead of Formvar } because it is said that Pioloform support films are little more stable. } When we use Grids mesh size 200 we have no problems. Now, for grids mesh } size 100 our procedure does not work. The film always breaks. Does } anybody know any tricks for preparing support films for grids with large } mesh size? } } } -- } Dr. Anne Heller, AG Elektronenmikroskopie, } Institut f=FCr Botanik (210), Universit=E4t Hohenheim, } Garbenstra=DFe 30 } D-70593 Stuttgart }
Dr. Heller,
We use 0.5% formvar in ethylene dichloride to coat 1 x 2 mm slot grids. We do not carbon coat the formvar. These are the only grids we use in our laboratory. For 15 years we have used a JEOL 100CX microscope to look at these grids. The formvar is very stable and never breaks in the beam. I think older microscopes have "hotter" beams that may cause problems with the formvar.
John Basgen
John M. Basgen Department of Pediatrics University of Minnesota Box 491 420 Delaware Street SE Minneapolis, MN 55455 Phone: 612-625-7979 FAX: 612-626-2791 E-mail: basgen-at-tc.umn.edu
Greetings, Paul Webster called our attention to certain fixed ideas that showed up recently: } } "Can't leave biological tissues in glutaraldehyde for long periods; } Immunological and cytochemical reactions are killed by osmium; } Must use glutaradehyde after labeling reactions on sections."
I just wanted to add that LR white is not the only resin for doing immunocytochemistry. If LR white is giving you fits, try something different. Someone working with me just got nice immuno-gold results with material embedded in butyl-methyl-methacrylate. OK, this resin is not as stable in the TEM beam as LR white, but it is (usually) child's play to work with. A reasonable trade off? Your call.
These are all current Olympus metallurgical objectives, if you are interested in any or all the objectives please send us a reasonable offer, these are like new (they where purchased new for a project and never used).
The objectives are;
MSPLAN 2.5x / 0.07 Olympus Part Number 1-LM 510
ULWD MSPLAN 20x / 0.40 Olympus Part Number 1-LM 546
ULWD MSPLAN 50x / 0.55 Olympus Part Number 1-LM 556
ULWD MSPLAN 80x / 0.75 Olympus Part Number 1-LM 594
Hmm... what's the jurisdiction for this infraction? Will they tried in the MSA tribunal high court? If found guilty, will they be sentenced to a career of working with only RCA model scopes?
We need to talk to Nestor about how to file an injunction and restraining order to protect the rights of hapless biologicals floating in osmium...
Respectfully submitted by the court clerk,
Laura :)
} "Can't leave biological tissues in glutaraldehyde for long periods; } Immunological and cytochemical reactions are killed by osmium; } Must use glutaradehyde after labeling reactions on sections." } } You are all under arrest for spreading widespread panic without producing } supporting documentation or direct personal experiences. } } Paul Webster, Ph.D. } House Ear Insititute } 2100 West Third Street } Los Angeles, CA 90057 } 213 273 8026 } pwebster-at-hei.org } http://www.hei.org/htm/aemi.htm } ********************************************** Laura S. Rhoads US Distributor- AM-Toffeln
L. S. Rhoads P. O. Box 554 Johnson City, NY 13790-0554
I have never had any problems getting the resin to polymerize in gel caps even at 50 degree, but I have found that I have less sticky tops where the top of the capsule still traps air by going to just 52 to 55 degree and the labeling will still work.
I also get samples that cut difficult, seeming to disintegrate in the boat or look broken up in the scope. I have looked back at the protocol and suspect poor fixation. The higher I can get that glut the better cutting I get.
How many people have tried that Unicryl? I had questionable results, and heard the same from some one else.
Thanks for all the advice on tissue storage. There seemed to be a split on storing in fix vs bufer, but most buffer people stored after osmication.
My next problem is how to keep the vibatome sections flat while processing. These are 50 microns. previous work has been 100 to 150 microns and did not have the problem. These thinner ones tend to become cup shaped and or wavy. Some one here suggested sandwich them between glass slides or plastic sheets. 1) how to keep plastic from floating 2) will enough fluids get undernieth (sect. are 3 to 5 mm square) Any other ideas out there? Hopefully simple ones...... I have 39 more of the darn things. Thanks again
If you would like to stay with Pioloform, the only solution is to increase the plastic concentration in your solution. Sometimes film becomes unstable because of water traces in the plastic's solution. Therefore, I prefer to store the plastic itself in the vacuum dessicator permanently and I am using HPLC-grade freshened from time to time organic solvents. I am surprised to know that Pioloform is more stable under the beam than Formvar. Personally, I prefer Formvar on 150 mesh grids. The disadvantage of using Formvar film that it is less transparent to the e-beam. If this is a problem, I am using "old friend" - Parlodion stabilized by carbon. Generally speaking it is a very good idea to stabilize plastic film by carbon. It takes a bit more time to prepare but the quality will completely compensate time you spent for it. Using hex-grids instead square-hole grids may help to stabilize film too.
Good luck to you.
} Date: Wed, 22 Sep 1999 13:05:05 -0500 } From: John Basgen {basgen-at-maroon.tc.umn.edu} } Subject: Re: support film } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } X-Mailer: POPmail 2.3b8 } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Dr. Sergey Ryazantsev UCLA School of Medicine Department of Biological Chemistry Box 951737 Los Angeles, CA 90095-1737
You might try a 0.5% solution of Formvar in (very dry) ethylene dichloride to coat your 200 mesh grids. Floating on water, the film should be silver to barely silver/gold. We use this color film for coating 1 x 2 mm slot grids and rarely have a problem with broken films. Sometimes we use a slightly gray/silver film with some breakage. We do not coat with carbon. For slot grids we need to pick up the film w/grids using a support made from aluminum (or other firm support...not parafilm) or the film sags, contacts the parafilm and sticks to it. We coat glass slides with the formvar solution and also dry them in a dry nitrogen gas atmosphere (using a "glove bag") to avoid problems with atmospheric humidity causing holes in the films. When dry they are removed from the bag in the fume cabinet (noxious ethylene dichloride fumes) and floated at ambient room humidity.
Hope this helps,
Doug ---------------------- Douglas R. Keene Shriners Hospital Microscopy Facility 3101 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Road Portland, Oregon 97201 503-221-3434 DRK-at-shcc.org
I asked a question about expectant mothers and the teratogenic hazards in the typical EM facility a couple of weeks ago and it is now time to summarize. There were about 20 answers on and off list. They were all reasoned, informed opinions that cited literature, personal experience, the law, safety organizations, and common sense. They broke out like this (if you don't mind my offbeat characterizations):
A) Check the MSDS, and gloves, a fume hood, maybe a radiation monitor and common sense are all that are needed. Go for it. 5 males and 1 female.
B) I've done it, all turned out fine - just be careful 3 females
C) I've done it, but stayed clear of the chemicals - all was OK, be careful 3 females
D) I've done it, had problems, who knows if the lab was the culprit? 2 females
E) Just don't do it! 1 male
F) Watch for law suits - discrimination if you try to exclude her, liability if you don't. 2 females 1 male
These answers probably don't add up properly, because some people had more than one answer. I have purposely not quoted any answer because some were off list and were very personal and revealing. The general idea is quite sufficient, I think, and I thank all who took the time and emotional courage to write to help another person make a big decision.
That decision (made by the student with your help and that of our on campus safety/hazards people) was not to take the class this term. Our student is an undergrad who was/is working as a tech in another lab and who would greatly extend her usefulness if she were able to do the EM for her Prof., but whose job is not on the line and whose grad work is not yet a concern, so perhaps her decision was a little easier. If so, thankfully.
Again, thanks to Nestor for all the trench work and grief, and all the List Citizens for taking time and sharing your cumulative years of experience and judgement. I am in awe of this group!! Regards, Bill Sharp William P. Sharp Arizona State University Dept. Plant Biology, box 871601 Tempe, AZ 85287-1601 Phone - (602)-965-3210 Fax - (602)-965-6899
Linda, The problems we've encountered when using LR White without the catalyst involved using: a) LRW - 6 months past date of purchase b) 70% ETOH made from an opened bottle of supposedly 100% (Remedy: pretest your 70-85% ETOH with LRW--if it turns cloudy---there's too much water in the alcohol. Also, we embedd in gelatin capsules topped with several drops of mineral oil to seal the acrylic during polymerization. I have not been happy with any embedding we've done using the catalyst. Rosemary
} } } } Robb, } } Per SAE Aerospace Recommended Practice ARP 598B(12/86), "13.2 } Competence - } Individual laboratories, with experienced counters, should be able to count with } a 10% mean deviation thus proving operator and optical accuracies." } } Bob Holthausen } Principal Microscopist } Pall Corporation } } } } } } "Rob.Calabro/-at-astrapharmaceuticals.com" on 09/21/99 05:50:26 PM } } To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } cc: (bcc: Bob Holthausen/SLSNY/Pall/US) } Subject: Counting Repeatability using LM Techniques } } } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Hi all, } } Does any information or publication exist that describes or defines the } "typical" variability or range that may be observed between analysts for } particle counting techniques using LM? Thanks. } } Robb Calabro } Pharmaceutical Scientist } AstraZeneca Pharmaceutical } Westborough, MA USA } } } } }
Tobias got a point. There are other embedding media that the LR's. I am surprised that the hydrophilic Lowicryls has not been mentioned yet. They are excellent for immunowork in the EM, and if you are worried about using fixatives, try a brief fixation in freshly made paraformaldehyde, fast dehydration in DMP, and then drop the temperature to -50 C and embed and cure at this temperature in Lowicryl. It works for some types of plant material. However, some people are allergic to Lowicryls so take care.
Bo
Tobias Baskin wrote:
} Greetings, } Paul Webster called our attention to certain fixed ideas that } showed up recently: } } } } "Can't leave biological tissues in glutaraldehyde for long periods; } } Immunological and cytochemical reactions are killed by osmium; } } Must use glutaradehyde after labeling reactions on sections." } } I just wanted to add that LR white is not the only resin for } doing immunocytochemistry. If LR white is giving you fits, try } something different. Someone working with me just got nice } immuno-gold results with material embedded in } butyl-methyl-methacrylate. OK, this resin is not as stable in the TEM } beam as LR white, but it is (usually) child's play to work with. A } reasonable trade off? Your call.
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Hi all, } } Does any information or publication exist that describes or defines the } "typical" variability or range that may be observed between analysts for } particle counting techniques using LM? Thanks. } } Robb Calabro } Pharmaceutical Scientist } AstraZeneca Pharmaceutical } Westborough, MA USA
Robb,
I don't think there is "typical" variability. Each parameter measured or counted will have its own variability depending on inherent biological variation among animals, variability due to sampling, and measuring errors.
There are methods for partitioning these different levels of variability so that you can determine how much precision is necessary at the different levels of sampling and measuring error so you can detect a defined amount of difference between experimental groups. The book "Unbiased Stereology" by C.V. Howard and M.G. Reed has a good summary of these methods. At $32 this book may be the best buy in the scientific literature.
Remember, when counting particles, they are 3-dimensional. If you are making sections (2-D samples) through the 3-D particles and making counts on the sections you are not counting the particles but are counting 2-D profiles of the 3-D particles. The number of 2-D profiles is not directly related to the number of particles in the 3-D tissue. This book will also describe the method for counting particles in 3-D tissue from 2-D samples.
I assume you are talking about preparing slices for TEM. For brain slices, I rarely have problem of curling slices until dehydration. I found it helps by starting with a lower alcohol concentration (e.g. from 30%,).
Before the final polymerization step, I keep them flat by sandwitching the slices between two Aclar sheets. Then the sandwitch is further put between two glass slides with a paper clip to keep them flat. You may have few crackes for those curled slices. but there are always more slices for EM sectioning anyway.
No support document but some personal experiences ;-).
Cheers,
Xuejun
On Wed, 22 Sep 1999 rlvaughn-at-unmc.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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Thanks for all the advice on tissue storage. There seemed to be a split on } storing in fix vs bufer, but most buffer people stored after osmication. } } My next problem is how to keep the vibatome sections flat while processing. } These are 50 microns. previous work has been 100 to 150 microns and did not } have the problem. These thinner ones tend to become cup shaped and or } wavy. Some one here suggested sandwich them between glass slides or } plastic sheets. } 1) how to keep plastic from floating } 2) will enough fluids get undernieth (sect. are 3 to 5 mm square) } Any other ideas out there? Hopefully simple ones...... I have 39 more of } the darn things. } Thanks again } } Rick Vaughn } } }
*********************************************************************** Xuejun Sun, Ph.D. Dept. of Experimental Oncology Cross Cancer Institute 11560 University Ave. Edmonton Alberta T6G 1Z2, Canada
Exclusion of Oxygen is critical to the polymerisation of LR White. Most people appear to be using Gelatin capsules for this, but no-one has mentioned flat embedding. We have used a flat embedding technique for years and have got very reliable results from LR white. The samples, after infiltration, are placed in small plastic molds and overfilled with LR White. A sheet of glass/metal is then placed carefully on top of the molds and held in place by a heavy weight. The resin is then polymerised under vacuum. The polymerised samples can be cut out and mounted on perspex rods for sectioning. The only problem is finding the unosmicated samples after embedding, but the polymerisation was reliable every time. The resin itself is quite brittle to section, but a certain amount of the section damage can be caused before thin sectioning. I found that trimming the block face with a glass knife using water in the boat minimised the early damage and left the sample in good condition for sectioning with a diamond knife. Early fracture damage can penetrate into the block face and fall out during thin sectioning. The catalyst being used by a number of people is a cold setting catalyst. These catalysts tend to generate heat themselves and if used with a 50 degree oven will probably raise the sample temperature above 50 degrees.
Best wishes,
Colin
Colin Reid, Electron Microscope Unit, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2. Tel: 353-1-6081820 Fax: 353-1-6770438 Email: creid-at-tcd.ie http://www2.tcd.ie/Electron_Microscope/emu/home.htm
-----Original Message----- } From: Rosemary Walsh [SMTP:rw9-at-psu.edu] Sent: Thursday, September 23, 1999 1:16 AM To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
Linda, The problems we've encountered when using LR White without the catalyst involved using: a) LRW - 6 months past date of purchase b) 70% ETOH made from an opened bottle of supposedly 100% (Remedy: pretest your 70-85% ETOH with LRW--if it turns cloudy---there's too much water in the alcohol. Also, we embedd in gelatin capsules topped with several drops of mineral oil to seal the acrylic during polymerization. I have not been happy with any embedding we've done using the catalyst. Rosemary
Does anyone have a good electropolish solution and procedure for Ti-6-4. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. ______________________________________________ Roberto Garcia Senior Analyst, Metallography NC State University / Analytical Instrumentation Facility Campus Box 7531 Room 318 EGRC 1010 Main Campus Dr. Raleigh, NC 27695-7531 (919) 515-8628 (919) 515-6965 Fax rgarcia-at-unity.ncsu.edu http://spm.aif.ncsu.edu/aif ____________________________________________
A colleague asks: If anyone has got the answer to this problem, please help! Particularly with Heteroderidea subjects, putting them onto the stub is not a problem until slushing in liquid nitrogen. I usually find only three or four nematodes out of say 20 - 50 remaining, which is a big loss and means a lot more work. The endoparasitic females are OK but J2 and males are a very large problem. J2 stage 500um long. Chris Smith, Plant Path EM Unit, IACR-Rothamsted, UK.
This may be off of the normal topics for this group, but I thought I would ask anyway.
I am looking for Laboratory Information Management software for our applications lab at Rodel. Our applications lab has a variety of process and metrology equipment used in its day to day operation. Our products are polishing materials for the semiconductor industry. The LIMS should be able to:
1. Schedule and track experiments 2. Provide status of work in progress 3. Provide summary of completed work 4. Provide access to raw data 5. Collect data from process and metrology tools for analysis including raw data, images and enable data analysis. 6. Provide look-up and summaries from past work via keyword search.
Are any of you working with such a LIMS system and if so is it working for you? Any recommendations? Michael Ingram Rodel, Inc. 451 Bellevue RD Newark, DE 19713 Phone: 302.366.0500, ext. 2545 Fax: 302.455.1124
I have just been asked to come up with a system for automatically replenishing the liquid nitrogen in the anticontamination device for our TEM (it's a Philips CM200). We often want to run the 'scope overnight (in cryo mode, in an automated search for viruses), and we have already lengthened the time between replenishments by fitting a larger nitrogen flask onto the instrument. Does an automatic liq. nitrogen filler already exist? Please let me know ...
Thanks
Scott Robinson Imaging Technology Group Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 405 N Mathews Ave., Urbana IL 61801
The worms are probably being ripped off the stub by the turbulent boiling of the liquid nitrogen. We have experienced the same problem with e.g. fungal conidial chains, the sporangiophores emerging nude from the liquid nitrogen. A fix for this is to cryofix by placing the stub on a metal (copper, aluminium) block just covered by a pool of liquid nitrogen in a polystyrene box. Adjust the liquid level so that the surface of the stub is not submerged. Cryofixation will be slower than by immersion in nitrogen slush, but this is of little importance if you want surface information only. If you regard fast cryofixation as essential, then the same principle can be applied to worms mounted on small pieces of thin metal sheet or foil of much lower mass, em grids even. After cryofixation, these may be mounted on the stub using a clamping screw or spring clip etc.
Hope this helps Chris Jeffree } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } A colleague asks: If anyone has got the answer to this problem, please } help! } Particularly with Heteroderidea subjects, putting them onto the stub } is not a } problem until slushing in liquid nitrogen. I usually find only three } or four } nematodes out of say 20 - 50 remaining, which is a big loss and means } a lot } more work. The endoparasitic females are OK but J2 and males are a } very large } problem. J2 stage 500um long. } Chris Smith, Plant Path EM Unit, IACR-Rothamsted, UK. } } }
===================================================================== DR CHRIS JEFFREE BIOSEM - BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES EM FACILITY UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH Daniel Rutherford Building King's Buildings, Mayfield Road EDINBURGH, EH9 3JH, Scotland, UK Tel. #44 131 650 5345 FAX. #44 131 650 6563 Mobile 0410 585 401 email c.jeffree-at-ed.ac.uk SEM / TEM bookings sem-at-ed.ac.uk =====================================================================
Fair go Paul. That "Dogma Police" header is a trifle emotive and not justified? The first two examples of "Dogma" given may be mine, but they are out of context. I had written that storing tissues in GA affects high resolution imaging. I gave reasons. Are you asserting that excessive fixation in GA does not affect high resolution imaging???
I had written {Immunological and cytochemical reactions are killed by osmium} , but the "killed" was in quotation marks, because I had learned about 30 years ago, that most such cellular activities cease . I do not believe that cells or osmium have changed in this regard. I have no reason to change my mind - or do you have any evidence to the contrary. I guess about half of all subscribers would like to know about that. To use your words "were is your supporting documentation" Please Paul, cite some publications were full osmium fixation was used prior to immunolabeling. Cheers Jim Darley ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes www.proscitech.com
On Thursday, September 23, 1999 2:17 AM, Paul Webster [SMTP:pwebster-at-mailhouse.hei.org] wrote:
} "Can't leave biological tissues in glutaraldehyde for long periods; } Immunological and cytochemical reactions are killed by osmium; } Must use glutaradehyde after labeling reactions on sections." } } You are all under arrest for spreading widespread panic without producing } supporting documentation or direct personal experiences. } } Paul Webster, Ph.D. } House Ear Insititute } 2100 West Third Street } Los Angeles, CA 90057 } 213 273 8026 } pwebster-at-hei.org } http://www.hei.org/htm/aemi.htm } }
On Thursday, September 23, 1999 7:17 AM, Laura Rhoads [SMTP:laura-at-lsrhoads.com] wrote: } Hmm... what's the jurisdiction for this infraction? Will they tried in the } MSA tribunal high court? If found guilty, will they be sentenced to a } career of working with only RCA model scopes? } Laura, this is funnier than you thought. I did a two year stint on the RCA TEM that had graced the World Expo in Montreol (about 1969?), that scope later went to Prince Edward Island. A little while ago that RCA scope was mentioned on this listserver in "hushed tones"; I guess it has historical value. I would not want to offend anybody, but I've been in purgatory for two years already. Circa 1970 that instrument was the worst money could buy in the Western World. Cheers Jim Darley ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes www.proscitech.com
I have a recipe for jet "sectioning" for Ti-6A1-4V which is as follows:
13% HCl 87% methanol
Temperature -60 degrees C Jet Height: 3.17mm Flow Rate: Medium Volts: 60 Current: 60mA
This was done with a South Bay Technology Single Vertical Jet Electropolisher. If you are using an instrument from another manufacture= r (twin jet system) then the reference to "jet height" would not be relevan= t. Other parameters may need to be adjusted, but the basic recipe should work.
As for the term jet "sectioning", it refers to the removal of a uniformly=
thick layer of metal by electropolishing for a given amount of time in an=
appropriate electrolyte using a specified set of parameters. The amount = of metal removed is determined by the length of time that current is allowed=
to flow through the cell while other parameters are held constant. =
Sectioning is used in a variety of applications where information is soug= ht on the structure of a material at some distance below the surface. These=
include studies of radiation damage, oxidation and ion implantation of doping elements. This differs from jet "thinning" in that with jet "thinning" you are removing material in such a way as to produce a concavity or dimple - the apex of which eventually perforates the specime= n. With that in mind, the flow rate and jet height may need to be adjusted even on our single jet system if you are trying to dimple the sample as opposed to section it.
More detailed discussion on the jet sectioning technique, as well as jet polishing in general, can be found in "Polishing Methods for Metallic and=
Ceramic Transmission Electron Microscope Specimens" by B.J. Kestel. (most=
of what I just said came out of that report) This report is available fro= m South Bay Technology at no charge upon request. I know this is a more detailed answer than you probably wanted, but I felt the additional information would be useful. I hope it helps.
} } } } } 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 "Roberto Garcia" } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America =
Hello Everyone,
Does anyone have a good electropolish solution and procedure for Ti-6-4. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. ______________________________________________ Roberto Garcia Senior Analyst, Metallography NC State University / Analytical Instrumentation Facility Campus Box 7531 Room 318 EGRC 1010 Main Campus Dr. Raleigh, NC 27695-7531 (919) 515-8628 (919) 515-6965 Fax rgarcia-at-unity.ncsu.edu http://spm.aif.ncsu.edu/aif ____________________________________________ {
} I have just been asked to come up with a system for automatically } replenishing the liquid nitrogen in the anticontamination device for our } TEM (it's a Philips CM200). We often want to run the 'scope overnight (in } cryo mode, in an automated search for viruses), and we have already } lengthened the time between replenishments by fitting a larger nitrogen } flask onto the instrument. Does an automatic liq. nitrogen filler already } exist? Please let me know ...
Dear Scott, We have a set of CryoMiser automatic LN fillers for our HVEM. On the plus side, they keep the LN levels full for traps which are located in high-radiation areas; however, on the minus side, the solenoid valves which they actuate fail now and again. Usually they fail so that the coil opens, thus the valve is closed, but occasionally they fail so that the coil
is fused in the energized state, whereupon the LN continues to pour into whatever device it's attached to. Once we had a coil fail that way, heat up, and ignite the foam insulation on the LN line, starting a small fire in the scope room. As Murphy would have it, this occurred on a Friday evening of a long weekend. We now only use these units during the day when someone is here to rectify any disasters. Yours, Bill Tivol
I have a couple of questions regarding the determination of glass fiber length distribution in a polymer matrix.
We normally determine the glass fiber length using a number of steps that involve:
1) ashing of the polymer matrix 2) mounting of the fibers on a glass slide with a suitable liquid medium to help disperse the fibers 3) OM and image analysis to determine fiber length distribution
Our concern is that the actual fiber length might change during the sample preparation.
So, does anyone know of an alternate method to determine the glass fiber length distribution in the polymer matrix and does anyone have information on the errors involved in this kind of procedure ?
Also, does any one know of [glass fiber] standards that one can use to assess the accuracy of the whole procedure.
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Reply to: RE: Dogma Police Dear Jim, Thanks for your reply. I had hoped for more hostile and numerous = responses but my mailbox is only full of support messages. I didn't mean = the message to be a personal attack, rather a way of provoking an open = discussion, something that is often lacking on this forum. =
My message was prompted mostly by the thread concerning publishing = information on-line, where the main objection was that there was = insufficient review process to make it credible. These comments followed = by the solid statments I quoted (admittedly out of context) clearly = illustrated the point of what poor refereeing can result in.
I agree that for teaching purposes, a little dogma is not a bad thing and = have been guilty of it myself. However, to see you quote text in your web = site as a support for your claims made me think we should start discussing = the finer details of what we are doing here.
Firstly, some references where osmium fixation has been used for = immunolabeling. Ottersen's group in Olso (1984 J. Comp Neurol 229:374-= 392; 1986 Med. Biol. 64:147-158; 1990 Prog Brain Res 83:99-114) applied = antibodies to brain sections that had been fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde, 1%= formaldehyde, treated with 1% osmium tetroxide, dehydrated in ethanol and = propylene oxide and embedded in epoxy resin! I am sure I could find more = without too much effort if you want them (I remember what I read, not = where I read it).
I see Tamara Howard has provided additional additional references and the = comments that there are few very hard and fast rules in EM specimen = preparation. I agree totally with this. It is important that we keep = attempting to try out new things so that we can push the bounderies. = Setting limits during the early stages of instruction stops growth into = areas we can never imagine.
Jim, your other comment, that long fixation affects resolution is also not = documented fact. I do remember a paper, which I will look for, where = extraction in aldehyde fixative was dependant upon the buffer being used, = not the aldehyde. What is clearly documented is that the subsequent = processing steps (post-fixation, dehydration and infiltration) affect the = amount of extraction and thus reduce resolution. =
For most morphology applications, contrast is preferred over resolution = anyway. Witness the problem of getting immunocytochemical results = published over the last 10 years. Even here on the listserver, there is = always an ongoing discussion of how to get better contrast in the LR or = Lowicryl resins. When we all finally accept that contrast equals loss of = antigen, we may eventually enjoy the esthetics of low contrast, high = information images, and learn to leave the high contrast pictures in the = morphology books.
If high resolution is required then there are better methods than those = involving aldehyde fixation and epoxy resin embedding. For the poster of = the original question I would say, leave the tissues in glutaraldehyde for = as long as is convenient, any loss of structure will go unnoticed. = However, as with all advice, I reccommend you take it with a pinch of salt = and try it out for yourself.
Finally, the issue of fixing immunolabeled sections with 1% glutaraldehyde = came up and there were a variety of answers. The one I took mild = exception to was from Jan Leunissen. He is a great teacher and I respect = him and his work at many levels. In his message, he correctly pointed out = that the conditions of high salt and low pH are used to elute antibodies = from antigens. Therefore 1% glutaraldehyde must be used to crosslink = antibodies to sections and protein A-gold to antibodies. It all sounds = good in theory but where is the proof? I and my colleagues have been = applying antibodies and colloidal gold to sections for years without that = final crosslinking step. Why do we still get specific label? Who knows. = What we do know is that we have compared the effect of adding this = fixation step and decided that it didn't improve labeling efficiency. We = therefore made an informed decision to leave it out of the protocol. = Putting unneccessary steps into a protocol only makes life more difficult = for people working in busy labs. =
My advice for anyone just starting in EM, is to take what you are told = with healthy skepticism and question anything you feel may be unreasonable.= If there is a reason for doing something your teacher should know that = reason. If they don't know why something should be done, try leaving it = out to see if it makes a difference. To apply methods on the faith that = they work is not sufficient anymore. We need informed reasons for = applying methods. We are in the good times for EM and we have to shed our = artist/magician image. The closer we get to being scientists, the more = seriously we will be accepted by the science community who are at present = looking for our skills.
For the record, I also take exception to the methods that involve the use = of bodily fluids. If we can't work out how to do something without nose = or face grease we really deserve to be left behind.
Thanks Jim, for taking the bait and allowing the start of what I hope will = be an informative discussion on credibility.
Regards,
Paul Webster.
=
jim wrote: } Fair go Paul. That "Dogma Police" header is a trifle emotive and not = justified? = } The first two examples of "Dogma" given may be mine, but they are out of = } context. } I had written that storing tissues in GA affects high resolution imaging. = I = } gave reasons. } Are you asserting that excessive fixation in GA does not affect high = resolution = } imaging??? } } I had written {Immunological and cytochemical reactions are killed by = osmium} , = } but the "killed" was in quotation marks, because I had learned about 30 = years = } ago, that most such cellular activities cease . I do not believe that = cells or = } osmium have changed in this regard. I have no reason to change my mind - = or do = } you have any evidence to the contrary. I guess about half of all = subscribers = } would like to know about that. To use your words "were is your supporting = } documentation" Please Paul, cite some publications were full osmium = fixation = } was used prior to immunolabeling. } Cheers } Jim Darley } ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS } PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia } Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com } Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes } www.proscitech.com } } On Thursday, September 23, 1999 2:17 AM, Paul Webster = } [SMTP:pwebster-at-mailhouse.hei.org] wrote: } } } "Can't leave biological tissues in glutaraldehyde for long periods; } } Immunological and cytochemical reactions are killed by osmium; } } Must use glutaradehyde after labeling reactions on sections." } } } } You are all under arrest for spreading widespread panic without = producing } } supporting documentation or direct personal experiences. } } } } Paul Webster, Ph.D. } } House Ear Insititute } } 2100 West Third Street } } Los Angeles, CA 90057 } } 213 273 8026 } } pwebster-at-hei.org } } http://www.hei.org/htm/aemi.htm } } } } } = } } } RFC822 header } ----------------------------------- } } Received: from ultra.ultra.net.au [203.20.237.5] by mailhouse.hei.org = with = } ESMTP } (SMTPD32-4.07) id A00314BB021E; Thu, 23 Sep 1999 07:58:11 PST } Received: from 150 (p098.supa2-tsv.ultra.net.au [202.80.71.98]) } by ultra.ultra.net.au (8.9.3/8.9.3) with SMTP id BAA13065; } Fri, 24 Sep 1999 01:02:04 +1000 (EST) } Received: by localhost with Microsoft MAPI; Fri, 24 Sep 1999 01:02:01 += 1000 } Message-ID: {01BF0628.68BC69A0.jim-at-proscitech.com.au} } From: jim {jim-at-proscitech.com.au} } Reply-To: "jim-at-proscitech.com.au" {jim-at-proscitech.com.au} } To: "'Paul Webster'" {pwebster-at-mailhouse.hei.org} , } "'MSA listserver submission'" } {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} } Subject: RE: Dogma Police } Date: Fri, 24 Sep 1999 00:50:03 +1000 } Return-Receipt-To: jim {jim-at-proscitech.com.au} } Organization: ProSciTech } X-Mailer: Microsoft Internet E-mail/MAPI - 8.0.0.4211 } MIME-Version: 1.0 } Content-Type: text/plain; charset=3D"us-ascii" } Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit } X-UIDL: 234843928 } Status: U }
We are interested in possibly purchasing a used Reichert Ultracut E with FC4E cryo unit. If you have an Ultracut E and/or FC4E to sell (in good working order) please contact me directly.
Fred A. Hayes The DOW Chemical Co Analytical Sciences, Microscopy 1897 bldg., E78 Midland, Michigan 48667 517-638-2203 517-638-6443 fax
Craig, S. and Goodchild, D.J. (1984). Periodate-acid treatment of sections permits on-grid immunogold localization of pea seed vicilin in ER and Golgi. Protoplasma 122, 35-44.
Chris
} I had written {Immunological and cytochemical reactions are killed by osmium} , } but the "killed" was in quotation marks, because I had learned about 30 years } ago, that most such cellular activities cease . I do not believe that cells or } osmium have changed in this regard. I have no reason to change my mind - or do } you have any evidence to the contrary. I guess about half of all subscribers } would like to know about that. To use your words "were is your supporting } documentation" Please Paul, cite some publications were full osmium fixation } was used prior to immunolabeling. } Cheers } Jim Darley } ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS } PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia } Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com } Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes } www.proscitech.com } } On Thursday, September 23, 1999 2:17 AM, Paul Webster } [SMTP:pwebster-at-mailhouse.hei.org] wrote: } } } "Can't leave biological tissues in glutaraldehyde for long periods; } } Immunological and cytochemical reactions are killed by osmium; } } Must use glutaradehyde after labeling reactions on sections." } } } } You are all under arrest for spreading widespread panic without producing } } supporting documentation or direct personal experiences. } } } } Paul Webster, Ph.D. } } House Ear Insititute } } 2100 West Third Street } } Los Angeles, CA 90057 } } 213 273 8026 } } pwebster-at-hei.org } } http://www.hei.org/htm/aemi.htm } } } } } }
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dr Chris Jeffree University of Edinburgh Biological Sciences EM Facility Daniel Rutherford Building King's Buildings EDINBURGH EH9 3JH Tel: +44 (0) 131 650 5345 FAX: +44 (0) 131 650 6563
{ { { { Does anyone have a good electropolish solution and procedure for Ti-6-4. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. ______________________________________________ Roberto Garcia} } } }
Roberto,
Try the following:
660ml Metahanol 400 ml 2-Butoxy-ethanol 66ml Perchloric Acid
} Thanks for all the advice on tissue storage. There seemed to be a split } on storing in fix vs bufer, but most buffer people stored after } osmication. } } My next problem is how to keep the vibatome sections flat while } processing. These are 50 microns. previous work has been 100 to 150 } microns and did not have the problem. These thinner ones tend to become } cup shaped and or wavy. Some one here suggested sandwich them between } glass slides or plastic sheets. 1) how to keep plastic from floating 2) } will enough fluids get undernieth (sect. are 3 to 5 mm square) Any other } ideas out there? Hopefully simple ones...... I have 39 more of the darn } things. Thanks again } } Rick Vaughn } Dear Rick,
I worked almost exclusively with Vibratome sections (rat CNS, immunoEM, 15-30 um) for ~10 yrs. We tried many things to preserve shape prior to embedding. The best system consisted of CARE and a few tricks (which follow). These assume that the sections will be osmicated before embedding. If not, things are a little easier. Once the sections are ready to dehydrate, I'd make a tool out of a 9" Pasteur pipet heated over a Bunsen burner. The tip is pulled thin and at an angle slightly greater than 90 degrees (~100-120 degrees) to the pipet. It is then curved around to form a circle (polygon) of a size adequate to support the sections without allowing them to fold. It takes a few tries to get a good one. This is used to transfer the sections into OsO4, which is the most critical step. You need to take great care to insure that the sections are flattened within seconds after they hit the osmium (perferably before), because they will rapidly be "frozen" into shape by this fixative. Since they rapidly become brittle, folded sections have to be broken to unfold them and wrinkles are made permanent, which leads to uneveness or breakage during embedding.I did the osmication in wide mouthed scintillation vials that allowed complete flattening of each coronal rat brain section. Because time is spent adjusting the sections one at a time in an open container of 1-2% OsO4, this MUST be done in a fume hood with the sash at the height that insures no efflux of the vapour. Use gloves, too. Rinsing was done in the same vial. After the fixation period (1-3 hrs for us), the sections will be very brittle. Sections thicker than 25um are fairly tough, but some care should be taken in their handling. Thinner sections are tricky to handle and may still fold. Some breakage is hard to avoid, but with care they won't look like jigsaw puzzles after embedding. Washes in ascending concentrations of dehydrant were done in separate containers wide enough to ensure that the sections were deposited flat. I found this to work better than doing all the changes in the same container with the } 25um sections. The thinner sections could not be handled so much. I found that I could maintain better control of the final shape of the thicker sections as I transferred them, but there was still a risk of breaking them. As dehydration progresses, they become even more brittle, so one has to be very gentle near the end. All of the same issues apply to non- osmicated sections, but the risk of folding increases, while the risk of breakage decreases. Infiltration was done in epoxy-acetone rather than in one of the more traditional transitional solvents. This permitted infiltration to take place in plastic weighing boats, where the sections could be gently teased as flat as possible against the bottom of the boat with the Pasteur pipet tool. These sections were transferred to weigh boats containing pure warmed resin. which was changed once. The resin was warmed after 1 hr. infiltration and sections were then GENTLY (they break very easily at this point due to resin surface tension- which is why warmed (40-60C) resin is used- and the weight of the resin on the tissue) transferred on to a pre-treated glass slide (1% dichlorodimethyl silane in benzene, then dried for at least 4 hr). I included accelerator (DMP-30) in the warmed resin, so infiltration times had to be short ( {90 min) or polymerization would start. The sections were oriented, excess resin was removed and another similarly-treated slide placed on top and gently pressed down. The slide sandwiches were then placed in the embedding oven. This basic method worked for LR White emdedding protocols, which is easier to work with, due to its lower viscosity. If your sections are about 50 um thick, things should be quite simple. Here's my $ 0.02 about section storage: After 4% paraformaldehyde fix, sections were still fine for immunoEM after several months in PBS with 0.02% Na azide. Up to 2 months in PBS+4% para with Na azide, immunoreactivity and ultrastructure were OK, but sections had to be VERY thoroughly rinsed. After osmication, sections were OK in buffer for a few weeks. After months, the membranes and other osmophilic structures had a granular appearance. If you store in osmium for more than a day or two, you can heavily stain golgi apparatus and membranes will be dark, but granular. Proteins are extracted too, I have read. Haven't tried long- term storage in glutaraldehyde. I hope some of the above will be helpful. Regards,
Andrew Ochalski, Microscopy Technician, Dept. of Biology, University of Ottawa Room 108, Gendron Bldg. 130 Louis Pasteur, Ottawa, Ontario CANADA K1N 6N5 613-562-5800 x6343 FAX: 613-562 5486
Chris, Although this is not a fast freeze, we've been happy with nematodes on thermanox coverslips (cut in half) to fit the slide holder for the Oxford cryotrans system. I directly place it on the cold stage in the specimen prep chamber and freeze it there as opposed to plunging into the liquid nitrogen slush. To minimize excess moisture I transfer with a fine brush. Other options: coat coverslips with a thin layer of carbon/OCT or poly-lysine. Rosemary
I was wondering if anyone has any advice for working with GACH (glutaraldehyde/carbohydrazide) resin. I've been looking at water-miscible embedding media and it came up as a possibility, but the carbohydrazide refuses to completely dissolve (at 150mg carbohydrazide per mL of 50% glut), even when added in separate stages accompanied by rapid stirring. I spun down the tube anyway and just used the supernatant but it spontaneously polymerized at room temperature (in some cases before the infiltration was complete) into opaque light tan blocks. Is that normal? I would also be interested to hear what experience anyone has in working with melamine resin (not the commercial Nanoplast preparation, but actually made from formaldehyde and melamine). Thanks in advance for any suggestions anyone can offer.
Jason Davis M.Sc. student Department of Medical Biophysics University of Toronto
For studying polymer blends by using SEM, only information on surface of a sample can be obtained. Because the surface can not always be the plane of the center of each dispersed phase particle, the statistic result of dispersed phase particle size attained from SEM micrograph may be less than the true value. This error can be corrected by assuming the particles are spheres with equal diameter d and randomly distributed: d=8r/pi where r is the observed average radius. However, I can not find a equation for the ellipse particles. Does anyone has knowledge on this problem?
Thank you in advance for your help.
Zeng Jijun Visiting Scholar of Toray
Home Address: Nakatogari 734-2-5 Nagaizumi-cho, Sunto-gun Shizuoka, 411-0942 Japan
For studying polymer blends by using SEM, only information on surface of a sample can be obtained. Because the surface can not always be the plane of the center of each dispersed phase particle, the statistic result of dispersed phase particle size attained from SEM micrograph may be less than the true value. This error can be corrected by assuming the particles are spheres with equal diameter d and randomly distributed: d=8r/pi where r is the observed average radius. However, I can not find a equation for the ellipse particles. Does anyone has knowledge on this problem?
Thank you in advance for your help.
Dr. Zeng Jijun Visiting Scholar of Toray
Home Address: Nakatogari 734-2-5 Nagaizumi-cho, Sunto-gun Shizuoka, 411-0942 Japan
With regard to upholding the "honor" of RCA, the first firm to commercialize a TEM in the world (so far as I know): ========================================== If found guilty, will they be sentenced to a } career of working with only RCA model scopes? =========================================== Of the several column instruments (SEMs and TEMs) under our roof, one of them is an RCA EMU4-B, it was manufactured in 1969 and delivered to us, after serving as a "demo" instrument at a university for a year, in 1972. That TEM has been in faithful operation ever since. Over the years, it has been used every day by a variety of different users in a busy analytical services and quality inspection laboratory. It is the "back up" when our more modern TEM goes down....yes, it does require service, but not any more so than a newer TEM and apparently a lot less than some newer TEMs. The total costs for service on the RCA in most years have been less than the service costs associated with our more modern systems.
While it might not have been for everyone, at the time of its manufacture it was essentially all solid state and it took roughly another ten years for other manufacturers to achieve that level of solid state design (and reliability). Technicians in those days who worked by day using one of the imported TEMs and by night, for SPI, on our RCA always marveled at how it just kept going, and going and going.....
For us, it has been a real "workhorse" for inspecting filmed grids, high volume running of stained rubber modified polymer samples, polymer coatings for defects, and latex particles for size distribution, and yes, even a lot of life science tissue type work. There are obviously many things it can not do that a more modern TEM could do, but for those who are doing the "routine" kinds of TEM work as just indicated, and at not especially high resolution requirements, contrary to what seemed to have been getting suggested, at least we are quite proud to be the owner of this RCA TEM. Admittedly, this "senior citizen" of a TEM will be retired before too long, however, we are very pleased with the level of performance it has given us over the years.
To this day, at least some of us believe it was a real loss to the EM community when RCA decided to drop out of this business. Some day, perhaps , some graduate student, for a thesis project, will research the reasons why RCA suffered its untimely demise, possibly leading to lessons for future generations.
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.spi.cc ######################## ============================================
} From: "chris.smith" {chris.smith-at-bbsrc.ac.uk} Priority: normal
In regard to Chuck Garber's comments on the RCA EMU-4, I have one important addition: CONTRAST! In my 20+ years of TEM use, I've never seen a scope match the contrast of the EMU-4 for biological specimens. I remember the rhythm of the clatter and bang of the film carriers and the skill necessary just to get a grid into the column. I guess the only bad thing I remember about that scope was the amount of heat generated by the freestanding electronic components. Years ago, lack of space forced us to decide to keep only one of our two scopes. It broke my heart when I found out they hauled it (and the identical unit at the VA Hospital) off to the landfill. I was able to preserve a few mementos, a gun cap, the filament centering jig and some filaments. A sad story.
Bob Santoianni Emory University Hospital Atlanta, GA
I have a polymer membrane which contains an ester R group. The surface of the membrane has been acid hydrolyzed to convert the ester to an alcohol. I need to measure the depth to which the hydrolysis reaction has occurred and get some qualitative sense for the concentration gradient of OH groups within the modified layer. ATR-FTIR of the surface indicates that the hydrolysis reaction worked, however, the SE image of the cross section shows no change in morphology.
Can someone think of a way to selectively label the OH groups to provide some contrast in the SEM? How about RuO4 (Macromolecules 1983, 16, 589-598)? I expect that the modified layer could be as thin as a few hundred nanometers. Would this preclude the use of EDS or BSE on the labeled cross section? If so, would labeling the OH groups effect the contrast in the SE signal?
Thanks in advance,
Brian Reid UTD Chemistry breid-at-utdallas.edu 972-883-2709
Yes, they still exist. I have come across two and they are up for grabs (you pay shipping!). So before they hit the dumpster, give me a call. Lynne Garone Polaroid Corp. 1265 Main St. W4-1D Waltham, Ma. 02451 GaroneL-at-Polaroid.com 781 386-1446
Chuck, I think that a Reference work of the history of RCA in this endeavor would be a welcome addition to all of our bookshelves. I wonder how we all might go about getting something moving on this? Any other input from the rest of the list folk?
As a resource, we have most of the back issues of the various electronics magazines, which would provide some of the engineering background, and if I could find what box they are in RCA also had an engineering publication as well.
Ed Sharpe archivist for SMECC
} Subj: RCA TEMs (good old days) } Date: 9/24/99 1:52:24 AM US Mountain Standard Time } From: cgarber-at-2spi.com (Garber, Charles A.) } To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (MICROSCOPY BB) } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } -- [ From: Garber, Charles A. * EMC.Ver #3.1 ] -- } } With regard to upholding the "honor" of RCA, the first firm to commercialize } a TEM in the world (so far as I know): } ========================================== } If found guilty, will they be sentenced to a } } career of working with only RCA model scopes? } =========================================== } Of the several column instruments (SEMs and TEMs) under our roof, one of } them is an RCA EMU4-B, it was manufactured in 1969 and delivered to us, } after serving as a "demo" instrument at a university for a year, in 1972. } That TEM has been in faithful operation ever since. Over the years, it has } been used every day by a variety of different users in a busy analytical } services and quality inspection laboratory. It is the "back up" when our } more modern TEM goes down....yes, it does require service, but not any more } so than a newer TEM and apparently a lot less than some newer TEMs. The } total costs for service on the RCA in most years have been less than the } service costs associated with our more modern systems. } } While it might not have been for everyone, at the time of its manufacture it } was essentially all solid state and it took roughly another ten years for } other manufacturers to achieve that level of solid state design (and } reliability). Technicians in those days who worked by day using one of the } imported TEMs and by night, for SPI, on our RCA always marveled at how it } just kept going, and going and going..... } } For us, it has been a real "workhorse" for inspecting filmed grids, high } volume running of stained rubber modified polymer samples, polymer coatings } for defects, and latex particles for size distribution, and yes, even a lot } of life science tissue type work. There are obviously many things it can } not do that a more modern TEM could do, but for those who are doing the } "routine" kinds of TEM work as just indicated, and at not especially high } resolution requirements, contrary to what seemed to have been getting } suggested, at least we are quite proud to be the owner of this RCA TEM. } Admittedly, this "senior citizen" of a TEM will be retired before too long, } however, we are very pleased with the level of performance it has given us } over the years. } } To this day, at least some of us believe it was a real loss to the EM } community when RCA decided to drop out of this business. Some day, perhaps } , some graduate student, for a thesis project, will research the reasons why } RCA suffered its untimely demise, possibly leading to lessons for future } generations. } } C
I can't take credit for the following technique for getting flat, osmicated sections, so I'll share it with you, asking the indulgence of whoever was the inventor. The sections come out flat every time.
Working in a fume hood, half-fill a small Petri dish with buffer and wet several millipore filters in it. Choose a filter size that accomodates your sections. Transfer one unosmicated section to the dish and manuever it over a filter. Carefully lift the filter out of the buffer so the section lies flat. Transfer to another, larger empty Petri dish. Apply osmium (I use 1% in PB or PBS) dropwise, 3 or 4 drops will usually do, and allow section to sit in osmium a few minutes. Replenish the drops to keep the section moist, if needed. While one section is fixing, I use the time to line up the next section. After fixing on the filter, transfer filter/section to another dish of buffer. Gently brush or wiggle the section off the filter into the buffer. The sections are stiffer than unosmicated sections but not yet brittle. I transfer them to a small vial of fresh osmium with a paintbrush, but you could use a spatula of some sort if you're worried they might crack. The sections flatten back out in the osmium and I leave them to fix further for another hour. After fixing and rinsing, the sections go on to a typical dehydration protocol. They mostly retain their flatness, with occasionally a little ruffling along the edges, throughout the dehydration and infiltration steps.
Good luck. Hope this helps.
Missy
Eleanor Josephson, DVM, PhD University of Connecticut Health Center Department of Anatomy MC-3405 263 Farmington Ave. Farmington, CT 06030-3405 Ph.(860)679-2463 Fax (860)679-1274 ejosephs-at-neuron.uchc.edu
I agree with you. I don't think that building dogmas about this or that is a good scientific way of thinking. There are so many variables involved in the different technical procedures that predictions may fail. Of course, we have to begin from some point, but sometimes I've found myself doing things that people had said me that will never work and - surprise (even to me) - it worked!
Coming back to glutaraldehyde, it is obvious that the results may vary with the tissue, the buffer or the species that we are studying. In my experience the "dogmas" that work for mammals don't work for reptiles or fishes. Try to fix caiman digestive system with less than 5% glutaraldehyde and you will see what I' m trying to explain. However I had excellent results in fishes with 1% glutaraldehyde. I also embedded materials that were kept for 6 months in 2.5% glutaraldehyde in phosphate or cacodilate buffer with excellent results even at high magnification.
The good procedure to your material is the one that makes your work easier and still gives good results.
Sincerely
Francisco Javier Hernandez-Blazquez IARC-WHO Unit of Multistage Carcinogenesis 150 Cours Albert Thomas 69372 - Lyon France Telephone: (33) 472738536 Fax: (33)472738442
fhernandez-at-iarc.fr
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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Reply to: RE: Dogma Police } Dear Jim, } Thanks for your reply. I had hoped for more hostile and numerous responses but my mailbox is only full of support messages. I didn't mean the message to be a personal attack, rather a way of provoking an open discussion, something that is often lacking on this forum. } My message was prompted mostly by the thread concerning publishing information on-line, where the main objection was that there was insufficient review process to make it credible. These comments followed by the solid statments I quoted (admittedly out of context) clearly illustrated the point of what poor refereeing can result in. } } I agree that for teaching purposes, a little dogma is not a bad thing and have been guilty of it myself. However, to see you quote text in your web site as a support for your claims made me think we should start discussing the finer details of what we are doing here. } } Firstly, some references where osmium fixation has been used for immunolabeling. Ottersen's group in Olso (1984 J. Comp Neurol 229:374-392; 1986 Med. Biol. 64:147-158; 1990 Prog Brain Res 83:99-114) applied antibodies to brain sections that had been fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde, 1% formaldehyde, treated with 1% osmium tetroxide, dehydrated in ethanol and propylene oxide and embedded in epoxy resin! I am sure I could find more without too much effort if you want them (I remember what I read, not where I read it). } } I see Tamara Howard has provided additional additional references and the comments that there are few very hard and fast rules in EM specimen preparation. I agree totally with this. It is important that we keep attempting to try out new things so that we can push the bounderies. Setting limits during the early stages of instruction stops growth into areas we can never imagine. } } Jim, your other comment, that long fixation affects resolution is also not documented fact. I do remember a paper, which I will look for, where extraction in aldehyde fixative was dependant upon the buffer being used, not the aldehyde. What is clearly documented is that the subsequent processing steps (post-fixation, dehydration and infiltration) affect the amount of extraction and thus reduce resolution. } For most morphology applications, contrast is preferred over resolution anyway. Witness the problem of getting immunocytochemical results published over the last 10 years. Even here on the listserver, there is always an ongoing discussion of how to get better contrast in the LR or Lowicryl resins. When we all finally accept that contrast equals loss of antigen, we may eventually enjoy the esthetics of low contrast, high information images, and learn to leave the high contrast pictures in the morphology books. } } If high resolution is required then there are better methods than those involving aldehyde fixation and epoxy resin embedding. For the poster of the original question I would say, leave the tissues in glutaraldehyde for as long as is convenient, any loss of structure will go unnoticed. However, as with all advice, I reccommend you take it with a pinch of salt and try it out for yourself. } } Finally, the issue of fixing immunolabeled sections with 1% glutaraldehyde came up and there were a variety of answers. The one I took mild exception to was from Jan Leunissen. He is a great teacher and I respect him and his work at many levels. In his message, he correctly pointed out that the conditions of high salt and low pH are used to elute antibodies from antigens. Therefore 1% glutaraldehyde must be used to crosslink antibodies to sections and protein A-gold to antibodies. It all sounds good in theory but where is the proof? I and my colleagues have been applying antibodies and colloidal gold to sections for years without that final crosslinking step. Why do we still get specific label? Who knows. What we do know is that we have compared the effect of adding this fixation step and decided that it didn't improve labeling efficiency. We therefore made an informed decision to leave it out of the protocol. Putting unneccessary steps into a protocol only makes life more difficult for people working in busy labs. } My advice for anyone just starting in EM, is to take what you are told with healthy skepticism and question anything you feel may be unreasonable. If there is a reason for doing something your teacher should know that reason. If they don't know why something should be done, try leaving it out to see if it makes a difference. To apply methods on the faith that they work is not sufficient anymore. We need informed reasons for applying methods. We are in the good times for EM and we have to shed our artist/magician image. The closer we get to being scientists, the more seriously we will be accepted by the science community who are at present looking for our skills. } } For the record, I also take exception to the methods that involve the use of bodily fluids. If we can't work out how to do something without nose or face grease we really deserve to be left behind. } } Thanks Jim, for taking the bait and allowing the start of what I hope will be an informative discussion on credibility. } } Regards, } } Paul Webster. } } } } jim wrote: } } Fair go Paul. That "Dogma Police" header is a trifle emotive and not justified? } The first two examples of "Dogma" given may be mine, but they are out of } context. } } I had written that storing tissues in GA affects high resolution imaging. I } gave reasons. } } Are you asserting that excessive fixation in GA does not affect high resolution } imaging??? } } } } I had written {Immunological and cytochemical reactions are killed by osmium} , } but the "killed" was in quotation marks, because I had learned about 30 years } ago, that most such cellular activities cease . I do not believe that cells or } osmium have changed in this regard. I have no reason to change my mind - or do } you have any evidence to the contrary. I guess about half of all subscribers } would like to know about that. To use your words "were is your supporting } documentation" Please Paul, cite some publications were full osmium fixation } was used prior to immunolabeling. } } Cheers } } Jim Darley } } ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS } } PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia } } Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com } } Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes } } www.proscitech.com } } } } On Thursday, September 23, 1999 2:17 AM, Paul Webster } [SMTP:pwebster-at-mailhouse.hei.org] wrote: } } } } } "Can't leave biological tissues in glutaraldehyde for long periods; } } } Immunological and cytochemical reactions are killed by osmium; } } } Must use glutaradehyde after labeling reactions on sections." } } } } } } You are all under arrest for spreading widespread panic without producing } } } supporting documentation or direct personal experiences. } } } } } } Paul Webster, Ph.D. } } } House Ear Insititute } } } 2100 West Third Street } } } Los Angeles, CA 90057 } } } 213 273 8026 } } } pwebster-at-hei.org } } } http://www.hei.org/htm/aemi.htm } } } } } } } } } } } } } RFC822 header } } ----------------------------------- } } } } Received: from ultra.ultra.net.au [203.20.237.5] by mailhouse.hei.org with } ESMTP } } (SMTPD32-4.07) id A00314BB021E; Thu, 23 Sep 1999 07:58:11 PST } } Received: from 150 (p098.supa2-tsv.ultra.net.au [202.80.71.98]) } } by ultra.ultra.net.au (8.9.3/8.9.3) with SMTP id BAA13065; } } Fri, 24 Sep 1999 01:02:04 +1000 (EST) } } Received: by localhost with Microsoft MAPI; Fri, 24 Sep 1999 01:02:01 +1000 } } Message-ID: {01BF0628.68BC69A0.jim-at-proscitech.com.au} } } From: jim {jim-at-proscitech.com.au} } } Reply-To: "jim-at-proscitech.com.au" {jim-at-proscitech.com.au} } } To: "'Paul Webster'" {pwebster-at-mailhouse.hei.org} , } } "'MSA listserver submission'" } } {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} } } Subject: RE: Dogma Police } } Date: Fri, 24 Sep 1999 00:50:03 +1000 } } Return-Receipt-To: jim {jim-at-proscitech.com.au} } } Organization: ProSciTech } } X-Mailer: Microsoft Internet E-mail/MAPI - 8.0.0.4211 } } MIME-Version: 1.0 } } Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" } } Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit } } X-UIDL: 234843928 } } Status: U } }
I would like to capture on video the analysis that I perform on the SEM. There is a video out from the SEM. What equipment is required? Can I take the signal directly from the CRT? I do not have any experience with this. Any help is much appreciated.
TIA
David Rose W.L. Gore & Associates 297 Blue Ball Road Elkton, MD 21921 410-506-2958
We have an LKB 7801A glass knifebreaker that may need servicing and or minor parts. Does anyone service this knifebreaker and does anyone know where I can buy minor replacement parts resulting from wear?
Fred A. Hayes The DOW Chemical Co Analytical Sciences, Microscopy 1897 bldg., E78 Midland, Michigan 48667 517-638-2203 517-638-6443 fax
If I take your assumptions (all spheres of identical diameter), you should find particles of all diameters up to a maximum diameter. That would be the diameter of the particles (there is no way of getting a cut that produces a 2D diameter larger than the 3D diameter for a sphere). Likewise you could look at the shape factor of elliptical particles. If you make the same assumptions (all particles identical), the largest (or smallest, depending on definition) shape factor should be the one you are looking for.
This is of course only true if:
a) you have enough particles to get a representative distribution, and b) your elliptical particles are rotationally symmetric around one of the axes.
If you are looking at the histogram of diameters (for the spherical particles), you might also be able to extract the diameter distribution. You would have to calculate what the measured histogram for a given diameter would look like (looks like you have done that), fold that with a distribution (for example a gaussian distribution) and then fit this function to the observed histogram. You might be able to extract the mean diameter and the width of the distribution that way.
Michael
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 1675 Carr St., #105N Lakewood, CO 80215 =================================== phone: (888) FIND SIS (303) 234-9270 fax: (303) 234-9271 email: mailto:info-at-soft-imaging.com web: http://www.soft-imaging.com ===================================
-----Original Message----- } From: Exchange Administrator Sent: Thursday, September 23, 1999 11:44 PM To: Michael Bode
Dear list members:
For studying polymer blends by using SEM, only information on surface of a sample can be obtained. Because the surface can not always be the plane of the center of each dispersed phase particle, the statistic result of dispersed phase particle size attained from SEM micrograph may be less than the true value. This error can be corrected by assuming the particles are spheres with equal diameter d and randomly distributed: d=8r/pi where r is the observed average radius. However, I can not find a equation for the ellipse particles. Does anyone has knowledge on this problem?
Thank you in advance for your help.
Dr. Zeng Jijun Visiting Scholar of Toray
Home Address: Nakatogari 734-2-5 Nagaizumi-cho, Sunto-gun Shizuoka, 411-0942 Japan
Lehigh University seeks an Electron Microscope Technician to perform technical duties in support of the Electron Microscopy Laboratory of the Materials Science and Engineering Department. Technician will be a member of a team responsible for the following: instruct students in the operation of microscopes and other equipment; maintain and repair instruments; oversee upkeep of the lab; support research professors and students; analyze samples; give tours and demonstrations; maintain a safe environment; and other assigned duties. Bachelors degree in physical science and/or 4+ years related work experience required. Candidates should be familiar with electron microscopes, mechanical and electronic equipment, vacuum systems, PC and/or MAC and EDS/WDS systems. Good communication and interpersonal skills are essential.
Lehigh University offers excellent benefits and vacation package. Interested candidates should forward resume to: Deanne Hoenscheid, Materials Science and Engineering, Lehigh University, 5 E. Packer Ave., Bethlehem, PA 18015. EOE. M/F/D/V.
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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't leave biological tissues in glutaraldehyde for long periods; } Immunological and cytochemical reactions are killed by osmium; } Must use glutaradehyde after labeling reactions on sections." } } You are all under arrest for spreading widespread panic without producing supporting documentation or direct personal experiences. } } Paul Webster, Ph.D. } House Ear Insititute } 2100 West Third Street } Los Angeles, CA 90057 } 213 273 8026 } pwebster-at-hei.org } http://www.hei.org/htm/aemi.htm } } } } Hi, Wonderful Reply! There are so many variations of these dogmas depending on the circumstances! Would take me a whole day and more to write all the exceptions to these absolutes (?).
On Wed, 22 Sep 1999 rlvaughn-at-unmc.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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } I have never had any problems getting the resin to polymerize in gel caps } even at 50 degree, but I have found that I have less sticky tops where the } top of the capsule still traps air by going to just 52 to 55 degree and } the labeling will still work. } } I also get samples that cut difficult, seeming to disintegrate in the boat } or look broken up in the scope. I have looked back at the protocol and } suspect poor fixation. The higher I can get that glut the better cutting I } get. } } How many people have tried that Unicryl? I had questionable results, and } heard the same from some one else. } } Rick Vaughn } } } Hi,
We have been using LR White and LR Gold. I investigated carefully the differences between these and Unicryl (numerous reports and papers), and I believe Unicryl to be advantageous. We will try it (exactly as it ought to be used by comparing directions from the company with reports in papers) in a "side by side" with LR Gold, which we favor for improved ultrastructure when compared to LR White - note - our protocol only. This last statement may not be viable for all procedures. Please pull all the papers you can find. Unicryl is likely to be superior to others.
Hildegard H. Crowley University of Denver {hcrowley-at-du.edu}
RCA must have had a long history of making EMs. I remember my high school days. My HS was across the street from Stanford Research Institute in Menlo Park, CA. SRI donated an RCA EMC-1 to the school. It did not function and no one knew what to do with it.
I thought it was the neatest thing I'd ever seen! It landed in our science club and I took about the task of making the SEM work. I did not know what a SEM really was and all the nuances associated with it. But I did know electronics. The SRI guys were experts at high vacuum and I learned a lot about the vacuum area from them.
The SEM used an oil diffusion pump of course. What would drive me crazy was that after a short period of time, the phosphor glass would get soaked in oil. I'd have to take the glass out, mix another slurry of phosphor and make a new screen. After about 2 months of this hassle, I asked the SRI guys about it. They said that I needed a cold trap. Oh. Were do I get one of those? "It already has it. Add LN2." Ahhh....what's LN2? Where do I get that? We did not have all that much adult supervision at the time and no one was going to let us have LN2.
Once I got the idea of what the cold trap was all about, I made a chiller by connecting the labs' refrigerator compressor cooling side around the diffusion pump where the LN2 would have gone. That worked pretty good. Not as good as LN2 but it lengthened the time of screen changes and made a huge difference in vacuum level.
when I got my first image on the screen it was really awesome. Well, not the image, just the fact that I got something to show up. Bugs and chromosomes (smashed of course) from Drosophila gonads looked cool.
HV was always a problem with the system. Lots of arcing. Well, in retrospect, anode-gun spacing and vacuum did not connect at the time.
After leaving the RCA SEM some 30 years ago, now I have my own SEM. It is quite different than the RCA of course--thankfully. And I know more now--and the expertise on this listserver is also indispensable. In the vein of Chuck's suggestion of why RCA left the EM market, I understand that Amray has also left the lab/research EM market after their buy-out by KLA-Tencor. From what I have heard, the market is too small to justify the cost of R&D. Amray made a bunch of 1000-series scopes and a ton of the 1800-series. The newest 3600 FESEM is really a great instrument. As far as I know, ISI/Topcon is not a big player in the SEM market any longer. Or maybe not a player at all. At least I can still get factory service for my Amray 1830T6. There are many independent service folks out there for both Amray and ISI systems. So that is good.
As these earlier makers depart the market, the options for replacement sources dwindles. But looking at the competition today, Hitachi, Jeol, Cambridge, Leo, etc. are all making very capable products. It seems to me that the rationale for being in or out of EM is the same as for any other field--money. Either it is profitable or not. Same for microelectronics, calculators (remember that highly competitive battle?), watches, VCRs, etc........ As the number of suppliers dwindles, hopefully the remaining few will survive since they will get new business and customers as a result of some other manufacturer exiting the marketplace. The danger of this is that without sufficient competition, innovation wanes. If no one is chasing you, why not just walk rather than run?
LKB sold their EM/Histology line to the company now known as Leica. They may still have some spare parts there.
800-248-0123 is the number.
-- Begin original message -- } } We have an LKB 7801A glass knifebreaker that may need servicing and or minor } parts. Does anyone service this knifebreaker and does anyone know where I } can buy minor replacement parts resulting from wear? } } Fred A. Hayes } The DOW Chemical Co } Analytical Sciences, Microscopy } 1897 bldg., E78 } Midland, Michigan 48667 } 517-638-2203 } 517-638-6443 fax } -- End original message -- best regards, Bob Robert Schoonhoven Laboratory of Molecular Carcinogenesis and Mutagenesis Dept. of Environmental Sciences and Engineering University of North Carolina CB#7400 Chapel Hill, NC 27599 Phone office 919-966-6343 Lab 919-966-6140 Fax 919-966-6123
Don't go around saying the world owes you a living; the world owes you nothing; it was here first. Mark Twain [Samuel Langhornne Clemens] (1835-1910)
If the signal that you get out of the SEM is a TV signal, you should be able to feed it directly into a VCR or a computer equipped with a frame grabber. There are several international standards for video (RS-170, NTSC, PAL, etc.). You need to make sure, whatever equipment you want to use is compatible with the standard used by your SEM. Also, call the manufacturer of the SEM to find out if the signal indeed follows those standards.
Once you get the signal into the computer, you can take easily take pictures and work with them (enhance them, annotate them, etc.)
One drawback of this technique is, that you are limited to the resolution provided by the TV standards (640x480 for US standards). And unless you have an internal frame store on the SEM, the images tend to be very noisy, as the beam must be scanned very rapidly to get the 25 or 30 frames per second required by the TV standards. For higher resolutions, you need either a passive or active SEM interface. Call me or send email if you need more information about those.
Michael
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 1675 Carr St., #105N Lakewood, CO 80215 =================================== phone: (888) FIND SIS (303) 234-9270 fax: (303) 234-9271 email: mailto:info-at-soft-imaging.com web: http://www.soft-imaging.com ===================================
} ---------- } From: "drose-at-wlgore.com"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com[SMTP:"DROSE-at-WLGORE.COM"-at-SPARC5. MICROSCOPY.COM] } Sent: Friday, September 24, 1999 8:43:48 AM } To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: SEM - video recording } Auto forwarded by a Rule } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Dear List,
I would like to capture on video the analysis that I perform on the SEM. There is a video out from the SEM. What equipment is required? Can I take the signal directly from the CRT? I do not have any experience with this. Any help is much appreciated.
TIA
David Rose W.L. Gore & Associates 297 Blue Ball Road Elkton, MD 21921 410-506-2958
Does anyone know where I could obtain a standard for TEM EDS analysis of the mineral sodalite (Na4Al3Si3O12Cl)? It would be preferable to have a bulk as opposed to powder sample.
I have tried Alpha Aesar, which doesn't carry it.
Many Thanks, Wharton ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Wharton Sinkler Argonne National Laboratory West P. O. Box 2528 Idaho Falls, ID 83403 Tel: (208) 533-7724 FAX: (208) 533-7863
************************************************ Robert J. Derby New Mexico Institute of Technology Socorro, N.M. Phone - 505-835-5866 E-mail - rjderby-at-excite.com ************************************************ Greetings all, Dose anyone know where to get "Lippencott's Directory" (spelling might be off on Lippencott). I use to have a copy and now I can't find it and no luck on the net, nor interlibrary loan. It was a soft cover, out of Calf.,it listed all available antibodies and to all things, even "anti-gold" antibody, which was human if I remember. Any help would be a help.
Thanks
Robert Derby
________________________________________________________________ Get FREE voicemail, fax and email at http://voicemail.excite.com Talk online at http://voicechat.excite.com
Hayes, Fred (FA) 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 have an LKB 7801A glass knifebreaker that may need servicing and or minor } parts. Does anyone service this knifebreaker and does anyone know where I } can buy minor replacement parts resulting from wear? } } Fred A. Hayes } The DOW Chemical Co } Analytical Sciences, Microscopy } 1897 bldg., E78 } Midland, Michigan 48667 } 517-638-2203 } 517-638-6443 fax We recondition LKB Knife Makers, $175.00 plus parts and shipping. We sell pre-owned, reconditioned EM-, Histology-, Darkroom/Photo- and Lab Equipment.Please email your fax number for a list of available equipment. Services in EM and Histology since 1977. Microscopy Labs Box 338 61 West Street Red Bank, NJ 07701 732 747 6228 fax 732 758 9142
I am attempting to conduct dielectric function (constant) evaluations from Plasmon Loss EELS spectra acquired with our TEM using GIF. After doing a fast literature search I came up with two possible sources of information:
1) book by Egerton (1996 2nd edition) is supposed to contain recipe for calculations and a Fortran code used to transform EELS spectra into usable information (according to D.B. Williams and C.B. Carter). - I do not have a copy of the book, but could read it in a local University library or purchase it.
2) Program for a MAC described in 94 MSA meeting abstracts called Fantome which took EELS spectra in Gatan's format and gave back the dielectric functions. - I cannot find any information about it except for an old photocopy of the MSA abstract page.
Therefore, I am seeking an advice from the list.
Did anyone used the Fantome program and how could I obtain a copy of it, perhaps it evolved into something commercially available? Did anyone wrote your own code to do these analysis and would be willing to shear your experiences? Is there a Script/Plug-In for Gatan's software which would do just what I am seeking? How would one a) extract ASCII data from Gatan EL/P files, b) write code to evaluate them? Perhaps Mathematica could cajoled to use the Fortran code of Egerton as the core for calculations?
All comments regarding the above questions and the general calculations of dielectric functions would be greatly appreciated.
Respectfully yours.
Jerzy
***************************************************************** Jerzy Gazda, Ph.D. Advanced Micro Devices Senior Materials Scientist 5204 E. Ben White Blvd. - MS 613 PCAL - Analytical TEM Section Austin, TX 78741 TEL: 1-800-538-8450, Ext. 51453 FAX: (512) 602-7470 jerzy,gazda-at-amd.com *****************************************************************
Please forgive the repeated mailing but my e-mail address had a typo in the first message. The correct e-mail address is: jerzy.gazda-at-amd.com . Original message is repeated below.
Dear Colleagues,
I am attempting to conduct dielectric function (constant) evaluations from Plasmon Loss EELS spectra acquired with our TEM using GIF. After doing a fast literature search I came up with two possible sources of information:
1) book by Egerton (1996 2nd edition) is supposed to contain recipe for calculations and a Fortran code used to transform EELS spectra into usable information (according to D.B. Williams and C.B. Carter). - I do not have a copy of the book, but could read it in a local University library or purchase it.
2) Program for a MAC described in 94 MSA meeting abstracts called Fantome which took EELS spectra in Gatan's format and gave back the dielectric functions. - I cannot find any information about it except for an old photocopy of the MSA abstract page.
Therefore, I am seeking an advice from the list.
Did anyone used the Fantome program and how could I obtain a copy of it, perhaps it evolved into something commercially available? Did anyone wrote your own code to do these analysis and would be willing to shear your experiences? Is there a Script/Plug-In for Gatan's software which would do just what I am seeking? How would one a) extract ASCII data from Gatan EL/P files, b) write code to evaluate them? Perhaps Mathematica could cajoled to use the Fortran code of Egerton as the core for calculations?
All comments regarding the above questions and the general calculations of dielectric functions would be greatly appreciated.
Respectfully yours.
Jerzy
***************************************************************** Jerzy Gazda, Ph.D. Advanced Micro Devices Senior Materials Scientist 5204 E. Ben White Blvd. - MS 613 PCAL - Analytical TEM Section Austin, TX 78741 TEL: 1-800-538-8450, Ext. 51453 FAX: (512) 602-7470 jerzy.gazda-at-amd.com *****************************************************************
"Must use glutaraldehyde after labeling reactions on sections"
"You are all under arrest for spreading widespread panic without producing supporting documentation or direct personal experiences"
Although the first quote is not quite the way I put it, I assume the 'Must use...' statement refers to my posting on the listserver. The 'mild exception' Paul Webster takes with regard to my posting at least suggests this. I believe if you're arrested in the US you're entitled to make one phone call. Isn't that right? So I am using this privilege by using my dial-up account to transmit my comments to the Supreme Dogma Court. I hope my plea will get me out of jail again.
First, let me try to loosen up the jury a bit. I have always perceived the Listserver as a place for exchanging experiences in such a way that contributions are not necessarily declined or considered to be less valuable when not fully or explicitly documented, different from what at least is considered to be good practice in any scientific paper. I fully agree, that if such experiences are documented with experimental data, it gives the 'Listener' the possibility to evaluate the conclusions, at least to some extent. However, even with documented experiences, it is a matter of 'trust' whether the data supplied are perceived as being reliable. Years ago I was requested by referees to send in over 15 micrographs of control experiments for the evaluation of immunolabeling data in E.coli. The controls ideally should have no label. Easy to document, but reliable? Nevertheless, experiences may vary from group to group or from person to person: sometimes we may not know why, which certainly doesn't mean that these experiences are not real or valuable. The conclusions based on such experiences may in all sincerity be based on the wrong assumptions. Ladies and gentlemen, I don't think this is a problem at all, in comparing experiences finally the most reliable, or 'truthful' if you like,will emerge or survive. Documented by Darwin in a different context? The fun in sharing experiences seems to be in the end in preventing having to invent the wheel in each and every research facility over and over again and wasting preciou$ time (in more than one way). Exchanging experiences will at least help in thinking about experimental set-ups and sometimes prevent using too many unfruitful approaches. And after all, we still have our own responsibility to judge if we want to follow a certain idea or not.
And now for the hard part: Paul, Your Honour, my comments on the use of fixation after immunolabeling were not presented as a dogma, I wanted to give a reasonable explanation for its application. My message didn't state that fixation is a must. Documentation: direct personal experience as stated in the original posting. As you stated yourself this should be good enough, right? At least you use it for pleading your case. Our personal experiences often showed less signal when fixation was left out (but not with all immunoreagents) and this was also found by many of our workshop participants. Is this proof? I don't think it is, although I find it hard to find a different explanation. Anyway, I assume that many of the messages or comments on the List are based on personal experiences, which is just not mentioned explicitly all the time. I agree that taking up procedural steps which may complicate things should be avoided. But I don't agree that taking up a 5-10 minutes extra step in a procedure that may take from anywhere between an hour to several hours should make a difference to 'busy lab life', at least not when there is a good or likely reason to take it up.
So, Paul, either you set me free or you come in and join me in my prison cell. A nice weekend to all of you.
Cheers, Jan =========================== Jan Leunissen AURION http://www.aurion.nl Costerweg 5 6702 AA Wageningen phone: (31)-317-497676 fax: (31)-317-415955 You will find more tech info on our website.
I think you are looking for Linscott's Directory of Immunological and Biological Reagents. You can buy it either in hard copy or as a database for Windows or Mac; ordering information and contact addresses can be found at
A basic course on light microscopy which will cover the following topics:
Theory of microscopy Kohler Illumination Diffraction Theory Contrast Methods Polarized light Phase Contrast Interference Hoffman contrast Rheinberg Dark-field & oblique Illumination, etc.
The workshop will consist of four consecutive Saturdays of lectures and hands-on labs to cover the theoretical and practical aspects of microscopy.
The course instructors include:
Jan Hinsch of Leica, Inc.
Dennis O'Leary of Micro-Optical Methods
Mary McCann of McCann Imaging
John Reffner of Sensir Inc. and Current President of NYMS
Donald O'Leary, Curator and Awards Chairperson of NYMS
WHEN: October 2, 9,16, 23, 1999, from 10 A.M. to 4 P.M.
WHERE: 1244 McBride Avenue, West Paterson, NJ. Phone (973) 812-8377 (Free parking, accessible by public transportation, Information on car pools and transportation will be provided.)
COST: $225 for N.Y.M.S. members, $245 for non-members (includes membership) Lunch and course materials are included. Checks made out to N.Y.M.S.
WHO: Beginners and experienced users who wish to learn more about the proper use of a microscope.
For Further Information and To Register contact Donald O'Leary.
I'm working on a project where we are trying to stretch a human hair under an electron microscope and create an animation of the process. We're planning on using some type of stepper motor driven linear actuator to do the work. I thought I'd check here to see if anyone could recommend a vendor for such motors/actuators. As we're new to this (SEM microscopy), any advice would also be much appreciated.
Most of the commercial phosphor plates I've seen for electron microscopy use P43 (blue light, fast decay). Can anyone suggest a source for Willemite, or P47, on similar glass plates or in powder?
I was wondering what computer programs people are using to drive microscopes and accessories (digital cameras, filter wheels, shutters) in the Macintosh world. I am familiar with NIH Image, but would like to hear about a few other programs. I should mention that I regularily use NIH Image, as well as some programs on the PC side. Are there any ones I should avoid, or are there any exceptionally good ones? Please feel free to reply to the list, or me directly.
cheers...
TIA
Eugene Krueger Research Technologist GI Research Mayo Clinic, Rochester (507) 284-0580 krueger.eugene-at-mayo.edu
Eugene, we use DigitalMicrograph to drive our electron microscope. We also use ti drive a separate stage control on this scope.
-- Jaap Brink, Ph.D., Biochemistry, One Baylor Plaza, Baylor College of Medicine, Rm. N420 Alkek Building, Houston, TX 77030 Phone: (713)798-6989 -- Fax: (713)796-9438 -- Email: jbrink-at-bcm.tmc.edu URL : http://ncmi.bioch.bcm.tmc.edu/~brink
On Sun, 26 Sep 1999, Krueger, Eugene W. 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...... } } I was wondering what computer programs people are using to drive microscopes } and accessories (digital cameras, filter wheels, shutters) in the Macintosh } world. I am familiar with NIH Image, but would like to hear about a few } other programs. I should mention that I regularily use NIH Image, as well } as some programs on the PC side. Are there any ones I should avoid, or are } there any exceptionally good ones? Please feel free to reply to the list, } or me directly. } } cheers... } } TIA } } Eugene Krueger } Research Technologist } GI Research } Mayo Clinic, Rochester } (507) 284-0580 } krueger.eugene-at-mayo.edu } } }
Hi Paul & Listreaders: I accept that you cited the three examples of dogma taunting to stir some debate. At the very least you picked rather poor examples of "dogma". The third of your "dogmas" was submitted by Jan Leunissen and he presented an excellent plea showing his innocence and also that he was not properly quoted. Since Jan works for Aurion I assume that he knows a few things about immuno gold labeling, yet Paul had stated } without producing supporting documentation or direct personal experiences. {
Paul's quotation accusing me of dogma were incorrect too. } "Can't leave biological tissues in glutaraldehyde for long periods; { I actually had clearly qualified this as referring to HIGH RESOLUTION work AND I had given reason AND I have experience in that regard. Paul, have you looked at GA overfixed tissue at several hundred thousand times and compared that with properly fixed tissues? I stand by my original statement.
Paul's second misquote was: } Immunological and cytochemical reactions are killed by osmium; { A little, but vital omission were the quotation marks around the word killed. Afterall, we are talking about Immunological and cystochemical activities and these are not on-or-off, but diminish with various treatments. My original advise was like saying: "70% ethanol kills microorganisms". It does and most would be killed very rapidly, but there may be some, for instance yeast spores that could survive for some time in that high concentration of yeast "excreta". The statement "70% ethanol 'kills' . . . remains true. I did not say or imply that osmium "kills" all immune activities instantly and completely. I am not guilty of "dogma", which is a forcible statement or opinion stating as if unchallengable or authoritative assumptions rather than empirical observations.
It should be noted that a wrongly based forcible statement like Paul's "Dogma Police" actually suits that very definitions much better. I also see a couple of other problems with this kind of argument on the listserver. 1 It could deter some people from submitting freely their opinions. 2 It could lead to the frequent addition and confusing qualifiers and this would change the nature of this discussion forum.
Hands up, which of the other contributors to the topic did go back to my original message and read this and Paul's assertions critically? Anybody??? The replies come up with a few publications showing that at least some partially osmicated tissues, retained some antigens in some cases. Not many such publications though and we could safely assume that less than one in a hundred of such research projects used any osmium prior to labeling. This supports my case: Why would so many researchers publish such low contrast images IF normal EM preparation showed equally good activities? Paul agrees } When we all finally accept that contrast equals loss of antigen, we may eventually enjoy the esthetics of low contrast, high information images, and learn to leave the high contrast pictures in the morphology books. { } From that I infer that at least some of those "osmium before labeling" publications may have been "better" without osmium first. Furthermore, Paul here clearly states that higher contrast (e.g. osmication) equals lower antigenicity; in fact he is in agreement with my original advise. What as your point?
I admit that I too played a game. Paul used an emotive term to get people onsite. It worked, because we all detest "dogma". It would have been nice if critical thinking had prevailed. When I asked to provide prove that osmication does not "kill" immune activity {cite some publications were full osmium fixation was used prior to immunolabeling {, they came in like the tide.
You cannot prove that by showing that some activity is preserved in some case. What is required is a full comparison of remaining activity after different treatments in different tissues and different reactions. Safe your efforts, Paul and most of as know that: osmium "kills" immune activities.
Now, had somebody in reply to my original submission written in "your right Jim, but sometimes, after some osmium fixation there is enough remaining activity for successful labeling." I would have replied "Amen". Cheers Jim Darley ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes www.proscitech.com
On Friday, September 24, 1999 4:42 AM, Paul Webster [SMTP:pwebster-at-mailhouse.hei.org] 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Reply to: RE: Dogma Police } Dear Jim, } Thanks for your reply. I had hoped for more hostile and numerous responses } but my mailbox is only full of support messages. I didn't mean the message } to be a personal attack, rather a way of provoking an open discussion, } something that is often lacking on this forum. } My message was prompted mostly by the thread concerning publishing information } on-line, where the main objection was that there was insufficient review } process to make it credible. These comments followed by the solid statments } I quoted (admittedly out of context) clearly illustrated the point of what } poor refereeing can result in. } } I agree that for teaching purposes, a little dogma is not a bad thing and have } been guilty of it myself. However, to see you quote text in your web site as } a support for your claims made me think we should start discussing the finer } details of what we are doing here. } } Firstly, some references where osmium fixation has been used for } immunolabeling. Ottersen's group in Olso (1984 J. Comp Neurol 229:374-392; } 1986 Med. Biol. 64:147-158; 1990 Prog Brain Res 83:99-114) applied antibodies } to brain sections that had been fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde, 1% } formaldehyde, treated with 1% osmium tetroxide, dehydrated in ethanol and } propylene oxide and embedded in epoxy resin! I am sure I could find more } without too much effort if you want them (I remember what I read, not where I } read it). } } I see Tamara Howard has provided additional additional references and the } comments that there are few very hard and fast rules in EM specimen } preparation. I agree totally with this. It is important that we keep } attempting to try out new things so that we can push the bounderies. Setting } limits during the early stages of instruction stops growth into areas we can } never imagine. } } Jim, your other comment, that long fixation affects resolution is also not } documented fact. I do remember a paper, which I will look for, where } extraction in aldehyde fixative was dependant upon the buffer being used, not } the aldehyde. What is clearly documented is that the subsequent processing } steps (post-fixation, dehydration and infiltration) affect the amount of } extraction and thus reduce resolution. } For most morphology applications, contrast is preferred over resolution } anyway. Witness the problem of getting immunocytochemical results published } over the last 10 years. Even here on the listserver, there is always an } ongoing discussion of how to get better contrast in the LR or Lowicryl } resins. When we all finally accept that contrast equals loss of antigen, we } may eventually enjoy the esthetics of low contrast, high information images, } and learn to leave the high contrast pictures in the morphology books. } } If high resolution is required then there are better methods than those } involving aldehyde fixation and epoxy resin embedding. For the poster of the } original question I would say, leave the tissues in glutaraldehyde for as } long as is convenient, any loss of structure will go unnoticed. However, as } with all advice, I reccommend you take it with a pinch of salt and try it out } for yourself. } } Finally, the issue of fixing immunolabeled sections with 1% glutaraldehyde } came up and there were a variety of answers. The one I took mild exception } to was from Jan Leunissen. He is a great teacher and I respect him and his } work at many levels. In his message, he correctly pointed out that the } conditions of high salt and low pH are used to elute antibodies from } antigens. Therefore 1% glutaraldehyde must be used to crosslink antibodies } to sections and protein A-gold to antibodies. It all sounds good in theory } but where is the proof? I and my colleagues have been applying antibodies } and colloidal gold to sections for years without that final crosslinking } step. Why do we still get specific label? Who knows. What we do know is } that we have compared the effect of adding this fixation step and decided } that it didn't improve labeling efficiency. We therefore made an informed } decision to leave it out of the protocol. Putting unneccessary steps into a } protocol only makes life more difficult for people wo } rking in busy labs. } My advice for anyone just starting in EM, is to take what you are told with } healthy skepticism and question anything you feel may be unreasonable. If } there is a reason for doing something your teacher should know that reason. } If they don't know why something should be done, try leaving it out to see } if it makes a difference. To apply methods on the faith that they work is } not sufficient anymore. We need informed reasons for applying methods. We } are in the good times for EM and we have to shed our artist/magician image. } The closer we get to being scientists, the more seriously we will be } accepted by the science community who are at present looking for our skills. } } For the record, I also take exception to the methods that involve the use of } bodily fluids. If we can't work out how to do something without nose or face } grease we really deserve to be left behind. } } Thanks Jim, for taking the bait and allowing the start of what I hope will be } an informative discussion on credibility. } } Regards, } } Paul Webster. } } } } } jim wrote: } } Fair go Paul. That "Dogma Police" header is a trifle emotive and not } } justified? } The first two examples of "Dogma" given may be mine, but they are } } out of } context. } } I had written that storing tissues in GA affects high resolution imaging. I } } } gave reasons. } } Are you asserting that excessive fixation in GA does not affect high } } resolution } imaging??? } } } } I had written {Immunological and cytochemical reactions are killed by } } osmium} , } but the "killed" was in quotation marks, because I had learned } } about 30 years } ago, that most such cellular activities cease . I do not } } believe that cells or } osmium have changed in this regard. I have no reason } } to change my mind - or do } you have any evidence to the contrary. I guess } } about half of all subscribers } would like to know about that. To use your } } words "were is your supporting } documentation" Please Paul, cite some } } publications were full osmium fixation } was used prior to immunolabeling. } } Cheers } } Jim Darley } } ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS } } PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia } } Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com } } Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes } } www.proscitech.com } } } } On Thursday, September 23, 1999 2:17 AM, Paul Webster } } } [SMTP:pwebster-at-mailhouse.hei.org] wrote: } } } } } "Can't leave biological tissues in glutaraldehyde for long periods; } } } Immunological and cytochemical reactions are killed by osmium; } } } Must use glutaradehyde after labeling reactions on sections." } } } } } } You are all under arrest for spreading widespread panic without producing } } } supporting documentation or direct personal experiences. } } } } } } Paul Webster, Ph.D. } } } House Ear Insititute } } } 2100 West Third Street } } } Los Angeles, CA 90057 } } } 213 273 8026 } } } pwebster-at-hei.org } } } http://www.hei.org/htm/aemi.htm } } } } } } } } } } } } } RFC822 header } } ----------------------------------- } } } } Received: from ultra.ultra.net.au [203.20.237.5] by mailhouse.hei.org with } } } ESMTP } } (SMTPD32-4.07) id A00314BB021E; Thu, 23 Sep 1999 07:58:11 PST } } Received: from 150 (p098.supa2-tsv.ultra.net.au [202.80.71.98]) } } by ultra.ultra.net.au (8.9.3/8.9.3) with SMTP id BAA13065; } } Fri, 24 Sep 1999 01:02:04 +1000 (EST) } } Received: by localhost with Microsoft MAPI; Fri, 24 Sep 1999 01:02:01 +1000 } } Message-ID: {01BF0628.68BC69A0.jim-at-proscitech.com.au} } } From: jim {jim-at-proscitech.com.au} } } Reply-To: "jim-at-proscitech.com.au" {jim-at-proscitech.com.au} } } To: "'Paul Webster'" {pwebster-at-mailhouse.hei.org} , } } "'MSA listserver submission'" } } {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} } } Subject: RE: Dogma Police } } Date: Fri, 24 Sep 1999 00:50:03 +1000 } } Return-Receipt-To: jim {jim-at-proscitech.com.au} } } Organization: ProSciTech } } X-Mailer: Microsoft Internet E-mail/MAPI - 8.0.0.4211 } } MIME-Version: 1.0 } } Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" } } Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit } } X-UIDL: 234843928 } } Status: U } } }
I'm a bit late in this discussion, have been trying to get on the list for a while -
I've been using Lowicryl K4M for nearly 10 years now, and only a few times have I had problems with sectioning. I can't recall ever having problems with the curing either (which have been the case with both Agar 100 and Araldite). I tried Unicryl for a while as well (both heat- and UV-polymerized), and my results were quite comparable with the Lowicryl ones. Has anyone compared Low/Uni with LR White or Gold?
Regards Margareta
Margareta Halin Dept. of Internal Medicine University Hospital Uppsala Sweden
We are having problems with the developing of SO163 films. We get streaks on the negatives and the results are highly inconsistent in terms of exposure/optical density. We don't have these problems when we use 4489, but we need the higher sensitivity of the SO163 for cryo work. Has anybody else experienced such problems?
I think at least some of these problems are related to the lack of temperature control of our developing solutions. Now, we may be able to keep the developer at the proper temperature by further cooling of the room with air-con. However, is the temperature of the tap water used for rinsing also very important? This is in Singapore, and our tap water is usually very warm, sometimes close to 30C.
If this is important, does anybody have experience with water cooling systems for this purpose? A recirculating cooling water bath could be used for cooling the developer, but wouldn't work for the rinse, for which we would probably need some kind of in-line cooler. (Maybe similar to that used in water drinking fountains?) I am concerned about the potentially very high expense of such systems.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks,
Terje
------------------------------------ Dr. Terje Dokland Senior Scientist Institute of Molecular Agrobiology 1 Research Link The National University of Singapore Singapore 117604 Phone: 65-872 7405 Fax: 65-872 7007 E-mail: dokland-at-ima.org.sg http://lab.ima.org.sg/lab3052/terje ------------------------------------
Mr. Egerton placed all the source codes that are discussed in his book and some other helpful files and data on the following ftp-site
ftp://ftp.phys.ualberta.ca/public_html/eels/
Cheers,
Petra
At 19:54 24.09.99 -0500, you wrote:
*SNIP*
} I am attempting to conduct dielectric function (constant) evaluations from } Plasmon Loss EELS spectra acquired with our TEM using GIF. After doing a } fast literature search I came up with two possible sources of information: } } 1) book by Egerton (1996 2nd edition) is supposed to contain recipe for } calculations and a Fortran code used to transform EELS spectra into usable } information (according to D.B. Williams and C.B. Carter). - I do not have a } copy of the book, but could read it in a local University library or } purchase it.
*SNIP*
} Jerzy } } ***************************************************************** } Jerzy Gazda, Ph.D. } Advanced Micro Devices } Senior Materials Scientist } 5204 E. Ben White Blvd. - MS 613 } PCAL - Analytical TEM Section } Austin, TX 78741 } TEL: 1-800-538-8450, Ext. 51453 } FAX: (512) 602-7470 } jerzy,gazda-at-amd.com } *****************************************************************
-------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Petra Wahlbring Centre de Recherche Public - Gabriel Lippmann Laboratoire d'Analyse des Materiaux (LAM) 162a, av. de la Faiencerie L-1511 Luxembourg tel. +352-466644-402 fax +352-466644-400 e-mail: petra.wahlbring-at-crpgl.lu Visit our WWW site! http://www.crpgl.lu/~wahlbrin
SCOPE The symposium is intended to provide an overview of present achievements and expected future trends in microscopy including the instrumentation, imaging science, theories, new techniques, new methods and applications in chemistry, physics, mineralogy, material sciences, life science, environmental science and other basic science areas. It will also cover scanning probe microscopy and near-field optical microscopy. Leading scientists will be invited to present introductory overview lectures to symposia. English will be the official language.
VENUE The symposium will take place in Kunming, the capital city of Yunnan Province and one of the most famous tourist destinations in China. Being blessed with the agreeable climate because of its subtropical location and altitude of 1894 meters, Kunming enjoys the fame of Spring City --- a city full of the beauty of spring all the year round. It is also fascinating due to the unique natural features such as the Stone Forest, Western Hill, Golden Temple and Ethnic Minorities Village. Therefore, Kunming has the great honor to be selected the host city of the 1999 International Horticultural Exposition (EXPO'99). The EXPO halls and gardens displaying flowers and plant life from all over the world certainly much highlight the city. They will last continuously after the EXPO'99.
Yunnan Province is located in South China bordering on Vietnam, Laos and Burma. The citizens are from 26 minority nationalities, each of which has her own language and folklore. Here people show a rich-color ethnic album by their unique history and culture, local customs and traditional festivals. The great variety of nationalities in Yunnan can be seen on the streets as well as in the EXPO Garden in Kunming. The southern atmosphere and the variety of cultures and customs can be enjoyed while strolling through the market streets away from the big avenues of the city.
INVITATION The Chinese Electron Microscopy Society (CEMS) would like to extend a warm invitation to all friends and colleagues in microscopy to join us at the '2000 International Kunming Symposium on Microscopy.
I would like to pick up on the expression `streaking'. Does this appear to be vertically from exposed areas? If there is insufficient agitation during developing this can occur quite easily. I assume that you develop the SO163 in concentrated developer and the 4489 in normal strength, maybe there is different agitation (N2 burst?) for the two films.
Other problems tend to give a blotchy or mottled effect.
} We are having problems with the developing of SO163 films. We get streaks } on the negatives and the results are highly inconsistent in terms of } exposure/optical density. We don't have these problems when we use 4489, } but we need the higher sensitivity of the SO163 for cryo work. Has anybody } else experienced such problems? } } I think at least some of these problems are related to the lack of temperature } control of our developing solutions. Now, we may be able to keep the developer } at the proper temperature by further cooling of the room with air-con. } However, is the temperature of the tap water used for rinsing also very } important? This is in Singapore, and our tap water is usually very warm, } sometimes close to 30C. } } If this is important, does anybody have experience with water cooling } systems for this purpose? A recirculating cooling water bath could be } used for cooling the developer, but wouldn't work for the rinse, for which } we would probably need some kind of in-line cooler. (Maybe similar to that } used in water drinking fountains?) I am concerned about the potentially } very high expense of such systems. } } Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, } } Terje } } } } ------------------------------------ } Dr. Terje Dokland } Senior Scientist } Institute of Molecular Agrobiology } 1 Research Link } The National University of Singapore } Singapore 117604 } Phone: 65-872 7405 Fax: 65-872 7007 } E-mail: dokland-at-ima.org.sg } http://lab.ima.org.sg/lab3052/terje } ------------------------------------ } } }
---------------------- Mr. R.C. Doole Department of Materials, University of Oxford. Parks Road, Oxford. OX1 3PH. UK. Phone +44 (0) 1865 273701 Fax +44 (0) 1865 283333 ron.doole-at-materials.ox.ac.uk
Ran into the same problems for a bit here too. Found it was warm tap water. The darkroom is maintained at 20C so we just stuck a bottle of water on the bench and problem solved. It was the rinse between development and fix that was the problem. We use 4489 film. Good luck
At 02:33 PM 9/27/1999 +0800, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} { GO GATORS Scott D. Whittaker 218 Carr Hall EM Technician Gainesville, FL 32610 University Of Florida ph 352-392-1184 ICBR EM Core Lab fax 352-846-0251 sdw-at-biotech.ufl.edu http://www.biotech.ufl.edu/~emcl/ The home of " Tips & Tricks "
Hello List Readers: Laura Rhoads suggested that forced use of THAT instrument would be a suitable penalty for those committing "crimes" such as broadcasting "dogma". I concured, adding "I would not want to offend anybody, but I've been in purgatory for two years already. Circa 1970 that instrument was the worst money could buy in the Western World."
Several readers have responded making positive points about that instruments. I agree with some of these because nothing in this world is entirely bad - even a broken clock shows the right time, twice a day.
Yes, that instrument looked good, it had a big column and would make a fine statue in someone's garden (so Laura suggested, personal communications). I would love one, it would be the crowing glory to the banks of the Ross River.
Yes, the image had good contrast because it was a medium resolution instrument (I guess about 0.8nm). A longer working distance objective results in higher contrast but lower resolution. Other manufacturers offer high contrast objectives, but most instrument purchasers ask for higher resolution.
Yes, RCA's are historical instrument and the first commercially produced American TEM. Though I believe that Siemens produced the first commercial TEM in the mid 30th.
Yes, for some people this was their first electron microscope and it had to be impressive to us who grew up before computer whizz-bangery. Unfortunately, it was my fourth TEM. My previous loves had been a mid-60th Siemens Elmiskop, a Philips 100C (the one with a near horizontal column and transmission viewing screen) and a Zeiss 9C. All of these were rather better suited to productive work.
Yes, the electronics were reliable, but the vacuum gauging was insufficient. Since it also had no vacuum locks and blanking provisions were poor, vacuum trouble-shooting was very difficult.
Yes, it was reasonably easy to operate and was great for forced coffee breaks. No specimen, no gun, nor camera vacuum locks made for lots and lots of pumping times.
Yes, the camera had two options, either three single plates could be inserted or one long plate taking five images on one plate. Bit of a pain to share negatives with another operator. Absolutely awful for taking lots of images and changing specimens. The pumping cycle was slow.
The complete lack of vacuum locks and the poor film options made the EMU-4 a "hysterical instrument". Such features were not rocket science even in those days. More features . . .
Changing the filament was a painful operation. I think the basic alignment after filament change required three complete column pumping cycles, lots of time for getting other jobs done during those operations. I could not align that scope in under two hours. I had inherited a service contract and the service men could do no better.
Alignment screws were difficult to adjust accurately in those days on most TEMs. I learned from the service man that the final touch was best achieved by tapping the column with a rubber mallet - which was not part of the service kit.
Filament life averaged about 12 hours, with the alignment procedure eating up a good part thereof. Short filament life may not have been an inherent problem in the design. This may have been due to poor vacuum, but there was no good way of isolating vacuum parts, getting a reliable vacuum reading and finding a possible leak.
Why did RCA sell the EMU-4 to Forgflow, who then quickly discontinued that instrument? Because the column design was 10 years too late. By 1972 I had a Philips EM300 - now that was progress. Philips at last had eclipsed the Elmiskops, which had been the top brand throughout the 50th and 60th.
Incidentally, Siemens closed their EM division about '78. In Karlsruhe in October '77 I had admired Siemens' latest "Wunderkind", it turned out be the Divisions death knell. It was a FESEM based somewhat on the research by Crewe (Chicago ?) Nice instrument, beautiful column, but Vacuum Generator of the UK had build a better performer at almost half the price. . . . the rest is history.
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed are mine they are based on fragile memories. No dogma is implied or intended. Feel free to purchase an EMU-4, if you can find one. Even Phantom comics of that period fetch increasing prices and modern instruments depreciate rapidly. Don't condemn me for another two years on THAT instrument please. PST does not supply the EMU-4 or similar. Cheers Jim Darley ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes www.proscitech.com
I'd like to hear from anyone with experience with embedding and sectioning of cartilage for TEM. I've checked the "tips and tricks" page but don't see anything there specific to cartilage . Can anyone tell me if there are any particular pitfalls involved in this, especially in regards to maintaining good morphology the cells themselves? Fixation? Longer embedding times? Favorites resins? Sectioning? Thank you. Grace
Regarding AsCII from EL/P, go to the file menu and select "save as". A dialog box offers at least three types of ASCII.
I looked at the 1994 extended abstract on FANTOME. I noticed that the work was suported by DOE. That means that the program should be in the public domain. Since the primary author was at LBL and Roar Kilaas was mentioned in reference 5 (he is at LBL), try contacting LBL to see if they have the program.
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Russell E. Cook, Ph.D. 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 cook-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov
} Terje, We had a similar problem with SO163 that we solved by controlling agitation in the developer tank. We actually had streaks in our negatives because of excessive agitation. The nitrogen burst bubbler was not working and we used manual lifting of the rack to create the mixing that is required for uniform developing. Excessive lifting/agitation/mixing was causing "hot spots" due to the increased flow of the developer across the film in some regions, resulting in streaked images. We use a 4 minute developing time in diluted D-19. We now mix it manually, but slowly 3 or 4 times during the development, by smoothly lifting the rack of film out of the solution and tipping it in one direction and holding for a couple of seconds to briefly drain the developer back to the tank. The rack is then lowered smoothly back to the tank, and in 40-50 seconds the agitation is repeated but tipping the other way, holding briefly, and returning to the tank. This controlled agitation solved our problem. By the way, we also never had this problem when we used 4489, but opt for the more sensitive and finicky SO163. Brad Huggins BPAmoco Naperville, IL
} ---------- } From: Terje Dokland[SMTP:dokland-at-ima.org.sg] } Sent: Monday, September 27, 1999 1:33 AM } To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } Subject: Developing of SO163 } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 having problems with the developing of SO163 films. We get streaks } on the negatives and the results are highly inconsistent in terms of } exposure/optical density. We don't have these problems when we use 4489, } but we need the higher sensitivity of the SO163 for cryo work. Has anybody } else experienced such problems? } } I think at least some of these problems are related to the lack of } temperature } control of our developing solutions. Now, we may be able to keep the } developer } at the proper temperature by further cooling of the room with air-con. } However, is the temperature of the tap water used for rinsing also very } important? This is in Singapore, and our tap water is usually very warm, } sometimes close to 30C. } } If this is important, does anybody have experience with water cooling } systems for this purpose? A recirculating cooling water bath could be } used for cooling the developer, but wouldn't work for the rinse, for which } we would probably need some kind of in-line cooler. (Maybe similar to that } used in water drinking fountains?) I am concerned about the potentially } very high expense of such systems. } } Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, } } Terje } } } } ------------------------------------ } Dr. Terje Dokland } Senior Scientist } Institute of Molecular Agrobiology } 1 Research Link } The National University of Singapore } Singapore 117604 } Phone: 65-872 7405 Fax: 65-872 7007 } E-mail: dokland-at-ima.org.sg } http://lab.ima.org.sg/lab3052/terje } ------------------------------------ } } }
by jason03.u.washington.edu (8.9.3+UW99.09/8.9.3+UW99.08) with ESMTP id LAA18082 for {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} ; Mon, 27 Sep 1999 11:43:31 -0700 Received: from localhost (mheller-at-localhost) by dante27.u.washington.edu (8.9.3+UW99.09/8.9.3+UW99.08) with ESMTP id LAA67942 for {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} ; Mon, 27 Sep 1999 11:43:30 -0700
unsubcribe mheller-at-u.washington.edu
Thank you, it's been a very interesting group. Marlene
To paraphrase an article from the Daily News (Burbank, Calif.) April 27, 1986. "They built the first commercial electron microscope to be produced in the United States." Richard Baker worked on the project from 1941 to 1947 with V.K. Zworykin and 2 other un-named scientists, at RCA, then located in Princeton, N.J. A benefactor of the Univ. of So. California purchased one of the instruments in 1946 and donated it to the university School of Medicine. A year later, Baker left RCA for USC and started doing research on the instrument he helped develop. This microscope, which was donated to the Smithsonian Institution, was replaced by the EMU-3? I had the honor of being trained in E.M. by Dr. Baker, and, yes, learning on the EMU. For more information, or a copy of the article, I can be reached at:
John Hardy City of Hope Medical Center E. M. Facility Duarte, CA. 91010 jhardy-at-coh.org (626) 301-8265
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
As Jim and Jan correctly pointed out, my original posting was meant to = stimulate a discussion about some of the issues facing biological electron = microscopists. =
Before I start, let me assure everyone that I had no intention of scaring = people from posting on this listserver. It has been, and still is, a = wonderful medium for everyone with similar interests. It is also an = important place to "publish" the information with no other place to go. I = have learned much from watching the public discussions and I regret that = much information exchange occurs off-line. My congratulations to all = readers, contributors and organizers for such a success. Please do not = let me put anyone off. If I have, then you must let me know so that I can = apologize and encourage you back.
Now on to the boring stuff:
When I decided to have some fun with what I consider to be a serious issue,= I chose my targets well. Not the innocent bystander, but experienced and = knowledgable experts in the field who are well qualified to put me down if = I stepped over the mark. A punishment I was willing to take if it was = proved I deserved it.
Molecular biologists "live and die by the protocol", which means that = their methods are so well defined that buying the book of recipes = techniques basically guarantees technical success.
For biological EM, we are less fortunate, and although I would enjoy the = simplicity of having set protocols, it is not yet possible. We are still = attempting to understand the many complex steps it takes to get "good" = micrographs. Understanding requires us to evaluate all the information we = have on each subject and, when needed, either design experiments to give = us more information or take what little we do understand and apply that = with little more than faith. =
As someone who is still learning, I crave for facts. When these are not = available, I can also live with statements that are qualified opinions and = work from these. However, seeing opinions being presented as fact worries = me. Not because I take them as truth, but because others do. =
I read the postings I picked on very carefully when they first came up. I = read them again recently and, although I paraphrased the content to make = my point, I still think they both qualified as statment of fact if read by = someone just starting in the field. If the postings had been softened = with "in my experience" or something similar to take the edge off, then I = think I would have let them go as is.
The off-line replies, supporting replies, and even the replies from the = original contributors, indicate a general support of my position. I = respect both Jim Darley and Jan Leunissen and have enjoyed their expertise = in contributions they have made to this list. I did not mean to make = hostile enemies of either one of them and I don't even disagree with the = facts of their psoting. My objection was in the presentation of the facts,= and their most recent messages sugegst that they also agree with this. = Here are my responses to the comments of Jan and Jim:
Jim, for high resolution work, there are better methods for immobilization = than aldehyde fixation. I wouldn't dream of examining any sample at high = magnification to look for resolution that just couldn't be there in resin-= embedded samples. Any comparison of fixation times is therefore not = important. As I said before, most of the extraction is a result of the = buffer being used and not the aldehyde. In fact, the best buffers for = preventing extraction (the "Good buffers": HEPES, PIPES etc) can retain = material so well that the tissue looks poorly fixed. The contrast people = aim at is more a result of extraction than addition of heavy metals. =
I must admit that I haven't come across your use of quotation marks to = mean a word isn't true. However, statments of generalization should be = qualified as such. =
For osmium fixation, the papers I quoted were chosen because, from what I = understand, there was no other way the amino acids under study could have = been localized. This is one example where a substantial exposure to = osmium tetroxide was required for localization to work. Other people sent = me more examples of this too. I routinely include osmium tetroxide in my = freeze substitution media on material that is destined for immunolabeling. = Under these low temperature conditions, the osmium does not appear to = affect either the labeling or the polymerization reaction.
This does not mean I would preferentially use osmium fixation and epoxy = resin embedding as a routine method for immunolabeling. However, to know = that for certain special instances, this method has worked better than = others, is another tool in my bag. As we all know, each new antibody we = work with and each new tissue or cell system requires us to think = carefully about our protocols. All are affected by what we know and the = more we know the better are our design parameters. I wouldn't keep new = microscopists from this information just because it is confusing. It is = because there is so much information available that we subscribe to this = listserver. =
All techniques have their uses and non should be excluded because of = generalities. In general, antibody labeling efficiency is better on = cryosections than on resin sections. However, for me to say that = cryosections should be used for immunolabeling experiments immediately = discounts the many advantages of resins and omits the important exceptions = where resins have been the only way to successfully localize antigens. We = have to know all our options so that we can make good decisions in our = experimental design. =
Jim, I almost did reply off-line to your posting in the way you suggested, = but I thought we could have a little more fun doing this way. Thinking = about these messages, and writing my replies has taken some time. I guess = you have had the same constraints of time so I apologize for dragging you = into it without warning.
Jan, it seems that you are also supporting my positions on dogma as well = as on the use of the listserver as an open forum, and on our right to make = informed decisions on which methods to use. =
As someone who is performing immunolabeling experiments on a daily basis, = I was fascinated by your comments on the glutaraldehyde fixation. The = lack of additional information made it difficult for me to properly = evaluate your statements and possible improve my protocols. I suppose I = could have contacted you directly to get this information but then it = would have been a little selfish and would have deprived us all of your = expertise.
Reading your humorous reply made me think again about my immunolabeling = protocols and convinced me to give the fixation step another try. However,= it seems we are both guilty of a similar crime in that our de=05cision to = either include or remove this fixation step in our labeling protocol was = based on subjective results and not on documented quantitative data. We = both saw what we wanted to see. So, until someone finds the time to = quantitatively compare results from both protocols, we sit with our = respective dogma's in our shared cell. =
What should we aim for? Perhaps protocols that are specific enough for = all systems. Or maybe protocols that explain a general example but which = also give the exceptions with explanations of why they worked against the = rule.
In the US, it is true that the accused remain innocent until proven guilty.= Without the time or resources to petition further, and therefore at risk = of adding boredom to the list by presenting incomplete research, I rest my = case with the accused retaining their innocence and liberty. =
I encourage suits for wrongful arrest from anyone interested in joining in = (I still think I escaped from this issue too easily). I also encourage = others to submit their comments on the general status of protocols for = biological EM. Do they sufficiently explain why we do them (e.g. how does = osmium tetroxide fix cells and why should this treatment modify antigens = enough to stop antibodies from binding to them?) or is there still some = black magic to these techniques? =
by srvr20.engin.umich.edu (8.9.1a/8.9.1) with ESMTP id PAA21653 for {microscopy-at-msa.microscopy.com} ; Mon, 27 Sep 1999 15:59:16 -0400 (EDT) X-Sender: bigelow-at-srvr5.engin.umich.edu Message-Id: {v03007802b4157bf9e6c3-at-[141.212.131.74]} Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
I was working on a project a while ago that required the use of computer controlled stepping motors, and discovered a company that makes a complete package consisting of 2 stepping motors, power supply, and controller that is ready to connect to a PC for computer driven operation, and is VERY reasonably priced. Check with Circuit Specialists Inc. 800-811-5208, and ask about their MD2 system.
If you need a neat little minature stepping motor I found the Model AM1524 made by Donovan Micro-Tek, 805-522-4330 is only 15 mm in diameter and 16.5 mm long, and suitable for use inside a UHV system - maybe you could get Circuit Specialists to incorporate this motor into their system.
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
Very interesting history, which I hadn't known before. The RCA model at USC was probably replaced by the RCA EMU-2 series. I did EM for my PhD thesis in 1956-58 on an RCA EMU-2D, which was the current model then. I was working in Biology at Harvard with George B. Chapman, who had just arrived from Princeton, where he had worked with Jim Hillier (another member of that early RCA lab group).
I would appreciate a copy of the article. Thanks.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A. Kent Christensen, Professor Emeritus Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology University of Michigan Medical School Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0616 Tel (work) 763-1287, Fax (work) 763-1166 akc-at-umich.edu http://www.umich.edu/~akc/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
--On Mon, Sep 27, 1999 11:40 AM -0500 "jhardy-at-smtplink.Coh.ORG"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com wrote:
} } To paraphrase an article from the Daily News (Burbank, Calif.) April } 27, 1986. "They built the first commercial electron microscope to } be produced in the United States." Richard Baker worked on the } project from 1941 to 1947 with V.K. Zworykin and 2 other un-named } scientists, at RCA, then located in Princeton, N.J. A benefactor } of the Univ. of So. California purchased one of the instruments in } 1946 and donated it to the university School of Medicine. A year } later, Baker left RCA for USC and started doing research on the } instrument he helped develop. This microscope, which was donated } to the } Smithsonian Institution, was replaced by the EMU-3? I had the honor } of being trained in E.M. by Dr. Baker, and, yes, learning on the EMU. } For more information, or a copy of the article, I can be reached at: } } John Hardy } City of Hope Medical Center } E. M. Facility } Duarte, CA. 91010 } jhardy-at-coh.org } (626) 301-8265
We have a Plasma Sciences LVC-76 Sputter coater with Carbon attachment that is having a mid-life crisis. It seems like some type of electrical or wiring problem, or perhaps a faulty switch?? but it works sporadically. (I am passing this on for a colleague, so am a bit fuzzy on the details). At least once the coating discharged towards the grounding wire inside the unit instead of evenly. Our internal electronics service personnel have exhausted their expertise towards repair.
Any suggestions on where to turn to have this unit repaired? I understand Plasma Sciences is no longer in existence. Alternatively, any suggestions on a good model to purchase these days? Preferably a company that will be around for a while (we've been through three different sputter coaters in the last 8 years, all requiring service, at least two of them from companies no longer in business.)
Thanks for your help! -- Karen S. Zaruba kszaruba-at-mmm.com 3M Center St. Paul, MN 55144
Hi Paul & Listreaders: I accept that you cited the three examples of dogma taunting to stir some debate. At the very least you picked rather poor examples of "dogma". The third of your "dogmas" was submitted by Jan Leunissen and he presented an excellent plea showing his innocence and also that he was not properly quoted. Since Jan works for Aurion I assume that he knows a few things about immuno gold labeling, yet Paul had stated } without producing supporting documentation or direct personal experiences. {
Paul's quotation accusing me of dogma were incorrect too. } "Can't leave biological tissues in glutaraldehyde for long periods; { I actually had clearly qualified this as referring to HIGH RESOLUTION work AND I had given reason AND I have experience in that regard. Paul, have you looked at GA overfixed tissue at several hundred thousand times and compared that with properly fixed tissues? I stand by my original statement.
Paul's second misquote was: } Immunological and cytochemical reactions are killed by osmium; { A little, but vital omission were the quotation marks around the word killed. Afterall, we are talking about Immunological and cystochemical activities and these are not on-or-off, but diminish with various treatments. My original advise was like saying: "70% ethanol kills microorganisms". It does and most would be killed very rapidly, but there may be some, for instance yeast spores that could survive for some time in that high concentration of yeast "excreta". The statement "70% ethanol 'kills' . . . remains true. I did not say or imply that osmium "kills" all immune activities instantly and completely. I am not guilty of "dogma", which is a forcible statement or opinion stating as if unchallengable or authoritative assumptions rather than empirical observations.
It should be noted that a wrongly based forcible statement like Paul's "Dogma Police" actually suits that very definitions much better. I also see a couple of other problems with this kind of argument on the listserver. 1 It could deter some people from submitting freely their opinions. 2 It could lead to the frequent addition and confusing qualifiers and this would change the nature of this discussion forum.
Hands up, which of the other contributors to the topic did go back to my original message and read this and Paul's assertions critically? Anybody??? The replies come up with a few publications showing that at least some partially osmicated tissues, retained some antigens in some cases. Not many such publications though and we could safely assume that less than one in a hundred of such research projects used any osmium prior to labeling. This supports my case: Why would so many researchers publish such low contrast images IF normal EM preparation showed equally good activities? Paul agrees } When we all finally accept that contrast equals loss of antigen, we may eventually enjoy the esthetics of low contrast, high information images, and learn to leave the high contrast pictures in the morphology books. { } From that I infer that at least some of those "osmium before labeling" publications may have been "better" without osmium first. Furthermore, Paul here clearly states that higher contrast (e.g. osmication) equals lower antigenicity; in fact he is in agreement with my original advise. What as your point?
I admit that I too played a game. Paul used an emotive term to get people onsite. It worked, because we all detest "dogma". It would have been nice if critical thinking had prevailed. When I asked to provide prove that osmication does not "kill" immune activity {cite some publications were full osmium fixation was used prior to immunolabeling {, they came in like the tide.
You cannot prove that by showing that some activity is preserved in some case. What is required is a full comparison of remaining activity after different treatments in different tissues and different reactions. Safe your efforts, Paul and most of as know that: osmium "kills" immune activities.
Now, had somebody in reply to my original submission written in "your right Jim, but sometimes, after some osmium fixation there is enough remaining activity for successful labeling." I would have replied "Amen". Cheers Jim Darley ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes www.proscitech.com
On Friday, September 24, 1999 4:42 AM, Paul Webster [SMTP:pwebster-at-mailhouse.hei.org] 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Reply to: RE: Dogma Police } Dear Jim, } Thanks for your reply. I had hoped for more hostile and numerous responses } but my mailbox is only full of support messages. I didn't mean the message } to be a personal attack, rather a way of provoking an open discussion, } something that is often lacking on this forum. } My message was prompted mostly by the thread concerning publishing information } on-line, where the main objection was that there was insufficient review } process to make it credible. These comments followed by the solid statments } I quoted (admittedly out of context) clearly illustrated the point of what } poor refereeing can result in. } } I agree that for teaching purposes, a little dogma is not a bad thing and have } been guilty of it myself. However, to see you quote text in your web site as } a support for your claims made me think we should start discussing the finer } details of what we are doing here. } } Firstly, some references where osmium fixation has been used for } immunolabeling. Ottersen's group in Olso (1984 J. Comp Neurol 229:374-392; } 1986 Med. Biol. 64:147-158; 1990 Prog Brain Res 83:99-114) applied antibodies } to brain sections that had been fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde, 1% } formaldehyde, treated with 1% osmium tetroxide, dehydrated in ethanol and } propylene oxide and embedded in epoxy resin! I am sure I could find more } without too much effort if you want them (I remember what I read, not where I } read it). } } I see Tamara Howard has provided additional additional references and the } comments that there are few very hard and fast rules in EM specimen } preparation. I agree totally with this. It is important that we keep } attempting to try out new things so that we can push the bounderies. Setting } limits during the early stages of instruction stops growth into areas we can } never imagine. } } Jim, your other comment, that long fixation affects resolution is also not } documented fact. I do remember a paper, which I will look for, where } extraction in aldehyde fixative was dependant upon the buffer being used, not } the aldehyde. What is clearly documented is that the subsequent processing } steps (post-fixation, dehydration and infiltration) affect the amount of } extraction and thus reduce resolution. } For most morphology applications, contrast is preferred over resolution } anyway. Witness the problem of getting immunocytochemical results published } over the last 10 years. Even here on the listserver, there is always an } ongoing discussion of how to get better contrast in the LR or Lowicryl } resins. When we all finally accept that contrast equals loss of antigen, we } may eventually enjoy the esthetics of low contrast, high information images, } and learn to leave the high contrast pictures in the morphology books. } } If high resolution is required then there are better methods than those } involving aldehyde fixation and epoxy resin embedding. For the poster of the } original question I would say, leave the tissues in glutaraldehyde for as } long as is convenient, any loss of structure will go unnoticed. However, as } with all advice, I reccommend you take it with a pinch of salt and try it out } for yourself. } } Finally, the issue of fixing immunolabeled sections with 1% glutaraldehyde } came up and there were a variety of answers. The one I took mild exception } to was from Jan Leunissen. He is a great teacher and I respect him and his } work at many levels. In his message, he correctly pointed out that the } conditions of high salt and low pH are used to elute antibodies from } antigens. Therefore 1% glutaraldehyde must be used to crosslink antibodies } to sections and protein A-gold to antibodies. It all sounds good in theory } but where is the proof? I and my colleagues have been applying antibodies } and colloidal gold to sections for years without that final crosslinking } step. Why do we still get specific label? Who knows. What we do know is } that we have compared the effect of adding this fixation step and decided } that it didn't improve labeling efficiency. We therefore made an informed } decision to leave it out of the protocol. Putting unneccessary steps into a } protocol only makes life more difficult for people wo } rking in busy labs. } My advice for anyone just starting in EM, is to take what you are told with } healthy skepticism and question anything you feel may be unreasonable. If } there is a reason for doing something your teacher should know that reason. } If they don't know why something should be done, try leaving it out to see } if it makes a difference. To apply methods on the faith that they work is } not sufficient anymore. We need informed reasons for applying methods. We } are in the good times for EM and we have to shed our artist/magician image. } The closer we get to being scientists, the more seriously we will be } accepted by the science community who are at present looking for our skills. } } For the record, I also take exception to the methods that involve the use of } bodily fluids. If we can't work out how to do something without nose or face } grease we really deserve to be left behind. } } Thanks Jim, for taking the bait and allowing the start of what I hope will be } an informative discussion on credibility. } } Regards, } } Paul Webster. } } } } } jim wrote: } } Fair go Paul. That "Dogma Police" header is a trifle emotive and not } } justified? } The first two examples of "Dogma" given may be mine, but they are } } out of } context. } } I had written that storing tissues in GA affects high resolution imaging. I } } } gave reasons. } } Are you asserting that excessive fixation in GA does not affect high } } resolution } imaging??? } } } } I had written {Immunological and cytochemical reactions are killed by } } osmium} , } but the "killed" was in quotation marks, because I had learned } } about 30 years } ago, that most such cellular activities cease . I do not } } believe that cells or } osmium have changed in this regard. I have no reason } } to change my mind - or do } you have any evidence to the contrary. I guess } } about half of all subscribers } would like to know about that. To use your } } words "were is your supporting } documentation" Please Paul, cite some } } publications were full osmium fixation } was used prior to immunolabeling. } } Cheers } } Jim Darley } } ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS } } PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia } } Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com } } Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes } } www.proscitech.com } } } } On Thursday, September 23, 1999 2:17 AM, Paul Webster } } } [SMTP:pwebster-at-mailhouse.hei.org] wrote: } } } } } "Can't leave biological tissues in glutaraldehyde for long periods; } } } Immunological and cytochemical reactions are killed by osmium; } } } Must use glutaradehyde after labeling reactions on sections." } } } } } } You are all under arrest for spreading widespread panic without producing } } } supporting documentation or direct personal experiences. } } } } } } Paul Webster, Ph.D. } } } House Ear Insititute } } } 2100 West Third Street } } } Los Angeles, CA 90057 } } } 213 273 8026 } } } pwebster-at-hei.org } } } http://www.hei.org/htm/aemi.htm } } } } } } } } } } } } } RFC822 header } } ----------------------------------- } } } } Received: from ultra.ultra.net.au [203.20.237.5] by mailhouse.hei.org with } } } ESMTP } } (SMTPD32-4.07) id A00314BB021E; Thu, 23 Sep 1999 07:58:11 PST } } Received: from 150 (p098.supa2-tsv.ultra.net.au [202.80.71.98]) } } by ultra.ultra.net.au (8.9.3/8.9.3) with SMTP id BAA13065; } } Fri, 24 Sep 1999 01:02:04 +1000 (EST) } } Received: by localhost with Microsoft MAPI; Fri, 24 Sep 1999 01:02:01 +1000 } } Message-ID: {01BF0628.68BC69A0.jim-at-proscitech.com.au} } } From: jim {jim-at-proscitech.com.au} } } Reply-To: "jim-at-proscitech.com.au" {jim-at-proscitech.com.au} } } To: "'Paul Webster'" {pwebster-at-mailhouse.hei.org} , } } "'MSA listserver submission'" } } {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} } } Subject: RE: Dogma Police } } Date: Fri, 24 Sep 1999 00:50:03 +1000 } } Return-Receipt-To: jim {jim-at-proscitech.com.au} } } Organization: ProSciTech } } X-Mailer: Microsoft Internet E-mail/MAPI - 8.0.0.4211 } } MIME-Version: 1.0 } } Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" } } Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit } } X-UIDL: 234843928 } } Status: U } } }
We are having problems with the developing of SO163 films. We get streaks on the negatives and the results are highly inconsistent in terms of exposure/optical density. We don't have these problems when we use 4489, but we need the higher sensitivity of the SO163 for cryo work. Has anybody else experienced such problems?
I think at least some of these problems are related to the lack of temperature control of our developing solutions. Now, we may be able to keep the developer at the proper temperature by further cooling of the room with air-con. However, is the temperature of the tap water used for rinsing also very important? This is in Singapore, and our tap water is usually very warm, sometimes close to 30C.
If this is important, does anybody have experience with water cooling systems for this purpose? A recirculating cooling water bath could be used for cooling the developer, but wouldn't work for the rinse, for which we would probably need some kind of in-line cooler. (Maybe similar to that used in water drinking fountains?) I am concerned about the potentially very high expense of such systems.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks,
Terje
------------------------------------ Dr. Terje Dokland Senior Scientist Institute of Molecular Agrobiology 1 Research Link The National University of Singapore Singapore 117604 Phone: 65-872 7405 Fax: 65-872 7007 E-mail: dokland-at-ima.org.sg http://lab.ima.org.sg/lab3052/terje ------------------------------------
Hi everybody,
I'm a bit late in this discussion, have been trying to get on the list for a while -
I've been using Lowicryl K4M for nearly 10 years now, and only a few times have I had problems with sectioning. I can't recall ever having problems with the curing either (which have been the case with both Agar 100 and Araldite). I tried Unicryl for a while as well (both heat- and UV-polymerized), and my results were quite comparable with the Lowicryl ones. Has anyone compared Low/Uni with LR White or Gold?
Regards Margareta
Margareta Halin Dept. of Internal Medicine University Hospital Uppsala Sweden
Ran into the same problems for a bit here too. Found it was warm tap water. The darkroom is maintained at 20C so we just stuck a bottle of water on the bench and problem solved. It was the rinse between development and fix that was the problem. We use 4489 film. Good luck
At 02:33 PM 9/27/1999 +0800, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} { GO GATORS Scott D. Whittaker 218 Carr Hall EM Technician Gainesville, FL 32610 University Of Florida ph 352-392-1184 ICBR EM Core Lab fax 352-846-0251 sdw-at-biotech.ufl.edu http://www.biotech.ufl.edu/~emcl/ The home of " Tips & Tricks "
Dear Jerzy,
Mr. Egerton placed all the source codes that are discussed in his book and some other helpful files and data on the following ftp-site
ftp://ftp.phys.ualberta.ca/public_html/eels/
Cheers,
Petra
At 19:54 24.09.99 -0500, you wrote:
*SNIP*
} I am attempting to conduct dielectric function (constant) evaluations from } Plasmon Loss EELS spectra acquired with our TEM using GIF. After doing a } fast literature search I came up with two possible sources of information: } } 1) book by Egerton (1996 2nd edition) is supposed to contain recipe for } calculations and a Fortran code used to transform EELS spectra into usable } information (according to D.B. Williams and C.B. Carter). - I do not have a } copy of the book, but could read it in a local University library or } purchase it.
*SNIP*
} Jerzy } } ***************************************************************** } Jerzy Gazda, Ph.D. } Advanced Micro Devices } Senior Materials Scientist } 5204 E. Ben White Blvd. - MS 613 } PCAL - Analytical TEM Section } Austin, TX 78741 } TEL: 1-800-538-8450, Ext. 51453 } FAX: (512) 602-7470 } jerzy,gazda-at-amd.com } *****************************************************************
-------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Petra Wahlbring Centre de Recherche Public - Gabriel Lippmann Laboratoire d'Analyse des Materiaux (LAM) 162a, av. de la Faiencerie L-1511 Luxembourg tel. +352-466644-402 fax +352-466644-400 e-mail: petra.wahlbring-at-crpgl.lu Visit our WWW site! http://www.crpgl.lu/~wahlbrin
SCOPE The symposium is intended to provide an overview of present achievements and expected future trends in microscopy including the instrumentation, imaging science, theories, new techniques, new methods and applications in chemistry, physics, mineralogy, material sciences, life science, environmental science and other basic science areas. It will also cover scanning probe microscopy and near-field optical microscopy. Leading scientists will be invited to present introductory overview lectures to symposia. English will be the official language.
VENUE The symposium will take place in Kunming, the capital city of Yunnan Province and one of the most famous tourist destinations in China. Being blessed with the agreeable climate because of its subtropical location and altitude of 1894 meters, Kunming enjoys the fame of Spring City --- a city full of the beauty of spring all the year round. It is also fascinating due to the unique natural features such as the Stone Forest, Western Hill, Golden Temple and Ethnic Minorities Village. Therefore, Kunming has the great honor to be selected the host city of the 1999 International Horticultural Exposition (EXPO'99). The EXPO halls and gardens displaying flowers and plant life from all over the world certainly much highlight the city. They will last continuously after the EXPO'99.
Yunnan Province is located in South China bordering on Vietnam, Laos and Burma. The citizens are from 26 minority nationalities, each of which has her own language and folklore. Here people show a rich-color ethnic album by their unique history and culture, local customs and traditional festivals. The great variety of nationalities in Yunnan can be seen on the streets as well as in the EXPO Garden in Kunming. The southern atmosphere and the variety of cultures and customs can be enjoyed while strolling through the market streets away from the big avenues of the city.
INVITATION The Chinese Electron Microscopy Society (CEMS) would like to extend a warm invitation to all friends and colleagues in microscopy to join us at the '2000 International Kunming Symposium on Microscopy.
NOTICE: We shall keep you apprised of the further information when you name be listed.
(This is the END of the announcement.)
Dear Terge,
I would like to pick up on the expression `streaking'. Does this appear to be vertically from exposed areas? If there is insufficient agitation during developing this can occur quite easily. I assume that you develop the SO163 in concentrated developer and the 4489 in normal strength, maybe there is different agitation (N2 burst?) for the two films.
Other problems tend to give a blotchy or mottled effect.
} We are having problems with the developing of SO163 films. We get streaks } on the negatives and the results are highly inconsistent in terms of } exposure/optical density. We don't have these problems when we use 4489, } but we need the higher sensitivity of the SO163 for cryo work. Has anybody } else experienced such problems? } } I think at least some of these problems are related to the lack of temperature } control of our developing solutions. Now, we may be able to keep the developer } at the proper temperature by further cooling of the room with air-con. } However, is the temperature of the tap water used for rinsing also very } important? This is in Singapore, and our tap water is usually very warm, } sometimes close to 30C. } } If this is important, does anybody have experience with water cooling } systems for this purpose? A recirculating cooling water bath could be } used for cooling the developer, but wouldn't work for the rinse, for which } we would probably need some kind of in-line cooler. (Maybe similar to that } used in water drinking fountains?) I am concerned about the potentially } very high expense of such systems. } } Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, } } Terje } } } } ------------------------------------ } Dr. Terje Dokland } Senior Scientist } Institute of Molecular Agrobiology } 1 Research Link } The National University of Singapore } Singapore 117604 } Phone: 65-872 7405 Fax: 65-872 7007 } E-mail: dokland-at-ima.org.sg } http://lab.ima.org.sg/lab3052/terje } ------------------------------------ } } }
---------------------- Mr. R.C. Doole Department of Materials, University of Oxford. Parks Road, Oxford. OX1 3PH. UK. Phone +44 (0) 1865 273701 Fax +44 (0) 1865 283333 ron.doole-at-materials.ox.ac.uk
Hello List Readers: Laura Rhoads suggested that forced use of THAT instrument would be a suitable penalty for those committing "crimes" such as broadcasting "dogma". I concured, adding "I would not want to offend anybody, but I've been in purgatory for two years already. Circa 1970 that instrument was the worst money could buy in the Western World."
Several readers have responded making positive points about that instruments. I agree with some of these because nothing in this world is entirely bad - even a broken clock shows the right time, twice a day.
Yes, that instrument looked good, it had a big column and would make a fine statue in someone's garden (so Laura suggested, personal communications). I would love one, it would be the crowing glory to the banks of the Ross River.
Yes, the image had good contrast because it was a medium resolution instrument (I guess about 0.8nm). A longer working distance objective results in higher contrast but lower resolution. Other manufacturers offer high contrast objectives, but most instrument purchasers ask for higher resolution.
Yes, RCA's are historical instrument and the first commercially produced American TEM. Though I believe that Siemens produced the first commercial TEM in the mid 30th.
Yes, for some people this was their first electron microscope and it had to be impressive to us who grew up before computer whizz-bangery. Unfortunately, it was my fourth TEM. My previous loves had been a mid-60th Siemens Elmiskop, a Philips 100C (the one with a near horizontal column and transmission viewing screen) and a Zeiss 9C. All of these were rather better suited to productive work.
Yes, the electronics were reliable, but the vacuum gauging was insufficient. Since it also had no vacuum locks and blanking provisions were poor, vacuum trouble-shooting was very difficult.
Yes, it was reasonably easy to operate and was great for forced coffee breaks. No specimen, no gun, nor camera vacuum locks made for lots and lots of pumping times.
Yes, the camera had two options, either three single plates could be inserted or one long plate taking five images on one plate. Bit of a pain to share negatives with another operator. Absolutely awful for taking lots of images and changing specimens. The pumping cycle was slow.
The complete lack of vacuum locks and the poor film options made the EMU-4 a "hysterical instrument". Such features were not rocket science even in those days. More features . . .
Changing the filament was a painful operation. I think the basic alignment after filament change required three complete column pumping cycles, lots of time for getting other jobs done during those operations. I could not align that scope in under two hours. I had inherited a service contract and the service men could do no better.
Alignment screws were difficult to adjust accurately in those days on most TEMs. I learned from the service man that the final touch was best achieved by tapping the column with a rubber mallet - which was not part of the service kit.
Filament life averaged about 12 hours, with the alignment procedure eating up a good part thereof. Short filament life may not have been an inherent problem in the design. This may have been due to poor vacuum, but there was no good way of isolating vacuum parts, getting a reliable vacuum reading and finding a possible leak.
Why did RCA sell the EMU-4 to Forgflow, who then quickly discontinued that instrument? Because the column design was 10 years too late. By 1972 I had a Philips EM300 - now that was progress. Philips at last had eclipsed the Elmiskops, which had been the top brand throughout the 50th and 60th.
Incidentally, Siemens closed their EM division about '78. In Karlsruhe in October '77 I had admired Siemens' latest "Wunderkind", it turned out be the Divisions death knell. It was a FESEM based somewhat on the research by Crewe (Chicago ?) Nice instrument, beautiful column, but Vacuum Generator of the UK had build a better performer at almost half the price. . . . the rest is history.
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed are mine they are based on fragile memories. No dogma is implied or intended. Feel free to purchase an EMU-4, if you can find one. Even Phantom comics of that period fetch increasing prices and modern instruments depreciate rapidly. Don't condemn me for another two years on THAT instrument please. PST does not supply the EMU-4 or similar. Cheers Jim Darley ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes www.proscitech.com
} I have just been asked to come up with a system for automatically } replenishing the liquid nitrogen in the anticontamination device
Hi Scott,
One of our customers recommended Vacuum Barrier Systems (VBS). Website is {http://www.vbsflex.com} .
Jeff Gschwend EDAX, Inc.
Phone: 847-816-6098
I'd like to hear from anyone with experience with embedding and sectioning of cartilage for TEM. I've checked the "tips and tricks" page but don't see anything there specific to cartilage . Can anyone tell me if there are any particular pitfalls involved in this, especially in regards to maintaining good morphology the cells themselves? Fixation? Longer embedding times? Favorites resins? Sectioning? Thank you. Grace
To paraphrase an article from the Daily News (Burbank, Calif.) April 27, 1986. "They built the first commercial electron microscope to be produced in the United States." Richard Baker worked on the project from 1941 to 1947 with V.K. Zworykin and 2 other un-named scientists, at RCA, then located in Princeton, N.J. A benefactor of the Univ. of So. California purchased one of the instruments in 1946 and donated it to the university School of Medicine. A year later, Baker left RCA for USC and started doing research on the instrument he helped develop. This microscope, which was donated to the Smithsonian Institution, was replaced by the EMU-3? I had the honor of being trained in E.M. by Dr. Baker, and, yes, learning on the EMU. For more information, or a copy of the article, I can be reached at:
John Hardy City of Hope Medical Center E. M. Facility Duarte, CA. 91010 jhardy-at-coh.org (626) 301-8265
} Terje, We had a similar problem with SO163 that we solved by controlling agitation in the developer tank. We actually had streaks in our negatives because of excessive agitation. The nitrogen burst bubbler was not working and we used manual lifting of the rack to create the mixing that is required for uniform developing. Excessive lifting/agitation/mixing was causing "hot spots" due to the increased flow of the developer across the film in some regions, resulting in streaked images. We use a 4 minute developing time in diluted D-19. We now mix it manually, but slowly 3 or 4 times during the development, by smoothly lifting the rack of film out of the solution and tipping it in one direction and holding for a couple of seconds to briefly drain the developer back to the tank. The rack is then lowered smoothly back to the tank, and in 40-50 seconds the agitation is repeated but tipping the other way, holding briefly, and returning to the tank. This controlled agitation solved our problem. By the way, we also never had this problem when we used 4489, but opt for the more sensitive and finicky SO163. Brad Huggins BPAmoco Naperville, IL
} ---------- } From: Terje Dokland[SMTP:dokland-at-ima.org.sg] } Sent: Monday, September 27, 1999 1:33 AM } To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } Subject: Developing of SO163 } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 having problems with the developing of SO163 films. We get streaks } on the negatives and the results are highly inconsistent in terms of } exposure/optical density. We don't have these problems when we use 4489, } but we need the higher sensitivity of the SO163 for cryo work. Has anybody } else experienced such problems? } } I think at least some of these problems are related to the lack of } temperature } control of our developing solutions. Now, we may be able to keep the } developer } at the proper temperature by further cooling of the room with air-con. } However, is the temperature of the tap water used for rinsing also very } important? This is in Singapore, and our tap water is usually very warm, } sometimes close to 30C. } } If this is important, does anybody have experience with water cooling } systems for this purpose? A recirculating cooling water bath could be } used for cooling the developer, but wouldn't work for the rinse, for which } we would probably need some kind of in-line cooler. (Maybe similar to that } used in water drinking fountains?) I am concerned about the potentially } very high expense of such systems. } } Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, } } Terje } } } } ------------------------------------ } Dr. Terje Dokland } Senior Scientist } Institute of Molecular Agrobiology } 1 Research Link } The National University of Singapore } Singapore 117604 } Phone: 65-872 7405 Fax: 65-872 7007 } E-mail: dokland-at-ima.org.sg } http://lab.ima.org.sg/lab3052/terje } ------------------------------------ } } }
Regarding AsCII from EL/P, go to the file menu and select "save as". A dialog box offers at least three types of ASCII.
I looked at the 1994 extended abstract on FANTOME. I noticed that the work was suported by DOE. That means that the program should be in the public domain. Since the primary author was at LBL and Roar Kilaas was mentioned in reference 5 (he is at LBL), try contacting LBL to see if they have the program.
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Russell E. Cook, Ph.D. 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 cook-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
When using manual agitation every minute or so with Diafine two-bath developer, I've never see any streaking on the dried negatives.
Bernie Kestel Materials Science Division Argonne National Laboratory 9700 South Cass Avenue Argonne,Il., 60439
unsubcribe mheller-at-u.washington.edu
Thank you, it's been a very interesting group. Marlene
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
As Jim and Jan correctly pointed out, my original posting was meant to stimulate a discussion about some of the issues facing biological electron microscopists. Before I start, let me assure everyone that I had no intention of scaring people from posting on this listserver. It has been, and still is, a wonderful medium for everyone with similar interests. It is also an important place to "publish" the information with no other place to go. I have learned much from watching the public discussions and I regret that much information exchange occurs off-line. My congratulations to all readers, contributors and organizers for such a success. Please do not let me put anyone off. If I have, then you must let me know so that I can apologize and encourage you back.
Now on to the boring stuff:
When I decided to have some fun with what I consider to be a serious issue, I chose my targets well. Not the innocent bystander, but experienced and knowledgable experts in the field who are well qualified to put me down if I stepped over the mark. A punishment I was willing to take if it was proved I deserved it.
Molecular biologists "live and die by the protocol", which means that their methods are so well defined that buying the book of recipes techniques basically guarantees technical success.
For biological EM, we are less fortunate, and although I would enjoy the simplicity of having set protocols, it is not yet possible. We are still attempting to understand the many complex steps it takes to get "good" micrographs. Understanding requires us to evaluate all the information we have on each subject and, when needed, either design experiments to give us more information or take what little we do understand and apply that with little more than faith. As someone who is still learning, I crave for facts. When these are not available, I can also live with statements that are qualified opinions and work from these. However, seeing opinions being presented as fact worries me. Not because I take them as truth, but because others do. I read the postings I picked on very carefully when they first came up. I read them again recently and, although I paraphrased the content to make my point, I still think they both qualified as statment of fact if read by someone just starting in the field. If the postings had been softened with "in my experience" or something similar to take the edge off, then I think I would have let them go as is.
The off-line replies, supporting replies, and even the replies from the original contributors, indicate a general support of my position. I respect both Jim Darley and Jan Leunissen and have enjoyed their expertise in contributions they have made to this list. I did not mean to make hostile enemies of either one of them and I don't even disagree with the facts of their psoting. My objection was in the presentation of the facts, and their most recent messages sugegst that they also agree with this. Here are my responses to the comments of Jan and Jim:
Jim, for high resolution work, there are better methods for immobilization than aldehyde fixation. I wouldn't dream of examining any sample at high magnification to look for resolution that just couldn't be there in resin-embedded samples. Any comparison of fixation times is therefore not important. As I said before, most of the extraction is a result of the buffer being used and not the aldehyde. In fact, the best buffers for preventing extraction (the "Good buffers": HEPES, PIPES etc) can retain material so well that the tissue looks poorly fixed. The contrast people aim at is more a result of extraction than addition of heavy metals. I must admit that I haven't come across your use of quotation marks to mean a word isn't true. However, statments of generalization should be qualified as such. For osmium fixation, the papers I quoted were chosen because, from what I understand, there was no other way the amino acids under study could have been localized. This is one example where a substantial exposure to osmium tetroxide was required for localization to work. Other people sent me more examples of this too. I routinely include osmium tetroxide in my freeze substitution media on material that is destined for immunolabeling. Under these low temperature conditions, the osmium does not appear to affect either the labeling or the polymerization reaction.
This does not mean I would preferentially use osmium fixation and epoxy resin embedding as a routine method for immunolabeling. However, to know that for certain special instances, this method has worked better than others, is another tool in my bag. As we all know, each new antibody we work with and each new tissue or cell system requires us to think carefully about our protocols. All are affected by what we know and the more we know the better are our design parameters. I wouldn't keep new microscopists from this information just because it is confusing. It is because there is so much information available that we subscribe to this listserver. All techniques have their uses and non should be excluded because of generalities. In general, antibody labeling efficiency is better on cryosections than on resin sections. However, for me to say that cryosections should be used for immunolabeling experiments immediately discounts the many advantages of resins and omits the important exceptions where resins have been the only way to successfully localize antigens. We have to know all our options so that we can make good decisions in our experimental design. Jim, I almost did reply off-line to your posting in the way you suggested, but I thought we could have a little more fun doing this way. Thinking about these messages, and writing my replies has taken some time. I guess you have had the same constraints of time so I apologize for dragging you into it without warning.
Jan, it seems that you are also supporting my positions on dogma as well as on the use of the listserver as an open forum, and on our right to make informed decisions on which methods to use. As someone who is performing immunolabeling experiments on a daily basis, I was fascinated by your comments on the glutaraldehyde fixation. The lack of additional information made it difficult for me to properly evaluate your statements and possible improve my protocols. I suppose I could have contacted you directly to get this information but then it would have been a little selfish and would have deprived us all of your expertise.
Reading your humorous reply made me think again about my immunolabeling protocols and convinced me to give the fixation step another try. However, it seems we are both guilty of a similar crime in that our decision to either include or remove this fixation step in our labeling protocol was based on subjective results and not on documented quantitative data. We both saw what we wanted to see. So, until someone finds the time to quantitatively compare results from both protocols, we sit with our respective dogma's in our shared cell. What should we aim for? Perhaps protocols that are specific enough for all systems. Or maybe protocols that explain a general example but which also give the exceptions with explanations of why they worked against the rule.
In the US, it is true that the accused remain innocent until proven guilty. Without the time or resources to petition further, and therefore at risk of adding boredom to the list by presenting incomplete research, I rest my case with the accused retaining their innocence and liberty. I encourage suits for wrongful arrest from anyone interested in joining in (I still think I escaped from this issue too easily). I also encourage others to submit their comments on the general status of protocols for biological EM. Do they sufficiently explain why we do them (e.g. how does osmium tetroxide fix cells and why should this treatment modify antigens enough to stop antibodies from binding to them?) or is there still some black magic to these techniques? Regards,
Paul Webster.
I was working on a project a while ago that required the use of computer controlled stepping motors, and discovered a company that makes a complete package consisting of 2 stepping motors, power supply, and controller that is ready to connect to a PC for computer driven operation, and is VERY reasonably priced. Check with Circuit Specialists Inc. 800-811-5208, and ask about their MD2 system.
If you need a neat little minature stepping motor I found the Model AM1524 made by Donovan Micro-Tek, 805-522-4330 is only 15 mm in diameter and 16.5 mm long, and suitable for use inside a UHV system - maybe you could get Circuit Specialists to incorporate this motor into their system.
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
Very interesting history, which I hadn't known before. The RCA model at USC was probably replaced by the RCA EMU-2 series. I did EM for my PhD thesis in 1956-58 on an RCA EMU-2D, which was the current model then. I was working in Biology at Harvard with George B. Chapman, who had just arrived from Princeton, where he had worked with Jim Hillier (another member of that early RCA lab group).
I would appreciate a copy of the article. Thanks.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A. Kent Christensen, Professor Emeritus Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology University of Michigan Medical School Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0616 Tel (work) 763-1287, Fax (work) 763-1166 akc-at-umich.edu http://www.umich.edu/~akc/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
--On Mon, Sep 27, 1999 11:40 AM -0500 "jhardy-at-smtplink.Coh.ORG"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com wrote:
} } To paraphrase an article from the Daily News (Burbank, Calif.) April } 27, 1986. "They built the first commercial electron microscope to } be produced in the United States." Richard Baker worked on the } project from 1941 to 1947 with V.K. Zworykin and 2 other un-named } scientists, at RCA, then located in Princeton, N.J. A benefactor } of the Univ. of So. California purchased one of the instruments in } 1946 and donated it to the university School of Medicine. A year } later, Baker left RCA for USC and started doing research on the } instrument he helped develop. This microscope, which was donated } to the } Smithsonian Institution, was replaced by the EMU-3? I had the honor } of being trained in E.M. by Dr. Baker, and, yes, learning on the EMU. } For more information, or a copy of the article, I can be reached at: } } John Hardy } City of Hope Medical Center } E. M. Facility } Duarte, CA. 91010 } jhardy-at-coh.org } (626) 301-8265
We have a Plasma Sciences LVC-76 Sputter coater with Carbon attachment that is having a mid-life crisis. It seems like some type of electrical or wiring problem, or perhaps a faulty switch?? but it works sporadically. (I am passing this on for a colleague, so am a bit fuzzy on the details). At least once the coating discharged towards the grounding wire inside the unit instead of evenly. Our internal electronics service personnel have exhausted their expertise towards repair.
Any suggestions on where to turn to have this unit repaired? I understand Plasma Sciences is no longer in existence. Alternatively, any suggestions on a good model to purchase these days? Preferably a company that will be around for a while (we've been through three different sputter coaters in the last 8 years, all requiring service, at least two of them from companies no longer in business.)
Thanks for your help! -- Karen S. Zaruba kszaruba-at-mmm.com 3M Center St. Paul, MN 55144
} Dear List, } } I am wondering if any of you in a university setting could offer some } prices ranges that you charge for the use of your electron microscopes, } and other services. We have outside clientele (non university) as well } as faculty/student usage that, either, have training and require no help } from the lab staff, or they have no experience and require staff to go
} through the entire process, including helping view. Any input, } including resources that you may have used to determine pricing, would
} be appreciated. } Thanks, } } Melissa Carter } Microscope and Graphic Imaging Center } California State Hayward University } Hayward, CA 94546
Attn all RCA-o-philes,
With regard to Jim Darley's citing of the High Crimes in the Diet of Dogma Court Record... } } Hello List Readers: } Laura Rhoads suggested that forced use of THAT instrument would be a suitable } penalty for those committing "crimes" such as broadcasting "dogma". I } concured, } adding "I would not want to offend anybody, but I've been in purgatory for } two } years already. Circa 1970 that instrument was the worst money could buy in } the } Western World." } } Yes, that instrument looked good, it had a big column and would make a fine } statue in someone's garden (so Laura suggested, personal communications). I } would love one, it would be the crowing glory to the banks of the Ross River.
Jim- You've got it all wrong: I said lawn ornament, not garden. If I put an EMU-4 column and requisite support pedestal in my garden there would be no room for my radishes... Actually, someone has already offered me an RCA EMT for this purpose, but that model isn't nearly massive enough for what I intend (I think it's complete so if anyone wants this artifact say, for a home workshop restoration project, contact me off-list).
Actually, the subject of RCA-for-pillory has brought up some rather interesting interpretations regarding the application of RCA EO equipment. Since I had yet to enter kindergarten by the time the last EMU-4 rolled off the assembly line in 1969 I never had the opportunity many others seem to have had cutting their teeth (I was cutting my own) on this (at the time) cutting edge technology. Missing this equipment in its prime, I feel somehow cheated, and as a result will have to rely on the experiences of those who did. What I find really interesting is the disparate variety of opinions as to service and operation. Could the EMU-4 Jim used at the World Expo have been a made on a Monday and Chuck Garber's, for example, a Wednesday? Or, did the RCA engineers install some extra parts they found in Hangar 18 from the Roswell, NM Crash Site that Jim's didn't get? Since the SPI rig is still running perhaps the operators can comment on their filament life and if it exceeds 12 hours? In order to solve the poor vacuum pumping problem (and to avoid forced coffee breaks) has this unit's vacuum system been retrofitted with a Balzers turbo pump perhaps? Are the alignment problems vividly recalled simply the result of using the wrong size mallet maybe?
All these issues are quite intriguing. If anyone does look into the history of RCA then maybe other manufacturers of EO equipment, such as Siemens, would be in order as well? And who was Vacuum Generator of the UK? Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat its failures. It seems that the technical information is available, and MSA has a tremendous body of institutional memory. It would be a shame to have this collective wisdom disappear.
For that matter, when I arrived at my latest job I discovered a complete Philips 75C hidden in the corner of the basement, with original warranty card (never filled out) which I am told still operates...Where will I ever get parts?...
************************************************ If the iron dice must roll, may God help us all...
Theobald von Bethmann-Hollweg German chancellor, August 1, 1914
************************************************ Laura Rhoads Biology Department SUNY Potsdam Potsdam, NY 13676 315-267-2260 315-267-3170 fax
I have been asked to prepare TS's of membrane filters for SEM. The filters are polysulphonate based with a polyethylene coating. They look like long tubes of paper Is there a simple way of cutting them to give a good clean surface? Any ideas appreciated.
Alfred Harris
Dear colleagues, I would like to bring this meeting to your attention:
THE 7TH ASIA-PACIFIC ELECTRON MICROSCOPY CONFERENCE "Perspective Imaging" Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre Singapore, 26-30 June 2000
The meeting covers all aspects of electron microscopy, including biological microscopy, material sciences, spectroscopic techniques, novel microscopies and image analysis, and there is a special symposium dedicated to 3D imaging of macromolecules, featuring a number of distinguished speakers like Wah Chiu, Ken Downing, Wolfgang Baumeister, Yoshi Fujiyoshi and many others.
As a venue, Singapore provides an exciting international atmosphere combined with a strong local flavour, including delicious cuisine, tropical climate and ample opportunities to explore the surrounding region, such as Thailand, Bali and Malaysia.
Further information about the meeting and about Singapore can be found at the APEM2000 web site at http://www.med.nus.edu.sg/micsoc/7apem/, or contact the conference secretariat at antbaybh-at-nus.edu.sg or micngml-at-nus.edu.sg.
Please note that deadline for abstracts is 31 December 1999; deadline for advance registration is 31 January 2000, and final date for securing accommodation is 12 June 2000.
See you in Singapore in 2000!
------------------------------------ Dr. Terje Dokland Senior Scientist Institute of Molecular Agrobiology 1 Research Link The National University of Singapore Singapore 117604 Phone: 65-872 7405 Fax: 65-872 7007 E-mail: dokland-at-ima.org.sg http://lab.ima.org.sg/lab3052/terje ------------------------------------
Alfred,
In answer to your question:
} I have been asked to prepare TS's of membrane filters for SEM. The filters } are polysulphonate based with a polyethylene coating. They look like long } tubes of paper Is there a simple way of cutting them to give a good clean } surface? Any ideas appreciated.
If you were to cut them under liquid nitrogen, you would get a much cleaner fracture surface. Another thing might be to infiltrate the filter with a low viscosity curing resin, outgas in a vacuum oven, and cure. (Someone else on the listserver could perhaps recommend a hydrophilic resin that would not swell the polysulphone). Then you should be able to section the membrane nicely without collapse of the structure.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 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 | +------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Dear all, does anybody knows a protocol for the enzymatic localization of proteases at the ultrastructural level (dark precipitation products etc.)? Best regards, B.Laube Bernward Laube University of Bielefeld Faculty of Biology Department Plant Morphology and Cell Ultrastructure Universit„tsstrasse 25 Germany 33615 Bielefeld phone: +49 521 1065592 fax: +49 521 1066039 e-mail: b.laube-at-biologie.uni-bielefeld.de http://www.uni-bielefeld.de/biologie/Pflanzenmorphologie
Dear Mr. Scharfeld,
we can send you a video animation by email. On this you can see one of our stepping motors working in vacuum. You can see how it works while a scratch test of a ceramic and metal sample is going on. If you think this stepper motor is appropriate for your stretch test, please give me a note.
Are you interested in this?
Best regards
Dr. Peter Marienhoff
___________________________ Dr. Peter Marienhoff VisiTec Microtechnik GmbH Karl-Marx-Str. 14 D-23936 Grevesmuehlen Germany
We are presently trying to measure the relative surface areas of small particles using SEM. Does anyone know of a technique that will enable us to do this? We are aware of the technique using stereo pairs and calculations that can be used to determine the relative height of a surface feature above or beneath the middle plane, but we are looking for a more straightforward way of estimating relative surface areas without having to calculate the height of each point in the micrograph. Any assistance would be appreciated, please respond directly to: farmer-at-cb.uga.edu
Thanks,
Mark A. Farmer Director, Ctr. Ultrastructural Research 151 Barrow Hall University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602 (706)542-4080 Voice (706)542-4271 FAX farmer-at-cb.uga.edu http://www.uga.edu/caur
Hi Karen, We too have a Plasma Sciences coater, the CrC-100. The assets of Plasma Sciences were purchased by Torr International in early 1998. I received a letter from Torr Int'l in April 1998 stating that they could supply parts and service. Try contacting them at; 12 Columbus Street, New Windsor, NY, 12553. (914) 565-4027 or FAX (914) 561-7731. The president of the company is Masud Naraghi with email address; torr.intl-at-juno.com. The web-site is www.torr.com.
Regards, Paul
Paul J. Gerroir Microscopy Materials Characterization Xerox Research Centre of Canada 2660 Speakman Drive Mississauga, Ontario L5K 2L1
} -----Original Message----- } From: us312481 [SMTP:kszaruba-at-MMM.COM] } Sent: Monday, September 27, 1999 6:20 PM } To: MSA Listserve } Subject: Plasma Sciences Coater } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 a Plasma Sciences LVC-76 Sputter coater with Carbon attachment } that is having a mid-life crisis. It seems like some type of electrical } or wiring problem, or perhaps a faulty switch?? but it works } sporadically. (I am passing this on for a colleague, so am a bit fuzzy } on the details). At least once the coating discharged towards the } grounding wire inside the unit instead of evenly. Our internal } electronics service personnel have exhausted their expertise towards } repair. } } Any suggestions on where to turn to have this unit repaired? I } understand Plasma Sciences is no longer in existence. Alternatively, } any suggestions on a good model to purchase these days? Preferably a } company that will be around for a while (we've been through three } different sputter coaters in the last 8 years, all requiring service, at } least two of them from companies no longer in business.) } } Thanks for your help! } -- } Karen S. Zaruba kszaruba-at-mmm.com } 3M Center } St. Paul, MN 55144 } }
Hi,
Have you thought of confocal FT-IR? Renishaw and Instruments SA both have interesting instruments for this type of application (see "Focus on Microscopy", American Lab, July 1999 for a review of instrumentation at this year's PITTCON meeting). This combined technology is really great for just the purpose you have outlined.
Let me know how things go.
Best regards, Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater productivity.
125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} ****************************************************** MME is America's first national consortium providing customized on-site workshops in all areas of microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis.
At 08:16 AM 9/24/99 -0500, Brian Reid wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
There are a number of specialized protocols used in the preparation of cartilage dependent on which matrix components one wishes to specifically visualize. Cells are best preserved using a quantity of Ruthenium Hexammine Trichloride (usually about 0.3% in glutaraldehyde, buffer and OsO4). This also tends to preserve cells somewhat better than fixation with no Ruthnium. However, RHT precipitates proteoglycans (which are otherwise leached out of the matrix) and this precipitate makes it difficult to see the morphology of collagen fibrils. If you are interested in observing collagen fibrils specifically, you may want to leave out the ruthenium and include 0.01% tannic acid in the primary fixative, which will stain the collagen fibrils.
We extend our infiltration time in Spurrs by 30 minutes each step for this dense tissue and try to keep our tissue blocks no larger than 0.5 mm on the narrowest edge.
Chondrocyte morphology by any chemical fixation will not be ideal. Cell shrinkage is a particular problem, and the cell borders will be seen to be very ruffled and retracted from the surrounding matrix. The best way to successfully preserve chondrocytes is by cryofixation (high pressure freezing) and freeze substitution.
I hope this helps!
Doug ---------------------- Douglas R. Keene Shriners Hospital Microscopy Facility 3101 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Road Portland, Oregon 97201 503-221-3434 DRK-at-shcc.org
As of today 9-28-99 there are only 5 spaces left.
This is a great course for very little money.
The New York Microscopical Society
Bernard Friedman Memorial Workshop
Use of the Microscope
October 2, 9, 16, 23, 1999
A Basic Course on Light Microscopy which will cover the following topics:
Theory of microscopy Kohler Illumination Diffraction Theory Contrast Methods Polarized light Phase Contrast Interference Hoffman contrast Rheinberg Dark-field & oblique Illumination, etc.
The workshop will consist of Four Consecutive Saturdays of lectures and hands-on labs to cover the theoretical and practical aspects of microscopy.
The course instructors include:
Jan Hinsch of Leica, Inc.
Dennis O'Leary of Micro-Optical Methods
Mary McCann of McCann Imaging
John Reffner of Sensir Inc. and Current President of NYMS
Donald O'Leary, Curator and Awards Chairperson of NYMS
WHEN: October 2, 9,16, 23, 1999, from 10 A.M. to 4 P.M.
WHERE: New York Microscopical Society Facility 1244 McBride Avenue West Paterson, NJ. Phone (973)-812-8377
(Free parking, accessible by public transportation, Information on car pools and transportation will be provided.)
COST: $225 for N.Y.M.S. members, $245 for non-members (includes membership) Lunch and course materials are included. Checks made out to N.Y.M.S.
WHO: Beginners and experienced users who wish to learn more about the proper use of a microscope.
For Further Information and To Register contact Donald O'Leary.
eMail: mailto:donoleary-at-worldnet.att.net
(201) 797-8849 Voice Phone Number
Limited to the First 12 Registrants.
Low Vacuum and Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy, LV-ESEM '99
October 19-21, 1999, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
This course will be given in close collaboration with four microscope manufacturers (Hitachi, Jeol, Leo, Philips/Fei) and suppliers of equipment for EDX, Cryo SEM and EBSP.
The aim of this 3-day intensive course is to give a theoretical background in the morning sessions and experimental insights in the afternoons. The lectures and the demonstrations will be given by application specialists from the different companies representad at the course and also by academic people working with LV- and ESEM. The demonstrations and lab classes will be carried out on equipment brought to Chalmers specifically for this course.
Detailed information about LV-ESEM '99, including course programme and registration form, is posted on: http://fy.chalmers.se/microscopy
Course organisers: Dr Lena Falk (lklfalk-at-fy.chalmers.se) and Dr Mats Halvarsson (mats.halvarsson-at-fy.chalmers.se)
Tom,
I am not sure how this would work, but there is a little tensile strength tester called the "Minimat" made by Rheometrics Scientific in Piscataway, NJ. Larry Green used to be productg manager, but I have not been in contact with them for a while. Suggest that you call the main number: 908-560-8550 and inquire further. This device fits on a light microscope stage and has a great control/measurement module which permits all sorts of stress-strain analysis.
Let me know how you make out.
Best regards, Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater productivity.
125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} ****************************************************** MME is America's first national consortium providing customized on-site workshops in all areas of microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis.
At 12:06 PM 9/26/99 -0400, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Hi,
Some years ago a graduate student from another lab in the department came to me half hysterical, because she simply was not able to get label. I talked to her a long time, and then gave her a step by step protocol for GA and Osmium fixation (and etching, etc). I then helped her to make sure to minimize repeating the experiment. She came to me with the most remarkable micrographs. Beautiful label. Little or no background. Poster ready to do. After she left, I spent the day dumbfounded, literally stumbling over my own shoes and getting my labcoat caught in the door, because I could NOT do with the same protocol what she had done. And, I was the one that wrote the protocol. What was the difference? Only one. I had another antigen to locate than hers. What a lesson that was! If we can't stand the failures and variations that is due us when we do immuno, we better go to work in a bakery. There things are predictable. And, if we make a mistake, we can enjoy eating it!
Bye, Hildy Crowley
P.S. These "discussions" that let loose barrages of interest are wonderful. We learn so much!
THE NORTH CAROLINA SOCIETY FOR MICROSCOPY AND MICROBEAM ANALYSIS
present the
EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM ON ADVANCES IN MICROSCOPY
"Nanoscopy: 'Microscopy' for the New Century?"
Coastline Convention Center, Wilmington, North Carolina
October 29 - 31, 1999
FOLLOW-UP ANNOUNCEMENT - WILMINGTON NOT FLOODED BY HURRICANE FLOYD! SYMPOSIUM IS ON SCHEDULE!
The Eighteenth Annual Symposium, sponsored by the North Carolina Society for Microscopy and Microbeam Analysis (NCSMMA), has been planned with a theme of "Nanoscopy: 'Microscopy' for the New Century?" Continuing with the tradition of the symposium, the guest lecturers are composed of both nationally and internationally distinguished scientists.
Speakers who have agreed to participate (so far) this year include:
* Stuart Lindsay (Arizona State Univ., Tempe) * David Wollman (NIST, Boulder) * Mike Isaacson (Cornell) * Richard Leapman (NIH) * Mike Kersker (JEOL) * Ken Taylor (Florida State) * Pat Calarco (UCSF) * Mike and Mary Reedy (Duke)
***** A FULL PROGRAM LISTING CAN BE FOUND ON OUR WEBSITE AT: http://152.3.167.174/NCA nnSymp99.html
* The meeting has several purposes, not the least of which is to draw attention of the scientific community to emerging developments in the practical and basic research aspects of exciting new fields, and to bring people together from diverse disciplines to discuss how innovative techniques will be relevant to the future direction of microscopy and microprobe analysis. In particular, this year, special emphasis will be placed on how recent advances in nanoscience and nanoengineering have resulted in new knowledge that has benefited microscopy in general and are having a significant impact in the biological and physical sciences. The symposium also offers an opportunity for interested participants including students to submit abstracts of related studies for poster display.
* 3 special workshops/tutorials will be offered at no additional charge to participants in the Symposium: (a) Cryo-preparation Techniques, (b) Atomic Force Microscopy (c) Digital Imaging Methods. These are practical, introductory sessions and no previous experience or knowledge is necessary.
Registration Fees, Hotel rates The $90 ($100 on site) per person and $50 for students ($60 on site). Registration fee includes: symposium attendance and materials, Saturday lunch, breaks, and Friday and Saturday evening meals. Additional Friday evening tickets are available for Adults - $20; Children 10 years of age and under - $10. Additional Saturday evening tickets are available for Adults - $20; Children 10 years of age and under - $10. There is a $15 fee for all cancellations. Coast Line Inn special rates $75/room/night (single or double). (Group No. 1226) Tel: 1 800 617-7732 or 1 910 763-2800
For questions or further information on Registration, please telephone Betty Gooch, Duke University Medical Center: (919) 286-0411 x 7266 or email: b.gooch-at-cellbio.duke edu
or ingram-at-rti.org
919 541-6598
We have a new SEM and confocal scope and we need to be able to track the usage of each of them. I was told that there is software that will do this. Can anyone offer help as to the name of the software and were I can get it? Thanks for your help.
Donna Wagahoff SIU School of Medicine PO Box 19627 Springfield, IL 62794-9627 217-782-0898 fax217-524-3227
-- [ From: Garber, Charles A. * EMC.Ver #3.1 ] --
Karen S. Zaruba wrote: ============================================ We have a Plasma Sciences LVC-76 Sputter coater with Carbon attachment that is having a mid-life crisis. It seems like some type of electrical or wiring problem, or perhaps a faulty switch?? but it works sporadically. (I am passing this on for a colleague, so am a bit fuzzy on the details). At least once the coating discharged towards the grounding wire inside the unit instead of evenly. Our internal electronics service personnel have exhausted their expertise towards repair.
Any suggestions on where to turn to have this unit repaired? I understand Plasma Sciences is no longer in existence. Alternatively, any suggestions on a good model to purchase these days? Preferably a company that will be around for a while (we've been through three different sputter coaters in the last 8 years, all requiring service, at least two of them from companies no longer in business.)
Thanks for your help! -- Karen S. Zaruba kszaruba-at-mmm.com 3M Center St. Paul, MN 55144 ================================================ The "rights" to the manufacturing and servicing of the installed base of Plasma Sciences designed and produced LVC-76 units was purchased at the time of the bankruptcy several years ago of Plasma Sciences, Inc. by the following firm:
Torr International, Inc. www.torr.com
They are located in upstate New York.
The president of Torr (Dr. Masud Naraghi) is a real expert in plasma physics , and I have a lot of confidence in his design abilities and overall understanding of the physics of operation of these and other sputter coaters
Well, I just can't keep quiet any longer. Yes indeed, Laura, when you were cutting your teeth, I was cutting mine on an old RCA EMU-2D in 1968 at Georgetown University as the research assistant for Dr. George B. Chapman. And yes, to you too Kent. The same George B. Chapman AND the same RCA EMU-2D!! He is still there and so is the scope. As a matter of fact, the last time I spoke with him, he said that the was still managing to "squeeze a couple of respectable micrographs out of the ol' scope on occasion." And I don't doubt that he is. Even though we had a service contract for the scope, he did an awful lot of servicing it himself. When I left in 1976 he was still making his own apertures. They were quite a pair...that man and his scope!
After coming to UNC-Charlotte in '76 to be the caretaker of a Philips 301C there wasn't much left to learn. (That's an exaggeration, of course.) But WOW! External alignment. No more rubber hammers needed. Whoever was talking about contrast was quite right, too. I have not seen the contast that we got from that 2D since.
So today, I wrote Dr. Chapman a letter and enclosed copies of some of your comments. I think he will be pleased.
And John, if possible, I would love to have a copy of the article in the Daily News, April 27, 1986.
Sandra F. Zane, Electron Microscope Technician sfzane-at-email.uncc.edu Dept. of Biology, UNC-Charlotte Ph.(704)547-4051 9201 University City Blvd. Fax (704)547-3128 Charlotte, NC 28223
TEM JOB OPPORTUNITY
Assume responsibility for managing TEM services at LifeCell Corporation. LifeCell is a rapidly growing biotechnology company engaged in development and commercialization of tissue-derived products for tissue repair and transplantation. These products are based on LifeCell's unique tissue processing and preservation technology.
TEM facilities will be located in an entirely new building in Branchburg, an attractive north central New Jersey location.
In addition to overall management of TEM services, responsibilities include supervision of support personnel; preparation, evaluation and interpretation of complex tissue samples; preparation and delivery of written and oral technical reports of investigations; detailed record keeping and generation of creative solutions to solve technical problems. Required qualifications include minimum of BS degree, at least 3 years independent TEM experience with biological tissues, high level of organization, excellent oral/written communication skills and demonstrated ability for solid performance on several projects simultaneously in a team environment.
For consideration submit resume to: LifeCell Corporation Human Resources Department 1200 Route 22 East Suite 2000 Bridgewater, NJ 08807 Fax (908) 218-9305
Our EM specimens and records are considered as surgical specimens and are kept as per the following CAP guidelines: Blocks: 5 years Glass slides: 10 years Surgical reports: 10 years Wet tissue: 2 weeks after sign out
True CAP doesn't specify EM storage, but you can assume that if slides and reports (our reports include the prints) are held for 10 years that grids and negatives should be held as long.
We actually store all material forever, except for wet tissue which is discarded. We have warehouse space for older surgical, autopsy and cytology materials. The EM material is stored within the department. It is interesting that CAP only requires 5 year storage for paraffin blocks- probably because of the space needed to file and store them, not a problem with EM blocks.
Contact me if you need additional info about CAP inspections,etc. Becky Garrison Pathology Shands-Jackspnville 904-549-6072 becky.garrison-at-jax.ufl.edu -----Original Message----- } From: "drennie-at-UNMC.EDU"-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com [mailto:"drennie-at-UNMC.EDU"-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com] Sent: Friday, September 10, 1999 2:35 PM To: microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com
Good afternoon,
I have a question I have not been able to locate the answer to anywhere. I run a clinical EM lab here at the University of Nebraska and we have recently become associated with the College of Anatomic Pathologists (CAP) and I am having trouble locating any set regulations or even guidelines as to the duration we should retain records, as well as specimen blocks, thick section slides and EM photos. Does anyone have any info to get me headed in the right direction?
Thank you,
Doug Rennie Coodinator-EM Facility University of Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, Nebraska.
Greetings:
I am helping someone who wishes to compare the staining intensity of a tissue area across several slides and treatments. The intensity goes from nothing (control) to something pretty dark. He would like to rank the staining intensity using photographs or some other appropriate technique. Some of the differences appear to be subtle.
I don't know the best way to do this, though it seems like a reasonable request. I mostly thought of problems, ie section thickness, non-linearity in the film response, variation in exposure, compensation by his eye, etc. etc.
Am I overly cautious? Is there a good way to do this kind of thing? Any advice?
If you have some ideas or want more details about his work and objectives, please contact me.
Thanks
Jonathan Krupp Microscopy & Imaging Lab University of California Santa Cruz, CA 95064 (831) 459-2477 jmkrupp-at-cats.ucsc.edu
----- Original Message ----- } From: Karl E. Garsha {keg-at-csd.uwm.edu} To: Jon Krupp {jmkrupp-at-cats.ucsc.edu} Sent: Tuesday, September 28, 1999 7:04 PM
Hi, Everyone
I'm shortly going to buy a new EDS detector. I'd quite like the performance advantages of a 1-atmosphere UTW, but I'm concerned about the durability and longevity compared with standard Be windows.
Anyone out there got any relevant experience/views?
Either to the list, or directly to me, please.
thanks
Ritchie
Ritchie Sims Phone : 64 9 3737599 ext 7713 Department of Geology Fax : 64 9 3737435 The University of Auckland email : r.sims-at-auckland.ac.nz Private Bag 92019 Auckland New Zealand
Thanks to everybody for their many helpful comments on the problem of streaking of the film during developing of SO163. (so many, in fact, that I cannot reply to everyone individually) The streaks look like 0.5-1 cm bands of alternating low/high density, vertically with respect to the developing tank.
I did not mention that indeed we do not yet have nitrogen burst installed, so it is quite possible, as many of you suggested, that lack of agitation is the culprit. (I will find out soon, hopefully.) As one pointed out, manual agitation may even be too "good" in the sense of being too frequent and too regular (in the same direction). Indeed, the instructions from Kodak do recommend the use of "random movements" for manual agitation.
Most seem to agree that the temperature, especially of the final wash is not that important, although some mention the temperature of the rinse between developer and fix as a potential problem. Of course, this doesn't have to be running water, so it's easier to control.
Another possibility that was mentioned is that the batch of film itself may be faulty. Others have also reported problem with specific batches of SO163. And who knows what it went through during shipping to Singapore.
In the previous labs that I worked there was always an expert technician who must have solved these problems long ago! Lacking this, the advice from this bulletin board has been extremely useful. Thanks!
terje
------------------------------------ Dr. Terje Dokland Senior Scientist Institute of Molecular Agrobiology 1 Research Link The National University of Singapore Singapore 117604 Phone: 65-872 7405 Fax: 65-872 7007 E-mail: dokland-at-ima.org.sg http://lab.ima.org.sg/lab3052/terje ------------------------------------
Hi,
Although there are some people who try to do this with scanners, etc., the proper way to do it is to use a laser densitometer. A scanner (except the high-end devices) do not have a sufficient linear response and whide enough dynamic range to do this kind of densitiometry measurements.
Sincerely yours,
Peter Van Osta, MD
Senior Scientist Medical Image Analysis Biological Imaging Laboratory Life Sciences Department I - 6065 Janssen Research Foundation Turnhoutseweg 30 B-2340 Beerse Belgium Europe
-----Original Message----- } From: jmkrupp-at-cats.ucsc.edu [mailto:jmkrupp-at-cats.ucsc.edu] Sent: Tuesday, September 28, 1999 11:10 PM To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
Greetings:
I am helping someone who wishes to compare the staining intensity of a tissue area across several slides and treatments. The intensity goes from nothing (control) to something pretty dark. He would like to rank the staining intensity using photographs or some other appropriate technique. Some of the differences appear to be subtle.
I don't know the best way to do this, though it seems like a reasonable request. I mostly thought of problems, ie section thickness, non-linearity in the film response, variation in exposure, compensation by his eye, etc. etc.
Am I overly cautious? Is there a good way to do this kind of thing? Any advice?
If you have some ideas or want more details about his work and objectives, please contact me.
Thanks
Jonathan Krupp Microscopy & Imaging Lab University of California Santa Cruz, CA 95064 (831) 459-2477 jmkrupp-at-cats.ucsc.edu
Hi Ritchie,
We have had (Oxford Instruments) atmospheric thin window (ATW) and Super ATW detectors on SEM and TEMs for several years now. We are very happy with their performance and durability.
The differences that I have noted are that I am very careful to let the column up to atmospheric pressure or 0.1bar above atmospheric at the most. I always ensure that the column is fully up to pressure before breaking the column and I remove an aperture mechanism before removing the detector to ensure that I don't get a sudden change in pressure around the detector. Apart from that no extra precautions and no worries.
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 shortly going to buy a new EDS detector. } I'd quite like the performance advantages of a 1-atmosphere UTW, but } I'm concerned about the durability and longevity compared with } standard Be windows. } } Anyone out there got any relevant experience/views? } } Either to the list, or directly to me, please. } } thanks } } Ritchie } } } Ritchie Sims Phone : 64 9 3737599 ext 7713 } Department of Geology Fax : 64 9 3737435 } The University of Auckland email : r.sims-at-auckland.ac.nz } Private Bag 92019 } Auckland } New Zealand }
---------------------- Mr. R.C. Doole Department of Materials, University of Oxford. Parks Road, Oxford. OX1 3PH. UK. Phone +44 (0) 1865 273701 Fax +44 (0) 1865 283333 ron.doole-at-materials.ox.ac.uk
Hi all! The electronic addresses are necessary to me, or it is simple the names of the manufacturers electronic microscopes.
# Barnaul, Russia # Alexey V. Kalinin # Altay State University # avk-at-ic.dcn-asu.ru # Internet Center # http://www.dcn-asu.ru/~avk
Ritchie, Good to see your post. Hope all is well in Auckland. We have three systems with an UTW. 2 of them are NORAN Pioneer detectors, and the other is Oxford (Link Pentafet). They are all three great detectors, and it is the wisest move we ever made when we opened that door and went to the thin window detector. We have no regrets at all! One of the detectors (now, our oldest Pioneer) is on an 840A, as I assume you will be doing. We absolutely love that system. It has great durability/reliability (we've had it ~8 years), has never been back to the shop, and gives us performance above our expectations. Durability and longevity were a problem with the very first UTW that we had on a TEM back in the late '80s, but this is certainly not a concern of ours with these newer versions of the UTW. Go for it! Brad Huggins BPAmoco, Naperville, IL
} ---------- } From: Ritchie Sims[SMTP:r.sims-at-auckland.ac.nz] } Sent: Wednesday, September 29, 1999 9:48 AM } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: Ultrathin Window vs Be } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 shortly going to buy a new EDS detector. } I'd quite like the performance advantages of a 1-atmosphere UTW, but } I'm concerned about the durability and longevity compared with } standard Be windows. } } Anyone out there got any relevant experience/views? } } Either to the list, or directly to me, please. } } thanks } } Ritchie } } } Ritchie Sims Phone : 64 9 3737599 ext 7713 } Department of Geology Fax : 64 9 3737435 } The University of Auckland email : r.sims-at-auckland.ac.nz } Private Bag 92019 } Auckland } New Zealand }
We have three ATW detectors with an aggregate life of about 15 years. Two of the windows have never failed (knock on wood!), the third has twice been damaged by clumsy stage manipulation in the SEM. Obviously this would have happened even if the window was Be, but in that case we would have had tiny fragments of highly toxic beryllium floating around the microscope chamber, instead of relatively benign polymer.
True, a week or so after one of the repairs, the new window did fail spontaneously, but almost certainly because of a nascent flaw - the manufacturer must have thought so, because they fixed it again free of charge.
Hope this helps,
Tony Gaarratt-Reed.
At 02:48 PM 09/29/1999 GMT+1200, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I am hoping that someone has a better method for this procedure. I am preparing small pieces of mouse intestine for SEM. We are looking at the villi and small Peyer's patches between villi. Perfusion is not an option so we excise the pieces and drop them into 2% paraformaldehye and 2% glutaraldehyde in cacodylate buffer as quickly as possible. I fix for several hours, wash with buffer and postfix with osmium. I have tried both CPD and airdrying after using hexamethyldisilizane. But when I look at the villi, it sometimes appears that there are "cracks" on the surface that separate bundles of villi, giving the intestine surface a crackled appearance. Is there any way to prevent this all the time? It's not consistent but it is frequent. Any help would be appreciated!
Thanks!
Lesley S. Bechtold Supervisor, Biological Imaging The Jackson Laboratory 600 Main St. Bar Harbor, ME 04609 207-288-6191
Jim,
I agree with most of what you have said about the early mechanical advantages of Siemens and Philips over RCA, but I don't (and didn't) arrive at the same conclusion that using RCA was a big mistake. I did electron microscopy for my biological PhD thesis at Harvard about 1956-58 on an RCA EMU-2D. During my postdoc with Don Fawcett (at Cornell Med and then Harvard Med) in 1958-61 we used mostly RCA EMU-3. A Siemens IA was available to us during part of that time, but wasn't used much. As you pointed out, the long focal length of the RCA instruments was great for contrast, but less optimal for resolution. But why worry about only getting 7A resolution (instead of 4-5A) when the smallest structure of appreciable biological interest visible in EM sections was about 25A (sublayers of biological membranes). Was there any advantage in seeing the stain particles more sharply? On the other hand, contrast was extremely important, and contributed to some of the high quality EM produced by Fawcett and his associates.
When I left for my first faculty position (Anatomy Dept at Stanford Med, 1961-71), I had grant money for an EM, and picked an RCA EMU-3F. I never regretted that choice. The high contrast of that instrument was invaluable, especially when (beginning in 1966) I was developing a method and device for cutting ultrathin frozen sections (which were inherently low in contrast).
Although my later instruments were a Philips 300, JEOL 100B, and then Philips 201, Philips 400 and Philips CM10, I still look back on the RCA as a great instrument, despite its various inconveniences.
Kent
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A. Kent Christensen, Professor Emeritus Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology University of Michigan Medical School Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0616 Tel (work) 763-1287, Fax (work) 763-1166 akc-at-umich.edu http://www.umich.edu/~akc/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
} Hello List Readers: } Laura Rhoads suggested that forced use of THAT instrument would be a } suitable penalty for those committing "crimes" such as broadcasting } "dogma". I concured, adding "I would not want to offend anybody, but } I've been in purgatory for two years already. Circa 1970 that instrument } was the worst money could buy in the Western World." } } Several readers have responded making positive points about that } instruments. I agree with some of these because nothing in this world is } entirely bad - even a broken clock shows the right time, twice a day. } } Yes, that instrument looked good, it had a big column and would make a } fine statue in someone's garden (so Laura suggested, personal } communications). I would love one, it would be the crowing glory to the } banks of the Ross River. } } Yes, the image had good contrast because it was a medium resolution } instrument (I guess about 0.8nm). A longer working distance objective } results in higher contrast but lower resolution. Other manufacturers } offer high contrast objectives, but most instrument purchasers ask for } higher resolution. } } Yes, RCA's are historical instrument and the first commercially produced } American TEM. Though I believe that Siemens produced the first commercial } TEM in the mid 30th. } } Yes, for some people this was their first electron microscope and it had } to be impressive to us who grew up before computer whizz-bangery. } Unfortunately, it was my fourth TEM. My previous loves had been a } mid-60th Siemens Elmiskop, a Philips 100C (the one with a near } horizontal column and transmission viewing screen) and a Zeiss 9C. All } of these were rather better suited to productive work. } } Yes, the electronics were reliable, but the vacuum gauging was } insufficient. Since it also had no vacuum locks and blanking provisions } were poor, vacuum trouble-shooting was very difficult. } } Yes, it was reasonably easy to operate and was great for forced coffee } breaks. No specimen, no gun, nor camera vacuum locks made for lots and } lots of pumping times. } } Yes, the camera had two options, either three single plates could be } inserted or one long plate taking five images on one plate. Bit of a } pain to share negatives with another operator. Absolutely awful for } taking lots of images and changing specimens. The pumping cycle was slow. } } The complete lack of vacuum locks and the poor film options made the } EMU-4 a "hysterical instrument". Such features were not rocket science } even in those days. More features . . . } } Changing the filament was a painful operation. I think the basic } alignment after filament change required three complete column pumping } cycles, lots of time for getting other jobs done during those } operations. I could not align that scope in under two hours. I had } inherited a service contract and the service men could do no better. } } Alignment screws were difficult to adjust accurately in those days on } most TEMs. I learned from the service man that the final touch was best } achieved by tapping the column with a rubber mallet - which was not part } of the service kit. } } Filament life averaged about 12 hours, with the alignment procedure } eating up a good part thereof. Short filament life may not have been an } inherent problem in the design. This may have been due to poor vacuum, } but there was no good way of isolating vacuum parts, getting a reliable } vacuum reading and finding a possible leak. } } } Why did RCA sell the EMU-4 to Forgflow, who then quickly discontinued } that instrument? } Because the column design was 10 years too late. By 1972 I had a Philips } EM300 - now that was progress. Philips at last had eclipsed the } Elmiskops, which had been the top brand throughout the 50th and 60th. } } Incidentally, Siemens closed their EM division about '78. In Karlsruhe in } October '77 I had admired Siemens' latest "Wunderkind", it turned out be } the Divisions death knell. It was a FESEM based somewhat on the research } by Crewe (Chicago ?) Nice instrument, beautiful column, but Vacuum } Generator of the UK had build a better performer at almost half the } price. . . . the rest is history. } } Disclaimer: Opinions expressed are mine they are based on fragile } memories. No dogma is implied or intended. Feel free to purchase an } EMU-4, if you can find one. Even Phantom comics of that period fetch } increasing prices and modern instruments depreciate rapidly. Don't } condemn me for another two years on THAT instrument please. PST does not } supply the EMU-4 or similar. } Cheers } Jim Darley } ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS } PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia } Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com } Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes } www.proscitech.com
} X-Lotus-FromDomain: ECCI } Date: Wed, 29 Sep 1999 10:41:17 -0400 } Subject: Re: more fond RCA memories } Content-Disposition: inline } To: "Sandra F. Zane" {sfzane-at-email.uncc.edu} } From: dgibbon-at-ecc.com } Indirectly from Don Gibbon via S. Zane. Here are his own fond RCA memories. }
} } Well, I've got a few myself! } } } } When I got back from military service to Rice University (nee "Institute") in } 1961, someone had given the Geology Department a Shimadzu TEM, the only one ever } to come into this country, as far as I know. No one else was interested, so for } three years I taught myself how to run it, using its quasi-English primitive } manual and Hall's Intro to EM text (1953) for guidance. As an example of its } crudeness, I made my own filaments from a coil of tungsten wire. First I bent } } the wire into a V-shape by pressing it down over a single-edged razor blade. } Holding the crimped wire in one hand, I rubbed a flat spot onto the peak of the } "V" on the unglazed area on the bottom of a china cup! This was the level of } spohistication I was at, when one day I was ushered into the dark and quiet } chambers of the TEM lab in the nearby biology building, where sat an EMU3A. I } couldn't believe it! But I was only allowed a brief glimpse of what life might } be like. Ultimately I was sent up to Drexel for a two-week short course in 1964, } where people like Dave Ballard of NBS were also learning the arts on a EMU3B, I } believe. I've never forgotten the feeling of luxury as I sat and spun the silky } stage controls and watched the sample whizzing by on the screen! We visited the } RCA plant nearby in Camden, where my major memory is of the smell of soup from } the Campbell's cannery down the street! } } Eventually I took the TEM job at the Mineral Constitution Lab at Penn State, } where in 1964 they still had an EMU 2D in working condititon (as well as a } Hitachi 7A). The EMU 2D was a lot like an old 1930 Citroen I used to have... } with a gravity-feed fuel system: the gas flowed down of its own accord from a } tank behind the dash board! The EMU 2D was so simple that you actually had to be } careful not to pull parts of the column out by hand while it was under vacuum! } One thing about it: you really understood the physics of the microscopy process } when you used those instruments. There were no black boxes! } } } In those days, though, with the exception of the rare Siemens or Phillips, the } RCA was the top of the line, a really classy instrument. } } } } Donald L. Gibbon } } Calgon Corporation } } Materials Microcharacterization } } } } } }
Are there any particular pitfalls involved with the fixation of mouse embyos (ME9-17) for immunoEM-problems with osmolarity, for instance? I realize fixation is dependent on factors such as preservation of the desired antigen but I'm wondering about the osmolarity in particular. My limited previous experience with embryonic material (freshwater fish) was that it is, but I've never dealt with mammalian tissue of this age. Thanks Grace
I like to know if anyone has vibratome in Boston area and be able to give a demo if it's possoble. Thanks.
One remark regarding MPEG (see message below):
MPEG (the compression used by the card mentioned) is a lossy compression just like JPEG. This is usually not an issue if all you want to do is record a sequence of images for later viewing. However, if you want to do any kind of image processing, you might run into trouble as the compression leads to loss of information.
Michael
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 1675 Carr St., #105N Lakewood, CO 80215 =================================== phone: (888) FIND SIS (303) 234-9270 fax: (303) 234-9271 email: mailto:info-at-soft-imaging.com web: http://www.soft-imaging.com ===================================
-----Original Message----- } From: Shane Collins [mailto:kshanec-at-gte.net] Sent: Sunday, September 26, 1999 5:59 PM To: Michael Bode
Nice discussion and helpful hints about LR White/LR Gold.
The terms catalyst and accelerator have been used often in the reply. I am still unclear if the benzoyl peroxide is something that needs to be added to each batch of resin... or only if a cold cure method is used...or if there is another compound that is added as an accelerator for the cold cure. If so what is it? Are these terms being used interchangably?
FYI ....the blocks did polymerize at 50 C. after they were reinfiltrated with resin containing a complete formulation from the manufacturer. I will be trimming them carefully with glass knife and boat as suggested and will view un- ICC-stained grids this week. The investigator wants to do the ICC in his lab, so I will just be cutting grids and we will see what happens. Thanks for all your help !! Linda Fox lfox1-at-wpo.it.luc.edu
Is anyone out there using the DSG1 Plus digital scan generator for a JEOL SEM?? We just had a new unit installed on out JSM 840A running Windows98. The documentation is sparse to say the least, one laminated sheet, and we are muddling through all of the menu items.
Some of the options are not intuitive, such as setting micron bar scale factors. Options such as, I think pixel resolution, i.e.320x240, 2560x1920,1280-} 640 coupled with times i.e. 10,20,40,80...320 seconds. It is hard to determine which combination of settings to use, and what are the advantages/draw backs of each.
I gather that this is a new system to JEOL and they are learning it along with us...but right now time is tight and great instructions would go a LONG way. Can anyone help with this particular system?? Thanks, Linda Fox lfox1-at-wpo.it.luc.edu
Dear list members:
For studying polymer blends by using SEM, only information on surface of a sample can be obtained. Because the surface can not always be the plane of the center of each dispersed phase particle, the statistic result of dispersed phase particle size attained from SEM micrograph may be less than the true value.
By using image analysis we can easily get the spherical particle diameter distribution and usually it shows a log-normal distribution. However, it is not the "true" distribution. Does anyone has some advice on how to convert this measued distribution to the "true" one?
Another question is when the particle is ellipsoid, how can I find its proper size from image analysis of SEM photo?
Thank you in advance for your help.
Dr. Zeng Jijun Visiting Scholar of Toray
Home Address: Nakatogari 734-2-5 Nagaizumi-cho, Sunto-gun Shizuoka, 411-0942 Japan
Personal Homepage: http://www.geocities.com/ResearchTriangle/Forum/1786
I have read with interest the various responses to this question. I have one related question in this regard to which I would appreciate expert opinion.
Choice of UTW is usually made with respect to the need for light element analysis. One disadvantage having an UTW detector is that it precludes the use of a heating holder for in-situ studies. Is there a way to overcome this limitation i.e. be able to do in-situ phase transformation studies in a TEM with an UTW detector fitted? If chemical analysis is not required is it safe to retract the detector from the column (I believe it is possible to change the position of the detector by a few centimetres) and use the heating holder? If yes, what distance is considered safe?
Thanks. ---- Divakar R PMS, MCG, IGCAR ----
-----Original Message----- } From: Ritchie Sims [SMTP:r.sims-at-auckland.ac.nz] Sent: Wednesday, September 29, 1999 9:47 AM To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
Hi, Everyone
I'm shortly going to buy a new EDS detector. I'd quite like the performance advantages of a 1-atmosphere UTW, but I'm concerned about the durability and longevity compared with standard Be windows.
Anyone out there got any relevant experience/views?
Either to the list, or directly to me, please.
thanks
Ritchie
Ritchie Sims Phone : 64 9 3737599 ext 7713 Department of Geology Fax : 64 9 3737435 The University of Auckland email : r.sims-at-auckland.ac.nz Private Bag 92019 Auckland New Zealand
Hi again
So far two replies to my earlier posting regarding durability of UTWs, both positive about them, anybody got any experience to the contrary?
Further query:-
Like many, I haven't yet gotten around to putting in a foreline trap (next week, for sure), so my EDS detector window (Be) needs to have the oil cleaned off it every six months or so, otherwise Na takes a slow dive. I do this by gently dribbling Freon over the window.
Can this be done with impunity with an UTW?
Perhaps a manufacturer might like to reply.
thanks
Ritchie
Ritchie Sims Phone : 64 9 3737599 ext 7713 Department of Geology Fax : 64 9 3737435 The University of Auckland email : r.sims-at-auckland.ac.nz Private Bag 92019 Auckland New Zealand
Hi Richie,
I would like to follow up your comment about the foreline trap and the constant need to clean the Be detector window. Why do you want to get an ATW detector? - presumably for the ligher element analysis. If this is so then I would strongly advise you to get your vacuum system sorted before you install the detector. It is my experience when using windowless, UTW and ATW detectors that vacuum cleanliness is the just about the most important factor in light element analysis. The buildup of hydrocarbon contamination ruins any light element analysis. Detectors also need conditioning more frequently (every 3 to 6 months depending on your needs) to remove the ice buildup.
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 again } } So far two replies to my earlier posting regarding durability of } UTWs, both positive about them, anybody got any experience to the } contrary? } } Further query:- } } Like many, I haven't yet gotten around to putting in a foreline trap } (next week, for sure), so my EDS detector window (Be) needs to have } the oil cleaned off it every six months or so, otherwise Na takes a } slow dive. } I do this by gently dribbling Freon over the window. } } Can this be done with impunity with an UTW? } } Perhaps a manufacturer might like to reply. } } thanks } } Ritchie } } } Ritchie Sims Phone : 64 9 3737599 ext 7713 } Department of Geology Fax : 64 9 3737435 } The University of Auckland email : r.sims-at-auckland.ac.nz } Private Bag 92019 } Auckland } New Zealand }
---------------------- Mr. R.C. Doole Department of Materials, University of Oxford. Parks Road, Oxford. OX1 3PH. UK. Phone +44 (0) 1865 273701 Fax +44 (0) 1865 283333 ron.doole-at-materials.ox.ac.uk
Linda - } } Nice discussion and helpful hints about LR White/LR Gold. } } The terms catalyst and accelerator have been used often in the reply.
These terms are sometimes used in a less-than-rigorous manner; I'll use the terminology from Glauert & Lewis, "Biological specimen preparation for TEM", 1998. Dibenzoyl peroxide is an "initiator", required for the polymerization of ALL LR White. Since its addtion makes it possible to polymerise the resin with heat, some suppliers ship the bottle and the DBP separately, to avoid premature hardening during shipment. Check the label on receipt, and add a dated comment if you mix in the DBP yourself.
} I am still unclear if the benzoyl peroxide is something that needs to } be added to each batch of resin... or only if a cold cure method is } used...or if there is another compound that is added as an accelerator } for the cold cure. If so what is it?
There is a separate liquid "accelerator" for "cold" cure; its composition is proprietary. Please realise that this polymerization isn't cold; it's quite exothermic.
CCCCCaroline
Caroline Schooley Project MICRO 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/PMHomePage.html Intertidal invertebrates: http://www.fortbragg.k12.ca.us/AG/PCI/pci.html
I work in a hospital based diagnostic EM service. We keep all autopsy and surgical materials forever except wet tissue which is disposed of on a periodic basis.
True, there aren't CAP guidelines for EM specifically but EM is considered a surgical procedure and falls under the following surgical guidelines (as per our 1997 CAP survey): Blocks: 5 years Glass slides: 10 years Reports: 10 years Wet tissue: Surgical: 2 weeks after sign out Autopsy: 3 months
So CAP doesn't address grids, prints and negatives. We consider the EM blocks and negatives material which will be stored forever because the work can be reproduced from them.
I do discard wet tissue which is not processed. If you have other questions, contact me.
Hi evrybody In order to plan a budget for a future FEG I would like to know the following point concerning the commercial thermal FEG.
-type of instrument -How long is the life time? -What is necessary to exchange, tip only or gun set? -How much it cost? -How long it takes to replace -which garantee on lifetime? -comments?
Please answer directly to author. Thank you very much for your help. Serge NITSCHE.
Hi, Linda,
I had osmium fixed specimens polymerized in LR White resin during infiltration in the past. I came to conclusion that the resin was old.
My supplier would sell me uncatalysed LRW. I mixed the supplied catalyst, benzoyl peroxide, with LRW just before using it. I divided it into several small bottles and store in the frig to improve shelf-life. Each small bottle is consumed before another is opened and I do not have premature polymerization any more.
Accelerator is required for cold curing the LRW mixed with bp.
} } } "Linda Fox" {LFOX1-at-wpo.it.luc.edu} 09/29 3:26 PM } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Nice discussion and helpful hints about LR White/LR Gold.
The terms catalyst and accelerator have been used often in the reply. I am still unclear if the benzoyl peroxide is something that needs to be added to each batch of resin... or only if a cold cure method is used...or if there is another compound that is added as an accelerator for the cold cure. If so what is it? Are these terms being used interchangably?
FYI ....the blocks did polymerize at 50 C. after they were reinfiltrated with resin containing a complete formulation from the manufacturer. I will be trimming them carefully with glass knife and boat as suggested and will view un- ICC-stained grids this week. The investigator wants to do the ICC in his lab, so I will just be cutting grids and we will see what happens. Thanks for all your help !! Linda Fox lfox1-at-wpo.it.luc.edu
Attn all RCA-o-philes,
With regard to Jim Darley's citing of the High Crimes in the Diet of Dogma Court Record... } } Hello List Readers: } Laura Rhoads suggested that forced use of THAT instrument would be a suitable } penalty for those committing "crimes" such as broadcasting "dogma". I } concured, } adding "I would not want to offend anybody, but I've been in purgatory for } two } years already. Circa 1970 that instrument was the worst money could buy in } the } Western World." } } Yes, that instrument looked good, it had a big column and would make a fine } statue in someone's garden (so Laura suggested, personal communications). I } would love one, it would be the crowing glory to the banks of the Ross River.
Jim- You've got it all wrong: I said lawn ornament, not garden. If I put an EMU-4 column and requisite support pedestal in my garden there would be no room for my radishes... Actually, someone has already offered me an RCA EMT for this purpose, but that model isn't nearly massive enough for what I intend (I think it's complete so if anyone wants this artifact say, for a home workshop restoration project, contact me off-list).
Actually, the subject of RCA-for-pillory has brought up some rather interesting interpretations regarding the application of RCA EO equipment. Since I had yet to enter kindergarten by the time the last EMU-4 rolled off the assembly line in 1969 I never had the opportunity many others seem to have had cutting their teeth (I was cutting my own) on this (at the time) cutting edge technology. Missing this equipment in its prime, I feel somehow cheated, and as a result will have to rely on the experiences of those who did. What I find really interesting is the disparate variety of opinions as to service and operation. Could the EMU-4 Jim used at the World Expo have been a made on a Monday and Chuck Garber's, for example, a Wednesday? Or, did the RCA engineers install some extra parts they found in Hangar 18 from the Roswell, NM Crash Site that Jim's didn't get? Since the SPI rig is still running perhaps the operators can comment on their filament life and if it exceeds 12 hours? In order to solve the poor vacuum pumping problem (and to avoid forced coffee breaks) has this unit's vacuum system been retrofitted with a Balzers turbo pump perhaps? Are the alignment problems vividly recalled simply the result of using the wrong size mallet maybe?
All these issues are quite intriguing. If anyone does look into the history of RCA then maybe other manufacturers of EO equipment, such as Siemens, would be in order as well? And who was Vacuum Generator of the UK? Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat its failures. It seems that the technical information is available, and MSA has a tremendous body of institutional memory. It would be a shame to have this collective wisdom disappear.
For that matter, when I arrived at my latest job I discovered a complete Philips 75C hidden in the corner of the basement, with original warranty card (never filled out) which I am told still operates...Where will I ever get parts?...
************************************************ If the iron dice must roll, may God help us all...
Theobald von Bethmann-Hollweg German chancellor, August 1, 1914
************************************************ Laura Rhoads Biology Department SUNY Potsdam Potsdam, NY 13676 315-267-2260 315-267-3170 fax
I have a Philips 201 TEM with some major minor problems. I need to replace some small parts to fix the specimen stage.
Most essential: a stereoblock (a cube about 2cm on side, tube hollowed out inside, small projecting knobby thing from one side). It is part # 5322-466-80154 in the Philips 1974 manual. I also need a leaf spring and pin that fits into this - # 5322-492-6061.
I would also like to buy (some) replacement clamping cones for the specimen holder and an new objective diaphram holder tip, but these are less critical at the moment.
Does anyone have or know where I can acquire such parts? If anyone is trying to get rid of a defunct Philips 201 TEM...? According to the manual parts for the Philips 300 are the same.
Thanks! g
Many thanks indeed to all who responded to the above distress call. My colleague Janet says that she will try all the suggestions and report results. She finds Mike Wombwell's suggestion particularly promising. Chris Smith, Plant Path EM Unit, IACR-Rothamsted, UK.
Colleagues
I have discovered that the main database file became corrupted a few days ago. As a result many of you (about 2000+) have not received any Listserver mail for the last few days.
Unfortunately I'm out of the country at the moment and will not be able to do a full restore until Monday when I return home.
I have been able to restore an older database which I have here on my laptop, which will get most people back on-line (as well as a few that have UNSUBSCRIBED ... sorry). Please bear with this for a bit until I can get things back to normal.
Just for the record the problem, (which I probably caused) happened on Mon, 27 Sep 1999 17:20 -0500 CST. A large portion of the database file was deleted. oops... Nestor screwed up!
This means that most of you will have had a quiet few days. Even the archive records were lost for that 3 day period. I 've been out of the country for 2 weeks and have not been monitoring the Listserver mail closely so I did not catch the problem until a host of people started sending me Email asking why they haven't seen anything for the last 2-3 days . My thanks to everyone who sent me an Email that something was amiss.
If any of you that were still receiving Listserver mail during 9/27-9/30 period (I obviously did not) and have happen to have saved all the messages you received during that drop me a line. I'd like to try to organize a restoration of as much to the archive as possible.....
Also my apologies to any of you that have unsubscribed and are now receiving this mail. Please send a new Unsubscribe message to
Listserver-at-msa.microscopy.com
I'll be able to do a more complete restore of the database in a few days when I return home.
I have used PIPS ion beam thinner for a month or so. Vacuum level became bad and I could not turn on the gun. When I opened up the chamber, I found that metal parts were contaminated severely. It seemed that it was time to clean up the parts. I tried to clean them with tissue paper and alcohol. They were hardly removed. Especially when the metal surface had a machining marks such as concentric circular grooves, it was more difficult. Some parts I could take out of chamber and clean. The other parts, I could not take out because they were stationary. I have to clean them in a state of being equipped. I am afraid to use organic solvent which would remain in the chamber and make the vacuum worse. My question is how I can clean the contamination easily. Could any of you give me help out of your good experiences? Help from Gatan expert would also be appreciated.
Jondo Yun Center for Instrumental Analysis Kyungnam University 449 Weolyeong-dong, Masan, 631-701, Korea 82-551-249-2697 (tel) 82-551-248-5033 (fax) jdyun-at-hanma.kyungnam.ac.kr
we are using the PIPS for several years already and I have to admit that we cleaned the inner surface of the work chamber only in *very* long intervals. This is only necessary if flakes of sputtered material beginn to build and it has not to be a "perfect" cleaning process. Of course, you need to clean from time to time the viewing window, the guns, the penning gauge and the shutter.
If you have a vacuum problem, it is more likely that one of the o-rings in not OK. The most probable one is of course the rotating seal of the specimen mount. It should be cleaned and lubricated about every 50 hours of use.
Furthermore I can only encourage you to seek help from your local Gatan representative. At least the people from Gatan Germany never left us alone with our occasional problems and questions about the system and came up with help and solutions readily (hello Herr Nitschke, do you read this? :)
Petra
Usual disclaimer: I have no interest or relation to Gatan other than being a very satisfied customer.
At 12:21 01.10.99 +0900, you wrote: } } Dear members: } } I have used PIPS ion beam thinner for a month or so. Vacuum level became } bad and I could not turn on the gun. When I opened up the chamber, I found } that metal parts were contaminated severely. It seemed that it was time to } clean up the parts. } I tried to clean them with tissue paper and alcohol. They were hardly } removed. Especially when the metal surface had a machining marks such as } concentric circular grooves, it was more difficult. Some parts I could take } out of chamber and clean. The other parts, I could not take out because they } were stationary. I have to clean them in a state of being equipped. I am } afraid to use organic solvent which would remain in the chamber and make the } vacuum worse. } My question is how I can clean the contamination easily. Could any of you } give me help out of your good experiences? Help from Gatan expert would also } be appreciated. } } Jondo Yun } Center for Instrumental Analysis } Kyungnam University } 449 Weolyeong-dong, Masan, 631-701, Korea } 82-551-249-2697 (tel) } 82-551-248-5033 (fax) } jdyun-at-hanma.kyungnam.ac.kr
-------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Petra Wahlbring Centre de Recherche Public - Gabriel Lippmann Laboratoire d'Analyse des Materiaux (LAM) 162a, av. de la Faiencerie L-1511 Luxembourg tel. +352-466644-402 fax +352-466644-400 e-mail: petra.wahlbring-at-crpgl.lu Visit our WWW site! http://www.crpgl.lu/~wahlbrin
This position is for a technician in the Intel Fab 12 Materials Lab TEM group who will be responsible for TEM sample preparation. This job requires working with engineers to develop a sample preparation strategy and taking that task to completion. TEM sample preparation requires a high degree of manual skill, judgment, dexterity, hand-eye coordination, steady hands and good eyesight. The position requires operating precision mechanical sectioning and polishing equipment (tripod polisher and dimpler), focused ion beam (FIB) tools, and Ar-ion milling tools. High power optical microscopes and dual-beam FIBs are used to determine precision cross-section locations. TEM samples are extremely fragile and require extreme care and good manual dexterity during handling. Auxiliary duties will also include general upkeep of the TEM group labs, developing and printing TEM film and labeling TEM prints. The ideal candidate will have a 2-year college or technician degree in a science or engineering field and no less than 2-3 years experience operating TEM sample preparation equipment. The candidate will have worked in an area where manual dexterity, independent operation and decision making have been demonstrated. Familiarity with semiconductor process technology is also highly desirable. Intel is an equal opportunity employer. Resumes accepted by fax, email, or snail mail. Interested candidates should contact:
David Howell FAB 12 TEM Engineer Intel Corporation M/S OC2-218 4500 S. Dobson Rd Chandler, AZ 85248-4906 dave.fab12.howell-at-intel.com Fax (480)-715-8363
I now have a backup copy of the lost 3 days of messages courtesy of Kristian Ukkonen {kukkonen-at-cc.hut.fi} . I will simply append them to the archives for September when I update the Listserver archive site at http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html.
Thanks to everyone who offered to send me their copies of the Email for those 3 days . I'm please to see that there are other pack rats that also keep files for extended periods of time.
In a message dated 10/2/99 6:46:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time, zaluzec-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com writes:
{ { Subj: Administrivia: Nestor has backup copy of lost messages Date: 10/2/99 6:46:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time From: zaluzec-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (Nestor J. Zaluzec) To: microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.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 -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
Colleagues...
I now have a backup copy of the lost 3 days of messages courtesy of Kristian Ukkonen {kukkonen-at-cc.hut.fi} . I will simply append them to the archives for September when I update the Listserver archive site at http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/MicroscopyArchives.html.
Thanks to everyone who offered to send me their copies of the Email for those 3 days . I'm please to see that there are other pack rats that also keep files for extended periods of time.
I agree with most of what you have said about the early mechanical advantages of Siemens and Philips over RCA, but I don't (and didn't) arrive at the same conclusion that using RCA was a big mistake. I did electron microscopy for my biological PhD thesis at Harvard about 1956-58 on an RCA EMU-2D. During my postdoc with Don Fawcett (at Cornell Med and then Harvard Med) in 1958-61 we used mostly RCA EMU-3. A Siemens IA was available to us during part of that time, but wasn't used much. As you pointed out, the long focal length of the RCA instruments was great for contrast, but less optimal for resolution. But why worry about only getting 7A resolution (instead of 4-5A) when the smallest structure of appreciable biological interest visible in EM sections was about 25A (sublayers of biological membranes). Was there any advantage in seeing the stain particles more sharply? On the other hand, contrast was extremely important, and contributed to some of the high quality EM produced by Fawcett and his associates.
When I left for my first faculty position (Anatomy Dept at Stanford Med, 1961-71), I had grant money for an EM, and picked an RCA EMU-3F. I never regretted that choice. The high contrast of that instrument was invaluable, especially when (beginning in 1966) I was developing a method and device for cutting ultrathin frozen sections (which were inherently low in contrast).
Although my later instruments were a Philips 300, JEOL 100B, and then Philips 201, Philips 400 and Philips CM10, I still look back on the RCA as a great instrument, despite its various inconveniences.
Kent
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A. Kent Christensen, Professor Emeritus Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology University of Michigan Medical School Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0616 Tel (work) 763-1287, Fax (work) 763-1166 akc-at-umich.edu http://www.umich.edu/~akc/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
} Hello List Readers: } Laura Rhoads suggested that forced use of THAT instrument would be a } suitable penalty for those committing "crimes" such as broadcasting } "dogma". I concured, adding "I would not want to offend anybody, but } I've been in purgatory for two years already. Circa 1970 that instrument } was the worst money could buy in the Western World." } } Several readers have responded making positive points about that } instruments. I agree with some of these because nothing in this world is } entirely bad - even a broken clock shows the right time, twice a day. } } Yes, that instrument looked good, it had a big column and would make a } fine statue in someone's garden (so Laura suggested, personal } communications). I would love one, it would be the crowing glory to the } banks of the Ross River. } } Yes, the image had good contrast because it was a medium resolution } instrument (I guess about 0.8nm). A longer working distance objective } results in higher contrast but lower resolution. Other manufacturers } offer high contrast objectives, but most instrument purchasers ask for } higher resolution. } } Yes, RCA's are historical instrument and the first commercially produced } American TEM. Though I believe that Siemens produced the first commercial } TEM in the mid 30th. } } Yes, for some people this was their first electron microscope and it had } to be impressive to us who grew up before computer whizz-bangery. } Unfortunately, it was my fourth TEM. My previous loves had been a } mid-60th Siemens Elmiskop, a Philips 100C (the one with a near } horizontal column and transmission viewing screen) and a Zeiss 9C. All } of these were rather better suited to productive work. } } Yes, the electronics were reliable, but the vacuum gauging was } insufficient. Since it also had no vacuum locks and blanking provisions } were poor, vacuum trouble-shooting was very difficult. } } Yes, it was reasonably easy to operate and was great for forced coffee } breaks. No specimen, no gun, nor camera vacuum locks made for lots and } lots of pumping times. } } Yes, the camera had two options, either three single plates could be } inserted or one long plate taking five images on one plate. Bit of a } pain to share negatives with another operator. Absolutely awful for } taking lots of images and changing specimens. The pumping cycle was slow. } } The complete lack of vacuum locks and the poor film options made the } EMU-4 a "hysterical instrument". Such features were not rocket science } even in those days. More features . . . } } Changing the filament was a painful operation. I think the basic } alignment after filament change required three complete column pumping } cycles, lots of time for getting other jobs done during those } operations. I could not align that scope in under two hours. I had } inherited a service contract and the service men could do no better. } } Alignment screws were difficult to adjust accurately in those days on } most TEMs. I learned from the service man that the final touch was best } achieved by tapping the column with a rubber mallet - which was not part } of the service kit. } } Filament life averaged about 12 hours, with the alignment procedure } eating up a good part thereof. Short filament life may not have been an } inherent problem in the design. This may have been due to poor vacuum, } but there was no good way of isolating vacuum parts, getting a reliable } vacuum reading and finding a possible leak. } } } Why did RCA sell the EMU-4 to Forgflow, who then quickly discontinued } that instrument? } Because the column design was 10 years too late. By 1972 I had a Philips } EM300 - now that was progress. Philips at last had eclipsed the } Elmiskops, which had been the top brand throughout the 50th and 60th. } } Incidentally, Siemens closed their EM division about '78. In Karlsruhe in } October '77 I had admired Siemens' latest "Wunderkind", it turned out be } the Divisions death knell. It was a FESEM based somewhat on the research } by Crewe (Chicago ?) Nice instrument, beautiful column, but Vacuum } Generator of the UK had build a better performer at almost half the } price. . . . the rest is history. } } Disclaimer: Opinions expressed are mine they are based on fragile } memories. No dogma is implied or intended. Feel free to purchase an } EMU-4, if you can find one. Even Phantom comics of that period fetch } increasing prices and modern instruments depreciate rapidly. Don't } condemn me for another two years on THAT instrument please. PST does not } supply the EMU-4 or similar. } Cheers } Jim Darley } ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS } PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia } Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com } Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes } www.proscitech.com
DVD Player Blowout!!! Brand New DVD Players only $179.00!
Model RCA RC5231Z - DVD PLAYER
This is the electronics deal of the year, you really don't want to miss this offer! We are offering this Brand New RCA DVD Player at a tremendous discount. Normally this DVD player sells in retail stores between $299-$389. Because of our amazing buying power we were able to obtain big discounts which we are passing onto you. Only through our special online promotion are you able to get this price, YOU WILL NOT FIND A BETTER PRICE ANYWHERE! COMPARE FOR YOURSELF, WE ENCOURAGE IT! To research just enter in the Model # RC5231Z
Sells for $299.00 at Circuit City Electronics - http://www.circuitcity.com
OUR SPECIAL PRICE - ONLY $179.00!
Buy a DVD Player for your: Home / Office / Early Christmas Gift / Birthday / Anniversary Gift / or just because you deserve it!
Take advantage of our huge inventory liquidation. Quantities are limited, orders will be filled on a first come basis! Don't delay this deal is absolutely amazing! Product guaranteed 100% New, legitimate, not stolen, ect. All manufacturer warranties are honored.
Order Now! Live Operators Ready to Take Your Order - 24 - Hours a Day!
Ordering your DVD Player has never been easier. We have Live Operators ready to take your order now. You can pay by Visa / MasterCard or even by Personal Check!
CALL 1-800-311-5560 TO PLACE YOUR ORDER!
1. Operators will ask for a Special Offer Code - Please tell them Offer Code #8159 2. They will then ask for the ITEM # - Please tell them ITEM# DVD969
All DVD Players shipped Via UPS Ground - Shipping charge - $12.95 Total Charge $191.95 (+ 8.25% sales tax for residents of Texas)
------------------------------------------------------------- This mailing list is opt-in only. We are linked to many web sites that offer free subscriptions to our mailing list. You will be removed from this list at any time by following the simple instructions that can be found at the end of this email.
To be removed from our list, reply to this email and type remove in the subject line. Thank you!
How does the EMC-1 that I worked on fit into this product line? Do I have the model identification wrong? It *has* been over 30 years since I worked with the RCA 'scope.
gary g.
At 10:46 AM 10/2/99 , you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I'm pretty new at LM and I am trying to characterize components of seed cell walls. Does anyone know of stains that I could use to differentiate, say, celluloses from hemicelluloses from pectins etc.? I saw a really nice picture in a text once where different components were fluorescing at different colors, but I can't find the book now.
Also, if anyone knows of references to such experiments, I would be very grateful.
Thank you,
Dana Stewart Masters Student, Simon Fraser University British Columbia djstewar-at-sfu.ca
You Can Work At Home & Set Your Own Hours. Start earning Big Money in a short time
NO Newspaper Advertising!
Your job will be to stuff and mail envelopes for our company. You will receive $.25 for each and every envelope you stuff and mail out.
Just follow our simple instructions and you will be making money as easy as 1… 2… 3
For example stuff and mail 200 envelopes and you will receive $50.00. Stuff and mail 1000 and you will receive $250.00. Stuff and mail 2000 and you will receive $500.00 and more
Never before has there been an easier way to make money from home!
Our Company's Home Mailing Program is designed for people with little or no experience and provides simple, step by step instructions.
There is no prior experience or special skills necessary on your part, Just stuffing envelopes.
We need the help of honest and reliable home workers like you. Because we are overloaded with work and have more than our staff can handle. We have now expanded our mailing program and are expecting to reach millions more with our offers throughout the US and Canada.
Our system of stuffing and mailing envelopes is very simple and easy to do! You will not be required to buy envelopes or postage stamps.
We will gladly furnish all circulars at no cost to you. We assure you that as a participant in our program you will never have to mail anything objective or offensive.
There are no quotas to meet, and there no contracts to sign. You can work as much, or as little as you want. Payment for each envelope you send out is Guaranteed!
Here is what you will receive when you get your first Package. Inside you will find 100 envelopes, 100 labels and 100 sales letters ready to stuff and mail
As soon as you are done with stuffing and mailing these first letters, your payment will arrive shortly, thereafter. All you have to do is to order more free supplies and stuff and mail more envelopes to make more money.
Our sales literature which you will be stuffing and mailing will contain information outlining our highly informative manuals that we are advertising nationwide. As a free gift you will receive a special manual valued at $24.95, absolutely free, just for joining our Home Mailers Program.
Plus you will get your own special code number, so that we will know how much you are to get paid. And to make re-ordering of more envelopes, that our company supplies very simple for you.
We are giving you this free bonus because we want you to be confident in our company and to ensure that we will be doing business with you for a long time.
Benefits Of This Job:
1. You do not have to quit your present job, to earn more money at home 2. You can make between $2,500 to $4,500 a month depending on the amount of time you are willing to spend stuffing and mailing envelopes 3. This is a great opportunity for the students, mothers, disabled persons or those who are home bodies.
To secure your position and to show us that you are serious about earning extra income at home we require a one-time registration fee of $35.00. This fee covers the cost of your initial start up package, which includes 100 envelopes, 100 labels and 100 sales letters and a manual, your registration fee will be refunded back to you shortly thereafter.
Money Back Guarantee!
We guarantee that as soon as you stuff and mail your first 300 envelopes You will be paid $75.00 and your registration fee will be refunded.
Many of you wonder why it is necessary to pay a deposit to get a job. It is because we are looking for people that seriously want to work from home.
* If 3.000 people told us they wanted to start working from home and we sent out 3.000 packages free to every one. And then half of the people decided not to work, this would be a potential loss of more than $60,000 in supply's and shipping that we have sent out to people that don't want to work
We have instituted this policy to make sure that you really want to work and at least finish your first package.
To Get Started Today Please Enclose Your Registration Fee of $35 Check,Cash Or Money Order and fill out the application below and mail to:
MOHW Co 11054 Ventura Blvd PMB #126 Studio City, CA 91604 Name_____________________________________________________
Does anyone have a source for IR responsive marking pens? This is for use in a SEM with an IR chamber viewing camera system. The idea is to be able to mark specimen stubs and read numbers with the camera.
Low Vacuum and Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy, LV-ESEM= '99
October 19-21, 1999, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg,= Sweden
This course will be given in collaboration with four microscope manufacturers (Hitachi, Jeol, Leo, Philips/Fei) and suppliers of= equipment for EDX and EBSP.
The aim of this 3-day intensive course is to give a theoretical background in the morning sessions and experimental insights in the afternoons.= The lectures and the demonstrations will be given by application specialists from the different companies representad at the course and also by researchers working with LV- and ESEM. The demonstrations and lab= classes will be carried out on equipment brought to Chalmers specifically= for this course. =20
Detailed information about LV-ESEM '99, including course programme= and registration form, is posted on: http://fy.chalmers.se/microscopy
Course organisers: Lena Falk (lklfalk-at-fy.chalmers.se) and Mats Halvarsson (mats.halvarsson-at-fy.chalmers.se)
_____________________________
Associate Professor Lena Falk Department of Experimental Physics, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96 G=F6teborg, SWEDEN
With regard to Jim Darley's citing of the High Crimes in the Diet of Dogma Court Record... } } Hello List Readers: } Laura Rhoads suggested that forced use of THAT instrument would be a suitable } penalty for those committing "crimes" such as broadcasting "dogma". I } concured, } adding "I would not want to offend anybody, but I've been in purgatory for } two } years already. Circa 1970 that instrument was the worst money could buy in } the } Western World." } } Yes, that instrument looked good, it had a big column and would make a fine } statue in someone's garden (so Laura suggested, personal communications). I } would love one, it would be the crowing glory to the banks of the Ross River.
Jim- You've got it all wrong: I said lawn ornament, not garden. If I put an EMU-4 column and requisite support pedestal in my garden there would be no room for my radishes... Actually, someone has already offered me an RCA EMT for this purpose, but that model isn't nearly massive enough for what I intend (I think it's complete so if anyone wants this artifact say, for a home workshop restoration project, contact me off-list).
Actually, the subject of RCA-for-pillory has brought up some rather interesting interpretations regarding the application of RCA EO equipment. Since I had yet to enter kindergarten by the time the last EMU-4 rolled off the assembly line in 1969 I never had the opportunity many others seem to have had cutting their teeth (I was cutting my own) on this (at the time) cutting edge technology. Missing this equipment in its prime, I feel somehow cheated, and as a result will have to rely on the experiences of those who did. What I find really interesting is the disparate variety of opinions as to service and operation. Could the EMU-4 Jim used at the World Expo have been a made on a Monday and Chuck Garber's, for example, a Wednesday? Or, did the RCA engineers install some extra parts they found in Hangar 18 from the Roswell, NM Crash Site that Jim's didn't get? Since the SPI rig is still running perhaps the operators can comment on their filament life and if it exceeds 12 hours? In order to solve the poor vacuum pumping problem (and to avoid forced coffee breaks) has this unit's vacuum system been retrofitted with a Balzers turbo pump perhaps? Are the alignment problems vividly recalled simply the result of using the wrong size mallet maybe?
All these issues are quite intriguing. If anyone does look into the history of RCA then maybe other manufacturers of EO equipment, such as Siemens, would be in order as well? And who was Vacuum Generator of the UK? Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat its failures. It seems that the technical information is available, and MSA has a tremendous body of institutional memory. It would be a shame to have this collective wisdom disappear.
For that matter, when I arrived at my latest job I discovered a complete Philips 75C hidden in the corner of the basement, with original warranty card (never filled out) which I am told still operates...Where will I ever get parts?...
************************************************ If the iron dice must roll, may God help us all...
Theobald von Bethmann-Hollweg German chancellor, August 1, 1914
************************************************ Laura Rhoads Biology Department SUNY Potsdam Potsdam, NY 13676 315-267-2260 315-267-3170 fax
I think this question is asked frequently but I haven't been able to locate any responses in the archives. I need to know what other labs charge for using the various pieces of equipment in your lab and for technical services performed by lab personnel. Thanks for your help.
Donna Wagahoff SIU School of Medicine PO Box 19627 Springfield, IL 62794-9627 217-782-0898 fax 217-524-3227
Kent: This thread was started as a jocular suggestion that the penalty for certain "sins" against the Listserver, should be forced labour on the RCA EMU-4. Similarly, I too used the subject header, "hysterical notes", also in the jocular. I have changed this to the proper term.
That previous contribution was in reply to three contributors and various points made. My own EM experience dates to the mid 60th and I had restricted my comments to instruments available from that time only.
I marveled then at the fine structure atlases produced by Fawcett and Rhodin and learned much from the technique book by Pease. I understand that prior to about 1962 there were at least three labs in USA, plus Sjostrand's in Sweden, another lab in the UK and the lab at Sydney University under Drummond, which were the only ones to consistently produce, even by today's standards, high quality images of tissues.
Good contrast was certainly due to longer objective lenses (and lower kV used), but in those days and that was before lead staining was introduced by Watson, section-contrast was actually better because the then used butyl-methyl methacrylates added much less electron density than do the epoxy resins. Those methacrylates had other problems, for sure, but contrast was a plus.
I doubt that all historically so successful labs used the particularly contrasty RCA TEMs, yet all were able to produce excellent images for various other reasons too.
I have never used the earlier models of RCA TEMs. I expect that they were good instruments in comparison with others on the market at the time.
Chuck Garber evidently has a "soft spot" for the EMU-4 and had wondered why that model was not successful in the marked place and had lead to RCA's withdrawal from the field. I think that the reason for poor sales are obvious: by the late 60th there were several very competent instruments available, some had high contrast objectives too, but the crucial advantages of those instru ments were vacuum locks for specimen, for filament and for film changes. Also, some manufacturers realized that memories were not enough, people had to be able to take lots of photographs. RCA had underestimated the importance of all these features and I believe these were the reasons for the demise of the RCA TEMs. "Yankee" ingenuity is famous and unquestioned, rather the EMU-4 is an example of a manufacturer not watching the opposition and a failure to listen to customers increased requirements. Cheers Jim Darley ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes www.proscitech.com
On Sunday, October 03, 1999 12:47 AM, A. K. Christensen [SMTP:akc-at-umich.edu] wrote:
} Jim, } } I agree with most of what you have said about the early mechanical } advantages of Siemens and Philips over RCA, but I don't (and didn't) arrive } at the same conclusion that using RCA was a big mistake. I did electron } microscopy for my biological PhD thesis at Harvard about 1956-58 on an RCA } EMU-2D. During my postdoc with Don Fawcett (at Cornell Med and then } Harvard Med) in 1958-61 we used mostly RCA EMU-3. A Siemens IA was } available to us during part of that time, but wasn't used much. As you } pointed out, the long focal length of the RCA instruments was great for } contrast, but less optimal for resolution. But why worry about only } getting 7A resolution (instead of 4-5A) when the smallest structure of } appreciable biological interest visible in EM sections was about 25A } (sublayers of biological membranes). Was there any advantage in seeing the } stain particles more sharply? On the other hand, contrast was extremely } important, and contributed to some of the high quality EM produced by } Fawcett and his associates. } } When I left for my first faculty position (Anatomy Dept at Stanford Med, } 1961-71), I had grant money for an EM, and picked an RCA EMU-3F. I never } regretted that choice. The high contrast of that instrument was } invaluable, especially when (beginning in 1966) I was developing a method } and device for cutting ultrathin frozen sections (which were inherently low } in contrast). } } Although my later instruments were a Philips 300, JEOL 100B, and then } Philips 201, Philips 400 and Philips CM10, I still look back on the RCA as } a great instrument, despite its various inconveniences. } } Kent } } ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ } A. Kent Christensen, Professor Emeritus } Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology } University of Michigan Medical School } Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0616 } Tel (work) 763-1287, Fax (work) 763-1166 } akc-at-umich.edu } http://www.umich.edu/~akc/ } ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ } } --On Mon, Sep 27, 1999 9:50 PM +1000 jim {jim-at-proscitech.com.au} wrote: } } } Hello List Readers: } } Laura Rhoads suggested that forced use of THAT instrument would be a } } suitable penalty for those committing "crimes" such as broadcasting } } "dogma". I concured, adding "I would not want to offend anybody, but } } I've been in purgatory for two years already. Circa 1970 that instrument } } was the worst money could buy in the Western World." } } } } Several readers have responded making positive points about that } } instruments. I agree with some of these because nothing in this world is } } entirely bad - even a broken clock shows the right time, twice a day. } } } } Yes, that instrument looked good, it had a big column and would make a } } fine statue in someone's garden (so Laura suggested, personal } } communications). I would love one, it would be the crowing glory to the } } banks of the Ross River. } } } } Yes, the image had good contrast because it was a medium resolution } } instrument (I guess about 0.8nm). A longer working distance objective } } results in higher contrast but lower resolution. Other manufacturers } } offer high contrast objectives, but most instrument purchasers ask for } } higher resolution. } } } } Yes, RCA's are historical instrument and the first commercially produced } } American TEM. Though I believe that Siemens produced the first commercial } } TEM in the mid 30th. } } } } Yes, for some people this was their first electron microscope and it had } } to be impressive to us who grew up before computer whizz-bangery. } } Unfortunately, it was my fourth TEM. My previous loves had been a } } mid-60th Siemens Elmiskop, a Philips 100C (the one with a near } } horizontal column and transmission viewing screen) and a Zeiss 9C. All } } of these were rather better suited to productive work. } } } } Yes, the electronics were reliable, but the vacuum gauging was } } insufficient. Since it also had no vacuum locks and blanking provisions } } were poor, vacuum trouble-shooting was very difficult. } } } } Yes, it was reasonably easy to operate and was great for forced coffee } } breaks. No specimen, no gun, nor camera vacuum locks made for lots and } } lots of pumping times. } } } } Yes, the camera had two options, either three single plates could be } } inserted or one long plate taking five images on one plate. Bit of a } } pain to share negatives with another operator. Absolutely awful for } } taking lots of images and changing specimens. The pumping cycle was slow. } } } } The complete lack of vacuum locks and the poor film options made the } } EMU-4 a "hysterical instrument". Such features were not rocket science } } even in those days. More features . . . } } } } Changing the filament was a painful operation. I think the basic } } alignment after filament change required three complete column pumping } } cycles, lots of time for getting other jobs done during those } } operations. I could not align that scope in under two hours. I had } } inherited a service contract and the service men could do no better. } } } } Alignment screws were difficult to adjust accurately in those days on } } most TEMs. I learned from the service man that the final touch was best } } achieved by tapping the column with a rubber mallet - which was not part } } of the service kit. } } } } Filament life averaged about 12 hours, with the alignment procedure } } eating up a good part thereof. Short filament life may not have been an } } inherent problem in the design. This may have been due to poor vacuum, } } but there was no good way of isolating vacuum parts, getting a reliable } } vacuum reading and finding a possible leak. } } } } } } Why did RCA sell the EMU-4 to Forgflow, who then quickly discontinued } } that instrument? } } Because the column design was 10 years too late. By 1972 I had a Philips } } EM300 - now that was progress. Philips at last had eclipsed the } } Elmiskops, which had been the top brand throughout the 50th and 60th. } } } } Incidentally, Siemens closed their EM division about '78. In Karlsruhe in } } October '77 I had admired Siemens' latest "Wunderkind", it turned out be } } the Divisions death knell. It was a FESEM based somewhat on the research } } by Crewe (Chicago ?) Nice instrument, beautiful column, but Vacuum } } Generator of the UK had build a better performer at almost half the } } price. . . . the rest is history. } } } } Disclaimer: Opinions expressed are mine they are based on fragile } } memories. No dogma is implied or intended. Feel free to purchase an } } EMU-4, if you can find one. Even Phantom comics of that period fetch } } increasing prices and modern instruments depreciate rapidly. Don't } } condemn me for another two years on THAT instrument please. PST does not } } supply the EMU-4 or similar. } } Cheers } } Jim Darley } } ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS } } PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia } } Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com } } Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes } } www.proscitech.com } }
A 2-year postdoctoral research fellowship is available to characterise radiation damage induced by neutron irradiation in model alloys and ferritic steels through the use of advanced transmission electron microscopy. The project aim is to determine the nature and the compositional dependency of the damage and, hence, to contribute to the understanding of the decrease in fracture toughness with neutron exposure in RPV steels. The successful candidate will work closely with industrial collaborators during the course of the project. Please quote ref: JMT1 in any correspondence.
The project requires the systematic examination of specimens from a range of model alloys subjected to different thermal and irradiation treatments to characterise the matrix damage present in the form of point defect clusters and dislocation loops, using weak beam analysis in energy-filtered images. In addition, possible interactions between point defects and alloying elements will be explored using analytical methods including: core-loss imaging, electron energy-loss spectroscopy and EDX analysis. The Department of Materials operates a range of electron microscopes including a JEOL 3000F FEG-TEM with GIF and EDX, an HB501 dedicated FEG-STEM and 400keV HREM instruments. The successful applicant will join a rapidly growing group of post-doctoral and postgraduate students engaged in microstructural and chemical characterisation of a wide range of materials using electron microscopy.
The successful candidate will possess a PhD in a materials science, physics or materials engineering field, be able to work within a group and be able to liase with industrial collaborators. Experience using transmission electron microscopy for the characterisation of crystal defects is essential.
2. Postdoctoral Fellowship in SCC/Electron Microscopy
A 2-year postdoctoral research fellowship is available to develop the use of analytical transmission electron microscopy methods to investigate environmentally assisted cracking (EAC) in austenitic stainless steels, in collaboration with Rolls-Royce Marine Power. Please quote ref: JMT2 in any correspondence.
The post concerns: (i) the development of specimen preparation techniques for generation of electron-transparent foils from materials containing cracks; and (ii) the systematic examination of a series of materials of selected compositions in which EAC has been induced in aqueous environments under controlled stress, temperature, environmental chemistry and corrosion potential. Characterisation will be performed using a range of electron optical equipment including a new JEOL 300kV FEG-TEM and an HB501 FEG-STEM. The applicant will join a rapidly growing group of post-doctoral and postgraduate students engaged in structural and chemical characterisation of a wide range of materials using electron beam methods.
Candidates should possess a PhD in a materials science, physics or materials engineering field, be able to work within a group and be able to liase with industrial collaborators.
We obtain our EM images using 35mm film. Each roll of film normally has about 60 images. We would like to eliminate the cost of printing these images and work with digital images. We have considered cutting our rolls of negatives into short strips and scanning them on a flatbed scanner. We have rejected this idea because of the time needed to digitally cut and save each individual image from the huge original image. We have also considered cutting our rolls into 6 image strips and scanning them with a film scanner. We have rejected this idea because the only film scanners we have found can only read strips with a maximum of 6 images making it necessary to load a new 6 image strip every few minutes. Again not a very efficient method.
Does anyone know of a film scanner that will read 35mm strips of 20 or more images or have some other idea how to automate the scanning of our negatives?
John
John M. Basgen Department of Pediatrics University of Minnesota Box 491 420 Delaware Street SE Minneapolis, MN 55455 Phone: 612-625-7979 FAX: 612-626-2791 E-mail: basgen-at-tc.umn.edu
The Center for High Resolution Electron Microscopy at Arizona State University has an open position for a Research Specialist. The Center provides electron microscopy resources for the university and external community, including a range of transmission and scanning electron microscopes, as well as specimen preparation facilities. The successful applicant will be expected to assist with the day-to-day operation and maintenance of microscopes within the Center. Primary instrument responsibility will include but not be limited to the JEOL 2000FX transmission electron microscope (TEM), the JEOL 840 Scanning EM, and the soon-to-be acquired JEOL 5900 SEM with liquid-helium CL system. Other tasks will include training and supervision of researchers in proper use of the instruments, including observance of safety procedures, and authorization of users. Some limited opportunity to assist and advise researchers in designing and carrying out experiments, including active participation and collaboration in experiments with data collection and analysis as required.
Minimum qualifications: Bachelors or Masters degree or equivalent training in Physical or Materials' Sciences or closely related discipline, with at least three but preferably five years' additional experience with operation and maintenance of scanning and/or transmission electron microscopes. Experience with design, construction and testing of electronic circuitry, and knowledge of vacuum systems would be desirable.
Application deadline: October 15, 1999, or until position filled.
Arizona State University is an equal opportunity employer. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.
Send resume and the names and addresses of three references to John Wheatley. Please contact John via one of the following ways--preferably e-mail:
John C. Wheatley, Lab Manager Arizona State University Center for Solid State Science Tempe, AZ 85287-1704
In my earlier message I didn't make myself clear about what I actually need. The bean counters here are wanting to raise the rates that we charge in-house people to use the equipment and to provide technical help to those who need it. I need to know what other state facilities charge for these services to justify our raising our rates or keeping them where they are. Thanks for your help.
Donna Wagahoff SIU School of Medicine PO Box 19627 Springfield, IL 62794-9627 217-782-0898 fax 217-524-3227
To get an idea about the fee structure (to be revised soon) CIMC uses for services within our university, please visit our website and go to the fees page. (http://www.cimc.cornell.edu/Pages/fee.htm)
--------
} } } } I think this question is asked frequently but I haven't been able to } locate any responses in the archives. I need to know what other labs } charge for using the various pieces of equipment in your lab and for } technical services performed by lab personnel. Thanks for your help. } } Donna Wagahoff } SIU School of Medicine } PO Box 19627 } Springfield, IL 62794-9627 } 217-782-0898 } fax 217-524-3227
Hope this is the start of a great new week for everyone! My question today= is again delicate, but in a different way. I'm not even sure that it can be answered directly given a previous thread on commercialism, price fixing, undercutting the private sector with taxpayer funded instrumentation, unfair competetion on other levels, etc., but I'm going to ask anyway and bravely accept any criticism or flames if I don't phrase it correctly. I hope I'm= not exasperating anyone.=20
We have a Balzer's HPM010 high pressure freezer in our facility, one of= about 10 in the US if I'm not wrong. I actually know that there is a user's group out there, but a HD crash a bit back removed all my files on that, so I'll use= the list at least once to ask my question. I realize that MOST other labs must charge all users for instrument use based on beam time, number of cycles, or some such. We may be unique in that we do not charge anyone except off= campus or out of system users for our equipment. Each user supplies all= comsumables, the facility Supervisor and manager (me) are line items in our department's budget, and our service contracts are supported by our serviced departments, the College, and the Vice-provost for research. We consider ourselves extremely lucky not to have to charge for use of the lab so that even unfunded people can work here if they can get supplies and we don't have to do the billing and accounting associated with charges. We diligently try to maintain excellent relations with the commercial EM labs around our area and refer all business to them if they have the facilities to perform it. Hence, we don't have much experience in setting prices for users that we can charge. How do the rest= of you decide on these charges? I have met with our comptroller's office (a couple of years ago when we were looking at charging fees like all the rest of the labs on campus) and understand that if you charge anyone with a government contract or grant, you must bill EVERYONE, even for teaching time, and that the cost to grantees or contract=A0 holders must be billed at the lowest rate.= Costs must be neutral - that is, no profit and all actual costs recovered, which means a lot of research into just what those costs ARE. It is very difficult for an essentially one man band to do all this stuff and it was decided to leave us alone as we are for now.=20
Hence, my problem. (FINALLY).=A0 Can I get some idea of what others charge= for High Pressure Freezing=A0 without making every service provider out there= angry and being accused of unfair competition? Or do I just guess for a one time industrial user who may not really want what we can do, anyway? I have, in= the past, charged $5 per "shot" plus a Dewar of liquid nitrogen at cost to cover expendibles and time, this to outside but not for profit users - these were visiting scientists from around the world and here in state. I'm not sure= this actually covered our costs.=20
Any help or guidance would be useful and appreciated. Any criticism of my= post (to include spelling or attitude) will be greatfully received and= considered. Thanks in advance.
William P. Sharp Arizona State University Dept. Plant Biology, box 871601 Tempe, AZ 85287-1601 Phone - (480)-965-3210 Fax - (480)-965-6899 =20
I am faced with my frequent dilemma of trying to look at a sample= I have never seen before, and one that my customer has either never imaged before or has not provided images of the desired features. Has anyone ou= t there ever imaged the materials used in soft contact lens in the SEM before? If so, are there any things that might help to either enhance or preserve the fine structure of the material they are made from? I am happ= y for any suggestions or advice. Thanks in advance for any input.
Dear Listers, We are interested in doing the freeze fracture/freeze etch procedure I did years ago on a Balzers instrument. I have two questions: a) are any of you using this technique and if so what model are you using? b) will you accept contract work? Thanks in advance for your assistance. Rosemary
I posted this last week, but have had only a couple of replies. Could it, and its successor of Thurs 30th have gotten caught up in the problems? Plse advise so that I can re-post if neccessary.
I had a nice time at UC Davis last month, packing up the 840 we bought from them, now all I have to do is to galvanise our admin into commissioning some miniscule room alterations (you can read that both ways), and she'll be a cracker, cobber!
Dear all, Iwould first like to thank everyone who provide information on how to measure fingerprints. On a different matter I intend to fire up a UV laser (emmitting at 248nm) for the first time in several years in the near future. I am obviously uncertain that the laser will work and do not wish to spend too much time trying to optimise the laser and so on without being absolutely sure it is, in fact, lasing. For this reason I was wandering if anyone could recomend a fluorescent dye (or other material) that I could place in the beam path which would emit in the visible region and thus enable me to be sure of the laser's efficacy. Thanks in advance. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------Dr. Giles SandersZeneca / SmithKline Beecham Centre for Analytical SciencesChemistry DepartmentImperial College of Science, Technology and MedicineLondonSW7 2AY----------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------
I'm in the process of fitting the factory optical microscope onto an 840A, and I don't have any info on the various cable connections.
1 There are two cables issuing from the mounting flange:
- one with a BNC plug, cable labelled "OM1" - one with a 5-pin plug, cable labelled "BE8"
2 There's one cable issuing from the elbow, with a 5-pin plug, and a smudged label.
3 On the elbow, there's a 5-pin socket, also what looks like a little green indicator light.
I will be very grateful to whoever can explain what all of these are for (they are in addition to the 5-pin plug from the illumination lamp base).
Also, does the secondary electron imaging still work with the OM fitted? Presumably the latter has to be thoroughly retracted.
thanks
Ritchie
Ritchie Sims Phone : 64 9 3737599 ext 7713 Department of Geology Fax : 64 9 3737435 The University of Auckland email : r.sims-at-auckland.ac.nz Private Bag 92019 Auckland New Zealand
We are setting up a microscopy techniques require an environmental chamber with carbon dioxide control within 5% +/- 0.5%. Our microscope system is Zeiss Axiovert 135. Does anybody know the supplier, or have experience to build one up? We need your help.
Some fifteen years ago I ran a course for a contact lens manufacturer where we modified their microscope (SEM) to look at the wet lens.
They had an old ISI SEM but complete with a Robinson BSE detector. As the SEM had a "proper" vacuum system, with a manifold leading from the DP to the specimen chamber and gun area, we were able to modify the system to be pseudo VP; I have to say in those days we just called it common sense!
We placed a rubber bung (stopper to some) in the rear pumping line of the specimen area. The bung had a 0.5cm (3/16th inch) hole in it. Switching OFF all voltages to the SE (Everhart Thornley) detector we than ran in backscatter for about 20 minutes each session, by which time the lens would start to curl. We did not fix the lens down simply placed it on a 1 1/.4 inch stub.
The porosity in the lens was very clear under these conditions.
Hope this helps?
Steve Chapman
Senior Consultant E.M. Protrain, 6 Hillcrest Way, Buckingham Industrial Park, Buckingham MK18 1FU, England Tel & Fax 44 (0)1280 814774 E-mail - protrain-at-emcourses.com Web Site - http://www.emcourses.com For Consultancy and Courses in Electron Microscopy World Wide Courses available in - Australia, Canada, Europe, South Africa, New Zealand, Taiwan, United States, United Kingdom
We are setting up a microscopy techniques require an environmental chamber with carbon dioxide control within 5% +/- 0.5%. Our microscope system is Zeiss Axiovert 135. Does anybody know the supplier, or have experience to build one up? We need your help.
Greetings, I am in the market to buy a stereo microscope with a price of up to about $3000. One major use of the microscope will be to examine snail shells for defects at high magnifications, so as good a resolution as $3000 can buy is the major criterion. The two lines I am considering are the Olympus SZ & the Leica GZ series. I don't have the means of personally testing different models. I will appreciate comments from those who have used these models on the optics, mechanics & any other aspect of these microscopes. Thanks.
Greetings, I am in the market to buy a stereo microscope with a price of up to about $3000. One major use of the microscope will be to examine snail shells for defects at high magnifications, so as good a resolution as $3000 can buy is the major criterion. The two lines I am considering are the Olympus SZ & the Leica GZ series. I don't have the means of personally testing different models. I will appreciate comments from those who have used these models on the optics, mechanics & any other aspect of these microscopes. Thanks.
I have some negatives taken on the TEM which developed extremely light. I was wondering if anyone knows any tricks on photoshop for generating good quality prints. I typically adjust the levels and condense the size of the picture, but I am still not completely happy about the quality of the prints.
Looking at the post of Michael D. Frey, about sample preparation for contact lens, I reflexioned that this is a very good place to ask you all ideas for service with SEM, This is the unique SEM in our State, even I know that only there is another one in Southeast Region of Mexico, including our neighboard country of Guatemala. So I would like to extend my work in investigation assistance in Biology Science, to another services to customers for different aplications..... I«ve known some forensic applications, but I also know that this services needs besides me, to operate the SEM, one expert who knows what to look at the sample..
Your opinion will be very helpfull to solve this dilema of how to offer services to customers
We would like to buy immediately used GIFs for 300kV and 120kV TEMs.
Marek Malecki, M.D., Ph.D. Director and Principal Investigator
Molecular Imaging Laboratories (MIL) and Department of Biology University of California at San Diego
address: 1500 Bonner Hall, University of California at San Diego 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0368 telephone - lab: 8585342484 telephone - office: 8588223373 pager: 8586161420 fax: 8588223715 email: mmm-at-ucsd.edu www site: http://mil.ucsd.edu
Need some extra stages? Always wanted to do complimentary replicas? Now's your chance. I've gotten out of the freeze fracture business and put my old Balzers Turbo out to pasture. I did, however, save a hoard of parts which someone might put to good use. 10 quartz crystals 3 3 position specimen tables for counterflow loading system, plus loading rods 80 3mm gold specimen carriers for above 2 4 position specimen tables 1 1 position specimen table 1 complimentary (double) replica table plus lots of gold and Cu plates 1 specimen table for monolayer tissue 10 tubes of tungsten filaments for e guns 16 tubes carbon rods fo e gun 20 pre-drilled C rods for Pt bullets 55 Pt bullets 1/2 box Balzers microtome blades 2 12 well porcelain spot plates T/W wire and rods for evaporation Gordon Stereoscope (front silvered mirrors, adjustable 10x eyepieces) for examining stereo EM (up to 8X10 side by side) TONS of em grids of every possible mesh and configuration
Contact me if you're interested. This offering goes as a package, not individual items.
We would like to buy immediately used GIFs for 300kV and 120kV TEMs.
Marek Malecki, M.D., Ph.D. Director and Principal Investigator
Molecular Imaging Laboratories (MIL) and Department of Biology University of California at San Diego
address: 1500 Bonner Hall, University of California at San Diego 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0368 telephone - lab: 8585342484 telephone - office: 8588223373 pager: 8586161420 fax: 8588223715 email: mmm-at-ucsd.edu www site: http://mil.ucsd.edu
Dear David, I have looked at a soft contact lens before, but just in the dried state. I just stuck it on a stub and gold coated it. Since they are normally 55% water, I wouldn't vouch for the stucture in this state. Being smooth jelly, I don't think they have much surface structure. At 03:23 PM 10/4/99 -0400, you wrote:
} } Dear Listserver Members, } } I am faced with my frequent dilemma of trying to look at a sample I } have never seen before, and one that my customer has either never imaged } before or has not provided images of the desired features. Has anyone out } there ever imaged the materials used in soft contact lens in the SEM } before? If so, are there any things that might help to either enhance or } preserve the fine structure of the material they are made from? I am happy } for any suggestions or advice. Thanks in advance for any input. } } David Frey } 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 e-mail: mager-at-interchg.ubc.ca
At 11:20 AM 10/5/99 -0500, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Hi Rosemary,
We have a BALZERS BAF060 freeze fracture machine. This is the newest model of this kind of instrument. Please chcke our web site (http://www.cbc.umn.edu/em/) for more information.
Ya Chen Scientist
EM Facility Dept. of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development University of Minnesota Medical School 6-160 Jacson Hall 321Church St. S.E. Minneapolis, MN 55455
I am looking for some information on using SEM in archaeology, ie, methods which might be used to determine what clay archaeological pieces were used for. Is there an on-line search site (like Medline in the Biological Sciences) in which I can type in keywords and come up with Journal articles? Anyone ever do something like this? Any information would be greatly appreciated.
I am looking for some information on using SEM in archaeology, ie, methods which might be used to determine what clay archaeological pieces were used for. Is there an on-line search site (like Medline in the Biological Sciences) in which I can type in keywords and come up with Journal articles? Anyone ever do something like this? Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Photoshop processing can help, but the place to start is in scanning. If you have a 30-bit or better yet a 36-bit (color) scanner, you should be able to manipulate the scanner's tone controls (black, white, and gamma) to optimize the scanner's 8-bit (grayscale) output. You might also try superimposing a neutral density filter on the film negative to match the work density to the scanner's range. The filter can be another piece of light-exposed and developed TEM film. It just needs to have a uniform (gray) background. Always scan TEM negatives as positive transparencies; then invert the contrast in the scanner or Photoshop.
A work-around, especially if you don't have a good scanner, is to print the negative in the darkroom to get the contrast and density you want and then scan the print.
To further adjust the tonal quality in Photoshop, use Levels or Curves adjustment layers rather than applying these commands directly. This will avoid much of the data loss in applying multiple corrections. Use the Multiply blending mode to increase the contrast from a light negative, and apply as many layers as needed to get the contrast and background brightness right for your printer. If you use unsharp mask filtering (highly recommended after scanning) and background leveling, apply these to layers before the tonal adjustments. Learning to use Layers in Photoshop takes some time, but is highly worthwhile. Good luck.
Larry Thomas
Larry Thomas Pacific Northwest National Laboratory MSIN P8-16 P.O. Box 999 Richland, WA 99352 Phone: (509)372-0793 Fax: (509)376-6308 Email: mailto: Larry.Thomas-at-pnl.gov
From: Donald Delaney Sent: Tuesday, October 5, 1999 6:49 AM To: microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com Subject: Photoshop Negative Processing
------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 some negatives taken on the TEM which developed extremely light. I was wondering if anyone knows any tricks on photoshop for generating good quality prints. I typically adjust the levels and condense the size of the picture, but I am still not completely happy about the quality of the prints.
We have a Kevex Quantum UTW that we have been using for over 10 years. We had to send it in once for window repair after one of the miniscule panes in the window sprang a leak. It has been fine since.
We also have a Oxford Link ISIS Ge detector with UTW. Seems like it has been around for 5 years with no problem.
Basically, we have found them to be no particular bother and well worth having in order to see the C and O peaks.
Warren
At 08:11 PM 10/4/1999 -0500, you wrote: } From: Self {GLGNOV2/RSIMS} } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: Ultrathin Window vs Be } Date: Wed, 29 Sep 1999 14:48:43 GMT+1200 } } Hi, Everyone } } I'm shortly going to buy a new EDS detector. } I'd quite like the performance advantages of a 1-atmosphere UTW, but } I'm concerned about the durability and longevity compared with } standard Be windows. } } Anyone out there got any relevant experience/views? } } Either to the list, or directly to me, please. } } thanks } } Ritchie
I am looking for some information on using SEM in archaeology, ie, methods which might be used to determine what clay archaeological pieces were used for. Is there an on-line search site (like Medline in the Biological Sciences) in which I can type in keywords and come up with Journal articles? Anyone ever do something like this? Any information would be greatly appreciated.
I have 20 new filaments; several Wehnelt assemblies; SEI, TE, CL?, detectors; Scintillator disks; and other small items from an ISI Model 40 SEM. They are free if someone can use them. Please get in touch with me directly via email at probe-at-mailbox.cc.binghamton.edu or phone 607 777-2832.
Best Regards, Bill Blackburn Geology Department Binghamton University Binghamton, NY 13902-6000
Dear Listers: I am running an SEM in the Geoscience Department at UNLV. I have been approached by a member of the biology department, who would like to image bacteria, the CaCO3 crystals deposited by the bacteria and if possible the substrate. The bacteria are fixed in glutaraldehyde. Does someone out there have a simple protocol for preparation and coating of these types of samples. I would like to apologize in advance for asking such a simple question, but I am only a geologist... :)
Sarah A. W. Lundberg Microbeam Facility Analyst Office (702) 895-1134 University of Nevada, Las Vegas Lab (702) 895-2660 4505 Maryland Parkway Box 454010 email lundberg-at-nevada.edu Las Vegas, NV 89154-4010 Fax (702) 895-4064
Home : 4489 De Forest Street Las Vegas, NV 89103 (702) 871-9635
Folks, I would like to pass on a message from a colleage which may be of interest to users of a SEM ISI model 40:
-----Original Message--------------------- } From: probe-at-mailbox.cc.binghamton.edu [mailto:probe-at-mailbox.cc.binghamton.edu] Sent: Tuesday, October 05, 1999 2:26 PM To: heichelb-at-binghamton.edu
Folks, I would like to pass on a message from a colleage which may be of interest to users of a SEM ISI model 40:
-----Original Message--------------------- } From: probe-at-mailbox.cc.binghamton.edu [mailto:probe-at-mailbox.cc.binghamton.edu] Sent: Tuesday, October 05, 1999 2:26 PM To: heichelb-at-binghamton.edu
Hello All,
We have a problem with the cooling water on a JEOL 1200EX TEM, and hope that someone can suggest a cause.
The instrument was run for years on a central closed-circuit water chiller which was also feeding several other instruments. About three years ago the chiller was replaced with a new central unit, and it was then the problem started. Over a period of about three weeks the water turns a dark brown to such an extent that it impossible to see through the sight glasses on the flow meters. The brown deposit has been analysed on an EDAX system, and has been shown to be rust. This is further borne out by the fact that the deposit can easily be removed from the flow meters using phosphoric acid.
Thinking that the problem was tied up with the new central chiller, we have now purchased a new chiller unit solely to cool the JEOL. We are using tap water in the system as recommended by the chiller manufacturer, and no additives are being used. The water circuit external to the TEM contains only copper, brass and plastic, and yet the brown rust deposit is still forming just as rapidly as before. Obviously we are very worried that there is some iron component in the TEM itself which is corroding away, and we could be faced with an expensive repair. We would be very interested to hear if anyone else has experienced this problem with a 1200EX.
Regards to all. Bob Phillips ****************** MicroServiS, Huntingdon, Cambs. UK *******************
I do not have on my hands the same microscope with spectrometers, therefore I will attempt to answer using circuit diagrams. 1. Backscattered electrons move with a high speed and along linear trajectories, therefore any hindrance on their ways produces the shadowing of BSE detector, which is on polepiece of objective lens, and BSE picture loss. The inserted optical microscope is such hindrance in your case. To take the BSE image with inserted optical microscope, there is an additional BSE detector on lower side of the optical microscope, which should connected with BSE preamplifier through the plug BE8 instead of the former detector . You should have also blank socket BE8 for connecting of unused detector to ground. During operation with spectrometers the high voltage feeds electrostatic electron trap placed on optical microscope through the plug OM1. This plug should be connected through a cable with the socket HV1 of SMXA - HVPS40 unit. 2. I think, this cable is labelled OMC4, it should be connected to the appropriate plug on OM CONTROL UNIT. 3. Illumination lamp of the microscope is feeded by this socket, therefore the cable OM on the base of illumination lamp should be inserted into this socket. The detector of secondary electrons will work with inserted optical microscope, but the picture will be worse even because for inserting of the optical microscope you should increase a working distance. But to avoid PMT destroying you can not turn on the illumination lamp of the microscope simultaneously with SEI detector. Hope this will help.
Best regards.
Victor Sidorenko, ANTRON Co. Ltd., scientific service, Moscow, Russia.
} Hi } } I'm in the process of fitting the factory optical microscope onto an 840A, } and I don't have any info on the various cable connections. } } 1 There are two cables issuing from the mounting flange: } } - one with a BNC plug, cable labelled "OM1" } - one with a 5-pin plug, cable labelled "BE8" } } 2 There's one cable issuing from the elbow, with a 5-pin plug, and a } smudged label. } } 3 On the elbow, there's a 5-pin socket, also what looks like a } little green indicator light. } } I will be very grateful to whoever can explain what all of these are } for (they are in addition to the 5-pin plug from the illumination } lamp base). } } Also, does the secondary electron imaging still work with the OM } fitted? Presumably the latter has to be thoroughly retracted. } } thanks } } Ritchie } } } Ritchie Sims Phone : 64 9 3737599 ext 7713 } Department of Geology Fax : 64 9 3737435 } The University of Auckland email : r.sims-at-auckland.ac.nz } Private Bag 92019 } Auckland } New Zealand }
Steve - I made a very similar modification to an Etec Autoscan at about that time. It was not a simple modification because we needed it to be quickly reversible and the Etec vacuum manifold complicated the low vacuum modification quite a lot. It worked very well for material specimens including atomic number contrast of uncoated mineral sections, uncut rock samples and any other samples that had low water contents, including insects.
Many of the readers are biologists and they should be aware that such a modification, which amounts to mechanical pump vacuum in the specimen chamber with near normal diffusion pump pressure in the gun chamber. It is only useful to about 2000x and useless for really wet tissue e.g. a piece of liver. Cheers Jim Darley
ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes www.proscitech.com
On Tuesday, October 05, 1999 5:55 PM, Steve Chapman [SMTP:PROTRAIN-at-CompuServe.COM] wrote:
} Hi,
} Some fifteen years ago I ran a course for a contact lens manufacturer where } we modified their microscope (SEM) to look at the wet lens. } } They had an old ISI SEM but complete with a Robinson BSE detector. As the } SEM had a "proper" vacuum system, with a manifold leading from the DP to } the specimen chamber and gun area, we were able to modify the system to be } pseudo VP; I have to say in those days we just called it common sense! } } We placed a rubber bung (stopper to some) in the rear pumping line of the } specimen area. The bung had a 0.5cm (3/16th inch) hole in it. Switching } OFF all voltages to the SE (Everhart Thornley) detector we than ran in } backscatter for about 20 minutes each session, by which time the lens would } start to curl. We did not fix the lens down simply placed it on a 1 1/.4 } inch stub. } } The porosity in the lens was very clear under these conditions. } } Hope this helps? } } Steve Chapman } } Senior Consultant E.M. } Protrain, 6 Hillcrest Way, Buckingham Industrial Park, Buckingham MK18 1FU, } England } Tel & Fax 44 (0)1280 814774 } E-mail - protrain-at-emcourses.com } Web Site - http://www.emcourses.com } For Consultancy and Courses in Electron Microscopy World Wide } Courses available in - Australia, Canada, Europe, South Africa, New } Zealand, Taiwan, United States, United Kingdom
It's obviously a little late to be asking about this, since the baby is fine and almost 10 months old... BUT I was wondering if anyone has any info on using an SEM while pregnant? I used the one here at SUNY Potsdam during my first and third trimesters, as well as during the baby's first 5 months. I keep having these awful scenarios running through my mind about the old "Incredible Hulk" show where the guy was exposed to gamma rays and became the Hulk!
The main problem is that if the information is not in the neg, it cannot be created using Photoshop. It can be subtracted or contrast enhanced but not created. It is always better to overexpose whenever deciding which way to go.
Also, scanners tend to produce better results when set to negative rather than positive. This is because the neg has an inherently greater tonal range than a positive and the scanner tries to capture that. If you have a neg, scan as a neg. I have always achieved better results this way.
Printing an underexposed neg is going to produce a contrasty print. Still no additional info. Actually less. The only viable method of fixing an underexposed neg is to re-shoot it.
gary g.
At 03:15 PM 10/5/99 , you wrote:
} Photoshop processing can help, but the place to start is in scanning. If you } have a 30-bit or better yet a 36-bit (color) scanner, you should be able to } manipulate the scanner's tone controls (black, white, and gamma) to optimize the } scanner's 8-bit (grayscale) output. You might also try superimposing a neutral } density filter on the film negative to match the work density to the scanner's } range. The filter can be another piece of light-exposed and developed TEM } film. It just needs to have a uniform (gray) background. Always scan TEM } negatives as positive transparencies; then invert the contrast in the scanner or } Photoshop. } } A work-around, especially if you don't have a good scanner, is to print the } negative in the darkroom to get the contrast and density you want and then scan } the print. } } To further adjust the tonal quality in Photoshop, use Levels or Curves } adjustment layers rather than applying these commands directly. This will avoid } much of the data loss in applying multiple corrections. Use the Multiply } blending mode to increase the contrast from a light negative, and apply as many } layers as needed to get the contrast and background brightness right for your } printer. If you use unsharp mask filtering (highly recommended after scanning) } and background leveling, apply these to layers before the tonal adjustments. } Learning to use Layers in Photoshop takes some time, but is highly worthwhile. } Good luck. } } Larry Thomas } } Larry Thomas } Pacific Northwest National Laboratory } MSIN P8-16 } P.O. Box 999 } Richland, WA 99352 } Phone: (509)372-0793 Fax: (509)376-6308 } Email: mailto: Larry.Thomas-at-pnl.gov } } } } } From: Donald Delaney } Sent: Tuesday, October 5, 1999 6:49 AM } To: microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } Subject: Photoshop Negative Processing } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 some negatives taken on the TEM which developed extremely light. } I } was wondering if anyone knows any tricks on photoshop for generating } good } quality prints. I typically adjust the levels and condense the size of } the } picture, but I am still not completely happy about the quality of the } prints. } } Don Delaney } }
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Modern surfers use PC boards. You can too at http://photoweb.net ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yes, It's true the gamma radiation mutates the DNA after it passes threough 2 inches of steel.
The symtoms only become apparent after the child is in his teenage years and subsides after age 21.
Ask any parent of an SEM operator who has teenage kids.
Earl
Randy & Jenna & Orin Brown 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } It's obviously a little late to be asking about this, since the baby } is fine and almost 10 months old... BUT I was wondering if anyone has any } info on using an SEM while pregnant? I used the one here at SUNY } Potsdam during my first and third trimesters, as well as during the baby's } first 5 months. I keep having these awful scenarios running through my } mind about the old "Incredible Hulk" show where the guy was exposed to } gamma rays and became the Hulk!
I would like to embedd a loose piece of fabric for x-section analysis. The x-section face would be about 10mm wide. I am looking for a "soft" embedding material that can be sectioned with a razor blade. A low viscosity material is advantageous. Perhaps a silicone? Anything commercially available?
Any suggestions?
Thanks.
David Rose W.L. Gore & Associates 297 Blue Ball Road Elkton, MD 21921 410-506-2958
A large amount of information about the technical, economic and cultural developments associated with archaeological finds can be obtained from the usage marks on them. Such finds include domestic utensils and farm implements, weapons, jewellery and religious artefacts. Destruction of the finds is out of the question, and so scanning electron microscopy of the entire object has been an exception up to now.
We are a manufacturer of large chamber SEMs. With a volume of 2 cubic meters and aload capacity up to 300 kilograms most archeological artefacts can fit into our SEM.
Greetings from Germany Martin Klein ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --- VisiTec Microtechnik GmbH Karl-Marx-Str. 14 D-23936 Grevesmuehlen/Germany Fon: +49-3881-79049 Fax: +49-3881-79048
----- Original Message ----- } From: tschwach {tschwach-at-mindspring.com} To: Microscopy ListServer {} Sent: Tuesday, October 05, 1999 9:38 PM
Back in the dark ages, before the invention of computers & scanners, "intensifier" solutions were used to darken black & white negatives that were too light. They may still be available in large photo shops. I would talk to someone experienced in the dark room. If you decide to darken the negative chemically, first try it on one or two frames.
Aydin
On Tue Oct 05 20:35:19 1999, "Donald Delaney" {delaneyd-at-mcw.edu} wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Here is my standard quick protocol which works 90% of the time.
Fix 30min. wash pbs buffer 2 x 5min ea. post fix 4% osmium tetroxide 5 min (fume hood!!! a real nasty) wash 2 x 5 min dH2O 50,75,95,100,100% ethanols series 5 min each step Hexamethyldisilazane 2 x 5 min. (fume hood) Air dry mount coat (residule HMDS will really gunk up a sputtercoater.
if you really want to avoid dislodging or dissolving crystals, vapor fix with osmium tetroxide 2-3 days in the refridge and slowly air dry. Let me know if you have other questions.
You can also check the Tips & Tricks archives at :
http://www.biotech.ufl.edu/~emcl/
If you cannot post fix in the osmium, double all times. The osmium really toughens them up.
At 02:06 PM 10/5/1999 -0700, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} { GO GATORS Scott D. Whittaker 218 Carr Hall EM Technician Gainesville, FL 32610 University Of Florida ph 352-392-1184 ICBR EM Core Lab fax 352-846-0251 sdw-at-biotech.ufl.edu http://www.biotech.ufl.edu/~emcl/ The home of " Tips & Tricks "
I would like to add to Donna's information request. I need to know how these usage fees are used. To what extent are funds used to maintain equipment as opposed to pay technical support salaries. Roughly what level of support is needed from the institution or does anyone out there actually run a facility independently from usage fees. Thanks- Dave
Home of the 1999 NCAA Basketball National Champion HUSKIES !!! ************************************************************
Dr. David Knecht Department of Molecular and Cell Biology University of Connecticut 75 N. Eagleville Rd. U-125 Storrs, CT 06269 Knecht-at-uconnvm.uconn.edu 860-486-2200 860-486-4331 (fax)
The fees that we recover are only about 20-25% of our total budget. (Incl. salaries fringe etc.) The rest is supported from the University under a legislative mandate for our biotechnology program. We are very lucky. We use those funds mostly for supplies and student help. Right now there is me directing the lab but not doing much of the work, since I have taken on other duties. Three full time techs and one student helper do the bulk of the work.
Greg Erdos.
At 08:04 AM 10/6/99 -0500, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
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
Hi evrybody I'm sorry in my last mail I forgot to mention it was for a FEG SEM with thermal cathode In order to plan a budget for a future FEG SEM I would like to know the following point concerning the commercial thermal FEG.
-type of instrument -How long is the life time? -What is necessary to exchange, tip only or gun set? -How much it cost? -How long it takes to replace -which garantee on lifetime? -comments?
Please answer directly to author. Thank you very much for your help.
Las Year in the ICEM-14 in Cancun, Mexico, there were about three free works related with Analytical SEM of archeological samples. Some of this them from Mexico, this are som titles: =20 "Applications of environmental sem to the art preseervation and archeological studies", J. Arenas, J.L. Galv=E1n and M. Jose Yacaman. ININ, Mexico. "Microstructural studies paints from the totonaca civilization in Tajin" D. Mendoza-Anaya.....and Jose Yacaman.
The Abstracts are in Vol II or III (I just have I and IV), One of the Scientist who works with archaeological samples is Dr. Jose Yacaman from Institiuto Nacional de Investigaciones Nuecleares, address: Amsterdam No. 46-202. Col. Hipodromo Condesa, 060100 Mexico, D.F., Mexico. Fax (5)= 3297299
Dr. Yacaman, besides, was the chairman of local organizing Commnitee, and editor of the abstracts.
Is there anyone out there that uses large quantities of electron image = film? If so, what kind of dessicant or pre-pump procedure do you use to dessi= cate film quickly? We go through quite a bit of film (Kodak ISO-163 for EM) and are lookin= g for an 'evironmentally friendly' film dessicant. Currently, we are using P= 2O5 powder in a vessel that we place in our cylindrical vacuum pump, in whi= ch we dessicate our film prior to loading the cassette into the electron microscope. I've ordered recyclable dessicant in a canister to try out= , but wanted to see how others are dealing with this aspect of microscopy.
Look forward to hearing from you all :)
Figen Seiler, Microscopist Abbott Labortories Department of Microscopy & Microanalysis
There is some new software, called "Lucis" which is really great for this purpose. Suggest that you give them a shout at Image Content Technologies, 860-223-4710 or wwww.imagecontent.com. Ron Lund is VP sales.
Hope this is helpful.
Best regards, Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater productivity.
125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} ****************************************************** MME is America's first national consortium providing customized on-site workshops in all areas of microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis.
At 08:49 AM 10/5/99 -0500, Donald Delaney wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
You are going to laugh, but I have used both a cork and a carrot for this exercise with fabric and got cross sections good enough to hold up in court. In either case, cut the "supporting material" lengthwise, place a small piece of fabric on the cut, replace the upper section and wind firmly with sewing thread. Cut with razor blade.
Best of luck! Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater productivity.
125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} ****************************************************** MME is America's first national consortium providing customized on-site workshops in all areas of microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis.
At 06:56 AM 10/6/99 -0400, drose-at-wlgore.com"-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Don: I have had great success with my Agfa Duoscan with light negatives by adjusting the gamma to a level of about 1.0 and then adjusting the manual TFS by pulling the slidebar to the left to adjust the sensitivity of the scan (These adjustments are done in the scanner software and not in Photoshop). Your scanner software might be different, but it should have similar scan sensitivity settings. If you need further help, please call me at 817 272-5496. Good luck, Mike Coviello Lab Manager UT Arlington
Donald Delaney 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 some negatives taken on the TEM which developed extremely light. I } was wondering if anyone knows any tricks on photoshop for generating good } quality prints. I typically adjust the levels and condense the size of the } picture, but I am still not completely happy about the quality of the prints. } } Don Delaney
All else being equal, I'd rather expose and process film for optimum density and contrast --neither under nor overexposing. That doesn't always work out in practice, and you can't always reshoot (or even find) a given sample area in TEM. (The question was: how to deal with underexposed film).
The reason for scanning TEM negatives as positive transparencies is that the control software that comes with ordinary flatbed scanners (such as mine) automatically applies a lookup table to negative scans to correct for the low contrast of 35 mm negative film. The result from a negative scan of a contrasty TEM negative is posterization --stairstepping of contrast levels on the output image. For reasons known only to the manufacturers, they output positive scans without applying the correction. (I've commented on this to the listserver before).
Some experienced TEM darkroom practitioners feel that they get better control over tonal adjustments by printing and scanning the prints. I'm not sure I want to defend this because it's not my personal practice. However, I've seen some pretty nasty film faults recovered in the darkroom.
Larry -- From: Dr. Gary Gaugler Sent: Tuesday, October 5, 1999 5:38 PM To: MSA listserver Subject: RE: Photoshop Negative Processing
------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
The main problem is that if the information is not in the neg, it cannot be created using Photoshop. It can be subtracted or contrast enhanced but not created. It is always better to overexpose whenever deciding which way to go.
Also, scanners tend to produce better results when set to negative rather than positive. This is because the neg has an inherently greater tonal range than a positive and the scanner tries to capture that. If you have a neg, scan as a neg. I have always achieved better results this way.
Printing an underexposed neg is going to produce a contrasty print. Still no additional info. Actually less. The only viable method of fixing an underexposed neg is to re-shoot it.
gary g.
At 03:15 PM 10/5/99 , you wrote:
} Photoshop processing can help, but the place to start is in scanning. If you } have a 30-bit or better yet a 36-bit (color) scanner, you should be able to } manipulate the scanner's tone controls (black, white, and gamma) to optimize the } scanner's 8-bit (grayscale) output. You might also try superimposing a neutral } density filter on the film negative to match the work density to the scanner's } range. The filter can be another piece of light-exposed and developed TEM } film. It just needs to have a uniform (gray) background. Always scan TEM } negatives as positive transparencies; then invert the contrast in the scanner or } Photoshop. } } A work-around, especially if you don't have a good scanner, is to print the } negative in the darkroom to get the contrast and density you want and then scan } the print. } } To further adjust the tonal quality in Photoshop, use Levels or Curves } adjustment layers rather than applying these commands directly. This will avoid } much of the data loss in applying multiple corrections. Use the Multiply } blending mode to increase the contrast from a light negative, and apply as many } layers as needed to get the contrast and background brightness right for your } printer. If you use unsharp mask filtering (highly recommended after scanning) } and background leveling, apply these to layers before the tonal adjustments. } Learning to use Layers in Photoshop takes some time, but is highly worthwhile. } Good luck. } } Larry Thomas } } Larry Thomas } Pacific Northwest National Laboratory } MSIN P8-16 } P.O. Box 999 } Richland, WA 99352 } Phone: (509)372-0793 Fax: (509)376-6308 } Email: mailto: Larry.Thomas-at-pnl.gov } } } } } From: Donald Delaney } Sent: Tuesday, October 5, 1999 6:49 AM } To: microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } Subject: Photoshop Negative Processing } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 some negatives taken on the TEM which developed extremely light. } I } was wondering if anyone knows any tricks on photoshop for generating } good } quality prints. I typically adjust the levels and condense the size of } the } picture, but I am still not completely happy about the quality of the } prints. } } Don Delaney } }
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Modern surfers use PC boards. You can too at http://photoweb.net ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please contact me if you have an old Hitachi HU11E or HU125E that is available for parts. I am most interested in vacuum gauges and associated electronics.
I teach a TEM/SEM course at a private liberal arts college and operate a HU125E without a service contract and I am in need of spare parts!
Thanks
Robert
Robert Fitton Luther College Department of Biology 700 College Drive Decorah, IA 52101
Voice 319-387-1559 FAX 319-387-1080
Enjoy a visit to our website: http://www.luther.edu/dept/bio.htm
Folks, Regarding the offer of free ISI model 40 parts: Bill Blackburn whishes to thank the many people who have responded to the posting. All the parts have now been given out. Bill regrets he didn't have enough to satisfy all who contacted him. ####################################################### Original Message: "Microscopy Listserve Members--- I have 20 new filaments; several Wehnelt assemblies; SEI, TE, CL?, detectors; Scintillator disks; and other small items from an ISI Model 40 SEM. They are free if someone can use them. Please get in touch with me directly via email at probe-at-mailbox.cc.binghamton.edu or phone 607 777-2832."
Best Regards, Bill Blackburn Geology Department Binghamton University Binghamton, NY 13902-6000
Anyone have any experience or references to pass along??
} From: Keith Peacher {KPeacher-at-embrex.com} } To: sdw-at-biotech.ufl.edu } Subject: Freezing Tissue } Date: Wed, 6 Oct 1999 12:58:08 -0400 } X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2448.0) } } Hi Wiz, I am looking to freeze whole chicken eggs at different embryonic stages. I want to preserve tissues for further analysis. I was searching for ideas when I came across your web site. I thought I would ask you if you could provive some insight on getting started with this task. } A. Keith Peacher } Research Associate II } {mailto:kpeacher-at-embrex.com} Embrex, Inc. } P.O. Box 13989 } Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-3989 Tel.(919)-941-5185 } Fax.(919)-941-5186 } {http:\\www.embrex.com} }
} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} { GO GATORS Scott D. Whittaker 218 Carr Hall EM Technician Gainesville, FL 32610 University Of Florida ph 352-392-1184 ICBR EM Core Lab fax 352-846-0251 sdw-at-biotech.ufl.edu http://www.biotech.ufl.edu/~emcl/ The home of " Tips & Tricks "
I am trying to repair a cold cathode luminescence stage from a company called Technosyn. The system was bought from S&M Microscopes, Inc. in Colorado Springs, Colorado. I have not been able to contact S&M with the phone numbers I have, or locate any electronic drawings of the system. My best guess is that the E-gun or high voltage supply has failed. Any contact information or source of drawings from any of you on the list would be very helpful.
Thanks Roy Beavers Southern Methodist University Dept. of Geological Sciences Electron Microprobe Lab P.O. Box 750395 Dallas, Tx 75275 voice: 214-768-2756 fax: 214-768-2701 E-mail: rbeavers-at-mail.smu.edu
Try this. Duplicate the image and then paste the dup'd image to the original. Use multiply for the overlay mode 100%. Alternatively, you can just use Image-ApplyImage. Use the same image as the source and target and use 100% opacity and multiply for blending. -Scott
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Glass Technology Center 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: Donald Delaney To: microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
I have some negatives taken on the TEM which developed extremely light. I was wondering if anyone knows any tricks on photoshop for generating good quality prints. I typically adjust the levels and condense the size of the picture, but I am still not completely happy about the quality of the prints.
We have some non-linear filters and other manipulation facilities in our software, analySIS. If you are willing to part with one of your negatives for a while or if you can send us a scanned or otherwise digitized image, I can try and see if we can do something for you.
Michael
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 1675 Carr St., #105N Lakewood, CO 80215 =================================== phone: (888) FIND SIS (303) 234-9270 fax: (303) 234-9271 email: mailto:info-at-soft-imaging.com web: http://www.soft-imaging.com ===================================
At 08:49 AM 10/5/99 -0500, Donald Delaney wrote: } ----------------------------------------------------------------------- - } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Does anyone have experience with (or references for) immunogold labeling of cultured cells for ultrastructural analysis? Pre-embedment is preferred over post-embedment methodology. I am trying to preserve polyribosomes concomitant with 1.4nm gold immunolabeling of cytoplasmic proteins. 0.1% saponin and/or triton permeabilization following mild aldehyde fixation enhances antibody penetration, but compromises ultrastructural preservation.
Is there a less destructive way to obtain sufficient antibody penetration into monolayer cultures, or must I look at brain slices?
Don't jump to conclusions here: I have friends (scientists) who have absolutely nothing to do with either SEM or TEM and their teenagers show the same symptoms. Perhaps the X-rays are distributed through the ventilation system?? Or along Power lines?? My personal favorite: a government conspiracy!!
But seriously: If I were pregnant, I would have the SEM checked out with a radiation meter, just to make sure there are no modifications on the instrument that could cause a radiation leak. Since SEMs usually have low acceleration voltages and solid specimen chambers, I would, however, NOT expect to find anything. It's really more for peace of mind.
TEMs, on the other hand, is something that can potentially be more dangerous. Not only is the acceleration voltage much higher (several hundred keV or more), but the radiation is also produced fairly close to where you don't want to have it. In addition, many TEMs have axially mounted cameras, which need to be shielded also. A radiation test should be done on a regular basis anyway, because a leaky TEM is not something you want to work on.
If you measure the radiation, there are limits set by OSHA concerning radiation exposure for differnt types of exposure.
Michael
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 1675 Carr St., #105N Lakewood, CO 80215 =================================== phone: (888) FIND SIS (303) 234-9270 fax: (303) 234-9271 email: mailto:info-at-soft-imaging.com web: http://www.soft-imaging.com ===================================
} ---------- } From: tschwach[SMTP:TSCHWACH-at-MINDSPRING.COM] } Sent: Wednesday, October 06, 1999 12:22:41 PM } To: Scan Service; Randy & Jenna & Orin Brown } Cc: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: Re: pregnancy and the SEM } Auto forwarded by a Rule } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Thank you for explaining what is apparently "wrong" with my teenage boys. All this time I thought it was the embedding chemicals I used for TEM.
} It's obviously a little late to be asking about this, since the baby } is fine and almost 10 months old... BUT I was wondering if anyone has any } info on using an SEM while pregnant? I used the one here at SUNY } Potsdam during my first and third trimesters, as well as during the baby's } first 5 months. I keep having these awful scenarios running through my } mind about the old "Incredible Hulk" show where the guy was exposed to } gamma rays and became the Hulk!
Jenna -
There's no radiation hazard from any modern SEM that has no "non-stock" column modifications. There ARE chemical hazards associated with specimen prep.
Caroline Schooley Project MICRO 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/PMHomePage.html Intertidal invertebrates: http://www.fortbragg.k12.ca.us/AG/PCI/pci.html
David, I get better "cross sections" of polymer films/fibers/fabrics by sealing the sample in parafilm, freezing it on a copper block sitting in LN and fracturing it with a frozen razor blade. I use a hemostat to clamp a single edge razor blade. I cut down a styrofoam container so that it is about 4" deep. If you don't have LN, dry ice also works. I freeze the sample, cool the blade, fracture, retrieve the pieces discarding the parafilm and check themunder a dissecting scope at 45X. Under reflected light, the fracture face is shiny compared to the edge cut with scissors or a razor blade. I mount the piece on edge/frac. face-up using double sticky carbon tabs. Usually the pieces are small enough that they stand up. If they are flimsy like nylon or polycarbonate filters, I place a piece of capillary tube onto the first double sticky tab and cover it with a second double sticky tab and lean the piece against the raised support---you'll be able to place several pieces along each side of the tube. Follow with C evaporation. Imaging and X-ray analysis are routine although it may be necessary to tilt the sample's off from the 30 tilt generally used for the take-off angle. I like to use line-profile analysis to demonstrate surface modifications of polymer films. Best of luck! Rosemary
-----Original Message----- } From: Thomas, Larry {Larry.Thomas-at-pnl.gov} } All else being equal, I'd rather expose and process film for optimum density and } contrast --neither under nor overexposing. That doesn't always work out in } practice, and you can't always reshoot (or even find) a given sample area in } TEM. (The question was: how to deal with underexposed film). ============= Getting it right is sure the best. But with the ability to combine images you can get greater detail in 3 negitives one normal, one under and one over exposed. } } The reason for scanning TEM negatives as positive transparencies is that the } control software that comes with ordinary flatbed scanners (such as mine) } automatically applies a lookup table to negative scans to correct for the low } contrast of 35 mm negative film. The result from a negative scan of a contrasty } TEM negative is posterization --stairstepping of contrast levels on the output } image. For reasons known only to the manufacturers, they output positive scans } without applying the correction. (I've commented on this to the listserver } before). } } Some experienced TEM darkroom practitioners feel that they get better control } over tonal adjustments by printing and scanning the prints. I'm not sure I want } to defend this because it's not my personal practice. However, I've seen some } pretty nasty film faults recovered in the darkroom.
I have recovered some of the those nasty faults in the dark room. I promise you you can do more with photo shop than with an enlarger. I took images I made 30 years ago that were unprintable and made decent looking digital prints. There was not one bit more of detail there but I could stretch the contrast range until it looked OK.
Every time you process the image you loose information. It never gets better than the original. You may be able to get different data from the original but never more. Any gain in one area results in a loss in another.
Gordon
Gordon Couger gcouger-at-couger.com
Stillwater, OK 405 624-2855 GMT -6:00 www.couger.com/gcouger
Figen: I don't know about the emulsion thickness of the ISO-163, but the SO film has a thicker emulsion than the 4489 and so it holds a bit more water.
P2O5 other than con H2SO4 (clearly not suitable) is about the most powerful desiccant. So if you care for very dry film that is the best to use for a final desiccation step (dogma?!). There are other means which help to make the expensive and potentially dangerous P2O5 go much further or for some instruments even redundant. Note that adding liquid water to P2O5 produces phosgene, a rather nasty gas.
With a lot of film in stock, the internal plastic bags could be cut open and the film stored (light-tight of course) in the fridge or freezer. Fridge and freezer desiccate, it just takes a while. When removing, enclose the container in a plastic bag until it reaches room temperature.
Desiccation under vacuum is usually combined with P2O5, however, if the vacuum chamber is at a somewhat elevated temperature (37 degrees overnight), many people would find that degree of desiccation sufficient.
Silica Gel is not very powerful but would help in the process when added to the vacuum desiccator. I have not tried to use silica gel with bulk film in a (non-vacuum) desiccator. I expect if the film was stored in vented boxes, that within a month the film moisture level would drop to a small percentage of fresh film. I think that this may be the simplest means of pre-desiccating large amounts of film.
As noted, opening the film envelopes before refrigeration and soon after the film is received, does help the drying process. It is much more effective if the film could be removed from the envelopes. Ideally the film would then be placed in "vented" boxes with a light trap. These boxes could be used in the fridge/ freezer or a desiccating cabinet during the first stage of desiccation; for the final stage, perhaps with desiccant, the film must be in sheetfilm holders.
Microscopy aside and in the name of conservation: collect the liquid P2O4 (now phosphoric acid) soon somebody will want some to paint over a rusty surface, which is then followed by an undercoat. It's the best rust inhibitor (dogma!?) and saves some phosphorus from polluting the waterways. Cheers Jim Darley ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes www.proscitech.com
On Thursday, October 07, 1999 1:19 AM, Seiler,Figen [SMTP:figen.a.seiler-at-abbott.com] wrote:
} Is there anyone out there that uses large quantities of electron image film? } If so, what kind of dessicant or pre-pump procedure do you use to dessicate } film quickly? } We go through quite a bit of film (Kodak ISO-163 for EM) and are looking for } an 'evironmentally friendly' film dessicant. Currently, we are using P2O5 } powder in a vessel that we place in our cylindrical vacuum pump, in which we } dessicate our film prior to loading the cassette into the electron } microscope. I've ordered recyclable dessicant in a canister to try out, but } wanted to see how others are dealing with this aspect of microscopy. } } Look forward to hearing from you all :) } } Figen Seiler, Microscopist } Abbott Labortories } Department of Microscopy & Microanalysis } } E-mail: figen.a.seiler-at-abbott.com
When I worked in labs that had radiation hazards I made checks on radition leaks every week for my own satisfaction. I don't trust anybody to do it for me when grad students are involved.
It is also amazing what you find is hot.
Gordon
Gordon Couger gcouger-at-couger.com
Stillwater, OK 405 624-2855 GMT -6:00 www.couger.com/gcouger } } TEMs, on the other hand, is something that can potentially be more } dangerous. Not only is the acceleration voltage much higher (several } hundred keV or more), but the radiation is also produced fairly close to } where you don't want to have it. In addition, many TEMs have axially } mounted cameras, which need to be shielded also. A radiation test should } be done on a regular basis anyway, because a leaky TEM is not something } you want to work on. } } If you measure the radiation, there are limits set by OSHA concerning } radiation exposure for differnt types of exposure. } } Michael } } Michael Bode, Ph.D. } Soft Imaging System Corp. } 1675 Carr St., #105N } Lakewood, CO 80215 } =================================== } phone: (888) FIND SIS } (303) 234-9270 } fax: (303) 234-9271 } email: mailto:info-at-soft-imaging.com } web: http://www.soft-imaging.com } =================================== } } } } ---------- } } From: tschwach[SMTP:TSCHWACH-at-MINDSPRING.COM] } } Sent: Wednesday, October 06, 1999 12:22:41 PM } } To: Scan Service; Randy & Jenna & Orin Brown } } Cc: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } } Subject: Re: pregnancy and the SEM } } Auto forwarded by a Rule } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Jim Phosgene is the acid chloride of carbonic acid, otherwise known as carbonyl chloride, COCl2. You would need to be an alchemist to make it from phosphorous pentoxide and water. If you can do it, I would like to consult you about a little gold production project I have in mind! Chris } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Figen: } I don't know about the emulsion thickness of the ISO-163, but the SO film has a } thicker emulsion than the 4489 and so it holds a bit more water. } } P2O5 other than con H2SO4 (clearly not suitable) is about the most powerful } desiccant. So if you care for very dry film that is the best to use for a final } desiccation step (dogma?!). There are other means which help to make the } expensive and potentially dangerous P2O5 go much further or for some } instruments even redundant. Note that adding liquid water to P2O5 produces } phosgene, a rather nasty gas. } } With a lot of film in stock, the internal plastic bags could be cut open and } the film stored (light-tight of course) in the fridge or freezer. Fridge and } freezer desiccate, it just takes a while. When removing, enclose the container } in a plastic bag until it reaches room temperature. } } Desiccation under vacuum is usually combined with P2O5, however, if the vacuum } chamber is at a somewhat elevated temperature (37 degrees overnight), many } people would find that degree of desiccation sufficient. } } Silica Gel is not very powerful but would help in the process when added to the } vacuum desiccator. I have not tried to use silica gel with bulk film in a } (non-vacuum) desiccator. I expect if the film was stored in vented boxes, that } within a month the film moisture level would drop to a small percentage of } fresh film. I think that this may be the simplest means of pre-desiccating } large amounts of film. } } As noted, opening the film envelopes before refrigeration and soon after the } film is received, does help the drying process. It is much more effective if } the film could be removed from the envelopes. Ideally the film would then be } placed in "vented" boxes with a light trap. These boxes could be used in the } fridge/ freezer or a desiccating cabinet during the first stage of desiccation; } for the final stage, perhaps with desiccant, the film must be in sheetfilm } holders. } } Microscopy aside and in the name of conservation: collect the liquid P2O4 (now } phosphoric acid) soon somebody will want some to paint over a rusty surface, } which is then followed by an undercoat. It's the best rust inhibitor (dogma!?) } and saves some phosphorus from polluting the waterways. } Cheers } Jim Darley } ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS } PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia } Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com } Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes } www.proscitech.com } } On Thursday, October 07, 1999 1:19 AM, Seiler,Figen } [SMTP:figen.a.seiler-at-abbott.com] wrote: } } } Is there anyone out there that uses large quantities of electron image film? } } If so, what kind of dessicant or pre-pump procedure do you use to dessicate } } film quickly? } } We go through quite a bit of film (Kodak ISO-163 for EM) and are looking for } } an 'evironmentally friendly' film dessicant. Currently, we are using P2O5 } } powder in a vessel that we place in our cylindrical vacuum pump, in which we } } dessicate our film prior to loading the cassette into the electron } } microscope. I've ordered recyclable dessicant in a canister to try out, but } } wanted to see how others are dealing with this aspect of microscopy. } } } } Look forward to hearing from you all :) } } } } Figen Seiler, Microscopist } } Abbott Labortories } } Department of Microscopy & Microanalysis } } } } E-mail: figen.a.seiler-at-abbott.com } }
===================================================================== DR CHRIS JEFFREE BIOSEM - BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES EM FACILITY UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH Daniel Rutherford Building King's Buildings, Mayfield Road EDINBURGH, EH9 3JH, Scotland, UK Tel. #44 131 650 5345 FAX. #44 131 650 6563 Mobile 0410 585 401 email c.jeffree-at-ed.ac.uk SEM / TEM bookings sem-at-ed.ac.uk =====================================================================
Assuming that antigens have been adequately preserved, the potential success of pre-embedding immunogold labeling seems to depend on the hydrodynamic size of the reagents, the degree to which membranes are permeabilized and the extent of cross-linking of the cytoplasm. And last but not least: time and temperature of incubation. It is advisable to use the smallest possible reagents, for instance single Fab fragments instead of complete IgG. Penetration can be achieved with detergents, but their application affects the way the cellular organization is preserved. A milder treatment uses sodium borohydride, used in immunofluorescence to reduce autofluorescence. The way it works as a substance that enhances penetration has, to my knowledge, never been elucidated, but used at a concentration of 0.1% in PBS for something like 15 minutes it opens up structures and allows gold particles to enter the cytoplasm. This way we obtained highly efficient tubulin and actin labeling in cultured PTK2 cells, fixed in 0.5% glutaraldehyde for 15-30 minutes. Likewise Van Lookeren Campagne obtained labeling of B-50 protein and MAP2 in cultured neuron cells. In our experience and that of several pioneers in pre-embedding immunogold technology the degree of cross-linking by glutaraldehyde fixation especially seems to be a more serious (and often underestimated) issue to deal with. The higher the degree of cross-linking, the longer distances reagents have to travel to find their targets. The solution? Be patient, give it time for the reagents to find their way to the target molecules by diffusion. And one last thing: if it takes a while for antibodies and reagents to get in, it will also take a while for unbound reagents to get washed out again after the incubation steps, so washing steps have to be substantially longer than in postembedding.
Good luck, Jan =========================== Jan Leunissen AURION http://www.aurion.nl Costerweg 5 6702 AA Wageningen phone: (31)-317-497676 fax: (31)-317-415955 You will find more tech info on our website.
While the subject of thermally assisted FESEMs is on your minds (Serge's note), we have been checking into who still offers these beasts in their product line. We know of Leo, and FEI. Are there any other manufacturers that have not gone completely into the cold for their lab/analytical SEMs?
On Wed, 6 Oct 1999 drose-at-wlgore.com-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com wrote:
} I would like to embedd a loose piece of fabric for x-section analysis. The } x-section face would be about 10mm wide. I am looking for a "soft" embedding } material that can be sectioned with a razor blade. A low viscosity material is } advantageous. Perhaps a silicone? Anything commercially available?
Perhaps you could infiltrate the fabric with molten paraffin wax at 60^C under vacuum, and then cut as one normally does cut a section of plant tissue or whatever. If even 60^C temperature is a problem, then there are several solvents with a high freezing point you could use, together with dry ice cooling.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 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 | +------------------------------------------------------------------------+
The position is for an SEM technician at Kopin Corporation, the world=92= s leading provider of advanced HBT transistor wafers, technical design an= d manufacturing support services. The SEM technician will be responsible = for preparing and analyzing SEM samples. These will primarily consist of Ga= As based semiconductor devices and calibration structures. The technician = will also be trained in and expected to perform additional structural and electronic measurements as needed. These include Polaron (electrochemic= al etching with C-V profiling), Hall measurements, photoluminescence, x-ra= y diffraction and photoreflectance. The technician must have the ability = to handle parallel tasks effectively, solve minor problems in the lab, and=
maintain a clean, organized, and safe working environment. Good communication and interpersonal skills are essential. The ideal candida= te will have a 2-year college or technician degree in a science or enginee= ring field and no less than 2 years SEM experience. Familiarity with semiconductor process technology is a plus. Kopin is an equal opportun= ity employer. Resumes accepted by fax, e-mail or mail. Interested candidate= s should contact:
Cheryl Messier Human Resources Kopin Corporation 695 Myles Standish Blvd. Taunton, MA 02780 Fax (508)824-6958 cheryl_messier-at-kopin.com =
The position is for an SEM technician at Kopin Corporation, the world=92= s leading provider of advanced HBT transistor wafers, technical design an= d manufacturing support services. The SEM technician will be responsible = for preparing and analyzing SEM samples. These will primarily consist of Ga= As based semiconductor devices and calibration structures. The technician = will also be trained in and expected to perform additional structural and electronic measurements as needed. These include Polaron (electrochemic= al etching with C-V profiling), Hall measurements, photoluminescence, x-ra= y diffraction and photoreflectance. The technician must have the ability = to handle parallel tasks effectively, solve minor problems in the lab, and=
maintain a clean, organized, and safe working environment. Good communication and interpersonal skills are essential. The ideal candida= te will have a 2-year college or technician degree in a science or enginee= ring field and no less than 2 years SEM experience. Familiarity with semiconductor process technology is a plus. Kopin is an equal opportun= ity employer. Resumes accepted by fax, e-mail or mail. Interested candidate= s should contact:
Cheryl Messier Human Resources Kopin Corporation 695 Myles Standish Blvd. Taunton, MA 02780 Fax (508)824-6958 cheryl_messier-at-kopin.com =
Yes The Camscan MX2540 SF thermal FESEM springs to mind. Read all about it, and the advantages of thermal FE on their website: http://camscan.co.uk/index.htm
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } While the subject of thermally assisted FESEMs is on your minds } (Serge's note), we have been checking into who still offers these } beasts in their product line. We know of Leo, and FEI. Are there } any other manufacturers that have not gone completely into the } cold for their lab/analytical SEMs? } } Thank you, } Darrell Miles } } }
===================================================================== DR CHRIS JEFFREE BIOSEM - BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES EM FACILITY UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH Daniel Rutherford Building King's Buildings, Mayfield Road EDINBURGH, EH9 3JH, Scotland, UK Tel. #44 131 650 5345 FAX. #44 131 650 6563 Mobile 0410 585 401 email c.jeffree-at-ed.ac.uk SEM / TEM bookings sem-at-ed.ac.uk =====================================================================
Dear Listers, Those people concerned with pregnancy and SEM should remember that the SEM uses the same accelerating voltage (or lower) as a TV, without the potential leakage from a glass front screen. TEMs should be carefully screened for leakage. 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 e-mail: mager-at-interchg.ubc.ca
On the tread of FE-SEM emitters I would be very interested in hearing what people have to say about the differences between cold field emitters and Schottky emitters. I know what the manufacturers say but what about expert users? Thanks for any input.
------------------------------ Stephen McCartney Research Associate Virginia Tech Materials Institute 2108 Hahn Hall Blacksburg, VA 24061-0344 USA
Does anyone know how to make those clear plastic blocks with embedded specimens? Sometimes you see them with flowers or bugs inside used as paperweights. We would like to make some with some special stuff inside for display in our lab.
Thanks
Jonathan Krupp Microscopy & Imaging Lab University of California Santa Cruz, CA 95064 (831) 459-2477 jmkrupp-at-cats.ucsc.edu
On the tread of FE-SEM emitters I would be very interested in hearing what people have to say about the differences between cold field emitters and Schottky emitters. I know what the manufacturers say but what about expert users? Thanks for any input.
------------------------------ Stephen McCartney Research Associate Virginia Tech Materials Institute 2108 Hahn Hall Blacksburg, VA 24061-0344 USA
} } Jim } Phosgene is the acid chloride of carbonic acid, otherwise known as } carbonyl chloride, COCl2.
Jim was probably trying to type phosphine which is produced by the reaction of water and elemental phosphorous. If there is concern of producing phosphine from water and phosphorous pentoxide, my guess is it would be from unreacted P in the P2O5.
In terms of dessication, it would seem that a simpler and more environmentally friendly method would be a nitrogen purged glove box. Has anybody compared relative pump down times of vacuum dessicated film boxes versus dry nitrogen purged?
Of course everybody knows that MOXTEK makes ultrathin windows for Si(Li) detectors, so I might be a little biased.
These windows are very fragile, but have a surprisingly long lifetime. We still have windows out in the field that we made 9 years ago. In the early days we found that some microscope models had problems during the venting that would cause particles to impact the window film, piercing it, but these bugs have been mostly worked out.
The EDS manufacturers all have better data on failure rates than we do, since we rarely hear from a microscopist about his experience good or bad. I would suggest asking them for this data if you are concerned.
Based on our knowledge, I can say that there does not seem to be a "wear out" mechanism, and that a good window will be good indefinately. The biggest cause of window failure in the ones we have seen back from the field is that the window has been touched.
best regards mark
Mark W. Lund, PhD VP Engineering } } 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
"This is a YOUNG business...How can I tell you what YOUR job is when I don't know what MINE is?" --Pogo
Richie Sims wrote:
Hi, Everyone
I'm shortly going to buy a new EDS detector. I'd quite like the performance advantages of a 1-atmosphere UTW, but I'm concerned about the durability and longevity compared with standard Be windows.
Anyone out there got any relevant experience/views?
Either to the list, or directly to me, please.
thanks
Ritchie
Ritchie Sims Phone : 64 9 3737599 ext 7713 Department of Geology Fax : 64 9 3737435 The University of Auckland email : r.sims-at-auckland.ac.nz Private Bag 92019 Auckland New Zealand
We have one of each. Hands down the cold cathode instrument is the superior imaging tool but that instrument is optimized for hi-res imaging. Our hot cathode instrument is a analytical platform with poor vacuum / high vacuum modes. I believe a local space agency bought the next generation of our cold cathode SEM after a demo on ours. They were using a hot cathode instrument previously. Interestingly we bought a similar hot cathode instrument later but only because that is how the system came. It was purchased for it's poor vacuum capability.
I use the cold cathode instrument for all (imaging) but the lowest mag work ( {2k). It suffers from spherical aberration at lower mags. This is my SEM of choice. I use the hot cathode instrument for low mag work ( {2k), EDS or wet work. It has a larger area of view. At times I have used it up to x10K but only because I was there & had a favorable specimen.
The contrast & image detail of the cold cathode system is decidedly superior. I can also point out that the images can be acquired at 5 kV, some times less. I always use 30 kV for the hot cathode SEM.
Let's be clear....There are differences in the optics & secondary detection systems which account for some of the difference in image quality. Both instruments have a place.
On reliability, the cold cathode went on line in 1994. The instrument is anvil reliable. The hot cathode has been changed 2-3 times since 1995. This may have been a production yield problem. The current one has been in a while.
I have purposely avoided using brand names & model #s because people tend to associate properties or opinions of individual instruments with entire product lines. If you would like specifics, please contact me off line.
Meanwhile if your looking to buy, I suggest that you have vendors image a variety of materials before you make a firm deci$sion. Also conditions of final payment should include being able to replicate those images on you instrument.
Bruce Brinson Rice U.
Stephen McCartney 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } On the tread of FE-SEM emitters I would be very interested in hearing what } people have to say about the differences between cold field emitters and } Schottky emitters. I know what the manufacturers say but what about expert } users? Thanks for any input. } } ------------------------------ } Stephen McCartney } Research Associate } Virginia Tech } Materials Institute } 2108 Hahn Hall } Blacksburg, VA 24061-0344 } USA } } TEL: 540-231-9765 } FAX: 540-231-8517 } ------------------------------
would like to receive sugestions about etching of gray cast irons, I want to find how to reveal eutectic cells and correlation them with machining. thanks.
Alonso de la Garza S. Metallograpy laboratory. Facultad de Ingenieria,UASLP
- } } } On Wed, 6 Oct 1999 drose-at-wlgore.com-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com wrote: } } } I would like to embedd a loose piece of fabric for x-section analysis. The } } x-section face would be about 10mm wide. I am looking for a "soft" embedding } } material that can be sectioned with a razor blade. A low viscosity material is } } advantageous. Perhaps a silicone? Anything commercially available? } } Perhaps you could infiltrate the fabric with molten paraffin wax at 60^C } under vacuum, and then cut as one normally does cut a section of plant } tissue or whatever. If even 60^C temperature is a problem, then there are } several solvents with a high freezing point you could use, together with } dry ice cooling. }
If cold is a problem benzene freezes as 5 c. I have no idea how it cuts?
Gordon
Gordon Couger gcouger-at-couger.com
Stillwater, OK 405 624-2855 GMT -6:00 www.couger.com/gcouger
There was a very interesting and controverse discussion of this toppic on the list back in February 1997. You should check the archive of the listserver:
At 15:39 07.10.99 -0400, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
There is a forthcoming conference in Toledo, Spain on Field emission in general. There will be quite a lot of discussion on various types of emission, from manufacturers, Academic labs and end users. More info is at www.cmp-cientifica.com.eurofe
Based on our experience, the Schottky tips are less trouble as they don't require flashing every few hours to keep them in good condition. I had a comparison from Philips Electron Optics on this, I'll try to dig it out if anyone is interested.
Tim
++++++++++ On the tread of FE-SEM emitters I would be very interested in hearing what people have to say about the differences between cold field emitters and Schottky emitters. I know what the manufacturers say but what about expert users? Thanks for any input.
Dear All, I enclose details of a post-doc vacancy at the University of Barcelona, Spain. The starting date would be about April-May 2000, so we have extended the deadline for applications. Any one interested please reply directly to paqui-at-el.ub.es and/or send applications and a CV by mail before 30 November 1999.
Kind regards
F. Peir=F3
**************************************************************************= ** Laboratory: Electronic Materials and Engineering, Department of Electronics, University of Barcelona.
Duration: 12-18 months, starting April-May 1999.
Jon,
You can try Castolite resin. It is fairly inexpensive if purchased from US Plastics (check their web site) and it is very clear. You just need a mold to hold the shape. I'm not sure if that is what everyone else uses but it should work out OK.
______________________________________________ Roberto Garcia Senior Analyst, Metallography NC State University / Analytical Instrumentation Facility Campus Box 7531 Room 318 EGRC 1010 Main Campus Dr. Raleigh, NC 27695-7531 (919) 515-8628 (919) 515-6965 Fax rgarcia-at-unity.ncsu.edu http://spm.aif.ncsu.edu/aif ____________________________________________
----- Original Message ----- } From: Jon Krupp {jmkrupp-at-cats.ucsc.edu} To: {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} Sent: Thursday, October 07, 1999 4:21 PM
Alonso -
We use a recipe we were kindly donated by a gray iron foundry in Wisconsin. They call it "Stead's etch" but it is slightly different from the "Stead's etch" I find in my metallography bible - (Vander Voort - Metallography Principles and Practice - no longer in print). The foundry did a good bit of work to figure out what worked consistently and found that it was critical to use denatured alcohol - pure grain alcohol is the best. I've found that immersing a polished sample in a fresh batch of this works well. It's worked on almost all the gray irons I receive from different foundries.
Recipe 1- 2 grams CuCl2-2H2O 8 grams MgCl2-6H2O 4 ml HCl 100 ml grain alcohol (etch time up to 2 minutes)
Recipe 2- 1 gram CuCl2-2H2O 4 grams MgCl2-6H2O 2 ml Hcl 100 ml grain alcohol (etch time up to 7-8 minutes)
Examine under standard lighting conditions in the optical microscope
If you over-etch the boundaries disappear. If you under-etch the boundaries are too thick and you miss small cells. You need to etch - check, etch - check......
Good luck and let me know if it doesn't work as Vander Voort has some other recipes.
Robin Griffin Materials and Mechanical Engineering The University of Alabama at Birmingham rgriffin-at-eng.uab.edu
-----Original Message----- } From: alonso de la garza san miguel [mailto:alonsod-at-uaslp.mx] Sent: Thursday, October 07, 1999 9:33 PM To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com
would like to receive sugestions about etching of gray cast irons, I want to find how to reveal eutectic cells and correlation them with machining. thanks.
Alonso de la Garza S. Metallograpy laboratory. Facultad de Ingenieria,UASLP
Although I have not done it myself I know that Carolina Biological Supply sells the polyester embedding kits with instructions (Plastomounts) as well as already mounted specimens. They can be reached at 1-800-334-5551 or www.carolina.com.
Louie
At 1:21 PM -0700 10/7/99, Jon Krupp wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Louie Kerr Research and Education Support Coordinator Marine Biological Laboratory 7 MBL Street Woods Hole, MA 02543 508-289-7273 508-540-6902 (FAX) 508-292-0289 (Cell phone)
Good ideas, but what effect will these solvents have on any polymeric component of the fabric?
Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater productivity.
125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} ****************************************************** MME is America's first national consortium providing customized on-site workshops in all areas of microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis.
At 08:40 AM 10/8/99 +0100, Robert H. Olley wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
At 01:21 PM 10/7/1999 -0700, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} { GO GATORS Scott D. Whittaker 218 Carr Hall EM Technician Gainesville, FL 32610 University Of Florida ph 352-392-1184 ICBR EM Core Lab fax 352-846-0251 sdw-at-biotech.ufl.edu http://www.biotech.ufl.edu/~emcl/ The home of " Tips & Tricks "
*You are receiving this e-mail message because either yourself or a friend submitted this to our "join our members club" section*
Dear shopper,
Here’s $10 for you to spend at our shop! Simply purchase anything over the next 7 days from our shop and type the password "membership" into the special offers box on the order form and we will deduct $10 OFF the total!* It’s like Free money!
Click the following link to shop Now!
http://www.buyersavenue.com/shop/Default.asp?449
You can use this $10 gift voucher on ANY product from electronics, fine pens, giftware and more! Over 1800 top brand products at up to 45% OFF with 100% secure ordering and speedy delivery. You could even use this $10 OFF already discounted items even if they are up to 45% OFF! What are you waiting for... We ship anywhere in the world!
Check us out Now!
*Please note: Order must exceed $50 to qualify } %Á To: hoy16
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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: } } Does anyone know how to make those clear plastic blocks with embedded } specimens? Sometimes you see them with flowers or bugs inside used as } paperweights. We would like to make some with some special stuff inside for } display in our lab. } } Thanks } } Jonathan Krupp } Microscopy & Imaging Lab } University of California } Santa Cruz, CA 95064 } (831) 459-2477 } jmkrupp-at-cats.ucsc.edu
Hi All, I've had very good results with a material named CASTOLITE AP. It is a water clear resin when cured and hard enough to be optically polished if so desired. It is manufactured by the Castolite Co. Get their literature and choose the resin that best meets your needs. They provide good directions for the embedding of biological specimens.
Hello all, I am looking for a good example of simulated diffraction contrast images for a book. The sort of thing I have in mind is a series of two-beam experimental and simulated images of a dislocation or stacking fault; credit would of course be given in the caption accompanying the figure. Does anyone do this any more? Just about everyone I ask has high res. phase contrast (HREM) image simulations, but nobody does the low mag, diffraction contrast stuff. I would have thought that it would be relatively easy to do on a PC (if only I had the time to learn C++)...
We have an embedding material called PolyMet which is a polyester materia= l that cures crystal clear. It generally cures crystal clear although it must usually cure 6 to 8 hours (overnight is best) at room temperature an= d is not generally as hard as a standard metallurgical mount. We sell this=
} } } } } 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 Jon Krupp }
Hi:
Does anyone know how to make those clear plastic blocks with embedded specimens? Sometimes you see them with flowers or bugs inside used as paperweights. We would like to make some with some special stuff inside f= or display in our lab.
Thanks
Jonathan Krupp Microscopy & Imaging Lab University of California Santa Cruz, CA 95064 (831) 459-2477 jmkrupp-at-cats.ucsc.edu {
Can anyone give me some refernces for a method of fixing tissue in liquid propane, then dehydration in acetone at -80C ? I think that is the sequence. Anyway, a friend was telling me about this method and now I cannot get in touch with him to find out more. Thanks Mary
I remember, that at one time as a child I had a "kit" where I could embed things in clear plastic (for sea shells, coins, and all sorts of other stuff). I don't know if these kits are still being sold. Perhaps a trip to the local toy shop might help.
Michael
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 1675 Carr St., #105N Lakewood, CO 80215 =================================== phone: (888) FIND SIS (303) 234-9270 fax: (303) 234-9271 email: mailto:info-at-soft-imaging.com web: http://www.soft-imaging.com ===================================
} ---------- } From: Louie Kerr[SMTP:LKERR-at-MBL.EDU] } Sent: Friday, October 08, 1999 7:23:32 AM } To: jmkrupp-at-cats.ucsc.edu; Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: Re: Plastic embedding for display } Auto forwarded by a Rule } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Jon,
Although I have not done it myself I know that Carolina Biological Supply sells the polyester embedding kits with instructions (Plastomounts) as well as already mounted specimens. They can be reached at 1-800-334-5551 or www.carolina.com.
Louie
At 1:21 PM -0700 10/7/99, Jon Krupp wrote: } ----------------------------------------------------------------------- - } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I have used this process with great success. It was introduced to me as "freeze substitution" and gives excellent preservation of tissues. The two ways that I have used liquid propane to do this is through either "jet freezing" or "plunge freezing". Jet freezing requires a specialized jet freezing apparatus, however an effective plunge freezing apparatus can be put together without to much difficulty, and I have found this method to give me superior results to the jet freezing.
I'm sure there are others on the list with more expertise than I, but if you would like to reply to me personally, I could tell you how to put together an effective plunge freezing apparatus without to much difficulty. I think this would be better than going through it all on the list.
Tim Wakefield ----- / 101 Cary Hall / | \ / Auburn University, AL / --|-- \/ 36849 \ | /\ 334-844-3908 \ | / \ ----- \
On Fri, 8 Oct 1999, Mary C. Pfauth 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Can anyone give me some refernces for a method of fixing tissue in liquid } propane, then dehydration in acetone at -80C ? I think that is the } sequence. Anyway, a friend was telling me about this method and now I } cannot get in touch with him to find out more. Thanks Mary } } John P.B. & Mary } mpfauth-at-teleport.com } } }
"Tim E. Harper" {tim-at-cmp-cientifica.com} wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
} www.cmp-cientifica.com.eurofe } } Based on our experience, the Schottky tips are less trouble as they don't } require flashing every few hours to keep them in good condition. I had a } comparison from Philips Electron Optics on this, I'll try to dig it out if
} anyone is interested. } } Tim } } ++++++++++ } On the tread of FE-SEM emitters I would be very interested in hearing what
} people have to say about the differences between cold field emitters and } Schottky emitters. I know what the manufacturers say but what about expert } users? Thanks for any input. } } ************ } Tim E. Harper CMP Cientifica s.l. } Nanofabrication & Advanced Materials Analysis Consultants } Apdo Correos 20, 28230 Las Rozas, Madrid, Spain } Tel: +34 91 640 71 85 Fax +34 91 640 71 86 } E-mail: mailto:Tim-at-cmp-cientifica.com } http://www.cmp-cientifica.com/ } } } } } } } } } ************************************************************************** **
Hitachi S-510 SEM+X-ray detector and image acquisition system for sale.
- The microscope is 13 years old, It has been under Hitachi service contract ever since it was bought and it is in excellent working condition. - X-ray detector (Canberra) has three modes: Be, UTW and windowless, for light element detection. It has undergone a comprehensive detector restoration ~8 months ago and is still under warranty. - Custom-built image acquisiton system with a Mitsubishi video printer.
The whole setup is on sale for $12,000. The buyer will pay for dismantling and shipping of the instrument. All interested parties should contact Prof. Yip-Wah Chung. e-mail: ywchung-at-nwu.edu phone: (847) 4913112
Thanks, Murat Guruz ___________________________________________ Murat U. Guruz Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering Northwestern University Ph (847) 491-3216 491-7798 Fax (847) 491-7820 m-guruz-at-nwu.edu http://vpd.ms.nwu.edu/vpdgroup/mg.htm
During Microscopy and Microanalysis '99 in Portland many of you donated= sand to the Project Micro sand collection. I would like to thank all who donated. Thanks to your donations we now have sand from every continen= t on our planet. Some of the sands were very interesting. However, many donations just appeared at the project micro booth with no names on the= m. If you were one of our anonymous donors and would like to get credit for y= our donation, please e-mail me at the address below. We generally include = the name and affiliation of the donors when we send sand to teachers and microscopists. If you would like to make a donation please mail your s= and to the address below. If you would like to request some sand for educatio= nal purposes, contact me or read my next e-mail message to the list.
Joe Neilly Abbott Laboratories D-45M, AP31 200 Abbott Park Rd. Abbott Park, IL 60064-6202 voice: (847)-938-5024 fax: (847)-938-5027 e-mail: joe.neilly-at-abbott.com =
Project Micro would like to remind you that we have plenty of sand avai= lable for educational use (see partial list below). Fall is a great time to volunteer to help teachers. Microscopic Explorations is a great hands = on science program that teaches microscopy and shows what a useful tool microscopes are for many other fields of science. Students, teachers, parents, and volunteers all enjoy and learn from this program. If you = would like to learn more about Project Micro and Microscopic Explorations ch= eck out the Project Micro web page at: http://www.msa.microscopy.com/ProjectMicro/PMHomePage.html. If you wou= ld like to request sand for educational use, contact me at:
Joe Neilly Abbott Laboratories D-45M, AP31 200 Abbott Park Rd. Abbott Park, IL 60064-6202 voice: (847)-938-5024 fax: (847)-938-5027 e-mail: joe.neilly-at-abbott.com
SAND LOCATION Golden sand Patuxent River Chesapeak Bay, MD Beige dune sand Lake Michigan, Indiana Dunes, IN Beige dune sand Lake Michigan, Sleeping Bear Dunes, Empire, MI Red rock sand San Francisco Bay, CA Beige ocean sand Monterey Beach, CA Gray ocean sand T Street Beach, San Clemente, CA Beige pebble sand Waikiki, HI Beige shell sand Waimea Bay, HI Green beach sand Big Island, HI White ocean sand Cancun, Mexico Pink coral sand Barbados White ocean sand Marthon, Florida (gulf side) Orange beach sand Saudi Arabia Beige ocean sand Valparaiso, Chile Black ocean sand Curico, Chile Brown ocean sand Castelldefels, Spain Golden ocean sand Sydney, Australia Golden desert sand Cairo, Egypt Beige ocean sand Adelaide, Austrailia Beige ocean sand Nassau, Bahamas Black mineral sand Antartica =
A short time ago I inquired after recommendations for full-page, color, printers, including Sony, Kodak, Fuji, and Codonics machines. Today I had a demo of these printers, plus the Tektronix Phaser 840. I was intrigued by the 840s image quality and cost for purchase and operate.
Can anyone comment on this printer? Perhaps off-list would be best.
The SOFTWARE They Want BANNED In all 50 STATES. Why? Because these secrets were never intended to reach your eyes... Get the facts on anyone using the Internet!
Locate Missing Persons, find Lost Relatives, obtain Addresses and Phone Numbers of old school friends, even Skip Trace Dead Beat Spouses. This is not a Private Investigator, but a SOFTWARE program DESIGNED to automatically CRACK YOUR CASE with links to thousands of Public Record databases.
Find out SECRETS about your relatives, friends, enemies, and everyone else! -- even your spouse! With the New, INTERNET SPY AND YOU!
It's absolutely astounding! Here's what you can learn:
License plate number! Get anyone's name and address with just a license plate number! (Find that girl you met in traffic!)
Driving record! Get anyone's driving record
Social security number! Trace anyone by social security number!
Address! Get anyone's address with just a name!
Unlisted phone numbers! Get anyone's phone number with just a name-even unlisted numbers!
Locate! Long lost friends, relatives, a past lover who broke your heart!
Dirty secrets! Discover dirty secrets your in-laws don't want you to know!
Investigate anyone! Use the sources that private investigators use (all on the Internet) secretly!
Ex-spouse! Learn how to get information on an ex-spouse that will help you win in court! (Dig up old skeletons)
Criminal search-Backround check! Find out about your daughters boyfriend! (or her husband)
Find out! If you are being investigated!
Neighbors! Learn all about your mysterious neighbors! Find out what they have to hide!
People you work with! Be astonished by what you'll learn about people you work with!
Education verification! Did he really graduate college? Find out!
Internet Spy and You Software will help you discover ANYTHING about anyone, with clickable hyperlinks and no typing in Internet addresses! Just insert the floppy disk and Go!
You will be shocked and amazed by the secrets that can be discovered about absolutely everyone! Find out the secrets they don't want you to know! About others, about yourself!
It's INCREDIBLE what you can find out using Internet Spy and You and the Internet! You'll be riveted to your computer screen! Get the software they're trying to ban! Before it's too late!
LIMITED TIME OFFER: ORDER TODAY!
Only $15.00 US
We will RUSH YOU our Internet Spy and You software so you can begin discovering all the secrets you ever wanted to know!
You can know EVERYTHING about ANYONE with our Internet Spy and You Software. Works with all browsers and all versions of AOL!
ORDER TODAY: SEND ONLY $15.00 US CASH (you may also send one of your own address labelsand we will attach it to the package.)
ATTENTION ORDERS OUTSIDE THE US: You must ad $5 for shipping.
*Foreign money orders must be payable on a US BANK AND IN US FUNDS! NO EXCEPTIONS! Anything else will be returned to you!
DON'T WAIT TO GET STARTED... it's as easy as 1. 2. 3.
STEP 1 - Print the order form text below
STEP 2 - Type or print your order information into the order form section
STEP 3 - Mail order form and payment to the address below
"Cargille Optical Liquids and Mounting Media for the Microscopist "
Speaker is Robert Sacher of Cargille Laboratories.
Robert Sacher will speak about Cargille Refractive Index Liquids and the different techniques for using them. He will discuss the Cargille Microscope Immersion Oils and there fluorescence and viscosities. Plus he will discuss the Cargille Meltmount Mounting Media and their different refractive indices. Issue of toxicity will be considered as well as the significance of the Becke line, etc. This is a great opportunity to learn basic information about optical liquids and mounting media; understanding how to use these properly is a key to obtaining the best possible image through a light microscope. There will be ample time for questions and answers
We are considering replacing one of our old EDS systems (interfaced to a TEM) with a new one. I would appreciate comments/opinions from USERS of any of the following systems .(Please respond privately to : Jordi.Marti-at-AlliedSignal.com):
PGT ....IMIX EVEX ...VIDX EDAX...Falcon
We are primarily interested in the following:
UTW, Si-detector. 30sq.mm. Quant (Thin film). Mapping Windows NT based system.
I'm looking for the spec. or sample source code (c, c++) for reading and writing the EMSA x-ray spectra file format. I've looked on the msa ftp site but could not find a reference to it. Since this is for a new SEM/EDX application that we are writing, I would also be interested in including other x-ray spectra file formats that users might require. If you have a request (and the format is public), then let me know.
Thanks 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'm looking for the spec. or sample source code (c, c++) for } reading and writing the EMSA x-ray spectra file format. I've looked on the } msa ftp site but could not find a reference to it. ............................................................................... .
Abstract Deadline for papers and posters is next Friday October 15th. Please follow exactly the abstract instructions in our circular or website.
[Hint for those who hate laying out formatted abstracts - look at the conference website (www.anu.edu.au/EMU/acem) and click the Abstract Instructions button. There you can download an abstract document already laid out in MS Word. Should save you heaps of time!] **************************************************************************** ----------------------------------------------- Dr Marion A. Stevens Kalceff Australian Research Fellow (ARC), MAU, Faculty of Science, University of Technology, Sydney PO Box 123 Broadway NSW 2007 Australia Tel +61 2 9514 1702 (lab) +61 2 9514 1621 (office) Fax b+61 2 9514 1703 email: marion-at-phys.uts.edu.au Marion.Stevens-Kalceff-at-uts.edu.au -----------------------------------------------
The most commonly used procedure for pre-embedding immunogold labeling is: 1. fixation, 2. permeabilization, 3. blocking, 4. primary antibody incubations, 5. secondary antibody incubation (ultrasmall gold particles conjugated probes), 6. glutaraldehyde post-fixation, 7. silver enhancement, 8. EM processing and embedding. The quality of ultrastructure and the degree of antibody penetration are mainly the result of the choice of fixatives and permeablization reagents. The type of fixative is very much limited by the vulnerability of the epitope configuration to the fixative. Unfortunately, there is no set formula for determining the optimal fixative for each protein. It needs to be tested empirically. If the above were the only concern, one would use the strongest fixative consistent with maintenance of epitope configuration. However, when the epitope is "tough", one still should consider the effect of fixation on antibody penetration. Stronger fixation causes tighter cross-linking of cellular components, which hinders antibody penetration. In reality, the effects of fixation on antigenicity and antibody penetration are often dealt with as a whole. The common practice is to try several different fixatives with the permeabilization method of choice. In my experience, 4% paraformaldehyde plus 0.2% glutaraldehyde is a good place to start for many receptor and transporter proteins in neuronal samples. The common permeabilization methods are saponin and Triton X100. (some also use the freeze-thaw method and the "dehydrate-rehydrate" method). I have heard people say they got better ultrastructure in cell culture with saponin than with Triton, but I do not know if anyone has done a comparison of ultrastructure quality versus labeling intensity in a quantitative way. It has been suggested that the membrane-permeabilizing effect of saponin is due mainly to its property of forming complexes with membrane-associated cholesterol (M. Wassler, 1987, Schlosser & Wulff, 1969). The application of saponin as a permeabilizing reagent in pre-embedding immunogold labeling should be continuous throughout all immunoreagent incubations and washing steps between incubations. The concentration usually is around 0.05%. Triton is a non-ionic detergent that disrupts hydrophobic associations. When applied to membranes, it not only destroys lipid bilayers, it can also solubilize membrane bound proteins, especially if used in high concentration. For the latter reason, the use of Triton should be gentle, or even avoided if necessary, when using pre-embedding immunogold labeling for receptor and transporter proteins. For 50 um brain vibratome sections, I usually use 0.05% Triton before the blocking step for 30 min; for cell culture, 5-10 min. It should also be mentioned that 0.1% sodium borohydride that is often used in pre-embedding immunolabeling for reducing residual aldehyde may also help to "loosen up" the sample for antibody penetration due to its bubbling effect (undocumented personal experience ;-) ). I have used the fixative mentioned above and Triton as the permeablization reagent in both cell culture and brain sections with good preservation of polyribosomes and immunogold labeling of Fragile X mental retardation protein, a mRNA binding protein. There are mainly two categories of gold conjugates: colloidal gold conjugates and so called "gold compound" conjugates (Nanogold). I have obtained comparable results with both in many of my experiments. There are several recipes for making silver enhancement solution (Danscher,1981, Burry, 1992) and several silver enhancement kits commercially available. But in terms of enhancement efficiency, ultrastructral "friendliness", and practicality, the kit by Aurion, SE-EM is at the top on my list for EM level pre-embedding immunogold labeling. I don't think one is allowed to send attachments to the server. But if you like, I can send two protocols (one for cell culture, the other for brain sections) to you at your own email address so that you have a place to start.
I don't mean to write a book here. Hope it helps.
Hong ================ Hong Yi Emory University School of Medicine Neurology Microscopy Core Laboratory Rm 6215 Woodruff Memorial Research Building 1639 Pierce Dr. Atlanta, GA 30322 Phone: (404) 727-8692 Fax: (404) 727-3157 Email: hyi-at-emory.edu
I tried to do this a few years ago and I would like to warn you about an important factor. A friend of mine called me up and said they had made an excursion and found a small crawfish. He asked me to do something with it. Actually, = it wasn't that small (about 20 cm). In spite of this I made a box out of = plexiglass, and tried to embed it into Araldite which was used in our lab to embed our metallic samples to get polished cross sections. I fixed the legs of the crawfish with a little glue in the box, then I = made the Araldite mix and poured it over the crawfish immediately. I put the = whole thing on a desk over some typing paper and left it in the room where our microscope was situated. I left it alone only for a few minutes. When I returned back to see what had happened I realized that the Araldite had already solidified but in a manner I did not like. It was = so hot that the lacquer layer under it had been burnt. The paper could have caught fire! The Araldite itself had become opaque and yellow. So if you mix Araldite in larger quantities, keep stirring and cooling it for a while before = pouring it over your special stuff.
Laszlo Varga
-----Eredeti =FCzenet----- Felad=F3: Jon Krupp [SMTP:jmkrupp-at-cats.ucsc.edu] K=FCldve: 1999. okt=F3ber 7. 22:22 C=EDmzett: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com T=E1rgy: Plastic embedding for display
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America=20
Hi:
Does anyone know how to make those clear plastic blocks with embedded specimens? Sometimes you see them with flowers or bugs inside used as paperweights. We would like to make some with some special stuff inside = for display in our lab.
Thanks
Jonathan Krupp Microscopy & Imaging Lab University of California Santa Cruz, CA 95064 (831) 459-2477 jmkrupp-at-cats.ucsc.edu
Just found an online copy of the Philips info (Now FEI Beam Technology). It's at http://www.feibeamtech.com/schottky/schottky.htm
Regards
Tim
*********************************************************** EuroFE Field Emission Network A Network of the European Science Foundation http://www.esf.org/ Tim E. Harper EuroFE Network Co Chairman CMP Cientifica s.l Tel +34 91 640 71 85 Fax: +34 91 640 71 86 http://www.cmp-cientifica.com/Eurofe
-----Original Message----- } From: Hooghan, Tejpalkaur K (Tejpalkaur) [mailto:hooghan-at-lucent.com] Sent: Friday, October 08, 1999 10:08 PM To: 'tim-at-cmp-cientifica.com'
Hello all
On several occasions there has been discussion=20 about the most economical way to update a broken=20 EDS-system. We have a repaired detector (with Be-window) for=20 our JEM1200EX but the computer unit got to the=20 end of its road. There are no spare parts=20 awailable for the TN2000 anymore. Could someone suggest an economical way to=20 upgrade the system so that we could continue=20 analysing samples.
Thanks in advance, Jouko
Jouko M=E4ki University of Turku Laboratory of=20 Electron Microscopy PhD Kiinamyllynkatu 10 FIN-20520 TURKU=20 FINLAND Laboratory Manager Tel.: +358 2 333 7318=20 +358 40 505 2521 E-Mail: jouko.maki-at-utu.fi Fax: +358 2 333 7380
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Mary, Check out the reference: Howard, R.J. and K. L. O'Donnell (1987) Freeze Substitution of Fungi for Cytological Analysis. Experimental Mycology 11:250-269.
This is only one of a number of papers by Rick Howard and others describing Freeze-substitution protocols. I have been using a very similar technique for the last 10 years with great success. Please contact me directly if you need additional information.
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
} } } Can anyone give me some refernces for a method of fixing tissue in liquid } propane, then dehydration in acetone at -80C ? I think that is the } sequence. Anyway, a friend was telling me about this method and now I } cannot get in touch with him to find out more. Thanks Mary } } John P.B. & Mary } mpfauth-at-teleport.com } } }
Dear Listservers, Does anyone have a reference for some TEM electronmicrographs of trematodes? To be more specific, we are studying intestinal fluke infections within South Australia and are interested in the ultrastructure of the cercarial, metacercarial and adult stages of the trematode family Brachylaimidae which is part of the wider group called "Digenea". Thankyou. John Brealey EM Unit The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Adelaide South Australia
Wow! Get a hold of this software and try it. They have a demo version that does all the functions and times out after a couple of months. This is pretty awesome software. From what I can see, it will pull out detail from underexposed negs. To the eye, the negs look underexposed but to the Lucis software there is information there. The better the scanning function to digitize the neg the better the results will be.
I'm working with a demo version of Lucis right now and I am becoming more and more impressed each day.
gary g.
} X-Sender: mme-at-mail.map.com } X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Pro Version 3.0.3 (32) } Date: Wed, 06 Oct 1999 11:49:18 -0400 } To: Donald Delaney {delaneyd-at-mcw.edu} , microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } From: Barbara Foster {mme-at-map.com} } Subject: Re: Photoshop Negative Processing } } } Don, } } There is some new software, called "Lucis" which is really great for this } purpose. Suggest that you give them a shout at Image Content Technologies, } 860-223-4710 or wwww.imagecontent.com. Ron Lund is VP sales. } } Hope this is helpful. } } Best regards, } Barbara Foster } Consortium President } Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater } productivity. } } } } } } I have some negatives taken on the TEM which developed extremely light. I } } was wondering if anyone knows any tricks on photoshop for generating good } } quality prints. I typically adjust the levels and condense the size of the } } picture, but I am still not completely happy about the quality of the } prints. } } } } Don Delaney } }
Our laboratory has recently sold our old TEM and EDX unit (circa 1976). The new owner did not want all the electronic parts, so rather than throw them in the dumpster, I am offering them to anyone who can use them. All I ask is you pay the shipping costs.
The parts leftover are:
Control console model 5372 for a Kevex 5500 EDX Hitachi monochrome video display monitor for above Polaroid camera for the display monitor
Polaroid camera unit for JEOL 100C TEM Electronic panel (for control of parameters like focus, magnif, etc) and all associated boards for JEOL 100C TEM
If you have any questions, please contact me off-list.
Helen Mayer UCAR Carbon Company Parma, OH 216-676-2373
In regards to the thread on Lucis software and its improvement of underexposed negs (see below), I offer this message I got along with the demo of the software (I haven't had time to try it):
Dear Tom, My name is Ron Lunn. I manage sales in microsopcy and analytical imaging. Lucis is available as a stand alone program for PCs. Currently we are encouraging users to try Lucis by offering a $1,000 discount if a purchase order is received at ICT by 11/30/99. So the price of Lucis would be $1,495. After 11/30/99, the price reverts to $2,495. I have attached demonstration software that you may use for 2 months. It will time out. The User's Guide is available from our web site, imagecontent.com. Lucis is very easy to use.
Thank you for your interest. Please let me know if I can be of further assistance. I am using our T1 line to send you the software (the bwilliams-at-imagecontent.com address). I can be reached at 860-435-0194 or lucis-at-mohawk.net. I will follow up with a phone call to discuss your specific application. Ron Lunn Sales, Microscopy & Analytical Imaging
Image Content Technology LLC 185 Main Street, Suite 211 New Britain, CT 06051 tel: 860-223-4710 fax: 860-229-8164 bwilliams-at-imagecontent.com
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
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 65211-7400 (573)-882-4712 (voice) (573)-882-0123 (fax)
I was just recently told that Kodak made a change in the dye used in their blank CDs for making CD-ROMs, and that this change is causing compatibility problems with some CD burners.
Has anyone experienced this problem? What brands of blank CDs are folks using these days for burning archival CDs? Note, I'm referring to CD-ROMs only *not* CD-RWs and the like. Nor DVDs.
Thanks!
Phil
****be famous! send in a tech tip or question*** Philip Oshel Technical Editor, Microscopy Today PO Box 620068 Middleton, WI 53562 USA Address for courier deliveries: 6319 Pheasant Lane #A-12 Voice: (608) 833-2885 Fax: (608) 836-1969 (please make sure my name is on any fax) oshel-at-terracom.net
Dear Renata, I completed my Ph.D. project working on cercarial sensory receptors. One of the techniques I employed was TEM and I did an extensive work with cer- cariae of families Allocreadiidae, Lecithodendriidae, and Opecoelidae. As a pilot project, I did some SEM work with sporocysts of Leucochloridium which is closely related to your digeneans. TEM is a tricky business, involving a lot of perseverance and patience. A good reference is Pojmanska and Machaj, 1991. Differentiation of the ultrastructure of the body wall of the sporocyst of Leucochloridium paradoxum. International Journal for Parasitology 21 (6): 651-659. I got better results working with acrolein, a fast penetration che- mical that improves fixation of nervous tissue but very dangerous (it would be wise to avoid unnecessary risks). There are other means to improve fixation such as to cut the specimens into large pieces or fix them under coverslip ( penetration is far improved in flat specimens). These procedures are size- dependent though, but I encourage you to try both of them. Hope this info helps you. Good luck with your project and don't hesitate to contact me in case I could be of further assistance.
Check your library to see if it has or can get the series "Microscopic Anatomy of Invertebrates" Fred Harrison series editor, published by John Wiley-Liss in the US. 15 volumes. I forget which one the trematodes is in, but it's one of the earlier volumes.
Phil
} Dear Listservers, Does anyone have a reference for some TEM } electronmicrographs of trematodes? To be more specific, we are studying } intestinal fluke infections within South Australia and are interested in } the ultrastructure of the cercarial, metacercarial and adult stages of the } trematode family Brachylaimidae which is part of the wider group called } "Digenea". Thankyou. John Brealey EM Unit The Queen Elizabeth Hospital } Adelaide South Australia
****be famous! send in a tech tip or question*** Philip Oshel Technical Editor, Microscopy Today PO Box 620068 Middleton, WI 53562 USA Address for courier deliveries: 6319 Pheasant Lane #A-12 Voice: (608) 833-2885 Fax: (608) 836-1969 (please make sure my name is on any fax) oshel-at-terracom.net
I think you have some problems with your hot cathod instrument. I use mine mostly at 5-10 kV with routine magnifications up to 50k (and somtimes 100-150k). For beam sensitive samples I use high voltage down to 0.4kV. Contrast is excellent. Wet mode and EDS are fine too. So, I believe, unconvinient cold emission instruments should be used only for magnifications above 100k.
Vladimir M. Dusevich, Ph.D. Electron Microscope Lab Manager 3127 School of Dentistry 650 E. 25th Street Kansas City, MO 64108-2784
Phone: (816) 235-2072 Fax: (816) 235-5524
} -----Original Message----- } From: Bruce E. Brinson [mailto:brinson-at-rice.edu] } Sent: Thursday, October 07, 1999 9:01 PM } To: Stephen McCartney } Cc: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } Subject: Re: cold field emission vs. Schottky emitters } } } -------------------------------------------------------------- } ---------- } 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 Stephen, } } We have one of each. Hands down the cold cathode } instrument is the superior } imaging tool but that instrument is optimized for hi-res } imaging. Our hot } cathode instrument is a analytical platform with poor vacuum } / high vacuum } modes. I believe a local space agency bought the next } generation of our cold } cathode SEM after a demo on ours. They were using a hot } cathode instrument } previously. Interestingly we bought a similar hot cathode } instrument later but } only because that is how the system came. It was purchased } for it's poor vacuum } capability. } } I use the cold cathode instrument for all (imaging) but } the lowest mag work } ( {2k). It suffers from spherical aberration at lower mags. } This is my SEM of } choice. } I use the hot cathode instrument for low mag work ( {2k), } EDS or wet work. } It has a larger area of view. At times I have used it up to } x10K but only } because I was there & had a favorable specimen. } } The contrast & image detail of the cold cathode system is } decidedly } superior. I can also point out that the images can be } acquired at 5 kV, some } times less. I always use 30 kV for the hot cathode SEM. } } Let's be clear....There are differences in the optics & } secondary detection } systems which account for some of the difference in image quality. } Both instruments have a place. } } On reliability, the cold cathode went on line in 1994. } The instrument is } anvil reliable. The hot cathode has been changed 2-3 times } since 1995. This may } have been a production yield problem. The current one has } been in a while. } } I have purposely avoided using brand names & model #s } because people tend } to associate properties or opinions of individual instruments } with entire } product lines. If you would like specifics, please contact me } off line. } } Meanwhile if your looking to buy, I suggest that you have } vendors image a } variety of materials before you make a firm deci$sion. Also } conditions of final } payment should include being able to replicate those images } on you instrument. } } Bruce Brinson } Rice U. } } } Stephen McCartney 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } On the tread of FE-SEM emitters I would be very interested in hearing what } people have to say about the differences between cold field emitters and } Schottky emitters. I know what the manufacturers say but what about expert } users? Thanks for any input. } } ------------------------------ } Stephen McCartney } Research Associate } Virginia Tech } Materials Institute } 2108 Hahn Hall } Blacksburg, VA 24061-0344 } USA } } TEL: 540-231-9765 } FAX: 540-231-8517 } ------------------------------
} } From: Rhea Freeman {freemanr-at-bio.indiana.edu} } } Subject: LM,TEM,SEM Job Announcement } } } } } JOB ANNOUNCEMENT } **************** } The Indiana Molecular Biology Institute at Indiana University is seeking a } Ph.D level scientist with demonstrated excellence in microscopy to direct } the Molecular Biology Microscopy Facilities, which include light, confocal } fluorescence, transmission, and scanning electron microscopes. The } position includes overall management of the facilities, user training, and } user supervision. We seek a candidate who will be an active participant } with Institute faculty in the development of our microscopy capabilities } and training programs. In addition, pursuit of independent and } collaborative research will be strongly encouraged. Salary: $37,000. } } Candidates should send a resume and have three letters of reference } sent to Dr. Rudolf A. Raff, Director, Indiana Molecular Biology Institute } Indiana University, Jordan Hall, 1001 E. Third St., Bloomington, } IN 47405. Deadline for application: Nov. 1, 1999. Indiana University is an } Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. } } Additional information is available at } http://www.bio.indiana.edu/research/imcb/MFM_Ad.html } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- } } Rhea Freeman Ph. 812-855-4183 } Administrative Assistant Fax 812-855-6082 } Indiana Molecular Biology Institute } Jordan Hall 322A } Indiana University } Bloomington, IN 47405 }
Thanks for letting us know that you have not tried this product.
Will you post something worthwhile after you have tried it?
gg
At 02:40 PM 10/11/99 , 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } In regards to the thread on Lucis software and its improvement of underexposed negs (see below), I offer this message I got along with the demo of the software (I haven't had time to try it): } } Dear Tom, } My name is Ron Lunn. I manage sales in microsopcy and analytical imaging. } Lucis is available as a stand alone program for PCs. Currently we are } encouraging users to try Lucis by offering a $1,000 discount if a purchase } order is received at ICT by 11/30/99. So the price of Lucis would be } $1,495. After 11/30/99, the price reverts to $2,495. I have attached } demonstration software that you may use for 2 months. It will time out. } The User's Guide is available from our web site, imagecontent.com. Lucis } is very easy to use. } } Thank you for your interest. Please let me know if I can be of further } assistance. I am using our T1 line to send you the software (the } bwilliams-at-imagecontent.com address). I can be reached at 860-435-0194 or } lucis-at-mohawk.net. I will follow up with a phone call to discuss your } specific application. } Ron Lunn } Sales, Microscopy & Analytical Imaging } } } } Image Content Technology LLC } 185 Main Street, Suite 211 } New Britain, CT 06051 } tel: 860-223-4710 } fax: 860-229-8164 } bwilliams-at-imagecontent.com } } } } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Anybody got a JEOL wds spectro or three, to fit 840/733, that they would like a good home for?
thanks
Ritchie
Ritchie Sims Phone : 64 9 3737599 ext 7713 Department of Geology Fax : 64 9 3737435 The University of Auckland email : r.sims-at-auckland.ac.nz Private Bag 92019 Auckland New Zealand
Scanning Electron Microscopist Northwestern University
The electron probe instrumentation center (EPIC) at Northwestern University has an immediate opening for a scanning electron microscopist. EPIC is a part of the world renowned materials research center (MRC) and the department of Materials Science & Engineering at Northwestern.
The scanning electron microscopist would be in charge of all of EPIC SEMs (Hitachi S570, FE SEM S4500 and VP SEM 3500N), their accessories (EDS, EBSD/OIM, LHe stage; systems) and the Hitachi FB-2000A focused ion beam (FIB) system. All microscopes in EPIC are under full service contract. Thus, the duties include mainly training students/users, development of specialized techniques and applications, minor maintenance, record keeping and billing. A BS/MS degree in physical/biological sciences is required. The person must have hands-on experience in all aspects of SEM: specimen preparation, EDS, digital acquisition, processing etc. All levels of experience will be considered. Compensation would commensurates with experience and qualifications.
Send cover letter, resume and three references to:
Prof. Vinayak P. Dravid, Director EPIC Materials Science & Engineering Northwestern University, 3013A MLSB Evanston, IL 60208 E-mail: v-dravid-at-nwu.edu Fax: (847) 491-7820
http://epic.ms.nwu.edu/epic/index.htm
Northwestern University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the United States. *******************************************************
Postdoc Opening in Nanostructured Materials Synthesis and Characterization
A postdoctoral scholar position is immediately available at Northwestern University, Evanston, IL in the area of synthesis and characterization of nanostructured materials.
This project is jointly supervised by Profs. D Lynn Johnson and Vinayak P. Dravid, and concerns with synthesis and characterization of ultrafine elemental, alloy and compound particles via arc evaporation. The aim of the project is to synthesize Au/Al2O3 and related catalytic nanostructure systems as a part of multidisciplinary, multi-departmental activity of the Institute of Environmental Catalysis (IEC).
The position requires a PhD in physical sciences/engineering. Considerable hands-on experience in instrumentation, machine hardware and mechanical design in the context of nanostructure synthesis is required. This may include experience in CVD, PVD or related vapor phase techniques for nanostructured materials. Experience in advanced TEM is highly desirable.
The position is available immediately for at least one year with extension for additional year upon mutual consent. Salary and compensation would commensurate with experience.
HIRING IS CONTINGENT UPON ELIGIBILITY TO WORK IN THE USA.
Please forward resume with three names of references to:
Prof. Vinayak P. Dravid Associate Professor, Materials Science & Engineering 2225 N. Campus Drive, 3013A MLSF Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA Fax: (847) 491-7820 E-mail: v-dravid-at-nwu.edu http://nuinfo.nwu.edu/materials/faculty/vpd.html
The correct WWW address for Lucis is: http://www.imagecontent.com/lucis/default.htm
Looking on their pictures I was impressed how Lucis enhanced details in the shadows. They use a special patented algorithm to extract data from the image. So, it is not simply "contrast/brightness" or even "gamma" adjustment. After Lucis we probably will have a deal with new, "treated' image. In some particular applications it may greatly improve the quality of information we can extract from image.
Sincerely,
} Date: Mon, 11 Oct 1999 13:40:34 -0500 } From: Tom Phillips {PhillipsT-at-missouri.edu} } Subject: Re: Underexposed Negatives + Lucis software } X-Sender: PhillipsT-at-pop.email.missouri.edu } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Sergey Ryazantsev Ph. D. UCLA School of Medicine Department of Biological Chemistry Box 951737 Los Angeles, CA 90095-1737
We are going for a new analytical electron microscope in Trondheim next year. Anyone who knows about manufacturars of EDX software that includes biological thin film quantificaltion according to the "continuum" (Hall---) method?
Vennlig Hilsen=20 dr.ing Gunnar Kopstad overingeni=F8r Avd f Patologi, Rit
On July 21, I purchased 200 spindle packed, unbranded Kodak gold/gold CD-R blanks. FWIW, One S/N in the series is 9072 3101 2254. Don't know how to "read" any date... FYI, since I bought spindle packs ( {$), and to better fit in (real) file drawers, I found a supplier of tyvek CD envelops. $75 per 1000 windowless envelopes w/flap sure beat the "crystal" price and adds no bulk.
[...Sorry about weird margins. Maybe one day IT will dump this awful email program they make us use]
My CD-R is a Smart & Friendly 6x TurboWriter (SCSI) installed on my IXRF EDS PC (Do you speak acronyms? :).
These CDs (so far) have been read by about 10 different PCs here. I have had no problem in either writing or reading, but these may have been produced prior to the possible change you mentioned.
Will be interested in developments.
Regards, Woody White McDermott Technology, Inc. Lynchburg Research Center ---------------------------------- I was just recently told that Kodak made a change in the dye used in their blank CDs for making CD-ROMs, and that this change is causing compatibility problems with some CD burners.
Has anyone experienced this problem? What brands of blank CDs are folks using these days for burning archival CDs? Note, I'm referring to CD-ROMs only *not* CD-RWs and the like. Nor DVDs.
Thanks!
Phil
****be famous! send in a tech tip or question*** Philip Oshel Technical Editor, Microscopy Today PO Box 620068 Middleton, WI 53562 USA Address for courier deliveries: 6319 Pheasant Lane #A-12 Voice: (608) 833-2885 Fax: (608) 836-1969 (please make sure my name is on any fax) oshel-at-terracom.net
If you had read my posting, you would have seen it contains the new information that the software costs $1495. For some people, the cost of a product is a major factor in whether it is worth demo'ing.
} Huh? } } Thanks for letting us know that you have not tried this product. } } Will you post something worthwhile after you have tried it? } } gg } } At 02:40 PM 10/11/99 , 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 } } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } } } In regards to the thread on Lucis software and its improvement of } underexposed negs (see below), I offer this message I got along with } the demo of the software (I haven't had time to try it): } } } } Dear Tom, } } My name is Ron Lunn. I manage sales in microsopcy and analytical imaging. } } Lucis is available as a stand alone program for PCs. Currently we are } } encouraging users to try Lucis by offering a $1,000 discount if a purchase } } order is received at ICT by 11/30/99. So the price of Lucis would be } } $1,495. After 11/30/99, the price reverts to $2,495. I have attached } } demonstration software that you may use for 2 months. It will time out. } } The User's Guide is available from our web site, imagecontent.com. Lucis } } is very easy to use. } } } } Thank you for your interest. Please let me know if I can be of further } } assistance. I am using our T1 line to send you the software (the } } bwilliams-at-imagecontent.com address). I can be reached at 860-435-0194 or } } lucis-at-mohawk.net. I will follow up with a phone call to discuss your } } specific application. } } Ron Lunn } } Sales, Microscopy & Analytical Imaging } } } } } } } } Image Content Technology LLC } } 185 Main Street, Suite 211 } } New Britain, CT 06051 } } tel: 860-223-4710 } } fax: 860-229-8164 } } bwilliams-at-imagecontent.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 } } } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } } } } } } Wow! Get a hold of this software and try it. They have a demo version } } } that does all the functions and times out after a couple of } months. This is } } } pretty awesome software. From what I can see, it will pull out detail from } } } underexposed negs. To the eye, the negs look underexposed but to the } } } Lucis software there is information there. The better the } scanning function } } } to digitize the neg the better the results will be. } } } } } } I'm working with a demo version of Lucis right now and I am becoming more } } } and more impressed each day. } } } } } } gary g. } } } } } } } } } } X-Sender: mme-at-mail.map.com } } } } X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Pro Version 3.0.3 (32) } } } } Date: Wed, 06 Oct 1999 11:49:18 -0400 } } } } To: Donald Delaney {delaneyd-at-mcw.edu} , microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } } } } From: Barbara Foster {mme-at-map.com} } } } } Subject: Re: Photoshop Negative Processing } } } } } } } } } } } } Don, } } } } } } } } There is some new software, called "Lucis" which is really great for this } } } } purpose. Suggest that you give them a shout at Image Content } Technologies, } } } } 860-223-4710 or wwww.imagecontent.com. Ron Lund is VP sales. } } } } } } } } Hope this is helpful. } } } } } } } } Best regards, } } } } Barbara Foster } } } } Consortium President } } } } Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater } } } } productivity. } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } I have some negatives taken on the TEM which developed } extremely light. I } } } } } was wondering if anyone knows any tricks on photoshop for } generating good } } } } } quality prints. I typically adjust the levels and condense } the size of the } } } } } picture, but I am still not completely happy about the quality of the } } } } prints. } } } } } } } } } } Don Delaney } } } } } } } } } 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 65211-7400 } } (573)-882-4712 (voice) } } (573)-882-0123 (fax)
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 65211-7400 (573)-882-4712 (voice) (573)-882-0123 (fax)
Postdoc Opening in Advanced Analytical TEM and Electron Holography
A postdoctoral scholar position is immediately available at Northwestern University, Evanston, IL in the area of advanced Analytical TEM of nanostructured materials.
This project is being supervised by Prof. Vinayak P. Dravid, and concerns with analysis of nanoscale chemistry, structure and electrostatic fields at interfaces and junctions in advanced microelectronics using analytical TEM and holography techniques.
The position requires a PhD in physical sciences/engineering. Considerable hands-on experience in advanced TEM techniques such as HRTEM, EDS/EELS, CBED and computation/simulations is required. Experience in electron holography is highly desirable.
The position is available immediately for at least one year with extension for additional year upon mutual consent. Salary and compensation would commensurate with experience.
HIRING IS CONTINGENT UPON ELIGIBILITY TO WORK IN THE USA.
Please forward resume with three names of references to:
Prof. Vinayak P. Dravid Associate Professor, Materials Science & Engineering 2225 N. Campus Drive, 3013A MLSF Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA Fax: (847) 491-7820 E-mail: v-dravid-at-nwu.edu http://nuinfo.nwu.edu/materials/faculty/vpd.html *******************************************************
Metropolitan Microscopy Soc. -- Fall Meeting 1999 =================================================
Time: 9:00 am (registration begins) **PLEASE PRE-REGISTER** It is im- portant. (See below)
Place: Zeiss, Thornwood, NY (914) 747-1800.
} From most locations, follow your choice of major highways to I-287 and the Saw Mill River Parkway. Take the Saw Mill north. From the nearby north, follow the Taconic Parkway south and take the Saw Mill Parkway north.
Follow the Saw Mill to Exit 27 (Marble Ave.). Take a right onto Mar- ble Ave. Follow Marble through the underpass and traffic light. Bear right at the top of the hill (becomes Columbus Ave.). Zeiss Drive is on the left, just past the Rose Hill shopping center.
-------------------------------------
AGENDA
9:00 - 9:45 : Registration (Coffee)
9:45 - 10:00 : Introductory Remarks and society business (Al Sicignano).
10:00 - 10:45 : "Imaging Microstructure Using Orientation and Chemis- try, Paul Manwairing, TSL
10:45 - 11:30 : "Automated EBSP and Orientation Imaging for Micro- structural Characterization of Ti and Ni based Superalloys ", John Sutliffe, GE Corporate R& D.
1:45 - 3:15 : "Image Analysis and Image Processing", John Russ, Professor Materials Science and Engineering Dept. NC State University, Raleigh, NC
-------------------------------------
PRE-REGISTRATION INFORMATION
Zeiss Corp. has graciously agreed to host our meeting at their facility in Thornwood, NY. Due to the nature of their corporate fa- cility, IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT MEMBERS PRE-REGISTER so that an attendee list can be delivered to the security people at Zeiss for generation of guest badges.
**THE PRE-REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS Oct. 15th** and can be accom- plished electronically. Please respond via email or fax to Evan Slow directly. A simple email note or fax is all that's required to pre-- register. You can then bring the required fee with you to the meet- ing.. For pre-registrants, the meeting fee, which includes lunch, will be $15.00.
***ON-SITE REGISTRANTS WILL BE CHARGED $25.00***
Pre-register with Evan Slow --- (201) 760-2525 (FAX) ess-at-feico.com
Philip L. Flaitz IBM Analytical Services, Hopewell Junction, NY http://www.chips.ibm.com/services/asg Ph.......(914) 892-3094, FAX -2003 flaitz-at-us.ibm.com
by aretha.jax.org (8.9.1/8.9.1) with SMTP id NAA15628 for {microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} ; Tue, 12 Oct 1999 13:20:15 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: {3.0.5.32.19991012132545.008d7180-at-aretha.jax.org} X-Sender: lsb-at-aretha.jax.org X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Light Version 3.0.5 (32)
Thanks to everyone who gave me their tips for preparing intestines for SEM. The super-dried acetone did the trick. The results will show up in "Science" sometime and the investigator was very pleased! Lesley S. Bechtold Supervisor, Biological Imaging The Jackson Laboratory 600 Main St. Bar Harbor, ME 04609 207-288-6191
Hello, A colleague of mine is trying to disperse membrane proteins for negative staining with different types and amounts of detergents, but so far without success (proteins aggregating). I was thinking of lightly fixing the prep before extracting the lipids, then using detergent to extract all lipids, followed by negative stain. We would appreciate comments on this or any suggesstions are welcomed. Thank you.
Is there anyone who has a mannual for E5400 Polaron sputter coater.I would be greatful to you if you could fax a copy.Also I need to find cheaper place to buy coating target source.
Thank you
Reena Zalpuri EM Lab UC Berkeley =46ax 510-643-6207 E-mail jubu-at-uclink4.berkeley.edu
Philip Oshel had questions regarding the suitability of Kodak Recordable CDs for archiving images. My lab uses the KODAK CD-R GOLD ULTIMA Recordable CD without problesm. Kodak supplies a whole family of products, one of which should give superior performance in most CD recorders. Interested microscopists can find specific information on the Kodak web site at
http://www.kodak.com/US/en/digital/cdr/
Interested microscopists can also get help for choosing the correct media for their recorder from the Kodak Digital Imaging Support Center 9 am - 8 pm Mon-Fri at (800) 235-6325.
Best Regards
John Minter Analytical Technology Division Eastman Kodak Company Rochester, NY 14652-3712 Phone: (716) 722-3407 FAX: (716) 477-3029 email: minter-at-kodak.com
I had a computer crash, wiped out my "new mail", would the person from South Africa who contacted me please contact me again?
thanks
Ritchie
Ritchie Sims Phone : 64 9 3737599 ext 7713 Department of Geology Fax : 64 9 3737435 The University of Auckland email : r.sims-at-auckland.ac.nz Private Bag 92019 Auckland New Zealand
I misread the msg. My response was out of line and off base.
Sorry about that.
gary g.
} X-Sender: gaugler-at-pop.calweb.com } X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Pro Version 4.2.0.58 } Date: Mon, 11 Oct 1999 19:43:29 -0400 } To: Tom Phillips {PhillipsT-at-missouri.edu} } From: "Dr. Gary Gaugler" {gary-at-gaugler.com} } Subject: Re: Underexposed Negatives + Lucis software } Cc: MSA listserver {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
} } I was just recently told that Kodak made a change in the dye used in their } blank CDs for making CD-ROMs, and that this change is causing compatibility } problems with some CD burners. } } Has anyone experienced this problem? What brands of blank CDs are folks } using these days for burning archival CDs? Note, I'm referring to CD-ROMs } only *not* CD-RWs and the like. Nor DVDs. }
O.k., Yes, I have run into this. The kodak CDR's with the info guard layer (the 8x ceritified CDR's, Kodak CDR KOD-899-1309) had a problem in our Yamaha 400T writer initially (the media was NOT recognized as valid media). After some digging the problem was known and correctable from yamaha. All it took was a FlashBIOS upgrade to the Yamaha CDR (which also fixed some other problems and was very easy to perform). Also the Yamaha BIOS update did not effect our ability to burn any other brands of CDR media (They still work just fine)
We have NOT seen any problems since, nor have we seen any problems reading the disks in a wide range (and ages) of PC and Mac CD-ROM drives.
And still recommend the Kodak CDR's to all my users for archiving image data (we have seen some severe data degration problems after numerous reads on the cheaper CDR's).
Note: This was actually just after the Kodak Infoguard CDR disks came out in March 1999, so I am not sure if you are discribing a newer issue. But I would recommend checking out the specific CDRecorders manufacturers site for problems with media and recording.
Richard E. Edelmann, Ph.D. Electron Microscopy Facility Supervisor 352 Pearson Hall Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056 Ph: 513.529.5712 Fax: 513.529.4243 E-mail: edelmare-at-muohio.edu
I've used about 150 kodak gold infogard CD's in the past year and a half. Apart from a series of coasters caousd by a dying CD writer I've had no problems with writing them. A couple of people were not able to read them but I'm almost certain it was due to very old CD readers. I've switched to a new Plextor 8220 CD-RW and have had no problems at all.
Cheers
Glenn
Glenn ============================================================= Glenn Poirier Tel:(514) 398-6774 MicroAnalytical Laboratory Fax:(514) 398-4680 Earth and Planetary Sciences McGill University glennp-at-eps.mcgill.ca 3450 University St. castaing.eps.mcgill.ca Montreal, Qc H3A 2A7 -- Millenium Hand and Shrimp -- ============================================================== -----Original Message----- } From: Philip Oshel [mailto:oshel-at-terracom.net] Sent: October 11, 1999 3:08 PM To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
I was just recently told that Kodak made a change in the dye used in their blank CDs for making CD-ROMs, and that this change is causing compatibility problems with some CD burners.
Has anyone experienced this problem? What brands of blank CDs are folks using these days for burning archival CDs? Note, I'm referring to CD-ROMs only *not* CD-RWs and the like. Nor DVDs.
Thanks!
Phil
****be famous! send in a tech tip or question*** Philip Oshel Technical Editor, Microscopy Today PO Box 620068 Middleton, WI 53562 USA Address for courier deliveries: 6319 Pheasant Lane #A-12 Voice: (608) 833-2885 Fax: (608) 836-1969 (please make sure my name is on any fax) oshel-at-terracom.net
At 07:29 PM 10/11/99 , you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I'm with Vladimir. My LaB6 system does a great job at 100KX and 3KV using well-prepared specimens. E. coli fill the screen at about 75KX and the folds and surface details are nice.
With higher KV, I get too many BSE artifacts. From what I can tell, on my system, the E2 point is right about at 3-4KV.
Does anyone know where I can get disk 10 of Harvard Graphics 2.0? Somehow my disk 10 was lost and I have a new computer and want to install my Harvard Graphics 2.0 (for which I have a legitimate license). The trouble is that SPC won't send me one as it is an old program and they are no longer supporting it. I still have it on my laptop, but when I try to copy it onto my desktop computer (using Uninstaller) it will not open. I have a lot of good materials saved in the HG format and cannot open them without installing all the disks. Also, I still think it's a great program. Thanks for your help, HG user.
The Catholic University of America seeks a technician to perform technical duties in support of the Microstructural Characterization Division of the Vitreous State Laboratory. Technician will be a member of a team responsible for the following: heat treat glasses to induce microstructural changes; prepare glasses for SEM observation using standard metallographic technique; analyze samples for phase content using optical, SEM-EDS, and XRD techniques; instruct students in the operation of microscopes and other equipment; monitor condition of instruments; oversee upkeep of the lab; maintain a safe environment; and other assigned duties.
Applicant should hold a minimum of a bachelor's degree in materials science or related physical science and/or 4+ years related work experience. Candidates should be familiar with electron and optical microscopes, mechanical and electronic equipment, vacuum systems, PC and EDS/WDS systems. Good communication and interpersonal skills are essential.
Catholic University offers excellent benefits and a vacation package.
Interested candidates should forward resume to:
Andrew C. Buechele, Ph.D. Director, Microstructural Characterization Division Vitreous State Laboratory The Catholic University of America 400 Hannan Hall Cardinal Station Washington, D.C. 20064 Telephone: 202-319-4995 Fax: 202-319-4469
e-mail: andrewb-at-rsrch.vsl.cua.edu
Sincerely yours, Andy Buechele
Andrew C. Buechele, Ph.D. Research Professor Vitreous State Laboratory The Catholic University of America 409 Hannan Hall Washington, D.C. 20064 (202) 319-4995 FAX: (202) 319-4469
Email: jekstrom-at-mediaone.net Name: James Ekstrom School: Phillips Exeter Academy
Question: I have an microscope objective lens that reads MEOPTA or MEOPLA, it is hard to distinguish. Do you know anything about the manufacturer/location of this objective. Thank you - Jim Ekstrom
} } } } } 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:jekstrom-at-mediaone.net } Email: jekstrom-at-mediaone.net Name: James Ekstrom School: Phillips Exeter Academy
Question: I have an microscope objective lens that reads MEOPTA or MEOPLA= , it is hard to distinguish. Do you know anything about the manufacturer/location of this objective. Thank you - Jim Ekstrom
I've had the following problem with a Philips XL30 and an attached Oxford ISIS 200 series EDS system since I had them installed two years ago. When I collect digital BSE images through the ISIS system using either digital x-ray mapping mapping (SPEEDMAP) or digital image acquisition (AUTOBEAM) there are horizontal broad dark bands on the image. (I have the Philips BSE detector). SE images are ok, and both SE and BSE images taken directly from the microscope are ok. Philips told me the problem was due to the automatic brightness control on the XL30 not being de- activated when the microscope is externally controlled, and that the problem would be fixed in the next version of their software and that the ISIS software would also need a fix. When I checked with Oxford they have not heard of this! I have both pieces of software on the XL30 pc but have tried the ISIS software on a separate pc but the problem still persists. I have also checked for noise in the mains supply which seems ok, the microscope is on its own circuit and there is no heavy electrical equipment in the building. I also tried several different earth connections for the microscope, and different powerpoints for the ISIS box. I know of one other similar system that does not have this problem. Please contact me if you have a similar setup and let me know if you experience this problem or not. I would of though several people would have the problem if it was software related. If I'm the only one seeing this effect I can assume it must be something on my system.
I've posted this message to both the XL users and MSA listservers so I apologise it you get two copies.
Thanks in advance Dave
Dave Phelan EM/X-Ray Unit University of Newcastle NSW 2308 AUSTRALIA Ph 02 4921 5667 Fax 02 4921 7019 emudp-at-mail.newcastle.edu.au
I love HD too. For that times it was a great program. It seems to me that HD2 was working under Win3.x. If so, it is well possible that this is a DOS program and all files are located in one HD directory. If so, the simplest solution is just copying the entire directory. It looks like "illegal way", but it works even for modern programs like Eudora3.06 or Bryce2. It is because many software developers do not like to share "dll"-s and store everything in the program's directory. In your particular case you may choose WinZip (pkzip, may be - old DOS friend) or something like that to create multiple-diskette archive of your HD directory and transfer data to your desktop computer (you will create the same directory from archive on your desktop). When you will try to run the program on the desktop computer, HD, may be, will ask you some files. You should find that files on your laptop ("Find" from Start Menu) and transfer to the same directory on the desktop computer. May be it will take a few "runs".
Good luck.
} Date: Tue, 12 Oct 1999 17:23:41 -0500 } From: Joyce Craig {j-craig-at-CSU.EDU} } Subject: Harvard Graphics Disks } X-Sender: zaluzec-at-microscopy.com } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Sergey Ryazantsev Ph. D. UCLA School of Medicine Department of Biological Chemistry Box 951737 Los Angeles, CA 90095-1737
It is unbelievable: such duties for $37K?! There, at UCLA $37K is a level of very moderate post-doc. To be equally perfect in the "light, confocal, fluorescence, transmission, and scanning electron microscopes" just impossible. After 15 years working with EM I would say : I am moderately "perfect" in some very narrow TEM area. This is reason I will not be a successful candidate for that position as well as for many others.
Sergey
} Date: Mon, 11 Oct 1999 18:37:28 -0500 } From: "Nestor J. Zaluzec" {zaluzec-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} } Subject: LM,TEM,SEM Job Announcemen } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Sergey Ryazantsev Ph. D. UCLA School of Medicine Department of Biological Chemistry Box 951737 Los Angeles, CA 90095-1737
} Email: jekstrom-at-mediaone.net } Name: James Ekstrom } School: Phillips Exeter Academy } } Question: I have an microscope objective lens that reads MEOPTA or MEOPLA, } it is hard to distinguish. } Do you know anything about the manufacturer/location of this objective. } { http://www.meopta.cz/products/ is a good bet Gordon
Gordon Couger gcouger-at-couger.com
Stillwater, OK 405 624-2855 GMT -6:00 www.couger.com/gcouger
It's possible to vary the hardness of epoxies by varying the composition. I would have thought that any low viscosity system would have been fine. When I did this, I used Lowicryl - gave good TEM images.
Alun.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 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 | +------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Reena Zalpuri wrote: =================================================== Is there anyone who has a mannual for E5400 Polaron sputter coater.I would be greatful to you if you could fax a copy.Also I need to find cheaper place to buy coating target source. =================================================== The worldwide central authority and source for these manuals for the older units of the Polaron line is the following:
VG Microtech The Birches Industrial Estate Imberhorne Lane East Grinstead West Sussex RH19 1UB UK Tel: #44(0)1342 327211 Fax: #44(0)1342 315074 E-mail: mwombwell-at-vgmicrotech.com Attn: Mike Wombwell, Manager
Cheaper coater targets? I don't know to what degree they are "cheaper" but at least some of the suppliers of electron microscope supplies and accessories, such as SPI Supplies, offer a full range of replacement sputter coater cathodes. There has been some past discussion on the importance of high purity. We don't know how important that is for you, however, we supply the gold as 0.99999 purity. There is also a variation in thickness in the cathodes from different sources, so in some instances a cathode is more expensive (in comparision) in absolute terms becaue one is comparing a 10 mil thickness with a 5 or even 3 mil thickness. We believe it is a better deal for the customer to have a cathode that is thicker rather than thinner because the "fabrication costs" of a thick one are not different from that of a thin one. You can reduce your costs further by taking advantage of a spent cathode recycling program and in the process, earn a discount on your new cathode purchase. The SPI recycling program is explained on our website, the address given below.
Disclaimer: SPI Supplies is a supplier of replacement cathodes for most brands of sputter coaters used in SEM laboratories and offered the first cathode recycling program in our industry.
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.spi.cc ######################## ============================================
Reena Zalpuri 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, } } Is there anyone who has a mannual for E5400 Polaron sputter coater.I would } be greatful to you if you could fax a copy.Also I need to find cheaper } place to buy coating target source. } } Thank you } } Reena Zalpuri } EM Lab } UC Berkeley } Fax 510-643-6207 } E-mail jubu-at-uclink4.berkeley.edu
Dear Reena,
Sorry we can't help you with the manual, but we do make and sell targets for sputter coaters, including the old Polarons. If you contact me direct with the type of target you want I would be happy to quote.
Thanks,
Deb Sicard -- LADD RESEARCH 13 Dorset Lane Williston, VT 05495 TEL 1-800-451-3406 (US) or 1-802-878-6711 (anywhere) FAX 1-802-878-8074 e-mail ladres-at-worldnet.att.net web site http://www.ladd.cc
I would like to find a freeware for x-ray spectrum deconvolution, the main problem being the dependance of the apparatus function of a particular Si/Li detector with the energy. Do anybody knows a such freeware. Waiting for your answer, Sincerely, Jean-Michel
Dear Fellow Microscopists, Does anyone located in the central or northern New Jersey area have a sputter coater I can use to coat some tissue culture samples I am preparing for SEM viewing? Our Polaron system is down completely. Please respond off line.
Thank you all in advance,
Maria
Maria Fazio-Zanakis Bioimaging and Molecular Histology Hoechst Marion Roussel, Inc. 1-908-231-3357 Fax: 1-908-231-3962 Email: Maria.Fazio-Zanakis-at-hmrag.com
I agree, this is a low salary even here in Dallas, where the cost of living is much lower than in Cal. I hope the employer in Indiana has someone specifically in line for the job or that the cost of living in Indiana is still lower than Dallas. I guess if your an NIH post-doc making 22-24K a year, this could look promising. However, post-docs haven't usually demonstrated excellence in so many areas of microscopy.
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } It is unbelievable: such duties for $37K?! There, at UCLA $37K is a level } of very moderate post-doc. To be equally perfect in the "light, confocal, } fluorescence, transmission, and scanning electron microscopes" just } impossible. After 15 years working with EM I would say : I am moderately } "perfect" in some very narrow TEM area. This is reason I will not be a } successful candidate for that position as well as for many others. } } Sergey } } } Date: Mon, 11 Oct 1999 18:37:28 -0500 } } From: "Nestor J. Zaluzec" {zaluzec-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} } } Subject: LM,TEM,SEM Job Announcemen } } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.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 } } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } } } Direct all inquiries to the address below. } } } } Nestor } } } } ------------------------------------------------ } } } } } } } } From: Rhea Freeman {freemanr-at-bio.indiana.edu} } } } } Subject: LM,TEM,SEM Job Announcement } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } JOB ANNOUNCEMENT } } } **************** } } } The Indiana Molecular Biology Institute at Indiana University is seeking a } } } Ph.D level scientist with demonstrated excellence in microscopy to direct } } } the Molecular Biology Microscopy Facilities, which include light, confocal } } } fluorescence, transmission, and scanning electron microscopes. The } } } position includes overall management of the facilities, user training, and } } } user supervision. We seek a candidate who will be an active participant } } } with Institute faculty in the development of our microscopy capabilities } } } and training programs. In addition, pursuit of independent and } } } collaborative research will be strongly encouraged. Salary: $37,000. } } } } } } Candidates should send a resume and have three letters of reference } } } sent to Dr. Rudolf A. Raff, Director, Indiana Molecular Biology Institute } } } Indiana University, Jordan Hall, 1001 E. Third St., Bloomington, } } } IN 47405. Deadline for application: Nov. 1, 1999. Indiana University } is an } } } Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. } } } } } } Additional information is available at } } } http://www.bio.indiana.edu/research/imcb/MFM_Ad.html } } } } } } -------------------------------------------------------------------------- } ----- } } } } } } Rhea Freeman Ph. 812-855-4183 } } } Administrative Assistant Fax 812-855-6082 } } } Indiana Molecular Biology Institute } } } Jordan Hall 322A } } } Indiana University } } } Bloomington, IN 47405 } } } } } } } } } } } } _________________________________ } } Sergey Ryazantsev Ph. D. } UCLA School of Medicine } Department of Biological Chemistry } Box 951737 } Los Angeles, CA 90095-1737 } } Phone: (310) 825-1144 } FAX (departmental): (310) 206-5272 } mailto:sryazant-at-ucla.edu } http://www.bol.ucla.edu/~sryazant } } } }
Hi everyone, I am looking for a good brand of 1 micron paste to grind TEM sample using Gatan Precision Dimpler. I have used such paste from Buehler, but there is no contact information at hand. Buehler doesn't have a web page at www.buehler.com. Any information in this regard will be appreciated.
Don't forget the cost of living difference between UCLA and Indiana University. Los Angeles is among the top 3 most expensive areas to live in this country, (it is more expensive than Boston by 2-5%). Salaries are generally adjusted to support a standard of living within a community. There exist many many companies that monitor and document Cost of Living in the US and around the world so national and global companies can adjust salaries for employees that get moved around the states and the world.
-geoff
PS It does seem kinda low . . . but then I have heard of tenure track faculty positions that start in the low $40K/year.
Sergey Ryazantsev 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } It is unbelievable: such duties for $37K?! There, at UCLA $37K is a level } of very moderate post-doc. To be equally perfect in the "light, confocal, } fluorescence, transmission, and scanning electron microscopes" just } impossible. After 15 years working with EM I would say : I am moderately } "perfect" in some very narrow TEM area. This is reason I will not be a } successful candidate for that position as well as for many others. } } Sergey } } } } } } JOB ANNOUNCEMENT } } } **************** } } } The Indiana Molecular Biology Institute at Indiana University is seeking a } } } Ph.D level scientist with demonstrated excellence in microscopy to direct } } } the Molecular Biology Microscopy Facilities, which include light, confocal } } } fluorescence, transmission, and scanning electron microscopes. The } } } position includes overall management of the facilities, user training, and } } } user supervision. We seek a candidate who will be an active participant } } } with Institute faculty in the development of our microscopy capabilities } } } and training programs. In addition, pursuit of independent and } } } collaborative research will be strongly encouraged. Salary: $37,000. } } }
} --
Geoff Williams
Electron Microscope Facility Supervisor Biology Department Brooks Hall Central Michigan University Mt. Pleasant, MI 48859
We offer some very high quality (yet reasonably priced) polycrystalline diamond paste that is ideal for use in dimpling. We offer the paste in 1=
micron as well as many other micron sizes. We also offer MicroDi Diamond=
Suspension which is made with the same polycrytalline diamond and is ofte= n used for dimpling and other EM applications. To order, you can call 800-728-2233.
} } } } } 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 Wentao Qin } ------------------------------------------------------------------------=
The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America =
Hi everyone, I am looking for a good brand of 1 micron paste to grind TEM sample using Gatan Precision Dimpler. I have used such paste from Buehler= , but there is no contact information at hand. Buehler doesn't have a web page at www.buehler.com. Any information in this regard will be appreciated.
This has been an interesting thread. However, I have one gripe. It is not a particular software product which is giving good results with underexposed negatives, but an algorithm which this software uses. It would be nice to bring the discussion to this level.
The problem of making information from a negative visible under challenging circumstances boils down to a rescaling of the pixel values by some function, plus truncations. In addition, filters may be used, which have a more complex dependence than simply the initial value of a given pixel, for instance using its neighboring pixel values. I suspect the good results with Lucis rely on a combination of rescaling and filtering. But does anyone know what Lucis actually does? If not, one might argue that that is bad science: using a black box without knowing what it is doing very often comes back to haunt you. If yes, then it can in principle be done using any software which allows sufficiently low-level processing. I'm not knocking Lucis, but this is supposed to be a scientific forum.
Wharton
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Argonne National Laboratory West P. O. Box 2528 Idaho Falls, ID 83403 Tel: (208) 533-7724 FAX: (208) 533-7863
mailto:wharton.sinkler-at-anlw.anl.gov
} } } } } } } } Wow! Get a hold of this software and try it. They have a demo version } } } } that does all the functions and times out after a couple of } } months. This is } } } } pretty awesome software. From what I can see, it will pull out detail from } } } } underexposed negs. To the eye, the negs look underexposed but to the } } } } Lucis software there is information there. The better the } } scanning function } } } } to digitize the neg the better the results will be. } } } } } } } } I'm working with a demo version of Lucis right now and I am becoming more } } } } and more impressed each day. } } } } } } } } gary g. } } } } } } } } } } } } } X-Sender: mme-at-mail.map.com } } } } } X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Pro Version 3.0.3 (32) } } } } } Date: Wed, 06 Oct 1999 11:49:18 -0400 } } } } } To: Donald Delaney {delaneyd-at-mcw.edu} , microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } } } } } From: Barbara Foster {mme-at-map.com} } } } } } Subject: Re: Photoshop Negative Processing } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } Don, } } } } } } } } } } There is some new software, called "Lucis" which is really great for this } } } } } purpose. Suggest that you give them a shout at Image Content } } Technologies, } } } } } 860-223-4710 or wwww.imagecontent.com. Ron Lund is VP sales. } } } } } } } } } } Hope this is helpful. } } } } } } } } } } Best regards, } } } } } Barbara Foster } } } } } Consortium President } } } } } Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater } } } } } productivity. } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } I have some negatives taken on the TEM which developed } } extremely light. I } } } } } } was wondering if anyone knows any tricks on photoshop for } } generating good } } } } } } quality prints. I typically adjust the levels and condense } } the size of the } } } } } } picture, but I am still not completely happy about the quality of the } } } } } prints. } } } } } } } } } } } } Don Delaney } } } } } } } } } } } } 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 65211-7400 } } } (573)-882-4712 (voice) } } } (573)-882-0123 (fax) } } 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 65211-7400 } (573)-882-4712 (voice) } (573)-882-0123 (fax)
} I am looking for a good brand of 1 micron paste to grind TEM } sample using Gatan Precision Dimpler. I have used such paste from Buehler, } but there is no contact information at hand. Buehler doesn't have a web } page at www.buehler.com. Any information in this regard will be } appreciated.
Dear Reena, I cannot help you with the manual, but a cheaper source for the target source is: Refining Systems Inc. Abe Dayani PO Box 72466 Las Vegas, NV phone: 702-368-0579 fax: 702-368-0933 You must supply the exact specifications and size, then he will sell you the target at close to the precious metal price.
At 12:44 PM 10/12/99 -0700, you wrote:
} Hi, } } Is there anyone who has a mannual for E5400 Polaron sputter coater.I would } be greatful to you if you could fax a copy.Also I need to find cheaper } place to buy coating target source. } } Thank you } } Reena Zalpuri } EM Lab } UC Berkeley } Fax 510-643-6207 } E-mail jubu-at-uclink4.berkeley.edu
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 e-mail: mager-at-interchg.ubc.ca
The biogeochemistry lab here at Portland State University is in need of a Trimming holder for a Sorval MT-2 Ultra-Microtome. If anyone has a spare holder I would appreciate hearing from you. Direct email to stackc-at-pdx.edu.
Carol Stack Research Assistant -- Department of Geology Portland State University stackc-at-pdx.edu 503.524.8651
I am currently researching new (over the last 10 years) techniques for analyzing fibers with Scanning Electron Microscopy and am having difficulty locating current research/techniques in this area. Any information you could pass on would be extremely helpful. Thanks in advance for your time. Sincerely, David McGregor drmcgreg-at-eos.ncsu.edu
For comparisons on cost of living between locations in the US, check out... http://www.datamasters.com/cgi-bin/col.pl
They report that a person earning 100K in Los Angeles (I know the parties aren't making that much, it's just easier to do percents) will need to earn 85K in South Bend, Indiana to enjoy the same standard of living. Not as big a difference as I thought.
Ron Anderson, IBM, Hopewell Jct., New York, USA. anderron-at-us.ibm.com
IBM Analytical Services; http://www.chips.ibm.com/services/asg
I like to use a polycrystalline diamond paste instead of the monocrystalline diamond paste. It is more aggressive intially and then breaks down to a smoother size during use. I also prefer the water based stuff instead of the oil based. For dimpling, I use the paste and a one micron suspension slurry as the carrier. They also have smaller size suspension. It works well and it all washes off with water easily.
Wendt Dunnington is my supplier. Phone number is (610) 495-2850 and FAX is (610) 495-2865. You can get a catalog from them.
-Scott
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Glass Technology Center 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)
---------- } From: Wentao Qin To: microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
Hi everyone, I am looking for a good brand of 1 micron paste to grind TEM sample using Gatan Precision Dimpler. I have used such paste from Buehler, but there is no contact information at hand. Buehler doesn't have a web page at www.buehler.com. Any information in this regard will be appreciated.
We are just getting started on a project to create a CD ROM with multimedia material to support teaching of SEM, TEM and XRD both for undergrad and graduate students. I would appreciate any advice on publicly available simulation software that could be integrated into the material to provide some interactive bits and pieces.
Does anyone out there have an Evex Analytical VIDX EDS system or a PGT Avalon 8000 EDS system? Could you tell me what you think about the equipment, costumer support, software etc? Is the system user friendly?
If you'd like to tell me directly email me at rgriffin-at-eng.uab.edu
This salary issue is what is sending me out of this field. It is incredulous to think that after 13 years experience in a somewhat high-tech field (microscopy, TEM, SEM, confocal, etc.) it is more lucrative to make ice at the D.U. ice arena, or espresso at Starbucks, than it is to do research in the field of neurobiology. I certainly hope that one day there will be salaries available to allow microscopists to feed their families, pay their mortgage, and live comfortably amongst their neighbors. -Mike Rock my (I wish I had) 2 cents worth
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I first used Kodak CDs about 1 1/2 years ago but switched to the Mitsui brand because at that time Mitsui was making Kodak's gold disks (Mitsui invented the gold formula). There were problems with some CD-R drives due to different disc refectivity and laser beam intensity but as was indicated by Richard E. Edelmann a flashBIOS upgrade usually fixes this problem. I have made hundreds of successful burns with my Yamaha 426 (Smart and Friendly was also using Yamaha drives) and Plextor 412c drives running the most recent flashBIOS upgrades writing to Mitsui gold or silver on gold discs. TDK is another reliable brand and Taiyo discs have a very good reputation but are only available in bulk on spindles. Whatever disks you use keep them cool and dark! A recent pro audio magazine article recommended wrapping the CD-R jewel box with aluminum foil for safest storage.
Phil Oshel wrote: } } } I was just recently told that Kodak made a change in the dye used in their } blank CDs for making CD-ROMs, and that this change is causing compatibility } problems with some CD burners. } } Has anyone experienced this problem? What brands of blank CDs are folks } using these days for burning archival CDs? Note, I'm referring to CD-ROMs } only *not* CD-RWs and the like. Nor DVDs. } } Thanks! } } Phil
James S. Romanow The University of Connecticut Physiology and Neurobiology Department Electron Microscopy Facility U-131 Storrs, CT 06269-2131 bsgphy3-at-uconnvm.uconn.edu 860 486-2914 voice 860 486-1936 fax
I ordered my Kodak Infoguard CD-Rs from Computability (.com) at a cost of -at-261 / 200 disks (4 spindle case).
I am trying to locate my order data for the Tyvek envelops (opps!). I do remember that I had to go to the manufacturer even though Staples and Office Max - like stores were listed as distributors. When I called them, I could envision the blank stare from the verbal response... Obtained the location of the mfgr from DuPont Tyvek product support. Will pass along more details if/when I find my PO copy.
Where did you purchase the spindle packed Kodak CDR blanks and how much did you pay?
Also, the tyvek envelopes would be of intrest to me.
Thanks for posting this information. It's just what I have been looking for.
John
} On July 21, I purchased 200 spindle packed, unbranded Kodak gold/gold CD-R } blanks. FWIW, One S/N in the series is 9072 3101 2254. Don't know how to } "read" any date... FYI, since I bought spindle packs ( {$), and to better } fit in } (real) file drawers, I found a supplier of tyvek CD envelops. $75 per 1000 } windowless envelopes w/flap sure beat the "crystal" price and adds no bulk.
#################################################################### John J. Bozzola, Ph.D., Director Micro-Imaging and Analysis Center 750 Communications Drive - MC 4402 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 ####################################################################
by mailserv.waikato.ac.nz (8.9.3/8.9.0) with SMTP id KAA92380 for {Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com} ; Thu, 14 Oct 1999 10:22:30 +1300 Message-Id: {3.0.6.32.19991014101436.0091c510-at-mailserv.waikato.ac.nz} X-Sender: aharris-at-mailserv.waikato.ac.nz X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Light Version 3.0.6 (32)
Our Kevex Delta Plus X-ray analyser has stopped doing dot-maps and is displaying a distorted image in image capture mode (Advanced Imaging). While I would like to purchase a PC-based platform funding makes that unlikely in the forseeable future. Is there anyone out there who has upgraded and has a functional Kevex Delta Plus analyser looking for a home?
Karin, The high-resolution TEM image simulation software TEMPaS (Transmission Electron Microscope Processing and Simulation) that I wrote for the National Center for Electron Microscopy has now been ported to various platforms (Sun, IBM, SGI) under the name of NCEMSS. X-window implementations are available for download from the NCEM at http://ncem.lbl.gov/frames/software.htm -Mike O'Keefe
Karin Pruessner 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 just getting started on a project to create a CD ROM with multimedia } material to support teaching of SEM, TEM and XRD both for undergrad and } graduate students. I would appreciate any advice on publicly available } simulation software that could be integrated into the material to provide } some interactive bits and pieces. } } ***************************************************************************** } } Karin Pruessner } Institut fuer Werkstofftechnik } University of Siegen } Paul-Bonatz-Str. 9-11 } D-57068 Siegen } Germany } } Ph: ++49 271 740-2184 } Fax: ++49 271 740-2545 } e: pruessner-at-ifwt.maschinenbau.uni-siegen.de
I agree - and I've just got the demo, looks very interesting. At first glance, particularly for colour, which was an unexpected bonus. Does anybody know what the relationship of the Lucis algorithms are to the ("contrast hysteresis"??) method K-R Peters used a good few years ago..and does anybody have a ref to that website? That method, which at least partly depended on extra hardware processing I think(might well be wrong!) was taken up by JEOL as PIXIE, I think.
This has been an interesting thread. However, I have one gripe. It is not a particular software product which is giving good results with underexposed negatives, but an algorithm which this software uses. It would be nice to bring the discussion to this level.
The problem of making information from a negative visible under challenging circumstances boils down to a rescaling of the pixel values by some function, plus truncations. In addition, filters may be used, which have a more complex dependence than simply the initial value of a given pixel, for instance using its neighboring pixel values. I suspect the good results with Lucis rely on a combination of rescaling and filtering. But does anyone know what Lucis actually does? If not, one might argue that that is bad science: using a black box without knowing what it is doing very often comes back to haunt you. If yes, then it can in principle be done using any software which allows sufficiently low-level processing. I'm not knocking Lucis, but this is supposed to be a scientific forum.
Wharton
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Argonne National Laboratory West P. O. Box 2528 Idaho Falls, ID 83403 Tel: (208) 533-7724 FAX: (208) 533-7863
mailto:wharton.sinkler-at-anlw.anl.gov
} } } } } } } } Wow! Get a hold of this software and try it. They have a demo version } } } } that does all the functions and times out after a couple of } } months. This is } } } } pretty awesome software. From what I can see, it will pull out detail from } } } } underexposed negs. To the eye, the negs look underexposed but to the } } } } Lucis software there is information there. The better the } } scanning function } } } } to digitize the neg the better the results will be. } } } } } } } } I'm working with a demo version of Lucis right now and I am becoming more } } } } and more impressed each day. } } } } } } } } gary g. } } } } } } } } } } } } } X-Sender: mme-at-mail.map.com } } } } } X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Pro Version 3.0.3 (32) } } } } } Date: Wed, 06 Oct 1999 11:49:18 -0400 } } } } } To: Donald Delaney {delaneyd-at-mcw.edu} , microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } } } } } From: Barbara Foster {mme-at-map.com} } } } } } Subject: Re: Photoshop Negative Processing } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } Don, } } } } } } } } } } There is some new software, called "Lucis" which is really great for this } } } } } purpose. Suggest that you give them a shout at Image Content } } Technologies, } } } } } 860-223-4710 or wwww.imagecontent.com. Ron Lund is VP sales. } } } } } } } } } } Hope this is helpful. } } } } } } } } } } Best regards, } } } } } Barbara Foster } } } } } Consortium President } } } } } Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater } } } } } productivity. } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } I have some negatives taken on the TEM which developed } } extremely light. I } } } } } } was wondering if anyone knows any tricks on photoshop for } } generating good } } } } } } quality prints. I typically adjust the levels and condense } } the size of the } } } } } } picture, but I am still not completely happy about the quality of the } } } } } prints. } } } } } } } } } } } } Don Delaney } } } } } } } } } } } } 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 65211-7400 } } } (573)-882-4712 (voice) } } } (573)-882-0123 (fax) } } 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 65211-7400 } (573)-882-4712 (voice) } (573)-882-0123 (fax)
Dr Sally Stowe, Facility Coordinator Australian National University EM Unit Research School of Biological Sciences Box 475, ACT 2601, Canberra, Australia FAX 06 (0)2 6279 8525 http://www.anu.edu.au/EMU/home.htm
The Lawrence Hall of Science, the (nonprofit) publisher of Project MICRO's "Microscopic Explorations" middle school manual, needs micrographs for another project. The LHS is a first-rank developer of teaching materials; you can be sure that anything that you contribute will be used well. Please contact Sue Boudreau at the LHS directly: suebdoo-at-uclink4.berkeley.edu.
} "The Science Education for Public Understanding Program is developing an } activity on classification of microscopic organisms in our 7th grade life } science course. We are looking for images from the kingdoms of life, to put } on picture cards for students to sort. Each card will have two different } micrographs of the same species. } } We would like 3 representatives from each kingdom of life: plants, animals, } protists, prokaryotes/bacteria, fungi. For each, we would like ideally, } both a transmission (light or electron) and a scanning electron micrograph } (if appropriate). We are looking for examples of pathogens as well as non } pathogenic species. } } TIF images at a good publication resolution would be our preference but } JPEG } would be fine too. We would love to hear from you if you have any } images to } share with us."
Caroline Schooley Project MICRO 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/PMHomePage.html Intertidal invertebrates: http://www.fortbragg.k12.ca.us/AG/PCI/pci.html
Someone has contacted me regarding having TEM done to assist in the diagnosis of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (an inherited disease involving collagen).
Does anyone know of an EM lab capable of doing this work? This would involve sectioning and TEM diagnosis by a pathologist.
Thank you,
John
#################################################################### John J. Bozzola, Ph.D., Director Micro-Imaging and Analysis Center 750 Communications Drive - MC 4402 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 ####################################################################
You might be able to find information at at FEI Company / Philips = website ( http://www.feic.com {http://www.feic.com} ), since they have an FEG-SEM = XL series.
Ms Tang Ee Koon, Catherine Tel: 874 3216 Fax: 776 4971
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Speaking of sputter coaters, could anyone help with an old Hummer (II or = III, I think)?
I am looking for someone to come in, check it out and make it work. It = switches on, the pump makes a noise and actually draws vacuum. The = chamber looks as if it it under vacuum too. However, the vacuum gauge = does not move much past the first marker.
Does anyone know of a service group in Southern California that would be = willing to take a look at this old machine, I would really like to get it = working.
Best regards and many thanks,
Paul Webster, Ph.D. House Ear Institute 2100 West Third Street Los Angeles CA 90057 213 273 8026 pwebster-at-hei.org http://www.hei.org/htm/aemi.htm
(SMTPD32-5.05) id AC19233202D0; Wed, 13 Oct 1999 20:04:25 -0500 Message-ID: {00ee01bf15e0$8629b0c0$03000004-at-gordon.rfdata.net}
} Don't forget the cost of living difference between UCLA and Indiana University. } Los Angeles is among the top 3 most expensive areas to live in this country, (it } is more expensive than Boston by 2-5%). Salaries are generally adjusted to } support a standard of living within a community. There exist many many } companies that monitor and document Cost of Living in the US and around the } world so national and global companies can adjust salaries for employees that } get moved around the states and the world. } } -geoff } } PS It does seem kinda low . . . but then I have heard of tenure track faculty } positions that start in the low $40K/year. } There are tenure track positions that start below $30K. There are enough people that want a safe small town or that don't want to leave that a university that is in a small town can pay pretty low salaries for staff.
Also what they want and what they will take in experience are not necessarily the same thing. The committees I have been on usually end up taking the one they think is best even if they don't meet the qualifications. With a salary like that they probably won't get a qualified applicant. If they don't like the top applicant they offer a salary they think he won't take. And when he refuses they make an offer to the one they want.
Sometimes jobs are advertised at low salaries so that a non qualified person that they want will be the only applicant.
Politics is not a nice game but it's the only game in town.
Gordon
Gordon Couger gcouger-at-couger.com
Stillwater, OK 405 624-2855 GMT -6:00 www.couger.com/gcouger
PS It does seem kinda low . . . but then I have heard of tenure track faculty positions that start in the low $40K/year.
40K to start would be generous...
Ron,
Not to bust on Hoosiers, because Bobby Knight is the man, but comparing Los Angeles to South Bend, Indiana to enjoy the same standard of living with a number-cruncher program does not take into account any quality of life in these incongruent regions. Having driven through IN when I existed in KY (all bets are off there as no comparisons apply) SB and LA are worlds apart. Things like personal value sets and what kind of life someone (and their family) want to live are all more relevant than any small percentage difference that is calculated.
(I know the parties aren't making that much, it's just easier to do percents) will need to earn 85K inNot as big a difference as I thought.
This is the crux of the matter- the parties aren't making that much, peanuts, really when all is considered, so I think Mike Rock has hit the bullseye on this one. The oversupply of qualified EM and other technical people, produced by the education industry worldwide, has caused a glut in supply and our wages as a result suffer. When fewer and fewer people can be forced to do more and more, the cycle will continue.
Laura
********************************************** Laura S. Rhoads US Distributor- AM-Toffeln
L. S. Rhoads P. O. Box 554 Johnson City, NY 13790-0554
} This has been an interesting thread. However, I have one gripe. It is not } a particular software product which is giving good results with underexposed } negatives, but an algorithm which this software uses. It would be nice to } bring the discussion to this level.
you can. Ask them for their document that describes the algorithm in detail.
} The problem of making information from a negative visible under challenging } circumstances boils down to a rescaling of the pixel values by some } function, plus truncations. In addition, filters may be used, which have a } more complex dependence than simply the initial value of a given pixel, for } instance using its neighboring pixel values. I suspect the good results } with Lucis rely on a combination of rescaling and filtering. But does } anyone know what Lucis actually does? If not, one might argue that that is } bad science: using a black box without knowing what it is doing very often } comes back to haunt you. If yes, then it can in principle be done using any } software which allows sufficiently low-level processing. I'm not knocking } Lucis, but this is supposed to be a scientific forum.
Again, what Lucis does is explained in their algorithm document.
What is interesting is that what our eye sees is not always what is the total of what is in the media. This contradicts my photographic history. If the data is not in the media, it cannot be printed. This is mostly true. But by digitizing the negative and processing through Lucis or Soft-Imaging DCE, the otherwise invisible information becomes visible. This process is quite remarkable and valuable for many purposes and applications. The stereotypes and norms of the past are replaced by new technology and techniques. This is progress.
A scientific forum is one thing. But remember that what we "see" is qualitative. The point is that Lucis and DCE make images "look" good. Besides, we are not actually looking at a specimen anyway. We are looking at the effects of electron or light beams hitting and reflecting from the subject. And then there is always the Heisenberg uncertainty principle to consider.
My point is still that this software does image processing that heretofore was not possible. This is also true for Soft-Imaging's Analysis. If one dismisses the advances in computer-based signal processing, I think that is a big mistake.
} } The problem of making information from a negative visible under challenging } circumstances boils down to a rescaling of the pixel values by some } function, plus truncations. In addition, filters may be used, which have a } more complex dependence than simply the initial value of a given pixel, for } instance using its neighboring pixel values. I suspect the good results } with Lucis rely on a combination of rescaling and filtering. But does } anyone know what Lucis actually does? If not, one might argue that that is } bad science: using a black box without knowing what it is doing very often } comes back to haunt you. If yes, then it can in principle be done using any } software which allows sufficiently low-level processing. I'm not knocking } Lucis, but this is supposed to be a scientific forum. } ================= If it is patented it should be available. My quick search brought up 10,000 patents so the patent number would be a help.
I did some analysis of stream flow from x,y,z data. My method worked fine with data scanned from real plots but if I used map data I had a problem with big flat areas. The flat areas would be the same as underexposed negatives.
While I never did it, I thought that if I defined the outline of the flat area expanded the depth of the image and for every point in the flat area calculate the value base on the distance from each point upper and lower contours. Weighting the contribution of each point on the upper and lower contour lines by the inverse square of the distance between the point in question and each point on the two contour lines. This was in 286 days and I was having to page my array to disk It was also recursive so memory was a problem. so it was not practical at the time.
You should be able to extrapolate this method one step below the lowest density by using the next contour step at the centroid of the contour and using the same method. It would look funny if the contour wasn't closed.
Gordon
Gordon Couger gcouger-at-couger.com
Stillwater, OK 405 624-2855 GMT -6:00 www.couger.com/gcouger
Gordon
Gordon Couger gcouger-at-couger.com
Stillwater, OK 405 624-2855 GMT -6:00 www.couger.com/gcouger
{color} {param} 0100,0100,0100 {/param} Thanks to those who responed to my question. Below is the answer I received from EDAX. Hopefully a software upgrade on my XL30 will solve the problem. I'll report back if it doesn't!
Regards
Dave
{italic} Dave,
The BSE problem that you describe is a problem with all XLs that have the
"TV/4" scan generator (very fast scan speeds that are not TV rate) and XL
software version 5.5 and earlier. Version 5.6 takes care of this in our
experience here at EDAX. We are well aware of this problem (Oxford is as
welll) but I am sure you can find many people in our organization who do
not know about this issue. The fix required in our software (and probably
in the Oxford software) is to specify a bandwidth filter setting,
otherwise it is possible the image will appear noisier than necessary or
that the edges in the image might appear smeared.
Best regards,
Bob Anderhalt
EDAX Applications Lab Manager
{nofill}
Dave Phelan EM/X-Ray Unit University of Newcastle NSW 2308 AUSTRALIA Ph 02 4921 5667 Fax 02 4921 7019 emudp-at-mail.newcastle.edu.au
is there anyone out there who has tried to do postembedding labelling with samples treated with ruthenium-red before embedding. Does ruthenium-red alter the antigenicity of proteins as osmium does?
Ruthenium-red is used to keep the glycocalyx of pathogenic bacteria during the embedding procedure. Since we have no cryo-sectioning facility, does someone know how to retain the bacterial glycocalyx for further labelling studies. Thanks. Manfred
Yesterday I was trying Lucis-demo on my negatives. My negatives are dark-field images of the DNA-protein complexes with NanoGold. images is very weak and has a low contrast (except bright dot of the NG). Usually I am using Photoshop to enhance the contrast (+80-85 in Photoshop's units) and adjust gamma. The problem with these negatives is that the density of DNA much less than protein core. Adjusted conditions for DNA you send protein core out of linear part of gay-scale. Adjusting to see protein - you make DNA practically invisible. So, this is typical situation when your media do not reproduce all dynamic range of grays of the image. Usually playing with Photoshop I found some "intermediate" solution which barely acceptable. I decide such "hard" case is a very good test for Lucis. I scanned my negative as "positive transparency" in 16 bit Gray-scale mode at 1200 dpi and save it as a "tiff", then I loaded it in Lucis. Lucis-es interface itself is very simply and friendly: you have to select some particular area and play with "small"- and "big cursor" parameters (in my case the range was from 1 to 32000-something) in "pre-view" mode. When you find the best value for "small"- and "big cursor", you have a choice to apply that value to whole picture. The calculations for whole picture took all computer resources. For my picture of 50 Mb it takes 10-20 sec (double Pentium 2, 450 MHz, 486 Mb RAM). Lucis decreases the levels of gray from 16 to 8 bit. I tried approximately 100 combination for "small"- and "big cursor" value (from 1 to 32000+). The background becomes definitely smooth after the Lucis, but I did not find optimal conditions to enhance image quality. All Lucis generated images were in the frame of the Photoshop's ability and do not show more/better details at least in my hands. The conclusion is: if something on the original picture is poorly visible or has low contrast, after Lucis treatment it is poorly visible too. This conclusion based only on my very limited experience with Lucis. May be for another application this software will work better. I am sorry, Lucis.
And I am, also, impressed by price. The program has very limited set of functions. You are not able even crop the picture to speed the calculation. In my point of view even "discount price" of 1000+something$$ are not reasonable. This program may be useful in some very special case which cover, may be only 0.1% of EM needs.
Sincerely yours,
_________________________________
Sergey Ryazantsev Ph. D. UCLA School of Medicine Department of Biological Chemistry Box 951737 Los Angeles, CA 90095-1737
"I am also very impressed by the filter function DCE (differential contrast enhancement) that the German software called "analySIS" has included. It also does much more than a simple "contrast/brightness" or even "gamma" adjustment. And it's also working fantastic with color images! A sample can be viewed on their website www.soft-imaging.de ...."
Kind regards!
Martin Bartels AG Plant Ecology C.v.O. University Oldenburg email: bartels-at-uni-oldenburg.de tel. (+49)441 798-3436
Let us refer to the "coupler" as "the stuff the cell is in." It is unclear from your message whether you are dealing with a mounted, under a cover glass, or just on the slide cell. Mounting medium, as opposed to the oil used with oil lenses, are two different things.
} From BIOLOGICAL MICROTECHNIQUE by J. B. Sanderson from the Royal Microscopy Handbook Series.
"Mounting media differ according to whether they are used to mount stained or unstained tissues. In the former case, it is important that the medium has a RI as close to that of glass as possible so that the detail demonstrated by the stain can be seen clearly without interference. Where the specimen of tissue is unstained, the RI of the mounting medium should differ from that of the tissue as much as possible. In this way the medium is used to enhance the tissue detail that would otherwise be lost."
You are looking at difference. When the RI is the same as the tissue it basically becomes invisible, and you can't get much less contrast than that. AS the RI of the "stuff the cell is in" moves away from the cells, either up or down, the contrast increases. Loss of detail and contrast are not the same thing. You might be mixing the two up.
I hope this helps.
Shalom from Jerusalem, Azriel Gorski
At 08:53 13-10-99 -0500, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
azrielg-at-cc.huji.ac.il ICQ User ID No. - 1750739
CHOICE - The enchanted blade, with an edge that shapes lifetimes. Richard Bach RUNNING FROM SAFETY
A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart, and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words. +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
It is my understanding that the Lucis software is the commercialization of the "Differential Hysteresis" software developed by Klaus-Ruediger Peters at the University of Connecticut. Klaus has presented talks on this at MSA meetings in previous years. A website describing this work is: http://www.cbit.uchc.edu/indiv/software_docs/dhp.html
Klaus's original software was extremely processing-intensive. When first written, it required something like a Silicon Graphics workstation. As I understand the algorithm, it revolves a series of vectors through each pixel in the image. Searching out along each of these vectors, the intensity values are compared with a pair of bracketed thresholds that are changed in kind of quantum steps. It is a quite sophisticated algorithm and I have been impressed with the demonstrations I have seen. I have always been impressed with Klaus's grasp of the theoretical aspects of imaging and my perception is that this really is a new and novel algorithm.
My understanding is that the Lucis software has been refined to permit its use on a PC. The demonstrations I have seen were reasonably fast -- much faster than I would have expected from my first exposure to the algorithm.
We had this idea that it would be very convenient to use the SEM just to have a quick look at sections on the grid - in the long run as a tool for observing the result of the immuno gold labelling (in addition to the TEM.)
As a trial we used osmicated but not uranylacetate/lead citrate treated sections (which are also immuno labelled with 10nm gold).
The grid was positioned and stuck on top of a hole drilled in a carbon rod and mounted on a stub.
Although we did not really expect to see the gold particles (because they were not silver enhanced) we were quite disappointed that neither in the backscattered electron mode nor in the secondary electron mode did we see more than a vague outline of the cells.
Is there a way to see some details of the fine structure (mitochondrias, nuclei..) in ultrathin sections in the SEM?
Your expertise is as usual highly appreciated.
Thank you very much.
Claudia
Dr. C. Hayward-Costa School of Life Sciences Kingston University Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames Surrey KT1 2EE, UK ++44(0)181 547 2000 x 2240 Email: c.hayward-at-kingston.ac.uk
Once again, I can't help but say that some of us are content with our salaries, paying mortgages, and going to Disney world. You've got to consider the source. Universities don't pay high salaries unless you are a mathematician or an engineer. Science pays by knowing your professional contribution has furthered our understanding of what makes this world go round. If you want the big buck boys and girls, consider big business, where you will have to watch your back and never see your families. Oh, but you'll have a smashing house. Tracey Pepper Supervisor Bessey Microscopy Facility Iowa State University ph: 515-294-3872 fax: 515.294.1337
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I work at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. That OTHER university in Bloomington, Indiana has cost-of -living similar to ours. I can't imagine expecting a PhD level person to accept this position at the stated salary unless it was the last option. It may be appropriate for a MS level but I would assume that the individual would need to learn some of the required techniques on the job.
That's a pretty hard job description to fill at any salary but I wish them luck finding someone. I think it is great that they recognize the importance of microscopy to the degree that they have created this new position (it is new...personal communication). 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
--------------------------------------
I agree, this is a low salary even here in Dallas, where the cost of living is much lower than in Cal. I hope the employer in Indiana has someone specifically in line for the job or that the cost of living in Indiana is still lower than Dallas. I guess if your an NIH post-doc making 22-24K a year, this could look promising. However, post-docs haven't usually demonstrated excellence in so many areas of microscopy.
} } } It is unbelievable: such duties for $37K?! There, at UCLA $37K is a level } of very moderate post-doc. To be equally perfect in the "light, confocal, } fluorescence, transmission, and scanning electron microscopes" just } impossible. After 15 years working with EM I would say : I am moderately } "perfect" in some very narrow TEM area. This is reason I will not be a } successful candidate for that position as well as for many others. } } Sergey } } } Date: Mon, 11 Oct 1999 18:37:28 -0500 } } From: "Nestor J. Zaluzec" {zaluzec-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} } } Subject: LM,TEM,SEM Job Announcemen } } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } } } } ----------------------------------------------------------------------- - } } 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 } } -----------------------------------------------------------------------
by ns0.utdallas.edu (Postfix) with ESMTP id 091361A0024; Thu, 14 Oct 1999 11:03:32 -0500 (CDT) Received: from localhost (kna101-at-localhost) by apache.utdallas.edu (8.9.1/8.9.1) with SMTP id LAA23727; Thu, 14 Oct 1999 11:03:42 -0500 (CDT) X-Authentication-Warning: apache.utdallas.edu: kna101 owned process doing -bs
Dear Nelson and all,
Apparently, several people have confused my with the person offering the job. I am not that person and I have no job to offer. The offer was for a job somewhere in Indiana. My comment was that the money seemed a bit low to me for a PhD with expertice in so many areas of microscopy and who would be expected to run the lab, teach, and do independant research.
Nelson, I don't know where you are, but by your e-mail address it looks as though you are outside the US. I know many students that come here from all over the world who think they are going to have an easy time with living expences only to find out that they didn't figure in all the little things like taxes, car(a must in Dallas), all the little things that aren't covered by tuition, etc. I know people think Americans are spoiled and maybe we are, but the position offered would typically go for a fair amount more even in Dallas, where the cost of living is substantially lower than in Callifornia. They said they wanted a PhD with "expertise" in most of the microscopic techniques used in biology. This person most likely will be expected to run the lab-supervise personnel, keep the books, maintain the equipment, teach, maybe even run up sample for other investigators and do independant research. Sounds like about a 60-80 hour a week job, more when grants are due.
On Wed, 13 Oct 1999, Nelson Fava wrote:
} Dear Miss Pawlowski, } } I would like to say that I, an electron microprobe specialist, working and doing } maintenance in a CAMECA SX50 (serial #359), four WDS, one EDS, BSE, SE and X-Ray } imaging generation apparatus, during seven years, would appreciate to work in } Dallas for 30K/year. Besides, I do the same job with: X-Ray powder diffraction } equipment, Termo-Differential Analyzer, ICP-AES equipent and a MAT 250 hot } cathode mass spectrometer. } } Please find attached my resume, } } Thanks in advance, } } Sincerely, } } Nelson Fava. } } } } } Karen S Pawlowski 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 agree, this is a low salary even here in Dallas, where the cost of } } living is much lower than in Cal. I hope the employer in Indiana has } } someone specifically in line for the job or that the cost of living in } } Indiana is still lower than Dallas. I guess if your an NIH post-doc } } making 22-24K a year, this could look promising. However, post-docs } } haven't usually demonstrated excellence in so many areas of microscopy. } } } } Just my two cents. } } } } Karen Pawlowski } } Sr. Res. Assoc./UT Southwesten Med. Ctr. } } PhD Student/UT Dallas } } Dallas, TX } } } } On Tue, 12 Oct 1999, Sergey Ryazantsev 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 } } } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } } } } } } It is unbelievable: such duties for $37K?! There, at UCLA $37K is a level } } } of very moderate post-doc. To be equally perfect in the "light, confocal, } } } fluorescence, transmission, and scanning electron microscopes" just } } } impossible. After 15 years working with EM I would say : I am moderately } } } "perfect" in some very narrow TEM area. This is reason I will not be a } } } successful candidate for that position as well as for many others. } } } } } } Sergey } } } } } } } Date: Mon, 11 Oct 1999 18:37:28 -0500 } } } } From: "Nestor J. Zaluzec" {zaluzec-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} } } } } Subject: LM,TEM,SEM Job Announcemen } } } } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.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 } } } } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } } } } } } } } } Direct all inquiries to the address below. } } } } } } } } Nestor } } } } } } } } ------------------------------------------------ } } } } } } } } } } } } } } From: Rhea Freeman {freemanr-at-bio.indiana.edu} } } } } } } Subject: LM,TEM,SEM Job Announcement } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } JOB ANNOUNCEMENT } } } } } **************** } } } } } The Indiana Molecular Biology Institute at Indiana University is seeking a } } } } } Ph.D level scientist with demonstrated excellence in microscopy to direct } } } } } the Molecular Biology Microscopy Facilities, which include light, confocal } } } } } fluorescence, transmission, and scanning electron microscopes. The } } } } } position includes overall management of the facilities, user training, and } } } } } user supervision. We seek a candidate who will be an active participant } } } } } with Institute faculty in the development of our microscopy capabilities } } } } } and training programs. In addition, pursuit of independent and } } } } } collaborative research will be strongly encouraged. Salary: $37,000. } } } } } } } } } } Candidates should send a resume and have three letters of reference } } } } } sent to Dr. Rudolf A. Raff, Director, Indiana Molecular Biology Institute } } } } } Indiana University, Jordan Hall, 1001 E. Third St., Bloomington, } } } } } IN 47405. Deadline for application: Nov. 1, 1999. Indiana University } } } is an } } } } } Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. } } } } } } } } } } Additional information is available at } } } } } http://www.bio.indiana.edu/research/imcb/MFM_Ad.html } } } } } } } } } } -------------------------------------------------------------------------- } } } ----- } } } } } } } } } } Rhea Freeman Ph. 812-855-4183 } } } } } Administrative Assistant Fax 812-855-6082 } } } } } Indiana Molecular Biology Institute } } } } } Jordan Hall 322A } } } } } Indiana University } } } } } Bloomington, IN 47405 } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } _________________________________ } } } } } } Sergey Ryazantsev Ph. D. } } } UCLA School of Medicine } } } Department of Biological Chemistry } } } Box 951737 } } } Los Angeles, CA 90095-1737 } } } } } } Phone: (310) 825-1144 } } } FAX (departmental): (310) 206-5272 } } } mailto:sryazant-at-ucla.edu } } } http://www.bol.ucla.edu/~sryazant } } } } } } } } } } } } }
Our laboratory has an Leica/Reichert MEF4 metallograph fitted with a Ludl moveable stage. The autofocus does not work with the 5x objective. Ludl tells me that this is a known problem with their stage and the MEF4 microscope and the only way to overcome this problem is by changing the image acquisition software.
Is there anyone else who has this microscope/stage combination and is experiencing similar autofocus problems? I would like to know how you solved the problem. I am currently using ImagePro Plus software, but am willing to consider other software solutions.
Hello all: I am hoping one of the list members can help with this issue. Is there a rule of thumb or more specific guidelines regarding energy delivered to living cells when imaged with a LSCM compared to a standard fluorescent microscope.
Ramin Rahbari PARKE-DAVIS Pharmaceutical Research Pathology and Experimental Toxicology 2800 Plymouth Road Ann Arbor, MI 48105 Voice (734) 622-3383 Fax (734) 622-5001 Ramin.Rahbari-at-WL.COM
Tired of expensive e-commerce software, set up fees and leasing contracts? Here is the deal: You host your site with us and you get free E-Commerce, including a merchant account, real-time software and shopping cart.
If you wish to stay with your current hosting company you still can get the same deal. Check it out first and make an informed decision. You have never seen a package deal like this before:
* Your own merchant account with one of the lowest rates in the industry * Real-Time software to accept VISA, MASTERCARD, AMEX, DISCOVER/NOVUS , DINERSCLUB/CARTE BLANCHE, JCB * Direct deposit within 48 hrs into your checking account * Shopping Cart store front software with an easy to use web based interface * Real-Time Credit Card Processing software * Virtual terminal for phone/fax/mail orders * E-mail receipts * Recurring billing feature with batch uploads * Automatic batch closing * Address verification system (AVS) * Back office to 24/7 access account history * 50 MB (megabytes) of disk space * 30 GB (gigabyte) of data transfer per month * 25 POP3 E-mail accounts * Unlimited alias E-mail addresses * Live web site statistics * Unlimited =46TP uploads * Anonymous =46TP * CGI directory for your own scripts * Site control panel * Installation included * Tech support included
All this and more when you sign up for our E-Commerce Hosting plan for ONLY $69.95 per month and a one time set up fee of $199.00. That 's right. NO ADDITIONAL SET UP =46EES or application fees for your merchant account real-time software or shopping cart storefront. A one-stop E-Commerce solution. And the best is:
NO LEASING, NO LONG TERM COMMITMENT. YOU CAN CANCEL ANYTIME.
THIS O=46=46ER IS =46OR U.S. BASED COMPANIES ONLY! PLEASE DO NOT REQUE= ST MORE IN=46ORMATION I=46 YOU ARE LOCATED OUTSIDE O=46 THE UNITED STATE= S.
Request our free E-mail information by replying to: mailto:wakll-at-enotify.com?subject=3DIN=46O_PLEASE
********************************************** Remove at mailto:yuip8-at-usa.net?subject=3Dremove **********************************************
We have had some experience using ruthenium hexammine tetroxide FOLLOWING enbloc (diffusion) labeling for EM using decorin (a small lucine-rich proteoglycan which peridically "decorates" collagen fibrils in skin and other tissues) antibody. We expected that decorin would be leached from tissue during the prolonged incubations in immunocytochemical solutions and rinses, but instead it was retained and successfully labeled. Please see Keene et al., J. Histochem. Cytochem. 46, page 215 (1998). I am not sure that this techique will work on bacteria, but it may be worth a try.
I hope this helps,
Doug ---------------------- Douglas R. Keene Shriners Hospital Microscopy Facility 3101 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Road Portland, Oregon 97201 503-221-3434 DRK-at-shcc.org
Hi everyone, Is there a protocol of beta-gal staining for vibratome cut thick section? The enzyme activity in mouse organ is always hard to detect. The blue color is in the rim of paraffin tissue sections. I'm thinking fresh unfixed 100-200 microns section will probably penetrate easier. Hope I will get some hint in some points. Thanks.
Dorothy Zhang Harvard School of public Health Building 2, CVLAB 677 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115 Phone# 617-432-6981 Fax# 617-432-2980
} It is my understanding that the Lucis software is the } commercialization} of the "Differential Hysteresis" } software developed by Klaus-Ruediger ...
More info and nice A-B comparisons can be found at:
http://www.imagecontent.com/lucis/default.htm
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/
Email: canew-at-jps.net Name: C. Newhouse School: Lowell HS
Question: I am interested in finding a text or literature on slide preparation & staining techniques (& preparation of stains including Congo red, Safranin, Chrystal Violet, etc.)
Claudia: You have re-discovered that the SEM gives largely topographic contrast and sections are flat. In backscattered mode you get atomic number contrast, but there is not enough atomic number difference within biological section. The gold, would be near the limit of resolution, certainly under these bad viewing conditions and in BS mode. You could do a little better if you looked at the block-face (with a whiff of carbon coating) and better still, if that block-face was etched.
In the case of the thin sections, matters are much worse because most of the electrons pass through - and mostly these will never contact either the 2ndary or the BS detectors. If you had a photomultiplier under the section, this would be rather like a STEM in some ways, and in that configuration you could get somewhat better imaging, but you would require about 500nm sections to get 'half-decent" results. I don't think that your present technique will yield useful results. However, you would optimize the imaging by: Use the lowest kV that still gives reasonable emission Use fairly high emission - a bit over 100 uA Spread the condenser Increase the photomultiplier (or BS) contrast until the image appears just a little grainy. Adjust brightness with that potentiometer.
Its not likely to be useful, but its a nice learning experience. Cheers Jim Darley ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes www.proscitech.com
On Thursday, October 14, 1999 10:25 PM, Claudia Hayward-Costa [SMTP:LS_S562-at-crystal.kingston.ac.uk] wrote: } } Dear List, } } We had this idea that it would be very convenient to use the SEM } just to have a quick look at sections on the grid - in the long run as } a tool for observing the result of the immuno gold labelling (in } addition to the TEM.) } } As a trial we used osmicated but not uranylacetate/lead citrate } treated sections (which are also immuno labelled with 10nm gold). } } The grid was positioned and stuck on top of a hole drilled in a } carbon rod and mounted on a stub. } } Although we did not really expect to see the gold particles } (because they were not silver enhanced) we were quite } disappointed that neither in the backscattered electron mode nor in } the secondary electron mode did we see more than a vague outline } of the cells. } } Is there a way to see some details of the fine structure } (mitochondrias, nuclei..) in ultrathin sections in the SEM? } } Your expertise is as usual highly appreciated. } } Thank you very much. } } Claudia } } Dr. C. Hayward-Costa } School of Life Sciences } Kingston University } Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames } Surrey KT1 2EE, UK } ++44(0)181 547 2000 x 2240 } Email: c.hayward-at-kingston.ac.uk }
The latest edition of "Precision" from Hitachi describes a simple method of getting "STEM" images in a SEM. If you get in touch with them I am sure they will send a copy.
Paul Ansell ( Sales Manager ) may be contacted at:-
paula-at-nissei-eu.com
Best wishes,
Colin
Colin Reid, Electron Microscope Unit, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2. Tel: 353-1-6081820 Fax: 353-1-6770438 Email: creid-at-tcd.ie http://www2.tcd.ie/Electron_Microscope/emu/home.htm
-----Original Message----- } From: Claudia Hayward-Costa [SMTP:LS_S562-at-crystal.kingston.ac.uk] Sent: Thursday, October 14, 1999 1:25 PM To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
Dear List,
We had this idea that it would be very convenient to use the SEM just to have a quick look at sections on the grid - in the long run as a tool for observing the result of the immuno gold labelling (in addition to the TEM.)
As a trial we used osmicated but not uranylacetate/lead citrate treated sections (which are also immuno labelled with 10nm gold).
The grid was positioned and stuck on top of a hole drilled in a carbon rod and mounted on a stub.
Although we did not really expect to see the gold particles (because they were not silver enhanced) we were quite disappointed that neither in the backscattered electron mode nor in the secondary electron mode did we see more than a vague outline of the cells.
Is there a way to see some details of the fine structure (mitochondrias, nuclei..) in ultrathin sections in the SEM?
Your expertise is as usual highly appreciated.
Thank you very much.
Claudia
Dr. C. Hayward-Costa School of Life Sciences Kingston University Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames Surrey KT1 2EE, UK ++44(0)181 547 2000 x 2240 Email: c.hayward-at-kingston.ac.uk
hey all, I am searching for a preparation technique for humic acids for TEM. Are there any experiences with negative staining methods? with regards wolfgang wiehe
Richards, RG & Ap Gwynn, I (1995) "Backscattered electron imaging of the undersurface of resin-embedded cells by field-emission scanning electron microscopy" J Microscopy 177 (1) 43-52.
I think they looked at blocks rather than sections.
Dave
On Thu, 14 Oct 1999 13:24:44 +0100 Claudia Hayward-Costa {LS_S562-at-crystal.kingston.ac.uk} 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 List, } } We had this idea that it would be very convenient to use the SEM } just to have a quick look at sections on the grid - in the long run as } a tool for observing the result of the immuno gold labelling (in } addition to the TEM.) } } As a trial we used osmicated but not uranylacetate/lead citrate } treated sections (which are also immuno labelled with 10nm gold). } } The grid was positioned and stuck on top of a hole drilled in a } carbon rod and mounted on a stub. } } Although we did not really expect to see the gold particles } (because they were not silver enhanced) we were quite } disappointed that neither in the backscattered electron mode nor in } the secondary electron mode did we see more than a vague outline } of the cells. } } Is there a way to see some details of the fine structure } (mitochondrias, nuclei..) in ultrathin sections in the SEM? } } Your expertise is as usual highly appreciated. } } Thank you very much. } } Claudia } } Dr. C. Hayward-Costa } School of Life Sciences } Kingston University } Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames } Surrey KT1 2EE, UK } ++44(0)181 547 2000 x 2240 } Email: c.hayward-at-kingston.ac.uk }
---------------------------------------- Patton, David Email: David.Patton-at-uwe.ac.uk "University of the West of England"
We have a digital camera Sony make , Model: MVC -FD7. We would like to use the same for taking microphotographs by attaching it to the optical microscope. Somehow we want to use this camera for taking microphotographs, we have already tried a lot but could not succeed. Could you please help/guide us on using this Sony digital (MVC-FD7) camera for taking microphotographs?.
Regards,
Girish Shejale Sr. Executive Life Extension Services. Thermax Babcock & Wilcox Limited Pune, India.
---------------------- Forwarded by Girish Shejale/TBWL on 10/15/99 08:58 AM ---------------------------
"Jeff Stewart" {jeff-at-metallography.com} on 10/14/99 04:48:50 PM
To: Girish Shejale/TBWL cc:
Thank you Tracey. My sentiments exactly.
George Lawton Chief Electron Microscopist Microscopy and Imaging Service Center UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas 5323 Harry Hines Blvd. Dallas, Tx 75235-9039 Phone: 214-648-7291 eMail: George.Lawton-at-email.swmed.edu
} } } "Tracey M. Pepper" {tpepper-at-iastate.edu} - 10/14/99 8:44 AM } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America=20
Once again, I can't help but say that some of us are content with our salaries, paying mortgages, and going to Disney world. You've got to consider the source. Universities don't pay high salaries unless you are a mathematician or an engineer. Science pays by knowing = your professional contribution has furthered our understanding of what makes = this world go round. If you want the big buck boys and girls, consider big business, where you will have to watch your back and never see your = families. Oh, but you'll have a smashing house. Tracey Pepper Supervisor Bessey Microscopy Facility Iowa State University ph: 515-294-3872 fax: 515.294.1337
We have not been able to embed Golg-Cox brain tissue in JB4. The JB4 solidifies, but the tissue within it does not. We have done it with and without polyethylene glycol. We have infiltrated the tissue with A+C for varying lengths of time. We have tried dehydrating the tissue in 100% ethanol prior to infiltration. We just purchased new JB4, so the solutions are not old. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Sorry, but I have to disagree with your assessment of working for industry. I do not have to watch my back and I see my family more than I would if working for academia because I have the money to fly to visit them. When I saw the announcement, my reaction was "tell me again why I went into industry". And salary doesn't even begin to cover the plus side of my work, who I work for, and with whom I work.
Damian Neuberger
Once again, I can't help but say that some of us are content with our salaries, paying mortgages, and going to Disney world. You've got to consider the source. Universities don't pay high salaries unless you are a mathematician or an engineer. Science pays by knowing your professional contribution has furthered our understanding of what makes this world go round. If you want the big buck boys and girls, consider big business, where you will have to watch your back and never see your families. Oh, but you'll have a smashing house. Tracey Pepper Supervisor Bessey Microscopy Facility Iowa State University ph: 515-294-3872 fax: 515.294.1337
I am looking for advice and experience from people who used SEM as an analytical tool i.e. EDS and WDX analysis of geological and metallurgical samples. We are evaluating the pros and cons of a E- probe vs SEM with EDS-WDX possibilities
Our situation : - not a high throughput - main samples types are geological and metallurgical - main uses chemical determinations
The questions are then : What are the pros and cons of using a well equiped SEM vs a E- probe? How good/bad SEM are probes ? How good/bad probe are SEM ?
Some of our understanding : - probe columns are optimized for analysis while SEM for imaging - larger current possibilities on probes - multiple spectro on probe and simultanous WDX analyses (sequetial and a SEM) - light elements ---} probe - SEM are more versatile tools - probe are more expensive$
Please answer personnally and I will post a wrap-up at the end. Thanks for your help,
..by the way, Vanderbilt needs an EM person. Although I don't know whether you would like the Southern surroundings, it is a lower pressure environment than UCSF, and there is a local art scene. Even if you arent interested, you could pass this opportunity around to anyone you know who might be qualified.
Contact directly:
Peter Kolodziej, Ph.D. 823 Light Hall Howard Hughes Medical Institute Vanderbilt University Medical Center Nashville TN 37232-0295
DOUBLE YOUR INTERNET CONNECTION SPEED FOR JUST $4! How to get FREE MS sotrfware Read on to SEE
WHAT ELSE YOU CAN GET ! FOR JUST $4
Thats right, increase your average Internet down load and up load throughput by at least 100%.
Everyone running Windows 95 or Windows 98, ALL versions and languages, may take advantage of this simple but powerful tool. Sorry Mac owners.
It works with ALL browser's and Clients, any ISP and , Yes, AOL too. No special phone lines required. No other costs, period! Indeed, if you access the Internet via long distance or pay any other 'timed' charges, you will see a noticeable reduction in those costs.
Turn your 14.4 K modem into the equivalent of a 28.8 K modem, your 28.8 K into a 56 K or make your 56 K unit blaze at ISDN speeds !
It works equally well with all modem types, models and brands. It works with any SLIP or PPP type Internet connection. If you use a 14.4 K to 56 K modem for your Internet connection: This will work for you !!!
On the average you will double your Internet speed on the Web, with e-mail, news groups, FTP and all of your other Internet data transfers. Audio and Video will come alive.
Impossible you say ! Double my Internet speed for just $4 ? No way, can't be done! Then you must be one of the few that believe Microsoft does everything perfectly ?
In their infinite wisdom, Microsoft saw fit to optimize the communications platform of their latest Operating Systems for maximum Local Area Network (LAN) performance, not the Internet.
Simply put, it all has to do with packet transfer size and fragmentation. Windows 95/98 work with a 1500 bit packet size. This is perfect for LAN use, but not so for the Intent standard of 576 bits per packet. This difference in size causes packet fragmentation, requiring the same data to be sent over and over again, until it all gets through. By resetting the packet size for optimal Internet performance you eliminate fragmentation and very noticeably increase your data throughput !
This is not new information. It just has not been widely known. Show any networking expert the above paragraph and they will confirm these facts.
Why did Microsoft set the packet size to this value ? To be fair to Microsoft, they had to set it to some value. As Windows is used extensively on LAN's also, maybe it was decided by the flip of a coin. What's important is, how can you safely and quickly change your packet size for best Internet use and, if need be, back for the LAN ?
Up until several months ago, the only way to make the necessary changes was slow, difficult and dangerous. You had to manually alter two basic files of the Windows operating system. This was not a practical or safe procedure for the average user to undertake.
About a year ago a few program utilities, that helped ease the process, became available. Until three months ago, these utilities only offered a marginal improvement over the old manual way. Now there is a clear leader among these utilities, that makes it quick, easy and safe to make these changes. Now anyone may double the speed of their Internet connection !
How to get FREE Software ! FOR JUST $4 YOU CAN GET SOFTWARE WORTH THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS !
PLUS MUCH MUCH MORE YOU WILL BE HAPPY WITH WHAT YOU WILL RECEIVE FOR JUST $4
You would spend hours to find all this information
These programs are free and you could find them on your own. After several weeks of searching, trial and error, and a few system crashes, you might know what we offer for only $4.
In just a few days you too will be enjoying this exciting new technology. Within 24 hours of receipt of your order, we'll email you all the info needed along with a special code and web site to down load the utility.
Here is what you do to ORDER the speed doubling utility and related information:
You have a few options:
1) Take a blank letter size piece of paper and clearly print the following on it:
HERE'S MY $4, SEND INTERNET X-2, (your name) (Your e-mail address)
Now wrap four one dollar bills (US) in the paper with your email address on it, put it in an envelope and mail it to:
PWM Speed PMB 182 3045 S. Archibald Ste. A Ontario, CA 91761
As I'm trying to develop a solid reputation of providing high value information at a low cost.
Send your Internet X-2 order TODAY. In a few days you will double your Internet speed !
Thank you!
=======================================
This message sent by an independent advertising company. To be taken off our list click below. mailto:more-at-netsol.com.mx?subject=take-me-off-speed
} We have not been able to embed Golg-Cox brain tissue in JB4. The JB4 } solidifies, but the tissue within it does not. We have done it with and } without polyethylene glycol. We have infiltrated the tissue with A+C } for varying lengths of time. We have tried dehydrating the tissue in } 100% ethanol prior to infiltration. We just purchased new JB4, so the } solutions are not old. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
We gave up on JB-4 for this years ago and developed a soft araldite (later soft Epon) method which has worked well.
} -geoff, } } PS It does seem kinda low . . . but then I have heard of tenure track faculty } positions that start in the low $40K/year.
40K to start would be generous...
} Ron, }
Not to bust on Hoosiers, because Bobby Knight is the man, but comparing Los Angeles to South Bend, Indiana to enjoy the same standard of living with a number-cruncher program does not take into account any quality of life in these incongruent regions. Having driven through IN when I existed in KY (all bets are off there as no comparisons apply) SB and LA are worlds apart. Things like personal value sets and what kind of life someone (and their family) want to live are all more relevant than any small percentage difference that is calculated.
} } (I know the parties aren't } making that much, it's just easier to do percents) } will need to earn 85K inNot as big a difference as I thought. }
This is the crux of the matter- the parties aren't making that much, peanuts, really when all is considered, so I think Mike Rock has hit the bullseye on this one. The oversupply of qualified EM and other technical people, produced by the education industry worldwide, has caused a glut in supply and our wages as a result suffer. When fewer and fewer people can be forced to do more and more, the cycle will continue.
Laura ********************************************** Laura S. Rhoads US Distributor- AM-Toffeln
L. S. Rhoads P. O. Box 554 Johnson City, NY 13790-0554
The standard is Dr. Freida Carson's book, the title of which just flew out of my head. It is available through the ASCP press and web sites like Amazon.com, as it is in print. All the stains you mentioned are in there, and many more. You can contact me off list for more information on the subject. I am a registered histotech, and tissue processing, slide preparation and staining are, quite literally, my life. Wanda Shotsberger Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth TX ---------- } From: "canew-at-jps.net"-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
Email: canew-at-jps.net Name: C. Newhouse School: Lowell HS
Question: I am interested in finding a text or literature on slide preparation & staining techniques (& preparation of stains including Congo red, Safranin, Chrystal Violet, etc.)
} Email: canew-at-jps.net } Name: C. Newhouse } School: Lowell HS } } Question: I am interested in finding a text or literature on } slide preparation & staining techniques } (& preparation of stains including Congo red, } Safranin, Chrystal Violet, etc.) } } ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. or Ms. Newhouse -
It isn't easy to answer your question without a bit more information. Are you writing a report about existing histological preparations, or are you considering making slides yourself? There are two books in the MICRO bibliography (URL below) that can help you:"Exploring with the Microscope" by Nachtigall, and "The Microscope on a Budget" by Stevens. And the Carolina Biological catalog lists "Laboratory Manual of Histology" by Pappas as #D8-45-5902. I haven't seen the Pappas book, but it probably has the detail that you want. But to quote Nachtigall, "I do not recommend that you make your own permanent slides, because the process is complicated, takes a long time, and the outcome is seldom what you expected." If you want to try anyway, you'll find instructions for making hand-cut hematoxylin & eosin sections of liver in Nachtigall - which will introduce you to the basic process.
If you'd like a microscopist-advisor in San Francisco, I can find you one.
Caroline Schooley Project MICRO 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/PMHomePage.html Intertidal invertebrates: http://www.fortbragg.k12.ca.us/AG/PCI/pci.html
Dorothy I have not done much beta-gal localization; but have done lots of cerium based histochemistry. I know of two things which will improve the reaction with lightly fixed tissues. 1) Use a 30 minute preincubation step in 37C water bath which includes all incubation components except the SUBSTRATE;then incubate for 30 minutes in the complete reaction medium wgich contains the SUBSTRATE; 2) include 0.0001-0.0002% Triton X-100 in both the preincubation and complete reaction medium [make a 1% solution of Triton X-100 in deionized water and add 1-2 drops of this solution to each 10 ml of reaction medium. You probably will not get improved penetration with fresh unfixed tissue unless you do a freeze-thaw and that may result in structural degradation. Ann Ellis College of Medicine/College of Veterinary Medicine University of Florida Gainesville, FL FAX (352)846-2231
A sincere thank you to all of you who took the time to send me advice, literature sources, encouragement and helpful comments. What a great place this list is!
Claudia Dr. C. Hayward-Costa School of Life Sciences Kingston University Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames Surrey KT1 2EE, UK ++44(0)181 547 2000 x 2240 Email: c.hayward-at-kingston.ac.uk
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
We demo'd the new Spot RT camera last week. It was really quite impressive. The specifications are on the web at: http://www.diaginc.com/spotrts.htm It is a supstantial improvement over the older Spot and Spot-2 cameras in that focusing is much closer to real-time and on the whole image...in B&W or color. Capture is also quite fast. There is substantial ability to control all camera features regarding exposure, gain, color balance, etc. It also is available for either MAC or PC. It is also a true 12-bit camera with resolution at 1520 x 1080 optical resolution. Actual capture speed depends on computer, video card, sample brightness, color or monochrome, and final resolution but can reach 12 frames/sec on color and 19 frames/sec for monochrome. Price ranges from about $7500 to $12500 without adapter tubes for specific microscopes and a computer. Although venders are not likely to have the camera at the moment (the company rep did our demo), they should get them soon. It is certainly worth the wait to test it out before making a purchase of another camera. I have also demo'd the CoolSnap. It is a very nice camera ..possibly the best at the lower end of the cost spectrum. (approx. $6000+ adapter tubes, etc.) 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 --------------------------------------
Message-ID: {3807243E.60B307E9-at-nki.nl}
After installation and working a lot with my new EDS systems (Imix PC) from PGT, I am now preparing publications. And - surprise, surprise, - I have found out that I cannot print good quality pictures (on high quality printer which is not connected to our network)!
The file format of stored images, RAS with overlays, cannot be read by other programs. Of course, some of them can read RAS, but overlays (with the most important information) are lost.
The only advice I've got from PGT was to capture images from the monitor. But then I will have files with much lower resolution than initial ones, and this is certainly bad for high quality printing.
All (if any) advises will be highly appreciated!!!
Vladimir M. Dusevich, Ph.D. Electron Microscope Lab Manager 3127 School of Dentistry 650 E. 25th Street Kansas City, MO 64108-2784
Aaron: The methacrylate media generally do not work well in the presence of metals. This is particularly true of osmium, and in my experience has included the silver and gold-toned stains as well. Certainly your comment about the bulk plastic polymerizing while the plastic immediately surrounding the stained neurons not polymerizing would seem to corroborate my earlier anecdotal experience. I too think that a soft epoxy (araldite is an excellent choice) would be a preferable alternative.
Roger Moretz Dept of Toxicology
} -----Original Message----- } From: Aaron R. Best [SMTP:a_best-at-ou.edu] } Sent: Friday, October 15, 1999 11:26 AM } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: LM-Embedding Golgi-Cox in JB4 } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 not been able to embed Golg-Cox brain tissue in JB4. The JB4 } solidifies, but the tissue within it does not. We have done it with and } without polyethylene glycol. We have infiltrated the tissue with A+C } for varying lengths of time. We have tried dehydrating the tissue in } 100% ethanol prior to infiltration. We just purchased new JB4, so the } solutions are not old. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Are you sure that you don't have some sort of export function available? Most units have something aavailable, but they do not always export annotations or scale bars.
What sort of pixel resolution are you using for your images? Are you sure that an image capture would not do the job? We usually run our screens at 1280 and sometimes 1600 pixels across on a 19" or larger monitor. That provides a lot of pixels for a screen capture. Remember that you can use PrtScrn to capture the entire desktop area or Alt-PrtScrn to capture just the active window to the clipboard for pasting into a word processor or an image processing application. images will get captured at the current screen resolution and color depth (i.e., 8-bit/256 color, 16-bit/64K color, or 24-bit/true color).
You don't say what kind of high quality printer you have available, so I will have to assume a few things.
First, let me suppose you are using a 1200 dpi laser printer. It take multiple printer pixels to fairly represent a single image pixel in gray scale. An array of 12x12 printer pixels could represent 144 shades of grade from an image pixel, which should be enough to appear to be continuous gray tones to the human eye. Even an 8x8 array may be adequate. That means a 1600 pixel image would need to be printed out at 16 inches wide on a 1200 dpi printer to show all pixels at continuous gray scale. (16 inches = 1600 image pixels * (12 printer pixels/1 image pixel) / 1200 printer pixels per inch) I doubt that you really want to print that large. To print smaller, you must sacrifice either gray scale depth or the number of pixels in an image.
Second, let me assume you are using a dye-sub printer at 300 dpi. In that case, each printer pixel can pretty well represent the full range of gray scale for a single image pixel. under these circumstances, a 1600 pixel image can be rendered at full resolution in 5.3 inches.
Practically, what we do is to collect our images at 1024 pixels across. We can thus get pretty close to full resolution on an 8-1/2 x 11-inch page. If we need to zoom in on some areas of interest, we simply do so with the microscope and take additional images.
Now, if you cannot capture 1024-pixel images from your monitor, I suggest it is time to upgrade your video card and monitor to be able to display 1280 pixels across. Good video cards are available for well under $100. A 19-inch monitor can be had for well under $1000. If your PC conforms to standards, it should be a small matter to make the upgrade.
Hope this helps.
Warren S.
At 10:34 AM 10/18/1999 -0500, you wrote: } } After installation and working a lot with my new EDS systems (Imix PC) } from PGT, I am now preparing publications. And - surprise, surprise, - } I have found out that I cannot print good quality pictures (on } high quality printer which is not connected to our network)! } } The file format of stored images, RAS with overlays, cannot be read by } other programs. Of course, some of them can read RAS, but overlays } (with the most important information) are lost. } } The only advice I've got from PGT was to capture images from the monitor. } But then I will have files with much lower resolution than initial ones, } and this is certainly bad for high quality printing. } } All (if any) advises will be highly appreciated!!! } } Vladimir M. Dusevich, Ph.D. } Electron Microscope Lab Manager
There isn't any need to reply to this message to be removed from our mailing list. This is a 1 time mailing, you will not be contacted again. Thank You for your patience.
Sewing Discounters of America is an authorized sewing machine dealer in the South Florida area. We are a complete sales & service center for all makes and models of sewing machines- Proudly serving the sewing public Since 1977.
************************ ======================== PUBLIC SALE !! ======================== ************************
UNSOLD ORDERS OF SEW & SERGE SEWING MACHINES! __________________________________ To View the Machine Click Below {a href="http://216.33.255.28/ca4/mrsew"} http://216.33.255.28/ca4/mrsew {/a} or Visit http://216.33.255.28/ca4/mrsew _________________________________
The New Home Company produced a large quantity of their 1999 Sew & Serge Sewing Machine, anticipating increased sales. But due to the current market conditions, these orders remain unsold.
******************************** THESE MACHINES MUST BE SOLD! ********************************
These heavy duty machines are manufactured with aluminum alloy frames, metal hooks & gears. They have been prepared for sale to schools and cottage industries nationally. The Manufacturer warrants these machines for 5 years against parts failure.
********************************************************* ========================================================= WHY PAY THOUSANDS OF $ FOR A SERGER AND SEWING MACHINE WHEN A SEW & SERGE SEWING MACHINE DOES IT ALL! ========================================================= *********************************************************
Today New Home offers a machine that performs all your sewing tasks!
*1st* As a sophisticated Sewing machine it performs: Buttonholes (any size), Stretch, Invisible Blind Hems, Monograms, Quilting, Elastic stitch, Top Stitching Appliqué, Decorative Sewing. Turn the dial and sew Magic!
*2nd* The Built-In Professional Serging Stitch: Allows you to sew Super Strong Seams and Overedge the material in one step... Our Optional cutter trims as you sew.
*3rd* No more complicated threading and you don't have to tie off seams like you do with a Serger! They handle all fabrics with ease. They even sew on leather & vinyl.
********************************************************* ALL MACHINES ARE CABINET READY IN FACTORY SEALED CARTONS. *********************************************************
__________________________________ To View the Machine Click Below {a href="http://216.33.255.28/ca4/mrsew"} http://216.33.255.28/ca4/mrsew {/a} or Visit http://216.33.255.28/ca4/mrsew _________________________________
} Is there anyone out there that uses large quantities of electron image film? } If so, what kind of dessicant or pre-pump procedure do you use to dessicate } film quickly? } We go through quite a bit of film (Kodak ISO-163 for EM) and are looking for } an 'evironmentally friendly' film dessicant. Currently, we are using P2O5 } powder in a vessel that we place in our cylindrical vacuum pump, in which we } dessicate our film prior to loading the cassette into the electron } microscope. I've ordered recyclable dessicant in a canister to try out, but } wanted to see how others are dealing with this aspect of microscopy. } } Look forward to hearing from you all :) }
Dear Figan, We have (at least) two systems; one uses P2O5, and the other uses Mg(ClO4)2. Each works well. I'm not sure how unfriendly the amount of P2O5 you use would be to the environment. That depends on what the total use is and where the P ends up. If it's in a lake, that's bad, but if it's in fertilizer made from treated sewage, that's good. Also, if the P2O5 is a minute fraction of the P in the waste water stream, there might not be a measurable effect from your addition, but the environmental cost of producing an alternative dissicant could be measurable. Yours, Bill Tivol
Dear Volodya, Try InfanView (mailto:e9227474-at-student.tuwien.ac.at - I did not try this address). It is pretty good viewer and it may open RAS files. I did not try InfanView to print out, but you may try to save your image in some suitable format like "bmp" or "tiff" and print later from Photoshop for instance. Actually, I am really happy with that "viewer". It is very fast, recognizes most popular image formats, "slide show" option, direct viewing the Directory content etc. After a hard search of the Internet, I choose this program as a "default" viewer. InfanView is freeware, so, I have no any financial as well as other interest in this product. Good luck, Sergey.
} Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 10:34:22 -0500 } From: "Dusevich, Vladimir" {DusevichV-at-umkc.edu} } Subject: Imix PC pictures } To: "'Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com'" {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} } X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2448.0) } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Sergey Ryazantsev Ph. D. UCLA School of Medicine Department of Biological Chemistry Box 951737 Los Angeles, CA 90095-1737
I also am interested in a camera setup for dual-label fluorescence. Originally I was thinking of a color CCD camera but now am wondering whether it would be better to get a monochrome with an automated filter wheel. The trick for me is that, while my specimens can be labeled fairly brightly, they are particulate, suspended in saline wet mounts, so there is motion due to convection. With a video camera using brightfield, even if I wait for slow-moving particles I sometimes see "steps" in the edges of the particles, indicating that 1/30 sec is barely fast enough. So a cooled camera won't help me; I need sensitivity instead. Can anyone recommend a *sensitive* color or monochrome camera? Video is OK but a 10 or 12 bit digital one that's not extremely expensive would be better. At least several frames per second for focusing would be important. Any comments on the DVC 1300 cameras?
Can you recommend an automated filter wheel & control software? I'm not familiar with this at all. I have an Olympus BX50 scope.
Also, does anyone have suggestions for something like xanthan gum to add to the saline suspending medium to slow down convection? My particles are not alive but are sensitive to temperature and to osmotic changes.
Thank you! Richard Thrift Richard_Thrift-at-SkyePharma.com
} } } Michal Opas {m.opas-at-UTORONTO.CA} 10/18/99 11:39:27 AM } } } Dear all,
I realize that a topic of CCDs has been discussed here a few times. While pros and cons of CCD use were discussed, I am not sure if any recommendation as to what to buy it terms hardware was put forward. I am not sure, furthermore, if any guidelines for "the masses" have been established in terms of how to tackle setting up a CCD-based fluorescence detection system that would replace photoprocessing.
So there we go:
I would like to set up a "departmental" microscopical "facility" devoted to fluorescent immunolocalization. I predict just a few ( { 10) users. We have a Photomicroscope III that has been used for that purpose. I would like to equip this microscope with hardware/software such as to dispense with photoprocessing. Your advice shall be most welcome.
Cheers Michal
Dr. Michal Opas University of Toronto 1 King's College Circle Medical Sciences Building, rm 6342 Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1A8 Canada -------------- phone: (416) 978-8947 fax: (416) 978-3954 e-mail: m.opas-at-utoronto.ca
You could just abandon the dessicant and rely on the rotary pump....works for us on a number of systems, and I'd be doubtful of how much extra advantage you get from the dessicant, especially in a short time. Sally Stowe
Seiler,Figen wrote:
} Is there anyone out there that uses large quantities of electron image film? } If so, what kind of dessicant or pre-pump procedure do you use to dessicate } film quickly? } We go through quite a bit of film (Kodak ISO-163 for EM) and are looking for } an 'evironmentally friendly' film dessicant. Currently, we are using P2O5 } powder in a vessel that we place in our cylindrical vacuum pump, in which we } dessicate our film prior to loading the cassette into the electron } microscope. I've ordered recyclable dessicant in a canister to try out, but } wanted to see how others are dealing with this aspect of microscopy. } } Look forward to hearing from you all :) }
Dr Sally Stowe, Facility Coordinator Australian National University EM Unit Research School of Biological Sciences Box 475, ACT 2601, Canberra, Australia FAX 06 (0)2 6279 8525 http://www.anu.edu.au/EMU/home.htm
our software, analySIS, does read RAS images (SUN Raster Images). It can then save them in a large number of other formats. If the number of images is not too large, I could try to convert them for you. I can't guarantee that it works, but maybe worth a shot. Let me know if you are interested. Since we are not in the business of converting files, we are not going to charge you for the conversion, but we will limit the time we spend on this.
Note to everybody: I am just trying to help Dr. Dusevich with his images. Please do not send me any images for conversion without discussing that with me first. I will not be responsible for images sent to me without prior discussion.
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 1675 Carr St., #105N Lakewood, CO 80215 =================================== phone: (888) FIND SIS (303) 234-9270 fax: (303) 234-9271 email: mailto:info-at-soft-imaging.com web: http://www.soft-imaging.com ===================================
} ---------- } From: Dusevich, Vladimir[SMTP:DUSEVICHV-at-UMKC.EDU] } Sent: Monday, October 18, 1999 9:34:22 AM } To: 'Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com' } Subject: Imix PC pictures } Auto forwarded by a Rule } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
After installation and working a lot with my new EDS systems (Imix PC) from PGT, I am now preparing publications. And - surprise, surprise, - I have found out that I cannot print good quality pictures (on high quality printer which is not connected to our network)!
The file format of stored images, RAS with overlays, cannot be read by other programs. Of course, some of them can read RAS, but overlays (with the most important information) are lost.
The only advice I've got from PGT was to capture images from the monitor. But then I will have files with much lower resolution than initial ones, and this is certainly bad for high quality printing.
All (if any) advises will be highly appreciated!!!
Vladimir M. Dusevich, Ph.D. Electron Microscope Lab Manager 3127 School of Dentistry 650 E. 25th Street Kansas City, MO 64108-2784
The Lawrence Hall of Science, the (nonprofit) publisher of Project MICRO's "Microscopic Explorations" middle school manual, needs micrographs for another project. The LHS is a first-rank developer of teaching materials; you can be sure that anything that you contribute will be used well. Please contact Sue Boudreau at the LHS directly: suebdoo-at-uclink4.berkeley.edu
} "The Science Education for Public Understanding Program is developing an } activity on classification of microscopic organisms in our 7th grade life } science course. We are looking for images from the kingdoms of life, to put } on picture cards for students to sort. Each card will have two different } micrographs of the same species. } } We would like 3 representatives from each kingdom of life: plants, animals, } protists, prokaryotes/bacteria, fungi. For each, we would like ideally, } both a transmission (light or electron) and a scanning electron micrograph } (if appropriate). We are looking for examples of pathogens as well as non } pathogenic species. } } TIF images at a good publication resolution would be our preference but } JPEG would be fine too. We would love to hear from you if you have any } images to share with us."
Caroline Schooley Project MICRO 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/PMHomePage.html Intertidal invertebrates: http://www.fortbragg.k12.ca.us/AG/PCI/pci.html
Do you know what the following people have in common?
Keith Porter, Gareth Thomas, Oliver Wells, Peter Hirsch, Peter Swann, Cecil Hall, Jean-Paul Revel, Otto Scherzer, Ernst Ruska, Elmar Zeitler and Audrey Glauert......
They are a few of the 50 outstanding scientists that have received the prestigious Microscopy Society of America Distinguished Scientist Awards!
MSA is currently accepting applications (either electronic or paper!)for the Year 2000 Awards program. The MSA Awards include: Distinguished Scientists (Biological and Physical Sciences), the Burton Medal, the OIA-MSA Outstanding Young Investigator Award, the Outstanding Technologist Awards (Biological and Physical Sciences), and the Mort Maser Distinguished Service Award.
Distinguished Scientist Awards: These Awards recognize preeminent senior scientists from both the Biological and Physical disciplines who have a long-standing record of achievement during their career in the field of microscopy or microanalysis.
Burton Medal: The Burton Medal was initiated to honor the distinguished contributions to the field of microscopy and microanalysis of a scientist who is less than 40 years of age on January 1st of the award year. (Please note the change in the selection criterion regarding age.)
Optical Imaging Association-MSA Outstanding Young Investigator Award: This Award, initiated in 1999, recognizes the distinguished contributions in the field of optical microscopy made by a scientist who is less than 40 years of age on January 1st of the award year.
Outstanding Technologist Awards: These Awards honor technologists from both the Biological and Physical Sciences who have made significant contributions such as the development of new techniques which have contributed to the advancement of microscopy and microanalysis.
Morton D. Maser Distinguished Service Award: This Award was initiated to recognize outstanding volunteer service to the Society as exemplified by Mort Maser, who served the Society for many years with great dedication. This award is made to honor an MSA member who has provided significant volunteer service to the Society over a period of years.
The Distinguished Scientist, Burton Medal, OIA-MSA Outstanding Young Investigator and Outstanding Technologist Awards Nominations should include: 1) a letters from the primary MSA nominator describing the research accomplishments of the candidate with particular emphasis on the unique technical achievements in the Physical or Biological Sciences; and 2) supplemental letters of support from other members of the scientific community.
The Morton D. Maser Distinguished Service Award Nomination should include: 1) a letters from the primary MSA nominator describing the basis for the nomination; and 2) supplemental letters of support from other members of MSA.
The Deadline for receipt of Awards Nomination Packages is December 30, 1999. Please contact the MSA Business Office or Gracie Burke (mgburke-at-pitt.edu) for additional information.
Over 11 Million E-Mail Addresses - Plus The Software You Need To Send Your Message --- complete package on one CD
E - M A I L M A R K E T I N G W O R K S ! !
It's a fact! If you're not using your computer to generate income, you're leaving money on the table.
Or, if you're financially independent, then just hit delete and we won't bother you again.
But, "the proof is in the pudding", and if $50,000 to $151,200 per year makes you tingle with excitement, then this message is for you. Don't worry, this has nothing to do with Network Marketing, Phone Cards, Real Estate, or any of the many offers you receive, this is pure and simple E-MAIL MARKETING...
Here is an example of your potential earnings if you have a product that brings you a profit of around $30. Remember, on the Internet, you can make money 7 days a week, 24 hours a day... even while you sleep, orders come from all over the world!
THE QUESTION IS... how do you generate those orders?
Free Classifieds? (Nope, won't work) Web Site? (Takes thousands of surfers) Banners? (Expensive and iffy) E-Zine? (They better have a -huge- subscriber list) Search Engines? (Forget it, unless you're in the top 20)
The way to reach people, generate orders and build wealth is person-to-person direct and with that thought comes two VERY important factors...
1. How do you find the millions of people on the net?
2. What are you going to tell them when you do reach them?
HERE'S THE ANSWER TO QUESTION #1
M I L L I O N S V O L U M E 6-A
***New - Over 11 Million addresses - Just Released***
The cleanest, most comprehensive e-mail address list in the world, BAR NONE! We're proud to offer it.
We took eight (8) computers, worked them nonstop for weeks gathering Clean - Deliverable - NEW Addresses. We ended up with close to 200 (Two Hundred) Million addresses. WOW!!!
O N E O F A K I N D
This CD is a first. No one... and we mean NO ONE has put in the kind of work it takes to produce a CD of this quality.
Remember those 200 million lines of addresses, here's what we did with them...
1. Cleaned and eliminated all duplicates. This process, alone, reduced the list into a manageable number.
2. Next, we brought in a filter list of 400+ words/phrases to clean even more. No addresses with inappropriate or profane wording survived!
3. Then, a special filter file was used to eliminate the "Web Poisoned" e-mail addresses from the list. Our EXCLUSIVE system reduced these "poison" addresses to near zero.
4. Next we used our private database of thousands of known "extremists" and kicked off every one we could find. NOTE: We maintain the world's largest list of individuals and groups that are opposed to any kind of commercial e-marketing... they are gone, nuked!
4. And finally, we sorted the list into easy-to-manage packets of 20,000 addresses.
WHAT DID WE END UP WITH?
Volume 6-A... Over 11 Million Addresses Strong!
An address list so clean you'll want to take it home to Mama... Fresh as the morning dew!
N O B R A G - J U S T F A C T
Getting this CD is equivalent to buying EVERY CD sold by almost everyone else, combined... EXCEPT - it has been cleaned and the quality is unsurpassed by any list in existence!
With our super clean lists you'll send less...and get better results... plus you can start mailing as soon as you receive your CD!
* Y O U G E T W H A T Y O U P A Y F O R *
Our 11 Million, Volume 6-A, address CD will result in:
* Higher Response Rates * Higher Sales Conversion Ratios * More Receptive prospects; Less Flames & Non-Buyers. * Less Contact With Anti-Commerce Radicals & Extremists.
Remember that potential income chart at the beginning of this message? Can you imagine the kind of money you could make if you mailed one million pieces and sold only one tenth (.01%) of one percent? You do the math, you'll be amazed!
This product will prove to be the best of it's kind compared to ANY CD in terms of hours and money spent bringing it to market. No competitor will ever duplicate the effort of what it takes for us to produce this superb product.
We never have compromised on quality, and surely won't release any product before it passes our "high standards" test.
It's your choice... "Buy ALL the rest or buy the BEST"!
DON'T HESITATE on this offer or you will miss out on the most effective way to market anywhere...PERIOD!
Order within 72 hours and we'll include the following FREE Bonuses... we call this our "BUSINESS ON A CD" bonus.
It's sad, but many people purchase address cd's...and then spend additional hundreds buying the specialized software to enable them to send their mail out. Then they have to search for days-and-months on end to find a product that will sell on the 'net.
We've solved that problem entirely with our exclusive "BUSINESS ON A CD" bonus offer:
1. Not one, but *TWO* FREE mailing programs: "STEALTH" 3.O and "EXPRESS MAIL SERVER". These two programs are proven Professional Mailing Software that have sold for as high as $499.00 each. They are not demo's, but the full working versions that you may license and register in your name. "Stealth" and "Express Mail Server" are what the pro's have used for years and they've been regarded as simply THE BEST in commercial mailing software (SORRY, SINCE THEY ARE FREE WE CANNOT OFFER ANY TECHNICAL SUPPORT, however set-up instructions are included).
2. Every survey has always indicated that the easiest and most profitable product to sell on the Internet is INFORMATION! If you have an "information" type product, then there is no easier way to become financially independent.
Our "BUSINESS ON A CD" gives you 650 reports/manuals/books that that are yours to use. You may instantly start your "Information Product" business... plus we include a SAMPLE SALES LETTER that will help you GET STARTED FAST!
Just think, you can reproduce a complete book on a floppy disc in just a few seconds, for around 35 cents. These are the same books that have sold for $99. "Special Reports" cost you pennies to produce and can be sold for as high as $15... or the whole group for as high as $140.00.
3. "THE BULK E-MAIL SURVIVAL GUIDE" A manual/guide that addresses the Bulk E-Mail business. Especially useful for beginners. "THE BULK E-MAIL SURVIVAL GUIDE" will answer most of your questions and concerns about Bulk E-Mail. An exclusive for our customers... INCLUDED FREE.
4. "LISTMATE" - This is the software the Pro's use to manage their mailing lists. We've included two versions, both are fully functional demo's, the only limit is the file size.
5. "SCIENTIFIC ADVERTISING"! This is the book that is responsible for untold millions of dollars in sales and profits. Many of today's Internet "gurus" have used this powerful book as the foundation for marketing courses that they have written and sold for as much as $495. Marketeer's that have studied this book have been so deeply inspired, that it has changed their entire way of doing business, and they've gone on to make fortunes -- it's yours FREE with your order!
6. OTHER BONUS SURPRISES. We've included a wide range of the latest professional mailing and extracting software (fully functional demo's that you can try and use). This is the specialized e-mail software that the "heavy hitters" are using day-in and day-out to bring in hundreds of orders.
This "BUSINESS ON A CD" bonus is yours absolutely FREE if you order within the next 72 hours --- After that...
O R D E R N O W . . . SAME DAY SERVICE (M-F) if your order is received before 2pm Pacific. 24hour fax service, just fax to: 1-949-666-5380
To order, via credit card simply cut/paste and print out the EZ ORDER FORM below and fax to our office today.
***** MILLIONS CD - Volume 6-A *****
***** NOW ONLY $235! *****
This "Special Price" is in effect for the next seven days, after that we go back to our regular price of $299.00 ... Don't delay... you can be in business tomorrow!
We accept Visa, Mastercard, and Checks by Fax.
----------------------Cut & Paste---------------------- ---------------------EZ Order Form---------------------
_____Yes! I want everything! I am ordering within 72 hours. Include my FREE "Business On A CD" bonus along with your 11 Million Vol. 6-A E-Mail address CD for the special price of only $235.00 + s&h.
_____I missed the 72 hour special, but I am ordering Vol. 6-A, super clean e-mail addresses, within 7 days for the "special" price of only $235.00 + s&h.
_____Oop's I missed the 72 hour and 7 day "specials". I am ordering Vol. 6-A at the regular price of $299.00 + s&h.
***PLEASE SELECT YOUR SHIPPING OPTION***
____I would like to receive my package FedEx OVERNIGHT. I am including $15 for shipping. (Hawaii & Alaska $20 - Canada $25, all other International add an *additional* $25 [$40 total] for shipping)
____I would like to receive my package FedEx 2 DAY delivery. I'm including $10 for shipping. (Sorry no Alaska, Hawaii, Canada or International 2nd day delivery - Continental U.S. shipping addresses only).
***Please Print Carefully***
NOTE: Orders cannot be shipped without complete information including your signature. No exceptions!
NAME ON CARD___________________________________________
TOTAL AMOUNT (Including Shipping): $___________________
DATE:x__________________
(Required) SIGNATURE:x_________________________________ You understand that you are purchasing the Millions Vol. 6-A address CD, the free bonuses are included, but cannot be considered part of the financial transaction.
*Note: Bonuses listed are promotional premiums and promotional services given to customers as gifts only and have no retail or monitary value. No returns, exchanges or refunds are made relative to bonus items. We reserve the right to substitute any bonus item with any alternate premium we deem appropriate, and/or to withdraw any bonus at any time without prior notice.
You may fax your order to us at: 1-949-666-5380
CHECK BY FAX SERVICES!
Please Note: Sorry, we can only accept checks drawn on U.S. banks. If you're sending a Money Order, please fax and request our mailing address.
If you would like to fax a check, tape your check below and fax it to our office along with the EZ Order Form to: 1-949-666-5380
If You fax a check, there is no need for you to mail the original. We will draft a new check, with the exact information from your original check. All checks will be held for bank clearance. (7-10 days) Make payable to: "CD-Marketing"
******************************************************** Do not reply to this message - reply address is blocked. ******************************************************** As a responsible user of commercial e-mail, we filter our e-mail list(s) at OptList prior to the transmission of any message. All e-mail addresses registered at OptList.com with the preference to not receive commercial e-mail have been removed. We are not affiliated with OptList.com. To register your e-mail address for future removal, please visit: http://www.OptList.com/register.html. ******************************************************** )*******
I think Warren Straszheim is right about an export program. If you have the Unix based system, which the RAS files suggests, I think you have access to an program called PBMPLUS. When I used the Unix IMIX, this was supplied in addition to the Imix software. The PGT documentation said this was a public domain program, by Jeff Poskanzer, which can convert RAS to several formats including TIFF. Look for PBMPLUS on your drives or ask PGT. good luck,
Dave Audette david.audette-at-sylvania.com
} -----Original Message----- } From: Dusevich, Vladimir [SMTP:DusevichV-at-umkc.edu] } Sent: Monday, October 18, 1999 11:34 AM } To: 'Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com' } Subject: Imix PC pictures } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } After installation and working a lot with my new EDS systems (Imix PC) } from PGT, I am now preparing publications. And - surprise, surprise, - } I have found out that I cannot print good quality pictures (on } high quality printer which is not connected to our network)! } } The file format of stored images, RAS with overlays, cannot be read by } other programs. Of course, some of them can read RAS, but overlays } (with the most important information) are lost. } } The only advice I've got from PGT was to capture images from the monitor. } But then I will have files with much lower resolution than initial ones, } and this is certainly bad for high quality printing. } } All (if any) advises will be highly appreciated!!! } } Vladimir M. Dusevich, Ph.D. } Electron Microscope Lab Manager } 3127 School of Dentistry } 650 E. 25th Street } Kansas City, MO 64108-2784 } } Phone: (816) 235-2072 } Fax: (816) 235-5524 }
Email: bharesh_mandalia-at-madscientist.co.uk Name: Bharesh Mandalia Question: I am currently looking into blades which are coated with diamond like carbon (DLC). Thickness of this coating is about 2000A, on steel substrate. I examine the edge of these blades in a JEOL 6330F FEG SEM, at a tilt angle of 60deg. The magnification I look at is x20000. The edge appears round (ie large tip radius), but I increase the tilt to 80deg, the edge appears very sharp (ie very small tip radius (about 150A)).
What I'd Like to know what is happening as I increase the tilt from 60 to 80deg?
We have had excellent results using an Optronics DEI-750 CCD camera with a FlashPoint 128 video frame grabber for both fluorescence and bright field images. I understand the newer CCDs are even better and less expensive. The Optronics cameras are usually distributed via your Nikon and/or Olympus rep.
Best wishes,
Robyn Rufner, Ph.D. Director, The Center for Microscopy and Image Analysis Ross Hall, Suite 406 Adjunct Associate Professor, Anatomy and Cell Biology THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY 2300 Eye Street, N.W., 431 Ross Hall Washington, DC 20037-2337 Voice: (202) 994-2881 Fax: (202) 994-8885 Internet: anarrr-at-gwumc.edu
This is interesting about metals blocking solidification of the JB-4... I knew this was true with osmium-fixed tissue, but until now, I didn't know exactly why tissue stained with alcian blue (which contains copper) didn't set up well. Just a comment though, the alcian blue stained tissue did eventually set up well enough to be sectioned months after it was embedded. Why? I have no idea.
On Mon, 18 Oct 1999 rmoretz-at-rdg.boehringer-ingelheim.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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Aaron: } The methacrylate media generally do not work well in the presence of metals. } This is particularly true of osmium, and in my experience has included the } silver and gold-toned stains as well. Certainly your comment about the bulk } plastic polymerizing while the plastic immediately surrounding the stained } neurons not polymerizing would seem to corroborate my earlier anecdotal } experience. I too think that a soft epoxy (araldite is an excellent choice) } would be a preferable alternative. } } Roger Moretz } Dept of Toxicology } } } -----Original Message----- } } From: Aaron R. Best [SMTP:a_best-at-ou.edu] } } Sent: Friday, October 15, 1999 11:26 AM } } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } } Subject: LM-Embedding Golgi-Cox in JB4 } } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } } 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 not been able to embed Golg-Cox brain tissue in JB4. The JB4 } } solidifies, but the tissue within it does not. We have done it with and } } without polyethylene glycol. We have infiltrated the tissue with A+C } } for varying lengths of time. We have tried dehydrating the tissue in } } 100% ethanol prior to infiltration. We just purchased new JB4, so the } } solutions are not old. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. } }
Could you please help me to get some information on optical properties of cell membranes. I am a physicist and I met some problems during attempt to calibrate our equipment (photothermal microscope) for measuring living WBC properties. Could you advice some sources of information about:
1. What is absorption spectrum for intact WBC membranes in visible range? 2. Are there any natural photoactivated proteins? 3. What are light absorption wavelengths for them, range of interest is 400-600 nm? 4. What are molecular mechanisms for such photoactivation?
With thanks in advance
Dmitri Lapotko, Ph.D.
Luikov Heat and Mass Transfer Institute 15, Brovka Street Minsk, 220072 Belarus
We have been using P2O5 for over ten years and I think we're on our second bottle so the amount going into the environment is negligible (on our part). We have used silica and calcium dehydrants and they did not work as well or last as long. To increase the longevity of the dehydrant and aid in keeping the film and container dry we also used dry nitrogen gas to evacuate the desiccator, which is also connected to the scope for camera chamber evacuation. On a identical scope and desiccator with out the nitrogen we have much slower cycle times, and the desiccant is exhausted more quickly. The P2O5 is nasty to work with though so I will be interested in seeing what other chemicals people come up with.
I believe that the included responses to not address the problem. Which is that PGT (Princeton Gamma Tech) uses a special derivative of the Sun-RAS image file-format.
It is extremely easy to read the 16- or 8-bit version they use on a PC or Mac, if you are willing to neglect the overlayed micron-markers, text, etc.... which the user has included with PGT-specific software. Basically, you tell Photoshop, ImageTool, etc.... that the file is binary/raw, then you tell it the bit-depth, width, height, header-size (offset-to-data), big/little endian, black (high/low), etc....
The other technique to to print each image to "screen.ras", which will freeze the overlays on the image and create an 8-bit RAS-image. This file is easily read by most programs, since it in now in the generic Sun-RAS format. Also, PGT provides a convert-utility which will change this to PCX, JEOL-TIFF, TIFF, or JPEG.
Finally, please note that PGT will provide a script to dump multiple 16-bit RAS files to screen.ras, and then prepend the filename with "C_". If you use this script or if you manually dump to screen.ras, then it is extremely important that you only have "ONE" image display open. Otherwise, you will reduce the colour-depth of the "dumped" file.
I hope this helps!
regards,
Jim
} } } Sir, } } our software, analySIS, does read RAS images (SUN Raster Images). It can } then save them in a large number of other formats. If the number of } images is not too large, I could try to convert them for you. I can't } guarantee that it works, but maybe worth a shot. Let me know if you are } interested. Since we are not in the business of converting files, we are } not going to charge you for the conversion, but we will limit the time } we spend on this. } } Note to everybody: I am just trying to help Dr. Dusevich with his } images. Please do not send me any images for conversion without } discussing that with me first. I will not be responsible for images sent } to me without prior discussion. } } Michael Bode, Ph.D. } Soft Imaging System Corp. } 1675 Carr St., #105N } Lakewood, CO 80215 } =================================== } phone: (888) FIND SIS } (303) 234-9270 } fax: (303) 234-9271 } email: mailto:info-at-soft-imaging.com } web: http://www.soft-imaging.com } =================================== } } } } } } } } Dear Volodya, } } Try InfanView (mailto:e9227474-at-student.tuwien.ac.at - I did not try this } } address). It is pretty good viewer and it may open RAS files. I did not try } } InfanView to print out, but you may try to save your image in some suitable } } format like "bmp" or "tiff" and print later from Photoshop for instance. } } Actually, I am really happy with that "viewer". It is very fast, recognizes } } most popular image formats, "slide show" option, direct viewing the } } Directory content etc. After a hard search of the Internet, I choose this } } program as a "default" viewer. InfanView is freeware, so, I have no any } } financial as well as other interest in this product. } } Good luck, Sergey. } } } } } } } } } } } } } After installation and working a lot with my new EDS systems (Imix PC) } } } from PGT, I am now preparing publications. And - surprise, surprise, - } } } I have found out that I cannot print good quality pictures (on } } } high quality printer which is not connected to our network)! } } } } } } The file format of stored images, RAS with overlays, cannot be read by } } } other programs. Of course, some of them can read RAS, but overlays } } } (with the most important information) are lost. } } } } } } The only advice I've got from PGT was to capture images from the } } } monitor. } } } But then I will have files with much lower resolution than initial ones, } } } and this is certainly bad for high quality printing. } } } } } } All (if any) advises will be highly appreciated!!! } } } } } } Vladimir M. Dusevich, Ph.D. } } } Electron Microscope Lab Manager } } } 3127 School of Dentistry } } } 650 E. 25th Street } } } Kansas City, MO 64108-2784 } } } } } } Phone: (816) 235-2072 } } } Fax: (816) 235-5524 } } }
Apart from its efficiency as a desiccant, one of the positive advantages of P2O5 as a desiccant for use in a vacuum system is that on exposure to moist air a "skin" rapidly forms on the surface of the powder, holding it together. This minimizes its redistribution in your vacuum system when the rough pumping. Some alternatives remain friable even when partially hydrated, and can scatter about. Compared with many other reagents used in electron microscopy P2O5 is fairly innocuous. Skin contamination is obviously not advisable, nor should the powder be breathed in, but the salts of P2O5 are constituents of NPK fertilizers and if you are worried about eutrophication of the local lake you could use the waste to fertilize your tomatos.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dr Chris Jeffree University of Edinburgh Biological Sciences EM Facility Daniel Rutherford Building King's Buildings EDINBURGH EH9 3JH Tel: +44 (0) 131 650 5345 FAX: +44 (0) 131 650 6563
} our software, analySIS, does read RAS images (SUN Raster Images). I
Unfortunately, that won't help in this case. The PGT image file format contains the annotation information in a proprietary trailer appended to the standard Sun raster format, so you'll just get the image without annotation, as would any other package which reads Sun image files.
The annotated image is generated internally as an encapsulated PostScript file before being sent to the printer. It may be possible to intercept the temp file and send that to an arbitrary network printer. Also, I am aware that writing the annotated image as a TIFF file is planned, but I don't know the release schedule.
No expert but I have been doing some of this lately. The first time I tried with osmicated tobacco seeds into LR White or unosmicated into LR Gold, it was so bad that it was funny. Despite a 3-4 day infiltration, the seeds literally popped out of the block face as if they were little bb's. In my next batch, I cut them into itty bitty wedges using a razor blade after the aldehyde fix stage. I then infiltrated slowly over 7 days. Minor improvement but I got some sections. Both plastics cut nicely at 0.5 um and thin sections look good initially but are so fragile. Sections that are initally 12 x 12 grid holes on a 400 mesh grid will usually burst over most grid holes and I end up with 1-4 grid holes surviving (immuno protocol but it happens early on so I think UA and Pb would do the same on their own). But they are pretty when they survive. Tom
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
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 65211-7400 (573)-882-4712 (voice) (573)-882-0123 (fax)
It is difficult to understand what is your tilt angle means and why do you need to tilt, but I'd try a few things: - check for charging. If your blades a really thin, then coating could be too thick, but nevertheless it's worth trying. Even better to use environmental SEM with good resolution (not with BSE detector!). - use as low voltage as possible, and, at least not higher than 5 kV. Even better to use low voltage mode (I am not sure, but for your case maybe 0.6-0.8 kV will be OK) without any coating. - If nothing else works, try to break blades at LN temperature (of course, if steel is not austenitic) and take a look on profiles. - Look at blades "as is", before coating with DLC.
Vladimir
Vladimir M. Dusevich, Ph.D. Electron Microscope Lab Manager 3127 School of Dentistry 650 E. 25th Street Kansas City, MO 64108-2784
Phone: (816) 235-2072 Fax: (816) 235-5524
} -----Original Message----- } From: bharesh_mandalia-at-madscientist.co.uk } [mailto:bharesh_mandalia-at-madscientist.co.uk] } Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 1999 7:40 AM } To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } Subject: SEM Imaging Question: } } } -------------------------------------------------------------- } ---------- } 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: bharesh_mandalia-at-madscientist.co.uk } Name: Bharesh Mandalia } Question: I am currently looking into blades which are coated } with diamond } like carbon (DLC). Thickness of this coating is about 2000A, on steel } substrate. I examine the edge of these blades in a JEOL 6330F } FEG SEM, at a } tilt angle of 60deg. The magnification I look at is x20000. The edge } appears round (ie large tip radius), but I increase the tilt } to 80deg, the } edge appears very sharp (ie very small tip radius (about 150A)). } } What I'd Like to know what is happening as I increase the } tilt from 60 to } 80deg? } } Many thanks, } } Bharesh } } -------------------------------------------------------------- } ------------- } } }
PGT can supply a program to do a "screen" conversion on images so that they include any annotations. Then within the Applications Programs, the is a file conversion program which allows conversion from .ras to several other formats (including tif). You may then have to download the converted image to a floppy disk, but in the end you will have what you want. Additionally, you may want to look at some of your other Applications Programs, because you may be allele to save images in .tif to begin with if you do have the "PC" version of IMIX. Chris
We recently got some problems with our Gatan slow scan CCD camera in acquiring electron diffraction pattern, though everything looked normal when acquiring image. We tried varying the exposure time from 0.1 to 1 second, but there was nothing in the acquired image except the background similar to what appeared during gain reference acquisition. We even tried inserting the beam stop, but it did not appear in the pattern. Recently, one of our users changed the setting of image pattern type and image type. Does this have something to do with the anomaly in diffraction pattern acquisition?
Look forward to your help.
Regards,
Li Kun
Kun Li, Ph. D Institute of Materials Research and Engineering 3 Research Link Singapore 117603
I'm trying to help a student who is writting a PhD proposal on soil organic matter decomposition. As part of the study she would like to do some SEM studies in the first layers of the soil of a sugarcane plantation where no burning is applied before harvest. Is anyone doing anything like this? Can anyone recommend some literature or suggestions?
Thank you very much in advance
Adriana Rodriguez
******************************************************************* Adriana Pinheiro Martinelli Rodriguez Laboratorio de Biotecnologia Vegetal Av. Centenario 303, Cx. Postal 96 CENA/Universidade de Sao Paulo 13400-970, Piracicaba, SP, Brasil phone: +55-19- 429-4694 fax: +55-19- 429-4610 adriana-at-cena.usp.br http://www.cena.usp.br/labs/labbiotecveg.htm *******************************************************************
Bharesh: You can reduce this artifact by lowering the kV to the lowest which still gives reasonable resolution at the power required. Its an interesting phenomenon and a bit difficult to explain without a drawing. I'll try, just get a bit of paper and draw: 1 A vertical line, to symbolize the electron beam. (That vertical is 90 degrees in relation to the "normal" horizontal specimen position) 2 A sharp angle, of say 30 degrees, with the apex at the top and the vertical line entering at the apex. Draw the right side of angle at 60 degrees. The left side of the angle will happen to co-incide with the vertical.
3 Repeat that drawing, but draw the right side of the angle at 80 degrees. Now the left side will be 20 degrees off the vertical.
Electron emitted from the specimen come mostly from a hemispherical to pear shaped "penetration envelope", the region were most of the secondary electrons are formed. These envelopes are modeled and known as Monte Carlo patterns. Add to both sketches a drop shape with the pointed end at the electron beam entrance point. Ensure that the drop is vertical and symmetrical and projects at least on one side past the angle (which is your specimen).
There is your answer: The closer the penetrating envelope is to an open surface, the more electrons will be emitted from that spot and "sucked" onto the secondary detector. That is why a horizontal specimen is darker than one at a steep angle, that is why thin specimens (hairs) "glow" and that is why your specimen is apparently wider at the near vertical side. In all those cases the effect can be reduced by lowering kV or by using higher atomic number specimens; consider that a coating averages the atomic number of coating and actual specimen atomic number. Your "near" diamond coating for this exercise is just like amorphous carbon. Cheers Jim Darley ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes www.proscitech.com
On Tuesday, October 19, 1999 10:40 PM, bharesh_mandalia-at-madscientist.co.uk [SMTP:bharesh_mandalia-at-madscientist.co.uk] wrote: } } } } Name: Bharesh Mandalia } Question: I am currently looking into blades which are coated with diamond } like carbon (DLC). Thickness of this coating is about 2000A, on steel } substrate. I examine the edge of these blades in a JEOL 6330F FEG SEM, at a } tilt angle of 60deg. The magnification I look at is x20000. The edge } appears round (ie large tip radius), but I increase the tilt to 80deg, the } edge appears very sharp (ie very small tip radius (about 150A)). } } What I'd Like to know what is happening as I increase the tilt from 60 to } 80deg? } } Many thanks, } } Bharesh } } --------------------------------------------------------------------------- } }
Hello, First of all many thanks to all who replied you made understanding a few quircks easier. I then asked what were the pros and cons of SEM with EDX+WDX vs E-probe.
1. You need a precise sample-spectrometer distance to get good analytical results and since SEM spectro are horizontally mounted and their focussing is imprecise (no optics) the quality of analyses suffers.
2. Tilt on SEM stage being not highly reproducible it will affect take- off angles of X-rays and hence affect ZAF corrections
3. Secondary electron detector in EPMA are disadvantaged because of their construction or, more often, their location limiting resolution and depth of field. New probes seems better in that respect.
4. EPMA because of the lack of tilting stage limits SEM observations to polished surfaces.
5. You can automate overnight analysis with an EPMA. SEM because of sequential WDS determinations are slower.
7. Personnal appreciations : a) Price of basic probe vs SEM equipped for analytical work is about 30% higher b) A respondant had SEM with EDX-WDX spectro (including a beam current meter) and claim good analytical results for their SEM mainly used when requiring a few elements in a few points. They also have a probe to compare. c) Another user claim that all he can deliver accurately with a WDS equipped SEM is qualitative analysis d) A user complained that the EDX of a SEM was difficult to reconcile with the WDS spectro because the difference in current requirement. e) Drift of several percent over an hour was observed on SEM needing frequent calibration and current monitoring. f) Probe being more complex you a dedicated operator to master the beast which will make or break the lab.
Hi, One of our divisions would like a simple and cheap, or free, ability to annotate and fix a micron bar on electronic images from a LM. They would like positionable alphanumeric labeling and a readable magnification indicator. Any ideas would be welcome. Thanks in advance, Russ Gillmeister, Xerox
Two questions: 1. Which vendor sells formvar + carbon coated grids which are also glow-discharged? 2. I know there are some methods which we can use to make the cytoskeleton more easily visible by TEM. Do any of you have the references at hand?
We have seen your message on the server. Please note we here at Electron Microscopy Sciences in Fort Washington Pa 215-646-1566 manufacture and make coated grids which are pre Glow Discharged. Please let us know if we can be of service to you. Sincerely, EMS 215-646-1566
This is in two parts. I've posted these recipes before. The first describes how to make scale markers like the transfer rub-ons. The second tells how to make scale markers for your optical microscope and have them ready.
Part 1 / 2 This is the recipe that I use in Photoshop 4.0 to put Black on White scale markers, text, and symbols onto micrographs. The results look just like the
rub-on transfers that I used to use.
1. create a layer (Photoshop 4.0 does this automatically with text tool) You must use Photoshop image mode for the layer option.
2. in that layer in the font and font size that you want, type the text. add a black line at an appropriate length and width and any other text, symbols, arrows, etc. that you want to put on the micrograph. By using the layer, you preserve the original micrograph in the background layer. you can use the info window to draw lines to particular lengths. If other layers are created when new text is added, merge those layers. Don't merge them with the background layer!
3. Select all (ctrl-A in the PC) The marquee will be around the whole layer.
4. You have to move the selected region up then down with an arrow key. (This is done in the PC with the Ctrl-shift-arrow key in the PC) what this
does is to select all of the objects in the layer individually. A Marquee should be around each object.
5. Select the foreground color as white. (You are going to write a white border around each Marquee.)
6. Go to Edit-Stroke and select the width of the white line you want (Width)
and select the Outside option. for 300 dpi images at about 4" x 5", I suggest a font size of about 14 (Arial) with a Width of about 3-4 pixels for
the stroke width. This will write a white border 4 pixels wide around all of the selected black features.
7. Deselect (ctrl-D)
8. If you want to save this as image in another format such as TIF or BMP, then you have to Merge the layers and save the image in that mode.
Note: you should have anti-aliasing selected for all this.
Part 2 / 2 Using Pre-drawn scale markers at different mags.
We use TWAIN import feature in Photoshop to bring images from two cameras on two stereomicroscopes. We have John Russ' Image Processing Toolkit for Photoshop. There is one plug-in, "IP*measure-Calibrate" that can be used to calibrate the image if a feature of known dimension is captured. It isn't absolutely needed to have this toolkit, but it made it a little easier. What I did was to take a digital image from a good metric ruler at each magnification setting of the microscope. (For an optical microscope with magnifications higher than those of a stereomicroscope, you will have to use another length standard.) I then calibrated the image, drew a scale marker on a new layer and labeled it for each setting. I changed the name of each layer to be indicative of the setting on the microscope that changed the mag. The only thing on each of these layers is the scale marker and the label. Once I had a layer for each of the different settings, I gathered them all into one photoshop file and labeled it with the appropriate microscope name. When I want to capture images from the microscope, I open Photoshop by opening this file of calibrated layers. After I collect the new image, I drag the appropriate layer from the open "calibrated scale markers" file onto the new image and align the scale marker where I want it.
A little work up front has saved me a lot of aggravation when it comes to calibrating images and putting scale markers on images. I plan to do the same thing for the mag settings on my TEM when I digitize them with my negative scanner, but I haven't invested the time yet.
-Scott
-----Original Message----- } From: Gillmeister, Russ [mailto:RGillmeister-at-sdms.usa.xerox.com] Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 1999 10:51 AM To: 'MSA'
Hi, One of our divisions would like a simple and cheap, or free, ability to annotate and fix a micron bar on electronic images from a LM. They would like positionable alphanumeric labeling and a readable magnification indicator. Any ideas would be welcome. Thanks in advance, Russ Gillmeister, Xerox
Thanks for the summary. All the points made are very true when considering probe vs. SEM/WDS. I was going to reply ealier, but forgot. Here are my two cents.
We purchased a WDS system a few years ago because we could not justify the high price tag for a probe for the limited quantitative needs. Luckily our SEM had a WDS button which knocks out one of the condenser lenses for higher beam currents. Horizontrally mounted WDS are much less sensitive to sampling height position relative to vertically mounted ones, but nontheless, it must remain the same during the analysis. We had our service engineering hook up leads from the final focussing (objective) lens so that we can measure the voltage on the lens as a function of working distance. Removing a port on the specimen chamber, we physically set our wd and then without moving the stage, set our operating conditions for both EDS and WDS over a range of operating voltages/beam currents. Once established we reorded the obj voltage for each.
As for the SEM stage, again we were lucky that the manufactured stage had a mount that they hung the tilting and rotation axis on. We removed this inner stage and axis connections and had our shop make a new holder for mounting flat plates to. We had a series of plates made to hold about every type of sample we used, polished epoxy mounts, geological thin sections, and of course our standards.
The beam current is measured from a retractable homemade faraday cup. Since our wd is 40 mm, it is easily inserted above the sample while the sample is in the analytical position. Yes it is a pain to do it manually, but...... We have found that under proper gun conditions the beam drift is less than 2% at 30 nA over an eight hour time period. The other problem with beam current stability that wasn't addresed in your responses is the LaB6 vs. W guns. It is well known that W is a more stable source, so one needs to change emitters depending on imaging resolution/qualitative microanalysis and quantitative analysis.
One mistake we made was to think we could do EDS and WDS simutaniously at WDS beam currents. Wrong. Even when we put an aperture in front of the EDS detector, the EDS background was swamped with incoming bse's, producing a hump at a much higher energy range than found with standard Be window detectors. So it's only good for quick look at major peaks in EDS under these conditions.
Hope this helps. Lou Ross Senior Electron Microscope Specialist Room 101 Department of Geological Sciences University of Missouri Columbia, MO 65211 (573) 882-4777, fax 882=5458 email: rosslm-at-missouri.edu web: www.missouri.edu/~geosclmr/ebaf.html
I cannot address the problem with your printer. We have a photographic quality printer and it prints PGT *.ras images fine. You might want to try printing test images to verify the printer is working properly.
With the IMIX, you can save the images as *.tif files using the File "Save As" option. The annotation will not be saved. Add annotation with other software, such as,. Word or Photoshop. It is a little inconvenient, but while in Photoshop you can adjust your Gamma.
Note, Optimas (Media Cybernetics) will read *.ras image files, annotation is not read with the image.
John Catino Minerals Technologies
"Dusevich, Vladimir" 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } After installation and working a lot with my new EDS systems (Imix PC) } from PGT, I am now preparing publications. And - surprise, surprise, - } I have found out that I cannot print good quality pictures (on } high quality printer which is not connected to our network)! } } The file format of stored images, RAS with overlays, cannot be read by } other programs. Of course, some of them can read RAS, but overlays } (with the most important information) are lost. } } The only advice I've got from PGT was to capture images from the monitor. } But then I will have files with much lower resolution than initial ones, } and this is certainly bad for high quality printing. } } All (if any) advises will be highly appreciated!!! } } Vladimir M. Dusevich, Ph.D. } Electron Microscope Lab Manager } 3127 School of Dentistry } 650 E. 25th Street } Kansas City, MO 64108-2784 } } Phone: (816) 235-2072 } Fax: (816) 235-5524 }
Yuhui: 1 Butvar filmed (or substrates) grids are stable under the electron beam. They don't need carbon and so they do not need glow discharge treatment.
2 From memory: Cytoskeletons are destroyed by cold fixation. I am sure there are other things to that and I don't remember the reference.
Disclaimer: ProSciTech supplies Butvar coated grids. Cheers Jim Darley ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes www.proscitech.com
On Thursday, October 21, 1999 2:07 AM, Yuhui_Xu [SMTP:Yuhui_Xu-at-hms.harvard.edu] wrote: } } } Dear collegues: } } Two questions: } 1. Which vendor sells formvar + carbon coated grids which are also } glow-discharged? } 2. I know there are some methods which we can use to make the cytoskeleton } more easily visible by TEM. Do any of you have the references at hand? } } Thanks for a reply! } Regards, } Yuhui } } } Yuhui Xu, MD,PhD }
Yuhui Xu asked: ================================================ Two questions: 1. Which vendor sells formvar + carbon coated grids which are also glow-discharged? ================================================= SPI Supplies, since 1975, has supplied to TEM users Formvar® as well as carbon coated (filmed) grids and when the carbon needs to be more hydrophilic, the grids can be "glow discharge" treated. However, this effect is not permanent, and the treated grids should be used within about two weeks of treatment (more or less) since the effect does start to wear off.
Full details on this service 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.spi.cc ######################## ============================================
I'm looking for advice from anybody that has successfully fixed fungal yeast cells in animal tissue. I am currently working with a thick-walled yeast that tends to crush in the tissue because of reasons unknown. I have played with the osmolarity of the fixative, as well as the dehydration time, both to no avail. The fixitives I have tried are trump's(4F:1G), and a 2.5% glut. fixitive. Some of the cells improved with the addition of sucrose to the fixitive, but there was still alot of crushed, hollow cells. If anybody has advice on the process or a good recipe for this kind of sample it would be appreciated.
Eric Tarcha Medical Technology Michigan State University tarchaer-at-msu.edu
Several of you listers expressed interest in the new "toy" microscope when it was announced earlier this year. I made several attempts to get more information from both Mattel & Intel, with no success. It's now on the market, and a review appeared in the N.Y. Times last week; you can read it at http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/99/10/circuits/articles/14pets.html It works on a Windows computer with a USB port, and I'm a Mac person, so I'm hoping that if any of you get one that you'll share your impressions with the rest of us.
Caroline Schooley Project MICRO 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/PMHomePage.html Intertidal invertebrates: http://www.fortbragg.k12.ca.us/AG/PCI/pci.html
I have never had to embed tissue in Spurr, since I do SEM, however I have a kit since I use it to make replicas for SEM. Now, one of our faculty has asked me to embed some tissue samples for him today. They are currently in Formalin. Does anyone have a (hopefully) quick and easy protocol for this?
} I think I saw this on a computer show. If you search the Net at ZDTV and } check their products tested section it should show it. It seemed pretty } neat for a toy. Cost was ~$100. Hope this helps, Steve.
Steve
You've got the price right. The scope is a cheap plastic one, but I'm wondering 1) if the camera can be removed to use on something better, and 2) if it's as good as Snappy/QuickCam cameras.
Caroline
Caroline Schooley Project MICRO 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/PMHomePage.html Intertidal invertebrates: http://www.fortbragg.k12.ca.us/AG/PCI/pci.html
For how long are you fixing? Have you tried extending the time in primary and/or secondary fixative? Maybe the yeast just aren't getting fixed well enough?
Tamara Howard CSHL
On Thu, 21 Oct 1999, Eric J Tarcha 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'm looking for advice from anybody that has successfully fixed fungal yeast } cells in animal tissue. I am currently working with a thick-walled yeast that } tends to crush in the tissue because of reasons unknown. I have played with } the osmolarity of the fixative, as well as the dehydration time, both to no } avail. The fixitives I have tried are trump's(4F:1G), and a 2.5% glut. } fixitive. Some of the cells improved with the addition of sucrose to the } fixitive, but there was still alot of crushed, hollow cells. If anybody has } advice on the process or a good recipe for this kind of sample it would be } appreciated. } } Eric Tarcha } Medical Technology } Michigan State University } tarchaer-at-msu.edu } } }
"Cargille Optical Liquids and Mounting Media for the Microscopist "
Speaker is Robert Sacher of Cargille Laboratories.
Robert Sacher will speak about Cargille Refractive Index Liquids and the different techniques for using them. He will discuss the Cargille Microscope Immersion Oils and there fluorescence and viscosities. Plus he will discuss the Cargille Meltmount Mounting Media and their different refractive indices. Issue of toxicity will be considered as well as the significance of the Becke line, etc. This is a great opportunity to learn basic information about optical liquids and mounting media; understanding how to use these properly is a key to obtaining the best possible image through a light microscope. There will be ample time for questions and answers
Dear Listers, } I have a customer studying nerves at the TEM level in crayfish. He has given me the } antenna to cut and because of the thick cuticle, good fixation & infiltration is a real problem. The tissue was infiltrated over a 3 day period with increasing amounts of resin and embedded in an embed 812/Araldite mixture. The embedded sample was holey and the tissue that did remain had terrible morphology. Does anyone out there have any suggestions as to how to improve morphology and get the tissue well infiltrated? } Any ideas will really be appreciated. } Thank you, } Mary Gail Engle } Electron Microscopy & Imaging Facility } University of Kentucky }
We are looking into replacing an old Galai CUE-4 system. The new set up should include a new CCD camera attached to our light microscope, "feeding" single frames to a Macintosh, possibly one of the new iMacs or a G3/G4 computer. The Mac platform is the one of choice, as we use Macs to run DigitalMicrograph with our TEM CCD camera, and to process images.
I wonder whether any of you have a set-up similar to what we would like to install in our lab, and could give us some advice.
Thanks!
Ishi Talmon Dept. Chem. Engng. Technion-Israel Inst. of Technology
MicroMaterials, Europe's technology leader in Nano / Micro-mechanical Properties has changed distributors in the North America to Molecular Imaging.
At AVS / Seattle next week Dr. Jim Smith, Founder of MicroMaterials will be hold technical talks on application of state of the art in mechanical properties testing.
I invite you to join us at Molecular Imaging's Booth # 938 & 940.
RSVP
George Sibbald, CEO Molecular Imaging www.molec.com
} You've got the price right. The scope is a cheap plastic one, but I'm } wondering 1) if the camera can be removed to use on something better, and } 2) if it's as good as Snappy/QuickCam cameras.
The NYTimes review indicated that the camera was removeable for "macro" work but not if it could be fit to another scope. The review also failed to mention anything about resolution except that it seemed, subjectively, pretty good to the unsophisiticated reviewer.
Yuhui Xu asked: =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 Two questions: 1. Which vendor sells formvar + carbon coated grids which are also glow-discharged =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=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D Hi Yuhui, We make our own grids, means carbon coat them & also glow them before use.We had the same problem of grids getting hydrophobic after 2 weeks. Try this it works,after you glow them store grids in the refrigerator till you need it .If you do this the grids remain hydrophilic even after a month.Get your grids out before you need them & when your are done stick them back in the refrigerator.
Reena Zalpuri EM Lab UC Berkeley E-Mail jubu-at-uclink4.berkeley.edu
Anybody out there got a SM-PCD40 Probe Current Detector attachment for an 840 that they want to sell, or maybe want to trade for a JEOL/Varian LaB6 setup for 840?
thanks
Ritchie
Ritchie Sims Phone : 64 9 3737599 ext 7713 Department of Geology Fax : 64 9 3737435 The University of Auckland email : r.sims-at-auckland.ac.nz Private Bag 92019 Auckland New Zealand
} I'm looking for advice from anybody that has successfully fixed fungal } yeast } cells in animal tissue. I am currently working with a thick-walled } yeast that } tends to crush in the tissue because of reasons unknown. I have } played with } the osmolarity of the fixative, as well as the dehydration time, both } to no } avail. The fixitives I have tried are trump's(4F:1G), and a 2.5% } glut. } fixitive. Some of the cells improved with the addition of sucrose to } the } fixitive, but there was still alot of crushed, hollow cells. If } anybody has } advice on the process or a good recipe for this kind of sample it } would be } appreciated. } } Eric Tarcha } Medical Technology } Michigan State University } tarchaer-at-msu.edu
I know nothing about fungi in animal tissue, but a lot more about fungi in plant tissue. Fungal cell walls seem to be less permeable to fixatives than plant cell walls and , of course, no comparison to animal cells, also, young cells are easier to prepare than older stages. Are you sure that the yeast cells are alive and in good condition in the animal tissue?
Our prepartion protocoll for fungal infected plant tissue is: 2,5% buffered glutaraldehyde for 1 h, washing steps, then 0.5 -1% Osmiumteroxide, buffered, for 1 h at room temperature. Dehydration in ethanol or acetone, embedding in LR-White or Epon. We get better structural preservation if we dehydrate in the cold (PLT-Method): 1,5 h at zero (Grad Celcius) in 30% Ethanol, 1,5 at -20 in 50% Ethanol, overnight at -35 in 70% EtOH, 1,5 h at -35 in 100% EtOH. We cut very small samples if the tissue is difficult. Good Luck!
Anne Heller
-- Dr. Anne Heller, AG Elektronenmikroskopie, Institut f=FCr Botanik (210), Universit=E4t Hohenheim, Garbenstra=DFe 30 D-70593 Stuttgart heller-at-uni-hohenheim.de
Dear all, once again I put this question on the board, in hope that I get more answers as before the crash of nestors pc at the end of september. We search for a protocol or tips and experiences in histochemical localization of proteases on semi- or ultrathin sections. We search for substances, which could act as substrates for proteases and would make it possible to visualize the endproduct at the localization of the enzymatic process (for example precipitation). Best regards, Bernward Laube
Applications are being accepted (deadline Jan 2000) for NRC Post Doc slots at NIST to begin Oct. 2000 for 2 years. See the web page for details http://www.nist.gov/oiaa/pdfront.htm
Gary, since accuracy of analyses is paramount, you'll need to give consideration to beam stability. Because normal LaB6 cathodes emit from a very small microflat at the apex of the crystal's cone, beam stability will be less than a filament's. I should quickly add that for visual and photomicrographic purposes beam stability, even in TEM is not an issue or a problem.
However, during typical analyses times of 120 seconds the picoamp reading can drift with the smallest cathodes flats of 15 or 20 square micrometers. These happen to be the most purchased since smaller flats result in greater brightness. Unfortunately the larger 40 flat made by Kimball costs a couple hundred more US$. The larger flat is more stable and in an SEM would not affect resolution or compromise brightness. Here is just another little dilemma for you on the path to quantitative analyses. 1 Battle on with more frequent beam adjustments and filament centering 2 Pay up for a more suitable cathode with the larger flat. 3 Change Wehnelt units (got a spare?) for one with a filament when performing critical analyses 4 Sacrifice the beloved LaB6 and use filaments only. Lucky Gary, you have choices! Disclaimer: PST supplies Kimball LaB6 cathodes and filaments (not to N America). Cheers Jim Darley ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes www.proscitech.com
On Thursday, October 21, 1999 6:00 AM, Dr. Gary Gaugler [SMTP:gary-at-gaugler.com] wrote:
} Hello listers: } } I am looking to add an X-ray EDS system to my LaB6 SEM. } Feedback from users would be appreciated. } } Here are my main details: } } No LN2 (cryo cooled) } Application is determination of composition of microcircuit areas: } 1) passivation (PSG, nitride ) } 2) metal (Al/Si) } 3)poly-Si (poly Silicon) } 4) dry oxide (SiO2) } } would like to run on a PC with Win95/98. Ease of use is important, } price is not a major factor. Sensitivity and accuracy are paramount. } } thanks, } gary g. }
First, I'd like to say that tissue fixed in formalin often doesn't look very good at TEM-levels.
My method is not quick, but here it is anyway incase no one has a quick way:
1. Put tissue (my tissue is 5mm X 2.5mm X 2.4mm in size) into saline or buffer after the formalin fix. The saline/buffer should be the same temp. as the fix, fast changes in temp. can cause buckling of membranes. Put samples on a rotator of some kind for 30 min.
2. Change the solution to 50% ethanol for 30 min. (leaving on the rotator to allow for faster infiltration)
3. Follow this by 4-15 min. changes in: 70%, 95%, and 100% ethanol respectively.
4. Place the tissue into propylene oxide for 20 min.
5. Place the tissue into propylene oxide/ Spurrs (1 to 1) for 2 hrs.
6. Place into 1 part propylene oxide/ 2 parts Spurss for 2 hrs. or longer (can go overnite)
7. Place into 100% Spurrs 4 hrs. or longer
8. Place into fresh Spurrs and embedd (I put them into a 45 degree C oven for 3 days, then into a 60 degree oven for one day).
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 never had to embed tissue in Spurr, since I do SEM, however I have } a kit since I use it to make replicas for SEM. Now, one of our faculty } has asked me to embed some tissue samples for him today. They are } currently in Formalin. Does anyone have a (hopefully) quick and easy } protocol for this? } } Thanks in advance. } } Ron } lherault-at-bu.edu } } } } } }
Electron -Microscopist Postdoc Fellowship: call for Applicants
A fellowship is available at the laboratory of Electronic Materials and Engineering (EME), University of Barcelona. A PhD or Similar Experience in the field of Electron Microscopy and related techniques is needed (preferable in the field of semiconductor materials and structures for devices).
The candidate will collaborate in TEM analysis of semiconductors and electronic ceramics. In principle, duration of the fellowship is one year, but it can be extended to a second year. Selected candidate ought to join the group on an immediate basis.
People interested is required to contact, before Novembre 15th to the following address:
Dr. Alejandro Perez-Rodriguez or Dr. Albert Romano-Rodriguez Departament d'Electronica Facultat de Fisica Universitat de Barcelona c/ Marti i Franques, 1 E-08028 Barcelona, SPAIN Tel 34 93 4029069/4021147 Fax 34 93 4021148 e-mail: perez-ro-at-el.ub.es, romano-at-el.ub.es Prof. Albert Romano-Rodriguez Dept. of Electronics Faculty of Physics University of Barcelona c/ Marti i Franques, 1 E-08028 BARCELONA Spain tel: +34-93-402 90 69 FAX: +34-93-402 11 48 e-mail: romano-at-el.ub.es
Eric, While I have extensive experience with yeast, I have little experience with fixing/embedding yeast within animal tissue. However,I would bet that your problem results from poor infiltration of your resin. The yeast cell wall is very difficult to get resin through and yeast cells that are processed with their walls on often fall out of the sections or appear 'crushed'. One thing to try is a low viscosity resin. Also, when we embed yeast with their walls on we treat them with sodium metaperiodate, this treatment breaks some of the wall linkages making it more permeable to the resin (LR White or Spurrs in our case). I don't know what metaperiodate treatment will do to your animal tissue - probably nothing. If you want to give it a try, you can check out the protocol at genome-www.stanford.edu/group/botlab Good luck
Jon Mulholland Botstein lab/ Stanford Univ.
On Thu, 21 Oct 1999, Eric J Tarcha 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'm looking for advice from anybody that has successfully fixed fungal yeast } cells in animal tissue. I am currently working with a thick-walled yeast that } tends to crush in the tissue because of reasons unknown. I have played with } the osmolarity of the fixative, as well as the dehydration time, both to no } avail. The fixitives I have tried are trump's(4F:1G), and a 2.5% glut. } fixitive. Some of the cells improved with the addition of sucrose to the } fixitive, but there was still alot of crushed, hollow cells. If anybody has } advice on the process or a good recipe for this kind of sample it would be } appreciated. } } Eric Tarcha } Medical Technology } Michigan State University } tarchaer-at-msu.edu } }
} You could just abandon the dessicant and rely on the rotary pump....works } for us on a number of systems, and I'd be doubtful of how much extra } advantage you get from the dessicant, especially in a short time. } Sally Stowe }
The same is true for our EM. Since over 9 years, films are dried over night by means of a rotary pump, without using any desiccant. Works fine for us - even for cryo EM.
Dr. Reinhard Rachel Universitaet Regensburg Lehrstuhl fuer Mikrobiologie (Prof. Dr. K.O. Stetter) D - 93040 Regensburg Tel.: +49-941-943-4534 Fax.: +49-941-943-1824 e-mail: Reinhard.Rachel-at-biologie.uni-regensburg.de
Ron: My protocol to get to Spurr's is as follows: post fix in osmium 45 min 50% ethanol 10 min 70% eth 10 min 95% eth 10 min 2 changes 100% eth 10 min each 1:1 Spurr's/ 100% eth 10 min spurr's 15 min spurr's 10 min Cure overnight at 70 deg. C Don't know how "quick and easy" it wil be compared to others protocols, but I find it easy to use and the time fits nicely into my lab's routine. Hope it helps, Wanda Shotsberger Harris Methodist FW Fort Worth TX
---------- } From: Ron L'Herault To: 'Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com' -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
I have never had to embed tissue in Spurr, since I do SEM, however I have a kit since I use it to make replicas for SEM. Now, one of our faculty has asked me to embed some tissue samples for him today. They are currently in Formalin. Does anyone have a (hopefully) quick and easy protocol for this?
Hi, Does anyone have any advice on embedding media for immunogold labeling of proteins at the TEM level? I am preparing plant tissue for immunolabeling, and weighing my options carefully. I have used medium grade LR White polymerized at -20C with UV in the past, and found that although the antigenicity of the tissue is markedly superior to Spurr's embeded tissue, the quality of tissue preservation/appearance leaves a lot to be desired. I've recently come across two methods that give me pause. One uses soft grade LR White polymerized at 60C and shows micrographs of tissue that greatly resembles Spurr's or Epon/Araldite embedded tissue. Could the soft grade be the difference? The second (Brorson, S-H. Micron. 29(2/3):89) reports that high-accelerator epoxy resin plus antigen retrieval results in immunolabeling as good, if not better than LR White with preservation/appearance of tissues equal to epoxy. Has anyone tried this in general with plant tissue or tried applying to other resins (the author of that paper uses LX-112)? I would appreciate any advice that you have on the subject. Thanks, Kristen Kristen A. Lennon Cell, Molecular & Developmental Biology Group Department of Botany & Plant Sciences University of California Riverside, CA 92521 kalen-at-citrus.ucr.edu
We have a system simular to what you have discribed. Photometrics Sensys CCD camera and capturing single or series images via a power mac with IPLab (Scanalytics software) or photoshop plugin. When we upgrade we would like to go to a G4 Mac and a fire wire camera. We have been extremely happy with the Photometrics/Mac combination. Very little down time.
Bob U of Washington Morphology Core Lab
On Thu, 21 Oct 1999, Prof. Ishi Talmon wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Dear Microscopists, } } We are looking into replacing an old Galai CUE-4 system. The new set up } should include a new CCD camera attached to our light microscope, } "feeding" single frames to a Macintosh, possibly one of the new iMacs or a } G3/G4 computer. The Mac platform is the one of choice, as we use Macs to } run DigitalMicrograph with our TEM CCD camera, and to process images. } } I wonder whether any of you have a set-up similar to what we would like to } install in our lab, and could give us some advice. } } Thanks! } } Ishi Talmon } Dept. Chem. Engng. } Technion-Israel Inst. of Technology } } } }
This method is fine for monolayers and very small slivers of tissue, but infiltration times need to be lengthened for larger pieces of tissue and anything with cell walls, such as yeasts. For 1 mm cubed biopsies, we dehydrate 2x in 100% EtOH for 15 min (more changes for yeasts/plants), and do 2 changes of 100% Spurr for at least 30 min before fresh Spurr and baking. Bigger tissue pieces, and hard-to embed materials, need more changes and longer times.
On Fri, 22 Oct 1999, Shotsberger-Gray, Wanda wrote:
} Date: Fri, 22 Oct 1999 10:07:00 -0500 } From: Shotsberger-Gray, Wanda {WandaShotsberger-Gray-at-hmhs.com} } To: Ron L'Herault {lherault-at-bu.edu} , } "'Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com'" {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} } Subject: RE: Spurr embedding } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Ron: } My protocol to get to Spurr's is as follows: } post fix in osmium 45 min } 50% ethanol 10 min } 70% eth 10 min } 95% eth 10 min } 2 changes 100% eth 10 min each } 1:1 Spurr's/ 100% eth 10 min } spurr's 15 min } spurr's 10 min } Cure overnight at 70 deg. C } Don't know how "quick and easy" it wil be compared to others protocols, but } I find it easy to use and the time fits nicely into my lab's routine. } Hope it helps, } Wanda Shotsberger } Harris Methodist FW } Fort Worth TX } } ---------- } } From: Ron L'Herault } To: 'Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com' } Subject: Spurr embedding } Date: Thursday, October 21, 1999 9:24AM } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 never had to embed tissue in Spurr, since I do SEM, however I have } a kit since I use it to make replicas for SEM. Now, one of our faculty } has asked me to embed some tissue samples for him today. They are } currently in Formalin. Does anyone have a (hopefully) quick and easy } protocol for this? } } Thanks in advance. } } Ron } lherault-at-bu.edu } } } } } }
Sara E. Miller, Ph. D. P. O. Box 3020 Duke University Medical Center Durham, NC 27710 Ph: 919 684-3452 FAX: 919 684-8735
Thanks to all who sent me Spurr protocols. I won't know how sucessful I was until later in the week. I'll keep the group posted.
Ron ----- Original Message ----- } From: Shotsberger-Gray, Wanda {WandaShotsberger-Gray-at-hmhs.com} To: Ron L'Herault {lherault-at-bu.edu} ; {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} Sent: Friday, October 22, 1999 11:07 AM
Every expert predicts this coming holiday season will blow the lid off e-commerce and establish Internet shopping as THE preferred shopping experience for tens of millions of buyers around the world - what are YOU doing to GET NOTICED?
We will Submit YOUR Website to Over 17,000 Search Engines, Ad Sites, Links and More!!!!
Free site promotion services deliver what you pay for them... NOTHING! Our service is NOT free - however our bonus submission and FREE AUTORESPONDER make it seem that way!
If you have tried all of the "free" web site promotion gimmicks and have not seen a steady increase in the flow of web traffic to your business site --you are not alone!
Review a very unique approach to both high precision -and- mass submission commercial web site promotion!
It's NOT free -- It's NOT a gimmick -- It DOES work!
85% of web surfers use search engines and directories to find commercial web sites - like yours. You can do something to work the search engines and GET NOTICED!
Special Features!: 15,000+ sites including all major search engines Repeat submissions included Redirect "Gateway Page'" E-Mail Kick Start Bonus submission ...more! JUST ADDED: FREE Progressive Autoresponder!!!!
Take a minute and find out how. Simply CLICK on OR cut and paste the following website address into your website browser:
http://3488535307/members/webpro/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ For removal from this list simply call FREE. 1 800 409 8302 ext 1273 and leave your email address OR send an email with the word "remove" somewhere in the email to: ganttmo-at-post.com You will not receive any more mailings from us!
There has been a huge rash of spam coming down the lines the last few days. I expect even more with the end of the year holidays coming since I've noticed alot of "new" bulk emailers sites are turning up. They are mainly trying to sell you "stuff".
Just for your own information, I keep a records/files of the spammer's Email domain names and KeyWords used by the spammers. These files are check by the filter each time a message comes through for the server. If a message comes from a potential host which has sent or relayed spam (and that particuliar address is not on the "exceptions list") or a suspect keyword is found then the message is rejected and an Email message sent back to the originator. The exceptions file is a list of addresses which for various reasons trigger the filter but are actually valid subscribers. If the filtering software sees that an address is on exceptions list then the message is allowed to pass through.
Since one does not know in advance all possible addresses of spammers and new ones are creeping in everyday, some spam will always get through. As I see a new "address" it is added to the file and the same site should not (in principle) get through a second time.
Occasionally a few of you inadvertantly caught because of a match of similiar domain names, key words in the subject lines, etc... If this happens please follow the directions in the return mail. I will see to it that your "individual" address is added to the exceptions so that your posts can get through. or advise your of what needs to be done.BTW it is not realistic to put the entire subscription list on the exceptions file since the subscribers list changes daily.
Also while I've got your attention please remember 2 other things.
1.) Never send an attachment of any kind. 2.) Never set your Email program to send embedded HTML this is for 2 reasons a). Text only Email programs get mounds of {html} code in the message which makes it almost unreadable. b.) Embedded html is sometimes sent with code that fingers the message has having an "attachment" this will be picked up by the filter and your message will be rejected Microsoft Outlook Express Users are the most likely to have this last problem/option . You may disable it under your references options just set your program to SEND in PLAIN TEXT not HTML.
ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS =46OR YOUR BUSINESS AND INCREASE YOUR PRO=46ITS 30%-50% !
INTERNET STORE=46RONT HOMEBASED OR MAIL ORDER BUSINESSES
WE SPECIALIZE IN HELPING THE SMALL BUSINESS OWNER! AND YOUR =46IRST AND LAST MONTH LEASE PAYMENT IS =46REE YOU CAN GET STARTED =46OR ONLY $9.95 !!! I=46 YOU CALL IN THE NEXT =46IVE DAYS YOU WILL RECEIVE:
NO APPLICATION =46EE NO PROGRAMMING =46EE
DON'T =46ORGET TO ASK ABOUT OUR WEB HOSTING AND DESIGN PACKAGE=
!!!
CALL (888) 264-9272 OUR HOURS O=46 BUSINESS ARE 9AM - 6PM MST
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// / Please remove at mailto:p.deen-at-angelfire.com?subject=3Dremove //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////=
ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS =46OR YOUR BUSINESS AND INCREASE YOUR PRO=46ITS 30%-50% !
INTERNET STORE=46RONT HOMEBASED OR MAIL ORDER BUSINESSES
WE SPECIALIZE IN HELPING THE SMALL BUSINESS OWNER! AND YOUR =46IRST AND LAST MONTH LEASE PAYMENT IS =46REE YOU CAN GET STARTED =46OR ONLY $9.95 !!! I=46 YOU CALL IN THE NEXT =46IVE DAYS YOU WILL RECEIVE:
NO APPLICATION =46EE NO PROGRAMMING =46EE
DON'T =46ORGET TO ASK ABOUT OUR WEB HOSTING AND DESIGN PACKAGE=
!!!
CALL (888) 264-9272 OUR HOURS O=46 BUSINESS ARE 9AM - 6PM MST
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// / Please remove at mailto:p.deen-at-angelfire.com?subject=3Dremove //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////=
ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS =46OR YOUR BUSINESS AND INCREASE YOUR PRO=46ITS 30%-50% !
INTERNET STORE=46RONT HOMEBASED OR MAIL ORDER BUSINESSES
WE SPECIALIZE IN HELPING THE SMALL BUSINESS OWNER! AND YOUR =46IRST AND LAST MONTH LEASE PAYMENT IS =46REE YOU CAN GET STARTED =46OR ONLY $9.95 !!! I=46 YOU CALL IN THE NEXT =46IVE DAYS YOU WILL RECEIVE:
NO APPLICATION =46EE NO PROGRAMMING =46EE
DON'T =46ORGET TO ASK ABOUT OUR WEB HOSTING AND DESIGN PACKAGE=
!!!
CALL (888) 264-9272 OUR HOURS O=46 BUSINESS ARE 9AM - 6PM MST
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// / Please remove at mailto:p.deen-at-angelfire.com?subject=3Dremove //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////=
Mary Gail Try to get the youngest (smallest) crayfish possible and cut off the antenna just after the animal molts. Cut cross-sections of the antennae and place them in the fix on a stirrer-shaker. A stirrer-shaker for processing and then vacuum infiltration during embedding should be helpful. Joan
On Thu, 21 Oct 1999, Mary Gail Engle 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 Listers, } } I have a customer studying nerves at the TEM level in crayfish. He has } given me the } } antenna to cut and because of the thick cuticle, good fixation & } infiltration is a real problem. The tissue was infiltrated over a 3 day } period with increasing amounts of resin and embedded in an embed } 812/Araldite mixture. The embedded sample was holey and the tissue that did } remain had terrible morphology. Does anyone out there have any suggestions } as to how to improve morphology and get the tissue well infiltrated? } } Any ideas will really be appreciated. } } Thank you, } } Mary Gail Engle } } Electron Microscopy & Imaging Facility } } University of Kentucky } } } } }
Dear List, Is there any problem with fixing and embedding macrophages using standard protocols (GA,etoh,propylene oxide, P.O.parts epon etc), because of enzymes etc on the surface. We seem to have fix/infiltration problems.
Hi all, we have just discovered that the isolation valve on our In-lens field emission Hitachi Model S5000 has a leak. Hitachi engineers recommend that we replace the unit. Potential cost $20K(aus). The fault may simply be a piece of dust on the O-ring. I am, as you may imagine, fairly reluctant to order one and find I do not need it.
Has anyone else run in to a similar problem with their system? How easy is it to dismantle the S5000 column and check the isolation valve O-ring?
Thanks in advance. Colin MacRae ************************************************************************ Electron Microscopy Group
CSIRO Minerals Colin.MacRae-at-minerals.csiro.au
O Box 312, Clayton South, Ph. 61 3 9545 8800 Vic, 3169 Fax 61 3 9562 8919 AUSTRALIA
EM units WWW site http://www.minerals.csiro.au/em-unit/ *************************************************************************
It is a tedious but relatively easy procedure not to be undertaken by the inexperienced, incompetant and/or faint of heart . I just replaced one and the cost was 1/2 day of replacment and three days of pumping down. After explaining to Hitachi what I had done, they "shook their heads".
First, order the parts: "O" ring, two 6 inch conflats flanges, four 3/4 inch conflats. Use ultra-high vacuum techniques: clean tools and gloves in a clean environment, cover everything with aluminum foil when not re-assembling. The idea is to dis-assemble and remove the column in one piece below the isolation valve.
1. Turn off ion pumps. 2. Open all three side manifold valves.(right side of column) 3. Vent gun and specimen chamber. 4. Once fully vented, turn off diff pump or turbo pump. 5. Turn off "display power" and "evacuation power". Unplug SEM. 6. Remove High voltage cable and column shrouds. 7. Remove ion pump cables. 8. From SEM rear, remove ion pump magnets and heaters and related mounting hardware. 9. Dis-connect remaining heater wires. 10. Disconnect the vacuum manifold at the bottom valve. 11. Look for any remaining hardware that would prevent you from removing the column.
At this point we need to lift the column from the SEM. I use a 3 ft X 4 ft ( 50 cm X 90 cm ?) cart, covered it with foil and placed it next to the column. I usually clean all the column from dust using a dry paintbrush then follow with a towel immersed in alcohol.
12. Locate the four column nuts located below the isolation valve but above the specimen chamber. There is a "recess" at this area for these nuts. 13. Remove the two nuts closest to the rear of the SEM. (12 -13 mm open end wrench). 14. Using four people: three to lift, one to unbolt the remaining two nuts while supporting the rear of the column assembly. Do not let the column tilt unless necessary. 15. Lift column, ion pumps without magnets, etc onto the table. 16. Support the Column using whatever packing foam etc. Cover with foil to avoid dust. 17. Remove the sixteen nuts from the column bottom, exposing the isolation valve and replace the "O" ring. 18. Clean all isolation valve area.
Reverse above procedure and re-assemble column. Pump down and rebake the column in accordance with the procedure outlined in the Hitachi manual.
A word of caution in several areas: Do NOT attempt to access the isolation valve from the side. The isolation valve is NOT accessible here. You may damage the bellows. Do NOT adjust the isolation valve rod. It is factory adjusted and should only be adjusted if the rod is replaced. If it is adjusted it is not the end of the world just tedius to adjust. Use common sense: do not place column on it side so as to bend the isolation valve or otyher components.
I should probably put a disclaimer here that the above procedure is done at you own risk . You would be surprised at the people who ask for advice only to screw it up then expect you to fix it for free.But then again I live in California home of the free and attorneys.
Contact me if you need other info.
Good luck,
Earl
Colin MacRae 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, } we have just discovered that the isolation valve on our In-lens field } emission Hitachi Model S5000 has a leak. Hitachi engineers recommend that } we replace the unit. Potential cost $20K(aus). The fault may simply be a } piece of dust on the O-ring. I am, as you may imagine, fairly reluctant to } order one and find I do not need it. } } Has anyone else run in to a similar problem with their system? How easy is } it to dismantle the S5000 column and check the isolation valve O-ring? } } Thanks in advance. } Colin MacRae } ************************************************************************ } Electron Microscopy Group } } CSIRO } Minerals Colin.MacRae-at-minerals.csiro.au } } O Box 312, Clayton South, Ph. 61 3 9545 8800 } Vic, 3169 Fax 61 3 9562 8919 } AUSTRALIA } } EM units WWW site http://www.minerals.csiro.au/em-unit/ } *************************************************************************
The University of Michigan Materials Science and Engineering Department has the following machine available.
Hitachi S-800 FEG SEM with GW Electronics Microchannel Plate BSE detector and Macintosh-based 4pi Analysis digital image acquisition system. Instrument purchased new in 1988 and maintained under service contract until Sept., 1999: $70,000. For further information call (734) 764-3357.
_______________________________________ Anne E. Huber Ph.D., Instrument Analyst Materials Science and Engineering Dept. The University of Michigan 2300 Hayward St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2136 ahuber-at-umich.edu (734)764-3357 _______________________________________
Can anyone recommend a diamond knife suitable for obtaining thin sections of Iron catalyst particles ? I currently have a Microstar SU knife with 2 mm length and 45 degree angle. After using it only once on the catalyst powder embedded in spurr's resin, I found that the edge was already scratched. Did I choose the wrong knife for this kind of work ?
Sincerely W. Erasmus
Willem Erasmus Snr. Scientist, Basic Catalysis Research Sasol Technology Tel : +27 +16 9604211 Fax : +27 +16 9602826 E-mail : willem.erasmus-at-sasol.com
Hello All This is probably one of those questions where everyone has there own version but is 1% and 2% OsO4 in phosphate buffer solutions stable at cool (20-22 C) room temperature? We want to store the double container- para filmed solutions in the hood so we can do away with an old refrigerator but the the only other refrigerator for the use of buffers and glutaraldehyde chemicals is shared with an immuno-histotech that logically does not want the osmium in there at all. SPI alludes to keeping the diluted stock refrigerated, but the MSDS's we have states room temp or cooler. Our safety people don't know except what the MSDS says. Thanks ahead for any help. P.S. Does CAP regulations have any additional requirements?
Here is another source for a review of the Intel/Mattel QX3 Computer Microscope.
San Jose Mercury News, 10/24/99, page 1E, or www.siliconvalley.com/computing.
The article is by Mike Langberg, Merc's computing editor. It has a couple of pictures. Title is something like 'Kids' microscope doesn't bear close inspection'. He didn't like it, thought a conventional microscope gave kids a better view of the micro world. I thought he might have been kind of hard on it, but to each his/her own.
Jonathan Krupp Microscopy & Imaging Lab University of California Santa Cruz, CA 95064 (831) 459-2477 jmkrupp-at-cats.ucsc.edu
Listers, Could someone please point me towards a reference for measuring the thickness of a Carbon evaporative coat on polished brass. I have tried a search and found nothing. I am looking for something I can cite in a proceedure, and thought I saw one listed here some time ago.
Sarah A. W. Lundberg Microbeam Facility Analyst Office (702) 895-1134 University of Nevada, Las Vegas Lab (702) 895-2660 4505 Maryland Parkway Box 454010 email lundberg-at-nevada.edu Las Vegas, NV 89154-4010 Fax (702) 895-4064
Home : 4489 De Forest Street Las Vegas, NV 89103 (702) 871-9635
Sarah A. W. Lundberg Microbeam Facility Analyst Office (702) 895-1134 University of Nevada, Las Vegas Lab (702) 895-2660 4505 Maryland Parkway Box 454010 email lundberg-at-nevada.edu Las Vegas, NV 89154-4010 Fax (702) 895-4064
Home : 4489 De Forest Street Las Vegas, NV 89103 (702) 871-9635
Personally, I prefer to use fresh OSO4 diluted from the 4% water stock solution stored in the glass ampoules under argon in the dark at +4oC. At such conditions OSO4 is stable for at least a year even longer. I had some experience to store 2% OSO4 in 1x PBS at -20oC. I used NUNC 2 or 10 ml Cryo Tubes with (probably) silicone seal ring. At -20oC OSO4 vapors do not penetrate those tubes. To be double sure, I stored NUNC tubes in the 15 ml regular tissue culture polypropylene (?) tubes sealed with PARAFILM. At such conditions I stored OSO4 solutions in our Lab's refrigerator without any problems for a few months. As my knowledge, storing OSO4 in PBS is not a good idea. Frozen 2-4% water solutions (to be diluted 1:1 with 2x PBS for using) can be used instead with great success. Such stocks in full tubes (minimal amount of air) are stable for about half of year, even longer. Of coarse, all OSO4 solution must be store in the dark.
Good luck, Sergey
} Date: Mon, 25 Oct 1999 09:33:47 -0500 } From: "rlvaughn-at-unmc.edu"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: Storage of Osmium tetroxide } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } X-MIMETrack: Serialize by Router on UNMCNOTES/Servers/UNEBR(Release } 5.0.1b|September 30, 1999) at 10/25/99 09:33:54 AM } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Sergey Ryazantsev Ph. D. UCLA School of Medicine Department of Biological Chemistry Box 951737 Los Angeles, CA 90095-1737
We have some users who are interested in using our new LEO 912 EFTEM for looking at meteorites. They are interested in purchasing an ion mill for thinning their samples. I would like to invite information and opinions from anyone regarding the current mills, and I would especially like to hear from vendors; I found many of their web sites had reply forms that didn't work!
Mahalo, 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* ****************************************************************************
We have users of our Hitachi S-800 FESEM who are interested in a couple of accessories (and are willing to pay for them!). I would like to collect info and opinions about backscattered electron detectors and about cryostages for this instrument. Vendors are welcome to reply.
Please reply offline; I will relay messages to any other interested parties offline as well.
Mahalo, 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* ****************************************************************************
Does anyone use this type of processor to embed tissue into Embed 812? We're having trouble with our stack of rings sticking in the transfer vial almost every time the machine moves the stack from one reagent vial to the next. We've tried new rings and vials and made sure the stack was straight. We're afraid to process overnight because of the hangups. There doesn't seem to be any pattern as to when the stack gets stuck. Any suggestions?
} Dear List, } Is there any problem with fixing and embedding macrophages using } standard protocols (GA,etoh,propylene oxide, P.O.parts epon etc), because } of enzymes etc on the surface. We seem to have fix/infiltration problems. } } Mike D. -
You'll have to be a bit more detailed if you want something more specific than a long lecture on basic procedure. Have you prepared macrophages successfully in the past with the same protocol? What kinds of problems? How old are your "epon" components? Do you use DMP-30 or BDMA as the accelerator?
Caroline Schooley Project MICRO 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/PMHomePage.html Intertidal invertebrates: http://www.fortbragg.k12.ca.us/AG/PCI/pci.html
Can anyone suggest a source for low viscosity, high temperature epoxy adhesive, good to better than 600 F? I'm told that Epon828 will do the trick, but have no idea who makes it or where to get it.
Rick: Parafilm will not seal well enough and in any case, the oxygen within the vial will be trouble. As most of us have experienced, Os vapour penetrates plastic caps when stored in a freezer. I think that your options are another fridge or only purchase made-up osmium in small vials for use without further storage after opening. The commercial solutions are totally sealed in glass and stored under N2. Cheers Jim Darley ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes www.proscitech.com
On Tuesday, October 26, 1999 12:34 AM, "rlvaughn-at-unmc.edu"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com [SMTP:"rlvaughn-at-unmc.edu"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com] wrote: } } Hello All } This is probably one of those questions where everyone has there own } version but is 1% and 2% OsO4 in phosphate buffer solutions stable at cool } (20-22 C) room temperature? We want to store the double container- para } filmed solutions in the hood so we can do away with an old refrigerator but } the the only other refrigerator for the use of buffers and glutaraldehyde } chemicals is shared with an immuno-histotech that logically does not want } the osmium in there at all. } SPI alludes to keeping the diluted stock refrigerated, but the MSDS's we } have states room temp or cooler. Our safety people don't know except what } the MSDS says. } Thanks ahead for any help. } P.S. Does CAP regulations have any additional requirements? } } Rick Vaughn } rlvaughn-at-unmc.edu }
W. Erasmus wrote: ================================================= Can anyone recommend a diamond knife suitable for obtaining thin sections of Iron catalyst particles ? I currently have a Microstar SU knife with 2 mm length and 45 degree angle. After using it only once on the catalyst powder embedded in spurr's resin, I found that the edge was already scratched. Did I choose the wrong knife for this kind of work ? ================================================== We have been cutting "hard" materials, including catalysts of all types for nearly thirty years. Taking a new pristine diamond knife from any manufacturer, after the first "slice", there will be some striations, on these kinds of samples. And the more you section, the more will be the number of striations. Remember if just "touching" the edge with your finger can damage the edge, this should not be all that surprising, especially if what is being cut is iron powder.
Even before we entered the business of offering the knives ourselves, we had the experience of trying out knives from all of the major manufacturers and never saw any significant difference in the wear rate, on these kinds of samples, vendor to vendor, everything else (e.g. knife angle) being equal.
The real question however, has to do with just how deep are these striations and will they be sufficiently profound to ruin the chances of getting good sections. To be able to cut these kinds of samples with minimal creation of striations which are of minimum size is something that comes only from experience, technique, the samples themselves and how they are embedded, and perhaps even the ultramicrotome being used. You will get the best block for cutting if the samples are vacuum embedded. This won't reduce the wear on the knife edge, per se, however, it should enable you to get acceptable sections faster by using fewer knife "passes", and therefore resulting in less wear on your knife. Another hint would be to use a "harder" resin, such as SPI-Pon™, 812 or some of the other "Epon substitute" resin formulations.
Chuck
Disclaimer: SPI Supplies distributes the SPI Materials Science Diamond Knives and also sections these kinds of "hard" samples, for others, as a service for a fee.
============================================
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.spi.cc ######################## ============================================
After years of keeping osmium tetroxide solutions in a refrigerator I = finally tried another method. For over a year now, I have been keeping = aqueous solutions (up to 4%) at RT in a chemical hood, in a closed glass = bottle with no noticable problems. I also have a clean 'fridge.
If you are going to keep the aldehydes in a 'fridge, then make sure they = do not share with immunochemicals or tissue culture supplies. What = happens with the osmium will also happen with the aldehydes, they just do = not turn the sides of the "fridge black. Seriously, the aldehyde fumes = have the potential to fix protein solutions that are stored close by. = After all, that is what we want them to do.
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
I am planning on studying microscopy as a hobby and for the education of my children. To that end, I just purchased a used American Optical microscope and I am looking for any and all information on this manufacturer and the history of their instruments. I haven't taken possession of the microscope yet and I understand that it does not have the original papers/instructions for care, etc. with it.
It is a binocular microscope which I believe is a Series 10. It has a mechanical stage, under-stage condenser, a reverse terret with 4 objective lenses (4x, 10x, 45x, and 100x), and 15x wide-field eyepieces. It also has a #1051 power supply for the illuminator.
If there are any knowledgeable members of the society out there who can give me some information on this piece of equipment and its history, I (and my daughters) will be very grateful.
Those interested in the history thread ought to note the book
"Picture Control" - The Electron Microscope and the Transformation of Biology in America, 1940 - 1960.
By Nicolas Rasmussen
Stanford University Press, Stanford, CA 1997
ISBN 0-8047-2837-2
Nicolas is now a lecturer at UNSW in Sydney, where I chanced on his excellent book.
Dr. Mel Dickson, Deputy Director, The Electron Microscope Unit, Adjunct Associate Professor, School of Microbiology & Immunology The University of New South Wales Sydney, Australia. Phone +612 9385 6383 Fax +612 9385 6400
Those of you who are curious about the new toy microscope should read the review by the computing editor of the San Jose Mercury News (Silicon Valley's daily paper) at http://www.mercurycenter.com/svtech/computing/docs/ml102499.htm . He says that it has a CMOS chip, 288x352 pixels, & that the image is very high contrast. He also says that it's difficult to focus.
Caroline Schooley Project MICRO 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/PMHomePage.html Intertidal invertebrates: http://www.fortbragg.k12.ca.us/AG/PCI/pci.html
I'm not sure about the usefulness of ion mills for meteorite work. We do quite a bit of this, and I find that FIB preparation is the best. Certainly with brittle samples you want to minimise polishing & mechanical thinning if possible, and the FIB allows us to cut a membrane wherever we want. However, it depends on the size of your sample and what information you require. We are usually concerned with micrometeorites collected from flight experiments or from Antarctica.
-----Original Message----- } From: Tina Carvalho [mailto:tina-at-pbrc.hawaii.edu] Sent: Monday, October 25, 1999 11:44 PM To: Microscopy Listserver
Hello, all-
We have some users who are interested in using our new LEO 912 EFTEM for looking at meteorites. They are interested in purchasing an ion mill for thinning their samples. I would like to invite information and opinions from anyone regarding the current mills, and I would especially like to hear from vendors; I found many of their web sites had reply forms that didn't work!
Mahalo, 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* ****************************************************************************
} I'm looking for advice from anybody that has successfully fixed fungal
} yeast } cells in animal tissue. I am currently working with a thick-walled } yeast that } tends to crush in the tissue because of reasons unknown. I have } played with } the osmolarity of the fixative, as well as the dehydration time, both } to no } avail. The fixitives I have tried are trump's(4F:1G), and a 2.5% } glut. } fixitive. Some of the cells improved with the addition of sucrose to } the } fixitive, but there was still alot of crushed, hollow cells. If } anybody has } advice on the process or a good recipe for this kind of sample it } would be } appreciated. } } Eric Tarcha } Medical Technology } Michigan State University } tarchaer-at-msu.edu
I know nothing about fungi in animal tissue, but a lot more about fungi in plant tissue. Fungal cell walls seem to be less permeable to fixatives than plant cell walls and , of course, no comparison to animal
cells, also, young cells are easier to prepare than older stages. Are you sure that the yeast cells are alive and in good condition in the animal tissue?
Our prepartion protocoll for fungal infected plant tissue is: 2,5% buffered glutaraldehyde for 1 h, washing steps, then 0.5 -1% Osmiumteroxide, buffered, for 1 h at room temperature. Dehydration in ethanol or acetone, embedding in LR-White or Epon. We get better structural preservation if we dehydrate in the cold (PLT-Method): 1,5 h at zero (Grad Celcius) in 30% Ethanol, 1,5 at -20 in 50% Ethanol, overnight at -35 in 70% EtOH, 1,5 h at -35 in 100% EtOH. We cut very small samples if the tissue is difficult. Good Luck!
Anne Heller
---- Dr. Anne Heller, AG Elektronenmikroskopie, Institut f=FCr Botanik (210), Universit=E4t Hohenheim, Garbenstra=DFe 30 D-70593 Stuttgart
Attention List Members: RONTEC USA, Inc. is presently conducting a search for a Product Manager for its X-ray Microanalysis Group located in Acton, Massachusetts. If you have extensive SEM and EDX experience, are a US citizen and meet the job requirements of this position and wish to apply, please send a personal resume' and letter to: RONTEC USA, Inc.20 Main StreetActon, MA 01720Attn: Human Resources Written responses only. To view the job description, please go to: www.rontecusa.com “Employment Opportunities”.RONTEC USA is a subsidiary of the premier German EDX system manufacturer RONTEC AG. The growing RONTEC Group specializes in EDX detectors and analyzers of advanced technology, microanalysis and X-ray imaging software for SEM and TEM.
MAMAS will be meeting at NIST on Thursday, November 4, 1999 from 10:15am until 3:00pm. There will be coffee and doughnuts and two speakers. All are welcome. See below for details.
-- John Henry
John Henry J. Scott Bldg 222/Rm A113 NIST Microanalysis Research Group 100 Bureau Drive Stop 8371 (301) 975-4981; (301) 417-1321 FAX Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8371
ANNOUNCEMENT ------------
Mid-Atlantic Microbeam Analysis Society (MAMAS) Meeting
at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Gaithersburg, MD
on
Thursday, November 4, 1999 10:15am -- 3:00pm
Lecture Room E, Administration Building
10:15am: Coffee and Doughnuts
10:30am: Scott Walck, PPG Industries "The Small Angle Cleavage Technique"
Noon: Lunch
1:00pm: Joseph R. Swider, NIST Microanalysis Research Group "Micro X-ray Fluorescence of Particles Using a Laboratory X-ray Tube and Polycapillary Optics"
directions to the NIST campus can be obtained from the NIST website at: http://www.nist.gov/public_affairs/maps/nistmaps.html
for more information, contact John Henry Scott (NIST): (301) 975-4981 (301) 417-1321 FAX email: johnhenry.scott-at-nist.gov
Hi everyone. I am searching for an old part out of a Philips EM 400. The backing valve to the Diff pump and the buffer tank has failed. The bellows in it broke. It was originally made by Edwards. It is a Pipeline Valve Model PV 10. A P is also indicated behind the label PV 10 but stamped in not printed on. It is a small, simple Pneumatic straight valve with a bellows.
I have contacted Edwards and of course they don't have or make these anymore. The problem replacing this is the fittings or connections to it. They are of the large thread type(sorry don't know the proper name) not the KF type fittings that are commonly used now. I understand that the old old 400s used a different valve assembly. This is a "newer" 400 relatively speaking of course. I am hoping that someone has parts off an old 400 laying around that they would be willing to part with. My other course of action is to replace this valve with one readily obtainable which in turn will cause me to change other parts connected to this. Thanks everyone.
Joel McClintock U of Kentucky (606) 257-1242 jmcclin-at-pop.uky.edu
The rationale for storage of osmium tetroxide at 4 C has everything to do with oxidation and reduction. In fact, I never store osmium tetroxide in buffer. I keep a stock of 4% osmium tetroxide in distilled water at 4C, dilute to desired strength in appropriate buffer (only enough for the immediate processing) at time of use. Any buffered osmium tetroxide has a tendency to reduce to osmium dioxide and turn black, even at 4 C. Osmium tetroxide, including the stock will reduce fairly rapidly at RT (even 20-22 C). I know it is a bother, but we have managed to minimize the contamination of the fridge by double or triple containment (place the stock bottle inside one or two other larger containers). Hasn't completely stopped the problem, but it does minimize the general blackening of everything.
Roger Moretz Dept of Toxicology
} -----Original Message----- } From: "rlvaughn-at-unmc.edu"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } [SMTP:"rlvaughn-at-unmc.edu"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com] } Sent: Monday, October 25, 1999 10:34 AM } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: Storage of Osmium tetroxide } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } This is probably one of those questions where everyone has there own } version but is 1% and 2% OsO4 in phosphate buffer solutions stable at } cool } (20-22 C) room temperature? We want to store the double container- para } filmed solutions in the hood so we can do away with an old refrigerator } but } the the only other refrigerator for the use of buffers and glutaraldehyde } chemicals is shared with an immuno-histotech that logically does not want } the osmium in there at all. } SPI alludes to keeping the diluted stock refrigerated, but the MSDS's we } have states room temp or cooler. Our safety people don't know except what } the MSDS says. } Thanks ahead for any help. } P.S. Does CAP regulations have any additional requirements? } } Rick Vaughn } rlvaughn-at-unmc.edu }
Charles Brown wrote: =================================================== Can anyone suggest a source for low viscosity, high temperature epoxy adhesive, good to better than 600 F? I'm told that Epon828 will do the trick , but have no idea who makes it or where to get it. =================================================== M-Bond® 610 is a two component epoxy-phenolic resin adhesive system that, according to the manufacturer, when properly cured, has the following operating use ranges:
Short Term: -452°to +700°F (-269°to +370°C) Long Term: -452°to +500°F (-269°to +260°C)
More information can be found on the SPI Supplies website given below. Many persons asking for an epoxy seem to have been able to use the epoxy- phenolic system. SPI of course is a "source" for M-Bond 610 adhesive.
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.spi.cc ######################## ============================================
Dear all, About a week ago a posted a question regarding color CCD camera's for LM to this list. I promised than to send a summmary of the responses and here it is. I have also included a message on the same subject from the confocal e-mail list. To start with the original question is repeated here. Again many thanks to all who responded.
Original message:
We are in the stage of evaluating color CCD cameras for light microscopy use and would be very grateful for information and suggestions. I know this is a recurrent issue on this list and therefore I went trough the list archives. The most recent discussion I found was from a year ago and since there are quit some developments in this field, I guess there must be new information around.
The camera we are looking for will become part of our general light microscopy facility and will function in a multi-user / multi-application environment. It will be mainly used for imaging of histochemical and immunocytochemical stained tissues and cells -including imaging for quantitative image analysis-, but also for imaging of fluorescent signals in fixed or living cells and tissues grown on either glass or in plastic dishes. The camera should hence be suited for imaging in different modes: normal bright field, phase contrast, DIC and/or modulation contrast, dark field, epi-polarization and (to a lesser extend) also for fluorescence imaging but not for low signals.
The operation of the camera should be user friendly; most importantly it should offer a "fast focussing mode" (~ 10 frames a second) in either b/w or (preferably) color on the whole image or part thereof.
Resolution should at least be 1400x1000 real pixels (no color or pixel interpolation).
Whe now all this is very demanding and rules out already a lot of cameras. We concluded that what we need is a 36 bit RGB cooled camera with an interline transfer CCD and liquid cristal color filter. Are we correct in this? What are the advantages/disadvantages of this type of camera as compared to "normal three chip color CCD cameras"? Has anyone already used these types of cameras (three chip and interline single chip) in a setup as described above. More specific: any user comments on the CoolSNAP from Roper Scientific? Has anyone already seen the new SPOT RT from Diagnostic Instruments and can comment on it? Suggestions for other cameras?
Replies:
Is 1400 x 1000 pixels sufficient?
Check out these URLs for good info on different models and the DVC 1300 series camera.
http://www.epixinc.com/epix/
http://www.dvcco.com/dvc_1300.htm
gary g. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi there,
I have evaluated the following:
1. use of digital input to computer requires frame grabber.
2. affordable frame grabber takes PAL or S-VIDEO input
3. such signals have maximum 700 x 500 pixels (or a couple of pixels more)
4. ccd camera does not have to produce too much more quality than that
5. single chip camera technically sufficient for still images
6. half-inch chip sufficient and technically matching image size projected from microsope through c-mount
7. microscope needs c-mount adapter to fit standard c-mount bearing of standard ccd camera
8. c-mount adapter with double oculars costs more than ccd camera
9. high resolution pictures are very nice, only the 1.6x enlargement has
problems because camera picks up slight irregularities in lighting not noticeable before
the first camera seller convinced me to spend much more money. anyway, we spent about 1800 sfr on the camera, and about the same amount for the leica c-mount adapter. i got a sony 1/2 inch single chip ccd-camera with pal output (color), and a ix-turbo-tv card (pci card for macintosh) for the video input along with a c-mount adapter for the microscope. the whole set works beautifully, except with things that this microscope can not do, such as producing high quality low magnification pictures.
the input i get is good enough for regular frame grabbing purposes, and perfect for the work that we do. we use differently stained light microscope with occasional polarization filters.
maybe this helps, good luck, wolf schweitzer md bern switzerland
Wolf Schweitzer wschweitzer-at-access.ch -------------------------------------------------------------------- Hello, My name is Robert Hocher and I work for a dealer sells Photometrics "coolSnap" and the SPOT-RT camera's. I also sell Hamamastu, Princeton, Optronics, and other HR digital camera's. What is your preference is operating system's Mc or PC Windows?? The CoolSnap is a good entry level
camera for Brightfield and very bright fluor..THe "RT" is just now being
released and I have no experience with it yet! I recommend staying with the Diagnostic Instruments SPOT-2e OR the Photometrics Sensys Color with
the enhanced Kodak KAF1401E chip. (Around $12500.00/each)Both camera's very good!! If you have alittle more money, than the Princeton Instruments MicroMax 5MHZ camera for $19500.00 is a very good choice with video output (25FPS). I can provide a quote to you, including image
analysis and digital camera solution if you want. I have prepared a list
of camera's I can forward as well! It shows QE% and specifications of alot of different cameras made today. What software are you using??MetaMorph/Optimas/Image Pro???...Phone 512-331-6685, Robert (rhocher-at-swbell.net) --------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear all, } We are in the stage of evaluating color CCD cameras for light microscopy
The LCD filter system you describe below uses a black and white ccd and the filter is used to achieve color by merging the 3 RGB images acquired separately.
} } use and would be very grateful for information and suggestions. I know this } is a recurrent issue on this list and therefore I went trough the list
} archives. The most recent discussion I found was from a year ago and since } there are quit some developments in this field, I guess there must be new } information around. } The camera we are looking for will become part of our general light } microscopy facility and will function in a multi-user / multi-application } environment. It will be mainly used for imaging of histochemical and } immunocytochemical stained tissues and cells -including imaging for } quantitative image analysis-, but also for imaging of fluorescent signals } in fixed or living cells and tissues grown on either glass or in plastic } dishes. The camera should hence be suited for imaging in different modes: } normal bright field, phase contrast, DIC and/or modulation contrast, dark } field, epi-polarization and (to a lesser extend) also for fluorescence
} imaging but not for low signals. } The operation of the camera should be user friendly; most importantly it } should offer a "fast focussing mode" (~ 10 frames a second) in either b/w } or (preferably) color on the whole image or part thereof.
The only way you can have a color preview at 10 frames per second with a digital camera is with a color ccd. All color ccds use interpolation to form the final image since individual pixels are masked with color filters. Color ccd cameras will never achieve the quality of image nor sensitivity you can get from a black and white ccd using LCD or glass filters to get color.
} } Resolution should at least be 1400x1000 real pixels (no color or pixel
} interpolation).
All the high resolution interline cameras except for the Spot RT use the Sony ICX-061 ccd. The ccd size of the ICX-061 is 1317X1035 in both black and white and color versions. One thing to remember here is that for a given magnification, a larger ccd does not give you any better image quality, all you get is a larger field of view.
The Spot RT uses a new ccd from Kodak and none of the cameras using that ccd have been released. Neuroscience USA in Miami will probably debut several cameras using that ccd.
} } Whe now all this is very demanding and rules out already a lot of cameras. } We concluded that what we need is a 36 bit RGB cooled camera with an } interline transfer CCD and liquid cristal color filter. Are we correct in } this? What are the advantages/disadvantages of this type of camera as } compared to "normal three chip color CCD cameras"?
The only cooled 3ccd cameras I am aware of use three 1/2 " ccd and are analog cameras with digital our. Analog cameras are limited to 8 bits per channel or 24 bit color. If your fluorescence requires more than one second exposure, you will need a cooled camera at least to 20 degrees C below ambient.
} Has anyone already used } these types of cameras (three chip and interline single chip) in a setup as } described above. More specific: any user comments on the CoolSNAP from
} Roper Scientific? Has anyone already seen the new SPOT RT from Diagnostic } Instruments and can comment on it? Suggestions for other cameras? } Please send me your comments and suggestions "off-line". I will be hapy to } send a summary to the list.
We have not yet seen the Spot RT. This may be a good camera. We have seen the Optronics Magnafire (www.optronics.com) and can highly recommend this camera. The two packages we strongly recommend are: 1)Cooke Sensicam (www.cookecorp.com) with Image-Pro Plus from Media Cybernetics and the CRI LCD filter system. 2)Hamamatsu Orca with Metamorph from Universal Imaging and the CRI LCD filter system.
But, if you want the best image quality for your money, check out www.apogee-ccd.com and remember that the faster your camera reads out, the more noise in your image.
Hope this helps. Shane Collins Imaging Specialist Scientific Instruments
This mail raised additional questions, which follow now together with Shane Collins' respons:
} The only way you can have a color preview at 10 frames per second with a digital } camera is with a color ccd. All color ccds use interpolation to form the final } image since individual pixels are masked with color filters. Color ccd cameras will } never achieve the quality of image nor sensitivity you can get from a black and } white ccd using LCD or glass filters to get color. The Magnafire form Optronics and the Spot RT from Diagnostic instruments do "promise" this in their brochures and without pixel interpolation. Or didn't I read between the lines? Do you have information that these camera's can not fullfill what is promised? } We have not yet seen the Spot RT. This may be a good camera. We have seen the } Optronics Magnafire (www.optronics.com) and can highly recommend this camera. Could you tell me a bit more why you highly recommend it? Any price indication? } The } two packages we strongly recommend are: 1)Cooke Sensicam (www.cookecorp.com) with } Image-Pro Plus from Media Cybernetics and the CRI LCD filter system. As I understand it, the SensiCam color does work with color interpolation (R, G and B pixels). Am I correct? Price indication? } 2)Hamamatsu } Orca with Metamorph from Universal Imaging and the CRI LCD filter system. I did not think about these camera's because to me they are the "top of the line" and consequently they are very expensive. Am I wrong on this? } But, if you want the best image quality for your money, check out www.apogee-ccd.com } and remember that the faster your camera reads out, the more noise in your image. Do you refer to the KX 85 camera (or any other camera of the KX series). Could you tell me a bit more why you think this camera gives the best image quality for our money?
Shane Collins answers to my additional questions: } The Magnafire form Optronics and the Spot RT from Diagnostic instruments do "promise" } this in their brochures and without pixel interpolation. Or didn't I read between the } lines? Do you have information that these camera's can not fullfill what is promised? The Magnafire uses a motorized filter wheel to change the glass filters. The speed of the filter wheel does not allow for the quick change necessary to change filter positions with enough speed to get multiple frames per second. Or at least that is what I experienced with the beta version camera. However, I may be incorrect in regards to the Spot RT. The LCD filters are capable of changing color fast enough to allow for 20 frames per second provided the computer can keep up. Cambridge Research (www.cri-inc.com) makes LCD filters that we use for variety of cameras. They have filters for black and white video cameras that give color preview in close to real time. Since we still need to take three pictures and merge them together to get a color picture from a black and white ccd, it makes sense that the frame rate for color would be 1/3 the frame rate of the black and white. That is unless Diagnostic Inst. have developed some camera electronics not previously available. Two comments on frame rate and LCD filters. A frame rate of 5, 10, or 20 frames per second is assuming that you have enough light to fill the electron wells to a level where signal to noise is high. In microscopy that is bright field mode most often. During fluorescence, the frame rate is exposure time plus read out time. With non intensified ccd you can expect the exposure time for fluorescence to range between 500 miliseconds to several seconds. The exposure time is clearly the limit to your frame rate. LCDs for RGB acquisition are only 40% efficient in light transmission and are not very useful for low light applications such as fluorescence.
Therefore, we usually take black and white images in fluorescence and colorize them with look up tables. The glass filters in the Magnafire transmit much better and can be used to acquire real color images in fluorescence. This feature could be quite useful in an auto fluorescence sample. } Could you tell me a bit more why you highly recommend it? Any price indication? The price should be around $12500 and uses a standard C mount so no expensive adapters are required. The Magnafire has a fast preview, is extremely easy to use in fluorescence, has built in coloroizing software, and is hot plugable so you can connect the camera to any computer that has a firewire port, turn it on and start taking pictures. No computer cards are required so you can connect to a laptop directly. } As I understand it, the SensiCam color does work with color interpolation (R, G and B pixels). Am I correct? Price indication? No, The SensiCam is a black and white ccd and you would merge three monochromatic images together to get color. There is no color interpolation with this method. Each pixel in each of the three images has its value express in the final image. The only adjustment is in color balance. } } 2)Hamamatsu } } Orca with Metamorph from Universal Imaging and the CRI LCD filter system. } I did not think about these camera's because to me they are the "top of the line" and } consequently they are very expensive. Am I wrong on this? No! you are quite right. The Sensicam with CRI and IPP will cost $26k. The Orca with CRI and Metamorph will cost $25k. But, with either of these systems you will have full image analysis capability and the Orca combination could be upgraded through software to do intracellular calcium measurements. } Do you refer to the KX 85 camera (or any other camera of the KX series). Could you tell } me a bit more why you think this camera gives the best image quality for our money? Yes, the KX 85 uses the same Sony CCD found in the Sensicam and Orca and therefore has the sensitivity and QE as those expensive cameras. And it is cooled to a lower temperature than the Orca. If you were only interested in fluorescence, the KX85 would work fine by itself for $6700. To add color you need the $3000 color filter option. But, your price is still under $10,000. The only negative to the KX85 is in the preview speed. You use the KX85 more like you use a film camera rather than a video camera. We sold KX 85s to UCLA, UCSF, Cal Tech, City of Hope, and many biotech companies, perhaps 14 so far this year in California. In summary, the best image quality for the least amount of money is probably the Cool Snap at $5000. The best image quality for the money is probably the KX85 at $10,000. The best all around camera for ease of use and multi user labs for fluorescence and brightfield is either the Magnifire or the Spot RT. Until I have the Magnifire in a demo next to the Spot RT, I won't know which is better. --------------------------------------------------------------- My colleague, Bill Delaney sent me your email message. My name is Harris Miller. I left Polaroid one year ago and now work with Bill in making microlenses for many interesting companies. Before leaving Polaroid, my
responsibility was color filter arrays for CCDs and CMOS image sensors. I was also part of a group that has built and is in the process of building several digital microscope cameras. Currently, I believe that Polaroid has the closest to what you want. I believe that Polaroid and Phillips are the only companies making "frame transfer" CCDs. Everyone else makes "interline transfer" CCDs. There is no difference in image quality. Everybody also uses color filter arrays (CFA) under the $120,000 range. The reason for this is otherwise, you have to optically cement three different CCDs to within 2.5 micron accuracy on a rather expensive piece of glass. However, Polarid uses linear filters. This means there is NO color interpolation in the vertical direction. Therefore, a true megapixel sensor (1,000,000 active pixels) produces file sizes in two different modes: 1.4 mg and 5.5 mg. We also completed a thermoelectrically cooled digital microscope camera which is capable of extremely long exposures. I don't know if this camera meets all of your needs, but I wish I had one here in our cleanroom.
Try www.polaroid.com website. Hope this helps.
Harris Miller 704 887 3155 ----------------------------------------------------------------- We demo'd the new Spot RT camera last week. It was really quite impressive. The specifications are on the web at: http://www.diaginc.com/spotrts.htm It is a supstantial improvement over the older Spot and Spot-2 cameras in that focusing is much closer to real-time and on the whole image...in B&W or color. Capture is also quite fast. There is substantial ability to control all camera features regarding exposure, gain, color balance, etc. It also is available for either MAC or PC. It is also a true 12-bit camera with resolution at 1520 x 1080 optical resolution. Actual capture speed depends on computer, video card, sample brightness, color or monochrome, and final resolution but can reach 12 frames/sec on color
and 19 frames/sec for monochrome. Price ranges from about $7500 to $12500 without adapter tubes for specific microscopes and a computer. Although
venders are not likely to have the camera at the moment (the company rep
did our demo), they should get them soon. It is certainly worth the wait to test it out before making a purchase of another camera. I have also demo'd the CoolSnap. It is a very nice camera .possibly the best at the lower end of the cost spectrum. (approx. $6000+ adapter tubes, etc.) 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 --------------------------------------------------------------- Sounds like you may have already ruled out our choice, the Pixera. It will do up to 1280x1024, but is a little slower in that mode. I understand the technology is not interpolation, as such, but rather some shifting of the optics. Focusing is reasonably fast under the version 2.0 software.
We chose it since we are a general purpose materials lab and wanted a versatile camera. Yet we do not have so much demand for it to justify a large expenditure. If you are doing serious imaging, you probably need to more extensive cameras and you might as well get as much as you can now afford. ---------------------------------------------------------------- We have had excellent results using an Optronics DEI-750 CCD camera with a FlashPoint 128 video frame grabber for both fluorescence and bright field images. I understand the newer CCDs are even better and less expensive. The Optronics cameras are usually distributed via your Nikon and/or Olympus rep. Although I have not used an Optronics MagnaFire digital ccd camera, I have heard great comments about it and would definitely request a private demo. Specifications can be obtained at: www.optronics.com
Best regards, Robyn Robyn Rufner, Ph.D. Director, The Center for Microscopy and Image Analysis Ross Hall, Suite 406 Adjunct Associate Professor, Anatomy and Cell Biology THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY 2300 Eye Street, N.W., 431 Ross Hall Washington, DC 20037-2337 Voice: (202) 994-2881 Fax: (202) 994-8885 Internet: anarrr-at-gwumc ----------------------------------------------------------------- Concerning using 6 bit cameras -- 6 bits are ok if you take full advantage of those 6 bits, but they leave you no room for error, and too little dynamic range.
Within this thread, someone asked about the DVC-1300 camera. I apologize
for not having the original post. In any case...
I have installed a DVC-1300C (the color version of the camera -- it also is available as a monochrome imager). The camera uses a Sony 1300x1000 pixel (give or take a few) CCD. It is a digital camera, produces a 12 bit/color output, and they are straight enough to admit that only 10 bits are meaningful. It is uncooled. You get up to 12 frames/sec.
Ours is coupled to an Epix digital frame grabber. The software is decent, and they have TWAIN and Image Pro drivers. The software control panel supports various integration modes and also fast shuttering (it is a line transfer CCD, so there is no need for a mechanical shutter). We have no problem seeing immunofluorescence and FISH. And this is with the color imager. The mono version will be much more sensitive. Integration times up to a few seconds can be done, without too much dark signal, even through it is uncooled. Moreover, you can raise the gain to focus and get a fast image, and then lower the gain and integrate when you like what you see. We like it, and bought a second one.
I believe that in most situations it will be more than adequate, although sometimes a cooled CCD will certainly do better.
However, if you are mainly doing fluorescence, then a mono imager is better than a color imager with color filters built into the CCD. You will find that in the price range of the DVC-1300 w/frame grabber (about $7000-$7500), you can find cooled monochrome imagers (check out Apogee systems cameras). If you want to add color capability later, many camera manufacturers let
you add on a CRI liquid crystal tunable filter (LCTF) to "convert" their
camera to acquire color images. If you want something inexpensive that can make excellent images, check out Electrim cameras (they are only digital). But then be prepared to write some software to take full advantage of those cameras. There is a paper in Optical Engineering from at least 5 years ago (sorry, I dont have the ref handy) which shows that in many cases successive digital integration of images from a conventional video rate camera can work as well as on-chip integration. It depends on the readout noise of the camera system. But, if you dont sync on the pixel clock (and cheap cameras often dont have that available), then you get pixel jitter. I still think you are better off with a digital camera, if you have the budget.
--aryeh Aryeh Weiss | email: aryeh-at-optics.jct.ac.il Department of Electronics | URL: http://optics.jct.ac.il/~aryeh Jerusalem College of Technology | phone: 972-2-6751146 POB 16031 | FAX: 972-2-6751275 Jerusalem, Israel | ham radio: 4X1PB/KA1PB ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
END OF REPLIES --
Lauran C.J.M. Oomen Phd - Manager Digital Microscopy Facility Department of Biophysics The Netherlands Cancer Institute voice: +31 20 512 1887/1889 Plesmanlaan 121 fax: +31 20 512 1893 1066 CX Amsterdam email: oomen-at-nki.nl http://www.nki.nl/nkidep/biofys/microscopy/digmiclo.htm
We have a BalTec RES 100 ion mill. I really like my machine after some of the initial bugs were worked out of it. It is very flexible to use and can be applied to work with SEM samples for both polishing and ion etching. There is a technique called slope cutting that allows layers to be exposed and beveled. I highly recommend it. Leica is the representative in the US. -Scott
-----Original Message----- } From: Tina Carvalho [mailto:tina-at-pbrc.hawaii.edu] Sent: Monday, October 25, 1999 5:44 PM To: Microscopy Listserver
Hello, all-
We have some users who are interested in using our new LEO 912 EFTEM for looking at meteorites. They are interested in purchasing an ion mill for thinning their samples. I would like to invite information and opinions from anyone regarding the current mills, and I would especially like to hear from vendors; I found many of their web sites had reply forms that didn't work!
Mahalo, 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*
Willem, We use only 55 degree angle knives for hard materials. I must say however that we take great care in minimizing the specimen particle size prior to embedding. We usually do this by extensive hand grinding with a small, hard, mortar and pestle. For me, I find that very hard materials that are likely to damage the diamond knife, will not grind smoothly or uniformly into a nice powder. This step is usually the point at which we make a decision to continue with the ultramicrotomy prep, or try something else. Another aid to microtomy of hard materials is the infiltration of the embedding resin into the structure of your material. If possible, we use LR White (hard) or similar acrylic resins because of the wetability that many materials have with these resins. LR White often gives us great infiltration without the aid of vacuum. For materials that require epoxy resins, I also use Spurr's resin first but always with vacuum infiltration; again try to match specimen hardness as appropriate. Another point, don't use your favorite knife for microtomy of hard materials. At least test on an old knife that is ready to go back for resharpening. I've had a few surprises over the years when I thought all was well, only to have a chunk of the knife to disappear! Good Luck, Brad BPAmoco
} ---------- } From: Erasmus, Willem (WJ)[SMTP:willem.erasmus-at-sasol.com] } Sent: Monday, October 25, 1999 9:10 AM } To: 'microscopy-at-msa.microscopy.com' } Subject: TEM Ultramicrotomy } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } } Can anyone recommend a diamond knife suitable for obtaining thin sections } of } Iron catalyst particles ? I currently have a Microstar SU knife with 2 mm } length and 45 degree angle. After using it only once on the catalyst } powder } embedded in spurr's resin, I found that the edge was already scratched. } Did } I choose the wrong knife for this kind of work ? } } Sincerely } W. Erasmus } } Willem Erasmus } Snr. Scientist, Basic Catalysis Research } Sasol Technology } Tel : +27 +16 9604211 } Fax : +27 +16 9602826 } E-mail : willem.erasmus-at-sasol.com } }
} Hi everyone. I am searching for an old part out of a Philips EM 400. The } backing valve to the Diff pump and the buffer tank has failed. The bellows } in it broke. It was originally made by Edwards. It is a Pipeline Valve Model } PV 10. A P is also indicated behind the label PV 10 but stamped in not } printed on. It is a small, simple Pneumatic straight valve with a bellows. } } I have contacted Edwards and of course they don't have or make these } anymore. The problem replacing this is the fittings or connections to it. } They are of the large thread type(sorry don't know the proper name) not the } KF type fittings that are commonly used now. I understand that the old old } 400s used a different valve assembly. This is a "newer" 400 relatively } speaking of course. I am hoping that someone has parts off an old 400 laying } around that they would be willing to part with. My other course of action is } to replace this valve with one readily obtainable which in turn will cause } me to change other parts connected to this. Thanks everyone.
Contact Ron Veil at Veil Electron Instrument Lab. He has parts for the 400. He is at 650 952 3099, 173 Santa Inez Ave., San Bruno, CA 94066.
Rick A. Harris, Director Microscopy and Imaging Facility Section of Molecular and Cellular Biology 1241 Life Sciences Addition University of California Davis, CA 530 752 2914 530 754 7536 fax http://katie.ucdavis.edu raharris-at-ucdavis.edu
} } I am planning on studying microscopy as a hobby and for the education of my } children. To that end, I just purchased a used American Optical microscope } and I am looking for any and all information on this manufacturer and the } history of their instruments. I haven't taken possession of the microscope } yet and I understand that it does not have the original papers/instructions } for care, etc. with it. } } It is a binocular microscope which I believe is a Series 10. It has a } mechanical stage, under-stage condenser, a reverse terret with 4 objective } lenses (4x, 10x, 45x, and 100x), and 15x wide-field eyepieces. It also has a } #1051 power supply for the illuminator. } } If there are any knowledgeable members of the society out there who can give } me some information on this piece of equipment and its history, I (and my } daughters) will be very grateful. } } Mike T. } maturco-at-aol.com
Mike -
Congratulations on your purchase and plans for the future! Your AO is a good, solid basic oldie. Fortunately for you, such scopes don't need model-specific instructions. The first book for you to purchase is Nachtigall, "Exploring with the Microscope"; see the MICRO bibliography (URL below) for ordering information. If you have further questions, please contact me.
Caroline Schooley Project MICRO 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/PMHomePage.html Intertidal invertebrates: http://www.fortbragg.k12.ca.us/AG/PCI/pci.html
I have an old EDAX 9900 here at ANL, whose Display Monitor has bitten the dust and I'm looking for a replacement.
If anyone has one they would like to part with please contact me off-line ASAP. I have a visiting student here who needs to get some work done and is only here for 2 months.
This is a special RGB Monitor with BNC connectors that is driven off custom display boards in the 9900. The monitor Model # is 38-DO5IMA-XI, made by ElectroHome (who has since been bought out by Conrac). This model is nolonger manufactured and the suggested replacement from Conrac (with no guarentee that it will actually work) is $1300 with 6 week delivery.
I've been trying various standard RGB monitors without success because of the sync "frequency" used the graphics display board.
Any help or suggestions of alternate monitors that people have found will be appreciated.....
BTW, I've also contacted EDAX and they are also looking for sources of replacements. The 9900 system is ~ 10 years old so spares are not necessairly off the shelf.
Thanks in advance...
Nestor
================================================================== Nestor J. Zaluzec Materials Science Division Building 212 Argonne National Lab 9700 S. Cass Ave Argonne, Illinois 60439 USA Tel: 630-252-7901, Fax: 630-252-4798 Email: Zaluzec-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov ================================================================== TPMLab: http://tpm.amc.anl.gov MMSite: http://www.amc.anl.gov ==================================================================
The box said "This program requires Win 95/98/NT or better..." so I bought a G3 Mac
Dear Tina, I am fortunate to have both a GW backscattered detector, which is the solid-state type, and a Robinson, which uses a fluorescent detector. Both are on Hitachi W filament SEMs. They have different strengths and weaknesses. The Robinson is brighter and will give you a picture with more contrast at lower beam currents. The GW is more sensitive to atomic number contrast, and with careful tuning will show you things the Robinson cannot, although at a higher beam current. Since your S-800 is a field-emmission, it might be somewhat restricted in total beam current output, so that might influence your choice. I have no experience with cryostages. At 11:48 AM 10/25/99 -1000, you wrote:
} Hello, microscopists- } } We have users of our Hitachi S-800 FESEM who are interested in a couple of } accessories (and are willing to pay for them!). I would like to collect } info and opinions about backscattered electron detectors and about } cryostages for this instrument. Vendors are welcome to reply. } } Please reply offline; I will relay messages to any other interested } parties offline as well. } } Mahalo, } Tina } 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 e-mail: mager-at-interchg.ubc.ca
At 09:50 AM 10/26/99 , you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
[big snip]
As is the case in most areas, there are tradeoffs here. I need high quality images that I can directly capture to computer and will provide real time video imaging. I'd like to get them for $5. Can't be done.
I settled on two options. Sony DKC-5000 "Cat's Eye" and the DKC-ST5. These are SCSI interface cameras with RGB+sync outputs to a color video monitor for real time preview and focusing, composition, etc.
The 5000 is a 1/2" CCD with 440,000 pixels with an effective image area of 795 x 598 pixels. In memory mode, the image is reduced to 738 x 576 pixels. These are 8-bit pixels per RGB color plane.
The ST5 effectively doubles the pixel dimensions of the 5000. The cost of the older 5000 is about $8K while the ST5 is about $15K. Using stitching software, either camera will produce the same final image. It just takes more shots with the 5000.
The main issue is how detailed and large of a final image do you want?
Hi, I'm trying stain stomata without success. My samples are claryfied at hypoclorite. Someone could help me? Thanks, Rejane Pimentel Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco Brazil Rejane Magalh=E3es Pimentel Galindo Functional Plant Morphology Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco ggalindo-at-elogica.com.br Av. Boa Viagem, 6592/602 51130-000 Boa Viagem
Dear Richard, I have two references by John Kuo on removing stain precipitates:
"A simple method for removing stain precipitates from biological sections for transmission electron microscopy" by John Kuo, Journal of Microscopy, Vol.120,Pt 2,November 1980, pp.221-224. and "Forming and Removing Stain precipitates on ultrathin sections", J.Kuo et al., Stain Technology, Vol.56, No.3, 1981, pp.199-204.
Also a brief note by H.Mollenhauer and D.Morre, 1978 "Contamination of thin sections, cause and elimination", in Electron Microscopy 1978, Vol.II, pp.78-79. (edited by J.Sturgess et al, Imperial Press, Ontario).
There is more than one method in these articles depending on the type of contamination, so I won't try to make a suggestion. Susan
================================================================= Susan Belfry Electron Microscopy Unit email: belfry-at-unb.ca University of New Brunswick phone: 506-453-4887 Bag Service No.45111 fax: 506-453-3583 Fredericton, New Brunswick, http://www.unb.ca/emunit E3B 6E1 Canada =================================================================
Of course this begs the question of why you are looking to get rid of a year old FEG SEM?
} The University of Michigan Materials Science and Engineering } Department has the following machine available. } } } Hitachi S-800 FEG SEM with GW Electronics Microchannel Plate BSE detector } and Macintosh-based 4pi Analysis digital image acquisition system. } Instrument purchased new in 1988 and maintained under service contract } until Sept., 1999: $70,000. For further information call (734) 764-3357. } _______________________________________ } Anne E. Huber Ph.D., Instrument Analyst } Materials Science and Engineering Dept. } The University of Michigan } 2300 Hayward St. } Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2136 } ahuber-at-umich.edu } (734)764-3357 } _______________________________________ }
Richard E. Edelmann, Ph.D. Electron Microscopy Facility Supervisor 352 Pearson Hall Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056 Ph: 513.529.5712 Fax: 513.529.4243 E-mail: edelmare-at-muohio.edu
} Does anyone know of the method of removing lead citrate post stain } artifacts. I remember there is a protocol but can't seem to find it. } Richard Gardiner } Agriculture Canada
Richard, There are 3 references in the EMS catalog (pg 30). One listed is: Kuo, J., et al(1981). Forming and removing stain precipitates on ultrathin sections. Stain Technol., 56:199
hope this helps, Beth
************************************** Beth Richardson EM Lab Coordinator Botany Department University of Georgia Athens, GA 30602
We have two instruments now in excess and available (best offer): a scanning electron microscope ISI40, and a transmission electron microscope Philips400, PW6585. If you are interested please contact: Pat Ashbaugh (ashbaugh.11-at-osu.edu) or Tea Meulia (meulia.1-at-osu.edu).
Tea Meulia Research Scientist Head Molecular and Cellular Imaging Center OSU/OARDC 1680 Madison Ave. Wooster OH 44691
We have a male post doc from Germany who would like to share a room with someone during the MRS meeting in Boston--November 30 - Dec 3. Please respond directly to my address and I will give him the replies as they come in. Thank you.
John C. Wheatley Lab Manager Arizona State University Center for Solid State Science PSA-213 BOX 871704 Tempe, AZ 85287-1704
We too use P2O5, but at a rate of about twenty 500g bottles a year (We go through around 90 - 100 boxes of Kodak SO-163 in that time). Each time the desiccator is opened, we use just enough powder to cover the surface of a six inch petri dish with a thin layer. When I saw Rick used only two bottles in ten years made me think that we are using too much.
What is the usage like in other labs?
Joan MicroSci-at-AOL.com
In a message dated 10/27/1999 11:19:31 AM, rlvaughn-at-unmc.edu-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com writes:
} We have been using P2O5 for over ten years and I think we're on our second } bottle so the amount going into the environment is negligible (on our } part). We have used silica and calcium dehydrants and they did not work } as } well or last as long. } To increase the longevity of the dehydrant and aid in keeping the film } and } container dry we also used dry nitrogen gas to evacuate the desiccator, } which is also connected to the scope for camera chamber evacuation. On } a } identical scope and desiccator with out the nitrogen we have much slower } cycle times, and the desiccant is exhausted more quickly. } The P2O5 is nasty to work with though so I will be interested in seeing } what other chemicals people come up with. } } Rick Vaughn
Perchance does anyone have a good wet etch to remove oxide (SiO2) and leave an underlying titanium silicide film intact? We have tried BOE 7:1 HF (buffered with ammonium hydroxide) and the results were crappy. We have also tried [48%] HF and had reasonable success but timing is very, very critical here. Anybody have any other suggestions???
Thanks!!! John W. Staman LSI Logic, LLCO Analytical Services 1-719-573-3282 (VM) 1-719-577-3127 (Pg.)
We have a user who wants his own double-tilt specimen holder, preferably with a Be cup for EDS work, for a Philips CM30T TEM. A holder from the 400 series TEMs should work fine. Does anyone have a used holder they'd like to sell? Please contact me directly. Thanks.
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Russell E. Cook, Ph.D. 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 cook-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov
I have a CoFe2O4 film on an MgO substrate. I am looking for a way to remove the MgO (chemically, mechanically, etc.)and leave behind just the CoFe2O4 film intact. To date I have been able to mechanically polish away all but about 15 microns of the MgO. When the MgO gets thinner than this it tends to just cleave and break up, and then break the CoFe2O4 film as well. I would be very grateful for any suggestions.
Thanks in advance,
Mick Thomas
---------------------------- Mick Thomas UHV-STEM Laboratory E-1 Clark Hall Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14853
We have a problem with our grids often being hydrophobic, even when used less than an hour after glow discharging.
The carbon film is deposited on nitrocellulose coated grids inside a relatively new turbopumped evaporator, so we hope there is no hydocarbon contamination there. Our glow discharge unit is kept clean and has a foreline trap - again we hope no contamination. When we glow discharge we typically pump for about twenty seconds and glow discharge for ten to twenty seconds.
Anybody have a similar experience or any ideas?
Thanks, Joan MicroSci-at-AOL.com
In a message dated 10/27/1999 11:22:21 AM, jubu-at-uclink4.berkeley.edu writes:
} Yuhui Xu asked: } ================================================ } Two questions: } 1. Which vendor sells formvar + carbon coated grids which are also } glow-discharged } ========================================================== } Hi Yuhui, } We make our own grids, means carbon coat them & also glow them before } use.We had the same problem of grids getting hydrophobic after 2 weeks. Try } this it works,after you glow them store grids in the refrigerator till you } need it .If you do this the grids remain hydrophilic even after a month.Get } your grids out before you need them & when your are done stick them back in } the refrigerator. } } Reena Zalpuri } EM Lab } UC Berkeley } E-Mail jubu-at-uclink4.berkeley.edu
The P2O5 goes further and lasts longer if you mix it with vermiculite.
The vermiculite gives the P2O5 a greater surface area and avoids the problem of useful oxide getting trapped under the phosphoric acid layer.....
Dr. Mel Dickson, Deputy Director, The Electron Microscope Unit, Adjunct Associate Professor, School of Microbiology & Immunology The University of New South Wales Sydney, Australia. Phone +612 9385 6383 Fax +612 9385 6400
We have two instruments now in excess and available (best offer): a scanning electron microscope ISI40, and a transmission electron microscope Philips400, PW6585. If you are interested please contact: Pat Ashbaugh (ashbaugh.11-at-osu.edu) or Tea Meulia (meulia.1-at-osu.edu).
Tea Meulia Research Scientist Head Molecular and Cellular Imaging Center OSU/OARDC 1680 Madison Ave. Wooster OH 44691
Subject: LWD objective lenses Hello all, I'm looking for LWD objective lenses with a WD} 9mm. The magnification should be {20 and the nA} 0.13. Can you please give me some more data of any microscope objective lenses? Thanks a lot, Kristiane ----------------------------------------------------------------------------= ---- ----- Kristiane Gans Leipziger Stra=DFe 44 ZENIT (Haus 65) Institut f=FCr medizinische Psychologie 39120 Magdeburg Germany Tel.: 0391 - 6117 - 106 =46ax: 0391 - 6117 - 103 Mail: Kristiane.Gans-at-medizin.uni-magdeburg.de Attachment converted: Zaluzec-0:Kristiane Gans.vcf (TEXT/R*ch) (00022DE0)
} We too use P2O5, but at a rate of about twenty 500g bottles a year (We go } through around 90 - 100 boxes of Kodak SO-163 in that time). Each time the } desiccator is opened, we use just enough powder to cover the surface of a six } inch petri dish with a thin layer. When I saw Rick used only two bottles in } ten years made me think that we are using too much. } } What is the usage like in other labs? }
Dear Joan, In the desicators where we use P2O5 we add ~ 1 Tsp/change (~10 g), and we change it once/day each day the film is changed. This works out to ~4 500 g bottles/year. Yours, Bill Tivol
I treat my grids for 10 minutes at 1.25 Amp with air leaking into a dp = system.
Ann Fook Yang EM Unit, Eastern Cereal and Oilseed Research Centre, Rm 2091, K.W. Neatby Bldg., Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0C6
Phone: 613-759-1638 Fax; 613-759-1701
} } } {"MicroSci-at-aol.com"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} 10/27 5:27 PM } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America=20
On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html=20=
We have a problem with our grids often being hydrophobic, even when used = less=20 than an hour after glow discharging.
The carbon film is deposited on nitrocellulose coated grids inside a=20 relatively new turbopumped evaporator, so we hope there is no hydocarbon=20=
contamination there. Our glow discharge unit is kept clean and has a=20 foreline trap - again we hope no contamination. When we glow discharge = we=20 typically pump for about twenty seconds and glow discharge for ten to = twenty=20 seconds.
Anybody have a similar experience or any ideas?
Thanks, Joan MicroSci-at-AOL.com=20
In a message dated 10/27/1999 11:22:21 AM, jubu-at-uclink4.berkeley.edu = writes:
} Yuhui Xu asked: } =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 } Two questions: } 1. Which vendor sells formvar + carbon coated grids which are also } glow-discharged } =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=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D } Hi Yuhui, } We make our own grids, means carbon coat them & also glow them before } use.We had the same problem of grids getting hydrophobic after 2 weeks. = Try } this it works,after you glow them store grids in the refrigerator till = you } need it .If you do this the grids remain hydrophilic even after a = month.Get } your grids out before you need them & when your are done stick them back = in } the refrigerator. } } Reena Zalpuri } EM Lab } UC Berkeley } E-Mail jubu-at-uclink4.berkeley.edu=20
Double distilled water comes up with alarming frequency in the electron microscopy literature. It is commonly mentioned in immunocytochemistry techniques but also seems to be popular with some workers for all techniques, especially staining
My suspicion is that purity is important but consistency is even more critical, especially for more demanding work such as e.m. cytochemistry, immunocytochemistry, DNA spreading etc.
Does anyone know of any literature or personal evidence about the superiority of double distilled water (pyrogen-free) and high quality de-ionised (low pyrogen but high resistance/low conductivity) water or is this more dogma? Has there been a FAQ on this subject that I have missed?
thanks Malcolm
Malcolm Haswell Electron Microscopy School of Sciences Fleming Building University of Sunderland SUNDERLAND SR1 3SD Tyne and Wear UK
Tel (0191) 515 2872 e-mail: malcolm.haswell-at-sunderland.ac.uk
We find that after two or three 30sec cycles of glow discharge in our Balzers Union CTA 010 our carbon coated grids are reasonably hydrophilic for about an hour. Even if sample droplets appear to spread well macroscopically there often small microscopic patches of hydro- phobicity. As a matter of routine we discharge again after an hour or so to promote uniform adherence. Don Gantz Biophysics Dept Boston Univ School of Medicine
A new and (I hope) simple question. We were lucky to borrow a CO2 critical point drying device, an older Balzer's CPD 020 for teaching purposes. It will stand in for an even older Bowmar 900 unit that used Freon which is no longer available. Part of the apparatus with the loaner is an in-line filter for CO2 that actually goes into the bomb for exchange. The filter is ostensibly to remove oil, water, and particulates from the CO2 which might compromise the CPD conditions or contaminate the specimen. The unit included is marked: Union Carbide high pressure filter, model SG 6140 which uses a removable cartridge which comes sealed in a ring pull can marked Union Carbide purifier cartridge part no. SG 6142. The holder is a well turned heavy duty brass cylinder which unscrews to allow the cartridge to be changed. The cartridge screws into the top of the holder and appears to be full of a desiccant resin bead of some sort.
Does anyone know of a source for the replaceable cartridges? Union Carbide's web page was no help at all and our purchasing specialists at the University haven't had any luck yet, either.
Thanks in advance for your help-
Regards, Bill Sharp William P. Sharp Arizona State University Dept. Plant Biology, box 871601 Tempe, AZ 85287-1601 Phone - (480)-965-3210 Fax - (480)-965-6899
One of our facilities has an ISI SX-40A SEM which is no longer needed. This microscope is operational, but has been out of service. It needs to be moved to a good home. For additional information, please contact: Gary Troyer Ferro Corporation Diamonite Division 453 W. McConkey Street Shreve, OH 44676 330-567-2145 troyerg-at-ferro.com
David Gnizak Ferro Corporation Technical Center 7500 E. Pleasant Valley Rd. Independence, OH 44131 gnizak-at-ferro.com
I may be looking for a used, but recent model, FESEM at a good price. A high vacuum model is fine. I need a motorized 5 axis stage and full computer control (Win95/98). Computer image capture is not a necessity but the scope must be able to accept the Soft-Imaging ADDA active/passive interface.
Thermally assisted FESEM is OK. A 4" chamber is highly desirable. Turbo pump is necessary. Reliable mechanical pump is required.
I would like to be able to use my Amray specimen stubs (3.1mm dia stubs, 12mm diameter).
The scope will also need to qualify for factory service/maintenance contract. I would plan on factory take down, crating and separate moving but factory re-install at my site (Sacramento, CA).
Dear Malcolm, As my knowledge, there are two types of water contamination, which important in EM and biochemical techniques: "organic" contamination (including the products of microbes degradation etc.) and CO2. Double distillation (preferably with quartz-distillator at the second stage) removes organic compounds from the water (especially if you add some potassium permanganate in the water). Fresh prepared distilled water (not necessarily "double"-distilled) does not contain CO2. Organic components are difficult to detect and they do not interfere with conductivity. Sometimes you may have very low conductive water still contaminated by phenols for instance. You may detect such contamination by checking UV spectra around 220-240 nm. From another hand, pure water exposed to the air for long period of time (couple of hours) will accumulate CO2 and becomes high conductive. Modern ion-exchange column water purification systems include the ion-exchange resins to remove inorganic components. To remove "organic" contamination activated charcoal were used. The resin itself may be a source of the "organic" contamination. Microbes or products of its degradation, also, may contaminate the tubing of the purification system down stream of the purification columns and sensors (therefore, this contamination does not detect by sensors). As for "Pyrogen/pyrogenity": people injected a couple milliliters of water into rabbit's blood stream and check the body's temperature. If the temperature is higher than normal - it mean that water is "pyrogenic".
The conclusion is: "cell culture grade" 18-20 MOhm/cm water from purification system (not bottled water) not necessarily "pure" enough for your particular application. It may contain some organic compounds including the product of microbes degradation, which may interfere with your protocol. Fresh double-distilled water in most cases is pure enough for most EM and biochemical applications. It, also, comes "sterile" because of boiling and "CO2 free". From another hand, I find that modern water purification systems provide water suitable for most EM and biochemical applications. If it is necessary, I remove CO2 by 20 min boiling or by bubbling of the He. Bottled "HPLC" or "Cell Culture" grade water from FISHER or any other biotech. Companies may be the solution, too.
Sergey
} Date: Thu, 28 Oct 1999 16:00:33 +0000 (GMT) } From: malcolm.haswell-at-sunderland.ac.uk (HASWELL Malcolm) } Subject: Water - to double distill or not? } To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com (Microscopy) } Organization: University of Sunderland } X-Mailer: Microsoft Mail via PostalUnion/SMTP for Windows NT } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Sergey Ryazantsev Ph. D. UCLA School of Medicine Department of Biological Chemistry Box 951737 Los Angeles, CA 90095-1737
I recall in a previous discussion someone said that they avoided de-ionised water as a failing system added unwanted material to the water.
Dave
On Thu, 28 Oct 1999 16:00:33 GMT HASWELL Malcolm {malcolm.haswell-at-sunderland.ac.uk} 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } Double distilled water comes up with alarming frequency in the electron } microscopy literature. It is commonly mentioned in immunocytochemistry } techniques but also seems to be popular with some workers for all } techniques, especially staining } } My suspicion is that purity is important but consistency is even more } critical, especially for more demanding work such as e.m. cytochemistry, } immunocytochemistry, DNA spreading etc. } } Does anyone know of any literature or personal evidence about the } superiority of double distilled water (pyrogen-free) and high quality } de-ionised (low pyrogen but high resistance/low conductivity) water or is } this more dogma? Has there been a FAQ on this subject that I have missed? } } thanks } Malcolm } } Malcolm Haswell } Electron Microscopy } School of Sciences } Fleming Building } University of Sunderland } SUNDERLAND SR1 3SD } Tyne and Wear } UK } } Tel (0191) 515 2872 } e-mail: malcolm.haswell-at-sunderland.ac.uk } }
---------------------------------------- Patton, David Email: David.Patton-at-uwe.ac.uk "University of the West of England"
Please advice me if there is any image processing and analysis system for SEM, Philips 500 series. Features needed: able to count numbers of predetermined objects / particles in a certain area and produce hard copy images.
Please advice me if there is any image processing and analysis system for SEM, Philips 500 series. Features needed: able to count numbers of predetermined objects / particles in a certain area and produce hard copy images.
Bill, why bother with that filter? If you get food-grade C02 (as is used to gas beer in hotels) no filter is required. Cheers Jim Darley ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes www.proscitech.com
On Friday, October 29, 1999 8:25 AM, William P. Sharp [SMTP:wsharp-at-asu.edu] wrote: } } } Hello, Listers - } } A new and (I hope) simple question. We were lucky to borrow a CO2 critical } point drying device, an older Balzer's CPD 020 for teaching purposes. It } will stand in for an even older Bowmar 900 unit that used Freon which is no } longer available. Part of the apparatus with the loaner is an in-line } filter for CO2 that actually goes into the bomb for exchange. The filter is } ostensibly to remove oil, water, and particulates from the CO2 which might } compromise the CPD conditions or contaminate the specimen. The unit } included is marked: Union Carbide high pressure filter, model SG 6140 which } uses a removable cartridge which comes sealed in a ring pull can marked } Union Carbide purifier cartridge part no. SG 6142. The holder is a well } turned heavy duty brass cylinder which unscrews to allow the cartridge to } be changed. The cartridge screws into the top of the holder and appears to } be full of a desiccant resin bead of some sort. } } Does anyone know of a source for the replaceable cartridges? Union } Carbide's web page was no help at all and our purchasing specialists at the } University haven't had any luck yet, either. } } Thanks in advance for your help- } } Regards, Bill Sharp } William P. Sharp } Arizona State University } Dept. Plant Biology, box 871601 } Tempe, AZ 85287-1601 } Phone - (480)-965-3210 } Fax - (480)-965-6899
Fisrtly, many thanks to all those who replied to my query about negative scanners. We still haven't got around to deciding, but at least I have the information.
I would like to recommend a scanner book which I recently acquired for our Polymer Group here in Reading. I'm not suggesting you all rush out and buy it immmediately, but if your department at work is considering buying a scanner or needs training in using one to best advantage, then I would recommend this as a departmental purchase.
You can find out about it on:
http://www.scantips.com/
and the book version in particular on:
http://www.scantips.com/book.html
It is called "A few scanning tips" by Wayne Fulton (from Texas) and costs about $22 (US) + shipping. It tells you all sorts of things you might want to know about scanning, from the simple basics to all sorts of things about PC settings, etc. Although it is based mainly on examples from Microtek scanners, the principles are applicable to all scanners, both flat bed and film.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 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 | +------------------------------------------------------------------------+
We have a two dessicator system for drying our films. One dessicator contains the driest plates to be used first and the other dessicator contains a second camera box of unused plates and previously opened packets of film. Each dessicator contains a thin layer of P2O5 powder in a standard sized petri dish. We check twice a week for degree of hydration and change when appropriate. Our dessicant consumption is four or five 500g bottles per year for 7,000 - 9,000 exposed films.
Don Gantz Biophysics Department Boston Univ School of Medicine
Hi, I have to sign service contract soon, and I have a question: Is it a usual practice (by manufacturer) to exclude EDS detector's windows from coverage, even as an option?
Vladimir
Vladimir M. Dusevich, Ph.D. Electron Microscope Lab Manager 3127 School of Dentistry 650 E. 25th Street Kansas City, MO 64108-2784
Does anyone know where to purchase Kainic acid, formerly Sigma K-0250? I understand that it it off the market and one of my friends is very much in need for their study. Thanks, Linda Fox lfox1-at-wpo.it.luc.edu
As I understand it, Philips had used Media Cy's Image-Pro Plus for a short period of time. Our research (M&M '99) shows that it is still the Number One off-the-shelf software on the market. It will easily do what you ask.
Caveat: MME has no financial interest in this product.
Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater productivity.
125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} ****************************************************** MME is America's first national consortium providing customized on-site workshops in all areas of microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis.
At 07:00 AM 10/29/99 -0500, Budi Widagdo wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Many thanks to all for numerous replays to my question! Unfortunately there is no simple way to print... So, for now I will just use screen capture, and it is not a good way to use our Fujix Pictrography 3000 printer with 3800*2759 print pixels. I just hope that PGT will be more user friendly in future and release file conversion utility (to do it by myself will be too time consuming).
Vladimir
Vladimir M. Dusevich, Ph.D. Electron Microscope Lab Manager 3127 School of Dentistry 650 E. 25th Street Kansas City, MO 64108-2784
} -----Original Message----- } From: Dusevich, Vladimir [mailto:DusevichV-at-umkc.edu] } Sent: Monday, October 18, 1999 10:34 AM } To: 'Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com' } Subject: Imix PC pictures } } } -------------------------------------------------------------- } ---------- } 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 } } -------------------------------------------------------------- } ---------. } } } After installation and working a lot with my new EDS systems (Imix PC) } from PGT, I am now preparing publications. And - surprise, surprise, - } I have found out that I cannot print good quality pictures (on } high quality printer which is not connected to our network)! } } The file format of stored images, RAS with overlays, cannot be read by } other programs. Of course, some of them can read RAS, but overlays } (with the most important information) are lost. } } The only advice I've got from PGT was to capture images from } the monitor. } But then I will have files with much lower resolution than } initial ones, } and this is certainly bad for high quality printing. } } All (if any) advises will be highly appreciated!!! } } Vladimir M. Dusevich, Ph.D. } Electron Microscope Lab Manager } 3127 School of Dentistry } 650 E. 25th Street } Kansas City, MO 64108-2784 } } Phone: (816) 235-2072 } Fax: (816) 235-5524 } }
do you need only processing or also acquisition form the microscope? Is passive acquisition sufficient, or do you need active acquisition? In any case, you may want to check out our web site for our ADDA II product and the analySIS software. We actually have a Philips 500 Series Microscope in our development facility, so I can gurantee that it works ;-).
If you tell me, where in the world you are located, I can also point you to the nearest contact.
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 1675 Carr St., #105N Lakewood, CO 80215 =================================== phone: (888) FIND SIS (303) 234-9270 fax: (303) 234-9271 email: mailto:info-at-soft-imaging.com web: http://www.soft-imaging.com ===================================
} ---------- } From: Budi Widagdo[SMTP:BDWDGD-at-CENTRIN.NET.ID] } Sent: Friday, October 29, 1999 3:14:17 AM } To: Microscopy Society of America } Subject: Images processing and analysis for SEM } Auto forwarded by a Rule } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Dear everybody,
Please advice me if there is any image processing and analysis system for SEM, Philips 500 series. Features needed: able to count numbers of predetermined objects / particles in a certain area and produce hard copy images.
I have a problem with my EDS detector installed with ESEM. I often use "wet" mode with water pressure up to 10 Torr. Detector is pretty cold (I think its temperature is about 12-15C) and it can lead to water condensation on its window. With time detector become colder and colder, and than - frosted. As a result I have had two window replacements in less than one year. Is this problem the usual thing for "wet" ESEMs? Are all new detectors colder than older ones (which are much thicker)?
Thanks,
Vladimir
Vladimir M. Dusevich, Ph.D. Electron Microscope Lab Manager 3127 School of Dentistry 650 E. 25th Street Kansas City, MO 64108-2784
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS, UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO
{smaller} A postdoctoral fellow position is available at the University of Illinois at Chicago for the development and application of novel STEM/TEM techniques to the analysis of metal-oxide interfaces and grain boundaries in metals. Research in the Interface Physics Group focuses on the use of atomic resolution imaging and analytical techniques in electron microscopy, coupled with theoretical simulations, to determine the structure-property relationships at internal interfaces on the fundamental atomic scale. Other related research programs within the group include ceramics, ionic conductors, high-Tc superconductors and semiconductor materials/devices, and it is expected that the successful applicant will work closely with the existing group members in these areas. =20
The experimental facilities to perform this research are comprehensive: a JEOL 2010 Field-Emission STEM/TEM featuring a 1.4=C5 probe size, "drift free" stage, high-angle annular dark-field detector (Z-contrast), Gatan Imaging Filter, Noran EDS, Gatan liquid nitrogen cooling stage, and Gatan heating stage; a VG HB601 Field-Emission dedicated STEM featuring a 2.2=C5 probe size and EDS and EELS capabilities; a JEOL 3010 conventional TEM with digital imaging capabilities and EDS; a JEOL 6320 =46ield-Emission SEM with EDS; and a JEOL JXA733 microprobe. In addition to the electron microscopes, specimen preparation facilities include a Gatan Duo-mill, Fischione precision ion-mill, SouthBay plasma cleaner and Leica Ultramicrotome. The Interface Physics Group has a Silicon Graphics R10000 Power Indigo workstation with the Molecular Simulations' Cerius 2 package incorporating the CASTEP pseudopotential code. The physics department has additional workstations and access to the UIC Convex Exemplar Supercomputer and the National Center for Supercomputing Applications at UIUC. =20
Successful candidates will be recent Ph.D. graduates in physics, metallurgy, or materials science with a sound background in the relevant materials issues and an ambition to be part of a developing program pushing at the frontiers of interface physics. Please send a resume and publication list to Professor Nigel D. Browning at the address below. Prior experience in STEM or TEM is essential. =20 However, consideration will be based on the candidates overall potential for success in the field and applicants with prior experience in related fields are encouraged to apply. Positions are for one year initially, normally renewed for a second year with possibilities existing for further years. Salary is commensurate with experience.=20 UIC is an equal opportunity employer.
We have a very limited amount of protozoan sample which appear to have virus-like particles within the cells, but we need to know more conclusively if the particles are virus before we continue. Does anyone know of a method using EM to identify virus in tissue? We presently have material available and could run either a pre or post embedding technique.
William McManus Supervisor Electron Microscopy Facility Department of Biology Utah State University Logan UT 84322-5305
At 08:00 AM 10/29/99 , you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
From what I have researched, check out Soft-Imaging and their analySIS and ADDA system.
How big an image do you normally acquire? In an earlier reply I talked about the limitations of printers for the number of pixels. Another issue would be the amount of noise in any given pixel for the amount of time dwelt there. I fear that if the resolution is pushed too far that the noise in the pixels would be so high that you would need to average them with their neighbors to get the noise down, and then you might have well scanned fewer pixels for a longer time to begin with.
Comments?
At 11:07 AM 10/29/1999 -0500, you wrote:
} Many thanks to all for numerous replays to my question! } Unfortunately there is no simple way to print... } So, for now I will just use screen capture, and it is not } a good way to use our Fujix Pictrography 3000 printer with } 3800*2759 print pixels. } I just hope that PGT will be more user friendly in future and } release file conversion utility (to do it by myself will be too } time consuming). } } Vladimir
Cambridge Healthtech Institutes Fourth Annual Advances in MOLECULAR LABELS, SIGNALING & DETECTION: Enhancing Sensitivity, Accuracy, and Speed June 12-13, 2000 The Capital Hilton Washington DC
Extending the limits of assay sensitivity and accuracy, while also meeting the demand for greater throughput and/or lower cost, requires tightening engineering specifications, but also acquiring innovative techniques and systems. The development of new probes and labels, homogeneous assay designs, and approaches which allow for the direct detection of compounds or specific binding events are having an impact in basic research, diagnostic and drug development segments. Novel fluorescent and luminescent technology are also critical for the implementation of greater speed and automation. Advances in miniaturization, including microarrays, are having a significant impact in meeting these goals. These advances are being applied to the detection, quantification and localization of gene sequences, proteins, infectious organisms, contaminants and a variety of other targets.
Researchers are encouraged to submit a proposal for presentation. Recommendations for other speakers to be considered are also welcomed. Potential topics include novel developments and new methods for:
Instrumentation Biosensors Electrochemical Sensors Fluorescent and Luminescent Assay Systems Spectroscopy
Labels and Probes New probes Novel labels Quantum dots
Detection Direct (non-amplified) quantitation Optical sensing and detection Single molecule detection Ultrasensitive detection Ultrafast DNA detection
Applications Clinical molecular diagnostics High throughput genotyping High throughput drug screening Homogeneous assays
Please submit proposal or suggestions by e-mail or fax to:
Mary Chitty Conference Director e-mail: mchitty-at-healthtech.com fax: 617-630-1325
For full consideration, please submit proposal or suggestions by November 19, 1999.
by smtp.snet.net (8.9.3/8.9.3/SNET-bmx-1.3/D-1.7/O-1.6) with ESMTP id VAA22483; Sat, 30 Oct 1999 21:14:31 -0400 (EDT) Message-ID: {E6E62409.5F6897D1-at-snet.net} MSA Listserver {Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com}
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Dear Linda As far as I know, the original supplier of kainic acid lost the algae this compound was obtained from and thus the extreme shortage. Sigma at one time about 6 months ago was offering kainic acid at very high prices and only had 5mg in stock. I don't know of any company to purchase it from. We have looked but found nothing also. If your friend has some very generous colleagues they may persuade them for some. That's what we did. I also have not found an alternative to the compound. I have heard a rumour that over 100uM ampa (s) zwitterion will activate kainate receptors, but I don't know if this is true. If you find anything helpful, I would appreciate knowing the answer to your question for sources of kainate or even substitutes. Sincerely, Linda Chicoine Cognetix, Inc.
id AV23430; Sun, 31 Oct 1999 12:30:36 +0200 To: harrison-at-math.uio.no Message-Id: {1981746242987316.110491847413-at-math.uio.no}
Embrace all that technology has to offer the entrepreneur.
Using the latest technology available, this new business can operate directly from your home or office, or anywhere in the world you choose.
Explore a truly unique turnkey business that allows you to meet your personal and financial goals, without interfering with your current income stream.
This opportunity requires a financial commitment and is directed only to the serious business person.
To learn more via our online information request form click on or cut and paste the following web site address into your web site browser:
http://3488535307/members/premier/
To be removed from our list send an email to zipmail02-at-mail.com requesting removal.
Bill - Its not easy, but you knew that. Some virus have characteristic shapes (e.g. bullet shapes) and they cannot be confused with cell structures. The most difficult are the numerous, small isometric virus. If they appear in the nucleus of the cell its a give-away, or if they are repeatably observed passing through cell walls. If those "virus" grow in good numbers, plant tissues can be stressed (part drying before fixation) and virus may then form a crystal array. I expect that immune tagging techniques could be used, but I have little experience with those. Cheers Jim Darley ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes www.proscitech.com
On Saturday, October 30, 1999 5:08 AM, William McManus [SMTP:billemac-at-biology.usu.edu] wrote: } } } To all listers: } } We have a very limited amount of protozoan sample which appear to have } virus-like particles within the cells, but we need to know more conclusively } if the particles are virus before we continue. Does anyone know of a method } using EM to identify virus in tissue? We presently have material available } and could run either a pre or post embedding technique. } } William McManus } Supervisor } Electron Microscopy Facility } Department of Biology } Utah State University } Logan UT 84322-5305 } } billEMac-at-cc.usu.edu } 435-797-1920 }
A colleague wants to prepare coral eggs for TEM, with particular interest in the plasma membrane. They have been fixed in 3.3% Formalin for 15 minutes, then stored at 4 degrees in seawater ( for about 3 days ).
Has anyone out there prepared these?
Any tips, tricks, and pointers to appropriate literature will be greatly appreciated.
With thanks,
Rosey van Driel
Rosemary van Driel Electron Microscopist
Baker Medical Research Institute PO Box 6492 St. Kilda Rd. Central Melbourne Victoria 8008 Australia
Dear all, Not directly related to microscopy, more to how to write up the results.
Does anyone know how to set up a field in Microsoft Word 98 for Mac to get something like a bar-1 or bar-2 for Miller indices?
I know this was discussed in '94 but those fixes don't quite seem to work the same on the latest version of Word. I tried the help function and it was as helpful as usual (i.e. lots of information but not much real help).
I hope someone out there can help. Using equation editor every time can get pretty tedious.
Thanks in advance
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Ian MacLaren Department of Experimental Physics Chalmers University of Technology S-412 96 G=F6teborg Sweden Tel: +46 31 772 36 33 FAX: +46 31 772 32 24 email: maclaren-at-fy.chalmers.se or: ian.maclaren-at-physics.org Research Group Homepage: http://fy.chalmers.se/microscopy/ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I attach details of a 3 year post doc. position in the=20 Department of Materials at Oxford (UK). This project will=20 be based around our JEOL 2010 and JEOL 3000F TEMs. If you=20 need further information please contact Beverley directly.
Ron ___________________________________________________________
DEPARTMENT OF MATERIALS, UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD Post-doctoral Research Position Grade RS1a:Salary =A316,288 - =A324,479
*********************************************************** Nanoscale deformation of materials quantified by TEM=20 nanoindentation
A three-year post-doctoral research assistantship funded by=20 the EPSRC is available in the Department of Materials at=20 Oxford from January 2000 (or as soon as possible=20 thereafter). The EPSRC project involves the design,=20 construction and operation of a novel nanoindenter to fit=20 into a high resolution electron microscope. The TEM=20 nanoindenter will be used to impact materials in-situ=20 whilst observing in real-time and with nanometre=20 resolution. This is an exciting new technique to quantify=20 the fundamental mechanisms of deformation, friction and=20 wear at the nanoscale. The person appointed will have=20 research experience of AFM and/or nanoindentation=20 instrumentation, and familiarity with TEM and=20 nanostructured materials would be desirable.
Further particulars are available from the Administrator,=20 Department of Materials, Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PH, UK,=20 to whom applications including a CV, list of publications,=20 and the names and addresses of three referees should be=20 sent, quoting Ref. BJI. Further particulars are also=20 available by email: beverley.inkson-at-materials.ox.ac.uk. The=20 closing date for applications is 6th December.=20
Tousimis Research Corporation sells a filter housing and replacement cartridge that sounds like the unit that you describe. I have been using one for years.
Tousimis PO Box 2189 Rockville, MD -2189 1-800-638-9558 www.tousimis.com
Louie Kerr
At 3:24 PM -0700 10/28/99, William P. Sharp wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Louie Kerr Research and Education Support Coordinator Marine Biological Laboratory 7 MBL Street Woods Hole, MA 02543 508-289-7273 508-540-6902 (FAX) 508-292-0289 (Cell phone)
Could anyone offer a used double-tilt holder in good condition for JEOL 2000FX? If yes, at what price? It would be used at University "Eotvos", Budapest, Hungary
Thanks in advance:
Dr. Janos L. Labar Research Institute for Technical Physics and Materials Science H-1121 Budapest, Konkoly-Thege u. 29-33 Postal address: H-1525 Budapest-114, Po Box 49 Tel: (36)(1) 395-92-20 / 24-21 ext. Fax/phone: (36)(1) 395-92-32 home page: www.mfa.kfki.hu/~labar
Ian, This is quite easily done (although step 1 may be difficult). 1. buy a PC. 2. in Word, got to Insert Symbol 3. go to Font: Lucida Sans Unicode 4. go to Subset: Combining Diacritical Marks 5. choose the 6th diacritical mark -- i.e. the one at the end of row 21 of the symbol table. 6. insert (after the character you wish to bar). 7. for convenience, set a shortcut key after step 5. I use Alt+Shift+Q (only because it is close to the Alt+Shift+A that I use for Angstrom). But the first step is a big one! -Mike
"Ian MacLaren" {maclaren-at-fy.chalmers.se} wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Ian, This is quite easily done (although step 1 may be difficult). 1. buy a PC. 2. in Word, go to Insert Symbol 3. go to Font: Lucida Sans Unicode 4. go to Subset: Combining Diacritical Marks 5. choose the 6th diacritical mark -- i.e. the one at the end of row 21 of the symbol table. 6. insert (after the character you wish to bar). 7. for convenience, set a shortcut key after step 5. I use Alt+Shift+Q (only because it is close to the Alt+Shift+A that I use for Angstrom). But the first step is a big one! -Mike
"Ian MacLaren" {maclaren-at-fy.chalmers.se} wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I have been given a Beck microscope Model 4196 which has a set of three reflecting (mirror) objectives. Instead of the normal tube between the objective and eyepiece the microscope has a bellows allowing tube length to be varied over a wide range.
I have no documentation on this microscope, and would be most interested to know whether anyone knows of it, and can tell me what it was used for.
Chris Jeffree ===================================================================== DR CHRIS JEFFREE BIOSEM - BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES EM FACILITY UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH Daniel Rutherford Building King's Buildings, Mayfield Road EDINBURGH, EH9 3JH, Scotland, UK Tel. #44 131 650 5345 FAX. #44 131 650 6563 Mobile 0410 585 401 email c.jeffree-at-ed.ac.uk SEM / TEM bookings sem-at-ed.ac.uk =====================================================================
Dear Fellow Microscopists, First of all allow me to thank you all for all your responses for my query on sputter coaters and vacuum evaporators. One of the models we are currently considering is the Denton Desk II TSC cold sputter/etch unit. Is anyone out there that operates one? If so, what is your opinion of the unit in terms of pump-down time, quality of both sputter and carbon coat, reliability and any other feature that you like or dislike?
Thank you, Maria
Maria Fazio-Zanakis Bioimaging and Molecular Histology Hoechst Marion Roussel, Inc. 1-908-231-3357 Fax: 1-908-231-3962 Email: Maria.Fazio-Zanakis-at-hmrag.com
Below are brief notes on virus ID (comments on human viruses, but may be useful for other critters as well. Refs below. Name and phone # below if you have further ques. Good luck.
Brief Summary Dx Virology by EM
Methods: 2 ways to look -at- viruses: 1. Negative stains of Liquids (size, surface structure important) 2. Thin sections of Tissues (internal structure and cell organelle-association important) Thus, 2 prep methods and 2 morphological pictures to consider
Genetically 2 kinds of viruses: DNA/RNA Morphologically 2 kinds of viruses: naked/enveloped
Enveloped (have pliable membrane around outside, usually derived by budding through cellular membranes) Size: 40-300 nm
Spiked (have spikes or fuzz on outside) (e.g. influenza virus)
Smooth (spikes are too short to see by routine EM) (e.g. herpesviruses, rubella virus)
Nucleocapsid inside (nucleic acid plus some proteins to hold it together) Icosahedral Helical Complex Morphologically nondescript
Association of virus with different cellular membranes may be a clue to ID Plasma membrane ER Vacuoles Nulcear membrane
Most are pleomorphic, but 3 have a distinctive shape: poxvirus (brick-shaped), rhabdovirus (bullet-shaped), filovirus (like rhabdo but very long-/1400 nm)
Location within cell clue to nucieic acid type Nucleus: DNA viruses Cytoplasm: RNA viruses
Some exceptions to RDNA virus in nucleus/RNA virus in cytoplasm:S Naked viruses get out of the cell by lysis; if the cell is very sick, there may be virions everywhere, e.g. adenovirus (DNA).
Pox viruses are DNA viruses, but are always constructed in the cytoplasm.
Hepatitis B core particles (DNA) may be in the nucleus and cytoplasm.
Some paramyxovirus (RNA) nucleocapsids, not the whole virus, can be seen in the nucleus, e.g. measlesvirus.
References on Virus identification by electron microscopy
1. Cegielski JP, Msengi AE, Miller SE. 1994. Enteric viruses associated with HIV infection in Tanzanian children with chronic diarrhea. Ped AIDS HIV Inf 5:296-299.
2. Doane FW, Anderson N. 1986. Electron Microscopy in Diagnostic Virology: A Practical Guide and Atlas, Cambridge University Press, New York.
3. Lew JF, Glass, RI, Petric M, LeBaron CW, Hammond GW, Miller SE, Robinson C, Boutilier J, Riepenhoff-Talty M, Payne CM, Franklin R, Oshiro LS, and Jaqua M-J. 1990. Six year retrospective surveillance of gastroenteritis viruses identified at ten electron microscopy centers in the United States and Canada Pediatr Infect Dis J 9:709-714.
4. Mclean DM, Wong KK. 1984. Same Day Diagnosis of Human Virus Infections, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.
5. Miller SE. 1986. Detection and identification of viruses by electron microscopy. J Electron Microsc Tech 4:265-301.
5. Miller SE, Howell DN. 1988. Viral infections in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. J Electron Microsc Tech 8:41-78.
7. Miller SE. 1988. Diagnostic virology by electron microscopy. ASM News 54:475-481.
8. Miller SE. 1989. Electron microscopy in rapid viral diagnosis. EMSA Bull 19:53-59.
9. Hayat MA, Miller SE. 1990. Negative Staining: Applications and Methods. McGraw-Hill, New York.
10. Miller SE. 1991. Evaluation of electron microscopic information available from clinical samples. In de la Maza LM, Peterson EM (eds.), Medical Virology, Vol 10. Irvine, CA. pp 21-54.
11. Miller SE. 1995. Diagnosis of viral infection by electron microscopy. In Lennette EH, Lennette DA, Lennette ET (eds), Diagnostic Procedures for Viral, Rickettsial and Chlamydial Infections, American Public Health Assoc, Washington, DC. pp 35-76.
12. Oshiro LS, Miller SE. 1992. Application of electron microscopy to the diagnosis of viral infections. In Lennette EH (ed), Laboratory Diagnosis of Viral Infections. Marcel Dekker, New York. pp 45-68.
13. Palmer E, Martin ML. 1982. An Atlas of Mammalian Viruses, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.
14. Palmer E, Martin ML. 1988. Electron Microscopy in Viral Diagnosis, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.
15. Murphy FA, Fauquet CM, Bishop DHL, Ghabrial SA, Jarvis AW, GP Martelli, Mayo MA, Summers MD. 1995. Virus Taxonomy. Sixth Report of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses. Springer-Verlag, New York.
2, 5, 9, 11-14 = Methods and micrographs 2, 14 = Excellent atlases 7, 8 = Brief synopses of technique and basis of virus ID 15 = Good general reference, but don't memorize!! Lists all viruses, not just human.
Also check Hans Ackermann for bacteriophages. Not sure about protozoans, but run Medline or PubMed search crossing protozoans and viruses.
On Fri, 29 Oct 1999, William McManus wrote:
} Date: Fri, 29 Oct 1999 13:07:57 -0600 } From: William McManus {billemac-at-biology.usu.edu} } To: "Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com" {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} } Subject: identifying virus in tissue? } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } To all listers: } } We have a very limited amount of protozoan sample which appear to have } virus-like particles within the cells, but we need to know more conclusively } if the particles are virus before we continue. Does anyone know of a method } using EM to identify virus in tissue? We presently have material available } and could run either a pre or post embedding technique. } } William McManus } Supervisor } Electron Microscopy Facility } Department of Biology } Utah State University } Logan UT 84322-5305 } } billEMac-at-cc.usu.edu } 435-797-1920 } } }
Sara E. Miller, Ph. D. P. O. Box 3020 Duke University Medical Center Durham, NC 27710 Ph: 919 684-3452 FAX: 919 684-8735
It's actually pretty simple. Try the following (I did this in Office 9= 7)
1. create your bar-1 (or even a more advanced equation) with the equat= ion editor 2. select the equation by clicking it once 3. go to Tools/Autocorrect in Word (The "with" box should already hav= e the equation in it) 4. type something into the "replace" box--for example "bar1" 5. click OK
Now, just type bar1 and when you hit the space bar afterward, the equat= ion is inserted.
hth, Jim Passmore Cryovac Division Sealed Air Corporation
"Ian MacLaren" {maclaren-at-fy.chalmers.se} on 11-01-99 05:20:41 AM = =20 = =20 = =20
Hello everyone, If you can help, please respond directly to Dr. Charles Keith, chkeith-at-cb.uga.edu
His request is as follows: He is looking for someone who would be able to repair a Zeiss plan neofluor 40X - 160 mm tube length. The front seal has fallen out and the lens element seems OK. Thanks in advance for the assistance. john Contact: Dr. Charles Keith, chkeith-at-cb.uga.edu
******************************************** John P. Shields Center for Ultrastructural Research 151 Barrow Hall University of Georgia Athens, GA 30602-2403 (706)542-4080 jpshield-at-arches.uga.edu
High Resolution Scanning Electron Microscopist/Engineer
United Technologies Research Center is seeking an engineer to fill the HR-SEM operator/engineer position at the United Technologies Research Center in East Hartford, CT. This position will provide support to the United Technologies Corporation Business Unites including Pratt & Whitney, Carrier, Sikorsky, Hamilton Sundstrand and Otis Elevator. The SEM operator/engineer will be responsible to operate and fully utilize both the high-resolution secondary imaging and high-resolution back-scattering imaging capabilities offered by the HR-SEM, to characterize various surface coatings, advance materials including metals and ceramics, and to conduct failure analyses. The ability to recognize fracture modes and origins of fractures is strongly desired. The candidate should have experience with compositional analyses using EDS, being capable of doing qualitative and quantitative analyses and also be familiar with various probing tools such as mapping and line profile. Must be capable of making judgment on combinations of imaging and EDS methods to give the best characterization results. Good communication and interpersonal skills are essential. Experience with electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) is a plus.
Qualified candidates will have BS in Materials Science or an equivalent discipline with a minimum of 2 years SEM experience. U.S. citizen or permanent resident required.
Please send your resume to Employment Opportunities, Code MATS-2050-9049, 411 Silver Lane, East Hartford, CT 06118 or e-mail employment-at-utrc.utc.com. An equal opportunity employer.
Hi: I am looking for a high voltage cable for a Hitachi HU11. If you have one laying around and would like to get rid of it please let me know. Peter Jordan
With detectors that now quote Fe55 resolution at 130 eV or below, what would the corresponding resolution be for F, assuming that one has a good digital pulse processor and one subtracts background?
-----Original Message----- } From: McCaffrey, John=20 Sent: Monday, November 01, 1999 9:37 AM To: 'Ian MacLaren'
Fellow Microscopists,
As often seems to happen, I don't pay enough attention to valuable responses to the list server unless I am dealing with that problem at that moment. I believe there have been several responses within the last year about typical recovery percentages for university microscopy labs, but I cannot seem to find those responses. If anyone in a university environment could respond with information about their recovery percentage/subsidy level, particularly for TEM laboratories, I would very much appreciate it.
Thank you for taking the time to consider this request.
Sincerely,
Mick Thomas ----------------------------------- Mick Thomas UHV-STEM Laboratory E-1 Clark Hall Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14853
HU 11 series are well into their pensions now but you may be lucky with regard to a cable.
An alternative is to make contact with a high voltage organisation in you= r area. High voltage is not a problem that we should worry about. All electricty lines are high voltage, x-ray sets use high voltage etc etc. = I am sure if you look around in your local area you could find a company th= at will re make your old cable ends into a new cable.
Good luck
Steve Chapman
Senior Consultant E.M. Protrain, 6 Hillcrest Way, Buckingham Industrial Park, Buckingham MK18 1F= U, England Tel 44 (0)1280 814774 Fax 44 (0)1280 814007 E-mail - protrain-at-emcourses.com Web Site - http://www.emcourses.com For Consultancy and Courses in Electron Microscopy World Wide Courses available in - Australia, Canada, Europe, South Africa, New Zealand, Taiwan, United States, United Kingdom
I was recently asked by someone at a localy if I could make slides for a Wentzscope. From what I gather it is a transmitted light microscope with a large viewing screen. This will be for a hands-on exhibit. My question is, what is the best way or most typical way to preserve the specimen. It will probably undergo alot of handeling. I have epoxy resins that I use for petrographic thin sections which comes to mind first. Thanks. ______________________________________________ Roberto Garcia Senior Analyst, Metallography NC State University / Analytical Instrumentation Facility Campus Box 7531 Room 318 EGRC 1010 Main Campus Dr. Raleigh, NC 27695-7531 (919) 515-8628 (919) 515-6965 Fax rgarcia-at-unity.ncsu.edu http://spm.aif.ncsu.edu/aif ____________________________________________
Would you please send this to the microscopy board on my behalf and forward replies. Thanks. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear SPM Enthusiast,
BioForce Laboratory Inc., World-Leader in Customized AFM Probes Announces:
NOW AVAILABLE! The BioForce AFM TipCleanerTM
Clean and sharp AFM probes get your images published in top journals and improve your funding success. In addition, probes that stay clean and sharp greatly reduce the expense of probe replacement. With some types of probes, these costs can be hundreds of dollars or more per probe. The BioForce TipCleanerTM is a simple and effective method for cleaning AFM probes and other surfaces (up to 4 inches) using a combination of UV irradiation and ozone. See it now and check out the latest AFM Products, News, and SPM Links at http://www.bioforcelab.com
NEW Laboratory & Office facilities now located at: 2901 South Loop Dr., Ames IA 50010 USA Phone: 515-296-6550, Fax: 515-296-6570
(To be removed from this list, please send an email to remove-at-bioforcelab.com)
Job Posting Industrial microscope Distributor seeks qualified personnel to promote our line of industrial optical microscopes, sample preparation equipment, consumables and digital imaging systems in the Texas area. Must have at least three years experience in failure analysis or materials analysis using microscopes and sample preparation equipment. Prior sales experience not necessary. Understanding of image analysis and dimensional measurement systems a plus. Please contact us via e-mail or fax 972-234-5226
I forgot an important detail -- this only works if you choose the US keyboard. After your note, I discovered that the recipe won't work on any of the Canadian keyboards, the French one, or the Swedish one - the rest I didn't check. So:
(new) Instructions for negative Miller indices:
* Choose the US keyboard. You can do this by holding down the mouse button on the flag that appears in the upper right of your screen (the keyboard choice), choose 'About keyboards . . .', choose 'Customize Menu', then choosing the US keyboard. Close the box, then go back to the flag and choose the US keyboard. * Choose the Symbol font * Hit the tilde (~) accent grave (`) key -- the key in the far upper left of the keyboard, not counting the row including the Escape key and Function keys -- to produce the bar above the numeral. * Hit the desired numeral, which should now appear below the Miller bar.
Cheers John
-----Original Message----- } From: Rouviere [mailto:jrouviere-at-cea.fr] Sent: Wednesday, November 03, 1999 3:12 AM To: McCaffrey, John
Greetings, I have just uploaded to the MAS Web Site=20 (http://www.microanalysis.org) the "Call for Papers & Registration=20 Information" for the International Union of Microbeam Analysis=20 Societies 2000 meeting in Kona Hawaii. The info can be found at:=20 http://www.microanalysis.org/iumas2000. The meeting is due to run=20 from the 9th to the 14th of July 2000.
Comments, Questions, Bs and Ms to yours truly John Mansfield.
Please note new FAX number.
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) 763-2282 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"
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Hello,
I was recently asked by someone at a localy if I could make slides for a Wentzscope. From what I gather it is a transmitted light microscope with a large viewing screen. This will be for a hands-on exhibit. My question is, what is the best way or most typical way to preserve the specimen. It will probably undergo alot of handeling. I have epoxy resins that I use for petrographic thin sections which comes to mind first. Thanks. ______________________________________________ Roberto Garcia Senior Analyst, Metallography NC State University / Analytical Instrumentation Facility Campus Box 7531 Room 318 EGRC 1010 Main Campus Dr. Raleigh, NC 27695-7531 (919) 515-8628 (919) 515-6965 Fax rgarcia-at-unity.ncsu.edu http://spm.aif.ncsu.edu/aif ____________________________________________
We (Liberty Science Center, Jersey City, NJ) use several Wentzscopes in our exhibits. We use commercially prepared slides (things like a bee sting, mosquito face, insect wing) and depend on our design and production department to set them up in a way that is more or less foolproof. You could get a lot more information from the inventor, and retailer, of the Wentzscope, Bud Wentz in oakland CA, 510-531-1214, or from the science center listserv. Instructions for getting on and leaving a message are on the website. http://www.astc.org.
This message is being posted on behalf of a colleague of mine. She recently inherited a Reichert Histostat Model 855 "cryostat microtome" (cryostat), and she is looking for a way to adapt the knife holder for disposable blades.
This particular cryostat has the knife holder built to one side (left side of the microtome), and it is clearly built to hold resharpenable steel knives. Because the knife holder is on the side, most of the disposable blade holder inserts are not usable because they clamp the disposable blade near the center of the insert. There is not enough room to slide the disposable blade holder toward the specimen and still clamp it securely in the knife holder.
Does anyone out there have this model of cryostat? If so, have you had any success using disposable blades with the cryostat? We are thinking there may be a third party supplier who makes a disposable blade holder that would work with the instrument.
Thanks for any assistance you can provide!
Bob Chiovetti GTI Microsystems rchiovetti-at-aol.com
Hi, I was wondering if anyone could advise me on whether it might be possible to to combine fluorescent antibody staining of bacteria (specifically Chlamydia trachomatis) with a cytochemical stain for glycogen? I am trying to count the number of infected cells/field and then score the inclusions for the presence or absence of glycogen. We currently stain using methanol/formalin to fix and Jone's iodine. To detect chlamydial inclusions we use a primary antibody to the major outer membrane protein with a FITC conjugated secondary antibody with Evan's blue to stain the cytoplasm of the cells non-specifically.
When processing difficult to embed specimens for TEM vacuum infiltration is often recommended for the resin infiltration steps. However, a lack of specfic technical detail seems to often accompany this recommendation.
Missing detail includes;
What pressure should be applied for vacuum infiltration ?
How long should this pressure be applied ?
Should the vacuum infiltration procedure be applied to the propylene oxide / resin steps and pure resin infiltration steps, or just to the pure resin infiltration steps ?
Can applying a vacuum be useful for any other of the processing steps, for instance, primary fixation ?
Is so, what pressure and how long ?
Many thanks in advanced for all responses.
Allan
------------------------------------------------------------ Allan Mitchell Technical Manager South Campus Electron Microscope Unit C/-Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology School of Medical Sciences P.O. Box 913 Dunedin New Zealand mailto:allan.mitchell-at-stonebow.otago.ac.nz
I realize that only a few labs out there are using this procedure, but = can anyone out there who is doing DGD (diethylene glycol distearate) = embedding recommend a source (and lot#) for successful embedding and = sectioning? So far we have not been able to obtain satisfactory = semi-thin sections with the recently purchased batches of DGD in the = last year. Has anyone had similar problems with recently purchase DGD?
Hank Adams Integrated Microscopy Core Molecular and Cellular Biology Baylor College of Medicine Houston, TX 77030
I am in the process of buying a new inverted scope and the decision is between Olympus and Nikon. These two manufacturers use different strategies for Nomarski (DIC) imaging. Olympus has a single nosepiece slider and multiple condenser prisms (tho they span more than 1 magnification, e.g., one prism for both 40x and 60x). Nikon goes the more conventional route with separate sliders for each objective. I intend to compare them side by side but I am interested in hearing comments from users and the optics gurus on whether either approach is superior in either practice or theory. For the record, I will be gettingboth a LWD condenser and a NA 1.4 condenser for whatever system I get. Most of our work will be at 60x (separate oil and water objectives) but I will the plan apo and fluor objectives at 10, 20, and 40 also. Thanks in advance for any comments.
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 65211-7400 (573)-882-4712 (voice) (573)-882-0123 (fax)
In the really old days, when Nikon scopes were black and small, they used a system called francion/yamamoto method of DIC, does anyone have info on how this worked or any parts for it? This can be for either transmitted or reflected light DIC. Please help! Ed Sharpe archivist for SMECC
} Subj: DIC (Nomarski) - Nikon vs Olympus } Date: 11/3/99 10:17:02 PM US Mountain Standard Time } From: PhillipsT-at-missouri.edu (Tom Phillips) } To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } I am in the process of buying a new inverted scope and the decision } is between Olympus and Nikon. These two manufacturers use different } strategies for Nomarski (DIC) imaging. Olympus has a single } nosepiece slider and multiple condenser prisms (tho they span more } than 1 magnification, e.g., one prism for both 40x and 60x). Nikon } goes the more conventional route with separate sliders for each } objective. I intend to compare them side by side but I am interested } in hearing comments from users and the optics gurus on whether either } approach is superior in either practice or theory. For the record, I } will be gettingboth a LWD condenser and a NA 1.4 condenser for } whatever system I get. Most of our work will be at 60x (separate oil } and water objectives) but I will the plan apo and fluor objectives at } 10, 20, and 40 also. Thanks in advance for any comments. } } 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 65211-7400 } (573)-882-4712 (voice) } (573)-882-0123 (fax) } }
The procedure described by "McCaffrey, John" does work on non-US keyboard= s if the "overstrike 'accent grave'" key is supported. So you should look f= or the (`) character, not the tilde (~). On a US keyboard, they are located = on the same physical key, but this is not a general rule. The standard accen= t grave or single quote character (') does not work for overstriking.
On a Belgian keyboard for example, you can find the "overstrike accent grave" immediately to the lower left of the return key. It is marked with= a pound sign, a mu (=B5) sign and an accent grave. You need to hold the 'Al= t Gr' key (right alt) together with this pound/mu key to produce the accent gra= ve. Then you press the space bar, producing an overstrike bar. Then type your Miller index. The cursor won't advance and the index will appear under th= e overstrike bar. Indeed, this (seemingly) only works with the symbol font = in MS programs like Word, PowerPoint etc. The procedure does not work in Cor= el Photopaint 8.0, where it produces adjacent symbols.
Best wishes
Siegfried Jaecques K.U Leuven - Dept. BMGO } } } Hello Jean-Luc, } } I forgot an important detail -- this only works if you choose the US } keyboard. After your note, I discovered that the recipe won't work on a= ny } of the Canadian keyboards, the French one, or the Swedish one - the rest= I } didn't check. So:
..snip... } } Cheers } John } } -----Original Message----- } } From: Rouviere [mailto:jrouviere-at-cea.fr] } Sent: Wednesday, November 03, 1999 3:12 AM } To: McCaffrey, John } Subject: Overstrikinkin revisited (negative Miller indices) } } } Dear John, } } I tried your recipe without success : } } } ------------------------ } } From: McCaffrey, John } Sent: Monday, November 01, 1999 9:37 AM } To: 'Ian MacLaren' } Subject: RE: Overstriking revisited } } } Hi Ian, } } } This works for both Macs and PC's. Use the 'Symbol" font, then } first type the lower or upper case tilde/accent key (~ and `) followed b= y } the number that you are interested: i.e., choose the SYMBOL font, then h= it } the tilde key followed by the appropriate numeral, say 2, to get `2. } ------------------- } } } In my word program this produce two adjactent symbols. How can I superpo= se } them ? } } } Best regards } } } } -- } } } ROUVIERE Jean-Luc
I am surprised : your new instruction does not work. There is still something different between the French and the US system (or microsoft word 98). I think that in a previous version of word (word 4 ?), superposition of two characters was allowed with a key combination.They do not seem to have kept this facility in the new word version. However, I am surprised that noone has made a font whith overstriked numbers ? I thought it was easy to create fonts. May be someone in the list knows how to make a new font with overstriked numbers ?
Cheers
Jean-Luc
--- in reply of :
Hello Jean-Luc,
I forgot an important detail -- this only works if you choose the US
keyboard. After your note, I discovered that the recipe won't work on any of the Canadian keyboards, the French one, or the Swedish one - the rest I didn't check. So:
(new) Instructions for negative Miller indices:
* Choose the US keyboard. You can do this by holding down the mouse button on the flag that appears in the upper right of your screen (the keyboard choice), choose 'About keyboards . . .', choose 'Customize Menu', then choosing the US keyboard. Close the box, then go back to the flag and choose the US keyboard. * Choose the Symbol font * Hit the tilde (~) accent grave (`) key -- the key in the far upper left of the keyboard, not counting the row including the Escape key and Function keys -- to produce the bar above the numeral. * Hit the desired numeral, which should now appear below the Miller bar.
Dear all, First of all, thanks to John McCaffrey for his efforts. Unfortunately, his suggestions haven't worked yet on my Mac.
I tried the procedure described by Siegfried Jacques on my Swedish Mac. I found the key he was describing and in Symbol it does indeed produce an overstrike. I still cannot get it to go over a number, though, they always appear sequentially. Maybe, this shortcut only works on a PC. It sounded like Siegfried was using a PC (by the reference to the "Alt Gr" key).
} I think that in a previous version of word (word 4 ?), superposition of t= wo } characters was allowed with a key combination. They do not seem to have } kept this facility in the new word version.
I agree with this statement of Jean-Luc Rouviere. I tried to say something similar before. There used to be some sequence of commands in Word which gave two superimposed characters (see a discussion on this group in June 1994, archived in Nestor's archive). I cannot seem to make this work in Word 98, although I am convinced from the help files that such functions are still in there somewhere, if a little difficult to use.
If there is someone out there who is a real whizz on Word for Mac, please advise the rest of us on how to superimpose two characters.
Hope we can all clear this one up soon.
Best wishes
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Ian MacLaren Department of Experimental Physics Chalmers University of Technology S-412 96 G=F6teborg, Sweden Tel: +46 31 772 36 33 FAX: +46 31 772 32 24 email: ian.maclaren-at-physics.org Research Group Homepage: http://fy.chalmers.se/microscopy/ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
N.B. 1 I leave Sweden on the 12th December for a Christmas holiday in England, answering email in this time will be slow. After the New Year I will be travelling to China.
N.B. 2 Please send email to ian.maclaren-at-physics.org instead of the fy.chalmers.se address from now on. This new address will redirect mail to whichever email service I am using, even after I have gone to China.
For MacOS, Word 98: http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q193/7/78.ASP
For Microsoft Word 2000: http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q211/6/42.ASP
For earlier Windows and Mac versions of Word: http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q193/7/77.ASP
Most of the methods for later versions of Word involve using the Equation Editor. The method of making a shortcut ("bar1") for the equation, as suggested by an earlier posting, sounds like a good one to me. Other keystroke methods may work in individual cases, but may not allow future versions of Word or Word on other platforms to show the characters correctly (not that following Microsoft's suggestions even guarantees that!).
Carl
On Thu, 4 Nov 1999, Ian MacLaren 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 : -----------------------------------------------------------------------. :=20 :=20 : Dear all, : First of all, thanks to John McCaffrey for his efforts. : Unfortunately, his suggestions haven't worked yet on my Mac. :=20 : I tried the procedure described by Siegfried Jacques on my Swedish : Mac. I found the key he was describing and in Symbol it does indeed : produce an overstrike. I still cannot get it to go over a number, : though, they always appear sequentially. Maybe, this shortcut only : works on a PC. It sounded like Siegfried was using a PC (by the : reference to the "Alt Gr" key). :=20 : } I think that in a previous version of word (word 4 ?), superposition of= two : } characters was allowed with a key combination. They do not seem to hav= e : } kept this facility in the new word version. :=20 : I agree with this statement of Jean-Luc Rouviere. I tried to say : something similar before. There used to be some sequence of commands : in Word which gave two superimposed characters (see a discussion on : this group in June 1994, archived in Nestor's archive). I cannot seem : to make this work in Word 98, although I am convinced from the help : files that such functions are still in there somewhere, if a little : difficult to use. :=20 : If there is someone out there who is a real whizz on Word for Mac, : please advise the rest of us on how to superimpose two characters. :=20 : Hope we can all clear this one up soon. :=20 : Best wishes :=20 : +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ : Ian MacLaren : Department of Experimental Physics : Chalmers University of Technology : S-412 96 G=F6teborg, Sweden : Tel: +46 31 772 36 33 FAX: +46 31 772 32 24 : email: ian.maclaren-at-physics.org : Research Group Homepage: http://fy.chalmers.se/microscopy/ : +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ :=20 : N.B. 1 I leave Sweden on the 12th December for a Christmas : holiday in England, answering email in this time will be slow. : After the New Year I will be travelling to China. :=20 : N.B. 2 Please send email to ian.maclaren-at-physics.org instead : of the fy.chalmers.se address from now on. This new address : will redirect mail to whichever email service I am using, even : after I have gone to China. :=20
Carl Henderson Electron Microbeam Analysis Laboratory University of Michigan=20 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 --------------------------------
To All: The New England Society for Microscopy will hold it's annual Fall Symposium at Brandeis University, Waltham, MA on Wednesday, December 1, 1999. The meeting will run from 12 Noon to 9:30 pm. In addition to 3 invited speakers, in both the biological and material sciences, there will be a Poster Session open to both students and researchers. Prizes will be awarded for Best Poster, 2nd and 3rd place. There will be a cocktail reception, dinner, and after-dinner speaker following the annual business meeting. Advance registration is due by November 23rd. The registration fee for non-mem- bers is $45.00, $30.00 for NESM members, and reduced rates for students and retired members. The cost of the dinner is $25.00. (Note: Registration after November 23rd will NOT include dinner). Deadline for receipt of poster entries is also November 23, 1999. For further information and registration forms: contact Peggy Sherwood at e-mail: MESnesm-at-aol.com.
I am sorry for not giving a proper intro, DGD embedding is employed for = doing resinless section em. DGD allows ultrathin and semithin sectioning = of cytoskeletal and nuclear matrix preps for visualization of the = filamentous structure after the DGD is dissolved and removed in butanol. = See: Capco, et al., J Cell Biol. 98:1878-85 (1984) and Nickerson, et = al., Proc Natl. Acad. Sci. 87: 2259-2263 (1990).
Hank Adams Integrated Microscopy Core Molecular and Celllular Biology Baylor College of Medicine Houston, TX 77030
Your assumption is right on target re: one beam splitter for many objectives vs. individual beam splitters for each objective. The one beam splitter approach is usually optimized either for the lower mags or the upper mags (i.e., it will work great for 10x - 60x or great for 20x-100x). Since your preferred mags are in the center of both ranges, it should not be a problem. However, as with all microscopy, it is really best to test each system with your own application.
Just a reminder: check the ability of the compensator to provide really beautiful contrast when the background is tuned to soft dove gray. This is the most sensitive portion of the system and, if the sample is correctly prepared (i. e., a moderately thin sample with gradients), should give absolutely eye-popping results.
By the way: two quick references: There is a good discussion of DIC in "Optimizing Light Microscopy for Biological and Clinical Laboratories" (details available on the MME website). Also, for an extended discussion of how DIC works and how to optimize and interpret the results, see American Lab, April 1988, "Notes on the use of differential interference contrast in light microscopy", Pp. 96-100. (I can send you Xerox copies, if you are interested).
Good hunting! Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater productivity.
125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} ****************************************************** MME is America's first national consortium providing customized on-site workshops in all areas of microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis.
At 05:57 PM 11/3/99 -0600, Tom Phillips wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Dear all, Thanks to Carl Henderson, I have the answer I was looking for. I used the information at http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q193/7/78.ASP and adapted it to getting bars over numbers. I used the overstrike character from symbol font, as already suggested by John Mansfield as the character for the top. To make the overbar high enough, I raised it by 2 points using the "Format Character" options.
I have produced a list of bar 1 to bar 6 using this technique and I have checked them. They have one advantage over those produced using Equation Editor. If you produce individual characters using equation editor (such as bar 1) and then insert this to make something like [10bar1] you find that the vertical alignment of the bar1 is different to the rest of the typed text. With this newly discovered method, they all have the same vertical alignment as ordinary text so nothing looks strange when they are inserted. I then used the suggestions of James Passmore and Su Sajip and made AutoCorrect entries for b1, b2 .. b6 which insert these formatted bar1 to bar6 characters. Finally, it may require a slight fiddling with the printing window settings to get them to print out right, it did on my Mac.
If you want to edit them later, just select Preferences } view } Show field codes, and you will see the code and can then change things.
The Word file with bar1 to bar6 is available from me if you want to save yourself some work. Just email me.
Thanks again for all the help and handy suggestions.
Best wishes
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Ian MacLaren Department of Experimental Physics Chalmers University of Technology S-412 96 G=F6teborg, Sweden Tel: +46 31 772 36 33 FAX: +46 31 772 32 24 email: ian.maclaren-at-physics.org Research Group Homepage: http://fy.chalmers.se/microscopy/ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
N.B. 1 I leave Sweden on the 12th December for a Christmas holiday in England, answering email in this time will be slow. After the New Year I will be travelling to China.
N.B. 2 Please send email to ian.maclaren-at-physics.org instead of the fy.chalmers.se address from now on. This new address will redirect mail to whichever email service I am using, even after I have gone to China.
At 03:57 PM 11/3/99 , 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } I am in the process of buying a new inverted scope and the decision is between Olympus and Nikon. These two manufacturers use different strategies for Nomarski (DIC) imaging. Olympus has a single nosepiece slider and multiple condenser prisms (tho they span more than 1 magnification, e.g., one prism for both 40x and 60x). Nikon goes the more conventional route with separate sliders for each objective. I intend to compare them side by side but I am interested in hearing comments from users and the optics gurus on whether either approach is superior in either practice or theory. For the record, I will be gettingboth a LWD condenser and a NA 1.4 condenser for whatever system I get. Most of our work will be at 60x (separate oil and water objectives) but I will the plan apo and fluor objectives at 10, 20, and 40 also. Thanks in advance for any comments. } } 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 65211-7400 } (573)-882-4712 (voice) } (573)-882-0123 (fax)
this topic and subject brings back horrific memories!
First off, I've never seen an LWD objective with an NA of 1.4 to match the NA of a 1.4 condenser. The only 1.4 NA condenser I have seen and use is the aplanatic model/design which is double oil immersion. With an Olympus 100X PlanAPO oil objective, it does a good job. These are not infinity corrected objectives. I found that the Olympus UPlanAPO for the BX series did not perform as well as the 160 length older objectives. So for BF, I use the 160 length PlanAPOs at all magnifications.... from 10X to 100X. I tried Zeiss PlanAPOs but was disappointed.
For phase, DIC and DF, I use UPlanFL Olympus flourites and am pleased with the results.
I've owned an Olympus IMT-2 inverted scope with LWD objectives hoping to get greater working distance and DOF. Didn't happen. Very poor results. While one can get increased working distance, the resolution just is not there. The NA of the objectives suffers as a consequence of the greater WD. I did not try an aplanatic condenser but if I recall, the intrinsic NA of the objectives did not exceed 1 at any magnification. Furthermore, after using the IMT-2 for about 6 months, I grew to hate it and promptly disposed of it.
Olympus has a new model out which hopefully is better. By all means check it out. I have owned and used Nikon scopes (none inverted) and found them to be totally deficient. The mechanics are poor and in my view, the objectives are inferior to any other maker's objectives. But they look pretty.
Zeiss, as ususual, makes a nice line of scopes. But since their implosion with reps and distributors, trying to get any info or help from Zeiss is near impossible. So I stay away from them.
Olympus and Nikon sales folks will generally give you good support and be responsive. This is good for customers. By all means, do try what Olympus and Nikon have these days but I'd encourage you to be very critical. Test each unit at the limits of what you expect to be doing and expect the instruments to provide. You may be unpleasantly surprised. But relieved.
Finally, the IMT-2 was made and sold by the hundreds. It was and probably still is a popular model for biotech work. It did not work for me since my use was high quality photographs. The IMT-2 did not deliver. If your application is different, the IMT-2 may work for you and save you some serious money. Used, they run about $7-8K with objectives, trinoc, stage, and condenser (non-phase). If you use the Olympus Universal condenser, each objective has a matching DIC prism, which is superior to systems that use a single prism in the nose piece and a separate analyzer (like BX series).
In spite of my LaB6 cathodes living their expected lifetimes, I still need to clean the wehnelt every 150-200 hours. The symptom which cleaning seems to remedy is beam stability after a specimen exchange. My gun is ion pumped and isolated ... when changing a specimen is exchanged via interlock, the chamber vacuum will come to normal in less than a minute, but beam current stability won't come back to normal 'till after 30minutes. Like I said, this symptom is minimized by cleaning deposits off the wehnelt near the emission aperture. My problem is this deposit is extremely difficult to remove ... I assume it is LaB, but I think the next time I have it out, I'll swap with the tungsten wehnelt and and examine this deposit with EDX. Assuming it is LaB depositing, is there a better way to remove it ... I'd love to dissolve it over night instead of using mechanical methods which can wear the stainless steel cap.
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/
Dear Richard, My experience with vacuum infiltration is all with epoxy mounting in materials specimen prep., but it may be some help in your work. The purpose of vacuum infiltration is to get air out of the sample and use the resultant vacuum to suck resin into the fine spaces and holes in the material. However, all the materials being used in the emedding are liquids which will boil if the pressure is dropped too low. I use a vacuum dessicator with a three-way valve connected to an old vacuum pump I don't care much about. The vapors you will be puting into the pump are quite hard on it. I put the material in epoxy molds into the dessicator, which has a clear lid. Watching carefully , I start the pump and turn the valve to start sucking on the dessicator. You will see a bit of vapor appear, then some bubbles will come up to the surface of the epoxy. Then the epoxy will start to foam slightly. At this point I turn the valve to admit air. I usually repeat this three times. I would not use this technique on any liquid with a high vapour pressure or low boiling point, but it should work to get intimate contact between any liquid and solid. At 11:46 AM 11/4/99 +1300, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
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 e-mail: mager-at-interchg.ubc.ca
A random thought on the subject which has absolutely nothing to do with the technical quality of either scope.
A consideration is how many users the scope has and how expert they are. If you are working with multiple users or limited experience, it is my experience that the simpler to use and adjust the better. It will save multiple hours of "fun" re-adjusting, or more correct trying to find the one thing someone changed.
Good luck on your decision.
Azriel Gorski
} Dear Dr. Phillips, } } Your assumption is right on target re: one beam splitter for many } objectives vs. individual beam splitters for each objective. The one beam } splitter approach is usually optimized either for the lower mags or the } upper mags (i.e., it will work great for 10x - 60x or great for 20x-100x). } Since your preferred mags are in the center of both ranges, it should not } be a problem. However, as with all microscopy, it is really best to test } each system with your own application. } } Just a reminder: check the ability of the compensator to provide really } beautiful contrast when the background is tuned to soft dove gray. This is } the most sensitive portion of the system and, if the sample is correctly } prepared (i. e., a moderately thin sample with gradients), should give } absolutely eye-popping results. } } By the way: two quick references: } There is a good discussion of DIC in "Optimizing Light Microscopy for } Biological and Clinical Laboratories" (details available on the MME } website). Also, for an extended discussion of how DIC works and how to } optimize and interpret the results, see American Lab, April 1988, "Notes on } the use of differential interference contrast in light microscopy", Pp. } 96-100. (I can send you Xerox copies, if you are interested). } } Good hunting! } Barbara Foster } Consortium President } Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater } productivity. } } 125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 } PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com } Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} } ****************************************************** } MME is America's first national consortium providing } customized on-site workshops in all areas of } microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis. } } } At 05:57 PM 11/3/99 -0600, Tom Phillips wrote: } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
One of our facilities has an ISI SX-40A SEM which is no longer needed. This microscope is operational, but has been out of service. It needs to be moved to a good home. For additional information, please contact: Gary Troyer Ferro Corporation Diamonite Division 453 W. McConkey Street Shreve, OH 44676 330-567-2145 troyerg-at-ferro.com
David Gnizak Ferro Corporation Technical Center 7500 E. Pleasant Valley Rd. Independence, OH 44131 gnizak-at-ferro.com
} } } } } } I am in the process of buying a new inverted scope and the } decision is between Olympus and Nikon. These two manufacturers use } different strategies for Nomarski (DIC) imaging. Olympus has a } single nosepiece slider and multiple condenser prisms (tho they span } more than 1 magnification, e.g., one prism for both 40x and 60x). } Nikon goes the more conventional route with separate sliders for } each objective. I intend to compare them side by side but I am } interested in hearing comments from users and the optics gurus on } whether either approach is superior in either practice or theory. } For the record, I will be gettingboth a LWD condenser and a NA 1.4 } condenser for whatever system I get. Most of our work will be at } 60x (separate oil and water objectives) but I will the plan apo and } fluor objectives at 10, 20, and 40 also. Thanks in advance for any } comments.
} Do you have an inverted scope now and are looking for a new one? My } point is that } if you have not used an inverted scope, be very careful about what } you expect them } to do compared to a compound microscope. If you need high } resolution, a compound } scope is the only way to do this. An inverted scope will indeed } have greater WD } but at the expense of much lower resolution. } } Furthermore, why would you want to put PlanAPO or flourite objectives on an } inverted scope? You would be throwing money out the window. They } will not get } you any better performance. An inverted scope is basically useful } for low power, } fast examination of tissue and cell subjects. 10X, 20X objectives } and maybe a 40X } objective is about all you can expect from these systems. A new } Olympus IX will } run about $30K, and about the same for the Nikon. A Zeiss Axiovert } is more like } $50K. And if you added APO objectives, they would cost more and the sales } people would have a good laugh at your expense. Seriously, watch out. The } inverted scopes are fine for a specific niche use and if this is } your area, go for it. } If not, proceed with great caution. }
I must be missing something. Why would an inverted scope have lower resolution - assuming one used the same objectives and a high NA condenser. My inverted will be for a multi-user confocal system. We may buy 2inverteds so we can have another for a widefield fluorescence deconvolution system. Some clients want to use tissue culture plates, petri dishes, etc so I need the LWD capabilities of an inverted. But I don't get why that sacrifices high quality optical images of thin sections mounted on slides in a conventional manner. Obviously we need to use a 1.4 NA condenser for the best DIC but you can do that on an inverted without much problem (it is probably easier to oil the condenser on an inverted than an upright). I just got off the phone with a gentleman from Bioptics who pointed out that one thing to look for in choosing a scope with a hi NA condenser is that the size of the housing holding the condenser lens can be so big that it can impede getting the condenser close enough to a live cell perfusion chamber. That is an excellent point I had not considered. most of my live cell clients are using tissue culture plates and dishes and working at LWD and therefore lower condenser NA. The high NA condenser will be mostly for sectioned material on slides.
We routinely use our current Nikon Diaphot (inverted) with 60x oil and 60x water objectives and get great confocal images and expect our new confocal will greatly improve our transmitted light images.
I agree that an upright compound scope is easier to use and maintain. But I can think of no reason that buying PlanApo or fluorite objectives would be a cause for amusement. If there is some theoretical consideration that I have missed, I would sure like someone to explain it. I am planning on buying almost 20K worth of objectives for this scope and can't see why I don't want PlanApo and Fluor lenses.
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 65211-7400 (573)-882-4712 (voice) (573)-882-0123 (fax)
I am looking for an opinion from our vast wealth of knowledge and experiences.
I have a user who is collecting 'semaphore cactus' flower specimens during a field expedition to South America with limited lab access. She is going to start fixation (2.5% glut in Na Phosphate buffer) in the field, and continue processing upon her return to the USA. She will be in the field for 21 days, and she is looking for morphological data (not immuno) in LM, SEM, & TEM (obviously TEM is the sticking point here). Refrigeration (4 C) will be generally available.
We are looking for a recommendation on the best place to leave the tissue for upwards of 21 days, before continuing processing of the tissue:
a. leave in 2.5% glut Na. Phos buffer
b. rinse to Na. Phos buffer and hold
c. rinse to distilled water and hold.
Details:
Samples: Opuntia spinosissima (Cactaceae)
Flower samples: Ovules, anthers, styles & stigma
Why 2.5% glut in Na. Phosphate buffer?
Ans: Weight. Transport ampules of 25% Glut and pre-weighed mono- & dibasic sodium phosphate packets and mix with locally obtained distilled water (no pH'ing on site) and return only with samples in vials.
We are very willing to take any better solutions offered.
(I don't know she just wasn't willing to back pack in our hihg pressure freezing unit and some LN2 dewars :-)
Thanks!
Richard E. Edelmann, Ph.D. Electron Microscopy Facility Supervisor 352 Pearson Hall Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056 Ph: 513.529.5712 Fax: 513.529.4243 E-mail: edelmare-at-muohio.edu
We've been having a discussion around the MME office about ways to present microscopy information to larger audiences. PowerPoint has been the method of choice but our graphic artist has suggested that Flash might be a better alternative (more fonts, better graphics, more easily animated).
Have any of you had experience in these areas? If so, preferences?
You can answer me privately at mme-at-map.com
Many thanks! Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater productivity.
125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} ****************************************************** MME is America's first national consortium providing customized on-site workshops in all areas of microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis.
We are going to be performing immunostaining on vibratome sections of rat cerebrum fixed in paraformaldehyde. I am working with an EM Corp H1200 Vibrating Microtome and have only been able to produce sections (40 micron) that contain "chatter" ( in the direction of the knife advance). I have tried varying the knife angle, the speed, the frequency with minimal improvement. The chatter is still present. My question: should I be able to produce chatter-free sections or do I have to work around this distortion of the section. I tried to contact EM Corp., but it appears they have gone out of business. Thank you in advance for any suggestions!
I would like to find out telephone number of The Bradford Research Institute or American Biologics or Dr. Robert W. Bradford who makes Bradford Variable Projection Microscopy System.
Bruce Russell does superb photomicrography, both still and video. He's just sent me this message:
} If you are in the mood, check out "Intimate Strangers" on PBS next Tuesday } and the three Tuesdays thereafter. I shot most of the micro-scenes for the } series (but please don't hold me responsible for the occasional } inappropriate choice of species--that's Hollywood).
Caroline Schooley Project MICRO 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/PMHomePage.html Intertidal invertebrates: http://www.fortbragg.k12.ca.us/AG/PCI/pci.html
I want to say thanks to all colleagues who was sent me their advice. I will replay personally to each of them. One again thanks you very much gentlemen.
Scientific Illustration Standards: I am working on a project requiring pen (illustrations) of various stages of plant tissues from gross morphology to paraffin embedded sections of tissues/cells and structures. I am looking for a reference of standards for this nature of botanical illustration. I have tried looking under plant anatomy and biological illustration, but there does not seem to be a book, or publication that gives these specifications (which are different than botanical illustration). Any ideas or suggestions are welcome. Thank you in advance. Please reply to my email: crow-at-aloha.net.
__________________________________________
M.H. Chapin PO Box 716 Lawai, Kauai, Hawaii 96765 email: crow-at-aloha.net
I have no particular knowledge of your specimens but I would store them in buffer. Microorganisms grow more frequently in phosphate buffers than in cacodylate so I would add sodium azide to the buffer.
Dave
On Thu, 4 Nov 1999 13:26:31 -0500 "Richard E. Edelmann" {edelmare-at-casmail.muohio.edu} wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } I am looking for an opinion from our vast wealth of knowledge and experiences. } } I have a user who is collecting 'semaphore cactus' flower specimens during a } field expedition to South America with limited lab access. She is going to start } fixation (2.5% glut in Na Phosphate buffer) in the field, and continue processing upon } her return to the USA. She will be in the field for 21 days, and she is looking for } morphological data (not immuno) in LM, SEM, & TEM (obviously TEM is the sticking } point here). Refrigeration (4 C) will be generally available. } } We are looking for a recommendation on the best place to leave the tissue for } upwards of 21 days, before continuing processing of the tissue: } } a. leave in 2.5% glut Na. Phos buffer } } b. rinse to Na. Phos buffer and hold } } c. rinse to distilled water and hold. } } } Details: } } Samples: Opuntia spinosissima (Cactaceae) } } Flower samples: Ovules, anthers, styles & stigma } } Why 2.5% glut in Na. Phosphate buffer? } } Ans: Weight. Transport ampules of 25% Glut and pre-weighed mono- & dibasic } sodium phosphate packets and mix with locally obtained distilled water (no pH'ing on } site) and return only with samples in vials. } } We are very willing to take any better solutions offered. } } } (I don't know she just wasn't willing to back pack in our hihg pressure freezing } unit and some LN2 dewars :-) } } Thanks! } } } } } } } } Richard E. Edelmann, Ph.D. } Electron Microscopy Facility Supervisor } 352 Pearson Hall } Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056 } Ph: 513.529.5712 Fax: 513.529.4243 } E-mail: edelmare-at-muohio.edu } } "RAM disk is NOT an installation procedure." }
---------------------------------------- Patton, David Email: David.Patton-at-uwe.ac.uk "University of the West of England"
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 an opinion from our vast wealth of knowledge and experiences. } } I have a user who is collecting 'semaphore cactus' flower specimens during a } field expedition to South America with limited lab access. She is going to start } fixation (2.5% glut in Na Phosphate buffer) in the field, and continue processing upon } her return to the USA. She will be in the field for 21 days, and she is looking for } morphological data (not immuno) in LM, SEM, & TEM (obviously TEM is the sticking } point here). Refrigeration (4 C) will be generally available. } } We are looking for a recommendation on the best place to leave the tissue for } upwards of 21 days, before continuing processing of the tissue: } } a. leave in 2.5% glut Na. Phos buffer } } b. rinse to Na. Phos buffer and hold } } c. rinse to distilled water and hold. } } Details: } } Samples: Opuntia spinosissima (Cactaceae) } } Flower samples: Ovules, anthers, styles & stigma } } Why 2.5% glut in Na. Phosphate buffer? } } Ans: Weight. Transport ampules of 25% Glut and pre-weighed mono- & dibasic } sodium phosphate packets and mix with locally obtained distilled water (no pH'ing on } site) and return only with samples in vials. } } We are very willing to take any better solutions offered. } } (I don't know she just wasn't willing to back pack in our hihg pressure freezing } unit and some LN2 dewars :-) } } Thanks! } } } } } Richard E. Edelmann, Ph.D. } Electron Microscopy Facility Supervisor } 352 Pearson Hall } Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056 } Ph: 513.529.5712 Fax: 513.529.4243 } E-mail: edelmare-at-muohio.edu } } "RAM disk is NOT an installation procedure."
Why not include an ampoule or two of OsO4 in the kit (talk to the suppliers and find out if it might not be easier to have it shipped directly south). If the material is post fixed and rinsed, it should keep in dH20 for quite a while, especially at reduced temperature.
A second suggestion is to include some form of vacuum system. Generally I found that flowers and other aerial organs tended to have quite a volume on entrained air in them. This can cause problems in fixation and resin infiltration if not removed. I've had the best results removing it during the primary fixation step. A simple, and effective, packable vacuum system for exhausting this can be made from an ordinary hand-operated brake bleeding device available at any local auto parts store.
cheers, John Heckman Department of Materials Science and Mechanics Michigan State University
Members of MSA,MAS and x-ray microanalysts will be sad to hear that Ted Hall died in Cambridge a few days ago. The funeral will be at the Cambridge Crematorium on Thursday November 11th at 3.45pm (GMT). Ted will be remembered for many things and not the least for the Continuum-Normalisation analytical algorithm which he developed for the quantitative x-ray microanalysis of thin sections of bio-organic materials.
Please forward this ad to anyone whom you feel might be interested. If anyone knows of other lists that might serve this audience (cell biology/EM or aquatic vascular plant ecology) please notify me directly.
TIA
Bob Wise
As seen in the 29 October issue of Science:
The Biology and Microbiology Department at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh seeks two tenure-track Assistant Professors: (1) Specialty in cell biology and electron microscopy. Responsibilities: Teach electron microscopy; share teaching cellular and molecular biology, introductory biology; develop a research program in cell biology; run and maintain well-equipped electron microscope facility (SEM and TEM); (2) Specialty in aquatic vascular plant ecology. Responsibilities: Share in teaching advanced ecology, botany, and introductory biology courses; develop a research program in aquatic ecology. Both positions begin 1 September 2000, and successful candidates will be expected to pursue extramural funding and supervise M.S. theses. Ph.D. required; postdoctoral and teaching experience desirable. Send letter of application, statements of teaching philosophy and research interests, curriculum vitae, reprints, three letters of recommendation, and transcripts to: Chair, Department of Biology and Microbiology, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, Oshkosh, WI 54901 by 10 January 2000. For additional information, see website: http://www.uwosh.edu/departments/biology/. The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
Dr. Robert R. Wise Department of Biology University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Oshkosh, WI 54901 (920) 424-3404 wise-at-uwosh.edu http://www.uwosh.edu/departments/biology/wise/wise.html
At 08:31 AM 11/4/1999 -0800, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} { GO GATORS Scott D. Whittaker 218 Carr Hall EM Technician Gainesville, FL 32610 University Of Florida ph 352-392-1184 ICBR EM Core Lab fax 352-846-0251 sdw-at-biotech.ufl.edu http://www.biotech.ufl.edu/~emcl/ The home of " Tips & Tricks "
Thanks for the new procedure! =20 As an added bit of strangeness, in Office98 for Mac, the 'US keyboard' trick doesn't work for fonts sizes 10 and 9. Go figure . . .
Cheers John
-----Original Message----- } From: Ian MacLaren [mailto:maclaren-at-fy.chalmers.se] Sent: Thursday, November 04, 1999 10:54 AM To: Carl Henderson Cc: Microscopy; YiMin Yao
Dear all, Thanks to Carl Henderson, I have the answer I was looking for. I used the information at http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q193/7/78.ASP and adapted it to getting bars over numbers. I used the overstrike character from symbol font, as already suggested by John Mansfield as the character for the top. To make the overbar high enough, I raised it by 2 points using the "Format Character" options.
I have produced a list of bar 1 to bar 6 using this technique and I have checked them. They have one advantage over those produced using Equation Editor. If you produce individual characters using equation editor (such as bar 1) and then insert this to make something like [10bar1] you find that the vertical alignment of the bar1 is different to the rest of the typed text. With this newly discovered method, they all have the same vertical alignment as ordinary text so nothing looks strange when they are inserted. I then used the suggestions of James Passmore and Su Sajip and made AutoCorrect entries for b1, b2 . b6 which insert these formatted bar1 to bar6 characters. Finally, it may require a slight fiddling with the printing window settings to get them to print out right, it did on my Mac.
If you want to edit them later, just select Preferences } view } Show field codes, and you will see the code and can then change things.
The Word file with bar1 to bar6 is available from me if you want to save yourself some work. Just email me.
Thanks again for all the help and handy suggestions.
Best wishes
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Ian MacLaren Department of Experimental Physics Chalmers University of Technology S-412 96 G=F6teborg, Sweden Tel: +46 31 772 36 33 FAX: +46 31 772 32 24 email: ian.maclaren-at-physics.org Research Group Homepage: http://fy.chalmers.se/microscopy/ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
N.B. 1 I leave Sweden on the 12th December for a Christmas holiday in England, answering email in this time will be slow. After the New Year I will be travelling to China.
N.B. 2 Please send email to ian.maclaren-at-physics.org instead of the fy.chalmers.se address from now on. This new address will redirect mail to whichever email service I am using, even after I have gone to China.
They are both good, but I prefer the Nikon design.....more flexible. -----Original Message----- } From: Tom Phillips {PhillipsT-at-missouri.edu} To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com {Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com}
Just one more minor point for those using the FIELD method in MS Word (I use Word 98 on a Mac) for creating negative Miller indices. In addition to adjusting the vertical position of the bar using FORMAT/FONT/Character Spacing, which Ian MacLaren stated, you can also align the two superimposed characters using the field array switch (\a). This switch is normally used to align characters in a column but I have found that the \ar, \ac and \al switches will work even if there is only one column in the array, i.e. the superimposed characters in the overstrike field equation. For example, I use the following field equation ...{EQ \o \ar(b,1)}...where b is the character that gives me a bar using the WP-MathExtendedA font (my own preference instead of the symbol character) and \ar is the switch that aligns the two superimposed characters to the right. This setting gives me the best looking output of a bar1 character set in my printed documents. For other font combinations, it may be that the \ac (center alignment) or \al (left alignment) give better results. Once you establish the switches that produce the best output, then definitely use the AUTOCORRECT feature (great suggestion James Passmore!) to assign names to the Miller indices, or what ever else you choose to combine.
My only other comment is be sure not to double click on the overstrike character set if you want to modify it,i.e. from bar1 to bar2, since Word will automatically start Equation Editor to make the changes. IMO this really messes things up since the overstrike characters are entered back into the document as an equation box (which is what we are trying to avoid). You must make changes to them as mentioned before by selecting Tools/Preferences/View/Show Field Codes, making the changes, and then unselecting the show field codes.
Thanks everyone for input on this topic and good luck.
David * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * David T. Hoelzer, Ph.D. Metals and Ceramics Division Oak Ridge National Laboratory Bldg. 5500, Mail Stop 6376 P. O. Box 2008 Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830 * (865) 574-5096 {Work} * (865) 574-0641 {Fax} * Note: new area code (replaces old 423)
-----Original Message----- } From: Patton, David [mailto:David.Patton-at-uwe.ac.uk] Sent: Friday, November 05, 1999 3:06 AM To: edelmare-at-muohio.edu Cc: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
I have no particular knowledge of your specimens but I would store them in buffer. Microorganisms grow more frequently in phosphate buffers than in cacodylate so I would add sodium azide to the buffer.
Dave
On Thu, 4 Nov 1999 13:26:31 -0500 "Richard E. Edelmann" {edelmare-at-casmail.muohio.edu} wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } I am looking for an opinion from our vast wealth of knowledge and experiences. } } I have a user who is collecting 'semaphore cactus' flower specimens during a } field expedition to South America with limited lab access. She is going to start } fixation (2.5% glut in Na Phosphate buffer) in the field, and continue processing upon } her return to the USA. She will be in the field for 21 days, and she is looking for } morphological data (not immuno) in LM, SEM, & TEM (obviously TEM is the sticking } point here). Refrigeration (4 C) will be generally available. } } We are looking for a recommendation on the best place to leave the tissue for } upwards of 21 days, before continuing processing of the tissue: } } a. leave in 2.5% glut Na. Phos buffer } } b. rinse to Na. Phos buffer and hold } } c. rinse to distilled water and hold. } } } Details: } } Samples: Opuntia spinosissima (Cactaceae) } } Flower samples: Ovules, anthers, styles & stigma } } Why 2.5% glut in Na. Phosphate buffer? } } Ans: Weight. Transport ampules of 25% Glut and pre-weighed mono- & dibasic } sodium phosphate packets and mix with locally obtained distilled water (no pH'ing on } site) and return only with samples in vials. } } We are very willing to take any better solutions offered. } } } (I don't know she just wasn't willing to back pack in our hihg pressure freezing } unit and some LN2 dewars :-) } } Thanks! } } } } } } } } Richard E. Edelmann, Ph.D. } Electron Microscopy Facility Supervisor } 352 Pearson Hall } Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056 } Ph: 513.529.5712 Fax: 513.529.4243 } E-mail: edelmare-at-muohio.edu } } "RAM disk is NOT an installation procedure." }
---------------------------------------- Patton, David Email: David.Patton-at-uwe.ac.uk "University of the West of England"
Sorry to bother the US community, with this overstriking problem : on a French system, I still could not succeed in applying Siegfried's instructions... Mainly only voyels can be overstriked.
However, by browsing through the MS index help, I have finally succeeded in finding how to superpose two characters. I am not sure that this would be more convenient than the MS equation editor, but I mention it in reply to Ian MacLaren's query.
1) First, you have to insert a field (insert menu) 2) Then choose the kind of field. I have tried the equation field : EQ in the right menu 3) Then select the desired operator. For that, instead of typing the code, I have clicked on the option button and have chosen the \O( ) operator (O for overstriking I suppose) 4) Then, type the two characters you want to overstrike separated by ; (or may be comma in non French system) 5) You finally got something like : {EQ \O(1;?) } 6) Two modes are available for the fields : command or normal view. You can go back and forth between these two modes either with the preference box or by pressing the F9+option keys. On my computer (mac 7500), this is much faster than calling the MS equation editor.
Best wishes
PS. Up to now, I was using the MS equation editor to introduce overstriking. May be I will shift ? --
We want to view the surface waxes on leaves and stems of several plants (Brassica). We have previously viewed specimens using standard SEM and have prepared samples by standard methods. Currently we have access to an ESEM. Can anyone give us recommendations on conditions of sample preparation, temperature, humidity, pressure, and voltage that would be best suited for viewing surface waxes when using an ESEM?
The chatter has to be cause by movement between the knife and the speciman, the knife digging into the speciman or some kind of vibration in the knife, mount or machine..
Movement between the knife and specimen could be caused by warpage, a burr, wear or debris. Inspection and coating one of the mating surfaces with spotting compound such as Prussian blue and assembling and dissembling the parts will show if there is any problems with mating surfaces.
Most likely is the knife digging into the mount or the mount being deformed by the knife. You can try mounting in a different resin or use a knife with larger angle on the cutting edge and or a stiffer knife. Thinner or thicker sections might help.
I have had problems with chatter on everything I ever tried to cut at one time or another. Once something starts to chatter it is hard to get it stopped on that piece. Usually I can tinker with things until the chatter stops I would make up some dummy mounts to try different things until I found a combination that works.
Good luck Gordon
Gordon Couger gcouger-at-couger.com
Stillwater, OK www.couger.com/gcouger 405 624-2855 GMT -6:00 www.couger.com/gcouger -----Original Message-----
} } We are going to be performing immunostaining on vibratome sections of rat } cerebrum fixed in paraformaldehyde. I am working with an EM Corp H1200 } Vibrating Microtome and have only been able to produce sections (40 micron) } that contain "chatter" ( in the direction of the knife advance). I have } tried varying the knife angle, the speed, the frequency with minimal } improvement. The chatter is still present. My question: should I be able } to produce chatter-free sections or do I have to work around this } distortion of the section. I tried to contact EM Corp., but it appears } they have gone out of business. Thank you in advance for any suggestions! } } Sandy Perkins
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
HIGH PRECISION SEARCH ENGINE SUBMISSION
Every expert predicts this coming holiday season will blow the lid off e-commerce and establish Internet shopping as THE preferred shopping experience for tens of millions of buyers around the world - what are YOU doing to GET NOTICED.?
We will Submit YOUR Website to Over 17,000 Search Engines, Ad Sites, Links and More!!!!
Free site promotion services deliver what you pay for them... NOTHING! Our service is NOT free - however our bonus submission and FREE AUTORESPONDER make it seem that way!
If you have tried all of the "free" web site promotion gimmicks and have not seen a steady increase in the flow of web traffic to your business site --you are not alone!
Review a very unique approach to both high precision -and- mass submission commercial web site promotion!
It's NOT free -- It's NOT a gimmick -- It DOES work!
85% of web surfers use search engines and directories to find commercial web sites - like yours. You can do something to work the search engines and GET NOTICED!
Special Features!: 17,000+ sites including all major search engines Repeat submissions included Redirect "Gateway Page'" E-Mail Kick Start Bonus submission ...more! JUST ADDED: FREE Progressive Autoresponder!
Take a minute and find out how.
http://www.webhostcorp.com/members/weber/
To be removed send an email with the word "remove" somewhere in the email to: cathy92a-at-europe.com You will not receive any more mailings from us!
Attention ListServer Members: RONTEC USA, Inc. is currently conducting a search for a "Product Manager" for its X-ray microanalysis group in Acton, Massachusetts. A description of this newly created position and information on the company may be seen at the RONTEC website (www.rontecusa.com) . If you are a US citizen meeting the job requirements and would care to apply for the position, please send your current resume' and a letter to: RONTEC USA 20 Main Street Acton, MA 01720 Attn.: Human Resources RONTEC USA is a subsidiary of the premier German EDX system manufacturer RONTEC AG. The growing RONTEC group specializes in EDX detectors and analyzers of advanced technology, microanalysis and X-ray imaging hardware and software for SEM, TEM and diffractometer applications. RONTEC is an equal opportunity employer.
I have recently installed an x-ray system with excellent digital imaging. I no longer need my passive digital imaging system that I purchased from GW Electronics, ($4900 for just the board). To install, one needs to hook up X-blanking, Y-blanking, and video (w/ annotation). The system is simple and acquires excellent images. I would be glad to send examples. The system has both visual (continuous scan) and record modes. The resolution of the image is a factor of the number of lines scanned by the SEM, (resolution is not limited by the GW board). Example, 2000 lines scanned with a normal landscape aspect ratio would result in 2500 pixels, this would mean a 5 megabyte image. The system acquires, saves and prints images. It has all the available formats tiff, jpg, gif, etc. It also has a built-in feature where it measures the line and frame periods of the SEM, so setup is a snap. Essentially you create a configuration file for each scan speed that you have. You open that file, click on start and you are acquiring images.
I am asking $2500 for just the board, $3100 for board w/ PC, I'll even install and train for $1250 + travel expenses. The PC has a writable CD, a 17 inch Sony trinitron monitor, and an EPSON 700 inkjet printer.
-----Oorspronkelijk bericht----- Van: Caroline Schooley {schooley-at-mcn.org} Aan: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} Datum: samedi 16 octobre 1999 8:45 Onderwerp: Re: Help needed on slide preparation & staining techniques
} } Email: canew-at-jps.net } } Name: C. Newhouse } } School: Lowell HS } } } } Question: I am interested in finding a text or literature on } } slide preparation & staining techniques } } (& preparation of stains including Congo red, } } Safranin, Chrystal Violet, etc.) } }
Somehow I can't find the original message...
Some other interesting works (who are currently out of print, but can perhaps be found second-hand or in a library) dealing with a lot of specimens, preparation techniques and staining methods are:
If there is someone out there who is a real whizz on Word for Mac, please advise the rest of us on how to superimpose two characters.
Hope we can all clear this one up soon.
Best wishes
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Ian MacLaren Department of Experimental Physics Chalmers University of Technology S-412 96 G=F6teborg, Sweden Tel: +46 31 772 36 33 FAX: +46 31 772 32 24 email: ian.maclaren-at-physics.org Research Group Homepage: http://fy.chalmers.se/microscopy/ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
} } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } } I hope here is a recipe that should work for WSWord in general = independently of the platform and allow to avoid EquationEditor. It's = not trivial but one may define a macros and make this real "one stroke = solution".
1. type in one line ...... [h-kl-] .......
2. select "-", go to "Format-} Font-} Spacing", in "Shift" (or probably = "placement", I use not english version of Word) select "Up" and choose = about half of font size setting, then OK.
3. back in the text select "h", "Format-} Font-} Spacing", in "Spacing" = (?) choose "compressed" and again about half of font size, OK.
After some trials it should give you what you want. If one will use = "shift+arrows" conbination to select characters, sequence may be saved = as macros and used by pressing single key.
I would like to know if someone encourage to try this and probably = distribute the macros.
Any reason why nobody wants to use the Mac OS keycaps accessory?
This will very quickly show which key combinations produce the required results.
Another of those minor features which make Macs so easy to use:-)
regards
-- Larry Stoter 17, Rocks Park Road, Uckfield, E. Sussex, TN22 2AT, UK email: LPS-at-teknesis.demon.co.uk Home Phone/Fax: +44 (0)1825 767967 Work Phone: +44 (0)1293 527733
I am interested in mounting various kinds of marine invertebrates from an aqueous or 70% alcohol solution. I am atracted to the claims for CMCP-10 and CMCP-9. I tried making a number of kinds of aqueous mountants some years ago, including PVA, Glycerol-Gelatin, actually quite a number, but none of them proved really good---my home cooked PVA mountant was close, but .... no cigar.
After some years away from this work, I want to try CMCP-10 or 9.
My interestes are broad ranging---
Sponge spicules after corrosion in bleach Crab larvae Minute worms Worm larvae Various kinds of spicules and worm bristles Nematocysts Small worms
Can I ask on this list whether anyone has come up with a good solution for water soluble mounts, from marine material?
Thank you,
Alan Davis
-- adavis-at-netpci.com
"An inviscid theory of flow renders the screw useless, but the need for one non-existent." ---Lord Raleigh
We have a Philips XL30 ESEM. I have not looked specifically for waxes but I would observe a leaf as follows.
Mount using double sided conductive tabs. Place a drop of water on part of the leaf (so you know this region was always wet during pumpdown. Pumpdown at 5 deg. C, and 6.8 Torr. Flood x4 and observe at the dew point ie 6.5 Torr. If eventually water condences on the leaf alter the pressure to say 6.3 Torr. Use the lowest kV you can. (I find it hard to get a reasonable amount of signal below 10 or 15kV).
Good luck
Dave
On Fri, 05 Nov 1999 14:53:42 -0500 Margaret Lynch {mlynch-at-emerald.tufts.edu} wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Dear colleagues, } } We want to view the surface waxes on leaves and stems of several plants } (Brassica). } We have previously viewed specimens using standard SEM and have prepared } samples by standard methods. Currently we have access to an ESEM. Can } anyone give us recommendations on conditions of sample preparation, } temperature, humidity, pressure, and voltage that would be best suited } for viewing surface waxes when using } an ESEM? } } Many thanks, } } Margaret Lynch } Tufts University } Medford, MA 01255 } }
---------------------------------------- Patton, David Email: David.Patton-at-uwe.ac.uk "University of the West of England"
Some chatter is endemic to vibratome sections due to the flexibility of the sample. If your antibody allows try hardening it a bit more with longer fixation or using freshly preparted paraformaldehyde, adding a little glutaraldehyde to the post-fix, or switching to methanolic Carnoy's. Surrounding the tissue with 2-4% low melting point agarose may help to immobilize it often helps.
My experience with vibratomes has been that mechanical sources of chatter will be in loosely clamped sample holder, sample coming loose from the holder, the blade clamp is either rusting out or someone has sprung it by opening too far, or the steel shaft of the advance mechanism and/or its brass sleeve have corroded.
Good luck, Glen
Glen MacDonald Research Scientist Hearing Research Laboratories of the Virginia Merrill Bloedel Hearing Research Center Box 35-7923 University of Washington Seattle, WA 98195-7923 (206) 616-4156 glenmac-at-u.washington.edu
On Fri, 5 Nov 1999, Gordon Couger 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } The chatter has to be cause by movement between the knife and the } speciman, the knife digging into the speciman or some kind of vibration } in the knife, mount or machine.. } } Movement between the knife and specimen could be caused by warpage, } a burr, wear or debris. Inspection and coating one of the mating surfaces } with } spotting compound such as Prussian blue and assembling and dissembling } the parts will show if there is any problems with mating surfaces. } } Most likely is the knife digging into the mount or the mount being deformed } by the knife. You can try mounting in a different resin or use a knife with } larger angle on the cutting edge and or a stiffer knife. Thinner or thicker } sections might help. } } I have had problems with chatter on everything I ever tried to cut at one } time or another. Once something starts to chatter it is hard to get it } stopped } on that piece. Usually I can tinker with things until the chatter stops I } would } make up some dummy mounts to try different things until I found a } combination that works. } } Good luck } Gordon } } Gordon Couger gcouger-at-couger.com } } Stillwater, OK www.couger.com/gcouger } 405 624-2855 GMT -6:00 www.couger.com/gcouger } -----Original Message----- } } } } } We are going to be performing immunostaining on vibratome sections of rat } } cerebrum fixed in paraformaldehyde. I am working with an EM Corp H1200 } } Vibrating Microtome and have only been able to produce sections (40 micron) } } that contain "chatter" ( in the direction of the knife advance). I have } } tried varying the knife angle, the speed, the frequency with minimal } } improvement. The chatter is still present. My question: should I be able } } to produce chatter-free sections or do I have to work around this } } distortion of the section. I tried to contact EM Corp., but it appears } } they have gone out of business. Thank you in advance for any suggestions! } } } } Sandy Perkins } } } } }
The Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science at Rice University seeks candidates for a postdoctoral research associate position to carry out research on the synthesis and characterization of multicomponent oxide thin films. The position includes research on the development of a new vacuum deposition tool. The ideal candidate should have demonstrated experience in advanced vapor phase deposition processes, either PVD or CVD, and in UHV systems. Experience in the areas of metal oxide thin film characterization (XRD, SEM, TEM and/or electrical measurements) is preferred. Candidates should hold a Ph.D. in Physics, Materials Science or a related field. The appointment is initially for one year, with a strong possibility of extension for a second year. Interested candidates should send a curriculum vitae, including publication list, and the names of at least three references with addresses and telephone numbers to: Prof. S. Stemmer, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science MS-321, Rice University, 6100 Main Street, Houston, TX 77005-1892. Email:stemmer-at-rice.edu. Rice University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
We use conditions on an NSEM you could probably mimic on an XL-30. In our experience keeping the voltage as low as possible is very important to get an accurate picture of an uncoated wax surface. For 5kV, you will need to keep the working distance as low as possible, and the gas pressure to the minimum needed to reduce charging (around 1 torr?). Stabilise the leaf by keeping it cold - a Peltier or nitrogen-cooled stage if convenient, otherwise just place on a nitrogen-cooled metal block. You can probably get 5kV with water vapour under these conditions but if it condenses, helium should be fine.
cheers Sally Stowe
On Fri, 05 Nov 1999 14:53:42 -0500 Margaret Lynch {mlynch-at-emerald.tufts.edu} wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com
} On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html
} -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Dear colleagues, } } We want to view the surface waxes on leaves and stems of several plants } (Brassica). } We have previously viewed specimens using standard SEM and have prepared } samples by standard methods. Currently we have access to an ESEM. Can } anyone give us recommendations on conditions of sample preparation, } temperature, humidity, pressure, and voltage that would be best suited } for viewing surface waxes when using } an ESEM? } } Many thanks, } } Margaret Lynch } Tufts University } Medford, MA 01255 }
Dr Sally Stowe, Facility Coordinator Australian National University EM Unit Research School of Biological Sciences Box 475, ACT 2601, Canberra, Australia FAX 06 (0)2 6279 8525 http://www.anu.edu.au/EMU/home.htm
I too have an interest in LWD microscope objectives; consequently, I talked with the Olympus representatives who were pesent at the last MAS/MSA meeting, who told me they have a series of such lenses. I seem to have misplaced the literature they gave me, but as I recall they had WDs of about 20 mm and are available with 5X, 10X and 20X mags. (Tel: 516-488-3880; Fax: 516-222-7920)
Wilbur C. Bigelow, Prof. Emeritus Materials Sci. & Engr., University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2136 e-mail: bigelow-at-umich.edu; Fx:734-763-4788; Ph:734-764-3321
I have come across a microscope of unusual design, made by AO in the USA, perhaps 40 years ago, identified as Busch Rathenow design. It has one eyepiece, but two parallel objectives within seperate tubes and individual "stages", or perhaps fixtures, as there is no conventional platform for glass slides. No condenser, so it appears to use surface illumination from its internal electrical light source. Does not seem to have been intended for microbiology. Objectives are mounted in two parallel tubes, via sliders, one objective per tube, both tubes incorporated in one stand with a common eyepiece. Not sure if this would be considered a useful instrument or collectible antique. Perhaps someone in the Society is familiar with this design and it's purpose?
I am a collector of scientific optical instruments.
WE feel we have solve all problems with storage of osmium tetroxide. Here is our laboratory=B4s procedure of handling and storage.
We make 4% osmiumtetroxide in 0.2M phosphatbuffer, and freeze it in small aliquotes =E1 2ml in blood sample glass (without any additives, except that it is silicone coated) with rubber top. The Osmium tetroxid will not enter trough glass or rubber. It enters trough plastic. In the freezer we store the glasses in double containers just to be shure. We don=B4t have blackening of even the inner container! (That=B4s because of the glass and the rubber stopper)
When we are using the osmium, we thaw one glass, and add 2 ml distilled water to make 2% in 0.1M buffer. We plase the blood sample glass in an erlenmeyer-beaker, and have aluminiumfoil around it to avoid light to destroy the osmium. The thawed glass are stored in a chemichal hood.
Good luck.=20
Gunnar and Nan Vennlig Hilsen=20 dr.ing Gunnar Kopstad overingeni=F8r Avd f Patologi, Rit
Thanks for the "Heads-Up" Caroline, will be watching tonite as I caught a = Preview last night on PBS.......very interesting! Mike Bucker Microscopist Principal Consolidated Labs of VA
} } } Caroline Schooley {schooley-at-mcn.org} 11/04 7:45 PM } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America=20
On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html=20=
Bruce Russell does superb photomicrography, both still and video. He's just sent me this message:
} If you are in the mood, check out "Intimate Strangers" on PBS next = Tuesday } and the three Tuesdays thereafter. I shot most of the micro-scenes for = the } series (but please don't hold me responsible for the occasional } inappropriate choice of species--that's Hollywood).
Caroline Schooley Project MICRO 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/PMHomePage.html= =20 Intertidal invertebrates: http://www.fortbragg.k12.ca.us/AG/PCI/pci.html=20=
After 15 years of successful typing our keyboard on Link AN-10000 EDS system (the rest of it works still very well) became unreliable (most employed keys are almost dead). From our local representative we got an offer for a new keyboard for a price high enough to by a new PC (including keyboard of course). I wonder if someone experienced similar problem and found a cheaper solution (such as to repair it, to exchange for a different type etc.).
The type of the keyboard is 1602-003.
Thank you for answers,
Goran Drazic J. Stefan Institute SI-1000 Ljubljana Slovenia
Greetings, Andre von Hoyer described a microscope (see below) that reminded me of a design that Leitz once made for doing interference microscopy. It was for transmitted (not incident) light and it had two microscopes in one. A single light source, split to shine through two matched condenser-objective systems and then reunited for the eyepiece. You put your sample in one and a reference slide in the other and could get interference between the sample and reference beam. Clearly this required lots of matched optics and careful alignment. Could it be that the scope designed below was meant to do intereference but with incident light? Just a wild guess.
Tobias Baskin
} } Sir- } } I have come across a microscope of unusual design, made by AO in the } USA, perhaps 40 years ago, identified as Busch Rathenow design. It has } one eyepiece, but two parallel objectives within seperate tubes and } individual "stages", or perhaps fixtures, as there is no conventional } platform for glass slides. No condenser, so it appears to use surface } illumination from its internal electrical light source. Does not seem to } have been intended for microbiology. Objectives are mounted in two } parallel tubes, via sliders, one objective per tube, both tubes } incorporated in one stand with a common eyepiece. Not sure if this } would be considered a useful instrument or collectible antique. Perhaps } someone in the Society is familiar with this design and it's purpose? } } I am a collector of scientific optical instruments. } } Andre von Hoyer } andre.vonhoyer-at-lmco.com
subscribe Microscopy {mishot-at-itsa.ucsf.edu} Larry D. Ackerman Lily & Yuh Nung Jan Laboratories Howard Hughes Medical Institute UCSF, Box 0725, Rm U226 533 Parnassus Ave. San Francisco, CA 94143
March 15 -17, 2000 at the University of Central Florida, Orlando.
We will be offering a 3 day TEM specimen preparation short course that will include hands-on tripod polishing and FIB techniques at the University of Central Florida (sponsored by South Bay Technology and FEI company). This course will be offered the week of the joint meetings of the Florida AVS and Florida Society for Microscopy (an MSA local affiliate).
Instructors: Ron Anderson, IBM. Lucille Giannuzzi, UCF. Fred Stevie, Lucent Technologies
Additional information will follow. In you have questions, please contat:
Lucille Giannuzzi: lag-at-mail.ucf.edu
******************************************************************* Lucille A. Giannuzzi, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Dept. of Mechanical, Materials, and Aerospace Eng., University of Central Florida, PO Box 162450, 4000 Central Florida Blvd., Orlando, FL 32816-2450 USA phone (407) 823-5770 fax (407) 823-0208 email lag-at-mail.ucf.edu
Director, UCF/Cirent Materials Characterization Facility, 12443 Research Parkway, Suite 305 Orlando, FL 32826 phone (407) 275-4354,5,6 fax (407) 275-4321 -------------------------------------------------------------------- "Good judgement comes from experience.
Experience comes from making bad judgement."
Mark Twain ********************************************************************
It sounds like a AO Spencer Direct Result Colorimeter. As taken from American Optical catalog ca. 1946, "It is applicable to all chemical and biological tests in which color density is a quantitative indication of composition." Basically, you zero the instrument with a standard using both plunger (objective) paths, then place the unknown in one plunger path and match the color between it and the side containing the standard using the independant knobs on either side. These knobs move the sample cups up and down. You apparently see a dividing line between the two fields in the eyepiece and can match color across this line. The depth difference between the two sides can then be read out as percent concentration of sample. Greg
Andre von Hoyer wrote:
} Sir- } } I have come across a microscope of unusual design, made by AO in the } USA, perhaps 40 years ago, identified as Busch Rathenow design. It has } one eyepiece, but two parallel objectives within seperate tubes and } individual "stages", or perhaps fixtures, as there is no conventional } platform for glass slides. No condenser, so it appears to use surface } illumination from its internal electrical light source. Does not seem to } have been intended for microbiology. Objectives are mounted in two } parallel tubes, via sliders, one objective per tube, both tubes } incorporated in one stand with a common eyepiece. Not sure if this } would be considered a useful instrument or collectible antique. Perhaps } someone in the Society is familiar with this design and it's purpose? } } I am a collector of scientific optical instruments. } } Andre von Hoyer } andre.vonhoyer-at-lmco.com
-- ================================================================== Greg Strout Electron Microscopist, University of Oklahoma WWW Virtual Library for Microscopy: http://www.ou.edu/research/electron/www-vl/ e-mail: gstrout-at-ou.edu Opinions expressed herein are mine and not necessarily those of the University of Oklahoma ==================================================================
A good specification for F is 65eV. This makes the assumption that the detector is a Si(Li) and has a 129eV -at- MnKa specification. The type of pulse processor, assuming that it is a modern design will not degrade the F resolution. Both time variant and digital pulse processors provide similar resolution assuming they use the same time constant. Both Mn and F resolution should be measured on the electron column using real samples rather than Fe55.
David Rohde NORAN Instruments Inc.
DISCLAIMER: NORAN Instruments is a manufacturer of EDS detectors and systems.
-----Original Message----- } From: Ric Felten [mailto:smartech-at-javanet.com] Sent: Tuesday, November 02, 1999 7:26 AM To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
Call the Frank Fryer Company, area code 847 in Illinois.....they should be able to help. -----Original Message----- } From: Andre von Hoyer {andre.vonhoyer-at-lmco.com} To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com {Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com}
i'd like to make a web-accessible instrument out of my LEO982. does anyone have a public domain script (java preferrably) for control of a SEM through a serial interface?
Brian McIntyre mailto:mcintyre-at-optics.rochester.edu Sr. Engineer lab: 716-275-3058/4875 River Campus EMLab fax: 716-244-4936 University of Rochester Rochester, NY 14620
"The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother." - Unknown
We need to process synthetic vascular grafts made of porous polyurethane and dacron for light microscopy routine histology and image analysis and we need a resin that will not dissolve the PU and also allow immuno staining for endothelium and smooth muscle. We have had success with routine histo on the dacron grafts using Spurr Resin but all of the resins we have tried have dissolved the PU.
Can anyone suggest a resin or technique that will allow us to process our PU samples?
Thanks
Phil
Phillip Christopher Cardiovascular Research,UCT Anzio Road, Observatory, 7925 Cape Town, South Africa 27-21-4066613/6476(tel) 27-21-4485925(fax) ctschristopher-at-samiot.uct.ac.za
Saturday, April 21, Sunday, April 22, 2000 Saturday, April 28, Sunday, April 29, 2000
An advanced course on polarized light microscopy which will cover the following topics: The nature of polarized light The origin and interpretation of interference colors Birefringence and crystal orientation The Indicatrix Compensation and variable compensators Interference figures and their interpretation
The workshop will consist of two consecutive weekends of lectures and hands on labs to cover the theoretical and practical aspects of polarized light microscopy.
The course instructors include;
Jan Hinsch of Leica, Inc.,
John Reffner of Trace Consulting,
N.Y.M.S. Instructor Donald O'Leary.
WHEN: April 22, 23, 28 & 29, 2000 from 10 A.M. to 4 P.M.
WHERE: Location To be Announced.
COST: $275 for N.Y.M.S. members, $295 for non-members (includes membership) Lunch and course materials are included. Checks made out to N.Y.M.S.
WHO: advanced course for those who have completed "The Use of the Microscope" or are experienced in microscopy and familiar with the theory of its use.
HOW: Register using the form below. Limited to the first 12 registrants.
Return form to Donald O'Leary, 6 Chittenden Road, Fair Lawn, NJ 07410.
FURTHER INFORMATION: Contact Donald O'Leary
eMail: mailto:donoleary-at-worldnet.att.net
(201) 797-8849 Voice Phone Number
PLEASE POST ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Registration Form
Polarized Light Microscopy, April 22, 23, 28 & 29, 2000
For a Limited Time Only, we will provide you with FREE CONSULTATION SERVICE!
That's right! NO RESULTS - NO FEE!
We will work on a contingency basis, our fee will be based on a percentage of the savings - if we can't help you SAVE money, there will be NO FEE!
Our company has been saving individuals and businesses money for over 18 years. DON'T HESITATE - call our toll free number now for more information. There is no obligation!
TOLL FREE NUMBER: 1(888)323-0855 (note: our 888 number is toll free, so please leave a brief message)
To be removed from our list, simply click "reply" and put the words "Remove Debt Consolidation" in the subject line. Warning: If you do not put the words "Remove Debt Consolidation" in the subject line, you will not be removed. The process is automated.
I've got a sick piece of silicon, plastic and metal here. Just doing some testing. You should just trash this message without reading and there is NO need to reply....
Sorry for cluttering up your mailbox, but I need to test this section of the server.
I'm a phd student at INSA-Lyon and I'm working in Nitinol alloys in TEM and I'm writing to you because I'm having problems with electropolishing of NiTi for TEM observations. My problem is that when I do the electropolishing in the sample, I make holes in the sample perimeter I want to ask you what do you thiking about this problem and if do you know the right conditions to get a perfect thin foil? Thanks in advances for everything. Fadila Khelfaoui GEMPPM, UMR CNRS-INSA #5510 INSA de LYON F-69621 Villeurbanne cedex, France tel: (33) 4 72 43 84 14 post 50 51 fax: (33) 4 72 43 79 30 http://www.insa-lyon.fr/Laboratoires/GEMPPM/
Without an image of the scope, I would like to suggest Andre check to s= ee if the lens are water immersion . I seem to remember a microscope-like system which visually compared the= color of test solutions. I realize in this day of GC/MS and EDS and such, no= body does spot test or microchemical test, but there was a time when visual examination of color tests was required and special scopes were designe= d and used.
For my own edification, please contact me off line, who uses microchemi= cal or spot test and for what? I would really enjoy finding out.
Stay safe ................ frank (fskarl-at-goodyear.com)
BaskinT-at-missouri.edu on 11/09/99 05:40:23 PM To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com -at- INTERNET cc:
I have quite a few old style Reichert OMU2/3 specimen chucks, the type with the square head screw that clamps the block. I don't have the complementary square head driver to turn the screw. My local hardware store guy just shrugged when I showed him the problem. Any ideas where I can find a tool to turn this screw?
Gary P. Radice gradice-at-richmond.edu Associate Professor of Biology 804 289 8107 (voice) University of Richmond 804 289 8233 (FAX) Richmond VA 23173 http://www.science.richmond.edu/~radice
I am working on a study of normal and wounded rat cornea. I have been having difficulty with "shrinkage" of the nuclei, mostly in the basal cell layer. I currently have been using a 1/2 strength Karnovsky's and have been playing with an amount of calcium chloride to try and reduce this "shrinkage". What I am in search of is a consistent fix for purely observing the ultrastructure of the rat cornea. I would appreciate any help you could offer. Thank you for your time.
Can anyone help me with finding protocols for localization of B-glucuronidase and carbonyl groups (separate procedures)?
I will be processing mouse cochlea through acetone to Epon-Araldite for 1-4 micron sections and need a protocol that will work after decalcification and stay throughout processing. I'm open to protocols that require aqueous processing (such as glycol methacrylate), but it will still be necessary to decalcify.
Replies may be sent directly to me.
Thank you for your assistance,
Jaclynn M. Lett, Research Assistant jmlett-at-cid.wustl.edu
Fay and Carl Simon Center for the Biology of Hearing and Deafness Central Institute for the Deaf 818 S. Euclid Ave. St. Louis, MO 63110
I would like to hear the replies also, so please post any responses to the list.
Robert S. Geske Research Associate Center for Comparative Medicine and Department of Pediatrics Baylor College of Medicine
-----Original Message----- } From: Jaci Lett [SMTP:jmlett-at-cid.wustl.edu] Sent: Wednesday, November 10, 1999 11:06 AM To: Microscopy Listserver; Histonet Listserver
I am resending this e-mail, hopefully for more responses.
} ---------- } From: Ingber, Bruce F.[SMTP:bingber-at-commserver.srrc.usda.gov] } Sent: Thursday, September 16, 1999 2:48 PM } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: Equipment for disposition } } We will replace our primary SEM with a new ESEM in a few months. } Consequently, some of our older instrumentation will become available for } excess, surplus, or some other sort of disposition (spare parts?). Please } e-mail if there is there any interest for the following items? Government } agencies and universities have first priority for receiving excess or surplus property.
} 1. Cambridge S-250 SEM, was working well until CRT problem this past May } (horizontal line showing on screen). May be corrected for $5000-$8000 by } Leo, Inc. although some parts are not available any longer. Good for spare } parts. } } 2. Tracor-Northern 2010 EDS, still functional as of May, 1999. Replaced } CPU } board this past January. } } Bruce F. Ingber } Biologist- Electron Microscopy } USDA-ARS, SRRC } 1100 Robert E. Lee Blvd. } New Orleans, LA 70124-4305 } } (504) 286-4270; fax (504) 286-4419 } bingber-at-nola.srrc.usda.gov }
I'm sorry, this is way off-topic, but desperate situations call fro desperate remedies.
My wife, the only coffee drinker in the house, has a small Philips (Norelco in USA?) filter-type coffeemaker, "Cafe Duo", type HD 5190/C. Its virtue is its ability to make, quickly and easily, a single 200 ml cup of good coffee. Its nylon mesh filter (part number 482201570015) is starting to fall apart, and my local Philips office advises parts no longer available, even from Holland. I would be very grateful for the email or fax address of a spare-parts company, in any country, from whom I might stand a chance of sourcing this part.
thanks
Ritchie
Ritchie Sims Phone : 64 9 3737599 ext 7713 Department of Geology Fax : 64 9 3737435 The University of Auckland email : r.sims-at-auckland.ac.nz Private Bag 92019 Auckland New Zealand
We are selling a 15yr old Reichert Ultracut E ultramicrotome. It is in good condition, however it no longer will cut grey or bright silver sections. It is going to be used for immunocytochem studies. Silver sections or thinner sections will not be required. Does anyone have an idea how much it is worth?
Rick Felten-at-MACDERMID 11/10/99 11:20 AM I have acquired an old vacuum evaporator and I can only use the mechanical pump at this time. It can reach a 30-50 militorr region. Can I use this vacuum condition to clean Pt apertures?
Sorry All, but I'm still detecting problems and the only way I can check the DNS (Domain Name Server) resolver is to send this test message to the entire list. Looks like some sites are not getting Email while others are and I don't know for sure why. Unfortunately, sending Email to myself always works so I can't test it that way.
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
We are cleaning out our shelves and want to try to sell a couple of hundred vacuum tubes of the types used in the power cabinets of the Philips EM-200 transmission EM. Many of the tubes have never been used but we also have some used ones from a number of old power cabinets in storage.
We would like to find out if there is still a market value for the tubes and where we should advertise them so they find a new owner rather than go to the local landfill. We would like to recoup some of the cost of the tubes if possible to help offset installation costs of some new equipment.
Thanks, 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
To any one interested, Are ther any listers out there who still use the Siemans 1A. I remember it well. I gave me the best TEM micrographs I ever produced. If you do, and would like an exposure control module let me know. It's up for grabs (you cover the freight, 25 lbs from California) to the first person to contact me. It was given to me to pass on and no, I don't know if it works. Good luck, Stephen D'Angelo Equipment Resurrection Pacifica CA 650-738-0351
Hi, Does anyone have a protocol for the nuclear stain propidium iodide? Friends are working at a field station in Antarctica and that is the stain they have available for use (perhaps not the best choice but that's it). They are working on foraminifera. any help would be greatly appreciated. best regards, Beth
************************************** Beth Richardson EM Lab Coordinator Botany Department University of Georgia Athens, GA 30602
Hello Listers, I am in a jam and very much need schematic diagrams and service information for the Ziess/Leo EM10 and the EM900 Transmission Electron Microscopes. Hopefully, someone might have such information that I could borrow for just a couple days and would receive for their trouble some sort of remuneration on which we would agree. Please contact me off the List. Thanks. Alex Greene SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTATION SERVICES, INC. PMB-499, 1807 West Slaughter Lane, Number 200 Austin, Texas 78748 Phone: 512/282-5507 FAX 512/280-0702
Hi, There was a listing in the last couple of days from a person at a company with a name like equipment resurrection. I deleted it by mistake and would appreciate having it resent. Thanks. Don Marshall
Donald J. Marshall Relion Industries P.O. Box 12 Bedford, MA 01730 Ph: 781-275-4695 FAX: 781-271-0252 email dmrelion-at-world.std.com
Cathodoluminescence, mass spectroscopy, electron beam technology
"A weed is a flower out of place."
(Please note: Do not send email with attachments to this address. Instead, send it to donbarlen-at-aol.com. Thank you.)
In our laboratory we have Edax 9100/40 detector with Be window. We are looking information (company in Europe, procedures, etc.) about replacement this window with Moxtek ultra thin window.
Henrik -- Henrik Kaker, Ph.D. SEM-EDS Laboratory Metal Ravne, Koroska cesta 14 Ravne, Slovenia, Phone: +386 602 21 131 Fax: +386 602 20 436 Mailto:Henrik.Kaker-at-guest.arnes.si http://www2.arnes.si/guest/sgszmera1/index.html
Would anyone care to trade or sell some parts I need? I am desparatly looking for a nose piece to fit a Zeiss Universal. Also an LKB NOVA ultramicrotome, operation manual copy and specimin holders. If you have any of these I can trade for something in my inventory or purchase them.
Folks: I need to replace a needle valve on an EMSCOPE CPD750 critical point dryer, it has a W on the body of the valve and the word Whitey on the knob, the OD of the copper feed pipe is 1/8th inch. Has anyone out there performed a similar repair? and if so where did you purchase the replacement valve Tx Simon
----------------------------------------- Simon C. Watkins Ph.D. MRCPath Associate Professor Director: Center for Biologic Imaging University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh PA 15261 tel:412-648-3051 fax:412-648-8330 URL: http://sbic6.sbic.pitt.edu
I like to ask if anyone know the current phone number of Research and Manufacturing Company. Inc. in Tucson, Arizona. I want to order RMC cyrostat accessories from them. The number I have (602-889-7900) doesn't work now. Thank you.
******************************************************************* To see what is in front of one's nose requires a constant struggle.
George Orwell
Dorothy Zhang Harvard School of public Health Building 2, CVLAB 677 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115 USA Phone# 617-432-6981 Fax# 617-432-2980
-----Original Message----- } From: Claudia Merson [mailto:Claudia.merson-at-yale.edu] {mailto:[mailto:Claudia.merson-at-yale.edu]} Sent: Friday, November 12, 1999 11:07 AM To: Hall, Ernest L (CRD)
Simon, You can get information on Whitey valves from the Whitey Company, 318 Bishop Road, Highland Heights, Ohio 44143. They don't put phone numbers in their general catalog because they rely on local reps. Whitey is a division of Swagelok Co. in Solon Ohio. We have used their valves for many years and can always get replacements. If you can't get a phone number elsewhere, call my local rep, Cambridge Valve and Fittings, 781-272-8270, and they should be able to help you. Good luck.
Don Marshall
} From Microscopy-request-at-sparc5.microscopy.com Fri Nov 12 10:39:41 1999 } } From: "simon watkins" {swatkins+-at-pitt.edu} } To: "microscopy" {microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} } Subject: needle valves } Date: Fri, 12 Nov 1999 10:13:54 -0500 } } } Folks: I need to replace a needle valve on an EMSCOPE CPD750 critical poin } dryer, it has a W on the body of the valve and the word Whitey on the knob } the OD of the copper feed pipe is 1/8th inch. Has anyone out there perform } a similar repair? and if so where did you purchase the replacement valve } Tx } Simon } } } ----------------------------------------- } Simon C. Watkins Ph.D. MRCPath } Associate Professor } Director: Center for Biologic Imaging } University of Pittsburgh } Pittsburgh PA 15261 } tel:412-648-3051 } fax:412-648-8330 } URL: http://sbic6.sbic.pitt.edu } }
Donald J. Marshall Relion Industries P.O. Box 12 Bedford, MA 01730 Ph: 781-275-4695 FAX: 781-271-0252 email dmrelion-at-world.std.com
Cathodoluminescence, mass spectroscopy, electron beam technology
"A weed is a flower out of place."
(Please note: Do not send email with attachments to this address. Instead, send it to donbarlen-at-aol.com. Thank you.)
Simon, You can get information on Whitey valves from the Whitey Company, 318 Bishop Road, Highland Heights, Ohio 44143. They don't put phone numbers in their general catalog because they rely on local reps. Whitey is a division of Swagelok Co. in Solon Ohio. We have used their valves for many years and can always get replacements. If you can't get a phone number elsewhere, call my local rep, Cambridge Valve and Fittings, 781-272-8270, and they should be able to help you. Good luck.
Don Marshall
} From Microscopy-request-at-sparc5.microscopy.com Fri Nov 12 10:39:41 1999 } } From: "simon watkins" {swatkins+-at-pitt.edu} } To: "microscopy" {microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} } Subject: needle valves } Date: Fri, 12 Nov 1999 10:13:54 -0500 } } } Folks: I need to replace a needle valve on an EMSCOPE CPD750 critical poin } dryer, it has a W on the body of the valve and the word Whitey on the knob } the OD of the copper feed pipe is 1/8th inch. Has anyone out there perform } a similar repair? and if so where did you purchase the replacement valve } Tx } Simon } } } ----------------------------------------- } Simon C. Watkins Ph.D. MRCPath } Associate Professor } Director: Center for Biologic Imaging } University of Pittsburgh } Pittsburgh PA 15261 } tel:412-648-3051 } fax:412-648-8330 } URL: http://sbic6.sbic.pitt.edu } }
Donald J. Marshall Relion Industries P.O. Box 12 Bedford, MA 01730 Ph: 781-275-4695 FAX: 781-271-0252 email dmrelion-at-world.std.com
Cathodoluminescence, mass spectroscopy, electron beam technology
"A weed is a flower out of place."
(Please note: Do not send email with attachments to this address. Instead, send it to donbarlen-at-aol.com. Thank you.)
If you just want "contact sheets" of thumbnails for your notebook, Photoshop 5.0 and 5.5 has this capability under FILE: AUTOMATE: CONTACT SHEET . It is not as fancy as the commercial packages but it does a basic job.
} Hi Tony, } we've recently decided to get ThumbsPlus from Cerious software } (http://www.cerious.com/) its about 70 GBP and since its shareware you can } give it a go first. } } regards } } Ian } } } =========================== } Dr. Ian Hopkinson } Cavendish Laboratory, } Madingley Road } Cambridge. } CB3 0HE } ENGLAND } Tel: +44 (0) 1223 337 012 } fax: +44 (0) 1233 337 000 } =========================== } } On Fri, 12 Nov 1999, Anthony Moss wrote: } } } Dear Colleagues: } } } } I just received an advertisement for ImageAXS Pro, a program by Caere } } for keeping track of image libraries. It looks very interesting. They } } have a special deal on it 'til 15 Nov. I wondered what experiences } } people have had with this product - would you buy it again; are there } } any good alternatives. My platform is PC/Windows 95/98. Thanks very } } much in advance for your time. } } } } Sincerely, } } } } Tony Moss } } } } -- } } Dr. Anthony G. Moss } } Associate Professor } } Biological Sciences } } 131 Cary Hall } } Auburn University } } Auburn, AL 36849-5414 } } } } T: (334)844-9257 } } F: (334)844-4065 } } email: mossant-at-mail.auburn.edu } } http://www.auburn.edu/~mossant } }
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 65211-7400 (573)-882-4712 (voice) (573)-882-0123 (fax)
We're trying to put together a Visual Basic program that will take a series of images from our SEM and display them in a thumbnail form. We'd also like to automatically compile them into an animation. Does anyone know of any VB components that already do this?
I am interested in height measurements from stereo pairs of images from SEM. I am aware of the Mex software by Alicona.
I seek comment/recommendation on same for PC or MAC, including comment on acuraccy and standards if possible.
Price data would be appreciated.
Thank you all in advance 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
INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON MATHEMATICAL MORPHOLOGY
and its Applications to Image and Signal Processing
-------------------------------------------- June 26-28, 2000, Palo Alto, California, USA --------------------------------------------
This symposium is the fifth in a series of international workshops devoted to the area of mathematical morphology and its applications in image and signal processing. The scientific program will include invited talks and contributed papers. The size of the workshop will be limited in order to enable interaction between the participants.
Presentations on related areas will be welcome. Related topics of specific interest include, but are not limited to: * PDE methods * Discrete geometry for image analysis * Probabilistic methods * 3D image analysis * Scale space methods
SUBMISSION PROCEDURES: ----------------------
Prospective authors are invited to submit five copies of a full paper to the following address:
ISMM 2000 c/o Dan Bloomberg Information Sciences and Technologies Lab Xerox Palo Alto Research Center 3333 Coyote Hill Road Palo Alto, CA 94304 USA
Alternatively, email submissions will also be accepted. Manuscripts should be in PostScript or PDF format (if compressed, use gzip), and sent to the following address:
ismm2000-at-parc.xerox.com
Manuscripts should include a separate title page, containing authors names and contact information (including e-mail address, phone and fax number), an abstract of up to 200 words, and keywords.
Acceptance of papers will be based on appropriateness of the topic and on quality, novelty, and clarity of exposition. Each paper will be reviewed by at least two members of the Program Committee using a blind procedure. Their reviews will be returned to authors.
Accepted papers will appear in the proceedings published by Kluwer Academic Publishers, in their Computational Imaging and Vision series. This volume will be available at the beginning of the workshop. The final camera-ready papers must be prepared using the LaTeX document preparation system with the style files provided Kluwer Academic Publishers (these files will be available on the conference web site). They should not exceed 8 pages including artwork and references.
CONFERENCE SITE: ---------------
The conference will be held at the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), one of the most prestigious research institutions in the United States. PARC is located on the western side of Palo Alto, 2 miles away from Stanford University, next to the Midpeninsula Foothills and their vast expanse of beautiful open space. It is within an hour of San Francisco, Santa Cruz, gorgeous Pacific beaches, regional parks with majestic redwood trees, nationally acclaimed wineries, and many other attractions. World famous sites such as Yosemite National Park, Napa Valley, and Lake Tahoe are only a few hours away. Closer to PARC, the City of Palo Alto also has a lot to offer and boasts a variety of gourmet restaurants and some fine shopping.
PARC researchers are credited for many of the innovations that led to modern day computing, including the bit-mapped graphical user interface, the laser printer, ethernet, etc. PARC is a vibrant institution, a cornerstone of Silicon Valley, and a place many look to for a glimpse at the future of computing.
Paper presentations will take place in the PARC Auditorium, which can accommodate up to 240 attendees. As part of the conference, a tour of the facilities will be arranged, along with demos and presentations by PARC researchers.
For additional information on PARC, visit http://www.parc.xerox.com/
IMPORTANT DATES: ----------------
November 30, 1999: Submission of full paper December 31, 1999: Notification of acceptance February 15, 2000: Camera-ready full paper
CONFERENCE CHAIRS: ------------------
Luc Vincent Dan S. Bloomberg Xerox Palo Alto Research Center Xerox Palo Alto Research Center 3333 Coyote Hill Road 3333 Coyote Hill Road Palo Alto, CA 94304 Palo Alto, CA 94304 USA USA
Banon , G.J.F, INPE, Brazil Barrera, J. University of Sao Paulo, Brazil Berman, M. CSIRO, Australia Boomgaard, R. van den University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands Dougherty, E.R. Texas A&M University, USA Heijmans, H.J.A.M. CWI, The Netherlands Kimia, B.B. Brown University, USA Kunt, M. EPFL, Switzerland Malladi, R. UC Berkeley, USA Maragos, P. National Technical University of Athens, Greece Meyer, F. Ecole des Mines, France Montanvert, A. Universite Pierre Mendes France, France Morel, J.M. ENS Cachan, France Roerdink, J.B.T.M University of Groningen, The Netherlands Ronse, C. Universite Louis Pasteur, France Salembier, Ph. UPC, Spain Schafer, R.W. Georgia Institute of Technology, USA Schmitt, M. Ecole des Mines, France Serra, J. Ecole des Mines, France
SPONSOR: -------
Xerox
INFORMATION: -----------
Please visit the official ISMM 2000 site at:
http://www.parc.xerox.com/ismm2000
This site will be updated regularly as more information becomes available. Information about registration, travel, accommodation, tourism, and invited speakers, will soon be available on this site. The final program will be published in January 2000.
At 07:18 PM 11/12/99 , you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Try Thumbs Plus from Cerious Software. http://www.cerious.com
They can catalog images. Animating them can be done in several ways, depending on exactly what you mean by that. There are several good GIF animation tools available.
} Hill Regional High School,a Public High School in New Haven CT has an } } educational partnership with Yale University...I am trying to locate } other High } Schools around the country who have Electron Microscopes in } their buildings and } are using them !) If any of your members are aware of } such schools I would be } grateful for the information.
Claudia -
One of the members of MSA's Education Committee, Steve Barlow {sbarlow-at-sunstroke.sdsu.edu} is assembling a list of EM-equipped high schools. He usually reads the listserver, so you may have heard from him already. There is one in a school in Tucson; the local Project MICRO chair, Gary Chandler {gwc-at-sem.Arizona.EDU} , can give you contact information. There is a SEM-in-a-van in Dayton, supervised by Carlton Bowers {c-bowers-at-usa.net} . Steve and I will be delighted to get input from other listserver readers.
Caroline
Caroline Schooley Project MICRO 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/PMHomePage.html Intertidal invertebrates: http://www.fortbragg.k12.ca.us/AG/PCI/pci.html
The Structural Virology Group in the department of Biological Sciences of Purdue University is looking for an electron microscopist. The individual should possess a BA/BS degree in one of the biological or physical sciences and have one year of experience past course work. For more information check our the website at: http://bilbo.bio.purdue.edu/~baker/ .
Norm Olson ******************************************* Norm Olson Senior Research Electron Microscopist Department of Biological Sciences Lilly Hall of Life Sciences Purdue University West Lafayette, IN 47907
Microscopists: Which labs out there have successfully used a network (internet or LAN) to transfer files from a commercially available EDS system? We plan to do that, and want to know what software/hardware has or hasn't worked. Please contact me off-line.
Yolande Berta School of Materials Science and Engineering Georgia Institute of Technology 404-894-2545 404-894-9140FAX yolande.berta-at-mse.gatech.edu
What is the purpose of connecting high schools with SEMs? I realize that this may seem like a dumb question but I'd like to know what the experiences of others have been in this regard.
First, do high schools that have SEMs or have access to SEMs differentiate themselves from those HSs that don't have SEMs? If so, what is the difference?
My HS in 1963 did have a SEM (TEM I guess) that I worked on nearly full time. But no one else cared about it but me. Admittedly, it was a technological and engineering challenge back then that no longer exists today.
I wonder what the statistics say about early exposure to SEM vs. career decisions, etc. From what I have seen, the SEM is not a get-rich avenue. Rather, software and engineering are much more lucrative. But the results that the SEM delivers and how it works is unquantifiable. There is no easy way to place a price on this. It may well be that an individual is stimulated by the SEM experience per se--no directly related job is at issue.
Having lectured and demonstrated at HS and colleges around my area, I am totally depressed by the broad disdain for science. This is not good at all. If the SEM is an avenue of exposure to science and math, and the fields that are closely related to these, I would appreciate hearing feedback about some success stories.
I've tried everything I know of to stimulate scientific interest in young people. All together, not very successfully. Maybe the SEM is a good vehicle. My SEM is mine....I can do with it what I choose. And I have many high schools in the locale.
Ironically, I was willing to donate a SEM to either of two local junior colleges. They rejected it because of too much burden to take it in and support it. I wound up selling the SEM for $9K. Something is really wrong with this picture. There must be some disconnect between the scholarly part of the educational faction and that of the fiscal controllers. I don't know.
I do know that there are too few young people interested in science. I don't think that this is a good scenario.
Frustrated...
gary g.
At 08:55 AM 11/13/99 , you wrote:
} } Hill Regional High School,a Public High School in New Haven CT has an } } } educational partnership with Yale University...I am trying to locate } } other High } Schools around the country who have Electron Microscopes in } } their buildings and } are using them !) If any of your members are aware of } } such schools I would be } grateful for the information. } } Claudia - } } One of the members of MSA's Education Committee, Steve Barlow } {sbarlow-at-sunstroke.sdsu.edu} is assembling a list of EM-equipped high } schools. He usually reads the listserver, so you may have heard from him } already. There is one in a school in Tucson; the local Project MICRO } chair, Gary Chandler {gwc-at-sem.Arizona.EDU} , can give you contact } information. There is a SEM-in-a-van in Dayton, supervised by Carlton } Bowers {c-bowers-at-usa.net} . Steve and I will be delighted to get input from } other listserver readers. } } Caroline } } } Caroline Schooley } Project MICRO 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/PMHomePage.html } Intertidal invertebrates: http://www.fortbragg.k12.ca.us/AG/PCI/pci.html }
Ever try to contact someone for purchasing or service?
Undeliverable.
gary g.
} From: administrator-at-zeiss.com } Date: Sat, 13 Nov 1999 20:29:32 -0500 } Subject: Message not deliverable } To: "Dr. Gary Gaugler" {gary-at-gaugler.com} } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Dorothy, Our area code in Tucson is now 520. Also, RMC was bought by Ventana Medical Systems. Doug
On Fri, 12 Nov 1999, Dorothy Zhang 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 like to ask if anyone know the current phone number of Research and } Manufacturing Company. Inc. in Tucson, Arizona. I want to order RMC } cyrostat accessories from them. The number I have (602-889-7900) doesn't } work now. Thank you. } } ******************************************************************* } To see what is in front of one's nose requires a constant struggle. } } George Orwell } } } Dorothy Zhang } Harvard School of public Health } Building 2, CVLAB } 677 Huntington Ave, } Boston, MA 02115 USA } Phone# 617-432-6981 } Fax# 617-432-2980 } } ******************************************************************* } } } } }
---------------------- Douglas W Cromey, M.S. University of Arizona dcromey-at-U.Arizona.EDU
I have a Tecnai 20 TEM fabricated by Philips, and equipped with EDS and STEM. The microscope is operated by a software named TIA in stem mode, which Emispec wrote. Emispec also released additional software for drift correction which one could download on internet. I downloaded, and tried to use it, but it did not work. I even could not start the program.
Is there anybody who has an experience of using Drift Correction program for TIA? If so, could he or she tell me how to start the program and answer some questions that I have?
Best wishes,
Jondo Yun Department of Inorganic Materials Engineering Center for Instrumental Analysis Kyungnam University 449 Weolyeong-dong, Masan, 631-701, Korea 82-551-249-2697 (tel) 82-551-248-5033 (fax) jdyun-at-hanma.kyungnam.ac.kr
Is there someone in the Portland area who would like to help present a school workshop using the "Microscopic Explorations" manual? Here's the request; please reply directly to jfitter-at-teleport.com, with a copy to me. No experience is necessary, and you'll have a great time!
} No reply from ------. .... it would be great if we } could get a graduate student or a technician who uses a microscope to visit } us. We are planning the "Microscopic Explorations" for December. } } We are planning a video conference Remote Microscopy class with Dr. Kain. } (Dana G. Dunkelberger {danad-at-biol.sc.edu} ) } } Jere
Caroline Schooley Project MICRO 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/PMHomePage.html Intertidal invertebrates: http://www.fortbragg.k12.ca.us/AG/PCI/pci.html
Dr. Gary Gaugler 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 the purpose of connecting high schools with SEMs? I } realize that this may seem like a dumb question but I'd like to } know what the experiences of others have been in this regard. } } First, do high schools that have SEMs or have access to SEMs } differentiate themselves from } those HSs that don't have SEMs? If so, what is the difference? } } My HS in 1963 did have a SEM (TEM I guess) that I worked on nearly } full time. But no one else cared about it but me. Admittedly, it } was a technological and engineering challenge back then that no longer } exists today. } } I wonder what the statistics say about early exposure to SEM vs. career } decisions, etc. From what I have seen, the SEM is not a get-rich avenue. } Rather, software and engineering are much more lucrative. But the results } that the SEM delivers and how it works is unquantifiable. There is no easy } way to place a price on this. It may well be that an individual is stimulated } by the SEM experience per se--no directly related job is at issue. } } Having lectured and demonstrated at HS and colleges around my area, I } am totally depressed by the broad disdain for science. This is not good at all. } If the SEM is an avenue of exposure to science and math, and the fields } that are closely related to these, I would appreciate hearing feedback } about some success stories. } } I've tried everything I know of to stimulate scientific interest in young } people. All together, not very successfully. Maybe the SEM is a good } vehicle. My SEM is mine....I can do with it what I choose. And I have many } high schools in the locale. } } Ironically, I was willing to donate a SEM to either of two local junior colleges. They } rejected it because of too much burden to take it in and support it. } I wound up selling the SEM for $9K. Something is really wrong with } this picture. There must be some disconnect between the scholarly part } of the educational faction and that of the fiscal controllers. I don't know. } } I do know that there are too few young people interested in science. } I don't think that this is a good scenario. } } Frustrated... } } gary g. } } At 08:55 AM 11/13/99 , you wrote: } } } } Hill Regional High School,a Public High School in New Haven CT has an } } } } educational partnership with Yale University...I am trying to locate } } } other High } Schools around the country who have Electron Microscopes in } } } their buildings and } are using them !) If any of your members are aware of } } } such schools I would be } grateful for the information. } } } } Claudia - } } } } One of the members of MSA's Education Committee, Steve Barlow } } {sbarlow-at-sunstroke.sdsu.edu} is assembling a list of EM-equipped high } } schools. He usually reads the listserver, so you may have heard from him } } already. There is one in a school in Tucson; the local Project MICRO } } chair, Gary Chandler {gwc-at-sem.Arizona.EDU} , can give you contact } } information. There is a SEM-in-a-van in Dayton, supervised by Carlton } } Bowers {c-bowers-at-usa.net} . Steve and I will be delighted to get input from } } other listserver readers. } } } } Caroline } } } } } } Caroline Schooley } } Project MICRO 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/PMHomePage.html } } Intertidal invertebrates: http://www.fortbragg.k12.ca.us/AG/PCI/pci.html } } Gary,
I agree that it's terrible that science is not given higher status, but about 8 years ago I offered my school district an SEM with service for at least as long as my kids were in the district (at that time I was looking at 14 years). Essentially, they said "$250/yr to buy filaments and stuff is too much money" and my suggestion of finding another business to underwrite the expense was ignored. The reality was that the people with the power to say yes or no were intimidated by the equipment, and my offers of lots of help with fitting it into the curriculum meant meddling by outsiders. This is generally not accepted by the public school system because"they" are the experts and "we" are mere stupid parents. Our school district even treats its own collegues as mere stupid parents when they show up in that mode.
If there could truly be competition between schools for students we would have far better schools.
Gary, get those high school students on your microscope. See who's interested in science fairs (I had several students make it to the state level and all got special awards from EMSA, obviously a few years ago)
Ken Converse owner Quality Images third party SEM service
Gary, Your question requires much more than an email answer, but you are on the right track when you suggest that the SEM may be used to interest students in science rather than provide them a job. I would suggest that you, and others concerned with science education, take a serious look at the NAS website: www.nas.edu/rise
At 05:21 PM 11/13/99 -0800, Dr. Gary Gaugler wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Gary Chandler Materials Science and Engineering University of Arizona Tucson, AZ 85721 (520) 621-6078 FAX 621-8059 gwc-at-sem.arizona.edu
Yes, we do quantitative evaluation of stereo pairs.
There are a number of factors that impact the height resolution one can get from those images. In essence there is a trigonometric function that relates the z-resolution to the x/y resolution. The numerical factor depends on a number of other parameters with the stereo angle being the most important one. For typical stereo angles of 6 - 10 degrees, the factor is of the order of .1 - .2. In other words, the height resolution is about 1/5th to 1/10th of the x/y resolution (for example: x/y resolution 1 micron/pixel -} height resolution about 5 to 10 microns). It is possible to improve this through sub-pixel operations.
Please contact me off-line if you need more information.
Michael
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 1675 Carr St., #105N Lakewood, CO 80215 =================================== phone: (888) FIND SIS (303) 234-9270 fax: (303) 234-9271 email: mailto:info-at-soft-imaging.com web: http://www.soft-imaging.com ===================================
-----Original Message----- } From: Dr. Gary Gaugler [mailto:gary-at-gaugler.com] Sent: Saturday, November 13, 1999 9:35 AM To: Brendan Griffin Cc: Michael Bode
Please be advised that all RMC products and services were entirely merged with Ventana Medical Systems, Inc., Tucson, Arizona, USA in October of 1998.
The area code for Tucson is now (520) and our web site is now part of Ventana Medical's web site (see below).
We apologize for any difficulty in locating us. For all pertinent information on the US Headquarters use the address on the signature below. For sales and service locations worldwide, please see our web site.
Steven W. Miller North American Sales Manager Microscopy Products Group Ventana Medical Systems, Inc. 3865 N. Business Center Dr. Tucson, AZ 85705 Tel: 520-887-2155 In US: 800-227-2155 Fax: 520-690-3580 Web Site: www.ventanamed.com
Commercial message: Ventana is a very fast growing technology company manufacturing sample preparation equipment for microscopy and Clinical Pathology with automated immunolabeling, special stains and in-situ hybridization. Ventana Medical Systems, Inc. is publically traded on the Nasdaq under symbol VMSI.
Dear Henrik, Your best bet is to contact Gresham Scientific Instruments in the UK. (http://www.gsi-link.co.uk). They specialize in service and repair of all makes of EDX detectors and have a standard price for replacing the Be window with a Moxtek thin window and providing an electron trap. This is necessary with thin window detectors. At 01:35 PM 11/12/99 +0100, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
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 e-mail: mager-at-interchg.ubc.ca
Can anyone tell the exactly what formvar and pioloform are? I'm interested in the chemical nature of both of these grid coatings.
Thanks
Rick
=================================================== Rick Webb Senior Research Officer Department of Microbiology and Parasitology and Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis University of Queensland 4072 Australia
One of the best ways to get kids interested is to hire them to do chores around the lab. I don't know if you can do it in today's law suit crazy world but it works.
Gordon
Gordon Couger gcouger-at-couger.com
Stillwater, OK www.couger.com/gcouger 405 624-2855 GMT -6:00
} From: Gary Chandler {gwc-at-u.arizona.edu} To: Dr. Gary Gaugler {gary-at-gaugler.com} ; MSA listserver {Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com} } Gary, } Your question requires much more than an email answer, but you are on the } right track when you suggest that the SEM may be used to interest students } in science rather than provide them a job. I would suggest that you, and } others concerned with science education, take a serious look at the NAS } website: www.nas.edu/rise } } At 05:21 PM 11/13/99 -0800, Dr. Gary Gaugler wrote: } } } } What is the purpose of connecting high schools with SEMs? I } } realize that this may seem like a dumb question but I'd like to } } know what the experiences of others have been in this regard. } } } } First, do high schools that have SEMs or have access to SEMs } } differentiate themselves from } } those HSs that don't have SEMs? If so, what is the difference? } } } } My HS in 1963 did have a SEM (TEM I guess) that I worked on nearly } } full time. But no one else cared about it but me. Admittedly, it } } was a technological and engineering challenge back then that no longer } } exists today. } } } } I wonder what the statistics say about early exposure to SEM vs. career } } decisions, etc. From what I have seen, the SEM is not a get-rich avenue. } } Rather, software and engineering are much more lucrative. But the results } } that the SEM delivers and how it works is unquantifiable. There is no easy } } way to place a price on this. It may well be that an individual is } stimulated } } by the SEM experience per se--no directly related job is at issue. } } } } Having lectured and demonstrated at HS and colleges around my area, I } } am totally depressed by the broad disdain for science. This is not good } at all. } } If the SEM is an avenue of exposure to science and math, and the fields } } that are closely related to these, I would appreciate hearing feedback } } about some success stories. } } } } I've tried everything I know of to stimulate scientific interest in young } } people. All together, not very successfully. Maybe the SEM is a good } } vehicle. My SEM is mine....I can do with it what I choose. And I have many } } high schools in the locale. } } } } Ironically, I was willing to donate a SEM to either of two local junior } colleges. They } } rejected it because of too much burden to take it in and support it. } } I wound up selling the SEM for $9K. Something is really wrong with } } this picture. There must be some disconnect between the scholarly part } } of the educational faction and that of the fiscal controllers. I don't know. } } } } I do know that there are too few young people interested in science. } } I don't think that this is a good scenario. } } } } Frustrated... } } } } gary g.
I was asked to send the message following as reply for your question:
"There is a software (named "STERECON") for 3D reconstruction by SEM stereoimages developed at the faculty of Geology of the Moscow State University, Russia. The source information for STERECON includes an SEM stereo pair in BMP, JPEG or TIFF formats, and some parameters (such as magnification, stereo angle etc.). STERECON is based on photogrammetric principals and unique stereomatching algorithms. The processing is applied for grayscale images of different sizes (up to 2048x2048x8bpp). The accuracy of the results depends on many factors, among them are the hardware errors of an SEM, peculiarities of microrelief under the study, image resolution etc. The ordinary error for test-object microrelief mesurements is less then 5% for SEM "Hitachi S-800" and image resolution of 1024x1024. The results of 3D reconstruction (a grid of heights) can be exported to comma separated values ASCII file for future processing with any other software. STERECON is a pure Win32 software and works on MS Windows 95/98/NT operating system.
For more information please contact sokolov-at-geol.msu.ru (Prof. Viatcheslav N. Sokolov, the head of the SEM lab).
Best regards, Viatcheslav N. Sokolov mailto:sokolov-at-geol.msu.ru "
} --------------------------------------------------------------------- --- } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Regards.
Victor Sidorenko, ANTRON Co. Ltd., Moscow, Russia.
Rick Webb asked: ================================================= Can anyone tell the exactly what formvar and pioloform are? I'm interested in the chemical nature of both of these grid coatings. ================================================ Formvar® is a registered trade name, CAS #63450-15-7, and is described chemically as being "polyvinyl formal" resin.
Pioloform® is also a registered trade name, CAS #63148-65-2, and it is described as being "polyvinyl formal" resin.
More information about these two resins can be found on the SPI Supplies website, the address for which is given below.
Disclaimer: SPI Supplies offers these and other resins for use as TEM support films.
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.spi.cc ######################## ============================================
Folks: I need to replace a needle valve on an EMSCOPE CPD750 critical point dryer, it has a W on the body of the valve and the word Whitey on the knob, the OD of the copper feed pipe is 1/8th inch. Has anyone out there performed a similar repair? and if so where did you purchase the replacement valve Tx Simon
----------------------------------------- Simon C. Watkins Ph.D. MRCPath Associate Professor Director: Center for Biologic Imaging University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh PA 15261 tel:412-648-3051 fax:412-648-8330 URL: http://sbic6.sbic.pitt.edu
Dear Simon,
We are the manufacturers of the CPD7501 (and its sucessor to the CPD750) and can supply valves and other spare parts. Our US agent, Energy Beam Sciences (sales-at-ebsciences.com) will be able to help. The part number is 356201010 on-off valve (Whitey, valve angled). To fit the replacement, undo the two nuts to release the copper tubing from the valve . Remove the old valve from the panel and replace with the new. Refit the tubing and tighten the nuts.
Your best bet for service, maintenance and modifications on EDX detectors is the company AWESS, located near Hamburg in Germany. They routinely service EDAX detectors, and have converted many detectors from Be to UTW and SUTW. They can also replace the old Si(Li) crystal with a modern EDAX Sapphire(TM) crystal for improved light element performance and S/N ratios.
} } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } } 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 our laboratory we have Edax 9100/40 detector with Be window. We are looking } } information (company in Europe, procedures, etc.) about replacement this window with } } Moxtek ultra thin window. } } } } Henrik } } -- } } Henrik Kaker, Ph.D.
I have been requested to post this message to the Microscopy listserver. Please respond to Patrick directly.
} Rutgers University has developed a new training program aimed at } users of machine sources of ionizing radiation. } 95% of the } training material focuses on users of analytical X-ray equipment. } Here in New Jersey, EM's are not exempt from the dosimetry and } training requirements in the New Jersey Administrative Code. The } requirements are vague to say the least. } } My question: Does anyone out there (either in or out of NJ) require } workers who only use EM's to attend formal radiation safety } training of any kind? If yes, how detailed is the training? If no, } are/were there any regulatory hurdles to consider before you and/or } your Rad. Safety Comm. made this decision? } } Thank you in advance for your help. } Regards, } Patrick J. McDermott } } } } Patrick J. McDermott } Rutgers Envir. Health & Safety } Rutgers, The State University } 24 Street 1603 } Piscataway, NJ 08854-8036 } (p) 732-445-2550 (f) 732-445-3109 } e-mail: mcdermot-at-rehs.rutgers.edu
Louie Kerr Research and Education Support Coordinator Marine Biological Laboratory 7 MBL Street Woods Hole, MA 02543 508-289-7273 508-540-6902 (FAX) 508-292-0289 (Cell phone)
Can anyone recommend courses that are offered in digital imaging basics? As we move to a more digital lab, I find that I would like a firm foundation in knowing why certain choices are preferred for image capture and manipulation. I am getting bits and pieces through Photoshop and some of our confocal manuals....but would like to speed up the learning curve. Thanks, Linda Fox lfox1-at-wpo.it.luc.edu
What is the best way to image a quenched protein complex? One of my user's goals is to image quenched protein complexes. Then he wants to compare the fluorescence intensity of the quenched complex to a protein complex that has been dequenched by denaturation. The protein is tagged with Oregon Green and the complexes are supposed to be 0.5 micron-1.0 micron in diameter.
Here at Alcoa (near Pittsburgh, PA), everyone operating an EM has to take an X-ray safety course in the form of an interactive CD. The course has to be repeated every second year. The requirement to take the course is based on state regulations and Alcoa's environmental and health policies. I see the benefit of the course in creating awareness to the radiation issue, so that no one starts messing around with ports and windows, etc. and later says: oh, I didn't know... Hasso Weiland } a Alcoa Technical Center Alcoa Center, PA 15069 ACT 221-3133 } * 724 337-3133 } * 724 337-2044 } mailto:hasso.weiland-at-alcoa.com } } ---------- } From: Louie Kerr[SMTP:lkerr-at-mbl.edu] } Sent: Tuesday, November 16, 1999 7:35 AM } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Cc: mcdermot-at-rehs.rutgers.edu } Subject: EM Radiation Safety Considerations } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 been requested to post this message to the Microscopy listserver. } Please respond to Patrick directly. } } } } Rutgers University has developed a new training program aimed at } } users of machine sources of ionizing radiation. } 95% of the } } training material focuses on users of analytical X-ray equipment. } } Here in New Jersey, EM's are not exempt from the dosimetry and } } training requirements in the New Jersey Administrative Code. The } } requirements are vague to say the least. } } } } My question: Does anyone out there (either in or out of NJ) require } } workers who only use EM's to attend formal radiation safety } } training of any kind? If yes, how detailed is the training? If no, } } are/were there any regulatory hurdles to consider before you and/or } } your Rad. Safety Comm. made this decision? } } } } Thank you in advance for your help. } } Regards, } } Patrick J. McDermott } } } } } } } } Patrick J. McDermott } } Rutgers Envir. Health & Safety } } Rutgers, The State University } } 24 Street 1603 } } Piscataway, NJ 08854-8036 } } (p) 732-445-2550 (f) 732-445-3109 } } e-mail: mcdermot-at-rehs.rutgers.edu } } Louie Kerr } Research and Education Support Coordinator } Marine Biological Laboratory } 7 MBL Street } Woods Hole, MA 02543 } 508-289-7273 } 508-540-6902 (FAX) } 508-292-0289 (Cell phone) } } VISIT OUR WEB SITE: } http://www.mbl.edu } } }
March 15 -17, 2000 at the University of Central Florida, Orlando.
We will be offering a 3 day TEM specimen preparation short course that will include hands-on tripod polishing and FIB techniques at the University of Central Florida (sponsored by South Bay Technology and FEI company). This course will be offered the week of the joint meetings of the Florida AVS and Florida Society for Microscopy (an MSA local affiliate).
Instructors: Ron Anderson, IBM. Lucille Giannuzzi, UCF. Fred Stevie, Lucent Technologies
Additional information will follow. In you have questions, please contact:
Lucille Giannuzzi: lag-at-mail.ucf.edu
******************************************************************* Lucille A. Giannuzzi, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Dept. of Mechanical, Materials, and Aerospace Eng., University of Central Florida, PO Box 162450, 4000 Central Florida Blvd., Orlando, FL 32816-2450 USA phone (407) 823-5770 fax (407) 823-0208 email lag-at-mail.ucf.edu
Director, UCF/Cirent Materials Characterization Facility, 12443 Research Parkway, Suite 305 Orlando, FL 32826 phone (407) 275-4354,5,6 fax (407) 275-4321 -------------------------------------------------------------------- "Good judgement comes from experience.
Experience comes from making bad judgement."
Mark Twain ********************************************************************
We are in need of an analytical double tilt holder for a JEOL 2000FX
Please contact Lucille Giannuzzi by email: lag-at-mail.ucf.edu or by phone (407) 275-4354,5,6
Thanks.
******************************************************************* Lucille A. Giannuzzi, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Dept. of Mechanical, Materials, and Aerospace Eng., University of Central Florida, PO Box 162450, 4000 Central Florida Blvd., Orlando, FL 32816-2450 USA phone (407) 823-5770 fax (407) 823-0208 email lag-at-mail.ucf.edu
Director, UCF/Cirent Materials Characterization Facility, 12443 Research Parkway, Suite 305 Orlando, FL 32826 phone (407) 275-4354,5,6 fax (407) 275-4321 -------------------------------------------------------------------- "Good judgement comes from experience.
Experience comes from making bad judgement."
Mark Twain ********************************************************************
****This is a correction to my earlier message, sorry for the inconvenience. ...
Rick Webb asked: ================================================= Can anyone tell the exactly what formvar and pioloform are? I'm interested in the chemical nature of both of these grid coatings. ================================================ Formvar® is a registered trade name, CAS #63450-15-7, and is described chemically as being "polyvinyl formal" resin.
Pioloform® is also a registered trade name, CAS #63148-65-2, and it is described as being "polyvinyl formal" resin. { { { { {THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN "polyvinyl butyral" resin.
More information about these two resins can be found on the SPI Supplies website, the address for which is given below.
Disclaimer: SPI Supplies offers these and other resins for use as TEM support films.
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.spi.cc ######################## ============================================
I was about to ask the same question, except we have an MT-7, also in N. Cal (Silicon Valley). Thanks.
-Rob Plano
Robert J. Plano Staff Analyst, SPM Services Charles Evans & Associates/Surface Science Labs (650)962-8767, ext. 742 http://www.cea.com http://www.surface-science.com
-----Original Message----- } From: Hayes, Fred (FA) [mailto:fhayes-at-dow.com] Sent: Monday, November 15, 1999 4:36 AM To: 'microscopy-at-microscopy.com'
We have an MT2 microtome in N. Ca which needs minor service/PM. Can anyone recommend a contact? Thanks.
Fred A. Hayes The DOW Chemical Co Analytical Sciences, Microscopy 1897 bldg, E78 Midland, Michigan 48667 517-638-2203 517-638-6443 fax
MME offers all sorts of customized courses on microscopy and related imaging. We have a new consultant who can even integrate what you need for digital imaging with what you know about Photoshop.
Please let me know if we can be of service.
Best regards, Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater productivity.
125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} ****************************************************** MME is America's first national consortium providing customized on-site workshops in all areas of microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis.
At 07:33 AM 11/16/99 -0600, Linda Fox wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I routinely use tilt angles of 15-30 degrees. It is too high value for visual observation of a stereopair, but often it is the best choice angle in terms of accuracy of stereo measurements (as long as I do not have overlapping, I can increase angle). Since I perform stereo measurements not often, I did not by any special software. Microsoft Excel works just fine for me.
Vladimir M. Dusevich, Ph.D. Electron Microscope Lab Manager 3127 School of Dentistry 650 E. 25th Street Kansas City, MO 64108-2784
} -----Original Message----- } From: Michael Bode [mailto:mb-at-soft-imaging.com] } Sent: Monday, November 15, 1999 11:05 AM } To: 'Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com' } Subject: FW: software for height measurement from stereo pairs?? } } } -------------------------------------------------------------- } ---------- } 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 } -------------------------------------------------------------- } ---------. } } } Yes, we do quantitative evaluation of stereo pairs. } } There are a number of factors that impact the height } resolution one can } get from those images. In essence there is a trigonometric } function that } relates the z-resolution to the x/y resolution. The numerical factor } depends on a number of other parameters with the stereo angle } being the } most important one. For typical stereo angles of 6 - 10 degrees, the } factor is of the order of .1 - .2. In other words, the height } resolution } is about 1/5th to 1/10th of the x/y resolution (for example: x/y } resolution 1 micron/pixel -} height resolution about 5 to 10 microns). } It is possible to improve this through sub-pixel operations. } } Please contact me off-line if you need more information. } } Michael } } Michael Bode, Ph.D. } Soft Imaging System Corp. } 1675 Carr St., #105N } Lakewood, CO 80215 } =================================== } phone: (888) FIND SIS } (303) 234-9270 } fax: (303) 234-9271 } email: mailto:info-at-soft-imaging.com } web: http://www.soft-imaging.com } =================================== } } } } -----Original Message----- } } From: Dr. Gary Gaugler [mailto:gary-at-gaugler.com] } Sent: Saturday, November 13, 1999 9:35 AM } To: Brendan Griffin } Cc: Michael Bode } Subject: Re: software for height measurement from stereo pairs?? } } } Try Soft-Imaging's analySIS. It has optional plug-in modules that } I believe can do this. } } gary g. } } } At 09:12 PM 11/12/99 , 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 } } ------------------------------------------------------------- } ---------- }
Replying to David and posting to list as he suggested.
gary g.
At 09:28 AM 11/16/99 , you wrote: } Gary } } Thanks for the response. I hope you post this on the newsgroup. } } David Goldstein } } "Dr. Gary Gaugler" wrote: } } } At 09:06 AM 11/16/99 , you wrote: } } } Gary } } } } } } I cannot believe you meant what you appeared to say in response to an elementary } } } school teacher remarking on how fascinated his students were looking at pond } } } water under a light microscope. You stated that there had been discussion on the } } } MSA list server about allowing high school students access to SEMs to encourage } } } an interest in science. That is fine but you then when on to say: "maybe a } } } [light microscope] is a good tool as well" and "anything is better than nothing". } } } } } } The implication is that maybe a light microscope is useful in that it is better } } } than nothing but not by much and certainly not compared to a SEM. While SEM } } } images are truly magnificent, have you ever seen a live, moving subject under a } } } SEM--kind of hard for organisms to live in a vacuum chamber. I suspect that } } } the what fascinated the elementary students were the organisms hustling and } } } bustling before their eyes. Indeed you don't have to be in elementary school to } } } be fascinated. I remember one protozoologist stating something to the effect } } } that he could "spend all day looking at those critters" under a light } } } microscope. Indeed if you are going to learn something about the life processes } } } of microorganisms, I think it is a good idea to look at them when they are alive. } } } } } } Perhaps I misread what you intended to say. } } } } } } David Goldstein } } } } No, you did not misread what I said. But I see your point. And it is well taken. } } I see that it sounds like if one does not have a SEM, well, a lowly LM will have to do. } } } } I was focused (pun) on the SEM as an avenue and had not considered the LM. } } I have SEM and LMs here. You are right about seeing rotifers bustling about. } } Also mosquito larvae under the stereo zoom. Lots to see with the LM. } } } } I have to admit that the specimen prep for SZ and most LM is much easier than } } for SEM. I have about 350 prepared LM slides covering just about everything, } } from Anthrax, cancer, blood, parasites, tissues, pollen, etc. They are all neat } } to see with the LM. } } } } Thanks for pointing this out. } } } } gary g.
Watch for the announcment of annual meeting of MIcroscopy&Microanalysis'00 (http://www.msa.microscopy.com) there are pre-meeting workshops there. I'm not sure if there will be one on digital imaging this year but there is usually alot in this area going on.
Nestor Your Friendly Neighborhood SysOp.
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
================================================================== Nestor J. Zaluzec Materials Science Division Building 212 Argonne National Lab 9700 S. Cass Ave Argonne, Illinois 60439 USA Tel: 630-252-7901, Fax: 630-252-4798 Email: Zaluzec-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov ================================================================== TPMLab: http://tpm.amc.anl.gov MMSite: http://www.amc.anl.gov ==================================================================
The box said "This program requires Win 95/98/NT or better..." so I bought a G3 Mac
Living in South Africa, we have the great disparity between the "haves" and "have nots" and education systems that were a bit unbalanced in the past, to put it nicely. } From this our society has backed a project to try and bring a small SEM to previously disadvantaged schools. Together with this goes a series of easy to read microscopy books and some posters on the applications of EM. The aim is to simply afford some of the younger kids the chance to actually get to see a "piece of science". It is very difficult to go into a school that hardly has a desk and chairs and motivate them on science by presenting a talk on the different faculties available at Universities. Using the SEM we can demonstrate the uses of EM in science and so really grab their attention.
OED (of Australia)sponsored us with their Image Slave PC image grabbing system ( free plug ) which allows the kids to see how PC's are used to "control" equipment and do real work rather than only for PC games.
So here in South Africa we have a number of well off schools who can get to an EM unit to see "science" for real but we have enough schools who can't. So taking a SEM to them helps to even things out a bit.
} From this we have not seen a sudden rush on applicants to the universities for the sciences and not IT subjects, but as we all know young kids are so easily influenced and we only hope that we have encouraged a few to at least look at this field of interest. We are trying to work on a project with some of the schools where the SEM could be left there for a week or two to allow then to make their own samples and then capture their own SEM images. Takes a bit more effort but I am sure will be worth it. So I am sure this sounds like one of these do good world health adverts, but it's the way we are taking EM top schools in this country. It has been interesting to hear that in some countries schools actually have their own systems WOW.
Thanks for you time
Luc Harmsen Anaspec, South Africa Technical support on microscopy. Tel + 27 (0) 11 476 3455 Fax + 27 (0) 11 476 7290 anaspec-at-icon.co.za
-----Original Message----- } From: Dr. Gary Gaugler [mailto:gary-at-gaugler.com] Sent: Sunday, November 14, 1999 3:21 AM To: MSA listserver
What is the purpose of connecting high schools with SEMs? I realize that this may seem like a dumb question but I'd like to know what the experiences of others have been in this regard.
First, do high schools that have SEMs or have access to SEMs differentiate themselves from those HSs that don't have SEMs? If so, what is the difference?
My HS in 1963 did have a SEM (TEM I guess) that I worked on nearly full time. But no one else cared about it but me. Admittedly, it was a technological and engineering challenge back then that no longer exists today.
I wonder what the statistics say about early exposure to SEM vs. career decisions, etc. From what I have seen, the SEM is not a get-rich avenue. Rather, software and engineering are much more lucrative. But the results that the SEM delivers and how it works is unquantifiable. There is no easy way to place a price on this. It may well be that an individual is stimulated by the SEM experience per se--no directly related job is at issue.
Having lectured and demonstrated at HS and colleges around my area, I am totally depressed by the broad disdain for science. This is not good at all. If the SEM is an avenue of exposure to science and math, and the fields that are closely related to these, I would appreciate hearing feedback about some success stories.
I've tried everything I know of to stimulate scientific interest in young people. All together, not very successfully. Maybe the SEM is a good vehicle. My SEM is mine....I can do with it what I choose. And I have many high schools in the locale.
Ironically, I was willing to donate a SEM to either of two local junior colleges. They rejected it because of too much burden to take it in and support it. I wound up selling the SEM for $9K. Something is really wrong with this picture. There must be some disconnect between the scholarly part of the educational faction and that of the fiscal controllers. I don't know.
I do know that there are too few young people interested in science. I don't think that this is a good scenario.
Frustrated...
gary g.
At 08:55 AM 11/13/99 , you wrote:
} } Hill Regional High School,a Public High School in New Haven CT has an } } } educational partnership with Yale University...I am trying to locate } } other High } Schools around the country who have Electron Microscopes in } } their buildings and } are using them !) If any of your members are aware of } } such schools I would be } grateful for the information. } } Claudia - } } One of the members of MSA's Education Committee, Steve Barlow } {sbarlow-at-sunstroke.sdsu.edu} is assembling a list of EM-equipped high } schools. He usually reads the listserver, so you may have heard from him } already. There is one in a school in Tucson; the local Project MICRO } chair, Gary Chandler {gwc-at-sem.Arizona.EDU} , can give you contact } information. There is a SEM-in-a-van in Dayton, supervised by Carlton } Bowers {c-bowers-at-usa.net} . Steve and I will be delighted to get input from } other listserver readers. } } Caroline } } } Caroline Schooley } Project MICRO 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/PMHomePage.html } Intertidal invertebrates: http://www.fortbragg.k12.ca.us/AG/PCI/pci.html }
Hi all On a recent trip to Taiwan a client there showed me a Bausch and Lomb Nanolab 2100 SEM. He needed some spares for it. Does any one know who I can contact for assistance on this SEM. Thanks
Luc Harmsen Anaspec, South Africa Technical support on microscopy. Tel + 27 (0) 11 476 3455 Fax + 27 (0) 11 476 7290 anaspec-at-icon.co.za
We seek an individual who has demonstrated expertise in a variety of analytical techniques including, but not limited to, X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, AFM, ISS, ESCA, AES, EDS, SSMS, TOFMS, AAS and electron microscopy including SEM, FESEM, TEM, AEM, STEM. Specific application of cryo-ultratome techniques is required. Demonstrated experience with the application of these techniques, including the development of three-dimensional maps of the atomic composition of mixed silver halide emulsion grains is highly desirable. Experience should be demonstrated by a patent and/or publication record.
This person must have a Ph.D. in chemistry, physics or material science, with at least 5 yrs experience in the photographic industry being highly desired. The ideal person would also have a deep interest in working in photographic science, in improving existing film products, and inventing new products using state-of- the-art technology.
The position involves developing technology for product use, with a high level of interaction with product development teams.
Resumes can be sent electronically to GaroneL-at-Polaroid.com For more information, please contact: Lynne Garone Polaroid Corp. 1265 Main St. Waltham, Ma. 02451 781 386-1446 GaroneL-at-Polaroid.com
The question of the chemical nature of Formvar came up a year or so ago. At that time i picked the brains of all the polymer chemists I could find around here, and looked in all the polymer books I could lay my hands on, and finally concluded that it is probably rhe result of the reaction of poly-(vinyl alcohol) with formaldehyde: CH / \ --CH2-CH(OH)-CH2-CH(OH)-- + HCHO =} --CH2-CH CH-- poly-(vinyl alcohol) | | O O \ / CH2 This appears to be analogous to the reaction producing poly(vinyl butyral, which is discribed in most books on polymer chemistry (e.g. Polymer Chemistry by M. P. Stevens, Oxford U. Press, 1990, p. 302, ISBN 0-19-505759-7)
I don't know what pioloform is (are you sure you've spelled it right?), but it might be a polymer made by this same type of reaction, but using some other aldehyde.
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
Hasso Weiland wrote: ================================================ Here at Alcoa (near Pittsburgh, PA), everyone operating an EM has to take an X-ray safety course in the form of an interactive CD. The course has to be repeated every second year. The requirement to take the course is based on state regulations and Alcoa's environmental and health policies. I see the benefit of the course in creating awareness to the radiation issue, so that no one starts messing around with ports and windows, etc. and later says: oh, I didn't know... Hasso Weiland ================================================= Could you be more specific about the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania regulations to which you made reference. Safety courses are always good to have but I was not aware that this was a legal requirement in Pennsylvania. Are there any specifications about the courses as to length, frequency, and whether some kind of test of ability is required at the end of the course? Where can someone get a copy of these regulations? Thanks for calling this to my (our) attention.
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.spi.cc ######################## ============================================
WE feel we have solve all problems with storage of osmium tetroxide. Here is our laboratory=B4s procedure of handling and storage.
We make 4% osmiumtetroxide in 0.2M phosphatbuffer, and freeze it in small aliquotes =E1 2ml in blood sample glass (without any additives, except that it is silicone coated) with rubber top. The Osmium tetroxid will not enter trough glass or rubber. It enters trough plastic. In the freezer we store the glasses in double containers just to be shure. We don=B4t have blackening of even the inner container! (That=B4s because of the glass and the rubber stopper)
When we are using the osmium, we thaw one glass, and add 2 ml distilled water to make 2% in 0.1M buffer. We plase the blood sample glass in an erlenmeyer-beaker, and have aluminiumfoil around it to avoid light to destroy the osmium. The thawed glass are stored in a chemichal hood.
Good luck.=20
Gunnar and Nan Vennlig Hilsen=20 dr.ing Gunnar Kopstad overingeni=F8r Avd f Patologi, Rit
We need to process synthetic vascular grafts made of porous polyurethane and dacron for light microscopy routine histology and image analysis and we need a resin that will not dissolve the PU and also allow immuno staining for endothelium and smooth muscle. We have had success with routine histo on the dacron grafts using Spurr Resin but all of the resins we have tried have dissolved the PU.
Can anyone suggest a resin or technique that will allow us to process our PU samples?
Thanks
Phil
Phillip Christopher Cardiovascular Research,UCT Anzio Road, Observatory, 7925 Cape Town, South Africa 27-21-4066613/6476(tel) 27-21-4485925(fax) ctschristopher-at-samiot.uct.ac.za
I assume that there is a typo and pioloform is polyvinyl butyral and formvar is polyvinyl formal.
Can I ask while I am on-line about a comment that I read somewhere ab= out formvar? It said something like formvar contains a lot of sulphur and= so is less suitable for immuno-labelling because there is more backgroun= d. Can I assume that newer plastics such as butvar contain less and so a= re better?
Malcolm Haswell Electron Microscopy School of Sciences Fleming Building University of Sunderland SUNDERLAND SR1 3SD Tyne and Wear UK
Tel (0191) 515 2872 e-mail: malcolm.haswell-at-sunderland.ac.uk =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=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D "Garber, Charles A." wrote: } =20 } -------------------------------------------------------------------= ----- } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of Ame= rica } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscop= y.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ= .html } -------------------------------------------------------------------= ----. } =20 } -- [ From: Garber, Charles A. * EMC.Ver #3.1 ] -- } =20 } Rick Webb asked: } =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 } Can anyone tell the exactly what formvar and pioloform are? I'm int= erested } in the chemical nature of both of these grid coatings. } =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 } Formvar=AE is a registered trade name, CAS #63450-15-7, and is desc= ribed } chemically as being "polyvinyl formal" resin. } =20 } Pioloform=AE is also a registered trade name, CAS #63148-65-2, and = it is } described as being "polyvinyl formal" resin. } =20 } More information about these two resins can be found on the SPI Sup= plies } website, the address for which is given below. } =20 } Disclaimer: SPI Supplies offers these and other resins for use as = TEM } support films. } =20 } Chuck } =20 } =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D } =20 } Charles A. Garber, Ph. D. Ph: 1-610-436-5400 } President 1-800-2424-SPI } SPI SUPPLIES FAX: 1-610-436-5755 } PO BOX 656 e-mail:cgarber-at-2spi.com } West Chester, PA 19381-0656 USA } Cust.Service: spi2spi-at-2spi.com } =20 } Look for us! } ######################## } WWW: http://www.spi.cc } ######################## } =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D
I had the same problem with some synthetic ligament tissue. I needed sections for TEM so the problem was even more challenging. Finally, I started using a fast setting epoxy (sets in 3-5 minutes) to minimize diffusion length. In some instances, I coated the material with C to again ensure that there was no diffusion into the sample. The blocks were just hard enough to section after 1 hr. but even better the following day. This epoxy was from Cole Parmer, but I know there are many other suitable ones available in Ted Pella etc...(probably more expensive). I tried others but found the fast setting epoxy to be just as effective and easiest to use.
Cheers,
Jennifer Taylor
Ph.D. Candidate Stevens Institute of Technology Hoboken, New Jersey 07030 phone: (201)216-8310 fax:(201)216-8306
On Tue, 16 Nov 1999, ctschristopher 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 } } We need to process synthetic vascular grafts made of porous polyurethane and } dacron for light microscopy routine histology and image analysis and we need } a resin that will not dissolve the PU and also allow immuno staining for } endothelium and smooth muscle. We have had success with routine histo on the } dacron grafts using Spurr Resin but all of the resins we have tried have } dissolved the PU. } } Can anyone suggest a resin or technique that will allow us to process our PU } samples? } } Thanks } } Phil } } Phillip Christopher } Cardiovascular Research,UCT } Anzio Road, Observatory, 7925 } Cape Town, South Africa } 27-21-4066613/6476(tel) } 27-21-4485925(fax) } ctschristopher-at-samiot.uct.ac.za }
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Reply to: Re: Formvar and Pioloform Hi Malcolm,
I use formvar all the time for immunolabeling and have never had a problem = with it. =
Usually, if someone has lots of background over the formvar it can be = traced back to being either an antibody problem or crossreactivity of the = blocking solution with antibody.
Why complicate things by having to try out different plastics when formvar = works fine?
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 http://www.hei.org/htm/aemi.htm
Malcolm Haswell wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America =
} } 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=
} } = } } -- [ From: Garber, Charles A. * EMC.Ver #3.1 ] -- } } = } } Rick Webb asked: } } = =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 } } Can anyone tell the exactly what formvar and pioloform are? I'm = interested } } in the chemical nature of both of these grid coatings. } } =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 } } Formvar=AE is a registered trade name, CAS #63450-15-7, and is = described } } chemically as being "polyvinyl formal" resin. } } = } } Pioloform=AE is also a registered trade name, CAS #63148-65-2, and it = is } } described as being "polyvinyl formal" resin. } } = } } More information about these two resins can be found on the SPI = Supplies } } website, the address for which is given below. } } = } } Disclaimer: SPI Supplies offers these and other resins for use as TEM } } support films. } } = } } Chuck } } = } } = =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D } } = } } 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.spi.cc } } ######################## } } =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 } } } } } RFC822 header } ----------------------------------- } } Received: from Sparc5.Microscopy.Com [206.69.208.10] by mailhouse.hei.= org } (SMTPD32-4.07) id A45D2E110278; Wed, 17 Nov 1999 11:39:09 PST } Received: (from daemon-at-localhost) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.= 11) = } id EAA01434 for dist-Microscopy; Wed, 17 Nov 1999 04:24:45 -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 EAA01431 for = } "MicroscopyFilteredEmail-at-msa.microscopy.com"; Wed, 17 Nov 1999 04:24:14 -= 0600 } Received: from avon.sunderland.ac.uk (avon.sunderland.ac.uk [157.228.0.= 12]) by = } Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) with ESMTP id EAA01424 for = } {microscopy-at-MSA.microscopy.com} ; Wed, 17 Nov 1999 04:23:59 -0600 } Received: from sunderland.ac.uk } (j-merchant-pc.sunderland.ac.uk [157.228.73.219]) } by avon.sunderland.ac.uk (Sun Internet Mail Server } sims.4.0.1999.09.28.17.31.p2) } with ESMTP id {0FLC0094E5DGQL-at-avon.sunderland.ac.uk} for } microscopy-at-MSA.microscopy.com; Wed, 17 Nov 1999 09:36:52 +0000 (GMT) } Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 09:36:30 +0000 } From: Malcolm Haswell {malcolm.haswell-at-sunderland.ac.uk} } Subject: Re: Formvar and Pioloform } To: "Microscopy (MSA)" {microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com} } Message-id: {3832771E.E419156B-at-sunderland.ac.uk} } MIME-version: 1.0 } X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.6 [en] (Win95; I) } Content-type: text/plain; charset=3Diso-8859-1 } Content-transfer-encoding: QUOTED-PRINTABLE } X-Accept-Language: en } References: {199911160827.DAA11947-at-generic2.axs2000.net} } Errors-to: Microscopy-request-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } X-UIDL: 242866408 } Status: U } =
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 http://www.hei.org/htm/aemi.htm
by saluki-mailsmtp.siu.edu (8.9.1/8.9.1) with ESMTP id PAA113860 for {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} ; Wed, 17 Nov 1999 15:14:36 -0600 Received: from [131.230.177.129] (ws177129.microscope.siu.edu [131.230.177.129]) by saluki-mail.siu.edu (8.9.1/8.9.1) with SMTP id PAA80178 for {Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com} ; Wed, 17 Nov 1999 15:15:25 -0600 X-Sender: bozzola-at-saluki-mail.fiber2.siu.edu Message-Id: {v02130503b458c9b32afa-at-[131.230.177.129]} Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
We are seriously considering purchasing a Pixera Pro camera for use on a Macintosh 8500. It will be used primarily for capturing images from light microscopes (stereomicrosopes and conventional LM's). We already have a low light digital camera for fluorescence work so speed of the camera is not really a concern.
Does anyone have experience with this camera? Good and bad experiences are welcome.
I had heard that they were about to come out with a higher resolution camera so we waited for over a year -- but nothing has materialized to date. Now, we really need to purchase a camera in that price range.
Vendors are welcome to contact me as well.
#################################################################### John J. Bozzola, Ph.D., Director Micro-Imaging and Analysis Center 750 Communications Drive - MC 4402 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 ####################################################################
{fontfamily} {param} Times {/param} {bigger} {bigger} MATERIALS CHARACTERIZATION FACILITY-DIRECTOR
THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE, DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING AND MATERIALS SCIENCE invites qualified applicants for the position of SENIOR DEVELOPMENT ENGINEER, beginning JANUARY 1, 2000. The position carries a salary in the $60,000-$70,000 per year range, depending on experience and qualifications.
Applicants must have a Ph.D. degree in one of the following areas: Materials Science and Engineering, Physical Sciences (i.e., Chemistry or Physics) or related fields. Preference will be given to outstanding candidates with experience in running and operating centralized characterization facilities, such as:
Transmission and Scanning Electron Microscopy
Diffraction Techniques
Surface Analysis
The successful candidate will be expected to: formulate and implement a Campus-Wide Materials Characterization Facility, currently used extensively by undergraduate and graduate students in support of research and teaching programs; direct graduate student research; to develop strong programs of sponsored research; and to interact with other members of the faculty.
For full consideration, please submit resume referencing Job #CU-3703R, and the names and addresses of four references by November 30, 1999 to:
Job # CU-3703R
HR Dept., UCI Campus
Berkeley Place Bldg, Suite 1500
Irvine, CA 92697-4600
UCI offers excellent benefits, including a comprehensive insurance package and a minimum three weeks paid vacation. The University of California is an equal opportunity employer committed to excellence through diversity.
The chemical formula for pol(yvinyl butyral) is as follows:
CH / \ --CH2-CH(OH)-CH2-CH(OH)-- + C3H7CHO =} --CH2-CH CH-- poly-(vinyl alcohol) | | O O \ / CH | C3H7
It has been used as a plastic film in laminated glass.
Wilbur C. Bigelow, Prof. Emeritus Materials Sci. & Engr., University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2136 e-mail: bigelow-at-umich.edu; Fx:734-763-4788; Ph:734-764-3321
Dear Lynne, Do you think there is a person in the real world who has demonstrated expertise including, but not limited to, all of those you listed in your job posting? -cy Just feel sorry that even our colleague could be soooooo picky.
} -----Original Message----- } From: Garone, Lynne C [SMTP:GARONEL-at-polaroid.com] } Sent: Tuesday, November 16, 1999 8:33 PM } To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } Subject: Looking for a characterization specialist in silver halide } materi als } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Position available immediately. } } We seek an individual who has demonstrated expertise in a variety of } analytical techniques including, but not limited to, X-ray diffraction, } X-ray fluorescence, AFM, ISS, ESCA, AES, EDS, SSMS, TOFMS, AAS and } electron } microscopy including SEM, FESEM, TEM, AEM, STEM. Specific application of } cryo-ultratome techniques is required. Demonstrated experience with the } application of these techniques, including the development of } three-dimensional maps of the atomic composition of mixed silver halide } emulsion grains is highly desirable. Experience should be demonstrated by } a } patent and/or publication record. } } This person must have a Ph.D. in chemistry, physics or material science, } with at least 5 yrs experience in the photographic industry being highly } desired. The ideal person would also have a deep interest in working in } photographic science, in improving existing film products, and inventing } new } products using state-of- the-art technology. } } The position involves developing technology for product use, with a high } level of interaction with product development teams. } } Resumes can be sent electronically to GaroneL-at-Polaroid.com For more } information, please contact: } Lynne Garone } Polaroid Corp. } 1265 Main St. } Waltham, Ma. 02451 } 781 386-1446 } GaroneL-at-Polaroid.com } }
Anaspec 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 } On a recent trip to Taiwan a client there showed me a Bausch and Lomb } Nanolab 2100 SEM. He needed some spares for it. Does any one know who I can } contact for assistance on this SEM. } Thanks } } Luc Harmsen } Anaspec, South Africa } Technical support on microscopy. } Tel + 27 (0) 11 476 3455 } Fax + 27 (0) 11 476 7290 } anaspec-at-icon.co.za
Luc,
Contact Derek Saunders at Electron Optic Services, Inc. His e-mail is:
eos-at-magma.ca
He's located in Ontario, Canada.
Ken Converse Quality Images Delta, PA third party SEM service
In a message dated 11/16/99 9:16:29 AM, LFOX1-at-wpo.it.luc.edu writes:
} Can anyone recommend courses that are offered in digital imaging } basics? As we move to a more digital lab, I find that I would like a } firm foundation in knowing why certain choices are preferred for image } capture and manipulation. I am getting bits and pieces through } Photoshop and some of our confocal manuals....but would like to speed } up the learning curve.
We teach a 3 day workshop on digital imaging (processing and analysis) every May (for the past 17 years) at N. C. State University. The course is well attended and well reviewed, and covers all aspects of image processing (removing noise, correcting illumination problems etc.) and measurement (both automatic and manual, including stereological interpretation). The software used is based on Photoshop, so you will have a minimal adjustment in your learning curve. Full info is available at http://members.aol.com/IPCourse/
Advanced Courses of Fluorescence Microscopy and Confocal Microscopy
} From Monday the 16th till Friday the 20th of October 2000, in palazzo Feltrinelli Gargnano (BS), Lake of Garda, Italy. University of Milan- Italy
Courses with an eminently practical approach concerning the use of all light microscopy, including confocal microscopy. For further details, please contact Dr. Annalisa Imberti, Institute of Human Anatomy, University of Milan. Via Mangiagalli 31, 20133 Milan (Italy) or visit our Internet site http://users.unimi.it/~fl2000/
{center} {bold} {color} {param} 0100,0100,0100 {/param} {FontFamily} {param} Times= New Roman {/param} {bigger} THE UNIVERSITY {italic} of {/italic} LIVERPOOL {/ce= nter}
{center} Materials Science and Engineering {/center}
{center} Department of Engineering {/center}
{center} {smaller} POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER IN DEFECT {/center}
{center} MECHANISMS OF PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS {/center}
{center} {underline} {/bold} {bigger} Initial salary within the range =A316,28= 6-=A318,180 {/center}
{flushboth} {/underline} An EPSRC-funded post is available for 3 years, from= January 2000 to study the mechanisms of phase transformations. Prof RC Pond and Dr P Fox have developed models of diffusionless and diffusional phase transformation in terms of the generation, motion and interaction of interfacial dislocations. The object of the research programme will be to apply these models to various transformations in Ti alloys, TiAl intermetallics and TiNi shape- memory alloys, and to seek supporting experimental evidence using TEM. The post would suit materials scientists or physicists with experience of TEM and crystallography. {/flushboth}
{flushboth} Enquiries about the PhD studentship and informal enquiries about the Post Doc position to Prof RC Pond, {/flushboth}
{flushboth} {bigger} Further particulars and details of the application proc= edure may be requested from the Director of Personnel, The University of Liverpool, L69 3BX or 0151 794 2210 (24hr answerphone) or via email: jobs-at-liv.ac.uk {/flushboth}
{flushboth} Web site at http://www.liv.ac.uk {/flushboth}
Hello, I've been trying to find SEM & STM micrographs of this system of PP-Carbon black, for comparison with samples I've synthesized. The system I'm scanning is in powder format, being tried for semiconducting electrical properties. Would highly appreciate it if I could be directed to some suitable link where I could view the images I'm looking for. Even if there's any other similar polymer Carbon powder system, it'll still be a lot of help. Prasad Gopalkrishnan. Macromolecular science & Engg. Case Western Reserve University. Cleveland OH USA
Dear list, a colleague has just asked me a question, that although not totally relevant to the microscopy list, some of list members might be able to enlighten him on the topic, namely :- When does a bacterial cell die - what determines this and what is the typical lifespan in non growing media at room temp? Indeed what defines the point of "death" of the cell - is it merely that it can no longer divide (even though it might continue to absorb nutrients) or is there a another description? The bacteria my colleague is interested in specifically is e-coli but any discussion on this topic might help clarify matters for him. Thanks Giles Sanders -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------Dr. Giles SandersZeneca / SmithKline Beecham Centre for Analytical SciencesChemistry DepartmentImperial College of Science, Technology and MedicineLondonSW7 2AY----------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------
Yes there is : He is 98 years old and probably RETIRED
----- Original Message ----- } From: Ni, Chao-Ying {CYNi-at-rodel.com} To: 'Garone, Lynne C' {GARONEL-at-polaroid.com} ; {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} Sent: Wednesday, November 17, 1999 4:49 PM
I got several questions regarding to the training CD we are using:
} It is available from International Centre for Diffraction Data, Newtown } Square Corporate Campus, 12 Campus Boulevard, Newtown Square, Pennsylvania } 19073-3273. Voice: 610-325-9810, Fax: 610-325-9823, Email: } information-at-icdd.com. } For the PA regulations, visit Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.htm
} Hasso Weiland } a } Alcoa Technical Center } Alcoa Center, PA 15069 } ACT 221-3133 } * 724 337-3133 } * 724 337-2044 } mailto:hasso.weiland-at-alcoa.com } } usual disclaimer: Alcoa and/or myself have no interests in etc......
we plan to change the electron gun on TEM JEOL 2000FX from freon to SF6 gas el.gun in near future (and of course HT tank too). I would like to ask if anybody has some information about companies which can supply above mentioned gas in Slovak Republic (the producer, contact, www, email etc.) and I will also greatly appreciate some hints or technical advices concerning this installation (and also the quality of gas and prices), because we are the first EM lab in former Czechoslovakia which will do such change. Thank you very much in advance.
With best wishes
Peter Makroczy
makroczy-at-tuke.sk
-- Peter Makroczy Technical University of Kosice Department of Materials Science Park Komenskeho 11 042 00 Kosice Slovak Republic E-mail: makroczy-at-tuke.sk Tel.: +421 95 602 25 40 Fax.: +421 95 633 27 23
I agree with Paul; we use Formvar all the time for immunolabeling=20 ultrathin cryosections. No problem. Besides using protein (e.g., fetal=20 calf serum, BSA, etc.) in all your solutions, you should also microfuge at= =20 high speed your antibodies before use. Small precipitates can occur=20 after storage that can cause bad background everywhere.
Sara Miller
On 17 Nov 1999, Paul Webster wrote:
} Date: 17 Nov 99 11:50:03 -0800 } From: Paul Webster {pwebster-at-mailhouse.hei.org} } To: Malcolm Haswell {malcolm.haswell-at-sunderland.ac.uk} } Cc: MSA listserver submission {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} } Subject: Re: Formvar and Pioloform } =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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } =20 } =20 } Reply to: Re: Formvar and Pioloform } Hi Malcolm, } =20 } I use formvar all the time for immunolabeling and have never had a proble= m with it. =20 } Usually, if someone has lots of background over the formvar it can be tra= ced back to being either an antibody problem or crossreactivity of the bloc= king solution with antibody. } =20 } Why complicate things by having to try out different plastics when formva= r works fine? } =20 } 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 } http://www.hei.org/htm/aemi.htm } =20 } =20 } Malcolm Haswell wrote: } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America =
Sara E. Miller, Ph. D. P. O. Box 3020 Duke University Medical Center Durham, NC 27710=20 Ph: 919 684-3452 FAX: 919 684-8735
There have been inquiries about how to get service on old Sorvall or RMC Ultramicrotomes. These products are all serviced by Ventana Medical Systems, Inc., Tucson, Arizona, USA.
On older systems there are no longer service contracts, but there is on site service or depot service. A one time Preventative Maintenance Call is approximately $900 depending on location.
For exact rates and all other information please contact Technical Customer Care (TCC) at 520-887-2155 or 800-227-2155 and follow the voice prompts for technical support/ hardware support. Visit the web site at: www.Ventanamed.com, look for the Support link.
For any other information please contact me:
Steve Miller North American Sales Manager Microscopy Products Division Ventana Medical Systems, Inc. 3865 N. Business Center Dr. Tucson, AZ 85705 Fax: 520-690-3580 Email: Smiller-at-ventanamed.com
We have used a Pixera camera here for looking at microstructures on our inverted light microscope. For the price you can't beat the Pixera. We are happy with our unit and if a higher resolution camera became available I wouldn't hesitate to buy it. There are better cameras out there but they will run at least $5K and higher. It will depend greatly on the type of resolution and image processing the you will be doing if any. If you would like I could email you an image that we have acquired at 1000X so that you can play around with it. I would definitely suggest taking a sample to some place that has one localy to try out. Pixera will supply you a name and number of a local contact. Good luck and let me know if you need any more input. ______________________________________________ Roberto Garcia Senior Analyst, Metallography NC State University / Analytical Instrumentation Facility Campus Box 7531 Room 318 EGRC 1010 Main Campus Dr. Raleigh, NC 27695-7531 (919) 515-8628 (919) 515-6965 Fax rgarcia-at-unity.ncsu.edu http://spm.aif.ncsu.edu/aif ____________________________________________
Dear John, We purchased a Pixera Pro earlier this year for our Nikon Metallograph. We are very pleased with it. The main advance I can see over the previous version was a big improvement with the software. You now have a full-screen focus mode that makes set-up and focus easy. I consider it excellent value for the money. At 03:20 PM 11/17/99 -0600, you wrote: } } We are seriously considering purchasing a Pixera Pro camera for use on a } Macintosh 8500. It will be used primarily for capturing images from light } microscopes (stereomicrosopes and conventional LM's). We already have a low } light digital camera for fluorescence work so speed of the camera is not } really a concern. } } Does anyone have experience with this camera? Good and bad experiences are } welcome. } } I had heard that they were about to come out with a higher resolution } camera so we waited for over a year -- but nothing has materialized to } date. Now, we really need to purchase a camera in that price range. } } Vendors are welcome to contact me as well. }
} John J. Bozzola, Ph.D., Director
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 e-mail: mager-at-interchg.ubc.ca
Try the Particle atlas from McCrone Associates: 800-622-8122 The Atlas is now on CD rom and has a TON of info (LM, SEM, EDS, descriptions, etc.). We've used in on several classes, with delight.
(Caveat: MME has no financial interest in this product.)
Best regards, Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater productivity.
125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} ****************************************************** MME is America's first national consortium providing customized on-site workshops in all areas of microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis.
At 07:39 AM 11/18/99 -0600, Prasad wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Rick Felten-at-MACDERMID 11/18/99 02:51 PM My high vacuum is not working on my evaporator. I was wondering if 10 militorr is enough vacuum to clean my apertures using a W filament. Ric
I am an electron microscopist with 20 years experience of room temperature fixation and sectioning for TEM. For the past 8 years I have been studying protein trafficking pathways of the intraerythrocytic Plasmodium falciparum (the pathogen that causes the disease Malaria). I am currently in search of used equipment to prepare my samples by way of cryo fixation. I am in need of some type of rapid fixing device (metal to mirror and or immersion), a freeze substitution system (for morphology), and a cryo kit for thin sectioning on either a Leica Ultracut UCT or Reichert Ultracut E (for hydrated immunolabelling).
If any one out there knows of a source of used equipment that meets any of the above needs please contact me, as I need this type of technology to move my research forward.
Many Thanks,
Timothy Schneider, Director of electron Microscopy Room 229 Jeff Hall Thomas Jefferson University 1020 Locust St. Philadelphia, Pa. 19107 215-503-4798 Timothy.Schneider-at-Mail.TJU.EDU
FTIR Specialist University of Minnesota Characterization Facility
The University of Minnesota is seeking an instrument specialist as a staff member in its Materials Characterization Facility. The facility houses an FTIR with microscope capabilities, a surface enhanced Raman spectrometer, and other analytical instruments and microscopes. See our website for details (http://resolution.umn.edu). The person will work mainly in the spectroscopy laboratories. The principle responsibilities of the position include training researchers to operate the spectroscopic instruments, maintaining and operating the FTIR and Raman spectrometers (Nicolet 750, Coherent/SPEX), and assisting users in sample preparation and data interpretation. The position requires a Ph.D. in chemistry, materials science, physics or related discipline. Very strong hands-on experience in spectroscopic techniques and their application to materials characterization is required. Applicants should also have the experience and flexibility to work with other techniques. This is an annually renewable professional appointment; 12 month, 100% time regular appointment with excellent university benefits. Position and salary will be commensurate with education and experience. Please send resume, three letters of recommendation and salary requirements to Stuart McKernan, Characterization Facility, University of Minnesota, 189 Shepherd Labs, 100 Union St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455. Screening will begin on December 1, 1999 and end when a suitable applicant is identified. The University of Minnesota is an Equal Opportunity Educator and Employer.
__________________ Stuart McKernan stuartm-at-tc.umn.edu Director Office:(612) 626-7594 IT Characterization Facility, University of Minnesota Desk:(612) 624-6009 100 Union Street S. E., Minneapolis, MN 55455 NEW-} Fax:(612) 625-5368
} Questions have been raised about my comment on the formula for polyvinyl } butyral. It would probably have been more accurate and easier to } understand if I had stated and written the chemical equation as shown below. } } } } The chemical reaction for producing polyvinyl butyral is as follows: } } CH CH } / \ / \ } --[CH2-CH-CH2-CH]-- + C3H7CHO =} --[CH2-CH CH-CH2-CH CH]--} } | | butyraldehyde | | | | } OH OH O O O O } poly-(vinyl \ / \ / } alcohol CH CH } | | } C3H7 C3H7 } polyvinyl butyral } } That is, polyvinyl butyral is produced by reacting butyraldehyde (which is } the common four-carbon aldehyde: } CH3-CH2-CH2-CHO ) } with poly-(vinyl alcohol) (which is a linear polymer essentially } consisting of a string of alternating CH2 and CH(OH) groups, as shown } above). } } In the above equation I have used double dashes (--) outside square } brackets --[]-- to indicate that the structure inside the square brackets } is repeated many times to form the large linear molecules of the high } molecular weight polymers that we know as polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinyl } butyral. } } I hope this helps clear things up. The reaction I gave for formvar (which } is produced by reacting polyvinyl alcohol with formaldehyde HCHO) could be } similarily modified for clarity. }
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
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Rick Felten-at-MACDERMID } 11/18/99 02:51 PM } My high vacuum is not working on my evaporator. I was wondering if 10 } militorr is enough vacuum to clean my apertures using a W } filament. } Ric
rfelten-at-Macdermid.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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Rick Felten-at-MACDERMID } 11/18/99 02:51 PM } My high vacuum is not working on my evaporator. I was wondering if 10 } militorr is enough vacuum to clean my apertures using a W } filament. } Ric
Ric
You might try 1 micron diamond paste and a cut-knap polishing cloth or even just a lint-free cloth. Put some paste on the cloth, put the aperture on the paste, put your finger on the aperture and rub it around. No damage from overheating, no reforming of the crystal structure and no vacuum needed. Clean ultrsonically using your preferred solvents (I like water and Joy or Micro). The only way I have ever ruined an aperture this way is by folding over a .001" thick foil upon occassion.
I've also recovered apertures that had suffered damage in vacuum evaporators. I won't even consider any other way of cleaning any more.
Hi CY & list buddies, If 2 people exist on our planet with this background & they may, this list server is a good place to find them. I can do half of the tricks asked & understand the fundamentals of most others. It stands to reason the others can do more, much more. What they are really looking for is a skilled, highly motivated analysts in the film business & there are a # of competitors in the business to recruit from. I suggest that this person does exist. The add may describe the person that is leaving that position or a person known to the solicitor & whom they want to hire. The position may only exist because they have knowledge of someone with this skill set & perhaps something more that we don't know of. Also consider that the experience required may be that of interpreting the data rather than personally mastering all machines. It is not uncommon to run a add to satisfy equal opportunity recruiting requirements but the person hiring knows just who they want to hire & they have their listed their qualifications. Naturally no one will own up to this but I don't think is an uncommon tactic. EOE legislation has created real problems in filling nitch positions in science. In case you don't know, the penalty for hiring the wrong person can be severe. Is it legal, right, etc... that's a matter of philosophy. Is it reality, yes I believe it is. Consider that some plain vanilla advertisement was run that caused you to take off work, & cross the county pursue a position while all the time it was a done deal waiting on formalism. Wouldn't be very fair to you would it? At 1st I too thought this was an abuse of the list server but after thinking about it & realizing that similar (highly specific) adds show up in news papers. Posting to this list server is a good faith effort at finding anyone that can fill the bill. Correct me if I am wrong but I seem to recall that we have 3000ish subscribers. This brings the add back to supporting EOE policies. If this position is not already in the bag & the person does not exist, then a person with most of the requested skill set & the confidence to present themselves probably has the character they want.
just today's opinion, Bruce Brinson Rice U.
Ni, Chao-Ying 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 Lynne, } Do you think there is a person in the real world who has } demonstrated expertise including, but not limited to, all of those you } listed in your job posting? } -cy } Just feel sorry that even our colleague could be soooooo picky. } } } -----Original Message----- } } From: Garone, Lynne C [SMTP:GARONEL-at-polaroid.com] } } Sent: Tuesday, November 16, 1999 8:33 PM } } To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } } Subject: Looking for a characterization specialist in silver halide } } materi als } } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } } 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 } } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } } } Position available immediately. } } } } We seek an individual who has demonstrated expertise in a variety of } } analytical techniques including, but not limited to, X-ray diffraction, } } X-ray fluorescence, AFM, ISS, ESCA, AES, EDS, SSMS, TOFMS, AAS and } } electron } } microscopy including SEM, FESEM, TEM, AEM, STEM. Specific application of } } cryo-ultratome techniques is required. Demonstrated experience with the } } application of these techniques, including the development of } } three-dimensional maps of the atomic composition of mixed silver halide } } emulsion grains is highly desirable. Experience should be demonstrated by } } a } } patent and/or publication record. } } } } This person must have a Ph.D. in chemistry, physics or material science, } } with at least 5 yrs experience in the photographic industry being highly } } desired. The ideal person would also have a deep interest in working in } } photographic science, in improving existing film products, and inventing } } new } } products using state-of- the-art technology. } } } } The position involves developing technology for product use, with a high } } level of interaction with product development teams. } } } } Resumes can be sent electronically to GaroneL-at-Polaroid.com For more } } information, please contact: } } Lynne Garone } } Polaroid Corp. } } 1265 Main St. } } Waltham, Ma. 02451 } } 781 386-1446 } } GaroneL-at-Polaroid.com } } } }
Hello all..... I'm looking for a procedure to do a quantification of abidin-biotin inmuno= labeling ( sorry, I'm not biologist )...using a PC and a Image analisis Program...=
Cannot be sure about that. There may well be too much residual oxygen and this would form a moly-oxide. You can reduce the residual active gases to near "nothing" by purging the system with Argon or Nitrogen and pumping it out for a second time. If you don't have a needle valve inlet, you could purge by placing a small plastic beaker with liquid nitrogen into the belljar. Be quick with that beaker or you get too much condensation. Too much liq N2 in the beaker would, after fierce boiling, turn into N2 slush. This is undesirable because the slush is slow to sublime. Try first with one bad aperture. I think it will work. Cheers Jim Darley ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes www.proscitech.com
On Friday, November 19, 1999 5:51 AM, "rfelten-at-Macdermid.com"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com [SMTP:"rfelten-at-Macdermid.com" -at-sparc5.microscopy.com] wrote: } } } } Rick Felten-at-MACDERMID } 11/18/99 02:51 PM } My high vacuum is not working on my evaporator. I was wondering if 10 } militorr is enough vacuum to clean my apertures using a W } filament. } Ric } }
} } No. I tried to clean Mo apertures under 10-3 pressure. The } oxidation ruined the apertures.
} Rick Felten-at-MACDERMID } 11/18/99 02:51 PM } My high vacuum is not working on my evaporator. I was wondering if 10 } militorr is enough vacuum to clean my apertures using a W filament.
One possibility would be to purge your evaporartor with an inert gas .. e.g., argon, but even N2 would work.
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 know a lot of vendors read this list so hopefully, I will get some information. I have been asked to get an idea of the cost of a metallurgical microscope which will also do transmitted light, 100 to 1000x in air. Quotes can be faxed to 617/638-5591 or sent to me at Biomaterials, 801 Albany St., rm. 210, Boston, MA 02110, Attention, Ron
I had similiar problems, but my version of the eXL is so old that not much could be done. I could not find a replacement monitor for less than ~ $2.5 K here in the USA, which could match the specs. In the end I bought an upgrade package from Oxford/Link which for ~ $1.6K (about 2 years ago) that allowed me to use a standard VGA Monitors which I have around the lab.
It involves swapping out a couple of chips a new mother board and some new software drivers for the eXL .
When you have acquired several images of the same region with different focu= s=20 settings, it is attractive to combine them into an =93extended focus composi= te=94=20 by keeping the pixels from each of the several images that have the best=20 focus. Generally, it is agreed that the =93best focus=94 is characterized by= the=20 greatest local contrast and the maximum high-frequency components in the=20 image (these are the algorithms used in most auto-focus procedures). After=20 evaluating several different tools to measure =93goodness of focus=94 on a=20 pixel-by-pixel basis in two or more images, I've have selected the local=20 variance, calculated in a 5 pixel wide circular neighborhood, as a useful=20 criterion. If anyone out there has performed similar evaluations and believe= s=20 there is another worthy candidate for selecting the best focus pixel, I=92d=20 sure like to hear about it.
If anyone wants to see typical results using the variance, an example is=20 on-line at http://members.aol.com/IPTK/focus.htm We=92ve programmed this as a Photoshop-compatible plug-in that you can downl= oad=20 from the site. It will run in a wide variety of programs including NIH-Image= ,=20 Image Pro Plus, Canvas, Digital Darkroom, etc., on both Mac and Windows=20 platforms). The plug-in requires the Image Processing Tool Kit, which many o= f=20 the readers of this newsgroup already have.
Hello out there, Any experts in staining cell coats, glycocalyx or mucin using alcian blue or other components, please foward techniques for standard TEM to the list, or us. From old protocols we have 1 - 0.1% alcian blue with 3% GA. Thanks
rfelten-at-Macdermid.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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------.} } Rick Felten-at-MACDERMID } 11/18/99 02:51 PM } My high vacuum is not working on my evaporator. I was wondering if 10 } militorr is enough vacuum to clean my apertures using a W } filament. } Ric
Ric,
We produce and clean thousands of apertures each year and we do not believe you can clean a moly aperture at 10 militorr due to oxydation.
Perhaps you can clean larger holes with a polish, but we are now producing apertures as small as 1 micron in Pt and Moly and would be very concerned that the wall could easily be damaged in our ultra-small sized holes.
Would it be possible to switch to a platinum aperture rather than Moly? I believe we are the largest aperture producer in the world and 75 percent of our discs and strips are done in Platinum, and you would avoid the vacuum issue that way.
Please contact me if you wish to discuss this further,
John Arnott -- LADD RESEARCH 131 Dorset Lane Williston, VT 05495 TEL 1-800-451-3406 (US) or 1-802-878-6711 (anywhere) FAX 1-802-878-8074 e-mail ladres-at-worldnet.att.net web site http://www.ladd.cc
I think that if it is a "done deal" or if the position is "wired in," then someone should not post a position on the Listserver. This isn't a sanctioned forum for advertising positions to satisfy legal requirements for hiring people. It is an excellent means of finding a qualified individual to satisfy their staffing needs. Let people who have "done deals" do it in the paper -not here. -Scott
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Glass Technology Center 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." --
} -----Original Message----- } From: Bruce Brinson [mailto:brinson-at-rice.edu] } Sent: Thursday, November 18, 1999 11:36 PM } To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } Subject: Re: Looking for a characterization specialist in } silver halide } ma teri als } } } -------------------------------------------------------------- } ---------- } 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 CY & list buddies, } If 2 people exist on our planet with this background & } they may, this list } server is a good place to find them. I can do half of the } tricks asked & } understand the fundamentals of most others. It stands to } reason the others can } do more, much more. What they are really looking for is a } skilled, highly } motivated analysts in the film business & there are a # of } competitors in the } business to recruit from. } I suggest that this person does exist. The add may } describe the person that } is leaving that position or a person known to the solicitor & } whom they want to } hire. The position may only exist because they have knowledge } of someone with } this skill set & perhaps something more that we don't know } of. Also consider } that the experience required may be that of interpreting the } data rather than } personally mastering all machines. } It is not uncommon to run a add to satisfy equal } opportunity recruiting } requirements but the person hiring knows just who they want } to hire & they have } their listed their qualifications. Naturally no one will own } up to this but I } don't think is an uncommon tactic. EOE legislation has } created real problems in } filling nitch positions in science. In case you don't know, } the penalty for } hiring the wrong person can be severe. Is it legal, right, } etc... that's a } matter of philosophy. Is it reality, yes I believe it is. } Consider that some plain vanilla advertisement was run } that caused you to } take off work, & cross the county pursue a position while all } the time it was a } done deal waiting on formalism. Wouldn't be very fair to you would it? } At 1st I too thought this was an abuse of the list server } but after thinking } about it & realizing that similar (highly specific) adds show } up in news } papers. Posting to this list server is a good faith effort } at finding anyone } that can fill the bill. Correct me if I am wrong but I seem } to recall that we } have 3000ish subscribers. This brings the add back to } supporting EOE policies. } If this position is not already in the bag & the person } does not exist, then } a person with most of the requested skill set & the } confidence to present } themselves probably has the character they want. } } just today's opinion, } Bruce Brinson } Rice U. } } } } Ni, Chao-Ying 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 Lynne, } } Do you think there is a person in the real } world who has } } demonstrated expertise including, but not limited to, all } of those you } } listed in your job posting? } } -cy } } Just feel sorry that even our colleague could be } soooooo picky. } } } } } -----Original Message----- } } } From: Garone, Lynne C [SMTP:GARONEL-at-polaroid.com] } } } Sent: Tuesday, November 16, 1999 8:33 PM } } } To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } } } Subject: Looking for a characterization specialist } in silver halide } } } materi als } } } } } } } -------------------------------------------------------------- } ---------- } } } 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 } } } } } -------------------------------------------------------------- } ---------. } } } } } } } } } Position available immediately. } } } } } } We seek an individual who has demonstrated expertise in a } variety of } } } analytical techniques including, but not limited to, } X-ray diffraction, } } } X-ray fluorescence, AFM, ISS, ESCA, AES, EDS, SSMS, TOFMS, AAS and } } } electron } } } microscopy including SEM, FESEM, TEM, AEM, STEM. } Specific application of } } } cryo-ultratome techniques is required. Demonstrated } experience with the } } } application of these techniques, including the development of } } } three-dimensional maps of the atomic composition of mixed } silver halide } } } emulsion grains is highly desirable. Experience should } be demonstrated by } } } a } } } patent and/or publication record. } } } } } } This person must have a Ph.D. in chemistry, physics or } material science, } } } with at least 5 yrs experience in the photographic } industry being highly } } } desired. The ideal person would also have a deep } interest in working in } } } photographic science, in improving existing film } products, and inventing } } } new } } } products using state-of- the-art technology. } } } } } } The position involves developing technology for product } use, with a high } } } level of interaction with product development teams. } } } } } } Resumes can be sent electronically to } GaroneL-at-Polaroid.com For more } } } information, please contact: } } } Lynne Garone } } } Polaroid Corp. } } } 1265 Main St. } } } Waltham, Ma. 02451 } } } 781 386-1446 } } } GaroneL-at-Polaroid.com } } } } } } } }
Bravo, Bruce You express exactly what I was thinking about such "advertisements".
} Date: Thu, 18 Nov 1999 22:35:49 -0600 } From: Bruce Brinson {brinson-at-rice.edu} } Subject: Re: Looking for a characterization specialist in silver halide ma teri } als } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Reply-to: brinson-at-rice.edu } Organization: Rice University } X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.06 [en] (Win95; U) } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Sergey Ryazantsev Ph. D. UCLA School of Medicine Department of Biological Chemistry Box 951737 Los Angeles, CA 90095-1737
-----Original Message----- } From: Walck. Scott D. {walck-at-ppg.com} To: 'brinson-at-rice.edu' {brinson-at-rice.edu} ; 'Microscopy' {microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com} } } I think that if it is a "done deal" or if the position is "wired in," then } someone should not post a position on the Listserver. This isn't a } sanctioned forum for advertising positions to satisfy legal requirements for } hiring people. It is an excellent means of finding a qualified individual } to satisfy their staffing needs. Let people who have "done deals" do it in } the paper -not here. } -Scott
The person posting may not know it there is a ringer in the game. Also I seldom see a job filled by an applicant that met all the qualifications. You ask for what you want and take what you can get.
Gordon
Gordon Couger gcouger-at-couger.com
Stillwater, OK www.couger.com/gcouger 405 624-2855 GMT -6:00
Sometimes an institution must list such detailed/individualized qualifications because hiring policy precludes listing the social security number of the preferred applicant as a necessary qualificaton.
Paul Grover Chief Microscopist and Bottle Washer Microvista Laboratory
----Oorspronkelijk bericht----- Van: "laboratorio-at-abasto.dataco27.com.ar"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com {"laboratorio-at-abasto.dataco27.com.ar"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} Aan: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} Datum: vendredi 19 novembre 1999 9:02 Onderwerp: hematoxilin stein?
} ----------------------------------------------------------- ------------- } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
} Question: =85How can I do an hematoxilin eosin stein? }
Eh, that's a realy very basic question...
This is from an online manual called "UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL - Histological Staining Techniques". I've lost the URL but you should be able to find the file trough Altavista or another search-engine...
Haematoxylin & eosin (H&E)
1. Dewax sections, rinse in alcohol, rinse in water. 2. Harris' haematoxylin - 10 minutes. 3. Wash and blue in running tap water - 1 minute. 4. Differentiate in acid alcohol (1% HCl in 70% alcohol) - 10 seconds. 5. Wash and blue in running tap water - 5 minutes. 6. Eosin - 4 minutes. 7. Wash in tap water. 8. Dehydrate, clear and mount. Results: Nuclei - blue. Other tissue components - shades of red and pink. Harris' haematoxylin Haematoxylin - 5g. 100% alcohol - 50mls Potassium alum - 100g. Distilled water - 1 litre Mercuric oxide - 2.5g. Glacial acetic acid - 40mls Dissolve the potassium alum in the water by warming and stirring. Dissolve the haematoxylin in the alcohol and add. Bring rapidly to the boil remove from heat and add the mercuric oxide. Cool, add the acetic acid and filter. Ready for use immediately.
Eosin 1% eosin Y (yellowish) in TAP water. Add a crystal of thymol to prevent the growth of moulds.
Perhaps it would be better to look for a good book on the basics of histological/microscopical technique...
* Step 1: most other hematoxylin solutions can be used instead of Harris': Mayer's, Delafield's, Cole's, Ehrlich's... I usualy use Mayer's mod. Lillie.
The use of mercuric oxide as an oxidant in the solution poses serious problems. It can be substituded trough sodium iodate (100mg/g hematoxylin to give a solution with partially oxidized hematoxylin (=3D hematein)), or use another hematoxylin formulation.
* Step 6: Instead of the eosin solution I use a mixture of 1g eosin "Y" and 1g orange G in 100ml Aq. Dest, giving far better differentiation in the reds.
The 38th Annual Conference of the Microscopy Society of Southern Africa takes place in Bloemfontein, South Africa, next week (30 November to 3 December)
The Table of Contents (authors, titles and page numbers) of the Proceedings (Volume 29, 1999) can be viewed at the following web address:
http://www.ru.ac.za/emu/mssa99.htm
For more information about the society and MSSA '99 go to the MSSA web site:
http://www.uct.ac.za/depts/emu/mssa/index.htm
or
http://www.uovs.ac.za/nat/mssa99/conference.htm
Robin H Cross Vice-President : Microscopy Society of Southern Africa EM Unit, Rhodes University, PO Box 94, Grahamstown, South Africa tel: +27 46 603 8168 - fax: +27 46 622 4377 email: R.Cross-at-ru.ac.za
*** remember that ICEM-15 takes place in Durban, South Africa in 2002 ***
In the same vein - My business partner & I used to subscribe to the Commerce Business Daily, in which were advertised numerous Requests for Proposals. Ha. We responded to a number of them, but never even received back any more than an acknowledgement of receipt. No reviews; no feedback; nothing at all for our efforts. Then we tried preparing a Small Business Innovative Research proposal; got our first response: "Already doing that." So we have written off the entire business of research for The Government as a waste of our time. Probably a waste of our Taxpayers' money, too, if "done deals" are what were advertised there. And we had to pay good money for the Commerce Business Daily.
Best regards, George Langford, Sc.D. amenex-at-amenex.com http://www.amenex.com/
The tilt angle you can use depends a lot on the sample. For an automated measurement or the reconstruction of the surface, the computer has to locate the identical position on both images. If the tilt angle is too large and the images too different, then no calculation is possible. For example, a tilt of 10 degrees may hide certain areas on one image that are visible on the other, if the sample has prominent structures that rotate into view. Of course for those areas no calculation is possible. On the other hand a larger tilt angle may be possible, for example for shallow indentations.
The tilt angle of 6-10 degrees is usually used as it enables the brain to interpret the images in 3 dimensions when looked at with appropriate glasses (green-red or polarized or similar). For higher angles the 3D effect disappears because the brain can't interpret it anymore. All these numbers are approximate, of course.
I am not sure, what you have done with Excel, but an automated system allows you to reconstruct the entire surface in a few seconds, plot it in 3-D, rotate it, texture it, etc. A better Z-resolution is also possible by using the local neighborhood to find position pairs on the two images. Also alignment of the images and 3-D measurements should be easier.
Michael
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 1675 Carr St., #105N Lakewood, CO 80215 =================================== phone: (888) FIND SIS (303) 234-9270 fax: (303) 234-9271 email: mailto:info-at-soft-imaging.com web: http://www.soft-imaging.com ===================================
} ---------- } From: Dusevich, Vladimir[SMTP:DUSEVICHV-at-UMKC.EDU] } Sent: Tuesday, November 16, 1999 10:35:15 AM } To: 'Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com' } Subject: RE: software for height measurement from stereo pairs?? } Auto forwarded by a Rule } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I routinely use tilt angles of 15-30 degrees. It is too high value for visual observation of a stereopair, but often it is the best choice angle in terms of accuracy of stereo measurements (as long as I do not have overlapping, I can increase angle). Since I perform stereo measurements not often, I did not by any special software. Microsoft Excel works just fine for me.
Vladimir M. Dusevich, Ph.D. Electron Microscope Lab Manager 3127 School of Dentistry 650 E. 25th Street Kansas City, MO 64108-2784
} -----Original Message----- } From: Michael Bode [mailto:mb-at-soft-imaging.com] } Sent: Monday, November 15, 1999 11:05 AM } To: 'Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com' } Subject: FW: software for height measurement from stereo pairs?? } } } -------------------------------------------------------------- } ---------- } 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 } -------------------------------------------------------------- } ---------. } } } Yes, we do quantitative evaluation of stereo pairs. } } There are a number of factors that impact the height } resolution one can } get from those images. In essence there is a trigonometric } function that } relates the z-resolution to the x/y resolution. The numerical factor } depends on a number of other parameters with the stereo angle } being the } most important one. For typical stereo angles of 6 - 10 degrees, the } factor is of the order of .1 - .2. In other words, the height } resolution } is about 1/5th to 1/10th of the x/y resolution (for example: x/y } resolution 1 micron/pixel -} height resolution about 5 to 10 microns). } It is possible to improve this through sub-pixel operations. } } Please contact me off-line if you need more information. } } Michael } } Michael Bode, Ph.D. } Soft Imaging System Corp. } 1675 Carr St., #105N } Lakewood, CO 80215 } =================================== } phone: (888) FIND SIS } (303) 234-9270 } fax: (303) 234-9271 } email: mailto:info-at-soft-imaging.com } web: http://www.soft-imaging.com } =================================== } } } } -----Original Message----- } } From: Dr. Gary Gaugler [mailto:gary-at-gaugler.com] } Sent: Saturday, November 13, 1999 9:35 AM } To: Brendan Griffin } Cc: Michael Bode } Subject: Re: software for height measurement from stereo pairs?? } } } Try Soft-Imaging's analySIS. It has optional plug-in modules that } I believe can do this. } } gary g. } } } At 09:12 PM 11/12/99 , 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 } } ------------------------------------------------------------- } ---------- }
Linda, i have no idea where you are located, but I am taking a course in this very subject at the University of Texas in Arligton. we are using a textbook called The Image Processing Handbook by John Russ. the book can be difficult to follow, but it is in print, and so should be available from anywhere. You will probably have to order it special,though. If you are anywhere near North Texas, I would recommend that you contact Dr. Arnott at UTA and see when he will offer this class agian. I'm having a ball in it! (Are you listening Dr. Arnott? Can I have 10 extra points?) Feel free to contact me if I can answer any questions Wanda Shotsberger Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth Texas ---------- } From: Linda Fox To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
Can anyone recommend courses that are offered in digital imaging basics? As we move to a more digital lab, I find that I would like a firm foundation in knowing why certain choices are preferred for image capture and manipulation. I am getting bits and pieces through Photoshop and some of our confocal manuals....but would like to speed up the learning curve. Thanks, Linda Fox lfox1-at-wpo.it.luc.edu
Can someone please help me determine, or direct me to a comprehensive guide for determining, the appropriate gloves for handling each of the following chemicals?
I have talked with our environmental health and safety officer and read the permeation/degradation, resistance guides in our chemical and industrial safety vendor catalogs. Some of our chemicals are not on any company's glove guide but several of the ones that are require using a bulky heavy duty type glove made from Viton, Butyl, Neoprene or Norfoil and best suited for gross chemical handling. Is there a U.S. distributor for form fitting flexible gloves made from these or equivalent materials?
Thank you.
James S. Romanow The University of Connecticut Physiology and Neurobiology Department Electron Microscopy Facility U-2131 Storrs, CT 06269-2131 bsgphy3-at-uconnvm.uconn.edu 860 486-2914 voice 860 486-1936 fax
The John Russ books can be easily purchased from Amazon.com.
rob
Robert S. Geske Research Associate Center for Comparative Medicine and Department of Pediatrics Baylor College of Medicine
-----Original Message----- } From: Shotsberger-Gray, Wanda [SMTP:WandaShotsberger-Gray-at-hmhs.com] Sent: Monday, November 22, 1999 10:13 AM To: Linda Fox; Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
Linda, i have no idea where you are located, but I am taking a course in this very subject at the University of Texas in Arligton. we are using a textbook called The Image Processing Handbook by John Russ. the book can be difficult to follow, but it is in print, and so should be available from anywhere. You will probably have to order it special,though. If you are anywhere near North Texas, I would recommend that you contact Dr. Arnott at UTA and see when he will offer this class agian. I'm having a ball in it! (Are you listening Dr. Arnott? Can I have 10 extra points?) Feel free to contact me if I can answer any questions Wanda Shotsberger Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth Texas ---------- } From: Linda Fox To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
Can anyone recommend courses that are offered in digital imaging basics? As we move to a more digital lab, I find that I would like a firm foundation in knowing why certain choices are preferred for image capture and manipulation. I am getting bits and pieces through Photoshop and some of our confocal manuals....but would like to speed up the learning curve. Thanks, Linda Fox lfox1-at-wpo.it.luc.edu
Our current Fisher catalog has a guide for gloves on pp. 805-807. Cole-Parmer has a shorter one on page 943. These are not comprehensive guides, but we have found them useful.
Randy
Randy Tindall Senior EM Specialist Electron Microscopy Core Facility W122 Veterinary Medicine Bldg. University of Missouri Columbia, MO 65211 (573)882-8304 tindallr-at-missouri.edu http://www.biotech.missouri.edu/emc/
-----Original Message----- } From: JIM ROMANOW [mailto:bsgphy3-at-uconnvm.uconn.edu] Sent: Monday, November 22, 1999 12:15 PM To: microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com
Can someone please help me determine, or direct me to a comprehensive guide for determining, the appropriate gloves for handling each of the following chemicals?
I have talked with our environmental health and safety officer and read the permeation/degradation, resistance guides in our chemical and industrial safety vendor catalogs. Some of our chemicals are not on any company's glove guide but several of the ones that are require using a bulky heavy duty type glove made from Viton, Butyl, Neoprene or Norfoil and best suited for gross chemical handling. Is there a U.S. distributor for form fitting flexible gloves made from these or equivalent materials?
Thank you.
James S. Romanow The University of Connecticut Physiology and Neurobiology Department Electron Microscopy Facility U-2131 Storrs, CT 06269-2131 bsgphy3-at-uconnvm.uconn.edu 860 486-2914 voice 860 486-1936 fax
There is an opening for a post-doctoral position in my laboratory for electron-crystallographic studies on membrane protein channels. The following advertisement is being posted in the Journal Science. The electron microscope facility at Scripps is extremely well equipped. We have a shared e.m. facility which has a Philips CM200FEGT, a CM120, a CM100 and 2 EM208, one Perkin Elmer PDS microdensitometer, one Zeiss scanner and an upright optical diffractometer. The cryo work is done on the CM200 and CM120. The image processing in my laboratory is carried out on a DEC-alpha machine and a SGI O2. These are connected to a cluster of several accessible UNIX workstations in the Department. The departmental e.m. suite include facilities for carrying out freeze-fracture and rotary shadowing of samples.
POSTDOCTORAL POSITION is available immediately for structural studies of membrane proteins (water channels, ABC transporters, protein toxins) using electron microscopy and image processing. Candidates with a background in structural biochemistry, biophysics or protein expression should send a curriculum vitae and names of three references to:
Dr. Alok K. Mitra Assistant Professor Department of Cell Biology The Scripps Research Institute 10550 N. Torrey Pines Road La Jolla, CA 92037. E-mail: mitra-at-scripps.edu.
Selected Publications:
1. Mitra, A.K., Yeager, M., van Hoek, A. N., Wiener, M. C.and Verkman, A. S. (1994). Projection Structure of the CHIP28 Water Channel in Lipid Bilayer Membranes at 12-=C5 Resolution. Biochemistry 33, 12735-12740. 2. Mitra, A. K., van Hoek, A. N., Wiener, M. C., Verkman, A. S. and Yeager, M. (1995). The CHIP28 water channel visualized in ice by electron crystallography. Nature Structure Biology. 2, 726-72926. 3. Verkman, A. S., van Hoek, A. N., Ma, T., Frigeri, A., Skach, W. R., Mitra, A. K., Tamarappoo B. K. and Farinas J. (1996) Water transport across mammalian cell membranes. Am. J. Physiol.. 270, C12-C30. 4. Cheng, A., van Hoek, A. N., Yeager, M., Verkman, A. S. and Mitra, A. K. (1997) Structural Organization in a Human Water Channel. Nature. 387, 627-630. 5. Yeager, M., Unger, V. M. and Mitra, A. K. (1999) Three-dimensional structure of membrane proteins determined by two-dimensional crystallization, electron cryomicroscopy, and image analysis. Method. Enzym. 294, 135-180. 6. Verkman, A. S. and Mitra, A. K. Structure and function of aquaporin water channels - invited review. Am. J. Physiol. 276: in Press.
} Hello offended Microscopists ! } } In the same vein - My business partner & I used to subscribe to the } Commerce Business Daily, in which were advertised numerous Requests } for Proposals. Ha. We responded to a number of them, but never even } received back any more than an acknowledgement of receipt. No reviews; } no feedback; nothing at all for our efforts. Then we tried preparing } a Small Business Innovative Research proposal; got our first response: } "Already doing that." So we have written off the entire business of } research for The Government as a waste of our time. Probably a waste } of our Taxpayers' money, too, if "done deals" are what were advertised } there. And we had to pay good money for the Commerce Business Daily. } } Best regards, } George Langford, Sc.D. } amenex-at-amenex.com } http://www.amenex.com/
I think that you do not understand how the system works. First off, the system requires 30 days notice in the CBD of any impending actions. If it is an announcement of an imminent action, unless you have some Earth-shaking reason to denounce that action, it is indeed a done deal.
But there are announcements that are inquisitive in nature and if your response is judged lesser than other responses, you will indeed get a Dear John letter.
SBIRs and other announcements are an area that I think you grossly misunderstand. The CBD is essentially a forum for legally announcing what will take place, barring some substantial justification to the contrary. The point is that someone or some company has done their homework and initiated a project or proposal to a government agency or activity that was accepted as presented. The CBD then reflects the acceptance of that innovative act. If you expect the CBD or SBIR to be a source for parasitic action, you are dead wrong. The innovation and initiative is done long before it reaches the CBD. If you do not innovate and create and seek sources for your products and services, you are not likely to have a good day. "You have to kiss a lot of frogs to find a prince."
I would encourage you to better understand how the system works before you criticize it. Remember, this system is the product of "our government," and as such, it is supposed to equalize dealings of the dispensation of taxpayer funds.
In response to my Sour Grapes about Guv'mint Research:
.. heavy snippage ...
} ... Commerce Business Daily, in which were advertised numerous } Requests for Proposals. Ha. ... Then we tried preparing a Small } Business Innovative Research proposal; got our first response: } "Already doing that." So we have written off ...
Gary Gaugler says:
} I think that you do not understand how the system ...
Shouldn't "The System" be capitalized ?
} ... works. First off, the system requires 30 days notice in the } CBD of any impending actions. If it is an announcement of an } imminent action, unless you have some Earth-shaking reason } to denounce that action, it is indeed a done deal.
The announcements were "Requests for Proposals." With deadlines & addresses to whom the proposals were to be sent. No "Done Deals" implied, stated, or writ 'twixt the lines. Heck, they cheerfully provided exact details about the formats of said proposals.
} But there are announcements that are inquisitive in nature and } if your response is judged lesser than other responses, you will } indeed get a Dear John letter.
Yup. Constructive as all get out.
} SBIRs and other announcements are an area that I think you grossly } misunderstand.
We even attended the SBIR briefings - more than once. "Small" is a concept that I admit is hard to comprehend in the Real World. "Small" to SBIR is a company with less than $250M in sales (or is it $25M ?). Either way is "huge" in my world, where we sink or swim on our own wits & quality of service, and we'll take another 100 years to reach even $25M in total sales for our entire history.
} The CBD is essentially a forum for legally announcing what will } take place, barring some substantial justification to the contrary. } The point is that someone or some company has done their homework } and initiated a project or proposal to a government agency or } activity that was accepted as presented. The CBD then reflects } the acceptance of that innovative act.
With a request for more proposals ? Why would anyone in his right mind contribute an utterly wasted hundred man-hours or so if he understood that it was a mere formality to justify an agency's decision to issue a contract without competitive bidding ? That's not what those announcements said. They solicited proposals that the reader was led to expect would receive fair consideration.
} If you expect the CBD or SBIR to be a source for parasitic action,
Sounds insulting. We were trying to compete on what we thought was a level playing field, with our own ideas in response to requests for ideas; and we backed 'em up with well thought out and documented budgets, schedules of what was to be done, when, and so on.
} ... you are dead wrong. The innovation and initiative is done long } before it reaches the CBD. If you do not innovate and create and } seek sources for your products and services, you are not likely to } have a good day.
My suspicion is that the RFP's were fishing for free ideas.
} "You have to kiss a lot of frogs to find a prince."
No thanks; there are no Princes in that pond.
} I would encourage you to better understand how the system works } before you criticize it.
Thought I did. Had two long-term, innovative research projects which I thought I had won fair & square when I taught at Drexel University.
} Remember, this system is the product of "our government," and } as such, it is supposed to equalize dealings of the dispensation } of taxpayer funds.
That was what I was sour graping about. Didn't seem fair to me - all one way, with no feedback. And I haven't begun to sound off about the way the NSF treated research-fund seekers in the universities. Too many proposals chasing too little funding, with the "riches" going to the most persistent (read: repetitive) proposal writers, who would then use that funding to support yet more proposal writing. A gigantic Ponzi scheme, but in reverse. Forgive me if it's all been changed in the last eighteen years since I participated in that circus.
Best regards, George Langford, Sc.D., in SE PA, happily doing consulting for folks who actually want ideas & answers for their problems and who pay in real dollars (no overhead fudge factors) for the work we actually do for them and for what we said we'd charge. amenex-at-amenex.com http://www.amenex.com/
At 05:25 PM 11/22/99 , you wrote: } Hi Gary & Microscopists ! } } In response to my Sour Grapes about Guv'mint Research: } } ... heavy snippage ... } } } ... Commerce Business Daily, in which were advertised numerous } } Requests for Proposals. Ha. ... Then we tried preparing a Small } } Business Innovative Research proposal; got our first response: } } "Already doing that." So we have written off ... } } Gary Gaugler says: } } } I think that you do not understand how the system ... } } Shouldn't "The System" be capitalized ?
It is...by you and I.
} } ... works. First off, the system requires 30 days notice in the } } CBD of any impending actions. If it is an announcement of an } } imminent action, unless you have some Earth-shaking reason } } to denounce that action, it is indeed a done deal. } } The announcements were "Requests for Proposals." With deadlines } & addresses to whom the proposals were to be sent. No "Done Deals" } implied, stated, or writ 'twixt the lines. Heck, they cheerfully } provided exact details about the formats of said proposals.
Well...you do not get the picture.
} } } But there are announcements that are inquisitive in nature and } } if your response is judged lesser than other responses, you will } } indeed get a Dear John letter. } } Yup. Constructive as all get out.
Of course.
} } } SBIRs and other announcements are an area that I think you grossly } } misunderstand. } } We even attended the SBIR briefings - more than once. "Small" } is a concept that I admit is hard to comprehend in the Real World. } "Small" to SBIR is a company with less than $250M in sales (or is } it $25M ?). Either way is "huge" in my world, where we sink or } swim on our own wits & quality of service, and we'll take another } 100 years to reach even $25M in total sales for our entire history.
SBIR is done is three phases. Phase I is the investigative phase and is usually less than $90K ($100K is the legal limit but no one does this that I know of). Phase II is up to $750K for proof of concept. Phase III is open since it is not funded by the government. By Phase II, it is assumed that the idea/project is a good one and will garner industrial or venture capital to continue.
} } The CBD is essentially a forum for legally announcing what will } } take place, barring some substantial justification to the contrary. } } The point is that someone or some company has done their homework } } and initiated a project or proposal to a government agency or } } activity that was accepted as presented. The CBD then reflects } } the acceptance of that innovative act. } } With a request for more proposals ? Why would anyone in his right } mind contribute an utterly wasted hundred man-hours or so if he } understood that it was a mere formality to justify an agency's } decision to issue a contract without competitive bidding ? That's } not what those announcements said. They solicited proposals that } the reader was led to expect would receive fair consideration.
You were reactive rather than proactive. You got what you earned.
} } If you expect the CBD or SBIR to be a source for parasitic action, } } Sounds insulting. We were trying to compete on what we thought was } a level playing field, with our own ideas in response to requests } for ideas; and we backed 'em up with well thought out and documented } budgets, schedules of what was to be done, when, and so on.
It was intended to be insulting. good. There is no free lunch....etc. Either come up with new and innovative ideas and market them to the right place or sit back and whine.
} } ... you are dead wrong. The innovation and initiative is done long } } before it reaches the CBD. If you do not innovate and create and } } seek sources for your products and services, you are not likely to } } have a good day. } } My suspicion is that the RFP's were fishing for free ideas.
Nope.
} } "You have to kiss a lot of frogs to find a prince." } } No thanks; there are no Princes in that pond.
You have not kissed many frogs I take it?
} } } I would encourage you to better understand how the system works } } before you criticize it. } } Thought I did. Had two long-term, innovative research projects } which I thought I had won fair & square when I taught at Drexel } University.
OK...so what happened?
} } Remember, this system is the product of "our government," and } } as such, it is supposed to equalize dealings of the dispensation } } of taxpayer funds. } } That was what I was sour graping about. Didn't seem fair to me - } all one way, with no feedback. And I haven't begun to sound off } about the way the NSF treated research-fund seekers in the } universities. Too many proposals chasing too little funding, with } the "riches" going to the most persistent (read: repetitive) proposal } writers, who would then use that funding to support yet more proposal } writing. A gigantic Ponzi scheme, but in reverse. Forgive me if } it's all been changed in the last eighteen years since I participated } in that circus.
Over 10 years, I sponsored and funded upwards of 15 SBIRs while I was a gov engineer. Nearly all of these went to Phase II. In all, I think that I invested about $15M of government funds on SBIRs. some did pay off. some did not. But research is not an area of guarantees. The one with the money decides where those dollars are to go. Your job is to convince him/her that your venue is the right place.
} Best regards, } George Langford, Sc.D., in SE PA, happily doing consulting for } folks who actually want ideas & answers for their problems and } who pay in real dollars (no overhead fudge factors) for the } work we actually do for them and for what we said we'd charge. } amenex-at-amenex.com } http://www.amenex.com/
The government auditors will be there to make sure that what you say and what you do are in harmony.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Modern surfers use PC boards. You can too at http://photoweb.net ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I know this has been talked about quite a few times, but on checking the archives I can't find quite what I want. Nor have I been able to track down an answer on the Web. In my Dept we have a cheap Epson and a networked B&W laser, but would like to get a moderately fast, networkable photo quality printer that can also do routine colour printing. We can't afford a Pictrography, but want more than an ink jet. Are there any laser printers with photo quality? If the pics don't turn out as well as the Epson, then it's not good enough. It would be nice if the prints were long lasting and not too expensive as well! Could I have some suggestions (and approx prices) please?
Thanks all,
Diana
Diana van Driel Department of Clinical Ophthalmology Sydney University GPO Box 4337 Sydney NSW AUSTRALIA 2001
Gary & I are having an unusually civil Internet Fight about The System, how it says it works (GL), and how it actually runs (GG).
If I get the gist of Gary's position, it is that the published RFP's and all such announced intentions and WTB's by The Guv'mint are done deals, put in those venues (like death notices) to satisfy legal niceties. And that the real business of Guv'mint is done between lobbyists, whose business it is to walk the streets of Washington, pounding on doors & grabbing at collars, and the funding fathers. Writers of RFP's, like the payers of taxes, are just the air & water flowing past those high offices.
This has a chilling parallel to Hernando de Soto's, The Other Path, which describes how Peruvians learned to deal with their Guv'mint, except that everyones' roles now seem to be interchanged. In Peru, the simple folk learned simply to squat on land that was idle & unused and then to repeat the process over & over again when evicted, until the Guv'mint grew tired. Then they started building their own system of government, their own infrastructure, and even their own courts. All outside The System. Here we have a system in which all proposals, contracts, and the like are open to public scrutiny under the Freedom of Information Act, and Full Disclosure demands publication of RFP's in the CBD, leading to such a barrage of proposals and reviews that another system quietly replaces it, one in which the best ideas are traded for funding quietly, behind the scenes.
What's needed is a new system for funding research that does away with both the mountainous paperwork and the lobbying. My solution was to discard any further consideration of Public Funding and to become a Capitalist in the Free Market. Amenex did win one good one - from the Ben Franklin fund in Pennsylvania, for an idea that was good enough to become commercialized and which became a standard product, copied worldwide. We lost money on it, though, but the idea won out ... it wasn't mine, but I understood it better than the inventor ... and it was fun to try to make the business portion of the enterprise work. We even ended up with a new microscope out of the deal (capital expenditures were allowed back then), so I haven't strayed off topic that much.
And the Guv'mint's auditors haven't bugged us a bit.
Best regards, George Langford amenex-at-amenex.com http://www.amenex.com/
With this amazing software that is exactly what you'll have! And a complete Toolkit to obtain it!!
We have all heard about the vast amounts of information that an investigator can obtain about an individual. However, did you know that you too can find out practically anything about a person and/or business on your own? Armed with this professional but, easy to use software, you too can use the same sources that private investigators have used for years to track, locate, background check or screen almost anyone. You'll be amazed at what you can find out with this software!
TOOLKIT MEANS TOOLS - A COMPLETE SET
The toolkit provides you with a complete "how to" guide, a large selection of tools and even databases that will aid you in just about any type of informational investigation. Not only does the kit provide you with the sources and tools that are useful in gathering information on others but it will also provide you with an organized guide to what each source can provide and where it's located.
Beware of detective type products (almost always html or text documents) that claim they will show you how do everything using the net - They simply cover their claims by providing you with links to Information Brokers!
The toolkit does provide an extensive listing of the sources that are available right on the net and they can even be accessed right from the program.
The toolkit not only provides you with a large organized listing of the sites that are available on the net but, also it provides a searchable database of all the offline public government sources that can be found throughout the United States. This database contains complete contact information, notes on each source and will even print envelopes addressed to any source that you choose.
NOT JUST INFORMATION - MANY TOOLS
Although the toolkit is well worth its small price just for the instructional information, databases and investigative sources that it provides, it also has many useful investigative software applications built right into it as well!
Track & Spy Disk Snoop Investigator's Electronic Notebook Search Utility
And this is just a small fraction of the overall package!
* Locate People - Find Almost Anyone * Tap Into Investigative Sources * Search And Make Use Of Various Government Resources * Extensive public record sources and Government resources * Visit Numerous Internet Information Sources * Know everything there is to know about the Internet underground and how you can protect yourself * And Much More!
FAR MORE THAN JUST A REPORT ON DISK OR HTML DOCUMENT!
Unlike most of the rest of the current internet detective programs available, this program does not simply provide you with a text file of resources (usually addresses and phone numbers). Nor is it simply an HTML Document with pretty pictures advertised as "software" (create your own with our Toolkit!) but rather it is a powerful WIN95/98 program that provides you with the tools necessary to locate and use the resources available on the internet right from the program!
Go through the listings, when you find something that interests you, click on it and up pops a box with an informative description about the site.
* Go Directly To A Site * Create Your Own Link Directories * Built-In Investigative Databases
OUR SOFTWARE OFFERS FEATURES THAT MAKE THE TOOLKIT A MUST FOR NOVICE AND PROFESSIONAL INVESTIGATORS ALIKE!
ALWAYS UP-TO-DATE! You never have to worry about how old the information is and whether or not it is even valid! Our program is updated approximately every third month and these updates are always FREE to anyone who has purchased the program via our download site!
Our GUARANTEE... You will NOT be disappointed with our software and to back this up we offer 100% MONEY BACK GUARANTEE!!
* * * * * * Order Today ONLY $19.95 * * * * * *
Fax this EZ Order Form to us at: 1-815-361-5230 [24 hour fax!]
We accept Visa, Mastercard, AMEX, Discover Card & Checks by Fax.
Remember!! We offer an unconditional 100% MONEY BACK GUARANTEE!!
*************** EZ Order Form ***************
_____Yes! I would like to order the TOOLKIT for $19.95* * Upon credit card approval we will immediately email you the link to download your program!
NAME ON CARD___________________________________________
AMOUNT $____________________
My Signature below authorizes the above amount to be charged to my credit card or submit a Fax-On-Demand check in the amount I have specified above.
SIGNATURE:(Required) ________________________
DATE:__________________
** Please note: Software runs on Win 95/98 [sorry no macs]. The program is mostly geared for the U.S. We do not believe it would be of value to those living elsewhere.
Please fax your order to us at: 1-815-361-5230
CHECK BY FAX SERVICES!
If you would like to fax a check, paste your check below and fax it to our office along with all forms to: 1-815-361-5230
***24 HOUR FAX SERVICES***
****************************************************** PLEASE PASTE YOUR CHECK HERE AND FAX IT TO US AT: 1-815-361-5230 *******************************************************
If you fax a check, there is no need for you to send the original check. We will draft up a new check, with the exact information from your original check. All checks will be held for bank clearance. (7-10 days) Make checks payable to: "E-Marketing"
At 07:06 PM 11/22/99 , you wrote: } Hi Gary & bystanding Microscopists ! } } Gary & I are having an unusually civil Internet Fight about The } System, how it says it works (GL), and how it actually runs (GG).
yes.
} If I get the gist of Gary's position, it is that the published RFP's } and all such announced intentions and WTB's by The Guv'mint are done } deals, put in those venues (like death notices) to satisfy legal } niceties. And that the real business of Guv'mint is done between } lobbyists, whose business it is to walk the streets of Washington, } pounding on doors & grabbing at collars, and the funding fathers. } Writers of RFP's, like the payers of taxes, are just the air & water } flowing past those high offices.
It may seem that way.
} This has a chilling parallel to Hernando de Soto's, The Other Path, } which describes how Peruvians learned to deal with their Guv'mint, } except that everyones' roles now seem to be interchanged. In Peru, } the simple folk learned simply to squat on land that was idle & unused } and then to repeat the process over & over again when evicted, until } the Guv'mint grew tired. Then they started building their own system } of government, their own infrastructure, and even their own courts. } All outside The System. Here we have a system in which all proposals, } contracts, and the like are open to public scrutiny under the Freedom } of Information Act, and Full Disclosure demands publication of RFP's } in the CBD, leading to such a barrage of proposals and reviews that } another system quietly replaces it, one in which the best ideas are } traded for funding quietly, behind the scenes.
This is not Peru. We do not dress their way nor practice cultural rituals their way. so parallels to anywhere else are irrelevant. They may be interesting but either way, they are not relevant to our own reality.
} What's needed is a new system for funding research that does away } with both the mountainous paperwork and the lobbying. My solution } was to discard any further consideration of Public Funding and to } become a Capitalist in the Free Market. Amenex did win one good } one - from the Ben Franklin fund in Pennsylvania, for an idea that } was good enough to become commercialized and which became a standard } product, copied worldwide. We lost money on it, though, but the idea } won out ... it wasn't mine, but I understood it better than the } inventor ... and it was fun to try to make the business portion of the } enterprise work. We even ended up with a new microscope out of the } deal (capital expenditures were allowed back then), so I haven't } strayed off topic that much.
OK...so what is your argument? Based on what you have said so far, I would have not have funded your SBIR.
Interestingly, there are numerous small businesses with great ideas who engage the SBIR establishment. Some of them win. Those that do generally go on to venture capital for the "big time" or fail due to poor management skills or just a plain bad idea. One key factor in most SBIRs is that small businesses are poorly managed. This does not mean that the businesses are bad. Nay. It means that the technical folks are speaking while the business folks are either absent or silent. When the dust settles, the techo-babble has worn off and the business end is lacking. Hence, no SBIR.
We are doing a lot of highly automated micrscopy and advanced image analysis here at the company. We mainly use SCIL Image 1.4 for the development of our algorithms and applications.
Although SCIL image 1.4 is a very powerful environment for developing image analysis applications, I have never seen other companies, doing microscopy, that published articles/applications in which they used this software development environment.
I have the idea that most morphologists still use packages like NIH-image. These packages are fine for doing low-volume image analysis, but lack the powerful image processing capacity of software like SCIL Image.
Besides a few Universities in the Netherlands, the amount of users seems very limited. Are there people on this list, who also use SCIL Image for their image analysis ? If there are people out there who use SCIL image 1.4, do they intend to switch to its sucessor HORUS (JAVA/C++) in the near future ?
SCIL Image 1.4 comes with an interface (SCIL) and a C-libray for image analysis (Image 2.1). When you know how to program in C, you can use SCIL Image.
Senior Scientist Medical Image Analysis Biological Imaging Laboratory Life Sciences Department I - 6065 Janssen Research Foundation Turnhoutseweg 30 B-2340 Beerse Belgium Europe
Hi Jim. Have a look at "4H Glove (TM)". They are useable for protection against a lot of very different chemicals an a rather thin (multilayer foil, not for "hard" work). From 1996 I have also this net address: www.safty4.com/guide/set_guide.htm Some of the chemical you use seem to be not on this list, but you should ask them directly.
Disclaimer: I have no financial interest of any kind in this product or company. Regards Gerhard Frank
JIM ROMANOW 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Can someone please help me determine, or direct me to a comprehensive guide } for determining, the appropriate gloves for handling each of the following } chemicals? } } Epoxy Resin } Propylene Oxide } Glutaradehyde } Formaldehyde } Acetone } Osmium Tetroxide } Ethanol } Cacodylate } Uranyl Acetate } Lead Citrate } } I have talked with our environmental health and safety officer and read the } permeation/degradation, resistance guides in our chemical and industrial } safety vendor catalogs. Some of our chemicals are not on any company's } glove guide but several of the ones that are require using a bulky heavy } duty type glove made from Viton, Butyl, Neoprene or Norfoil and best suited } for gross chemical handling. Is there a U.S. distributor for form fitting } flexible gloves made from these or equivalent materials? } } Thank you. } } James S. Romanow } The University of Connecticut } Physiology and Neurobiology Department } Electron Microscopy Facility } U-2131 } Storrs, CT 06269-2131 } bsgphy3-at-uconnvm.uconn.edu } 860 486-2914 voice } 860 486-1936 fax
-- Gerhard Frank UNIVERSITAET ERLANGEN-NUERNBERG Phone: +49 9131 85 28606 Institut fuer Werkstoffwissenschaften VII Fax: +49 9131 85 28602 Cauerstr. 6, D-91058 Erlangen, Germany frank-at-ww.uni.erlangen.de
I have a client with an urgent need of the above for some QA work on polymer films (i.e. rapid non destructive non contact measurements of thickness variations). Although it's slightly off topic, I would be interesting in hearing from ayone who could help us out, especially in Europe.
I am increasingly being asked to prepare bacterial suspension cultures (E. coli mutants, mostly) for TEM sections. Not being a bacterial person (I prefer my organisms to come in lumps that need to be cut up) I would be grateful for advice on the preferred method of processing bacterial cells, particularly in suspension cultures, but I would also be interested in tips for dealing with individual colonies on agar.
Thanks in advance Chris Jeffree ===================================================================== DR CHRIS JEFFREE BIOSEM - BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES EM FACILITY UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH Daniel Rutherford Building King's Buildings, Mayfield Road EDINBURGH, EH9 3JH, Scotland, UK Tel. #44 131 650 5345 FAX. #44 131 650 6563 Mobile 0410 585 401 email c.jeffree-at-ed.ac.uk SEM / TEM bookings sem-at-ed.ac.uk =====================================================================
I would deeply appreciate it, if you could provide me with valuable info regarding your views on ion beam thinning equipment available for TEM preparation.
In particular:
a) Does anyone has any negative strong views regarding a particular make or model?
b) Is there any make /model that you would recommend for a multiuser environment (preparation of metallic, composites and ceramic samples)?
c) Any views or experiences on support and services after purchasing of a particular model/equipment
d) Any comments on initial investment costs over the life of particular makes/models
Feel free to reply either on the list or off the list.
We inherited a Reichert-Jung Lynx el tissue processor several years ago. While it seems like a nice machine we have never used it. Free to a good home--you pay shipping. Please e-mail me directly.
Alps makes a dye sub printers which are very good. We have the MD 1300. The photo quality images are excellent, but they require the special paper and ribbons from Alps. These printer are not very expensive ( { $400), but they are relatively slow (5 to 10 minutes /print). The Epson Stylus Photo printers are much faster, but have a dottier image. Bill
William McManus Supervisor Electron Microscopy Facility Department of Biology Utah State University Logan UT 84322-5305
billEMac-at-cc.usu.edu 435-797-1920
-----Original Message----- } From: Diana van Driel [mailto:dianavd-at-eye.usyd.edu.au] Sent: Monday, November 22, 1999 7:09 PM To: MicroscopyList
I know this has been talked about quite a few times, but on checking the archives I can't find quite what I want. Nor have I been able to track down an answer on the Web. In my Dept we have a cheap Epson and a networked B&W laser, but would like to get a moderately fast, networkable photo quality printer that can also do routine colour printing. We can't afford a Pictrography, but want more than an ink jet. Are there any laser printers with photo quality? If the pics don't turn out as well as the Epson, then it's not good enough. It would be nice if the prints were long lasting and not too expensive as well! Could I have some suggestions (and approx prices) please?
Thanks all,
Diana
Diana van Driel Department of Clinical Ophthalmology Sydney University GPO Box 4337 Sydney NSW AUSTRALIA 2001
I would like to hear from any electron microscopists out there who have had personal hands on experience with the RMC Propane Jet Freezer, model MF-7200. I am considering using one to rapidly freeze cells in suspension. Any advice out there?
Thanks,
Timothy Schneider, Director of Electron Microscopy Thomas Jefferson University 215-503-4798
} Can someone please help me determine, or direct me to a comprehensive guide } for determining, the appropriate gloves for handling each of the following } chemicals? } } Epoxy Resin } Propylene Oxide } Glutaradehyde } Formaldehyde } Acetone } Osmium Tetroxide } Ethanol } Cacodylate } Uranyl Acetate } Lead Citrate } } } I have talked with our environmental health and safety officer and read the } permeation/degradation, resistance guides in our chemical and industrial } safety vendor catalogs. Some of our chemicals are not on any company's } glove guide but several of the ones that are require using a bulky heavy } duty type glove made from Viton, Butyl, Neoprene or Norfoil and best suited } for gross chemical handling. Is there a U.S. distributor for form fitting } flexible gloves made from these or equivalent materials? } } James S. Romanow
This is an important question, and we need more solid, documented information. Tobler & Freiburghaus recommend bulky, clumsy, expensive "4H" gloves for methacrylates [J. Microscopy 160:291-298(1990)], with latex in 2nd place & vinyl 3rd. Ringo, Read, & Cota-Robles [J.E.M. Technique 1:417-418(1984)] found clumsy, cheap polyethylene much better than latex in resistance to epoxy monomers, with vinyl again a poor 3rd. I've heard comments that "nitrile is good", but I haven't found any data yet. If anyone is aware of an ideal glove, I'm sure that at least one of our excellent supply houses will be happy to offer it!
Caroline Schooley Project MICRO 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/PMHomePage.html Intertidal invertebrates: http://www.fortbragg.k12.ca.us/AG/PCI/pci.html
When processing difficult to embed specimens for TEM vacuum infiltration is often recommended for the resin infiltration steps. However, a lack of specfic technical detail seems to often accompany this recommendation. Missing detail includes; What pressure should be applied for vacuum infiltration ? How long should this pressure be applied ? Should the vacuum infiltration procedure be applied to the propylene oxide/ resin steps and pure resin infiltration steps, or just to the pure resin infiltration steps ? Can applying a vacuum be useful for any other of the processing steps, for instance, primary fixation ? Is so, what pressure and how long ?
Many thanks in advance for all responses.
Allan ----------------------------------------------------------------------------= ----
Replies;
To: allan.mitchell-at-stonebow.otago.ac.nz =46rom: Steve Beck {becks-at-sunynassau.edu
Dear Allan, I usually vacuum infiltrate using a small rotary pump and a bell jar setup. During 1:1 propylene oxide/pure mixed resin (I mostly use an Epon - Araldite mixture) for an hour, I place the mixed resin (in a plastic beaker/tri-pour) under the vacuum to degas it (incredible how much air is introduced during the 15-20 minute manual mixing we do). I then take the degassed resin and using a plastic Pasteur pipette, I fill the bottom of a small Petri dish (6cm diameter?). After the hour in the 1:1 propylene oxide/resin, I use a bamboo stick to transfer tissue blocks into the Petri dish. The dish is left uncovered and placed into the bell jar and evacuated. I vacuum infiltrate for 1 hour. During this time, I place labels into my BEEM capsules and fill them to a slight negative meniscus with the degassed resin. After vacuum infiltration I use the bamboo sticks to transfer tissue blocks to the top center of the BEEM capsule filled with resin and then I place them into an incubator (48 hours -at- 60=9AC). Before polymerization, the heavy osmicated blocks sink to the tip of the BEEM capsule.
I have never had problems with air bubbles or poor embeddments with this method.
Hope this helps!
P.S. email me tomorrow if you need to know the ultimate vacuum of my rotary pump - I can get the info. when I'm in my lab!
To: allan.mitchell-at-stonebow.otago.ac.nz =46rom: L R MELSEN {lmelsen-at-emory.edu
Allan, We use this routinely for monolayers and bacterial samples. The vacuum is applied during the final 100% step fror 15 minutes, the 1:1 step 2 hour to over night, and the full strength step for 4 hours. The negative pressure is about 14lbs. on our house vacuum lines.
Regards, Skip
----------------------------------------------------------------------------= ---- To: Richard Lander {richard.lander-at-stonebow.otago.ac.nz =46rom: Mary Mager {mager-at-inch.interchange.ubc.ca
Dear Richard, My experience with vacuum infiltration is all with epoxy mounting in materials specimen prep., but it may be some help in your work.
The purpose of vacuum infiltration is to get air out of the sample and use the resultant vacuum to suck resin into the fine spaces and holes in the material. However, all the materials being used in the emedding are liquids which will boil if the pressure is dropped too low. I use a vacuum dessicator with a three-way valve connected to an old vacuum pump I don't care much about. The vapors you will be puting into the pump are quite hard on it. I put the material in epoxy molds into the dessicator, which has a clear lid. Watching carefully , I start the pump and turn the valve to start sucking on the dessicator. You will see a bit of vapor appear, then some bubbles will come up to the surface of the epoxy. Then the epoxy will start to foam slightly. At this point I turn the valve to admit air. I usually repeat this three times.
I would not use this technique on any liquid with a high vapour pressure or low boiling point, but it should work to get intimate contact between any liquid and solid.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------= ---- To: Richard Lander {richard.lander-at-stonebow.otago.ac.nz =46rom: Michael Pidgeon {pidgeon-at-hsc.usc.edu
Allan:
generally you use a gentle vacuum, 20-30 Microns for the same length of tim= e you use for standard infiltration. If you use LR White, it is not advisable to go beyond 30 minutes per change in a vacuum as it tends to begi= n polymerization. You would include any of the 1:1 dilutions of resin and propylene oxide or resin and EtOH, in the vacuum infiltration process.
Yes, vacuum can help the fixative to pentrate into stubborn specimens during primary fixation.
If you have any further questions, feel free to email me.
To: Richard Lander {richard.lander-at-stonebow.otago.ac.nz =46rom: MICHAEL DELANNOY {delannoy-at-welch.jhu.edu
Richard, we routinely do vac infilt on insect and hard to penetrate samples (bone, plant etc). We use a room temp vac oven at 15 psi with the caps open and only with pure resin (no p.o.) for a couple of hours, change plastic and infiltrate further at atmospheric pressure, change again and back to the oven for 15 psi then turn oven on to warm to 60 degrees c overnight. I have never done vac fix infiltration, but might work, I would run side by side atmospheric fix for comparsions. Let me know, good luck
------------------------------------------------------------ Allan Mitchell Technical Manager South Campus Electron Microscope Unit C/-Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology School of Medical Sciences P.O. Box 913 Dunedin New Zealand
,,, (o o) ------------------oOO-(_)-OOo----------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------- Richard Lander Electron Microscopist South Campus Electron Microscope Unit Otago School of Medical Sciences P.O. Box 913 Dunedin New Zealand. Tel. National 03 479 7301 Fax. National 03 479 7254 mailto:richard.lander-at-stonebow.otago.ac.nz http://www.otago.ac.nz/anatomy/emunit/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------
I think it worth revisiting this topic from time to time since the technology and prices seem to change fairly often in this very competitive market.
For what it is worth, I just bought a Hewlett Packard 970Cxi ($399), their latest business-class inkjet printer and it does a very nice job on high quality paper--better than the Epson's IMHO. It is also fast and networkable. Publication quality? I'll let you know soon.
Gary P. Radice gradice-at-richmond.edu Associate Professor of Biology 804 289 8107 (voice) University of Richmond 804 289 8233 (FAX) Richmond VA 23173 http://www.science.richmond.edu/~radice
At 9:42 AM -0500 11/23/99, Timothy Schneider wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
************* Try Leica, they have the rights.
Leona Cohen-Gould, M.S. Sr. Staff Associate Director, Electron Microscopy Core Facility Manager, Confocal Microscopy Core Facility Joan & Sanford I. Weill Medical College of Cornell University voice (212)746-6146 fax (212)746-8175
} For details of PPE (personal protective equipment) I sometimes find the } websites of manufacturers or suppliers useful, for example: } } http://www.marigoldindustrial.com/range/index.html } } Robert H.Olley } J.J.Thomson Physical Laboratory } University of Reading
Dr. Olley -
The website that you cite reinforces my call for specific information. It emphasizes protecting products from the glove wearer, and provides no specific information on the protection provided TO the wearer. The other catalog references suggested by others today are just as uninformative. We work with chemicals (resin monomers are a good example) that will penetrate many gloves, and we work at a small scale so the original inquiry for something that fits well is reasonable. 4H gloves are resistant, but they're clumsy (and expensive); does anyone have specific information about an alternative?
Caroline
Caroline Schooley Project MICRO 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/PMHomePage.html Intertidal invertebrates: http://www.fortbragg.k12.ca.us/AG/PCI/pci.html
I am getting in on this thread late, so I hope I'm not rehashing old points here, or re-stating the obvious.
The recommended gloves for some of these chemicals makes dexterity difficult or non-existent.
I applaud your efforts to get the appropriate chemical resistance in your personal protective equipment (PPE). However, be careful of over-kill. In our use of many of the chemicals that you mention, we use nothing more than two layers of 4 or 8 mil nitrile gloves. However, we take extra care to engineer our lab procedures to minimize potential exposure, and potential duration of exposure. For example in many cases, we do not pour the solution or solvent, but instead we draw it from a container with a blunt end pipette or syringe. The chemical compatibility charts are assuming full submersion and are rated based on the gloves time to permeation/deterioration and even break-through. We rarely have a lab procedure that requires any chemical contact with the gloves. And often, using the planned precautions, we opt for use of a thinner, higher dexterity glove that may give less than a maximum level of protection, but then we use frequent checks and changes of the gloves to prevent permeation or break-through. This allows us to continue to work safely with dexterity, handling the nasty chemicals. Sometimes the PPE can be so cumbersome that the materials can no longer be handled safely, or in other words, the PPE may become the "real hazard". We use experimental design to minimize the risk, and the need for maximum protection, then go to the charts to determine the level of protection required. Good Luck Brad
} Can someone please help me determine, or direct me to a comprehensive guide } for determining, the appropriate gloves for handling each of the following } chemicals? } } Epoxy Resin } Propylene Oxide } Glutaradehyde } Formaldehyde } Acetone } Osmium Tetroxide } Ethanol } Cacodylate } Uranyl Acetate } Lead Citrate } } I have talked with our environmental health and safety officer and read the } permeation/degradation, resistance guides in our chemical and industrial } safety vendor catalogs. Some of our chemicals are not on any company's } glove guide but several of the ones that are require using a bulky heavy } duty type glove made from Viton, Butyl, Neoprene or Norfoil and best suited } for gross chemical handling. Is there a U.S. distributor for form fitting } flexible gloves made from these or equivalent materials? } } Thank you. } } James S. Romanow
Nestor, I know you declared a truce but I'm sorry I feel I have to do this to "clear" my name/reputation.
I have been watching the board amazed at the reaction by everyone to my request for a specialist. For those of you who know me, it is a sincere attempt to find a qualified individual. Yes it is very specific. No, it is not a "bag job".
I am aware of a few groups around the world who do this sort of work and I was honestly trying to elicit a response from those individuals. I did contact several of those people directly but felt that the board represents a unique opportunity to reach out to those who may no longer be associated with the respective research groups. I was always under the impression that this was one of the major advantages of the board and premise for it's existence. I'm sorry that I have caused this level of "needless" discussion on the database.
We are interested in recommendations for a hotstage for a light microscope. If there is cooling capabilities that will be an added plus, if it doesn't compromise the heating function. Our Mettler FP5 finally failed after faithfully servicing us for 25 years. We have looked at the Mettler FP82, seen the Linkam and heard about an Instec (HCS600). Any experience with these would be appreciated. Vendors are welcome to contact me directly at: GaroneL-at-Polaroid.com Thanks, Lynne Garone Polaroid Corp.
I am seeking out a replacement keyboard for a Bio-Rad Digilab 3240 SPC FTIR. Our keyboard has been gradually dying over the last few months and I am hoping somebody out there has one that I might be able to convince them to sell. The system is vintage early to mid 80's (I think) so perhaps there exists one in an instrument graveyard/backroom? The system is not PC based and the keyboard has a variety of peculiarities that would seem to preclude the use of a standard keyboard (function keys and built in joystick for starters). All suggestions happily entertained.
Thanks to everyone in advance, Doug Seitz
Engis Corporation Wheeling, IL 60090
"The opinions expressed above are mine and mine alone...for who else would own up to them?"
As always seems to be the case, I end up reserving more rooms than I end = up needing. It also seems that many of you are looking for hotel rooms at t= he last minute. With that in mind, I do have 3 rooms available for the Marriott at Copley Place for arrival November 27 and departure December 3= . =
The rates are approx. $130 Single, $145/double. These are currently reserved as king bed rooms. If anyone would like to "claim" these rooms before I cancel my reservations, please email me ASAP. I will cancel my reservation on Wednesday night so, if you need them, let me know now! Yo= u may be able to switch them to rooms with 2 double beds, but no guarantees=
I am aiming to preserve and visualise oils in the rind of orange fruit during tissue processing for LM and TEM examination.
I am currently using an osmium postfix with glut/para fixation, acetone dehydration, epon araldite embedding. Sudan Black B stain is used for LM and UA and LC for TEM.
Cryo techniques may be an option - I have trialled cryofixation (slam) and freeze substitution, but need to include osmium in the method or a lipid stain (?) to visualise the oil under TEM.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, cheers.
At 12:36 PM 11/23/99 , you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Ink jets are nice but not the end-all. Dye sublimation is best. But it is not cheap. Laser color is a good compromise. The new HP Color LaserJet 4500 is rather good. it does raster and Postscript. I'm seeing prices between $1500 and $2000 without a network card. You might want to check this out. QMS also has a nice color laser printer. the pricing is in the same ballpark.
I compare these to my Kodak DS 8650 PS dye sublimation printer. This is a high standard. the lasers do a good job. I tend to prefer the HP.
I am looking at the rind oils of orange fruit with LM and TEM.
I am currently using an osmium postfix with glut/para fixation, acetone dehydration, epon araldite embedding. Sudan Black B stain is used for LM and UA and LC for TEM.
Cryo techniques may be an option - I have trialled cryofixation (slam) and freeze substitution, but need to include osmium in the method or a lipid stain (?) to visualise the oil under TEM.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, cheers.
} -----------------------------------------------------------------------= - } } 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: } } I am looking for contact information (web site or phone #) for LKB } ultramicrotomes and related equipment. } } Thanks, } } Timothy Schneider, Director of Electron Microscopy } Thomas Jefferson University } 215-503-4798
LKB do not exist anymore. The service for LKB ultramicrotomes is run by Leica, at least in Germany, but I think worldwide and they might give you the information.
-- Dr. Anne Heller, AG Elektronenmikroskopie, Institut f=FCr Botanik (210), Universit=E4t Hohenheim, Garbenstra=DFe 30 D-70593 Stuttgart
I would rinse the bacteria (from broth culture) in a buffer they like, spin, fix and pellet in an Eppendorf. Usually the bacteria will stay in visible clumps which settle rapidly and can be treated in the same way as tissue.
Dave
On Tue, 23 Nov 1999 11:04:45 +0000 Chris Jeffree {cjeffree-at-srv0.bio.ed.ac.uk} wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Dear All } } I am increasingly being asked to prepare bacterial suspension } cultures (E. coli mutants, mostly) for TEM sections. } Not being a bacterial person (I prefer my organisms to come in } lumps that need to be cut up) I would be grateful for advice on the } preferred method of processing bacterial cells, particularly in } suspension cultures, but I would also be interested in tips for } dealing with individual colonies on agar. } } Thanks in advance } Chris Jeffree } ===================================================================== } DR CHRIS JEFFREE } BIOSEM - BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES EM FACILITY } UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH } Daniel Rutherford Building } King's Buildings, Mayfield Road } EDINBURGH, EH9 3JH, Scotland, UK } Tel. #44 131 650 5345 } FAX. #44 131 650 6563 } Mobile 0410 585 401 } email c.jeffree-at-ed.ac.uk } SEM / TEM bookings sem-at-ed.ac.uk } ===================================================================== }
---------------------------------------- Patton, David Email: David.Patton-at-uwe.ac.uk "University of the West of England"
Mostly we aim to stain the specimen, rather than the resin, but I have a particular problem where the specimen cannot be stained, but might become visible in negative contrast. Does anyone know of a neat way of staining the RESIN in a TEM section so that it becomes electron dense and provides negative contrast? Alternatively, is there an electron dense resin that can be used for TEM, or is there a way of making a standard epoxy resin mix somewhat more electron-dense than normal?
Chris Jeffree ===================================================================== DR CHRIS JEFFREE BIOSEM - BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES EM FACILITY UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH Daniel Rutherford Building King's Buildings, Mayfield Road EDINBURGH, EH9 3JH, Scotland, UK Tel. #44 131 650 5345 FAX. #44 131 650 6563 Mobile 0410 585 401 email c.jeffree-at-ed.ac.uk SEM / TEM bookings sem-at-ed.ac.uk =====================================================================
Instead of using acetone for dehydration try acidified dimethoxypropane. It is a chemical dehydration and for small pieces of plant material 15 min dehydration is usuallly enough.
If you want to use cryo techniques. Start to substitute in acetone at -80, repalce acetone with new acetone containing 1% OsO4 and raise the temperature to -50 - -40. It is essential that the acetone OsO4 mixture is kept below -60 until you raise the temperature. Leave the tissue in the mix for more than 2 h and embedd in Lowicryl.
Using this technique you should be able to retain the lipids in the tissue.
Bo
Toby Knight wrote: } I am looking at the rind oils of orange fruit with LM and TEM. } } I am currently using an osmium postfix with glut/para fixation, acetone } dehydration, epon araldite embedding. Sudan Black B stain is used for LM } and UA and LC for TEM. } } Cryo techniques may be an option - I have trialled cryofixation (slam) } and freeze substitution, but need to include osmium in the method or a } lipid stain (?) to visualise the oil under TEM. } } Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, cheers. } } -------------------------------------------------------- } Toby Knight } PhD student } Email: tknight-at-waite.adelaide.edu.au } --------------------------------------------------------
The tombac of the anticontamination device of our Siemens Elmsikop 102 TEM is defect. It generates a microleak and the TEM is out of order.
We are looking for a complete anticontamination device (cooling finger + cooling vessel) for this kind of microscope (Elmiskop 102).
Can anyone help us ?
Thanks in advance
Philippe Drouillon Solvay Research and Technology Electron Microscopy and Image Analysis - Coordinateur Informatique de Division Rue de Ransbeek, 310 B-1120 Brussels (Belgium) phone : (00 32) 2 264 24 47 mailto:philippe.drouillon-at-solvay.com
To All, I am interested in hearing from those of you who can offer me some suggestions on the sectioning of papers, specifically coated papers or those papers upon which wet (ink-jet inks) or dry (toner) forms of printing have been completed.
Typically we overcoat the paper surface, i.e. sputter a film of metal then embed the paper sample in epoxy. Afterwards we have prepared thick sections (0.5 - 0.8 microns) without water in the boat using either a glass or diamond knife followed by examination using a light microscope. To examine these samples using the TEM requires thinner and non-distorted sections. Obviously sectioning with water in the boat swells the paper, possibly interfering with the coating on the paper.
Anyone having experience in this area or that can offer suggestions I would appreciate hearing from.
Regards, Paul
Paul J. Gerroir Microscopy Materials Characterization Xerox Research Centre of Canada 2660 Speakman Drive Mississauga, Ontario L5K 2L1
To anyone that is interested in Propane Jet Freezers formerly manufactured under the RMC brand.
These are now manufactured by Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.
The NEW JF-8000 will be at the Cell Biology meeting in Washington, D.C. on December 12-15, booth 567. Al Coritz, cryoproducts Product Manager will be in attendance to answer questions.
Ventana Medical purchased RMC in October 1998, all manufacturing, marketing and servicing is now conducted by Ventana. For complete literature and specifications please contact me.
Steven W. Miller North American Sales Manager Microscopy Group Ventana Medical Systems, Inc. 3865 N. Business Center Dr. Tucson, AZ 85705 Smiller-at-Ventanamed.com Phone: 520-690-2753 Fax: 520-690-3580 Web site: www.Ventanamed.com look for the Ventana/RMC link on the bottom of the Home Page.
I have the electronics, terminal, and camera for a Kevex uX-system7000. If you want it, then drop me a line. The detector is not up for grabs.
Pickup......it is yours
Jim
********************************************************* Dr. Jim Quinn jquinn-at-doL1.eng.sunysb.edu Materials Science 631-632-6663 FAX:8052 SUNY at Stony Brook http://doL1.eng.sunysb.edu/ Stony Brook, New York 11794 - 2275 *********************************************************
Dear George, I have had the VCR Ion Mill for five years now. I have been very pleased with it and it always gives me excellent service. It has both ion and atom modes and other components available for reactive ion milling. It has a third ion gun for termination, which has proved valuable for terminating samples with optically transparent components e.g. Al2O3 in Al. I have always gotten quick and correct response from the company to solve any problems and we have been very happy with the experience. I thin metal matrix composites, clean the oxide off of electropolished samples, thin rocks for Geology and thin semi-conductors. The VCR company has been joined with the South Bay recently, but the people from VCR are now with South Bay, so the quality and service should remain the same. At 12:39 PM 11/23/99 +0000, you wrote: } } Dear Colleagues } } I would deeply appreciate it, if you could provide me with valuable info regarding your views on ion beam thinning equipment available for TEM preparation. } } In particular: } } a) Does anyone has any negative strong views regarding a particular make or model? } } b) Is there any make /model that you would recommend for a multiuser environment (preparation of metallic, composites and ceramic samples)? } } c) Any views or experiences on support and services after purchasing of a particular model/equipment } } d) Any comments on initial investment costs over the life of particular makes/models } } } Feel free to reply either on the list or off the list. } } } I would deeply appreciate your valued comments. } } } Regards } } } George } 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 e-mail: mager-at-interchg.ubc.ca
microscopy in a Neuroscience Lab. Duties to include: ultrathin serial sectioning; serial section analysis using electron microscope; post-embedding immunocytochemistry; photography-developing and processing of prints; stock supplies, keep inventory; develop new techniques: conduct literature searches; test alter and implement new methods to improve lab procedures and maximize productivity; requires results/data interpretation; will provide training to research personnel in photographic and electron microscopic techniques; the individual will assist in the preparation of scientific paper for publication; will independently: prepare tissue for electron micrographic examination, examining tissue, analyzing data, and preparing data for publication. Comply with governmental regulation and University policies regarding health and safety and observe and support health and safety practices including those specifically related to the work environment.
QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor's degree in a related field is required; master's degree preferred; plus 3 years of applicable experience. Must be able to work effectively in a team and independently. Must exercise considerable judgement, initiative, and resourcefulness. Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs. Fluent in written and verbal English. Basic knowledge in use of personal computers, photographic equipment, and electron and light microscopes.
Salary range: $3404-4544. Exempt. New position. For more information email Dr. Buckmaster at pbs-at-leland.stanford.edu
Send resumes to:
Dr. Paul Buckmaster Department of Comparative Medicine Building 330, Quad 7, RAF-1 Stanford University Stanford, CA 94305
Chris, While I don't do TEM work, I have used several epoxies in other applications. There are brominated equivalents used with or instead of the Shell Epon series (for flame retardant purposes) and I have used some from Great Lakes Chemical, I think they are at 317-497-6100, Lafayette, IN, USA. Perhaps someone there may be able to suggest a brominated epoxy that will "drop into" your epoxy protocol (EEW numbers would be a good start) assuming bromine is heavy enough for your application.
Dave Audette OSRAM Sylvania 71 Cherry Hill Drive Beverly, MA 01915 david.audette-at-sylvania.com
I don't have any interest in Great Lakes Chemical etc.
} -----Original Message----- } From: Chris Jeffree [SMTP:cjeffree-at-srv0.bio.ed.ac.uk] } Sent: Wednesday, November 24, 1999 6:18 AM } To: microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } Subject: Electron dense resins?? } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Mostly we aim to stain the specimen, rather than the resin, but I } have a particular problem where the specimen cannot be stained, } but might become visible in negative contrast. } Does anyone know of a neat way of staining the RESIN in a TEM } section so that it becomes electron dense and provides negative } contrast? Alternatively, is there an electron dense resin that can } be used for TEM, or is there a way of making a standard epoxy } resin mix somewhat more electron-dense than normal? } } Chris Jeffree } ===================================================================== } DR CHRIS JEFFREE } BIOSEM - BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES EM FACILITY } UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH } Daniel Rutherford Building } King's Buildings, Mayfield Road } EDINBURGH, EH9 3JH, Scotland, UK } Tel. #44 131 650 5345 } FAX. #44 131 650 6563 } Mobile 0410 585 401 } email c.jeffree-at-ed.ac.uk } SEM / TEM bookings sem-at-ed.ac.uk } =====================================================================
I was pleased to see the posting by Mary Mager and to read her kind words= . =
As she said, VCR Group has been acquired by South Bay Technology and we a= re now producing the XLA 2000 Ion Mill (as well as the DIMPLER=AE and the Io= n Beam Sputter Deposition and Etching System). =
We are actually offering two ion milling systems that may be of interest:=
1) IV3 Low Energy Ion Milling System This system offers 2 guns (gun #1 2-10kV; Gun #2 200V to 2kV) and reduce= s or eliminates amorphous damage to samples through *effective* low energy milling without compromising overall milling rates.
2) XLA 2000 Ion Milling System (formerly produced by VCR Group, inc.) This is a computer controlled system offering a 3 gun configuration, faraday cup termination, LN2 cooling etc. Ideal for multi-user installations.
They both have unique features which distinguish them from any other systems on the market and are well worth your consideration.
I will contact you off-line with more details and I encourage anyone else=
who has an interest in ion milling systems to contact me off-line for additional information.
} } } } } 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 "G. Fourlaris" } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America =
Dear Colleagues
I would deeply appreciate it, if you could provide me with valuable info regarding your views on ion beam thinning equipment available for TEM preparation.
In particular:
a) Does anyone has any negative strong views regarding a particular make = or model?
b) Is there any make /model that you would recommend for a multiuser environment (preparation of metallic, composites and ceramic samples)?
c) Any views or experiences on support and services after purchasing of a=
particular model/equipment
d) Any comments on initial investment costs over the life of particular makes/models
Feel free to reply either on the list or off the list.
I have had good results recently with a stage that cools and heats made by: Brooks Industries 25570 Lehman Blvd. Lake Villa, Il 60046-6300
847-356-1045
} We are interested in recommendations for a hotstage for a light microscope. } If there is cooling capabilities that will be an added plus, if it doesn't } compromise the heating function. Our Mettler FP5 finally failed after } faithfully servicing us for 25 years. We have looked at the Mettler FP82, } seen the Linkam and heard about an Instec (HCS600). Any experience with } these would be appreciated. } Vendors are welcome to contact me directly at: } GaroneL-at-Polaroid.com } Thanks, } Lynne Garone } Polaroid Corp.
Larry D. Ackerman Lily & Yuh Nung Jan Laboratories Howard Hughes Medical Institute UCSF, Box 0725, Rm U226 533 Parnassus Ave. San Francisco, CA 94143
You could try dehydrating with Aquembed from Ladd. It's very expensive and a little awkward to use, but it will leave oils untouched - it's a water-miscible epoxy resin. You can also embed in it, but it makes a rather soft block. For your purposes soft may be good, of course. Hope this helps.
Lesley Weston.
On Wed, 24 Nov 1999, Toby Knight 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, } } I am aiming to preserve and visualise oils in the rind of orange fruit } during tissue processing for LM and TEM examination. } } I am currently using an osmium postfix with glut/para fixation, acetone } dehydration, epon araldite embedding. Sudan Black B stain is used for LM } and UA and LC for TEM. } } Cryo techniques may be an option - I have trialled cryofixation (slam) } and freeze substitution, but need to include osmium in the method or a } lipid stain (?) to visualise the oil under TEM. } } Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, cheers. } } -------------------------------------------------------- } Toby Knight } PhD student } Email: tknight-at-waite.adelaide.edu.au } -------------------------------------------------------- } } }
Chris, You might try adding lead methacrylate, or other similar organo-metalic, to an epoxy such as Spurrs, which worked for us years ago. It would likely work as well, if not better, with the present day acrylics. Don Strickler published a paper (I believe in Om Johari's SEM journal, 1980's?), in which he described this technique to increase the electron density of Spurrs in order to enhance contrast of embedded coal particles.
Regards,
Phil Swab Engineering Development Deposition Sciences Inc. Santa Rosa, CA 707-566-3718 phil.swab-at-depsci.com
-----Original Message----- } From: Chris Jeffree [SMTP:cjeffree-at-srv0.bio.ed.ac.uk] Sent: Wednesday, November 24, 1999 3:18 AM To: microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com
Mostly we aim to stain the specimen, rather than the resin, but I have a particular problem where the specimen cannot be stained, but might become visible in negative contrast. Does anyone know of a neat way of staining the RESIN in a TEM section so that it becomes electron dense and provides negative contrast? Alternatively, is there an electron dense resin that can be used for TEM, or is there a way of making a standard epoxy resin mix somewhat more electron-dense than normal?
Chris Jeffree ===================================================================== DR CHRIS JEFFREE BIOSEM - BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES EM FACILITY UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH Daniel Rutherford Building King's Buildings, Mayfield Road EDINBURGH, EH9 3JH, Scotland, UK Tel. #44 131 650 5345 FAX. #44 131 650 6563 Mobile 0410 585 401 email c.jeffree-at-ed.ac.uk SEM / TEM bookings sem-at-ed.ac.uk =====================================================================
Years ago, I made up my own doped epoxy by dissolving some Iodaform in the resin before polymerization. After that, I just used the resin like the stock stuff. I don't know but what the brominated stuff might be made with bromoform. I was working from an article in the mid 80s that described using the heavy epoxy to give BSE contrast with coal in the SEM.
Its a fairly simple process, but you want to take precautions around the stuff. It is a little nasty.
Warren S.
At 01:02 PM 11/24/1999 -0500, you wrote:
} Chris, } While I don't do TEM work, I have used several epoxies in other } applications. There are brominated equivalents used with or instead of the } Shell Epon series (for flame retardant purposes) and I have used some from } Great Lakes Chemical, I think they are at 317-497-6100, Lafayette, IN, USA. } Perhaps someone there may be able to suggest a brominated epoxy that will } "drop into" your epoxy protocol (EEW numbers would be a good start) assuming } bromine is heavy enough for your application. } } Dave Audette } OSRAM Sylvania } 71 Cherry Hill Drive } Beverly, MA 01915 } david.audette-at-sylvania.com } } I don't have any interest in Great Lakes Chemical etc. } } } -----Original Message----- } } From: Chris Jeffree [SMTP:cjeffree-at-srv0.bio.ed.ac.uk] } } Sent: Wednesday, November 24, 1999 6:18 AM } } To: microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } } Subject: Electron dense resins?? } } } } Mostly we aim to stain the specimen, rather than the resin, but I } } have a particular problem where the specimen cannot be stained, } } but might become visible in negative contrast. } } Does anyone know of a neat way of staining the RESIN in a TEM } } section so that it becomes electron dense and provides negative } } contrast? Alternatively, is there an electron dense resin that can } } be used for TEM, or is there a way of making a standard epoxy } } resin mix somewhat more electron-dense than normal? } } } } Chris Jeffree } } ===================================================================== } } DR CHRIS JEFFREE } } BIOSEM - BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES EM FACILITY } } UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH
} --- } } I think it worth revisiting this topic from time to time since the } technology and prices seem to change fairly often in this } very competitive market. } } For what it is worth, I just bought a Hewlett Packard } 970Cxi ($399), their latest business-class inkjet printer } and it does a very nice job on high quality paper--better } than the Epson's IMHO. ...
I have no doubts as to your perceptions as to quality, ... indeed I have an HP too and I'm happy with the quality. However, something I realized soon after, when I started investigating archive quality paper and inks (e.g., fade resistent } 50y), is that the ONLY desktop printers supported are the Epsons ... and apparently that hasn't changed. (... hoping someone will let me know differently ...)
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 have seen $199 epson printers that I needed a glass to tell from real photos. But now I need a glass to read the fine print on the medicine bottle:{
} From what I know of color chemistry from photography in the printing industry the only thing remotely perminate is Cibacrome and Kodacrome. I am sure there are some other crome proscess that are the equal. Unless there is somingting i am unaware of there is nothing in the color printer that comes close to being archival. A quick test is to make a print and tape it to a south facing window and compair to a fresh print in two weeks. If you can't tell the differnce it is worth further investigation.
Form my own experinace of about 50 years of photgraphs even Kodacrome has problems. looking at my grandmothers negitives and prints from 100 years ago they are as good as can be done with the same materials today.
The only thing I would trust to be truly archival are seleinum toned black and white seperation negitives. Digital CDROMs that were copied every few years would be my second choice. Digital methods can be archival but the method for storage, test, review and remastering are still in the developmental stages. The principle is simple the exicution complex and subject to human error.
The cheapest safest method I would consider right now is to use a slide printer to print seperations to afga 25, Tmax 100 or tech pan listed in the order of their ease of use and inversly in the order ot their resolution. Litho film could be used as well but it is even touchier to use but most accurate in its depection of the results you would see in a conventionaly printed journal. It would take some tinkering with the exposures to get it right. I would also use fresh mixed developer for every batch. That is what makes agfa 25 and Rodinal almost fail safe. Any reasonably careful person that can follow instructions can make this work after the method has been worked out. It is about the same material my grand mother used except the film is about 30 years newer.
Practiacly I think 2 CD ROMs other than the working copies stored in seprate places as the safest digital method. The technolodgy will develop for arciving them and storing them in two seperat places will out wit the biggest danger to archives, fire.
Back ups are neither easy or convenient. Overtime I have left them to some one else I have been disappointed. In fact I made a living one year reconstructing oil field reports from trashed disk. Fortunately we aren't using Radio Shack Model 3 and Scripsit to store data any more:)
Good luck Gordon
Gordon Couger gcouger-at-couger.com
Stillwater, OK www.couger.com/gcouger 405 624-2855 GMT -6:00 www.couger.com/gcouger
} } I think it worth revisiting this topic from time to time since the } } technology and prices seem to change fairly often in this } } very competitive market. } } } } For what it is worth, I just bought a Hewlett Packard } } 970Cxi ($399), their latest business-class inkjet printer } } and it does a very nice job on high quality paper--better } } than the Epson's IMHO. ... } } I have no doubts as to your perceptions as to quality, ... } indeed I have an HP too and I'm happy with the quality. However, } something I realized soon after, when I started investigating } archive quality paper and inks (e.g., fade resistent } 50y), is } that the ONLY desktop printers supported are the Epsons ... and } apparently that hasn't changed. (... hoping someone will let me } know differently ...) } } cheerios, shAf }
Is the need to protect you from bathing in the stuff or accidental spills. I know people that have handled a good part of the stuff bare handed for years with no ill result. It makes sense to wear gloves and rub you hands with a barriar cream with the exeption of Osmium Tetroxide, Cacodylate and Uranyl Acetate that I don't know about the rest are fairly safe if you wash them off quickly. and I have comsumed a liter of ethanol diluted 4 to 6 with water and outher impurities every month for years. You can develop a alergy to epoxy but I would be more worried about breating it than getting it on my hands.
I am not saying you don't need to be as safe as you can but I am annoyed by the safety Nazi's that put Ethanol and Osmium Tetroxide in the same grouping.
Gordon
Gordon Couger gcouger-at-couger.com
Stillwater, OK www.couger.com/gcouger 405 624-2855 GMT -6:00 www.couger.com/gcouger
} } } Can someone please help me determine, or direct me to a comprehensive guide } } for determining, the appropriate gloves for handling each of the following } } chemicals? } } } } Epoxy Resin } } Propylene Oxide } } Glutaradehyde } } Formaldehyde } } Acetone } } Osmium Tetroxide } } Ethanol } } Cacodylate } } Uranyl Acetate } } Lead Citrate } } } }
Thre reference below may be of interest to yourself and other readers. The use of triphenybismuth seems to be of more general interest: from what I have been able to find out it is of extremely low toxicity, as electron-dense materials go.
The "main" author is J.Smid of Syracuse, NY, who makes a speciality of putting bismuth in things, even as a monomer co-polymerizable with styrene and acrylates. If someone has the interest, a suitable compound of bismuth (the heaviest non-radioactive element, and less toxic generally than lead) might be useable in micro applications to replace uranyl acetate.
*} TI: RADIOPAQUE EPOXY-RESINS AU: CHATTERJEE_G, CABASSO_I, SMID_J NA: SUNY SYRACUSE,COLL ENVIRONM SCI & FORESTRY,FAC CHEM,POLYMER RES INST,SYRACUSE,NY,13210 JN: JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, 1995, Vol.55, No.6, pp.851-856 IS: 0021-8995 DT: Article AB: Transparent, X-ray contrast (radiopaque) epoxy resins were obtained by dissolving up to 25 wt % triphenylbismuth in the commercial epoxy resin prepolymers EPON-815, DER-330, DER-383, and DEN-431 which were then hardened with diethylenetriamine. The radiopacities of the...
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Robert H.Olley Phone: | | J.J.Thomson Physical Laboratory {direct line +44 (0) 118 9318572 | | University of Reading {University internal extension 7867 | | Whiteknights Fax +44 (0) 118 9750203 | | Reading RG6 6AF Email: R.H.Olley-at-reading.ac.uk | | England URL: http://www.reading.ac.uk/~spsolley | +------------------------------------------------------------------------+
I posted a comment on the permanence of Epson prints during the summer. To summarise - the prints are decidedly fugitive, even on the expensive glossy papers, and will fade noticeably *even in subdued light* within six months to a year. They are probably not much good for binding into a PhD thesis, for example. Lyson are marketing long-life inks and archival media for Epson printers which may help solve this problem. Check them out on
http://www.marrutt.com
However, Gordon's point is well taken. Cibachrome is probably the most permanent colour print medium currently available. Chris Jeffree } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 seen $199 epson printers that I needed a glass to } tell from real photos. But now I need a glass to read the } fine print on the medicine bottle:{ } } } From what I know of color chemistry from photography in the } printing industry the only thing remotely perminate is Cibacrome } and Kodacrome. I am sure there are some other crome proscess } that are the equal. Unless there is somingting i am unaware of } there is nothing in the color printer that comes close to being } archival. A quick test is to make a print and tape it to a south } facing window and compair to a fresh print in two weeks. If you } can't tell the differnce it is worth further investigation.
===================================================================== DR CHRIS JEFFREE BIOSEM - BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES EM FACILITY UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH Daniel Rutherford Building King's Buildings, Mayfield Road EDINBURGH, EH9 3JH, Scotland, UK Tel. #44 131 650 5345 FAX. #44 131 650 6563 Mobile 0410 585 401 email c.jeffree-at-ed.ac.uk SEM / TEM bookings sem-at-ed.ac.uk =====================================================================
The Microscopy Center at Lehigh University wishes to hire a person who has computing and electronic skills to work with electron Microscopes. Training on the electron microscopes will be given if needed. The formal job description may be found on our website at www.lehigh.edu/'inhro/jobs.html. We are looking for a person with general computer skills (software and hardware familiarity with Windows system and Macs) and preferably with some electronics skills (general maintenance and repair of power supplies and other circuits). The person appointed will work with two other staff members to maintain and operate the electron microscopes of the center; will train students in the use of the microscopes and other equipment; will assist the Department of Materials Science and Engineering in it computer needs; will develop remote control systems for the electronic microscopes and, in general will handle a variety of related problems. Lehigh University offers a generous benefit package and competitive salary. Send resume and letter of interest along with salary requirements and references to Jennifer Mohney, Human Resources, 428 Brodhead Avenue, Bethlehem, Pa 18015 EOE/AA Jennifer Mohney HR Associate: Employment
} I have seen $199 epson printers that I needed a glass to } tell from real photos. But now I need a glass to read the } fine print on the medicine bottle:{ } } } From what I know of color chemistry from photography in the } printing industry the only thing remotely perminate is Cibacrome } and Kodacrome. I am sure there are some other crome proscess } that are the equal. Unless there is somingting i am unaware of } there is nothing in the color printer that comes close to being } archival. A quick test is to make a print and tape it to a south } facing window and compair to a fresh print in two weeks. If you } can't tell the differnce it is worth further investigation.
[snip]
Printing digital images can be done in a number of ways. We know about laser printer, ink jets and so forth. If the image is b/w grey scale, then a laser printer is a good choice. There are better but more costly alternatives.
If the image is color, then I think that the best (quality, longevity) is the dye sublimation printer and the type made by Kodak with the Xtralife media. The following URL discusses image fading with other types of media and shows how the Kodak media does not fade, or at least greatly resists fading.
For my color output, I use the Type 1.5 media, Xtralife 3 color, 8-1/2" x 12". This allows a full 8x10 print to be made. The print is photographic quality. Considering the cost of media and ribbon, each printed page costs about $1.95. If I don't care about longevity or just want a good color print for reference, I use the HP Color Laserjet 4500 in Postscript mode. It is 600dpi and does a very good job. Cost per page is about 25 cents or less, depending on color content and type of paper used.
The difference between photographic quality dye sublimation prints and those from Cibachrome/Ilfochrome is that these chrome prints have accentuated contrast and higher color saturation. The dye sublimation prints are more realistic and have higher fidelity to the original image file. The other issue is that the only way I know of obtaining chrome prints is make a master E-6 slide, since the chrome is a direct positive from a positive color slide.
Paul J. Gerroir wrote: ================================================= To All, I am interested in hearing from those of you who can offer me some suggestions on the sectioning of papers, specifically coated papers or those papers upon which wet (ink-jet inks) or dry (toner) forms of printing have been completed.
Typically we overcoat the paper surface, i.e. sputter a film of metal then embed the paper sample in epoxy. Afterwards we have prepared thick sections (0.5 - 0.8 microns) without water in the boat using either a glass or diamond knife followed by examination using a light microscope. To examine these samples using the TEM requires thinner and non-distorted sections. Obviously sectioning with water in the boat swells the paper, possibly interfering with the coating on the paper.
Anyone having experience in this area or that can offer suggestions I would appreciate hearing from. ======================================================== We have been doing these kinds of samples in the analytical services side of our business since the mid-1970's. The exact approach might be tempered by the nature of the substrate paper, presence and amount of clay coating, presence and amount of resin binders, and also the type of ink. The surface definitely has to be passivated, otherwise the ink and binder can dissolve off in the embedding resin. We use only diamond knife ultramicrotomy, for the passivation layer, Pt is sometimes better than gold because of a lower tendency to be smeared by the knife. If the dense layer from the metal interferes with surface observations of ink pigment, we switch to an Al coating by vacuum evaporation.
We use our own SPI-Pon™ 812 resin but some of the other "Epon® substitute" resin systems probably would work just as well. We have never been able to do these with glass knives, so only diamond knives (SPI Materials Science) are used. These are 45° knives. Obviously other knives would work but most other "materials science" knives tend to come standard with 55° angles. A more "blunt" edge on these kinds of samples generally produces too much compression, or at least that has been our experience. The sections are done cryo and picked up "dry". The only drawback of this approach is that the sections tend to be a bit thicker than if done at RT but there is a marked reduction in artifacts. There tends to be more than enough contrast present so the reduced contrast due to the thicker sections tend not to be too much of a problem.
If the paper substrate is especially porous, then a vacuum embedding is needed but we don't do that unless it turns out to be necessary.
Disclaimer: Structure Probe, Inc., the laboratory services part of our firm , does this kind of work on a purchase order basis for clients as a laboratory service. SPI Supplies offers the embedding resins and diamond knives mentioned in this posting.
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.spi.cc ######################## ============================================
Does anywone know of a reference showing apoptotic epithelial cells? I'm looking for same in some tissues but need to be sure of the morphology to expect.
} } If the image is color, then I think that the best (quality, longevity) is } the dye sublimation printer and the type made by Kodak with the } Xtralife media. The following URL discusses image fading with } other types of media and shows how the Kodak media does not fade, } or at least greatly resists fading. } } http://www.kodak.com/global/en/professional/products/printers/dyeSub/fading .shtml } } For my color output, I use the Type 1.5 media, Xtralife 3 color, 8-1/2" x 12". } This allows a full 8x10 print to be made. The print is photographic quality. } Considering the cost of media and ribbon, each printed page costs about $1.95. } If I don't care about longevity or just want a good color print for reference, I use } the HP Color Laserjet 4500 in Postscript mode. It is 600dpi and does a very } good job. Cost per page is about 25 cents or less, depending on color content } and type of paper used. } } The difference between photographic quality dye sublimation prints and those } from Cibachrome/Ilfochrome is that these chrome prints have accentuated } contrast and higher color saturation. The dye sublimation prints are more } realistic and have higher fidelity to the original image file. The other issue } is that the only way I know of obtaining chrome prints is make a master } E-6 slide, since the chrome is a direct positive from a positive color slide.
The obvious fading in the red half the image shows dye sub has serious fading problems. I seriously doubt that a laminate would extend the life by a factor of more than ten. Johnsons past wax will double a color prints fade life just protecting if form UV and polutants.
Cromes are notoriously red. It a appears that the Kodak laminate does improve the life of dye sub prints. I doubt that approach archival quality of silver based color separation on film in life or cost. Most of us have a slide printer around and with a little tinkering it can be made to produce color separations on B&W film that we know will last over 100 years if properly processed. And you can do it in the sink in the coffee room if you have a changing bag. With the cost of 35 mm film from $10 cents a image and a years suppose for developer fixer, and fixer clearing agent and photo flow for 30 bucks.
Admittedly it is a little trouble to scan the negatives and make the image in photo shop and print them again. But If you want good images 50 years from now that is the cheapest safest way of doing it.
Now the question of do we need archival images is another question. I seldom use old data. But for some work it is important.
A properly designed digital back up system wiht multiple copies and periodic remastering should be it's equal but it is an active system and the former is a passive system.
If all you need is a year or two the dye sub with a lamination stored in the dark will probably do but If you want 50 year storage I seriously doubt it will make the trip.
Gordon
Gordon Couger gcouger-at-couger.com
Stillwater, OK www.couger.com/gcouger 405 624-2855 GMT -6:00 www.couger.com/gcouger
I have not actually done this as you suggest, but Ruthenium Tetroxide stains many polymers, and I have seen it provide some staining contrast in epoxies ( I usually use Spurr Low Viscosity). You might initially try a rigorous (RuO4 0.5%) vapor staining of the sections, and see if it will work. The RuO4 (unlike OsO4) does not need a lot of unsaturation in the polymer to get some staining started. Good Luck, Brad
} ---------- } From: Chris Jeffree[SMTP:cjeffree-at-srv0.bio.ed.ac.uk] } Reply To: c.jeffree-at-ed.ac.uk } Sent: Wednesday, November 24, 1999 5:17 AM } To: microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } Subject: Electron dense resins?? } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Mostly we aim to stain the specimen, rather than the resin, but I } have a particular problem where the specimen cannot be stained, } but might become visible in negative contrast. } Does anyone know of a neat way of staining the RESIN in a TEM } section so that it becomes electron dense and provides negative } contrast? Alternatively, is there an electron dense resin that can } be used for TEM, or is there a way of making a standard epoxy } resin mix somewhat more electron-dense than normal? } } Chris Jeffree } ===================================================================== } DR CHRIS JEFFREE } BIOSEM - BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES EM FACILITY } UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH } Daniel Rutherford Building } King's Buildings, Mayfield Road } EDINBURGH, EH9 3JH, Scotland, UK } Tel. #44 131 650 5345 } FAX. #44 131 650 6563 } Mobile 0410 585 401 } email c.jeffree-at-ed.ac.uk } SEM / TEM bookings sem-at-ed.ac.uk } ===================================================================== }
After side by side demo's of Nikon and Olympus inverted microscopes, I have decided to buy 2 Olympus inverted scopes for a variety of reasons (including Olympus made me a fantastic deal on cost). One scope with be for my new Biorad Radiance 2000 and the other for a deconvolution set up (Isn't life tough?) .
I intend to buy 10 objectives including three 60x objectives (LWD Plan FLuorite NA 0.7, Plan Apo Oil NA 1.4, and a Plan Apo water NA 1.2). Olympus makes a "special" Plan Apo Water Immersion with the same NA but with a "guaranteed" PSF. My rep is somewhat vague on this point but apparently this is one that has gone through an extra round of quality control and has a better PSF. It costs several thousand more. I plan to demo them both but was wondering if any Olympus users of either or both of these objectives wanted to comment on or off the public listserver. Thanks, Tom Thomas E. Phillips, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Biological Sciences Director, Molecular Cytology Core Facility
3 Tucker Hall Division of Biological Sciences University of Missouri Columbia, MO 65211-7400 (573)-882-4712 (voice) (573)-882-0123 (fax)
----- Original Message ----- } From: "Brian Gortney" {gortn-at-earthlink.net} To: {Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com} Sent: Saturday, November 27, 1999 8:09 PM
------------------------------------------------------------- PHILADELPHIA SOCIETY FOR MICROSCOPY
AN AFFILIATE OF THE MICROSCOPY SOCIETY OF AMERICA and THE MICROBEAM ANALYSIS SOCIETY ------------------------------------------------------------
MEETING NOTICE: WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 1, 1999
FORENSIC MICROSCOPY: EVIDENCE OF MICROSCOPICAL SIZE AS AN AID IN ESTABLISHING ASSOCIATION.
Thomas A. Kubic, MS, JD, FABC
--- SPONSOR--------- TED PELLA, We suggest that you look at the Ted Pella, Inc. web site (www.tedpella.com) to preview hundreds of new products not in the present catalog.
-----Meeting Details----- Location: LRSM Building (Laboratory for Research on the Structure of Matter), UPENN, 33rd and Walnut (see map). Parking available behind LRSM after 5:00 PM.
Schedule: 5:30 Social hour, 6:30 Dinner, 7:15 Talk
Cost of Dinner: Members $12.00, Non-Members $15. Students $6,
Menu: ITALY AT A GLANCE: MESCULIN MIXED GREENS, SPINACH PASTA, CHICKEN BREAST SHRIMP CARBONARA, HOMEMADE FOCACCIA AND TUSCAN BREAD LAYERED MOCHA CREAM TORTE, COFFEE SERVICE
-----Reservations----- Reservations required. I'll order a couple extra meals, but if you don't make a reservation, you might not get dinner!
By E-Mail (preferred): Send your name and affiliation to PSM-RESERVATIONS-at-INAME.COM By Phone: Call John Reffner, 215-619-5283 DEADLINE MONDAY, Nov 29, 4:00 pm.
-----Abstract-----
Crime investigators have long relied on crime scene investigators and laboratory scientists to aid in solving cases by establishing association(s) between suspects, victims, and crime scenes. Often the physical evidence that is recovered and analyzed is microscopical in size and requires the skills of a competent microscopist to reveal the critical information. Light microscopes, particularly the Polarized Light Microscope and the infrared microspectrophotometer, are the most useful of the photon techniques, while the Scanning Electron Microscope, especially when mated to an Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectrometer is the electron beam method of choice in the crime laboratory.
Our discussion will begin with the role of the criminalist, concentrating on the forensic microscopist and the methods, techniques, and the instruments employed for the examination of certain trace evidence types. A number of cases will be discussed as examples of how microscopical examination aided in associations(s). Most examples will include the concurrent application of more than one method in the analysis.
The talk will conclude with a number of examples of how the recently developed variable pressure SEMs are an aid to the analysis of samples of forensic import.
-----Biography-----
Mr. Kubic is a chemist and microscopist by training and a forensic scientist and criminalist by avocation. He received his BA in chemistry from C. W. Post Collage, MS in Chemistry from Long Island University and Juris Doctor from St. John's University. He is currently a Ph. D. candidate in forensic science at City University of New York. Mr. Kubic studied microscopy under Drs. John A. Reffner, Walter McCrone, Peter DeForest, and Tom Emma Mr. Kubic completed 23 years as a criminalist in a crime laboratory prior to his retirement in 1995, and joining AMRAY as a consultant in forensic scanning electron microscopy. He has been the laboratory director of a New York State accredited environmental laboratory and a NIST accredited asbestos laboratory.
Mr. Kubic is currently on the faculty of John Jay College, where he instructs in electron microscopy, forensic chemical instrumentation and scientific testimony. He continues to serve as a technical expert with NIST in it's NVLAP accreditation program of asbestos laboratories.
Mr. Kubic continues to actively research the analysis of particulate materials by various light, microspectrophotometric, and electron microscopical methods. He is especially interested in the evaluation of trace evidence to establish associations between persons, places, and things.
-----IMPORTANT NOTICE: ELECTIONS----- Elections for all positions on the executive council will be held at the upcoming meeting. Several people have come forward and expressed an interest.:
President: Pat Connelly (note that we do not have a president elect for 1999 to fill the role for 2000.)
President Elect: Robert Carlton
Secretary - Treasurer: John Reffner (to continue from 1999)
ANY OTHERS????
The floor will be open for nominations at the meeting. In the absence of anyone actually running against anyone else, I've made the executive decision as newsletter editor* not to bother making up ballots to be mailed in. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS, PLEASE LET ME KNOW AND I WILL DO MY BEST TO ADDRESS THEM. --------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Philadelphia Society for Microscopy Executive Council, 1999
Past President Charles Michel (302) 695-3881 Secretary-Treasurer John Reffner (215) 619-5283 Corporate Liaison Thomas Hoffman (609) 859-2434 --------------------------------------------------------------------------
This notice is mainly aimed at Australian colleagues.
I am disposing of a TN-5500 X-ray Analyser with LSI11/73 microcomputer, floppy diskette drive (8") , winchester drive, high resolution 13 inch colour monitor, high quality dot matrix 120 cps printer/plotter; complete with instruction manuals, software and master diskettes (8").
It is yours for free if you can make arrangements to have the unit taken away. Hans G Brinkies Senior Lecturer Swinburne, University of Technology School of Engineering and Science Electron Microscopy Hawthorn, 3122, Melbourne - Australia
Pre-war the company Zeiss was located in Jena and with Leitz they shared the reputation as the World's best microscope manufacturers. After the war senior staff established Zeiss Oberkochen in West Germany. Jena was located in East Germany and was run as a state enterprize. In time, Zeiss Oberkochen became the better manufacturer of the two Zeiss Companies. Eventually the two companies combined. "Aus" means "from" or "out"; Jena (spelled with one n) is a small city about 70km SW from Leipzig and "next door" to historical Weimar. (Carl) Zeiss clearly is the successor company for Jena. Who knows how long for parts are kept? At the time, microscopes from Jena were very good, but not in the very top league. Jim Darley ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes www.proscitech.com
On Monday, November 29, 1999 8:49 AM, Brian Gortney [SMTP:gortn-at-earthlink.net] wrote: } } } ----- Original Message ----- } } From: "Brian Gortney" {gortn-at-earthlink.net} } To: {Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com} } Sent: Saturday, November 27, 1999 8:09 PM } Subject: LM Aus-Jenna Labroval } } } } Hello: } } I am contemplating the purchase of a used Aus-Jenna Labroval light } } microscope for us in biological work it is approximately 20 years old } } however is in excellent condition.I am hoping some of you are familiar } with } } this unit as I have a number of questions: } } 1.) Where are they made ? } } 2.) Is this a good quality unit? } } 3.) I was told that Aus-Jenna merged with Zeiss,does anyone know for sure? } } 4.) Are parts still available? From where? } } 5.) are the Aus optics comparable with zeiss or Leica ? } } Thank you all for your time. } } Brian W.Gortney } } } } }
We have had good luck with our Linkham stage. It is very stable, and h= as a temperature range from -100 C to 600 C. It also has options to overlay=
temperature data onto a video signal. However it is fairly expensive.
Joe Neilly Abbott Laboratories D-45M, AP31 200 Abbott Park Rd. Abbott Park, IL 60064-6202 voice: (847)-938-5024 fax: (847)-938-5027 e-mail: joe.neilly-at-abbott.com
} We are interested in recommendations for a hotstage for a light micros= cope. } If there is cooling capabilities that will be an added plus, if it doe= sn't } compromise the heating function. Our Mettler FP5 finally failed after } faithfully servicing us for 25 years. We have looked at the Mettler FP= 82, } seen the Linkam and heard about an Instec (HCS600). Any experience wit= h } these would be appreciated. } Vendors are welcome to contact me directly at: } GaroneL-at-Polaroid.com } Thanks, } Lynne Garone } Polaroid Corp. =
***************************************************************************** } } } } Dear All } } } } I am increasingly being asked to prepare bacterial suspension } } cultures (E. coli mutants, mostly) for TEM sections. } } Not being a bacterial person (I prefer my organisms to come in } } lumps that need to be cut up) I would be grateful for advice on the } } preferred method of processing bacterial cells, particularly in } } suspension cultures, but I would also be interested in tips for } } dealing with individual colonies on agar. } } } } Thanks in advance } } Chris Jeffree *******************************************************************************
Brian McIntyre mailto:mcintyre-at-optics.rochester.edu Sr. Engineer lab: 716-275-3058/4875 River Campus EMLab fax: 716-244-4936 University of Rochester Rochester, NY 14620
"The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother." - Unknown
The information in other postings is correct: Jena was the original home of what we now know as Zeiss and that the two facilities diverged for a period of time after the second world war, with most of the power going to the "new" Zeiss facility in Oberkocken. There is lots of interesting history in that whole situation, including a battle in the World Court for who was going to be allowed to use the Zeiss name and trade mark. The bottom line: the two have now reunited under the regular Zeiss trademark.
Now, for the instrument under discussion. In the early 80's I was privileged to be one of the national training resources for some of the Jena line (especially the Interphako and Amplival Pol). I found the instruments from this time period to be very well constructed with good quality optics. Regarding availability of parts, I would check with Zeiss USA (located in Thornwood, NY: 914-747-1800). There are also second-hand sources: from the list below, Martin Instruments has had the most experience with Jena gear.
MicroOptical Methods Dennis O'Leary Albany, NY 518-482-8200 Spectra Services Mike Specht Rochester, NY 716-654-9500 Vermont Optechs John Oren 802-425-2040 Martin Instruments Bob Martin Easley, SC 864-859-2688
Good luck... and if you buy this Jena scope, let me know how you like it.
Best regards, Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater productivity.
125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} ****************************************************** MME is America's first national consortium providing customized on-site workshops in all areas of microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis.
At 05:49 PM 11/28/99 -0500, Brian Gortney wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Hi All, We have a jet freezer in need of repairs, and are having difficulty locating a company/person to do it. Has anyone had any experience with this or any advice? Thanks for your help, Kristen Kristen A. Lennon Cell, Molecular & Developmental Biology Group Department of Botany & Plant Sciences University of California Riverside, CA 92521 kalen-at-citrus.ucr.edu
A colleague asked me about an EM course that would teach him the basics of electron microscopy with focus on thin sectioning and TEM operation. There used to be such a course here until they closed our EM facility last year and retired the woman who ran it. I know about the Lehigh courses but I am looking for something closer and more basic in California. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Hi, I have an old AO/Reichert Ultracut ultramicrotome that needs service. Does anyone know a service person in the southeast? The Leica service person has stood me up twice :-( on scheduled appointments) so I'd love to hear your opinions/thoughts on other companies/service people in the area. thanks, Beth
************************************** Beth Richardson EM Lab Coordinator Botany Department University of Georgia Athens, GA 30602
Still waiting for word from our Site IH for the info on permeation data for nitrile gloves. She is on vacation this week, but I am assured that she has some data on these gloves. Apparently, Best Manufacturing ( in Georgia) has had or has done some permeation testing on their N-dex line of gloves. This is the manufacturer that we use. They can be found at http://www.bestglove.com/ I believe Fisher caries their products, and I am told that a higher dexterity Viton and Butyl glove is forthcoming from Best. You can download a limited chemical resistance guide (CHEMREST) from Best's web site. I use the N-dex, 6 mil, powder free 9005 gloves as a general protection when there is no risk of a severe splash/submersion/contamination, and, as I mentioned previously - when using some of the nastier materials we make frequent checks and glove changes while having double glove protection.
There is presently a draft standard (ANSI/ ISEA 105 1999) on glove - definitions, testing, and classification of protection that will probably make glove comparison and selection a little easier in the future, but until it is adopted - I guess its every hand for itself.
Good Luck, Brad Huggins BPAmoco, Naperville, IL hugginbj-at-bp.com
} ---------- } From: Caroline Schooley[SMTP:schooley-at-mcn.org] } Sent: Wednesday, November 24, 1999 5:00 PM } To: Huggins, Bradley J } Subject: RE: Protective Gloves } } } Yes, I have seen permeability data on the N-DEX gloves, but do not have } it } } handy. I'll forward any references or tables ASAP. } } } } Brad Huggins } } Thanks! There's no deadline on this; at your convenience. Will you } please } cc to the listserver? } } Caroline } } Caroline Schooley } Project MICRO 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/PMHomePage.html } Intertidal invertebrates: http://www.fortbragg.k12.ca.us/AG/PCI/pci.html } }
Feathery spots have formed on the blue (writing) surface of silver-colored CD-Rs from a single manufacturer (name withheld for now). Some spots were present fresh from the jewel cases; spots have formed on others since the CDs were burned.
Your reports of similar observations and causes will be appreciated. Please reply on or off list, as you prefer.
Important dates =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
02 June 2000 - deadline for submission of contributed papers 30 June 2000 - notification of acceptance of papers 28 July 2000 - deadline for registration with reduced fee and submission of accepted papers in their final form 11 October 2000 - SGI'2000 Conference
Main topics of the Conference =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D
The Conference will be a forum for SGI users, independent software vendors, applications developers, research and industry scientists, as well as for decision makers.
The following topics of high performance computing and visualization on SGI platforms will be covered by the Conference: - experience with SGI products for high performance computing, - large scale simulations, - applications in science, engineering and industry, - visualization, graphics and multimedia, - system management, resource management and batch systems, - tools and programming environments, - data storage.=20
The Conference will include=20 - tutorials,=20 - invited talks,=20 - contributed presentations from the SGI users community,=20 - presentations of new SGI products, - round table discussions,=20 - social events.
We invite participants with experience in computing on SGI systems to submit papers for SGI'2000. A reduction of the registration fee will be offered to one of the authors of each accepted contributed paper.
Papers, 6 to 10 A4 pages, should be sent via email to the Organizing Committee before June 02, 2000. Papers will be reviewed taking into account originality, significance of presented results, relevance to SGI'2000, accuracy and way of presentation.=20 For a detailed submission procedure see http://www.cyf-kr.edu.pl/sgi2k/.
Accepted papers will be included in the Conference program as oral or poster presentations, and they will be printed in a Proceedings=20 volume which will be distributed to participants at the beginning of the Conference.
It will be also possible to present virtual posters which may accompany an invited lecture, a contributed oral presentation as well as a classical poster.
All participants who intend to present virtual posters are requested to prepare posters at their own WWW sites and email http address, author(s) name and title of a poster to the Organizing Committee not later than September 30, 2000. Then, links will be done from the Conference WWW page to virtual posters.
Beth, I was due for pm on my Ultracuts in March. Leica service didn't show up until August. I didn't get copies of my service reports until yesterday! There have been some serious problems with service since Charlie Christensen moved over to confocal. Try calling Dan Simkowski at 1-800-248-0123 or his secretary, Rita at 847-405-8130. That's how I was able to get my service reports. If you deal with Vashaw Scientific, give them a call at 770-447-5632 to complain. They are the Leica people here in Atlanta. Good Luck, Bob Santoianni Emory University Hospital Atlanta, GA
I am wondering if this is the infamous 'CD Rot' condition that was prophesied at the dawn of the CD era.
Ed Sharpe archivist for SMECC
} Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } Feathery spots have formed on the blue (writing) surface of silver-colored } CD-Rs from a single manufacturer (name withheld for now). Some spots were } present fresh from the jewel cases; spots have formed on others since the } CDs were burned. } } Your reports of similar observations and causes will be appreciated. } Please reply on or off list, as you prefer. } } James }
All Jet Freezers manufactured by RMC are now serviced by Ventana Medical Systems, Inc. Tucson, AZ.
Please call 800-227-2155, listen for the Customer Service prompt. The TCC center is manned 24/7.
Alternatively you may visit our website at www.Ventanamed.com and select Support.
Steve Miller North America Sales Manager Microscopy Products Group Ventana Medical Systems, Inc. 3865 N. Business Center Dr. Tucson, AZ 85705 Direct Phone: 520-690-2753
Good Morning, Jo Ann, There is an excellent program for Electron Microscopy at San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton, CA. You should really look into it. The address is: San Joaquin Delta College 5151 Pacific Avenue Stockton, CA 95207 http://www.deltacollege.org Click on Depts, then Electron Microscopy.
They offer individual classes and a very good, highly recommended two year program! Dr. Judy Murphy has an infinite wealth of knowledge!! Sincerely, Jo Dee Fish
JoAnn Buchanan wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } A colleague asked me about an EM course that would teach him the basics of } electron microscopy with focus on thin sectioning and TEM operation. There } used to be such a course here until they closed our EM facility last year } and retired the woman who ran it. I know about the Lehigh courses but I am } looking for something closer and more basic in California. Any suggestions } would be appreciated.
-- Jo Dee Fish Electron Microscopy Assistant The Burnham Institute 10901 N. Torrey Pines Rd. La Jolla, CA 92037 858-646-3100 ext.3620
We are presently in the market for an inverted microscope confocal with dual-photon capability. We've narrowed it down to the Leica TCS SP (the NT plus spectrophotometer head) and the Zeiss LSM510. If any happy (or indeed unhappy) owners would like to give me some feedback I'd be something close to eternally grateful. Thanks in Advance
Barry Shaw Barry Shaw Senior Imaging Technician Molecular & Cell Biology E Floor School Of Biomedical Sciences University of Nottingham Medical School NG7 2UH
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Hi, I was just given some VERY small roots to be fixed and embedded for ICC. Fixation is not a problem but I am not sure I can keep track of these very tiny root pieces once they are infiltrated and embedded in LR White. I would like to stain them with something that is not soluble in ETOH and will also not interfer with the ICC labeling. Any suggestions? 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
id {XFPBGZF5} ; Tue, 30 Nov 1999 09:27:54 -0800 Message-ID: {F129F546524BD31199C200902798ABD6070563-at-CMEXCHANGE.Stanford.EDU}
This previous job listing had the wrong contact email address. The proper address is pbs-at-stanford.edu
Thank you.
Ruth
*************************************************
Stanford University Palo Alto, California
POSITION: Life Sci Res Asst II (#J992664)
DESCRIPTION: Position is responsible for electron
microscopy in a Neuroscience Lab. Duties to include: ultrathin serial sectioning; serial section analysis using electron microscope; post-embedding immunocytochemistry; photography-developing and processing of prints; stock supplies, keep inventory; develop new techniques: conduct literature searches; test alter and implement new methods to improve lab procedures and maximize productivity; requires results/data interpretation; will provide training to research personnel in photographic and electron microscopic techniques; the individual will assist in the preparation of scientific paper for publication; will independently: prepare tissue for electron micrographic examination, examining tissue, analyzing data, and preparing data for publication. Comply with governmental regulation and University policies regarding health and safety and observe and support health and safety practices including those specifically related to the work environment.
QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor's degree in a related field is required; master's degree preferred; plus 3 years of applicable experience. Must be able to work effectively in a team and independently. Must exercise considerable judgement, initiative, and resourcefulness. Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs. Fluent in written and verbal English. Basic knowledge in use of personal computers, photographic equipment, and electron and light microscopes.
Salary range: $3404-4544. Exempt. New position. For more information email Dr. Buckmaster at pbs-at-stanford.edu
Send resumes to:
Dr. Paul Buckmaster Department of Comparative Medicine Building 330, Quad 7, RAF-1 Stanford University Stanford, CA 94305
If everything goes according to schedule, I will have a vintage JEOL 100B to offer as surplus to our needs. This baby is as clean as they come, low miles and plenty of spare parts.
Seriously, I have to go through our surplus office, but they usually ask me if I know of anyone who might be interested. If you want to know more, drop me a line and I will be happy to fill you in on the details. I don't really expect to get much for this heap, seeing it go to a good home would be enough for me (don't know about the bean counters in surplus).
Jonathan Krupp Microscopy & Imaging Lab University of California Santa Cruz, CA 95064 (831) 459-2477 jmkrupp-at-cats.ucsc.edu
I have always supposed that bone was too hard to thin section with a diamond knife and would damage the knife, but is this true? Has anyone tried to thin section bone by accident or on purpose, and what was the result? How about a thin lamina of bone within the block?....Thanks..Tom Reese
They do all our microtomes, including the Sorvall.
On Mon, 29 Nov 1999, Beth Richardson wrote:
} Date: Mon, 29 Nov 1999 17:05:17 -0500 } From: Beth Richardson {beth-at-dogwood.botany.uga.edu} } To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: waiting at the microtome } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 have an old AO/Reichert Ultracut ultramicrotome that needs service. Does } anyone know a service person in the southeast? The Leica service person has } stood me up twice :-( on scheduled appointments) so I'd love to hear your } opinions/thoughts on other companies/service people in the area. } thanks, } Beth } } ************************************** } Beth Richardson } EM Lab Coordinator } Botany Department } University of Georgia } Athens, GA 30602 } } Phone - (706) 542-1790 } FAX - (706) 542-1805 } Email - beth-at-dogwood.botany.uga.edu } ************************************** } } } }
Sara E. Miller, Ph. D. P. O. Box 3020 Duke University Medical Center Durham, NC 27710 Ph: 919 684-3452 FAX: 919 684-8735
Hello everyone! Please respond directly to me at the e-dress below.
We have an opportunity to buy a schottky emmitter from FEI directy and would appreciate any info on the track record of these un-warranteed/guaranteed products direct from them ASAP. Thanks in advance
John P. Shields Center for Ultrastructural Research 151 Barrow Hall University of Georgia Athens, GA 30602-2403 (706)542-4080 jpshield-at-arches.uga.edu
} Hi, } I was just given some VERY small roots to be fixed and embedded for } ICC. Fixation is not a problem but I am not sure I can keep track of these } very tiny root pieces once they are infiltrated and embedded in LR White. } I would like to stain them with something that is not soluble in ETOH } and will also not interfer with the ICC labeling. } Any suggestions? } 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 ******************* You can try eosin. We've used it to impart some color to early chicken embryos that were later labelled by immuno-fluoresent markers. These were embedded im paraffin, and viewed in the LM, but it may cross-over.
Leona Cohen-Gould, M.S. Sr. Staff Associate Director, Electron Microscopy Core Facility Manager, Confocal Microscopy Core Facility Joan & Sanford I. Weill Medical College of Cornell University voice (212)746-6146 fax (212)746-8175
Greetings, Debby Sherman asked about handling small bits of root. I make=20 my living handling these snippets so perhaps I can help.
As far as stains go, we have used two. We have made a=20 saturated solution of Fast Green in ethanol. We make an 8% solution=20 of fast green in 100% ethanol and then add 1-2 =B5l to each half ml of=20 volume with sample. I have also used a 0.15 % aqueous solution of=20 basic fuscin. In this case i collect the samples in that prior to=20 dehydration, and they stay nicely purple throughout.
The other thing that I do to greatly simplify my life is to=20 put each root on a wire loop, encased in Formvar. Here is an except=20 from a lab protocol I have:
We get best results with a Formvar loop method. In this=20 method, a loop of copper wire (36 gauge) is made and flattened=20 between two flat pieces of steel. Then small rectangles of 0.25%=20 =46ormvar in ethylene chloride are floated on water and the loop=20 plunged into the middle of the rectangle so that a film of Formvar=20 surrounds the wire loop. A number of loops are made in advance (can=20 be days ahead). A root is then placed on the Formvar surface, the=20 excess cut away with a razor and then this assembly is coated with=20 another Formvar layer, in the same was as above, thus encasing the=20 root between Formvar. This procedure provides better flat embedding=20 than agarose. Up to three loops can be put in a single vial. Note:=20 one does not need super "EM" grade Formvar films, so this is not a=20 hassle at all.
When its time to embed, just cut off the stem of the loop and=20 embed the loop with the sample on. The loop is heavy enough to sink=20 and keep the root nice and flat. The copper is so thin you can cut=20 through it with a razor in the block. Or if you like, you can=20 excavate it from the block and pull it out.
Alternatively, if you don't want to mess with loops and=20 =46ormvar, you can use agarose. Excise a 3mm tip segment and encase it=20 within a small droplet of 2% low gelling-temperature agarose (Type=20 VII from Sigma). When the agarose sets, the root-containing drop is=20 transferred to 10% ethanol. We get better results with Formvar but=20 the agarose will work.
The point of the loops or the agarose is to facilitate=20 exchange of solutions without loss of samples. It is a snap to suck=20 out the old solution and put in the new with your samples in agarose=20 pellets or held onto loops. With the agarose, you can keep all of the=20 samples of a single treatment in one vial (this saves time and=20 solution) but with the formvar loops, it is hard to use more than=20 three loops per vial.
I hope this helps. Good luck, Tobias Baskin } } Hi, } I was just given some VERY small roots to be fixed and embedded for } ICC. Fixation is not a problem but I am not sure I can keep track of these } very tiny root pieces once they are infiltrated and embedded in LR White. } I would like to stain them with something that is not soluble in ETOH } and will also not interfer with the ICC labeling. } Any suggestions? } 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 =20 } 1057 Whistler Building } West Lafayette, IN 47907-1057 _ ____ ^ __ ____ Tobias I. Baskin / \ / / \ / \ \ University of Missouri / | / / \ \ \ Biological Sciences /___/ /__ /___ \ \ \__ 109 Tucker Hall / / / \ \ \ Columbia, MO 65211-7400 USA / / / \ \ \ voice: 573-882-0173 / /____ / \ \__/ \____ fax: 573-882-0123
Dear Beth: Our AO/Reichert Ultracut ultramicrotome has been serviced in the past by Helmut Patzig of Microscopical Optical Consulting Inc., You might contact him by phone (914) 268-6450 or by e-mail MOCLeica-at-AOL.com I know he has customers far and wide so I hope Athens, GA would be within his range of coverage. Hope this helps, Henry
Henry Eichelberger, Manager Electron Microscopy Facility Department of Biological Sciences Binghamton University Binghamton, NY 13902-6000
phone: (607) 777-2682 fax: (607) 777-6521 e-mail: heichelb-at-binghamton.edu ******************************************************* Original Message: -------------------------------------------------------- Hi, I have an old AO/Reichert Ultracut ultramicrotome that needs service. Does anyone know a service person in the southeast? The Leica service person has stood me up twice :-( on scheduled appointments) so I'd love to hear your opinions/thoughts on other companies/service people in the area. thanks, Beth
************************************** Beth Richardson EM Lab Coordinator Botany Department University of Georgia Athens, GA 30602
} Call TekNet 1 800 835 6386 } jon-at-teknetinc.com } } They do all our microtomes, including the Sorvall.
I have also had very good service from Tek-Net.
} On Mon, 29 Nov 1999, Beth Richardson wrote: } } } Hi, } } I have an old AO/Reichert Ultracut ultramicrotome that needs service. Does } } anyone know a service person in the southeast? The Leica service person has } } stood me up twice :-( on scheduled appointments) so I'd love to hear your } } opinions/thoughts on other companies/service people in the area. } } thanks, } } Beth
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 mcauliff-at-umdnj.edu **********************************************
} I am wondering if this is the infamous 'CD Rot' condition that was } prophesied at the dawn of the CD era. } } Ed Sharpe archivist for SMECC } } } } } } Feathery spots have formed on the blue (writing) surface of silver-colored } } CD-Rs from a single manufacturer (name withheld for now). Some spots were } } present fresh from the jewel cases; spots have formed on others since the } } CDs were burned. } } } } Your reports of similar observations and causes will be appreciated. } } Please reply on or off list, as you prefer. } } } } James } }
Green and blue CD-R media have been known to be disadvantageous for some time now. The most reliable is the silver. I've had excellent results with Memorex, UPC 0-34707-03131-9, PN 3202-3131, Philips 8945-731-51111, and Sony CDQ-74SZA.
I have not done much testing on CD-RW media as yet.
We will be offering a semester long (15 week) EM class, Biology 5060. It will begin on January 10, 2000. It will cover biological specimen preparation for SEM and TEM, and use of the TEM and SEM. Students will produce a portfolio of digital images from their own original work. Class size is limited to 8, but space is still available. If you are interested in attending, please contact me to make arrangements.
William McManus Supervisor Electron Microscopy Facility Department of Biology Utah State University Logan UT 84322-5305
billEMac-at-cc.usu.edu 435-797-1920
William McManus Supervisor Electron Microscopy Facility Department of Biology Utah State University Logan UT 84322-5305
} } I am wondering if this is the infamous 'CD Rot' condition that was } prophesied at the dawn of the CD era. } } Ed Sharpe archivist for SMECC }
Ed,
OK I'll bite. Tell us more about this 'CD Rot'. I think not leaving them lying around exposed to direct sunlight or even strong daylight for years on end would be a reasonable precaution to take.
(Does anybody know of a suitable fixitive ;)
Arthur Day, Electron Microscope Unit Phone: 61-2-9717-3457 Ansto Materials Division Fax: 61-2-9543-7179 PMB 1, Menai (Sydney), NSW, 2234 Email: ard-at-ansto.gov.au Australia www: http://www.ansto.gov.au/
Again some items for free, that is, if you can arrange pick up.
I am disposing of a complete ETEC Autospec WD X-ray Spectrometer, ie. the spectrometer with crystals and separate electronic operational console containing; Detector Control Crystal Select (LiF, PET, LOD, RAP) Spec.Pos.Control Scaler Timer Amplifier -PHA Linear Ratemeter. This WDS was originally attached to our ETEC Autoscan SEM, which (just a point of general interest) is still working satisfactory after 26 years of usage.
Cheers
Hans Brinkies
Hans G Brinkies Senior Lecturer Swinburne, University of Technology School of Engineering and Science Electron Microscopy Hawthorn, 3122, Melbourne - Australia
Thank you for the comments, on-list and off-list, about my query regarding deterioration of CD-Rs, before and after writing files. Inspection today of two disks written in September showed that the same deterioration has occurred on one of the disks, since it was written.
No one has recognized and identified the cause for the deterioration - a few have mentioned "CD rot" - but one respondent did describe a similar problem with disks from the same manufacturer, fresh from the package.
I attempted to contact the manufacturer today, but was unable to get past voice mail. I am still hesitant to disclose the name of the manufacturer, but will state the model code, which anyone who has these disks can recognize:
CDQ-74CN
The respondent who found a similar problem used model code:
CDQ-74BN
Our affected disks are no longer readable, or only partially so. Because the disks are used only as secondary storage (backup), and are copied, we have lost no data or images. Still, this is an inconvenience worth mentioning.
Again, thank you.
James
} Feathery spots have formed on the blue (writing) surface of silver-colored } CD-Rs from a single manufacturer (name withheld for now). Some spots were } present fresh from the jewel cases; spots have formed on others since the } CDs were burned. } } Your reports of similar observations and causes will be appreciated. } Please reply on or off list, as you prefer. } } James } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------- } } James Martin } Director of Analytical Services & Research } Williamstown Art Conservation Center } james_martin.tripod.com/dasr.htm } } Research Scientist in Chemistry } Williams College } james_martin.tripod.com/williams.htm } } *** Please don't send e-mail attachments. Cut-and-paste text into the } body of an e-mail message. *** } } }
Tom Reese wrote: ========================================================== I have always supposed that bone was too hard to thin section with a diamond knife and would damage the knife, but is this true? Has anyone tried to thin section bone by accident or on purpose, and what was the result? How about a thin lamina of bone within the block?....Thanks..Tom Reese ============================================================ In the mid-1960's, Barry Friedman, MD, an orthopedic surgeon with a joint project involving Cleveland Clinic and Case Institute, was thin sectioning bone with diamond knife ultramicrotomy. It was my perception that this was a "first" and had not been done previously. The hydroxy apatite crystals most certainly did do damage to the knife edge, and that was a forgone conclusion, but the important thing was to develop the technique to the point that minimum knife damage would result. At that time, Friedman used the only type diamond knives that were available, and those were what today we would call "life science" diamond knives.
For this kind of work today, since the first "slice" will put striations (from the hydroxy apatite crystals) into a knife's edge, one should consider the use of "materials science" diamond knives.
Disclaimer: SPI Supplies offers materials science diamond knives which can also be used on hard tissue life science samples.
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.spi.cc ######################## ============================================
Rick Felten-at-MACDERMID 12/01/99 08:45 AM I have been measuring the %P in electroless Ni for several years. I have done some recent work where the numbers that I a getting are 20% lower than the accepted wet method. I can't imagine what I am missing. I use standards (Pure Ni and GaP (about 30%P)). I measure the beam current from the SEM. The current drift is typically around 1%. I even normalize my data for current drift. My standards have a %rel std dev of about 1%. I choose several point per sample and standard. Some sample I run un-coated. In such a run the only thing coated is my manufactured GaP standard, that has 200A of carbon. It hasn't been re-polished in 6 years, but that should not give higher P cts in my std. I have tried manually performing my background subtraction subtracting around the P peak, with only a 3% improvement. I get an analytical total typically 95-100% (%P + %Ni). This should be a sanity check for precision and accuracy. I collect data on my standards each time I run a new sample so tilt or detector window condensation should have the same effect. The range for %P recently has been 5-8% which gives a healthy peak. What could I be missing? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks Ric
I don't know much about your sample or standard, but I would wonder if there is any heterogeneity in the distribution of P in either your sample or standard? I would hope the GaP is quite stable, but is there any chance of formation of a P-rich layer at or near the surface? You aren't probing very deep. Also, how does the P occur in the nickel. Is it present in sold solution only or in inclusions of some kind?
You say your results are 20% low for P. Is that relatively speaking? If so, then it may be that you having standard problems. The 2% or so that you are missing would help your analytical totals if you can find it.
Some quick thoughts. Warren S.
At 08:45 AM 12/1/1999 -0500, you wrote: } Rick Felten-at-MACDERMID } 12/01/99 08:45 AM } I have been measuring the %P in electroless Ni for several years. I have } done some recent work where the numbers that I a getting are 20% lower than } the accepted wet method. I can't imagine what I am missing. I use } standards (Pure Ni and GaP (about 30%P)). I measure the beam current from } the SEM. The current drift is typically around 1%. I even normalize my } data for current drift. My standards have a %rel std dev of about 1%. I } choose several point per sample and standard. Some sample I run un-coated. } In such a run the only thing coated is my manufactured GaP standard, that } has 200A of carbon. It hasn't been re-polished in 6 years, but that should } not give higher P cts in my std. I have tried manually performing my } background subtraction subtracting around the P peak, with only a 3% } improvement. I get an analytical total typically 95-100% (%P + %Ni). This } should be a sanity check for precision and accuracy. I collect data on my } standards each time I run a new sample so tilt or detector window } condensation should have the same effect. The range for %P recently has } been 5-8% which gives a healthy peak. What could I be missing? } Any help would be appreciated. } Thanks } Ric
Again some items for free, that is, if you can arrange pick up.
I am disposing of a complete ETEC Autospec WD X-ray Spectrometer. The spectrometer with crystals and separate electronic console containing: Detector Control Crystal Select (LiF, PET, LOD, RAP), Spec.Pos.Control, Scaler Timer, Amplifier -PHA' Linear Ratemeter. This WDS was originally attached to our ETEC Autoscan SEM, which (just a point of general interest) is still working satisfactory after 26 years of usage.
Cheers
Hans Brinkies
Hans G Brinkies Senior Lecturer Swinburne, University of Technology School of Engineering and Science Electron Microscopy Hawthorn, 3122, Melbourne - Australia
I have a glass (leaded glass) tube, about 0.5 cm in diameter. The inside wall of the tube has been leached leaving behind a porous silica network with pores about 500 nm in size. The thickness of the leached layer is estimated to be about 400 nm. We would like to prepare cross sections to look at the glass/leached layer interface and to be able to actually measure the thickness of the leached layer. I'm wondering if anyone has suggestions or experience on preparing samples such as these for TEM ?. Tripod polishing is a possibility , but the leached layer might not survive the polishing. Has anyone tried microtomy with this type samples?.
Can anyone suggest a good text book on light microscopy, principles, techniques etc ? It will be great if the particular book includes chapters on fluorescence microscopy. Otherwise you can also give me the title for a separate book on fluorescence microscopy.
Thanks in advance.
Soumitra
Soumitra Ghoshroy Ph.D. Electron Microscopy Lab Box 3EML New Mexico State University Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001 Tel: 505-646-1531/3600 Fax: 505-646-5665 e-mail: ghoshroy-at-nmsu.edu
We have a Reichert Ultracut E with an FC4D cryo unit. Lately I have been under the impression that the reservoir refilling cycle is taking much longer than it used to.
I was wondering if others with the same unit could give me their impression as to whether or not the behavior I describe bellow seems normal.
When I first start the unit with a filled LN dewar, the first two reservoir refilling cycles(by this I mean the time it takes to go from only one indicating green light on to all green lights on) take only a few minutes ( maybe five minutes), but after that the time to refill the reservoir decreases considerably. After an hour or so of using the unit, with the temperature (knife and sample) stabilized at about -100C, it takes close to 25 min. to refill the reservoir. I also notice that the temperature of the knife and sample changes from a low of -100C (with the reservoir full) to -94 with the reservoir empty (i.e. when the refill just starts). If someone would let me know if this seems normal I would appreciate it.
I am looking for an epifluorescence equipment to fit our OM Zeiss Universal. Would anyone care to trade or sell those parts I need? - the 50 W lamp illuminator equipment (or 100 W) - the epifluorescence' nosepiece (whitout the Neofluar objectives). - not indispensable: exciter and barrier filters (BG12 & 53/44; BG3 & 50/44)
We would appreciate any info on the track record of these OM products. My request to the Carl Zeiss web site was processed, but without result after tree weeks. Thanks in advance
JOSE ULLAN E-mail: jullan-at-mixcoac.upmx.mx ----------------------------------- Dept. ANATOMIA E. de MEDICINA Univ. Panamericana http://www.mixcoac.upmx.mx
If I recall the legends correctly it was some sort of 'growth' Ed Sharpe
The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
} } I am wondering if this is the infamous 'CD Rot' condition that was } prophesied at the dawn of the CD era. } } Ed Sharpe archivist for SMECC }
Ed,
OK I'll bite. Tell us more about this 'CD Rot'. I think not leaving them lying around exposed to direct sunlight or even strong daylight for years on end would be a reasonable precaution to take.
(Does anybody know of a suitable fixitive ;)
Arthur Day, Electron Microscope Unit Phone: 61-2-9717-3457 Ansto Materials Division Fax: 61-2-9543-7179 PMB 1, Menai (Sydney), NSW, 2234 Email: ard-at-ansto.gov.au Australia www: http://www.ansto.gov.au/
----------------------- Headers -------------------------------- Return-Path: {Microscopy-request-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} Received: from rly-zd03.mx.aol.com (rly-zd03.mail.aol.com [172.31.33.227]) by air-zd01.mail.aol.com (vx) with ESMTP; Thu, 02 Dec 1999 18:52:40 -0500 Received: from Sparc5.Microscopy.Com ([206.69.208.10]) by rly-zd03.mx.aol.com (v65.4) with ESMTP; Thu, 02 Dec 1999 18:52:28 -0500 Received: (from daemon-at-localhost) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) id TAA28170 for dist-Microscopy; Tue, 30 Nov 1999 19:12:58 -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 TAA28167 for "MicroscopyFilteredEmail-at-msa.microscopy.com"; Tue, 30 Nov 1999 19:12:26 -0600 Received: from tachyon.gw.ansto.gov.au (anstogw.gw.ansto.gov.au [137.157.8.253]) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) with ESMTP id TAA28160 for {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} ; Tue, 30 Nov 1999 19:12:04 -0600 Received: by tachyon.gw.ansto.gov.au; id MAA23463; Wed, 1 Dec 1999 12:11:19 +1100 (EST) Received: from hadron.ansto.gov.au(137.157.13.219) by tachyon.gw.ansto.gov.au via smap (4.1) id xma023305; Wed, 1 Dec 99 12:10:39 +1100 Received: from [137.157.95.82] (arthur.amat.ansto.gov.au [137.157.95.82]) by hadron.ansto.gov.au (8.9.3/8.9.3) with SMTP id MAA09324 for {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} ; Wed, 1 Dec 1999 12:10:39 +1100 (EST) X-Sender: ard-at-hadron.ansto.gov.au Message-Id: {v02140b03b46a2352ebc3-at-[137.157.95.82]} Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
} From: Chris Jeffree {cjeffree-at-srv0.bio.ed.ac.uk} To: "Marti, Jordi" {Jordi.Marti-at-alliedsignal.com}
I have some experience with the original FC4. How about checking the state of the seal between the pump and the dewar? Ours cracked and was replaced with an O-ring - not ideal but it works - maybe you are losing filling pressure? The electronics should either work or fail - that is just my guess.
Also, maybe check the hose pipe connections for wear or damage - again with pressure retention in mind.
Keith Ryan _________
_______________________________ Dr. Keith Ryan Marine Biological Association of the UK The Laboratory Citadel Hill Plymouth Devon PL1 2PB England
Tel. ++44 (0)1752 633249 Tel. ++44 (0)1752 633279 The 279 number has an answering machine
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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Hello: } } I have a glass (leaded glass) tube, about 0.5 cm in diameter. The inside } wall of the tube has been leached leaving behind a porous silica network } with pores about 500 nm in size. The thickness of the leached layer is } estimated to be about 400 nm. We would like to prepare cross sections to } look at the glass/leached layer interface and to be able to actually measure } the thickness of the leached layer. I'm wondering if anyone has suggestions } or experience on preparing samples such as these for TEM ?. Tripod } polishing is a possibility , but the leached layer might not survive the } polishing. Has anyone tried microtomy with this type samples?. } } Suggestions are welcomed. } } Thanks } } Jordi Marti
Jordi, With a pore size of 500nm, have you considered looking at a fracture mounted such that the original tube would be vertical and using an SEM? I would try coating with carbon, followed by gold (or Au/Pd), and use as low a kV as possible.
Ken Converse Quality Images third party SEM service Delta, PA
Hans Brinkies 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Again some items for free, that is, if you can arrange pick up. } } I am disposing of a complete ETEC Autospec WD X-ray Spectrometer, ie. } the spectrometer with crystals and separate electronic } operational console containing; Detector Control } Crystal Select (LiF, PET, LOD, RAP) } Spec.Pos.Control } Scaler Timer } Amplifier -PHA } Linear Ratemeter. } This WDS was originally attached to our ETEC Autoscan SEM, which } (just a point of general interest) is still working satisfactory } after 26 years of usage. } } Cheers } } Hans Brinkies } } Hans G Brinkies } Senior Lecturer } Swinburne, University of Technology } School of Engineering and Science } Electron Microscopy } Hawthorn, 3122, Melbourne - Australia
Hans, I'm not surprised at all that your Autoscan is still running fine. I'm still servicing #17 (vintage '71 or early '72) that has been abused by hundreds of students. And you can't beat the camera system unless you go to a 16mB file size. I have a number of Autoscans on their second or third owner. Most of the original operators only got rid of them because their management or bean-counters told them they had to. The "new" ones are only about 17 years old.
Keep a good system running!
Ken Converse Quality Images third party SEM service Delta, PA
Hello, Does anyone have experience with immuno em of ribosomal associated proteins, fixation to embedding, pre or post embed label. The If works but we are not sure that our standard IEM protocol (post embed label/ LR White) will work. We would appreciate advise before we dive in . Thanks
First, thanks to all who replied to my inquiry about "spotty CD-Rs." One respondent described a similar problem with CD-Rs (CDQ-74BN) from the same manufacturer. My disks are all CDQ-74CN.
Since posting the inquiry I've inspected CD-Rs written in 9/1999, and one of these showed crystalline spots - which developed since the disk was written and kept in dark storage at moderate T and RH.
This morning I sampled and analyzed the crystalline material using FTIR microscopy. The crystalline sample spectrum compares with reference spectra for bisphenyl-A. The CD-R surface spectrum compares with reference spectra for polycarbonate, bisphenyl-A. I am not knowledgable about the manufacture and composition of CD-Rs, but it seems that bisphenyl-A, or a similar compound, is recrystallizing on the CD-R surface.
Can anyone provide more enlightened interpretation of this data?
i've microtomed some glass/multilayer coating surfaces. this tends to make a mess of the knife (try a used diamond). you need to pick up the "pieces" on a filmed grid and hunt for a good area. the pieces are really fractured instead of cut so there is a lot of variation in them. its really not too difficult, but it may end up being costly.
good luck! b- ************************************************************ } } } Hello: } } I have a glass (leaded glass) tube, about 0.5 cm in diameter. The inside } wall of the tube has been leached leaving behind a porous silica network } with pores about 500 nm in size. The thickness of the leached layer is } estimated to be about 400 nm. We would like to prepare cross sections to } look at the glass/leached layer interface and to be able to actually measure } the thickness of the leached layer. I'm wondering if anyone has suggestions } or experience on preparing samples such as these for TEM ?. Tripod } polishing is a possibility , but the leached layer might not survive the } polishing. Has anyone tried microtomy with this type samples?. } } Suggestions are welcomed. } } Thanks } } Jordi Marti
Pardon me if someone has already addressed this inquiry, but what did the manufacturer say about the "spotty CD-Rs"??? They should at least have a theory about what you are seeing, and might save us some time and speculation, here. I would recommend you speak to them before running any major investigations of your own.
Gregg Sobocinski Parke-Davis Pharmaceuticals Ann Arbor, Michigan USA Gregg.Sobocinski-at-wl.com
-----Original Message----- } From: James Martin [mailto:James.S.Martin-at-williams.edu] Sent: Friday, December 03, 1999 9:45 AM To: MSA listserver
First, thanks to all who replied to my inquiry about "spotty CD-Rs." One respondent described a similar problem with CD-Rs (CDQ-74BN) from the same manufacturer. My disks are all CDQ-74CN.
Since posting the inquiry I've inspected CD-Rs written in 9/1999, and one of these showed crystalline spots - which developed since the disk was written and kept in dark storage at moderate T and RH.
This morning I sampled and analyzed the crystalline material using FTIR microscopy. The crystalline sample spectrum compares with reference spectra for bisphenyl-A. The CD-R surface spectrum compares with reference spectra for polycarbonate, bisphenyl-A. I am not knowledgable about the manufacture and composition of CD-Rs, but it seems that bisphenyl-A, or a similar compound, is recrystallizing on the CD-R surface.
Can anyone provide more enlightened interpretation of this data?
} Pardon me if someone has already addressed this inquiry, but what did } the manufacturer say about the "spotty CD-Rs"??? They should at least } have a theory about what you are seeing, and might save us some time and } speculation, here. I would recommend you speak to them before running } any major investigations of your own.
Repeated calls to the manufacturer ended in a voice mail tree. I have reported the problem, but have not received a reply.
What has been an inconvenience for me, may be a more serious problem for other list members who use CD-R but are unaware of this potential deterioration. Empirical observations showed that crystals can form after CD-Rs are written and stored, rendering data inaccessible. My series of analyses took little time - the beauty of FTIR microscopy - but suggested an experimental composition and source of the crystals.
So ... just be aware.
Jamie
On Fri, 3 Dec 1999, Sobocinski, Gregg wrote:
} Pardon me if someone has already addressed this inquiry, but what did the } manufacturer say about the "spotty CD-Rs"??? They should at least have a } theory about what you are seeing, and might save us some time and } speculation, here. I would recommend you speak to them before running any } major investigations of your own. } } Gregg Sobocinski } Parke-Davis Pharmaceuticals } Ann Arbor, Michigan } USA } Gregg.Sobocinski-at-wl.com } } } -----Original Message----- } From: James Martin [mailto:James.S.Martin-at-williams.edu] } Sent: Friday, December 03, 1999 9:45 AM } To: MSA listserver } Subject: additional info about spotty CD-Rs } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } First, thanks to all who replied to my inquiry about "spotty CD-Rs." } One respondent described a similar problem with CD-Rs (CDQ-74BN) from the } same manufacturer. My disks are all CDQ-74CN. } } Since posting the inquiry I've inspected CD-Rs written in 9/1999, and one } of these showed crystalline spots - which developed since the disk was } written and kept in dark storage at moderate T and RH. } } This morning I sampled and analyzed the crystalline material using FTIR } microscopy. The crystalline sample spectrum compares with reference } spectra for bisphenyl-A. The CD-R surface spectrum compares with } reference spectra for polycarbonate, bisphenyl-A. I am not knowledgable } about the manufacture and composition of CD-Rs, but it seems that } bisphenyl-A, or a similar compound, is recrystallizing on the CD-R } surface. } } Can anyone provide more enlightened interpretation of this data? } } Jamie } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------- } } James Martin } Director of Analytical Services & Research } Williamstown Art Conservation Center } james_martin.tripod.com/dasr.htm } } Research Scientist in Chemistry } Williams College } james_martin.tripod.com/williams.htm } } *** Please don't send e-mail attachments. Cut-and-paste text into the } body of an e-mail message. *** } }
I am working on the PET/PEN blends. Now I try to get the microsturcture images of this Polymer blends by TEM. However, From the frist experiment, I did not get very good images. Please suggest about "the sample Preparation".
Again I am an unexperienced and very new in this area.
I've used matrigel as well as collagen to coat culture dish and coverslip surfaces so my tissue culture would grow and proceeded to have no problems fixing them for EM. It would help to have more information about the problems you are having. Tina
"Optimizing Light Microscopy for Biological and Clinical Laboratories" was written just for this purpose. Jim Pawley has been using it at both U. WI and UBC; Dave Knecht uses it at UConn. Has learning objectives at the beginning of each chapter as well as short quizzes at the end. Covers both basic principles and has a detailed section on fluorescence... even a bit on confocal.
Classroom discounts are also available. Please see MME-Microscopy.com/education for further details.
CAVEAT: MME does have a commercial interest in this book.
Best regards, Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater productivity.
125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} ******************************************************
At 11:40 AM 12/2/99 -0700, Soumitra Ghoshroy wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Could you please let us know the manufacturer? We've got 3 or 4 different brands over the few years we've been burning CDs. How old were these disks?
Regards, Glen
Glen MacDonald Research Scientist Hearing Research Laboratories of the Virginia Merrill Bloedel Hearing Research Center Box 35-7923 University of Washington Seattle, WA 98195-7923 (206) 616-4156 glenmac-at-u.washington.edu
You're showing the life sciences general view of sectioning such material, Chris. In what is loosely termed 'materials science' microtomy, this would not be that great a challenge if all that is desired is the thickness. I don't want to steal Phil Swab's thunder, but in case he doesn't see this, the trick would be to break the tube and embed (with good infiltration re the porosity!) a pointed shard with sharp end towards the block face. (Treating the glass with a silane coupling agent - Dow Corning Z-6040 to enhance adhesion would help). Then section away. Phil has used this method for all manner of glasses, plus thin film coatings such as - hold your breath - boron nitride on diamond on silicon substrate (see Microscopy Research and Technique, vol. 31, p. 308, 1995).
I agree with your FIB comments whole-heartedly, but would also not be surprised if tripod polishing worked. Again, good infiltration would be the key, I suspect, though I am no expert on tripoding.
Tom Malis
---------- From: Chris Jeffree [SMTP:cjeffree-at-srv0.bio.ed.ac.uk] Sent: December 03, 1999 4:43 AM To: microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com Subject: Re: Glass Interface
------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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
} From: Chris Jeffree {cjeffree-at-srv0.bio.ed.ac.uk} To: "Marti, Jordi" {Jordi.Marti-at-alliedsignal.com} Subject: Re: Glass Interface Copies to: microsopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com Send reply to: c.jeffree-at-ed.ac.uk Date sent: Fri, 3 Dec 1999 09:37:59 +0000
Dear Jordi Conventional microtomy won't work on this kind of hard brittle friable material. The most effective method to section hard, brittle material such as glass, silica, ceramics, for TEM is to use a FIB. FIB (focussed ion beam) sections are made routinely by the microelectronics industry to examine the structure of their silicon devices and the interfaces between the fabricated layers. I don't know who offers a service of this kind in the US but I could put you in touch with a colleague in UK with whom we collaborate in providing a service for sectioning of devices. Alternatively, I could arrange the whole job
for you, if that would be useful, and I would be willing to quote you for the work.
An alternative to TEM would be to fracture the tube, or cut and polish it to produce a specimen suitable for SEM. Field emission SEM at low kV is especially good for this kind of porous dielectric material, which will be difficult to coat with a continuous conductive layer. Yours sincerely Chris Jeffree } } Hello: } } I have a glass (leaded glass) tube, about 0.5 cm in diameter. The inside } wall of the tube has been leached leaving behind a porous silica network } with pores about 500 nm in size. The thickness of the leached layer is } estimated to be about 400 nm. We would like to prepare cross sections to } look at the glass/leached layer interface and to be able to actually measure } the thickness of the leached layer. I'm wondering if anyone has suggestions } or experience on preparing samples such as these for TEM ?. Tripod } polishing is a possibility , but the leached layer might not survive the } polishing. Has anyone tried microtomy with this type samples?. } } Suggestions are welcomed. } } Thanks } } Jordi Marti
===================================================================== DR CHRIS JEFFREE BIOSEM - BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES EM FACILITY UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH Daniel Rutherford Building King's Buildings, Mayfield Road EDINBURGH, EH9 3JH, Scotland, UK Tel. #44 131 650 5345 FAX. #44 131 650 6563 Mobile 0410 585 401 email c.jeffree-at-ed.ac.uk SEM / TEM bookings sem-at-ed.ac.uk
I've spoken with one or two persons about this but have not collected specifics. Can someone out there recommend (or discourage me from attempting to buy) an automated TEM negative processor? We'd like to be able to somehow take a stack of exposed 3.25 x 4-in. negatives (Kodak SO-163), pop them into a machine, and have them come out developed, dry, and 'archival.'
Please let me know what's out there.
Thank you
Scott Robinson (sjrobin-at-uiuc.edu) Imaging Technology Group Beckman Institute University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
On Fri, 3 Dec 1999, tschwach wrote:} } } I've used matrigel as well as collagen to coat culture dish and coverslip } surfaces so my tissue culture would grow and proceeded to have no problems } fixing them for EM. It would help to have more information about the } problems you are having. } Tina } } Tina, I spoke with Kathy about the matrigel, so I think I can relate the concerns. I have had samples where the cells were seeded in a layer of matrigel. The thickness of the layer was somewhere between 3-5mm, and it was in a plastic multi-well plate. Between the thickness of the matrigel, and the fact that plastic friendly dehydrating solvents had to be used, infiltration was less than ideal. Removing the matrigel from the plate was not an option. Now, after the clarification, has anyone had good success getting such a sample embeded? Randy
Randy Nessler rnessler-at-emiris.iaf.uiowa.edu Views expressed are my own.
Dear Listers, Does anyone have a protocol to remove methacrylate plastic from tissue sections using 1-acetoxy-2-methoxyethane? Rosemary
Rosemary Walsh, Manager The Electron Microscope Facility for the Life Sciences, A Shared Technology Facility, The Life Sciences Consortium 1 South FrearLab Penn State University University Park, PA 16802 (814) 865-0212 rw9-at-psu.edu http://www.lsc.psu.edu/stf/em/home.html
I am pleased to announce that the Live-cell Course continues to grow and prosper. We have worked with over 100 students from 22 contries over the past 4 years and the need seems to keep on growing.
3D Microscopy of Living Cells is IN!
We hope that those with a strong interest in this topic will be able to join us in UBC next summer.
Basic info is below but you can get the entire brochure at
=46ifth Annual INTERNATIONAL 10-Day Short Course on
3D Microscopy of Living Cells June 19 - 29, 2000
=46ourth, Post-course Workshop on
3D Image Processing, July 1 - 3, 2000
Organized by Prof. James Pawley, (University of Wisconsin-Madison) (SEE SABBATICAL ADDRESS AT END OF MESSAGE)
in association with Dr. Elaine Humphrey UBC BioSciences Microscopy Facility: University of British Columbia Vancouver, BC, Canada
DATES
Applications must be received by March 1, 2000 Deposit due April 15, 2000 Registration 5:00 - 7:00 PM Sunday, June 18, 2000 =46irst Lecture 7:30 PM Sunday, June 18, 2000 Live-cell Course ends, noon Thursday, June 29, 2000
APPLICATIONS DUE BY MARCH 1, 2000
More information at : http://www.cs.ubc.ca/spider/ladic/course/bulletin.html
or
REGARDING COURSE ORGANIZATION:
Prof. James B. Pawley, (on Sabbatical) Room LG 10, Madsen Building, F-09, University of Sydney, NSW, 2006 Australia
Dr. Elaine Humphrey, Biosciences EM Facility Biosciences Building Univ. of British Columbia 6270 University Blvd. Vancouver, BC, V6T-1Z4
THE PURPOSE OF THE COURSE
Modern methods of 3D light microscopy promise a revolutionary improvement in our ability to view living cells. To help convert this promise to reality for a wider selection of biological scientists, an intensive eleven-day residential course concentrating on all aspects of 3D Microscopy of Living Cells will be held at the University of British Columbia, in June of 2000. The course includes 4 days on 2D techniques, 6 days of 3D techniques and a summary presentation. It covers basic microscopy to the highest level confocal microscopy. (A half-day Pre-course is offered for any who may need to brush up on basic optics!).
Topics include: o Quantitative 2D light microscopy o How to keep your cells alive o 3D imaging in confocal microscopy o Widefield/deconvolution techniques o Two-photon excitation microscopy o Fluorescent and backscattered light signals o Dye design, characteristics and use o Pixelation: The Nyquist Criterion o Lasers and laser tweezers o Objectives and aberrations o Scanning-systems: AODs and mirrors o Optimal pinhole size/photon efficiency o Detectors: operation and performance o Video-rate confocal imaging o Measuring ion concentrations o Display and measurement of 3D data
Morning lecture/demonstrations lead to hands-on laboratory exercises each afternoon that will utilize most of the commercial instruments currently available for 3D microscopic imaging. Students will work in groups of 3 or 4 throughout the discussion and laboratory sessions, and may complete a live-cell 3D study on their own specimens. In the first four years, over 100 students from 22 countries have attended. Last year, 11 separate, 3D microscopical workstations were available for student use under the supervision of a 17-member international faculty. We expect to have even more workstations in 2000. Including manufacturers representatives, the teacher/ student ratio will be almost 2:1.
INTERNATIONAL FACULTY
o Stephen Adams University of California-SD o Ping Chin Cheng SUNY, Buffalo o Rachel Errington University of Oxford o Stephan Hell Max Planck Institute, Goettingen o Ted Inou=E9 Universal Imaging, PA o Iain Johnson Molecular Probes, OR o Larry Keenan Cell Robotics, NM o Ernst Keller Carl Zeiss, Thornwood, NY o Felix Margadant University of Sydney o Tim Murphy University of British Columbia o Sigrid Myrdal Multidimensional Imaging, WA o Jim Pawley University of Wisconsin-Madison o Steve Potter California Institute of Technology o Jason Swedlow University of Aberdeen o Michael Weis Agriculture Canada o Nick White Oxford University
TUITION
Course tuition is $2,150 US and includes lunches. On receipt of 50% deposit, students will receive preliminary group assignments and the textbook, Handbook of Biological Confocal Microscopy, (Plenum, 1995). The tuition fee includes the textbook, a binder of handouts, and tickets for the Opening Reception, the Manufacturer's Reception and the Beach Party. Accommodations and meals other than lunch are not included in the tuition fee. The Pre-course is $100 US.
APPLICATIONS
Applicants will complete a questionnaire to assess knowledge level and field of interest. Enrollment is limited to about 24 participants. Selection will be made on the basis of background and perceived need. Those without previous LM experience will be provided with basic texts on request to read before the course begins and are encouraged to take the Pre-course on the afternoon of June 18.
Application forms, and other course information from this and past years, can be downloaded from the WWW site at:
Dr. Elaine Humphrey, Biosciences EM Facility Biosciences Building Univ. of British Columbia 6270 University Blvd. Vancouver, BC, V6T-1Z4 Phone: 1-604.822-3354 FAX: 1-604.265-5315 Email: ech-at-unixg.ubc.ca.
Application deadlines:
Application forms are due by March 1, 2000! Deadlines are early to facilitate setting up groups. Successful applicants will be notified by April 1, and a deposit of 50% must be received by April 15, 2000 to reserve your position. In general, deposit refunds are only be possible if your position can be filled from the waiting list. The remainder of the fees is due at registration.
DATES
Applications must be received by March 1, 2000 Deposit due April 15 2000 Registration 5:00 - 7:00 PM Sunday, June 18, 2000 =46irst Lecture 7:30 PM Sunday, June 18, 2000 Live-cell Course ends, noon Thursday, June 29, 2000
TEACHING PHILOSOPHY
As befits teaching in an area at the boundary of "what is now known," lecturers have been chosen based on their expertise as scientists working in the field rather than because they all agree. They are encouraged more to be provocative than to be prosaic. Students should expect discussion in areas where differences of opinion exist.
Prior to the course, students will be organized into groups and encouraged to communicate by email/phone, about the "Living-cell" group projects that they will pursue during the course and that will be presented to the class on the last day of the course. It has been found that group interactions make best use of students' prior experience and can be very effective in teaching the practical skills covered in a hands-on course of this type.
ARRANGEMENTS FOR LIVE SAMPLES
Students must contact Dr. Elaine Humphrey to make necessary arrangements for the transport and maintenance of cell lines etc. needed for their projects. Organisms linked in any way with human disease are not permitted because of safety considerations. Transport and customs arrangements for living specimens are entirely the responsibility of the student. Students also attending the 3D Image Processing Course, may be able to analyze, process and display some of the 3D data collected from their specimens
The workshop will cover 3D image processing for measurement and display. Enrollment is limited to those attending the 3D Microscopy course. Tuition : $850 US (lunches and snacks incl.)
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
The course is designed for biologists working with multidimensional and possibly multicolor microscopical data sets. Getting the data is only half of the battle. Image data in 3, 4 or even 5 dimensions may be difficult to store let alone analyze or display. This course is to help students understand the hardware and software aspects of this problem and give them the techniques they need to make the best use of their data.
The course is designed for biologists who need to make measurements on 3D microscopical data sets and then display the results in an effective manner. The course will be taught on SGI, Macintosh and IBM-compatible computers. A wide variety of software designed for the 3D microscopy market will be described, demonstrated and available for use.
Workshop Organizers
o Nick White Oxford University, UK o Felix Margadant University of Sydney, Au
=46aculty
o Ping Chin Cheng State U. of New York, Buffalo o Rachel Errington University of Bristol, UK o Dan Brown Bruxton Assoc., Seattle WA o Chris MacLean Vaytek Inc., IA o Sigrid Myrdal Multidimensional Imaging, WA
PLAN OF INSTRUCTION Classes will meet from 8:30-12:00 and 1:00-6:00 with lecture-demonstrations followed immediately by hands-on laboratory sessions using a variety of workstations. Students will "learn-by-doing" with two to a machine. Lab handouts will describe some specific exercises to be performed on "canned" data sets. Facilities and supervision will be available until 11:00 PM, for students to work on their own data. **************************************** Prof. James B. Pawley, (on Sabbatical) Ph. 61-2-9351-7548/2351 Room LG 10, Madsen Building, F-09, FAX 61-2-9351-7682 University of Sydney, NSW, 2006 Australia JBPAWLEY-at-FACSTAFF.WISC.EDU "A scientist is not one who can answer questions but one who can question answers." Theodore Schick Jr., Skeptical Enquirer, 21-2:39
Nestor, I could not have the webmaster do another page, so I am sending the message again:
The Microscopy Center at Lehigh University wishes to hire a person who has computing and electronic skills to work with electron microscopes. Training on the microscopes will be given if needed. The formal job description can be found on our website at www.lehigh.edu/~inhro/jobs.html.
We are looking for a person with general computer skills (software and hardware familiarity with Windows and Macs) and preferably with some electronic skills ( general maintenance and repair of power supplies and other circuits).
The person appointed will work with two other staff members to maintain and operate the electron microscopes of the Center; will train students in the use of the microscopes and other equipment; will assist the department of Materials Science and Engineering in its computer needs; will develop remote control systems for the electron microscopes and, in general, will handle a variety or related problems.
Lehigh University offers a generous benefit package and competitive salary.
Send resume and letter of interest along with salary requirements and references to Jennifer Mohney, Human Resources, 428 Brodhead Avenue, Bethlehem, Pa 18015
also look at some of the other invisible sample links in the TEM section of Tips & Tricks
http://www.biotech.ufl.edu/~emcl/tips.html
Basically use eosin B or fast green
At 12:19 PM 11/30/99 -0500, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I've spoken with one or two persons about this but have not collected specifics. Can someone out there recommend (or discourage me from attempting to buy) an automated TEM negative processor? We'd like to be able to somehow take a stack of exposed 3.25 x 4-in. negatives (Kodak SO-163), pop them into a machine, and have them come out developed, dry, and 'archival.'
Please let me know what's out there.
Thank you
Scott Robinson (sjrobin-at-uiuc.edu) Imaging Technology Group Beckman Institute University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
I've spoken with one or two persons about this but have not collected specifics. Can someone out there recommend (or discourage me from attempting to buy) an automated TEM negative processor? We'd like to be able to somehow take a stack of exposed 3.25 x 4-in. negatives (Kodak SO-163), pop them into a machine, and have them come out developed, dry, and 'archival.'
Please let me know what's out there.
Thank you
Scott Robinson (sjrobin-at-uiuc.edu) Imaging Technology Group Beckman Institute University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
For those of you attending Cell Biology (Dec 10-15, Washington DC Convention Center): Dr. Manfred Hubert and Dr. Steven Ross (U. Toronto) will be available to answer questions regarding fluorescence in the EFOS booth, #546. We have found them a valuable resource on safety issues (ex: ozone reduction), spectral characteristics of fluorescence systems, and photobleaching.
Best regards, Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater productivity.
125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education}
Anne Marie Cooper Erik Pauls Geoff Avern C. Michael Stanley
Thanks in advance!
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* ****************************************************************************
In going through some lights I bought at the university auction I came up with and old Leitz projection microscope. A poor jpg is at http://www.couger.com/images/leitz.jpg
It is a cast iron X frame with loupe like optics of about 6 & 12 power It has a condenser,lamp house and helical focus. It is Marked Ernst Leitz Wetlser Germany. The only other mark I can find it Germany on one lens. The body is enameled brass. From the look I would say it was made very early this century or late last. It stands about 9 inches tall
Does anyone have any information on this? It seems to work great.
Thanks Gordon
Gordon Couger gcouger-at-couger.com
Stillwater, OK www.couger.com/gcouger 405 624-2855 GMT -6:00 www.couger.com/gcouger
I asked about a photoquality printer that was networkable and faster than an inkjet. Here is a summary of the replies.
****************
You might consider a Tektronix 840P solid-ink printer. We use this printer for routine printing of reports, spectra, images, and transparencies. The printer is much faster than the Epson 740/750 and prints on plain paper, with surprising image quality. The cost is about $3000. For photo-quality prints we still rely on the Epson printers.
We decided on the Tektronix after evaluating Sony and Kodak full-page dye-sub printers and the Pictography.
*****
..our department has a number of networked Tektronix Phaser printers at various levels of quality. They are generally a good company, although when the ink, etc. components run out they're pretty expensive. I think we have a Phaser 330 and 550 that are decent intermediate printers. Cost probably in range of $1000-$2000 (just guessing because our network administrator handles all this). I also have the Epson Stylus Photo in my lab, and while it is quicker per print than the Phaser 550, it doesn't handle either multiple prints (} 5) or any transparencies very well. The Phaser 550 gives better overall quality prints than the Epson, does multiples well, and does an excellent job with transparencies. You may want to check their web site at: http://www.tektronix.com
*****
Alps makes a dye sub printers which are very good. We have the MD 1300. The photo quality images are excellent, but they require the special paper and ribbons from Alps. These printer are not very expensive ( { $400), but they are relatively slow (5 to 10 minutes /print). The Epson Stylus Photo printers are much faster, but have a dottier image.
*****
We use a dye-sublimation printer for images. The one nice advantage that this type of printer offers is the ability to make publication-ready glossy prints (on glossy paper anyway).
The resolution of the printer is 300 DPI, which is more than enough resolution for most journals; who tend to reduce the prints anyway.
*****
Alps makes a relatively inexpensive (~$700US) dyesub. There are some new inkjet printers which, when used with the proper paper and new archival inks, , make not only beautiful images but also permanent ones. There is a review of the latest inkjets in the Computershopper magazine (some go as high as 2400x1200 dpi) and if you do a web search on"quad-black" you will find references to archival inks and photographic papers.
*****
I am answering your inquiry off list. We market a new product for Epson printers that replaces the three color ink cartridges with three black ink cartridges. For those who need highest quality grayscale printing, this configuration greatly widens the grayscale palette. The ink will be archival when printed on special inkjet photo paper.
The product will only work as a plug-in to PhotoShop and drivers must be developed for each Epson printer individually. If you specify which Epson printer model you would use for your grayscale printing, I'll let you know if that model is supported yet.
*****
If you are not getting any useful responses here, why not try one of the usenet groups that deal with digital photography and/or printers. I've found lots of help there.
I did this and got one useful reply.....
HP, and Tektronics, both make excellent color laser printers. Tektronics is rumored to be selling this part of their business to Xerox however. This is not a bad thing, just thought I'd pass it along. Color lasers produce excellent quality prints, and they are much more durable!
*****************
And what have I done?.....
I sent images to both Tektronix and QMS to print out on their laser printers. QMS Magicolor 2 EX (2400x600dpi, laser, A4) pics were disappointing with horizontal banding on the colour images and unnatural colour (hot pink skin tones), though the EM's looked good. Didn't make a good impression: I'd have expected better when they knew there was a sale imminent. The Tektronix 840P (1200dpi, solid ink) was the most impressive of the Tek range when viewed through a hand lens, but from a distance the prints from the Tek 840DP, 740P (1200dpi, A4, laser) and 780GN (1200dpi, A3, laser) were equally good. Comparing with the same prints on coated paper from the Epson Stylus Photo (720dpi), there was very little difference; the Epson just had the edge. For routine printing of images, the laser printer is quite adequate. For best quality - the Epson. As the 840 prints can't be hot-laminated, I chose the 740. Because the 780, with A3 printing, was tempting but considerably more expensive than the 740, I'm buying an Epson 1200 ink jet as well - don't need A3 often and this way I also get a better photoquality printer than I already have. It's been more than paid for by shopping around for the best price. Because of the cost of the prints on the ink jet, not having it networkable is an advantage in a large group!
Thanks everyone,
Diana
Diana van Driel Department of Clinical Ophthalmology Sydney University GPO Box 4337 Sydney NSW AUSTRALIA 2001
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Diana, Thanks a lot for summarizing your responses. However, I am curious as to your original post. Did you specifically set a price limit on the printers? I noticed that you did not have any posts regarding the Codonics=
printers. These are quite expensive ($10-12,000) but give superb publication quality images. The model 1660 is a thermal/dye-sub printer. = You can print thermal images on a special paper at the cost of about $.55 per print. These are very high quality and rival the more expensive dye-sub prints (~$2.00 ea). However, color must be done using the dye sublimation method and can be with or without a protective overcoat (~$1.00 additional cost). The other thing I like about this printer is that it is a stand-alone UNIX printer which permits you to adjust gamma, contrast, and color from the printer end....so you do not have to continually adjust the original file unless you want to go this route. You also can do various printer formating as multiple images to a page from separt files, captions, etc. I=
tend to format pages with different sizes of images in PhotoShop but you can also do this by programming the printer. You can also keep track of each users printing for easy billing. This may be helpful for some networke= d printers. =20 I have no direct interest in this product...just a satisfied customer.
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
Diana van Driel wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America=20
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Hi all, I just wanted to thank everyone who responded to my post:
"We are cleaning out our shelves and want to try to sell a couple of hundred vacuum tubes of the types used in the power cabinets of the Philips EM-200 transmission EM. Many of the tubes have never been used but we also have some used ones from a number of old power cabinets in storage.
We would like to find out if there is still a market value for the tubes and where we should advertise them so they find a new owner rather than go to the local landfill. We would like to recoup some of the cost of the tubes if possible to help offset installation costs of some new equipment."
I received many responses with some of the best advise to go to the web as there are many vacuum tube venders out there. I did just that and found out that there is indeed a thriving market for vacuum tubes...primarily in the larger power tubes used in the old TEM power cabinets. So don't throw them away!! Do hit the web and you may be surprised at the value of some of these old components.
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
id xma010527; Mon, 6 Dec 99 10:14:47 -0600 Received: by SVARLEXC05 with Internet Mail Service (5.5.2448.0) id {X6ZN316Y} ; Mon, 6 Dec 1999 10:13:48 -0600 Debby Sherman {sherman-at-btny.purdue.edu}
Debby, Have you tried Eosin? Just add enough to color the fixative a nice bright pink, and process as usual. Another way to do it is to add make a 1.5% solution of cobalt chloride in absolute ethanol, and using this as a stock solution, add 10 ml per 100 ml of absolute when processing. this colors the tiny stuff while dehydrating. Both of these methods are common in routine histology labs and do not interfere with immuno. Wanda Shotsberger Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth TX ---------- } From: Debby Sherman To: message to: MSA list -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
Hi, I was just given some VERY small roots to be fixed and embedded for ICC. Fixation is not a problem but I am not sure I can keep track of these very tiny root pieces once they are infiltrated and embedded in LR White. I would like to stain them with something that is not soluble in ETOH and will also not interfer with the ICC labeling. Any suggestions? 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
We are tasked with characterizing preparations of dry, powdered, milled bacteria such as spores of Bacillus globigii and B. thuringensis using our JEOL 6300FV. We have been using rather crude methods to transfer some of the powdered preparations to stubs covered with double-sticky tape. These stubs are then sputter-coated by a Denton Desk II. Our primary concern is ensuring that we have transferred a representative powder sample to the stub. That is, are all size ranges of particles represented in the sample. The size range of interest is 1 to 20 microns. Size, shape, and number of particles are the parameters we wish to measure (using, we hope, IP-plus).
Are any of you aware of standard or traditional protocols for handling this kind of material? We are complete IPP novices; any suggestions in properly using this software package to perform our analysis?
/John/
John D. Wright, Ph.D. Microbiologist West Desert Test Center Dugway, UT 84022
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
JoAnn - My two cents .. San Francisco State University (where I am presently writing from, and completing my M.A. thesis) offers a course on Electron Microscopy once a year in the Fall semester (late Aug - December). The course number is Biology 741. Whether they'll take outside students is a topic I cannot give an answer to, but you could investigate this by contacting the person in charge, Gregory Antipa. His phone number is (415) 338-2951. This campus is located in San Francisco, CA near the Stonestown Galleria and near Lake Merced (in the southern part of the city). Nelson Conti P.S. This campus has a world-wide web address: www.sfsu.edu There is considerable information regarding class schedules, etc. on that web page or links within it.
Does anyone have a method for removing epoxy that doesn't involve sodium ethoxide or methoxide? I need to do this so that I can decalcify some blocks that unexpectedly turned out to have more heavily calcified areas than they should have. Thanks.
Does anyone have a preferred method for storage of chromium coated samples? I'd guess that storage under vacuum or in an inert gas is the way to go, but I'm curious as to any "pet" methods folks might have, if any.
Thanks! Randy
Randy Tindall EM Specialist Electron Microscopy Core Facility W122 Veterinary Medicine Bldg. University of Missouri Columbia, MO 65211 (573)882-8304 tindallr-at-missouri.edu http://www.biotech.missouri.edu/emc/
To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } From: ard-at-ansto.gov.au (Arthur Day)
Hello all. We have a LEO 910 TEM of which we want to install a Handy camera system, apart from the available film plate camera. Which one is better? Thanks, KIVAMBE.
Tian Huang wrote: ============================================ Hi, there, Could anybody tell me where I can get cryo-SEM done? Thanks! ============================================ The laboratories of Structure Probe, Inc. have offered, since about 1985, as part of our laboratory analytical services, fast turnaround cryo-SEM services. We use Oxford/Hexland equipment and it is interfaced to a JEOL Model 840 SEM. We would be happy to offer a proposal for any work that you might want to be doing.
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.spi.cc ######################## ============================================
As other EM labs on Oahu have closed down in the past decade, I have willingly scavenged their leftovers. Now I am faced with clearing out my pack-rat space. A question arises about epoxy (mostly) resin components that are from ca. 1992 and have remained unopened. Will any of them still be OK? I have used old stocks of Epon812 that have been fine, but not the anhydrides. I also have an old, unopened GMA kit. Can I still use this stuff, or is it time to have it carted off?
Thanks in advance!
Mahalo, 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* ****************************************************************************
Clearing out my junk, I find I still have the complete manual for the Philips 75 TEM. Does anyone want it? It has dates on it ranging from 1959 to 1964, and our user book goes through 1973...
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* ****************************************************************************
John D. Wright wrote: ================================================== We are tasked with characterizing preparations of dry, powdered, milled bacteria such as spores of Bacillus globigii and B. thuringensis using our JEOL 6300FV. We have been using rather crude methods to transfer some of the powdered preparations to stubs covered with double-sticky tape. These stubs are then sputter-coated by a Denton Desk II. Our primary concern is ensuring that we have transferred a representative powder sample to the stub . That is, are all size ranges of particles represented in the sample. The size range of interest is 1 to 20 microns. Size, shape, and number of particles are the parameters we wish to measure (using, we hope, IP-plus).
Are any of you aware of standard or traditional protocols for handling this kind of material? We are complete IPP novices; any suggestions in properly using this software package to perform our analysis? ====================================================== It sounds like the SPI Tacky Dot™ Slides would stand a good chance of working in this application. You really should be getting a representative sampling of the particles present. For particles less than about 2-3 um you would probably see some doublets or triplets, based on the use of the 15 um dot size product.
More information about the Tacky Dot Slides can be found on URL http://www.2spi.com/new/tacky.html
Disclaimer: SPI Supplies manufactures under license from DuPont the line of Tacky Dot Slides so we would have a vested interest in seeing high volumes used of these slides.
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.spi.cc ######################## ============================================
Can't offer useful advice but I know the problem. When I started here in 1989 I found that a previous technician must have blown a budget surplus on resin kits. Bad move! In those days a volatile component was supplied in glass vials with plastic pop on lids. Suffice to say they were all empty by the time I started, leaving me with dozens of incomplete resin kits!
Dave
On Mon, 6 Dec 1999 19:04:57 -1000 (HST) Tina Carvalho {tina-at-pbrc.hawaii.edu} wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Hi, all- } } As other EM labs on Oahu have closed down in the past decade, I have } willingly scavenged their leftovers. Now I am faced with clearing out my } pack-rat space. A question arises about epoxy (mostly) resin components } that are from ca. 1992 and have remained unopened. Will any of them still } be OK? I have used old stocks of Epon812 that have been fine, but not the } anhydrides. I also have an old, unopened GMA kit. Can I still use this } stuff, or is it time to have it carted off? } } Thanks in advance! } } Mahalo, } 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* } **************************************************************************** } }
---------------------------------------- Patton, David Email: David.Patton-at-uwe.ac.uk "University of the West of England"
My own experience has shown variable results in using older resins. If the resins (including anhydrides) have not been opened, they may be ok. The main thing to check upon opening is the color--DDSA and NMA discolor quite badly. Another clue is during mixing of the components. Anhydrides that are off will give a distinct orange to red/orange color in the final mixture. However, when in doubt, throw it out (that's my motto).
Roger Moretz Dept of Toxicology Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals
} -----Original Message----- } From: Tina Carvalho [SMTP:tina-at-pbrc.hawaii.edu] } Sent: Tuesday, December 07, 1999 12:05 AM } To: Microscopy Listserver } Subject: shelf life of resin components } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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- } } As other EM labs on Oahu have closed down in the past decade, I have } willingly scavenged their leftovers. Now I am faced with clearing out my } pack-rat space. A question arises about epoxy (mostly) resin components } that are from ca. 1992 and have remained unopened. Will any of them still } be OK? I have used old stocks of Epon812 that have been fine, but not the } anhydrides. I also have an old, unopened GMA kit. Can I still use this } stuff, or is it time to have it carted off? } } Thanks in advance! } } Mahalo, } 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* } ************************************************************************** } ** }
There are many advantages to having one general list for all microscopies. However, there are also many disadvantages. My primary interests are in the Physical Sciences, and I am not interested in many of Biological topics that come up. As a consequence the utility of this list for me has dropped a lot as the volume of messages has increased.
I think it is time to split this list into two, one for Biology and one for the Physical Sciences. Of course, emails can still be sent to both lists if the topic is appropriate enough.
Comments?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Laurence Marks Department of Materials Science and Engineering Northwestern University fax: (847) 491-7820 mailto:l-marks-at-nwu.edu http://www.numis.nwu.edu ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hello all. We have a LEO 910 TEM of which we want to install a Handy camera system, apart from the available film plate camera. Which one is better? Thanks, KIVAMBE.
At 8:04 AM -0600 12/7/99, L. D. Marks wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Please note new FAX number.
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) 763-2282 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"
Unfortunately, when lists split they often fall below critical mass and die. I, too, get more posts that I can't use than I can, but the signal/noise is still much better than on the usenet.
Just my 2 cents.
best regards mark
Mark W. Lund, PhD VP Engineering } } 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
"This is a YOUNG business...How can I tell you what YOUR job is when I don't know what MINE is?" --Pogo
} Date: Tue, 7 Dec 1999 09:46:39 -0600 (CDT ) } From: "L. D. Marks" {ldm-at-apollo.numis.nwu.edu} } X-Sender: ldm-at-node_4990f } To: Chris Adams {cadams-at-lanl.gov} } Subject: Re: Time for more than one list? } Mime-Version: 1.0 } } Perhaps send this to the mailserver...? } } On Tue, 7 Dec 1999, Chris Adams wrote: } } } That sounds like an excellent idea to me. I for one toss 98% of the } } messages being sent out courtesy of this list because they deal with things } } I care little about including: biological specimen prep., job postings, } } complaints about salaries..... I am also more intested in the physical } } sciences being a Northwestern Materials Science Dept. alum. (MS in } } Materials Science, 1981, Bruce Wessels). } } } } Chris } } } } } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } } } 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 } } } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } } } } } } There are many advantages to having one general list for all } } } microscopies. However, there are also many disadvantages. My } } } primary interests are in the Physical Sciences, and I am not } } } interested in many of Biological topics that come up. As a } } } consequence the utility of this list for me has dropped a lot } } } as the volume of messages has increased. } } } } } } I think it is time to split this list into two, one for Biology } } } and one for the Physical Sciences. Of course, emails can still } } } be sent to both lists if the topic is appropriate enough. } } } } } } Comments? } } } } } } ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ } } } Laurence Marks } } } Department of Materials Science and Engineering } } } Northwestern University } } } fax: (847) 491-7820 } } } mailto:l-marks-at-nwu.edu } } } http://www.numis.nwu.edu } } } ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ } } } } } } } } } } ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ } Laurence Marks } Department of Materials Science and Engineering } Northwestern University } fax: (847) 491-7820 } mailto:l-marks-at-nwu.edu } http://www.numis.nwu.edu } ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ }
{fontfamily} {param} Courier {/param} A new EELS and XAS tool to play with:
AT LAST, an EELS and XAS fine structure database exists at=20
http://www.cemes.fr/eelsdb/
The aim is to provide an extensive reference data collection.
This database is a compilation of outer-shell and inner-shell excitation spectra from EELS and X-ray investigations, which will form a catalog of fine structures for materials. It allows anyone to download spectra or to submit data.
The database will be in continual development (data will be updated), and, during the next six months, depending on your remarks, the presentation may be modified. Please feel free to send any question or idea to eelsdb-at-cemes.fr (or to sikora-at-lps.u-psud.fr or to serin-at-cemes.fr).
Data can be submitted automatically via Internet. The parameters of the spectra will be checked before incorporation of the data in the web site. All spectra are welcome, whatever their quality (energy resolution, signal to noise ratio,...). The justification for this is that both high and modest energy resolution information can be useful if these spectra exhibit changes in the fine structure.=20
- Raw data are for the moment preferred (no background subtraction, no plural scattering deconvolution or resolution sharpening. Dark current or gain variation correction is OK). Treated data are accepted when processing permits hidden features to be revealed. Details about the processing are required.
- For outer shells (low-loss domain), reduced thickness: 0.3 { { t/lambda { { 1 in order to offer features with optimised intensity.
- Associated low-loss data, recorded from the same area and in the same conditions (convergence angle, mode, probe size, spectrometer aperture) can also (and should) be submitted to offer users the possibility to correct for thickness effects, when the single scattering profile is needed). You must then submit the low loss data before the core-loss data.
X-Ray:
- 2-column Ascii
Some parameters are required, some others are optional.=20
My early training came from the Royal Microscopical Society in the UK. They routinely meet with joint sessions, bio & mat sci. I have to tell you that each of these groups has a lot to learn from the other and would seriously discourage splitting of this group.
An alternative: put an annotation in the header (ex: Bio: or MatS:.....). That way, those of us who are interested in learning on a broader scale can take advantage of the cross-pollination. Others who would like to stay more focused can just "clump and dump" the "uninteresting" messages.
Best regards, Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater productivity.
125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} ****************************************************** MME is America's first national consortium providing customized on-site workshops in all areas of microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis.
At 08:04 AM 12/7/99 -0600, L. D. Marks wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Since some of us are interested in both biological and physical sciences postings, perhaps a better way to handle this would be to have contributors code the subject with "B" for biological and "P" for physical. We could activate filters to remove any unwanted mailings.
I wouldn't look forward to subscribing to yet another list.
#################################################################### John J. Bozzola, Ph.D., Director Micro-Imaging and Analysis Center 750 Communications Drive - MC 4402 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 for one toss 98% of the } } messages being sent out courtesy of this list because they deal with= things } } I care little about including: biological specimen prep., job postin= gs, } } complaints about salaries.....
Working in the rubber industry, I discard more then 99% of all the info= rmation listservers send me, including this one. So what! I mean it's not lik= e I have to scrub out each message one character at a time. I read what I find interesting and discard the rest. My time (hope my boss doesn't see th= is) is not so valuable that extra 15 to 30 minutes a day can't be spend on dis= carding unwanted E-mail, and I often find "unrelated" information which is of v= alue to me.
I suspect there is some expense and effort in running and hosting a lis= t server, if you which to start your own, great, but let's not ask other = people to spend their time and effort to save us a few extra key strokes. Let= 's keep this server as it is and if you want, you can start your own list and I= will be happy to subscribe to it.
} L. D. Marks wrote: } } } } } There are many advantages to having one general list for all } } microscopies. However, there are also many disadvantages. My } } primary interests are in the Physical Sciences, and I am not } } interested in many of Biological topics that come up. As a } } consequence the utility of this list for me has dropped a lot } } as the volume of messages has increased. } } } } I think it is time to split this list into two, one for Biology } } and one for the Physical Sciences. Of course, emails can still } } be sent to both lists if the topic is appropriate enough. } } } } Comments? } } } } ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ } } Laurence Marks I would vote to keep one general list. You can often pick up useful information from threads you wouldn't ussually read. Plus, I don't think you are going to find another volunteer as good as Nestor to run another list.
Just my opinion, JD Arnott
--
LADD RESEARCH 131 Dorset Lane Williston, VT 05495
TEL 1-800-451-3406 (US) or 1-802-878-6711 (anywhere) FAX 1-802-878-8074 e-mail ladres-at-worldnet.att.net web site http://www.ladd.cc
I disagree, I find it very helpful to see all of the ideas which people have. If there is something that I am not interested in, the delete = key is only a keystroke away.
William McManus Supervisor Electron Microscopy Facility Department of Biology Utah State University Logan UT 84322-5305
billEMac-at-cc.usu.edu 435-797-1920
-----Original Message----- } From: John F. Mansfield [mailto:jfmjfm-at-engin.umich.edu] Sent: Tuesday, December 07, 1999 7:31 AM To: microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com
I agree, it seems to be time.
At 8:04 AM -0600 12/7/99, L. D. Marks wrote: } -----------------------------------------------------------------------= - } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of = America
Ann Fook Yang EM Unit, Eastern Cereal and Oilseed Research Centre, Rm 2091, K.W. Neatby Bldg., Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0C6
Phone: 613-759-1638 Fax; 613-759-1701
} } } Barbara Foster {mme-at-map.com} 12/07 12:10 PM } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America=20
On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html=20=
My early training came from the Royal Microscopical Society in the UK. They routinely meet with joint sessions, bio & mat sci. I have to tell = you that each of these groups has a lot to learn from the other and would seriously discourage splitting of this group.
An alternative: put an annotation in the header (ex: Bio: or MatS:.....).=
That way, those of us who are interested in learning on a broader scale can take advantage of the cross-pollination. Others who would like to stay more focused can just "clump and dump" the "uninteresting" messages.
Best regards, Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater productivity.
125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com=20 Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} ****************************************************** MME is America's first national consortium providing customized on-site workshops in all areas of microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis.
At 08:04 AM 12/7/99 -0600, L. D. Marks wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America=20=
Over the time this list has been in operation, I have often enjoyed reading about things people outside my own field have been doing.
However, the sheer volume of biological postings means that I now delete them all wholesale. By doing this, I am negating any possible advantage of cross-fertilization of ideas by reading the biological postings. It also has the disadvantage that I sometimes miss postings by them being buried in a mass of others (for example, I found Laurie's posting on this topic only after I read John Mansfield's reply).
On the other hand, how many topics are Instrumentation rather than materials or biological? For example, digital imaging issues are cross-discipline. Are all such postings to be sent to both lists? Or are we going to set up three lists? If so, should there be only three? Where will it all end?
I think there has to be an EXTREMELY compelling reason to change what is generally regarded as a most helpful, well-organized and successful aid to our work. I have great sympathy for Laurie's point of view. but I don't think it fits the description of an EXTREMELY compelling reason for change.
Tony G-R
} } } There are many advantages to having one general list for all } microscopies. However, there are also many disadvantages. My } primary interests are in the Physical Sciences, and I am not } interested in many of Biological topics that come up. As a } consequence the utility of this list for me has dropped a lot } as the volume of messages has increased. } } I think it is time to split this list into two, one for Biology } and one for the Physical Sciences. Of course, emails can still } be sent to both lists if the topic is appropriate enough. } } Comments? } } ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ } Laurence Marks } Department of Materials Science and Engineering } Northwestern University } fax: (847) 491-7820 } mailto:l-marks-at-nwu.edu } http://www.numis.nwu.edu } ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ } } }
One list only, please! For all the reasons given today and in the past.
Aloha, Tina
Surf's up, weather's fine. Now if I could only get out of this EM lab...
**************************************************************************** * 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* ****************************************************************************
Greetings, As long as the subject line is used wisely, there is little problem. Most folks use the subject line appropriately and it is no big deal to delete, un-read, messages on "tripod polishing" or "Salary comparisons", or whatever. The thing is that each one of us has a unique cross section of interests and expertise, and many would join both lists, causing the more catholic (small c) among us to get even more email. And those who joined just one list would reach a lesser gathering of wisdom.
My backscattered e's, Tobias Baskin _ ____ ^ __ ____ Tobias I. Baskin / \ / / \ / \ \ University of Missouri / | / / \ \ \ Biological Sciences /___/ /__ /___ \ \ \__ 109 Tucker Hall / / / \ \ \ Columbia, MO 65211-7400 USA / / / \ \ \ voice: 573-882-0173 / /____ / \ \__/ \____ fax: 573-882-0123
I would vote for the single list also. The titles of most topics are clear enough to differentiate Physical Sciences from Materials without any further reading and the delete button makes quick work of sorting the things that I'm not interested in.
Nestor does a great job running this one and there are a lot of things that are discussed that cross the materials/physical sciences boundaries (printers, image software, SEM care and feeding, etc.) that may be lost in a multiple list.
I think it's kind of funny we are voting anyway. This list is Nestor's baby and we're here because he takes the time to provide it for us. This list was not established as a democratic entity. There's nothing in it's "constitution" that gives anyone a "vote". His charter is not to listen to the masses and make changes based on their wants. You abide by the rules and if you don't like it you're free to go off and establish your own list at anytime. I'm sure Nestor wouldn't mind a post advertising these two new lists whenever they're established. As for me, I'll stay with this one.
John Giles Principal Materials Engineer Honeywell, Inc.
I have read the posts on having two lists and I too receive many emails that I am not interested in. However, what about general microscopy questions? There seems to be many of them and they are usually answered by either biologists or material scientists. I would suggest instead setting up some rules for posting in the subject heading. That way emails can easily be filtered through Outlook. For example BIO should begin each biological post and MAT and GEN can begin each materials and general post. This way there is one list and each individual can decide on the content that he wants by filtering out the posts. What does everybody think? Of course this is all subject to Nestors approval. ______________________________________________ Roberto Garcia Senior Analyst, Metallography NC State University / Analytical Instrumentation Facility Campus Box 7531 Room 318 EGRC 1010 Main Campus Dr. Raleigh, NC 27695-7531 (919) 515-8628 (919) 515-6965 Fax rgarcia-at-unity.ncsu.edu http://spm.aif.ncsu.edu/aif ____________________________________________
Dear Listservers: I agree with Mark. Some cross-discipline microscopy never hurt anyone...I don't think. Regards, Mike Coviello
"Dr. Mark W. Lund" 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 Laurence, } } Unfortunately, when lists split they often fall below } critical mass and die. I, too, get more posts that } I can't use than I can, but the signal/noise is } still much better than on the usenet. } } Just my 2 cents. } } best regards } mark } } Mark W. Lund, PhD } VP Engineering } } 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 } } "This is a YOUNG business...How can I tell you what } YOUR job is when I don't know what MINE is?" --Pogo
John: To count and sort in IPP, you will first need to calibrate your specimen from pixels to microns, then threshold to select just the items you want to sort. After that, measure them, then sort by whatever criteria you wish to use. It is a fairly straightforward process, once you figure out where the buttons are for all these steps. Feel free to contact me if you think I can help Wanda Shotsberger Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth TX. ---------- } From: Wright, John D. To: 'Microscopy List Server (E-mail)' -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We are tasked with characterizing preparations of dry, powdered, milled bacteria such as spores of Bacillus globigii and B. thuringensis using our JEOL 6300FV. We have been using rather crude methods to transfer some of the powdered preparations to stubs covered with double-sticky tape. These stubs are then sputter-coated by a Denton Desk II. Our primary concern is ensuring that we have transferred a representative powder sample to the stub. That is, are all size ranges of particles represented in the sample. The size range of interest is 1 to 20 microns. Size, shape, and number of particles are the parameters we wish to measure (using, we hope, IP-plus).
Are any of you aware of standard or traditional protocols for handling this kind of material? We are complete IPP novices; any suggestions in properly using this software package to perform our analysis?
/John/
John D. Wright, Ph.D. Microbiologist West Desert Test Center Dugway, UT 84022
I agree that unopened epoxy items should ok. We have used resins that are VERY old. I am currently using donated Spurr (Medium) pre-weighed mixture from June 1991. We were using some old TAAB Embedding Resin from 1983 a few months ago - it worked fine. I found a problem with "bulk" bottles when I uswed to weigh out mixtures from e.g. 250 ml bottles. The anhydrides increased in viscosity as they convert by hydrolysis to the acids. Also, opened bottles of accelerator do go "off" after some years.
-From: L. D. Marks {ldm-at-apollo.numis.nwu.edu} } } There are many advantages to having one general list for all } microscopies. However, there are also many disadvantages. My } primary interests are in the Physical Sciences, and I am not } interested in many of Biological topics that come up. As a } consequence the utility of this list for me has dropped a lot } as the volume of messages has increased. } } I think it is time to split this list into two, one for Biology } and one for the Physical Sciences. Of course, emails can still } be sent to both lists if the topic is appropriate enough. }
My interest are in LM and even less info is on this list about this. But I am very strongly for one list. It is a small list that generates less mail than I get on get rich quick spam every day. You don't have to read them all.
The advantage to one list is the interdisplanary answeres to questions And this is the best list I have found for this.
Please do FIX it is isn't broken.
Gordon Gordon Couger 624 Cheyenne Stillwater, OK 74075 405 624 2855 GMT - 6:00
In a message dated 12/7/99 2:45:44 PM Eastern Standard Time, jegiles-at-space.honeywell.com writes:
{ { Subj: RE: Time for more than one list? Date: 12/7/99 2:45:44 PM Eastern Standard Time From: jegiles-at-space.honeywell.com (Giles, John E Jr (FL51)) To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (Microscopy List)
------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 would vote for the single list also. The titles of most topics are clear enough to differentiate Physical Sciences from Materials without any further reading and the delete button makes quick work of sorting the things that I'm not interested in.
Nestor does a great job running this one and there are a lot of things that are discussed that cross the materials/physical sciences boundaries (printers, image software, SEM care and feeding, etc.) that may be lost in a multiple list.
I think it's kind of funny we are voting anyway. This list is Nestor's baby and we're here because he takes the time to provide it for us. This list was not established as a democratic entity. There's nothing in it's "constitution" that gives anyone a "vote". His charter is not to listen to the masses and make changes based on their wants. You abide by the rules and if you don't like it you're free to go off and establish your own list at anytime. I'm sure Nestor wouldn't mind a post advertising these two new lists whenever they're established. As for me, I'll stay with this one.
John Giles Principal Materials Engineer Honeywell, Inc.
----------------------- Headers -------------------------------- Return-Path: {Microscopy-request-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} Received: from rly-yd02.mx.aol.com (rly-yd02.mail.aol.com [172.18.150.2]) by air-yd01.mail.aol.com (vx) with ESMTP; Tue, 07 Dec 1999 14:45:44 -0500 Received: from Sparc5.Microscopy.Com ([206.69.208.10]) by rly-yd02.mx.aol.com (v66.4) with ESMTP; Tue, 07 Dec 1999 14:45:31 1900 Received: (from daemon-at-localhost) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) id NAA08076 for dist-Microscopy; Tue, 7 Dec 1999 13:18:31 -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 NAA08065 for "MicroscopyFilteredEmail-at-msa.microscopy.com"; Tue, 7 Dec 1999 13:17:59 -0600 Received: from fl51m03.space.honeywell.com (fl51m03.space.honeywell.com [130.181.6.220]) by Sparc5.Microscopy.Com (8.6.11/8.6.11) with ESMTP id NAA08057 for {Microscopy-at-MSA.Microscopy.com} ; Tue, 7 Dec 1999 13:17:39 -0600 Received: by fl51m03.space.honeywell.com with Internet Mail Service (5.5.2650.21) id {YG1J3HT4} ; Tue, 7 Dec 1999 14:18:09 -0500 Message-ID: {BA5F9C6AA352D311AD4E009027855BCD01EF7DAC-at-fl51m01.space.honeywell.com} From: "Giles, John E Jr (FL51)" {jegiles-at-space.honeywell.com} To: Microscopy List {Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com} Subject: RE: Time for more than one list? Date: Tue, 7 Dec 1999 14:16:47 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2650.21) Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Errors-to: Microscopy-request-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
Amen to the two Johns. I am mostly biological, but get some tips from the physical notes. If I'm not interested in the topic, I just hit the delete key. I'm sure I wouldn't take the time to log on to a different site for the physical comments; thus, I'd miss some useful stuff.
This is a good time to remind users to be concise and clear in the subject line. A "B" or "P" is not a bad idea either.
Sara
Sara E. Miller, Ph. D. P. O. Box 3020 Duke University Medical Center Durham, NC 27710 Ph: 919 684-3452 FAX: 919 684-8735
} --- } } } I agree, it seems to be time. } } At 8:04 AM -0600 12/7/99, L. D. Marks wrote: } } ... } } I think it is time to split this list into two, one for Biology } and one for the Physical Sciences. Of course, emails can still } be sent to both lists if the topic is appropriate enough. } } Comments?
So far today ... these 2 messages amount to half my "microscopy list" e-mail. If it were a busier list, I might agree ... but personally, I don't have a problem with recognizing the posts I'm not interested in and deleting them. I believe there is too much on this list regarding general microscopy, as applied to all sciences, that I'd be afraid to miss if I joined a "materials' list".
Which is not to say ... some of you could do a better job with focussing the subject line ... some mails you have to open to realize what's inside.
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 agree with Barbara. Although I just scan many of the messages that request specific information about something I know nothing about, I personally enjoy reading about new stuff and learning from it. I believe shattering this list into 2 or more sublists is counterproductive.
I have set up my email application so that every mail with "www.msa.microscopy.com" in the text gets automatically transferred into a separate folder. When I have a few minutes (not often these days!!), I sift through the messages, delete the ones that deal with subjects that I don't track and move the others into a "keep" folder. It's really not a lot of work and I know most of the time by the subject line what I want to keep or throw out.
Just my humble opinion.
Michael
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 1675 Carr St., #105N Lakewood, CO 80215 =================================== phone: (888) FIND SIS (303) 234-9270 fax: (303) 234-9271 email: mailto:info-at-soft-imaging.com web: http://www.soft-imaging.com ===================================
} ---------- } From: Barbara Foster[SMTP:MME-at-MAP.COM] } Sent: Tuesday, December 07, 1999 10:10:17 AM } To: L. D. Marks; Microscopy List } Subject: Re: Time for more than one list? } Auto forwarded by a Rule } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Mark,
My early training came from the Royal Microscopical Society in the UK. They routinely meet with joint sessions, bio & mat sci. I have to tell you that each of these groups has a lot to learn from the other and would seriously discourage splitting of this group.
An alternative: put an annotation in the header (ex: Bio: or MatS:.....). That way, those of us who are interested in learning on a broader scale can take advantage of the cross-pollination. Others who would like to stay more focused can just "clump and dump" the "uninteresting" messages.
Best regards, Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater productivity.
125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} ****************************************************** MME is America's first national consortium providing customized on-site workshops in all areas of microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis.
At 08:04 AM 12/7/99 -0600, L. D. Marks wrote: } ----------------------------------------------------------------------- - } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I wanted a moderately fast networkable printer and specifically mentioned lasers, photoquality and not too expensive. Prices in Aus are higher than in the US, so what is expensive to you is very expensive for us. The laser printers have the advantage of being able to do routine Departmental printing.
Diana
Diana van Driel Department of Clinical Ophthalmology Sydney University GPO Box 4337 Sydney NSW AUSTRALIA 2001
We are having problems with terrible background when immunogold labelling sections on slot grids using either formvar or butvar as support films.. Using the exact same procedure on 300 hexagonal grids with the same support film background is not a problem.
The background in on the resin, all the cells and support film.
Has anyone else experienced this problem using slot grids?
Manuela Palatsides Electron Microscopy Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute Locked Bag#1 A'Beckett Street Melbourne 3000
Hi All, We are in the market for a small film drying cabinet for our EM film. We don't need, or have space for one of thoses locker-sized jobs they sell in photo suplly catalogs. Any ideas on where to look? Or better still, is anyone looking to get rid of one?
Thanks, Lee
Leona Cohen-Gould, M.S. Sr. Staff Associate Director, Electron Microscopy Core Facility Manager, Confocal Microscopy Core Facility Joan & Sanford I. Weill Medical College of Cornell University voice (212)746-6146 fax (212)746-8175
This comment comes up at least once or twice/year generally in private messages to me, but occasionally in the public forum.
Besides wearing out your delete button what are the disadvantages of allowing the interaction of all microscopists, regardless of their background?
The free and mutual exchange of ideas and input ESPECIALLY from those of different disiciplines IMHO far outweighs the minor annoyance of deleting messages. The way our understanding expands is by hearing and listening to what other in different fields say, and from that dialog coming up with new knowledge. The long term benefits of that are potentially too great to ignore. We do not exist in isolation and cannot learn from others if we create isolation. Clearly mixing commentary on a completely unrelated subjects (say automobile repair with microscopy) has very little potential for creating new understanding, but mixing light, electron, probe, and x-ray microscopy/microanalysis between life and physical sciences is a much different issue.
The appropriate use of the SUBJECT field is important in reducing/helping others decide on what to read or not read and I would (as always) encourage better use. But that was discussed when the server started back in 1993 !! Has it really been that long...?? Yep I guess so. In any case it's been alot of Mbytes of texts that's for sure.
So in short, I would disagree with those who think the list should be divided up. I think too much will be lost from cross-fertilization of ideas and concepts. The delete button works very well for me and I probably get alot more messages than most of you on the server.
But, that is my personal opinion. I'm interested in the comments of others on the list and will sit back and listen for a bit to see how the discussion develops within our "little group".
Nestor Your Friendly Neighborhood SysOp.
================================================================== Nestor J. Zaluzec Materials Science Division Building 212 Argonne National Lab 9700 S. Cass Ave Argonne, Illinois 60439 USA Tel: 630-252-7901, Fax: 630-252-4798 Email: Zaluzec-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov ================================================================== TPMLab: http://tpm.amc.anl.gov MMSite: http://www.amc.anl.gov ==================================================================
The box said "This program requires Win 95/98/NT or better..." so I bought a G3 Mac
I scan messages by subject, thus reducing to a minimum the number of messages that I start to read. The first few lines of the actual message are another effective filter. This works well for me.
Two lists will not split subjects but rather people (subscribers) into two groups. Since some subjects are of interest to both physical and biological subscribers (ex: instrumentation, printers, scanners, image manipulation, conferences covering both aspects of microscopy, cameras, and some microscopy techniques), such a division may not turn out to be a good thing. Would MSA eventually split into two societies too?
Just writing clear subject lines in every message, and using some discretion in the number of postings as well as in the length of discussions - like this one - will keep the listserver effective for everyone.
True, the list is a very busy place. This can be a bit of a burden, but it is usually easy enough to decide if the topic is of interest to you from the subject, or at least, the title or first line of the text. But I think that this is one of its greatest advantages. We all can share our problems and experience right, here right now. I could see some categorizing of messages. For example, we could require the use of one or more keywords in the subject such as: biological/materials/physical science, or microscope instrumentation/theory. But, if we do separate the list, we will loose a tremendous strength, that is the very depth of the support that is available on this list.
Brad Huggins BPAmoco, Naperville, IL Microscopy & Microanalysis Lab
} ---------- } From: L. D. Marks[SMTP:ldm-at-apollo.numis.nwu.edu] } Sent: Tuesday, December 07, 1999 8:04 AM } To: Microscopy List } Subject: Time for more than one list? } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } There are many advantages to having one general list for all } microscopies. However, there are also many disadvantages. My } primary interests are in the Physical Sciences, and I am not } interested in many of Biological topics that come up. As a } consequence the utility of this list for me has dropped a lot } as the volume of messages has increased. } } I think it is time to split this list into two, one for Biology } and one for the Physical Sciences. Of course, emails can still } be sent to both lists if the topic is appropriate enough. } } Comments? } } ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ } Laurence Marks } Department of Materials Science and Engineering } Northwestern University } fax: (847) 491-7820 } mailto:l-marks-at-nwu.edu } http://www.numis.nwu.edu } ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ } }
Does anyone know of a contract lab in the SF Bay Area that will do TEM of virus particles? I'm not sure if the person I'm asking for would like negative staining or thin sections.
I agree with Barbara Foster's comment. I am working in a branch of biology and though I do not understand the whole of the physical microscopy workings, I enjoy hearing about interesting topics no matter what field. I like the idea to attach a heading to the front of subject lines that would designate messages as Bio, versus Mat. Sci.
Sincerely, Laurie Wallin UCSD Department of Anesthesiology 9500 Gilman Drive, 0629, La Jolla, CA 92093 (858) 822-3271
I have been counting responses either way, some of which have not gone to the listserver. At the moment it is about 3:1 against a split (sigh), with a strong sentiment for better subject lines.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Laurence Marks Department of Materials Science and Engineering Northwestern University fax: (847) 491-7820 mailto:l-marks-at-nwu.edu http://www.numis.nwu.edu ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I'm a geologist/mineralogist myself, but I find many of the biological postings useful, especially those on sample prep. Certainly experience with printers or archiving is a general topic, as are details on particular microscopes. Me...I'll take the whole enchilada; easy to discard what does not sound useful. Dave Pevear, Houston
"L. D. Marks" 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } There are many advantages to having one general list for all } microscopies. However, there are also many disadvantages. My } primary interests are in the Physical Sciences, and I am not } interested in many of Biological topics that come up. As a } consequence the utility of this list for me has dropped a lot } as the volume of messages has increased. } } I think it is time to split this list into two, one for Biology } and one for the Physical Sciences. Of course, emails can still } be sent to both lists if the topic is appropriate enough. } } Comments? } } ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ } Laurence Marks } Department of Materials Science and Engineering } Northwestern University } fax: (847) 491-7820 } mailto:l-marks-at-nwu.edu } http://www.numis.nwu.edu } ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I think some abbreviations to indicate particular microscopy area in the beginning of the "Subject" line will be a plus. It does not hurt the idea of solid ListServer but give us some flexibility to set up our E. mail programs to filter and organize information better. Expanding this idea I would suggest Nestor may establish some "rules" for "Subject" line. For example, abbreviation should have a 4 letters starting with capital and ending with ":". Something like "Bio:"; "Mat:", "Gen:". Capital and ":" or something like that may help to tune up filters more precisely. I think, there are more than 3 categories may be established. If for some reason people do not accept such rules - it did not interrupt ListServer functionality.
_________________________________
Sergey Ryazantsev Ph. D. UCLA School of Medicine Department of Biological Chemistry Box 951737 Los Angeles, CA 90095-1737
You can make a cheap one from Plexiglas and a hair dryer. Make it to fit with your film processing rack, with the rack off the bottom (two rods will work or you can make a plenum), put the dryer in the bottom in a hole made to fit with a collar, and you need a top with holes. I was going to have one made here, but the machinist that I put on it made the same thing from stainless steel. More expensive, but it works very well. It has the footprint of about 8"x24". (The hair dryer is along the long axis.)
If you have the money, there is a company called California Stainless that makes some of the ones that are sold in the EM catalogs. You can buy direct from them. Sorry, I don't have the address. -Scott
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Glass Technology Center 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." --
} -----Original Message----- } From: Leona Cohen-Gould [mailto:lcgould-at-mail.med.cornell.edu] } Sent: Tuesday, December 07, 1999 7:00 PM } To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } Subject: film dryers } } } -------------------------------------------------------------- } ---------- } 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, } We are in the market for a small film drying cabinet for our } EM film. We } don't need, or have space for one of thoses locker-sized jobs } they sell in } photo suplly catalogs. Any ideas on where to look? Or } better still, is } anyone looking to get rid of one? } } Thanks, } Lee } } Leona Cohen-Gould, M.S. } Sr. Staff Associate } Director, Electron Microscopy Core Facility } Manager, Confocal Microscopy Core Facility } Joan & Sanford I. Weill Medical College } of Cornell University } voice (212)746-6146 } fax (212)746-8175 } } }
Greetings to everyone with all microscopy interests!
I believe most strongly that there should remain only one list. I am sure that had there been two or more lists I would have missed some important pieces of information. While the amount of traffic on the single list remains manageable (15 - 20 messages a day is easy to handle in a few minutes) lets keep it this way.
Many thanks, Nestor, for your good work.
Regards
Robin H Cross Director : EM Unit, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa R.Cross-at-ru.ac.za tel: +27 46 603 8168 - fax: +27 46 622 4377 http://www.ru.ac.za/emu/index.htm
** remember that ICEM-15 in 2002 is in Durban, South Africa **
Leave it the way it is. Better subjects will save us all time. But don't break up the best list for finding a solution to a problem I have found.
HIP Hippo Hip Hooray NESTER
It should be possible to write software to block the mail you don't want sent a the mail server.
It would also be possible to send it to a second mailer and strip out what you don't want or use the filter in your mail client to filter out the unwanted postings.
I might be talked into doing it but I real think that if numbers are a problem go to a digest.
As far as this being a busy list is a joke. While it has the highest signal to noise of any group I have been on it is very low volume list.
I read 50 to 70 messages out ot 250 and answer or originate about 25 a day. 30% of this is joke and other personal stuff. Since I am retired I don't mind a bit.
I agree, one list only please. Cross subject information is a means of broadening our appreciation of the many applications of microscopy. in my lab where we service not only biological materials primarily but also soil and mineral from our geology department the single list is most useful.
Ronald Smith, Plant Sciences Department, University of Western Ontario,
Gordon Couger 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } -From: L. D. Marks {ldm-at-apollo.numis.nwu.edu} } } } } There are many advantages to having one general list for all } } microscopies. However, there are also many disadvantages. My } } primary interests are in the Physical Sciences, and I am not } } interested in many of Biological topics that come up. As a } } consequence the utility of this list for me has dropped a lot } } as the volume of messages has increased. } } } } I think it is time to split this list into two, one for Biology } } and one for the Physical Sciences. Of course, emails can still } } be sent to both lists if the topic is appropriate enough. } } } } My interest are in LM and even less info is on this list about this. } But I am very strongly for one list. It is a small list that generates } less mail than I get on get rich quick spam every day. You don't } have to read them all. } } The advantage to one list is the interdisplanary answeres to questions } And this is the best list I have found for this. } } Please do FIX it is isn't broken. } } Gordon } Gordon Couger } 624 Cheyenne } Stillwater, OK 74075 } 405 624 2855 GMT - 6:00
Larry, I agree, although I'm not the one doing the work maintaining this list. Thanks Nestor! Russ Gillmeister, Xerox
-----Original Message----- } From: L. D. Marks [mailto:ldm-at-apollo.numis.nwu.edu] Sent: Tuesday, December 07, 1999 9:04 AM To: Microscopy List
There are many advantages to having one general list for all microscopies. However, there are also many disadvantages. My primary interests are in the Physical Sciences, and I am not interested in many of Biological topics that come up. As a consequence the utility of this list for me has dropped a lot as the volume of messages has increased.
I think it is time to split this list into two, one for Biology and one for the Physical Sciences. Of course, emails can still be sent to both lists if the topic is appropriate enough.
Comments?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Laurence Marks Department of Materials Science and Engineering Northwestern University fax: (847) 491-7820 mailto:l-marks-at-nwu.edu http://www.numis.nwu.edu ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Regarding the proposed list split: I myself am involved in both material and biological microscopy. My work = involves identifying sources of animal, vegetable, and mineral "unknowns" = via various light microscopy methods of examination. In my opinion, it = would do well for my purposes to split the list into "TEM" and "Others" = rather than "materials" and "biological". I say this because it seems = that 90% of the emails on this list server are related to TEM applications = which are generally all Greek to me and serve no useful purpose in my = field. Still, if this server remains "as is", my 5 minutes a day deleting = obvious TEM related messages is no big problem. As others have stated, = keeping the Subject narrow and Specific must be the goal if only one site = is to remain available. My 3 cents (inflation adjusted) Mike Bucker Microscopy Principal Consolidated Labs of Virginia =20
} } } "Nestor J. Zaluzec" {zaluzec-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov} 12/07 7:09 PM } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America=20
On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html=20=
This comment comes up at least once or twice/year generally in private = messages to me, but occasionally in the public forum.
Besides wearing out your delete button what are the disadvantages of allowing the interaction of all microscopists, regardless of their background?
The free and mutual exchange of ideas and input ESPECIALLY from those of different disiciplines IMHO far outweighs the minor annoyance of deleting messages. The way our understanding expands is by hearing and listening to what other in different fields say, and from that dialog coming up = with new knowledge. The long term benefits of that are potentially too great to ignore. We do not exist in isolation and cannot learn from others if we = create isolation. Clearly mixing commentary on a completely unrelated subjects = (say automobile repair with microscopy) has very little potential for creating new understanding, but mixing light, electron, probe, and x-ray microscopy/microanalysis between life and physical sciences is a much different issue.
The appropriate use of the SUBJECT field is important in reducing/helping others decide on what to read or not read and I would (as always) = encourage better use. But that was discussed when the server started back in 1993 !! Has it really been that long...?? Yep I guess so. In any case it's been alot of Mbytes of texts that's for sure.
So in short, I would disagree with those who think the list should be = divided up. I think too much will be lost from cross-fertilization of ideas and concepts. The delete button works very well for me and I probably get alot = more messages than most of you on the server.
But, that is my personal opinion. I'm interested in the comments of others on the list and will sit back and listen for a bit to see how the discussion develops within our "little group".
Nestor Your Friendly Neighborhood SysOp.
=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=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D Nestor J. Zaluzec Materials Science Division Building 212 Argonne National Lab 9700 S. Cass Ave Argonne, Illinois 60439 USA Tel: 630-252-7901, Fax: 630-252-4798 Email: Zaluzec-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov=20 =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D TPMLab: http://tpm.amc.anl.gov=20 MMSite: http://www.amc.anl.gov=20 =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
The box said "This program requires Win 95/98/NT or better..." so I = bought a G3 Mac
Perhaps you should read from the list archives the previous discussions about this very same subject.. It appears that this same discussion surfaces every few years, and ends to the same conclusion..
Besides that, the "idea" of LM: EM: etc. prefixes in subject lines is VERY old, and in fact what people SHOULD be doing all the time. RTFFAQ. :) Read the fine FAQ. From FAQ: ".. Also preface your description by the conventional abbreviation of the type of microscopy you are interested such as LM, IRM, XRM, TEM, SEM, AFM, STM, uProbe......"
Just to add something useful to this message, I recently copied all old list archive files into one file (about 50 megabytes), and now if I need to check something, I just do a search to the single file, and find all old discussions.. Very useful. Unix people would use less and / command, PC people list and \ command..
Quick search revealed that this discussion has been on: October 93, May 95, Dec 99..
This thread is a fairly hardy perennial and will be familiar to most members who have been on the list awhile, so just to add my 0.0126 Euro worth.
The concept of specific subjects lines for the list is fine.
Indeed we are asked to do this by Nestor in his original welcome text.
To quote from the saved message (Well, some of us saved it!) :- ====================================================== As a courtesy to the readers of this list please indicate in the subject line of your message a reasonable descriptive title of your comment/inquiry. Also preface your description by the conventional abbreviation of the type of microscopy you are interested such as LM, IRM, XRM, TEM, SEM, AFM, STM, uProbe...... For example, if you are interested in optical microscopy and have a question about staining then a Title/Subject line for your message might be
Thanks to all who responded to the crisis of repairing or replacing our eXL monitor. We were eventually able to locate a local TV repair shop that had it corrected in a couple of days at a relatively meager price of $300.00. It was nice to have some potential options however, should this attempt have failed.
While I'm here. I agree with Nestor's assessment of the listserver objectives. I would much rather filter out the non-relevant information than miss a treasured tip on managing a difficult process or sample prep. The boundaries of science are not that distinct. Remember, everything in life is relative!! My two cents.
============================================ Wayne England Manager, Physical Characterization Bodycote ORTECH Inc. 2395 Speakman Drive, Mississauga, ON, L5K1B3 wengland-at-ortech.on.ca WEB: www.bodycote.com 905-822-4111 Ext.555 FAX:905-823-1446 ============================================
You may not need to remove the expoy to remove the calcium. Depending on how big the block is and how much of it needs to be cut, you may be able to emerse it in EDTA for an extended amount of time to remove enough calcium for sectioning. I have never done this myself, but have seen several people do it over the years. Maybe someone out there with more direct experience will respond.....
Karen
On Mon, 6 Dec 1999, Lesley Weston wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Does anyone have a method for removing epoxy that doesn't involve sodium } ethoxide or methoxide? I need to do this so that I can decalcify some blocks } that unexpectedly turned out to have more heavily calcified areas than they } should have. Thanks. } } Lesley Weston. } } } } } } } }
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Thanks to all who sent suggestions for staining root so it was easier to see when embedded in LR White. Most called for a stain added when tissue was in 100% ETOH. Since I had very little material and did not want= to loose it during dehydration, I decided to try toluidine blue after fixation and prior to ETOH to see if it would tolerate the dehydration, etc= . I was delighted with the end result. A couple of drops of a 1% solution added to the post fix buffer gave sufficient staining after only about 5-10=
minutes to carry all the way through the embedding process. I do not know if there was any effect on immuno-reactivity yet....let's hope not.
In any case, additional suggestions are summarized below. A couple, esp. the method of enrobbing small specimens with formvar (T. Baskin) was especially intriging. I certainly will try that method. This list is an endless stream of good ideas!! 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 =20 1057 Whistler Building West Lafayette, IN 47907-1057
Phluoroglucinol. Excellent stain for lignified structures. Could also use Graff's "C" stain which is a standard for wood and paper fiber structures. Lou Solebello ------------- Re: stain for rootGreetings,=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 Debby Sherman asked about= handling small bits of root. I make my living handling these snippets so perhaps I can help. =A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 As far as stains go, we have used two. We have made a= saturated solution of Fast Green in ethanol. We make an 8% solution of fast green in 100% ethanol and then add 1-2 =B5l to each half ml of volume with sample. I=
have also used a 0.15 % aqueous solution of basic fuscin. In this case i collect the samples in that prior to dehydration, and they stay nicely purple throughout. =A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 The other thing that I do to greatly simplify my life= is to put each root on a wire loop, encased in Formvar. Here is an excerpt from a lab=
protocol I have: =A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0We get best results with a Formvar loop method. In thi= s method, a loop of copper wire (36 gauge) is made and flattened between two flat pieces of steel. Then small rectangles of 0.25% Formvar in ethylene chlorid= e are floated on water and the loop plunged into the middle of the rectangle so that a film of Formvar surrounds the wire loop. A number of loops are made in advance (can be days ahead). A root is then placed on the Formvar surface, the excess cut away with a razor and then this assembly is coated with another Formvar layer, in the same was as above, thus encasing the root between Formvar. This procedure provides better flat embedding than agarose. Up to three loops can be put in a single vial. Note: one does not need super "EM" grade Formvar films, so this is not a hassle at all. =A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0When its time to embed, just cut off the stem of the l= oop and embed the loop with the sample on. The loop is heavy enough to sink and kee= p the root nice and flat. The copper is so thin you can cut through it with a=
razor in the block. Or if you like, you can excavate it from the block and pull it out. =A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0Alternatively, if you don't want to mess with loops an= d Formvar, you can use agarose. Excise a 3mm tip segment and encase it within a small droplet of 2% low gelling-temperature agarose (Type VII from Sigma). When the agarose sets, the root-containing drop is transferred to 10% ethanol. We get better results with Formvar but the agarose will work. =A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0The point of the loops or the agarose is to facilitate= exchange of solutions without loss of samples. It is a snap to suck out the old solution and put in the new with your samples in agarose pellets or held on= to loops. With the agarose, you can keep all of the samples of a single treatment in one vial (this saves time and solution) but with the formvar l= oops, it is hard to use more than three loops per vial. =A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 I hope this helps. Good luck,=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0= =A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0Tobias Baskin p.s. I fix first. I am usually working with arabidopsis roots. We grow the seedlings on agar plates and I pour the fixative right over the seedlings on the plate. This way, they stay submerged and get nicely fixed.= After three rinses, ten min each, I then put the roots on the loops (or encase them in agarose). Because the formvar is so thin, small molecules pass through with no problem at all. We can even get antibodies through although=
these do get held up a bit. ------- You can try eosin. We've used it to impart some color to early chicken embryos that were later labelled by immuno-fluoresent markers. These were embedded im paraffin, and viewed in the LM, but it may cross-over. Leona Cohen-Gould, M.S. ----------- I have tried using fast green to lightly stain Arabidopsis roots (which are quite small) so I could still see them during embedding. I followed the protocol of Baskin et al., Planta 187: 405-413. They used methacrylate for embedding but it works as well in LR white. Just add 1 ul of 8% solution (w/v) fast green dissolved in ethanol when your samples are at the 1st change to 100% ethanol. This should not interfere with immunolabeling. I also used acid fushin but have used this mostly in wax embedded material. Elison Blancaflor --------- Have you tried Eosin? Just add enough to color the fixative a nice bright pink, and process as usual. Another way to do it is to add make a 1.5% solution of cobalt chloride in absolute ethanol, and using this as a stock solution, add 10 ml per 100 ml of absolute when processing. this colors the tiny stuff while dehydrating. Both of these methods are common in routine histology labs and do not interfere with immuno. Wanda Shotsberger -------- We've used both fast green and eosin Y in the 95% ethanol=20 step and been pleased with both. We used fast green to stain isolated protoplasts. Rosemary Walsh
by ns0.utdallas.edu (Postfix) with ESMTP id B788419FFF4; Wed, 8 Dec 1999 08:52:50 -0600 (CST) Received: from localhost (kna101-at-localhost) by apache.utdallas.edu (8.9.1/8.9.1) with SMTP id IAA10521; Wed, 8 Dec 1999 08:52:50 -0600 (CST) X-Authentication-Warning: apache.utdallas.edu: kna101 owned process doing -bs
I think Barbara has a good idea. Some e-mail systems can be set up to automatically dump messages with a certain heading. To me, this would be preferable to a total split.
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Mark, } } My early training came from the Royal Microscopical Society in the UK. } They routinely meet with joint sessions, bio & mat sci. I have to tell you } that each of these groups has a lot to learn from the other and would } seriously discourage splitting of this group. } } An alternative: put an annotation in the header (ex: Bio: or MatS:.....). } That way, those of us who are interested in learning on a broader scale } can take advantage of the cross-pollination. Others who would like to stay } more focused can just "clump and dump" the "uninteresting" messages. } } Best regards, } Barbara Foster } Consortium President } Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater } productivity. } } 125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 } PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com } Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} } ****************************************************** } MME is America's first national consortium providing } customized on-site workshops in all areas of } microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis. } } At 08:04 AM 12/7/99 -0600, L. D. Marks 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 } } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } } } There are many advantages to having one general list for all } } microscopies. However, there are also many disadvantages. My } } primary interests are in the Physical Sciences, and I am not } } interested in many of Biological topics that come up. As a } } consequence the utility of this list for me has dropped a lot } } as the volume of messages has increased. } } } } I think it is time to split this list into two, one for Biology } } and one for the Physical Sciences. Of course, emails can still } } be sent to both lists if the topic is appropriate enough. } } } } Comments? } } } } ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ } } Laurence Marks } } Department of Materials Science and Engineering } } Northwestern University } } fax: (847) 491-7820 } } mailto:l-marks-at-nwu.edu } } http://www.numis.nwu.edu } } ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ } } } } } } } } } } }
Are the two types of grids you use made of the same metal? Some metals can cause interferance-probably due to their charge. Are you floating the grids on a drop of solution? If any solution gets to the back side of the grid you could be doubling your background.
I haven't done this stuff for sometime-so my help in this area is limited.
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } 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 having problems with terrible background when immunogold labelling } sections on slot grids using either formvar or butvar as support films.. } Using the exact same procedure on 300 hexagonal grids with the same support } film background is not a problem. } } The background in on the resin, all the cells and support film. } } Has anyone else experienced this problem using slot grids? } } Manuela Palatsides } Electron Microscopy } Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute } Locked Bag#1 } A'Beckett Street } Melbourne 3000 } } Telephone: 03 96561244 } Fax: 03 96561411 } Email: m.palatsides-at-pmci.unimelb.edu.au } } } }
You do not mention if your grids are made of the same materials. Copper grids will oxidize during incubation in immunocytochemical reagents, particularly those containing azide (ie, commercial secondary gold conjugates), and also in ammonium bicarbonate, among other buffers. Perhaps there is a difference in the elements which compose your grids?
---------------------- Douglas R. Keene Associate Investigator Shriners Hospital Research Unit 3101 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Road Portland, Oregon 97201 phone: 503-221-3434 FAX: 503-412-6894 (9-5 PST) e-mail: DRK-at-shcc.org
My dear old Kevex 8000 is in need of vintage 1983 dec lsi 1123 circuit boards: cpu board 8186, memory board 8044 and an un-numbered drive interface board with a wide ribbon. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
And: my vote is for one list with subject line indicators. (Great job, Nestor!!!)
Thanks, Dee
Dee Breger Mgr. SEM/EDX Facility Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory 61 Route 9W Palisades, NY 10964 USA T: 914/365-8640 F: 914/365-8155 E: micro-at-ldeo.columbia.edu
I agree wholeheartedly!!! The answers to many of the questions on this list benefit both the life and material science fields. The questions and answers about printers and cameras, etc. are most beneficial to both fields.
On many mornings I download less than 20 messages, a number easily handled in just a few minutes. I tend to read all of my mail, even though I may not understand it all completely. I feel any new information is helpful, and I enjoy reading and learning about the "materials" side of things as much as the "biological" side. I sincerely hope the listserver stays the same! Jo Dee Fish
Gordon Couger 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } -From: L. D. Marks {ldm-at-apollo.numis.nwu.edu} } } } } There are many advantages to having one general list for all } } microscopies. However, there are also many disadvantages. My } } primary interests are in the Physical Sciences, and I am not } } interested in many of Biological topics that come up. As a } } consequence the utility of this list for me has dropped a lot } } as the volume of messages has increased. } } } } I think it is time to split this list into two, one for Biology } } and one for the Physical Sciences. Of course, emails can still } } be sent to both lists if the topic is appropriate enough. } } } } My interest are in LM and even less info is on this list about this. } But I am very strongly for one list. It is a small list that generates } less mail than I get on get rich quick spam every day. You don't } have to read them all. } } The advantage to one list is the interdisplanary answeres to questions } And this is the best list I have found for this. } } Please do FIX it is isn't broken. } } Gordon } Gordon Couger } 624 Cheyenne } Stillwater, OK 74075 } 405 624 2855 GMT - 6:00
-- Jo Dee Fish Electron Microscopy Assistant The Burnham Institute 10901 N. Torrey Pines Rd. La Jolla, CA 92037 858-646-3100 ext.3620
I do echo the sentiment that the subject line should be as=20 descriptive as possible. I think we should all try to follow Joseph=20 Passero's example, he always identifies his subject clearly. Way to=20 go Joe!
At 6:59 PM -0600 12/7/99, L. D. Marks wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Please note new FAX number.
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) 763-2282 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"
A colleague wishes to examine pore sizes and distribution in silica-based aerogels by TEM. To thin the sample, we have tried glueing two aerogel samples face to face, then tripod-polishing. We have tried increasing the wedge angle, but still the samples break at the final polishing steps. We have also tried to infiltrate the samples with resin that we cure prior to polishing, to impart some mechanical strength to the pore regions. This too has failed. The aerogels are susceptible to solubilization in acetone and perhaps in polar resins.
We intend to try non-polar resins that are UV-polymerized and continue to try the tripod polishing, and we may dope the resin with osmium (or other mordant) to impart some contrast.
In the meantime, is anyone familiar with prepping this type of sample, or references? Any suggestions?
Thanks Ann Hein Lehman Trinity College EM Facility
We are looking for an independent service company for our Hitachi 7000 TEM. We are considering Materials Analytical Services (Art McKenna), Scientific Instrument Services (Alex Green), Vitaly Feingold Service Company (Atlanta, GA), Pesto Inc., (Gynedd Valley, PA).
If anyone has experience with any of the above, we would so much appreciate hearing from you.
Thank you, Hildegard H. Crowley University of Denver Denver, CO {hcrowley-at-du.edu}
We do much TEM on viruses, both negative staining and thin sectioning. We also get much material FedEx, so that it can be received very quickly. If your customer is interested have him/her email, and I will send details.
Sara Miller (more address info below)
On Tue, 7 Dec 1999, Linda Rangell wrote:
} Date: Tue, 07 Dec 1999 16:25:46 -0800 } From: Linda Rangell {lkc-at-gene.com} } To: MSA {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} } Subject: TEM on viruses } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Does anyone know of a contract lab in the SF Bay Area that will do TEM } of virus particles? I'm not sure if the person I'm asking for would } like negative staining or thin sections. } } Thanks for any information, } Linda Rangell } } }
Sara E. Miller, Ph. D. P. O. Box 3020 Duke University Medical Center Durham, NC 27710 Ph: 919 684-3452 FAX: 919 684-8735
The advantage of tripod polishing is that you get a huge thin area. The disadvantage of tripod polishing is that you get a huge thin area. This translates to the fact that mechanically weak specimens don't have the strength to hold together when thin over large areas.
Inasmuch as these areogel samples have a foam-like structure with brittle cell walls and are more air than specimen, your idea of infiltrating the samples with epoxy is correct. A low viscosity epoxy, like LR White works well (in e.m. supplier catalogs, biological specimens) ((see what you learn reading biological posts as well as phys sci posts!!)). If the epoxy doesn't infiltrate far enough into the sample, then polish the first side the best you can, paint epoxy onto the just-polished face, and make the final first side polish. Soak in LR White to infiltrate into the polished section and the second side polishing should see tha sample hold together. Increasing the wedge angle is also correct--probably a full micrometer turn or more. Try polishing in propylene glycol instead of water. Mount on a small-hole grid.
If you still have problems, leave the specimen about 5 or 10 microns thick and ion mill using a small diameter ion beam. The GATAN PIPS and similar machines now have small beam ion guns that will create an ion milled dimple less than 0.5 mm in size. This way the thicker material surrounding the ion mill dimple provides strength to the thin region. We ***love*** those small ion beams!
Ron Anderson, IBM, Hopewell Jct., New York, USA. anderron-at-us.ibm.com
Ann wrote:
A colleague wishes to examine pore sizes and distribution in silica-based aerogels by TEM. To thin the sample, we have tried glueing two aerogel samples face to face, then tripod-polishing. We have tried increasing the wedge angle, but still the samples break at the final polishing steps. We have also tried to infiltrate the samples with resin that we cure prior to polishing, to impart some mechanical strength to the pore regions. This too has failed. The aerogels are susceptible to solubilization in acetone and perhaps in polar resins.
We intend to try non-polar resins that are UV-polymerized and continue to try the tripod polishing, and we may dope the resin with osmium (or other mordant) to impart some contrast.
In the meantime, is anyone familiar with prepping this type of sample, or references? Any suggestions?
{FONT face=3D"MS Sans Serif"} {FONT size=3D2} {FONT color=3D"#0000FF"} {B} Here's the December 8 KTS Wholesale Software M= embers Update {/B} {/FONT} {FONT color=3D"#000000"} {B} {BR} **************************************************************************= **** {BR} {BR} If you've been wanting {/B} {/FONT} {FONT color=3D"#FF0000"} {B} software for Christmas {/B} {/FONT} {FONT color=3D"#000000"} {B} to give as gifts or for {BR} yourself, look at the special offers we have. All your favorites and {BR} {/B} {/FONT} {FONT color=3D"#000000"} {B} {U} ALL deliverable before Christmas {/U} {/B} {/F= ONT} {FONT color=3D"#000000"} {B} ! {BR} {BR} {/B} {/FONT} {FONT color=3D"#000000"} {B} {UL} {LI} MS Office 2000 Professional Full vers= ion CDs only $ 189.95 ** {BR} {LI} MS Windows 98 Second Edition Full version $ 94.95 ** {BR} {LI} MS Windows 98 Second Edition Update $ 39.95 ** {BR} {LI} MS Outlook 2000 Full version $ 67.95 ** {BR} {/LI} {/LI} {/LI} {/LI} {/UL} {/B} {/FONT} {FONT color=3D"#000000"} {B} {BR} {/B} {/FONT} {FONT color=3D"#000000"} {B} {UL} {LI} Symantec Act 2000 Full Version, No re= bate hassles ! $ 99.95 {BR} {LI} Norton Utilities 2000 $ 22.95 * {BR} {LI} Norton Antivirus 2000 $ 24.95 * Retail Box Set {BR} {/LI} {/LI} {/LI} {/UL} {/B} {/FONT} {FONT color=3D"#000000"} {B} {BR} {/B} {/FONT} {FONT color=3D"#000000"} {B} {UL} {LI} McAfee Office Suite w First Aid 2000,= ! a $ 69.99 value only $ 22.95 {BR} {LI} McAfee VirusScan v 4.02, ! a $ 39.99 value only $ 9.95 {BR} {/LI} {/LI} {/UL} {/B} {/FONT} {FONT color=3D"#000000"} {B} {BR} {/B} {/FONT} {FONT color=3D"#000000"} {B} {UL} {LI} Lotus Smartsuite Millenium Ed. v 9.0 = $ 69.95 * Compare to $379.00 {BR} {LI} Corel Wordperfect Office 2000 Full version $ 69.95 No rebate hassles = ! {BR} {/LI} {/LI} {/UL} {/B} {/FONT} {FONT color=3D"#000000"} {B} {BR} {/B} {/FONT} {FONT color=3D"#000000"} {B} {UL} {LI} Microsoft NT Server 4.0 w 5 CAL's $ 4= 99.95 {BR} {LI} Microsoft NT Workstation v. 4.0 $ 94.95 {BR} {LI} Microsoft Backoffice Server v 4.5 Small Bus. Ed w 5 CALs $ 990.95 {BR} {/LI} {/LI} {/LI} {/UL} {/B} {/FONT} {FONT color=3D"#000000"} {B} {BR} {/B} {/FONT} {FONT color=3D"#000000"} {B} {UL} {LI} Adobe Pagemaker 6.52 Plus Retail Box = set $ 315.95 {BR} {LI} Adobe Photoshop 5.5 Full Version $ 389.95 * NEW !! {BR} {LI} Adobe InDesign 1.0 Full Version $ 489.95 * NEW !! {BR} {/LI} {/LI} {/LI} {/UL} {/B} {/FONT} {FONT color=3D"#000000"} {B} {BR} {/B} {/FONT} {FONT color=3D"#000000"} {B} {UL} {LI} Macromedia Dreamweaver v 3.0 NEW !!! = $ 207.95 {BR} {LI} Macromedia Drumbeat 2000 NEW !!! $ 207.95 {BR} {/LI} {/LI} {/UL} {/B} {/FONT} {FONT color=3D"#000000"} {B} {BR} {BR} {BR} Other products are available as well. {BR} {/B} {/FONT} {FONT color=3D"#000000"} {BR} For more information or to order, please visit our SECURE web site. {BR} {BR} {/FONT} {FONT color=3D"#FF0000"} Order now ! Guaranteed delivery by Christmas ! {BR= } {/FONT} {FONT color=3D"#000000"} {BR} {a href=3D"http://www.cdsales.net/cgi-bin/index.cgi?1829032"} {font size=3D= 2} {center} {/FONT} {FONT color=3D"#0000FF"} {B} Click Here to Order or {br} see other Special O= ffers of Great Software {BR} www.cdsales.net {/B} {/FONT} {FONT color=3D"#000000"} {/center} {/a} {BR} {BR} Or if the above link isn't active, cut and paste this into your browser: {B= R} {BR} {/FONT} {FONT color=3D"#0000FF"} http://www.cdsales.net/cgi-bin/index.cgi?1829032 {= /FONT} {FONT color=3D"#000000"} {BR} {BR} Thank you and have a great day. {BR} {BR} {center} ******************************************************************= *************************** {br} These Announcements are periodic notices o= f new features, special events and free offers available to members and su= bscribers. {FONT face=3D"Arial"} {p} To Be Removed , Click Here {a href=3D= mailto:removes-at-jh1.net?subject=3Dremove} {BR} Remove Me {/a} {br} ***********= **************************************************************************= ******** {/center} {BR} {BR} {/FONT} {/FONT} {/BODY} {/HTML}
{FONT face=3D"MS Sans Serif"} {FONT size=3D2} {FONT color=3D"#0000FF"} {B} Here's the December 8 KTS Wholesale Software M= embers Update {/B} {/FONT} {FONT color=3D"#000000"} {B} {BR} **************************************************************************= **** {BR} {BR} If you've been wanting {/B} {/FONT} {FONT color=3D"#FF0000"} {B} software for Christmas {/B} {/FONT} {FONT color=3D"#000000"} {B} to give as gifts or for {BR} yourself, look at the special offers we have. All your favorites and {BR} {/B} {/FONT} {FONT color=3D"#000000"} {B} {U} ALL deliverable before Christmas {/U} {/B} {/F= ONT} {FONT color=3D"#000000"} {B} ! {BR} {BR} {/B} {/FONT} {FONT color=3D"#000000"} {B} {UL} {LI} MS Office 2000 Professional Full vers= ion CDs only $ 189.95 ** {BR} {LI} MS Windows 98 Second Edition Full version $ 94.95 ** {BR} {LI} MS Windows 98 Second Edition Update $ 39.95 ** {BR} {LI} MS Outlook 2000 Full version $ 67.95 ** {BR} {/LI} {/LI} {/LI} {/LI} {/UL} {/B} {/FONT} {FONT color=3D"#000000"} {B} {BR} {/B} {/FONT} {FONT color=3D"#000000"} {B} {UL} {LI} Symantec Act 2000 Full Version, No re= bate hassles ! $ 99.95 {BR} {LI} Norton Utilities 2000 $ 22.95 * {BR} {LI} Norton Antivirus 2000 $ 24.95 * Retail Box Set {BR} {/LI} {/LI} {/LI} {/UL} {/B} {/FONT} {FONT color=3D"#000000"} {B} {BR} {/B} {/FONT} {FONT color=3D"#000000"} {B} {UL} {LI} McAfee Office Suite w First Aid 2000,= ! a $ 69.99 value only $ 22.95 {BR} {LI} McAfee VirusScan v 4.02, ! a $ 39.99 value only $ 9.95 {BR} {/LI} {/LI} {/UL} {/B} {/FONT} {FONT color=3D"#000000"} {B} {BR} {/B} {/FONT} {FONT color=3D"#000000"} {B} {UL} {LI} Lotus Smartsuite Millenium Ed. v 9.0 = $ 69.95 * Compare to $379.00 {BR} {LI} Corel Wordperfect Office 2000 Full version $ 69.95 No rebate hassles = ! {BR} {/LI} {/LI} {/UL} {/B} {/FONT} {FONT color=3D"#000000"} {B} {BR} {/B} {/FONT} {FONT color=3D"#000000"} {B} {UL} {LI} Microsoft NT Server 4.0 w 5 CAL's $ 4= 99.95 {BR} {LI} Microsoft NT Workstation v. 4.0 $ 94.95 {BR} {LI} Microsoft Backoffice Server v 4.5 Small Bus. Ed w 5 CALs $ 990.95 {BR} {/LI} {/LI} {/LI} {/UL} {/B} {/FONT} {FONT color=3D"#000000"} {B} {BR} {/B} {/FONT} {FONT color=3D"#000000"} {B} {UL} {LI} Adobe Pagemaker 6.52 Plus Retail Box = set $ 315.95 {BR} {LI} Adobe Photoshop 5.5 Full Version $ 389.95 * NEW !! {BR} {LI} Adobe InDesign 1.0 Full Version $ 489.95 * NEW !! {BR} {/LI} {/LI} {/LI} {/UL} {/B} {/FONT} {FONT color=3D"#000000"} {B} {BR} {/B} {/FONT} {FONT color=3D"#000000"} {B} {UL} {LI} Macromedia Dreamweaver v 3.0 NEW !!! = $ 207.95 {BR} {LI} Macromedia Drumbeat 2000 NEW !!! $ 207.95 {BR} {/LI} {/LI} {/UL} {/B} {/FONT} {FONT color=3D"#000000"} {B} {BR} {BR} {BR} Other products are available as well. {BR} {/B} {/FONT} {FONT color=3D"#000000"} {BR} For more information or to order, please visit our SECURE web site. {BR} {BR} {/FONT} {FONT color=3D"#FF0000"} Order now ! Guaranteed delivery by Christmas ! {BR= } {/FONT} {FONT color=3D"#000000"} {BR} {a href=3D"http://www.cdsales.net/cgi-bin/idx1.cgi?7566430"} {font size=3D= 2} {center} {/FONT} {FONT color=3D"#0000FF"} {B} Click Here to Order or {br} see other Special O= ffers of Great Software {BR} www.cdsales.net {/B} {/FONT} {FONT color=3D"#000000"} {/center} {/a} {BR} {BR} Or if the above link isn't active, cut and paste this into your browser: {B= R} {BR} {/FONT} {FONT color=3D"#0000FF"} http://www.cdsales.net/cgi-bin/ {/FONT} {FONT color=3D"#000000"} idx1.cgi?7566430 {BR} {BR} Thank you and have a great day. {BR} {BR} {center} ******************************************************************= *************************** {br} These Announcements are periodic notices o= f new features, special events and free offers available to members and su= bscribers. {FONT face=3D"Arial"} {p} To Be Removed , Click Here {a href=3D= mailto:removes-at-jh1.net?subject=3Dremove} {BR} Remove Me {/a} {br} ***********= **************************************************************************= ******** {/center} {BR} {BR} {/FONT} {/FONT} {/BODY} {/HTML}
I agree with Barbara, one list for all with coding if the consensus goes that way. Wanda ---------- } From: Barbara Foster To: L. D. Marks; Microscopy List -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
Mark,
My early training came from the Royal Microscopical Society in the UK. They routinely meet with joint sessions, bio & mat sci. I have to tell you that each of these groups has a lot to learn from the other and would seriously discourage splitting of this group.
An alternative: put an annotation in the header (ex: Bio: or MatS:.....). That way, those of us who are interested in learning on a broader scale can take advantage of the cross-pollination. Others who would like to stay more focused can just "clump and dump" the "uninteresting" messages.
Best regards, Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater productivity.
125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} ****************************************************** MME is America's first national consortium providing customized on-site workshops in all areas of microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis.
At 08:04 AM 12/7/99 -0600, L. D. Marks wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Thank you all very much for responding to my inquiry about good books on microscopy. Here are the responses I received.
1. Microscopy and Photomicrography - A Working Manual Robert F. Smith, CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton, Florida, 1990. ISBN - 0-8493-8803-1
2. Light Microscopy in Biology - A Pratical Approach Alan J. Lacey, IRL Press, New York, 1991. ISBN - 0-19-963036-4 (hardbound) ISBN - 0-19-963037-2 (softbound)
The second book contains a special Flourescence Microscopy by P.S. Ploem.
O=B4Brian and McCully (1981): The study of plant structure. Principles and selected methods. Merlbourne Australia. old but good
Light and Electron Microscopy by Elizabeth M. Slayter & Henry S. Slayter. It does mention fluorenscence microscopy but not in great details, but very good of light microscopy in general.
"Video Microscopy" by Sluder & Wolf or "Green Fluorescent Proteins" by Sullivan and Kay. Both available from Academic Press www.apnet.com or "Fluorescence Microscopy" (Microscopy Handbooks, 40); H. J. Tanke, Brian Herman www.amazon.com
"Optimizing Light Microscopy for Biological and Clinical Laboratories" was written just for this purpose. Jim Pawley has been using it at both U. WI and UBC; Dave Knecht uses it at UConn. Has learning objectives at the beginning of each chapter as well as short quizzes at the end. Covers both basic principles and has a detailed section on fluorescence... even a bit on confocal. Classroom discounts are also available. Please see MME-Microscopy.com/education for further details.
Soumitra Ghoshroy Ph.D. Electron Microscope Laboratory Box 3EML New Mexico State University Las Cruces, NM 88003 Phone: 505-646-3600/1531 Fax: 505-646-5665 E-mail:ghoshroy-at-nmsu.edu
Project MICRO (Microscopy In Curriculum - Research Outreach) is MSA's middle school outreach program. Many of you have heard of it, but you may not have visited its website (URL below). Now would be a good time, because Nestor, in his abundant spare time, has just posted a major revision. You'll find up-to-date reviews of lots of books, videos & CD-ROMs about microscopy. Most, but not all, are for children; you may get some good holiday gift ideas. There is also a much-expanded website hotlink list. If you are aware of anything that has been missed, please let me know.
I also need potential sources of funding for microscopes for schools. I'm looking for a foundation or program that might be interested in an equipment-only proposal at the $40-50K level. Suggestions?
Caroline Schooley Project MICRO 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/PMHomePage.html Intertidal invertebrates: http://www.fortbragg.k12.ca.us/AG/PCI/pci.html
Laurie Wallin says: } I agree with Barbara Foster's comment. I am working in a branch of biology } and though I do not understand the whole of the physical microscopy } workings, I enjoy hearing about interesting topics no matter what field. I } like the idea to attach a heading to the front of subject lines that would } designate messages as Bio, versus Mat. Sci.
Since somebody apparently is counting the opinions (votes?), here's mine.
Splitting the list is a BAD idea, and does not make much sense. Plus, upon what criteria would you have it split? I personally prefer to split by LM vs. EM... See the point...? -- Regards, Uri uri-at-watson.ibm.com -=-=-=-=-=-=- {Disclaimer}
I tend to agree with Barbar and Laurie - and even more so for myself! I am a biological psychologist and the only connection I even have with the group is that I cut mouse brains on an ultramicrotome and then look at them with very simple light microscopy. However, I learn something from some postings, and what I don't want to read I delete - I would be afraid I'd miss something I DO need if you had two lists. Thanks!!
I am only a student member of the MSA, and so I find the discussions on all subjects potentially valuable! So far, my interest is primarily SEM, but I am not sure where my career may take me... just my 1.2 cents worth (students don't have a whole 2 cents to spare) Jenna Brown student, SUNY Potsdam (hi Dr. Rhoads!)
Let me know what you are looking at, and we can discuss your work.
Regards
Pete
Peter Bond Plymouth Electron Microscopy Unit University of Plymouth Drake Circus Plymouth Devon UK PL4 8AA Tel/Fax: 01752 233092 email: pbond-at-plymouth.ac.uk
Is the aerogel closed-cell or open-cell? Closed cell (like styrofoam) is impermeable and won't absorb much resin. Dave Pevear, Houston
"Lehman, Ann" wrote: } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } A colleague wishes to examine pore sizes and distribution in silica-based } aerogels by TEM. To thin the sample, we have tried glueing two aerogel } samples face to face, then tripod-polishing. We have tried increasing the } wedge angle, but still the samples break at the final polishing steps. We } have also tried to infiltrate the samples with resin that we cure prior to } polishing, to impart some mechanical strength to the pore regions. This too } has failed. The aerogels are susceptible to solubilization in acetone and } perhaps in polar resins. } } We intend to try non-polar resins that are UV-polymerized and continue to } try the tripod polishing, and we may dope the resin with osmium (or other } mordant) to impart some contrast. } } In the meantime, is anyone familiar with prepping this type of sample, or } references? Any suggestions? } } Thanks } Ann Hein Lehman } Trinity College EM Facility
Perhaps putting a keyword in the subject heading would allow individuals to separate listserv messages into separate files or delete them automatically through functions in e-mail programs. I would like to preserve a commensal relationship. -Karl Garsha ----- Original Message ----- } From: {"r.cross-at-ru.ac.za"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} To: {microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} Sent: Tuesday, December 07, 1999 11:27 PM
Surface replicas would be more certain to work; for these you may require a good polish so that the pore distribution is more accurate. A polished (at least a reasonably flat) surface would be easier to produce, because it can be thick and strong. Plastic replicas, because of the solvent requirement would not be possible, but carbon/platinum replicas should work. You probably would dissolve the specimen for cleaning purposes.
If FESEM gives enough resolution (and is available), this could save a heap of trouble.
Cheers Jim Darley ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes www.proscitech.com
On Thursday, December 09, 1999 3:54 AM, Lehman, Ann [SMTP:Ann.Lehman-at-trincoll.edu] wrote: } } } A colleague wishes to examine pore sizes and distribution in silica-based } aerogels by TEM. To thin the sample, we have tried glueing two aerogel } samples face to face, then tripod-polishing. We have tried increasing the } wedge angle, but still the samples break at the final polishing steps. We } have also tried to infiltrate the samples with resin that we cure prior to } polishing, to impart some mechanical strength to the pore regions. This too } has failed. The aerogels are susceptible to solubilization in acetone and } perhaps in polar resins. } } We intend to try non-polar resins that are UV-polymerized and continue to } try the tripod polishing, and we may dope the resin with osmium (or other } mordant) to impart some contrast. } } In the meantime, is anyone familiar with prepping this type of sample, or } references? Any suggestions? } } Thanks } Ann Hein Lehman } Trinity College EM Facility
-----Original Message----- } From: Caroline Schooley {schooley-at-mcn.org} } } } Project MICRO (Microscopy In Curriculum - Research Outreach) is MSA's } middle school outreach program. Many of you have heard of it, but you may } not have visited its website (URL below). Now would be a good time, } because Nestor, in his abundant spare time, has just posted a major } revision. You'll find up-to-date reviews of lots of books, videos & } CD-ROMs about microscopy. Most, but not all, are for children; you may get } some good holiday gift ideas. There is also a much-expanded website } hotlink list. If you are aware of anything that has been missed, please } let me know. } } I also need potential sources of funding for microscopes for schools. I'm } looking for a foundation or program that might be interested in an } equipment-only proposal at the $40-50K level. Suggestions? } Caroline ,
If it is for equipment I would put the arm on the manufactures. They can claim retail as a tax deduction and 30% of retail will cover their cost of production so it is not costing them money. In fact they may make a little. The markup is pretty high in slow turn over items like microscopes.
For those not familiar with the US tax structure the tax rate is from 25 to 34% of profit. So if the tax rate is 30% a 100 dollar tax deduction will save 30 dollars in taxes. If it cost 35 dollars to make an item that retails for 100 and you donate it to a school or other non profit entity you can deduct it from your profit reducing you income tax by $30. The actual cost to the company is 5$
Gordon
Gordon Couger gcouger-at-couger.com
Stillwater, OK www.couger.com/gcouger 405 624-2855 GMT -6:00 www.couger.com/gcouger
I vote for one list. The reasons have been given and repeated many times already.
This scintillation became a chain-reaction. :-) (the physics part)
Best wishes,
Rado
--------------------------------------------------------------------- Radostin Danev Laboratory of Ultrastructure Research National Institute for Physiological Sciences Myodaiji-cho, Okazaki 444-8585, JAPAN e-mail: rado-at-nips.ac.jp ---------------------------------------------------------------------
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE EUTECTICA V 12 - 14 June 2000 , Dniepropetrovsk, Ukraine
ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
National Metallurgical Academy, ave. Gagarin, 4, Dniepropetrovsk, 5, 49600, Ukraine Tel: +380 562 410 602; Tel., Fax :+380 562 676 977; E-mail:mazur-at-dmeti.dp.u EUTECTICA-V International Scientific Conference. 12-14 June 2000
FIRST CIRCULAR
ORGANIZERS ASM International National Metallurgical Academy of Ukraine Division of Materials Science and Metallurgy, Academy of Engineering Sciences of Ukraine
ORGANIZING COMMITTEE Chairman: Prof. Yurii N. Taran, Member, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine Co-Chairman: Dr. Hans Portisch, President, ASM International Vice-Chairmen: Prof. Vladyslav I. Mazur. Phone: +380 562 41 06 02. Tel./fax: +380 562 67 69 77. Prof. Vladimir I. Shapovalov. Phone: +1 505 275 1625. Secretary: Dr. Svetlana V. Kapustnikova. Phone: +380 562 41 06 02.
ADDRESS National Metallurgical Academy of Ukraine Prospekt Gagarina, 4 Dniepropetrovsk 320635, Ukraine Tel./fax: +380 562 67 69 77. E-mail: mazur-at-dmeti.dp.ua
SCIENTIFIC TOPICS 1. Atomic structure of eutectic melts 2. Mechanism and atomic kinetics of eutectic solidification 3. Influence of cluster structure in melt on kinetics of eutectic solidification 4. Directional solidification of eutectics 5. Three dimensional models of eutectic grains 6. Inoculation and modification of eutectic alloys 7. Thermal stability of eutectic alloys 8. Eutectic alloys properties 9. New eutectic type alloys
CONTRIBUTOR DATA Name (last, first, middle): Academic degree: Affiliation: Paper title: Paper language (please underline): Ukrainian English Russian Mailing address: Contact phone: Fax, e-mail
GUIDELINES Your abstract should be submitted in hard copy on A4 paper and as a separate file on the floppy disk. Please follow the Instructions.
INSTRUCTIONS TO AUTHORS Margins: Top, 2.0 cm. Left, 2.5 cm. Right, 2.5 cm. Bottom, 3.0 cm. Font: Arial or Arial Cyr 14 pt. Spacing: 1 1/2. Justification: left and right. Print resolution: 300 dpi or more. Please use a laser, a bubble or a 24-pin dot matrix printer.
PAPER TITLE X. Namea; Y. Nameb a) Affiliation. City. -Country. b) Affiliation. City. -Country. (Blank line) Text up to three full pages in A4 format.
Please use Word for Windows 6.0 or 7.0. For each photo provide a separate file in TIFF or CDR(5.0) and for each simple drawing, a PCX or WMF file. Your floppy disk is returned on request.
CONFERENCE FEE The conference fee covers the costs of publishing the conference proceedings, servicing the attendees, and a final dinner. All abstracts are included in the abstracts volume after receipt by the Organizing Committee of the conference fee. The fee is equivalent to USD 50, if received not later than 1 May 2000 or USD 55 if paid later.
FEE REMITTANCE ADDRESS Mail order: Account ?000071293 LATVIAN TRADE BANK TRIJADIBAS St.,4, RIGA, LV-1048, LATVIA ABN AMRO BANK N.Y., NEW YORK, USA Cor.Acc. ?574072285541, SWIFT: ABNA US 33 Please mark EUTECTICA-V on your order form.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 1. The Organizing Committee will appreciate your forwarding this form to your colleagues who might be interested in attending the Conference. 2. Space for sponsors' advertisements will be provided in the Conference Proceedings. The Organizing Committee invites all interested parties to send in their advertising materials.
by ursa.cus.cam.ac.uk with esmtp (Exim 3.12 #1) id 11w0Rg-0000BS-00; Thu, 09 Dec 1999 10:05:09 +0000
The important and interesting advances in science occur at the interfaces of different disciplines. Please keep one list, for as a biologist I am interested to read what non-biologists do in microscopy and analysis. It may mean going through 100 messages to find 1 gem of a new idea, but it's worth it.
Ann Hein Lehman wrote: ============================================================== A colleague wishes to examine pore sizes and distribution in silica-based aerogels by TEM. To thin the sample, we have tried glueing two aerogel samples face to face, then tripod-polishing. We have tried increasing the wedge angle, but still the samples break at the final polishing steps. We have also tried to infiltrate the samples with resin that we cure prior to polishing, to impart some mechanical strength to the pore regions. This too has failed. The aerogels are susceptible to solubilization in acetone and perhaps in polar resins.
We intend to try non-polar resins that are UV-polymerized and continue to try the tripod polishing, and we may dope the resin with osmium (or other mordant) to impart some contrast.
In the meantime, is anyone familiar with prepping this type of sample, or references? Any suggestions? ================================================================ These kinds of samples can be prepared much the same way as a refinery catalyst, or a zeolite system, that is, using
a) standard TEM embedding resins, and b) diamond knife ultramicrotomy
There are several "must do's" in the technique, realizing also that they can be accomplished differently by different users:
• Relatively "hard" block is needed because this is a "hard" sample. We usually would use our own SPI-Pon 812 resin, but some of the other "Epon substitutes" would work, we assume, just as well. I am not aware that we have had such samples dissolving in this resin. There should be enough electron contrast, assuming the sections are thin enough.
• You want to have excellent infiltration, to the degree that (we believe) is generally not possible (at least with certainty) without the use of vacuum impregnation approaches.
• Diamond knife ultramicrotomy, using a "materials science" diamond knife. Naturally we prefer our own SPI diamond knives, but in this case, whatever knife you do use, we believe a 45° angle edge is better than a 55° edge (for this kind of work).
• This has to be done on a good ultramicrotome, and in the hands of an experienced person. One also has to be aware of artifacts, as can occur in any technique, but the principal artifacts here are knife marks and possibly particles pulled out with the knife. But these are easily recognizable as artifacts where as artifacts caused during some of the other potential techniques tend to be more isotropic in nature and therefore more difficult to identify as artifacts.
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.spi.cc ######################## ============================================
I found that there are a lot of usfeful information in all letters and there is not reasonable to split the newsgroup. A lot of informations are interesting to me in the biology despite that I am interested with metals and magnetism, so I would like to remain at only one group. Cheers, L. Pogany
Colleagues... This is a broad enough question that it can have many answers. Would any of you like to help me answer this for this student?
I would think answers to both the list and to this student would be useful since he is not a member of the Server.
Nestor Your Friendly Neighborhood SysOp -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Email: pjrandsjr-at-worldnet.att.net Name: Philip Randolph School: Gonzaga Preparatory School
Question: We are looking into the development of the electron microscope as a turning point in history. What specific information can you provide that will give us a sense of the effect of the advent of the electron microscope on the cultural, social and economic environment of society? Thank you for your time in considering this question.
} We are in the market for a small film drying cabinet for our EM film. We } don't need, or have space for one of thoses locker-sized jobs they sell in } photo suplly catalogs. Any ideas on where to look? Or better still, is } anyone looking to get rid of one? }
Dear Lee, In the darkroom where we don't have a wall-mounted film dryer, we
use a lab oven at 45 C. The wall-mounted dryers are about 36" high, 24" wide, and 18" deep. They fit nicely over the sink. My personal preference is to air-dry the film overnight; there's less spotting and streaking that way. Yours, Bill Tivol
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY SPECIALIST (Materials Science) New Mexico State University
The Electron Microscopy Laboratory at New Mexico State University is seeking an Electron Microscopy Specialist in Materials Science area. The laboratory provides transmission and scanning electron microscopy and some light microscopy services for the university research community and a few external organizations, in biological, physical and materials science fields.
Qualifications: Bachelors degree in a physical science or materials engineering area (in hand by hire date). Masters degree desirable. Candidates must have at least three years of related experience in scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis. TEM experience would be a plus. A working knowledge of Windows based PC computers is essential. Experience with digital image capture and analysis, fluorescence microscopy is desirable. The candidate must be familiar with materials sample preparation techniques, vacuum evaporation, sputter coating, mechanical and electronic equipment, and vacuum systems. The successful candidate must be able to work well with researchers, staff, and students and be able to train graduate and undergraduate students for independent work with relevant techniques and equipment. The candidate should be able to work independently, plan and organize multiple projects and willing to learn new techniques.
Duties and Responsibilities: Operation and routine maintenance of transmission and scanning electron microscopes and associated equipment; supervision of facility users; record keeping, including billings, budgets, toubleshooting and maintenance of instrument and research logs, specimen preparation, data generation and some analysis.
Screening of applicants will begin January 4, 2000 and continue until a candidate is chosen.
Applications should include a resume, letter of application and three letters of recommendation. Position contingent upon funding. NMSU is an EEO/AA Employer.
Apply to: Dr. Reed Dasenbrock Associate Dean/Director Arts & Sciences Research Center New Mexico State University MSC RC, Box 30001 Las Cruces, NM 88003 cgower-at-nmsu.edu
Soumitra Ghoshroy Ph.D. Electron Microscope Laboratory Box 3EML New Mexico State University Las Cruces, NM 88003 Phone: 505-646-3600/1531 Fax: 505-646-5665 E-mail:ghoshroy-at-nmsu.edu
The LabSource catalog has a chemical resistance chart for latex and nitrile gloves and about a dozen pages of latex, nitrile and vinyl gloves for sale. I have no affiliation with this company. Bill Tivol
If yes, could that person identify her/himself so that these messages can be directed directly there?
If not, I think it is pretty evident that the majority is for keeping one list and I think we can safely stop this thread and use the bandwidth for other information.
(Please don't start another thread now about whether we can stop this or not!!!!)
Just my humble opinion....
Michael
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 1675 Carr St., #105N Lakewood, CO 80215 =================================== phone: (888) FIND SIS (303) 234-9270 fax: (303) 234-9271 email: mailto:info-at-soft-imaging.com web: http://www.soft-imaging.com ===================================
} ---------- } From: Witold Zielinski[SMTP:WIZIEL-at-INMAT.PW.EDU.PL] } Sent: Thursday, December 09, 1999 5:52:45 AM } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com; "jcoleman-at-rdg.boehringer-ingelheim.com"-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: Re: One List } Auto forwarded by a Rule } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Since it seems that it is a kind of voting - I vote to keep one list (despite that I am interested with metals and crystals). Cheers, Witold Z.
One List yes. But might I suggest using a * or # symbol preface. Thus prefacing the Subject with a *B/ for biological interest, *M/ for Materials. No prefacing of the Subject would indicate universal interest. Most E-mail filters should be able to recognize *B/, *M/ in the Subject heading and filter the E-mail out or into separate folders or mailboxes. For those who forget to use the */ preface or simply don't want to be bothered, the message will be available to all. Cheers, Henry
Henry Eichelberger, Manager Electron Microscopy Facility Department of Biological Sciences Binghamton University Binghamton, NY 13902-6000
Scanning Electron Microscopist Northwestern University
The electron probe instrumentation center (EPIC) at Northwestern University has an immediate opening for a scanning electron microscopist. EPIC is a part of the world renowned materials research center (MRC) and the department of Materials Science & Engineering at Northwestern.
The scanning electron microscopist would be in charge of all of EPIC SEMs (Hitachi S570, FE SEM S4500 and VP SEM 3500N), their accessories (EDS, EBSD/OIM, LHe stage; systems) and the Hitachi FB-2000A focused ion beam (FIB) system. All microscopes in EPIC are under full service contract. Thus, the duties include mainly training students/users, development of specialized techniques and applications, minor maintenance, record keeping and billing. A BS/MS degree in physical/biological sciences is required. The person must have hands-on experience in all aspects of SEM: specimen preparation, EDS, digital acquisition, processing etc. All levels of experience will be considered. Compensation would commensurates with experience and qualifications.
Send cover letter, resume and three references to:
Prof. Vinayak P. Dravid, Director EPIC Materials Science & Engineering Northwestern University, 3013A MLSB Evanston, IL 60208 E-mail: v-dravid-at-nwu.edu Fax: (847) 491-7820
http://epic.ms.nwu.edu/epic/index.htm
Northwestern University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the United States.
************************************************ Wen-An Chiou Department of Material Science and Engineering Northwestern University 2225 N. Campus Dr. Evanston, IL 60091
I think one list is the way to go. I am a biological person, but am learning a lot from the materials postings.
Soumitra Ghoshroy Ph.D. Electron Microscopy Lab Box 3EML New Mexico State University Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001 Tel: 505-646-1531/3600 Fax: 505-646-5665 e-mail: ghoshroy-at-nmsu.edu
} Colleagues... This is a broad enough question that it can have many } answers. Would any of you like to help me answer this for this student? } } I would think answers to both the list and to this student would be useful } since he is not a member of the Server. } } Nestor } Your Friendly Neighborhood SysOp } ----------------------------------------------------------------------- } } Email: pjrandsjr-at-worldnet.att.net } Name: Philip Randolph } School: Gonzaga Preparatory School } } Question: We are looking into the development of the electron microscope as } a turning point in history. What specific information can you provide that } will give us a sense of the effect of the advent of the electron microscope } on the cultural, social and economic environment of society? Thank you for } your time in considering this question.
They might want to look at "Picture Control, The Electron Microscope and the Transformation of Biology in America, 1940-1960", by Nicholas Rasmussen. Stanford Univ. Press, 1997. It got a good review in Science a while ago.
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 mcauliff-at-umdnj.edu **********************************************
I would also vote for one list. I would suggest that the subject should begin with one or two letters in parentheses: (B) = Biological. (P) = Physical. (BP) Of possible general interest to microscopists.
Regards, Kent
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A. Kent Christensen, Professor Emeritus Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Medical Science II Bldg. University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0616 Office: Room 2703A Med. Sci. II Bldg. E-mail: akc-at-umich.edu, Tel. (work) (734) 763-1287, Fax. (work) (734) 763-1166 http://www.umich.edu/~akc/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I used to have a bookmarked website for an archive of biologically related messages to the list that I think was maintained by someone at U. of South FL. The listings were organized by subject matter, which made the resource very handy. Unfortunately, I believe the bookmark got lost during a recent computer installation and software reload. If anyone has any information on an archive like this, would you please send me the address?
Many thanks, Missy Josephson
Eleanor Josephson, DVM, PhD University of Connecticut Health Center Department of Anatomy MC-3405 263 Farmington Ave. Farmington, CT 06030-3405 Ph.(860)679-2463 Fax (860)679-1274 ejosephs-at-neuron.uchc.edu
This is the address of the lab page. Tips and Tricks is the top option on the left.
http://www.biotech.ufl.edu/~emcl/
At 04:50 PM 12/9/1999 -0500, you wrote:
} I used to have a bookmarked website for an archive of biologically related } messages to the list that I think was maintained by someone at U. of South } FL. The listings were organized by subject matter, which made the resource } very handy. Unfortunately, I believe the bookmark got lost during a recent } computer installation and software reload. If anyone has any information on } an archive like this, would you please send me the address? } } Many thanks, } Missy Josephson
As the name implies, Phase Contrast Microscopy detects differences in phase (refractive index and/or thickness) between components in a system. In order for this type of microscopy to work, however, you need very small phase differences: small enough so that the light interacting with the sample is slowed down or put out of step with the surrounding background light by only a quarter of a wavelength. This system works really well with things like cells but I would have serious concerns with a very 3D specimen like your embryo. Other techniques which detect phase GRADIENTS (DIC and Hoffman Modulation Contrast) would work much better.
For a further discussion of how each of these techniques operates, might I suggest "Optimizing Light Microscopy"? Details of the book are on our website.
Best regards, Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater productivity.
125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} ****************************************************** MME is America's first national consortium providing customized on-site workshops in all areas of microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis.
At 02:22 PM 12/9/99 -0500, David A. Cantor wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Philips Analytical put out a special issue of Electron Optics Bulletin entitled "The Contribution of Electron Microscopy to Society" This issue was from the Proceedings of a symposium on the topic of the same title in Eindhoven in 1987 (dated, I know).
If you can obtain a copy of this it might be a good starting point. I would try contacting Philips
Cheers Paul
______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
Philips Analytical put out a special issue of Electron Optics Bulletin entitled "The Contribution of Electron Microscopy to Society" This issue was from the Proceedings of a symposium on the topic of the same title in Eindhoven in 1987 (dated, I know).
If you can obtain a copy of this it might be a good starting point. I would try contacting Philips
Cheers Paul
______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
My university runs a Education Center for the Gifted in Science and I am involved in a mentorship program of the school. I teach three middle school boys and girls in my group. We decided to do a project of studying 'clam shell' with various analytical tools including SEM, XRD, and XRF. We have already collected information on the amount of clam and oyster shell production in my country.
Now we need some information on the science of clam shell as a reference, such as the structure, mechanism of formation, function, composition, or anything.
Do any of you have been in the field of clam or clam shell? Do any of you know good references on the clamshell? Any information would be very helpful to me and youngsters.
Jondo Yun Department of Inorganic Materials Engineering Center for Instrumental Analysis Kyungnam University 449 Weolyeong-dong, Masan, 631-701, Korea 82-551-249-2697 (tel) 82-551-248-5033 (fax) jdyun-at-hanma.kyungnam.ac.kr
} what are the advantages of a phase contrast microscope over a } conventional light microscope and why would i use one to examine } embryos
Very simply, without going into details of the principles of the technique, because it allows you to view unstained specimens.
Regards
Robin H Cross Director : EM Unit, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa R.Cross-at-ru.ac.za tel: +27 46 603 8168 - fax: +27 46 622 4377 http://www.ru.ac.za/emu/index.htm
** remember that ICEM-15 in 2002 is in Durban, South Africa **
We are probably removing a Philips EM 300 transmission electron microscope early next year in a departmenal reorganisation. Until this year it was maintained by Philips, and currently by a third party. It runs as well as when it was installed in April 1971.
Any offers would naturally be welcome, failing that, if anyone wants to remove it, they probably can. We need the room. Maybe someone would like parts for spares? Are there any more still running out there? This one is 28 years old. It runs well at 80 kV but we have never used it routinely at 100 kV, although it passes service muster at 100 kV. It has the high resolution and goniometer stages. There is a rotating specimen holder for the latter. The mercury diffusion pump was removed some years ago. We will regret the passing of this trusty instrument!
Regards - Keith Ryan
_______________________________ Dr. Keith Ryan Marine Biological Association of the UK The Laboratory Citadel Hill Plymouth Devon PL1 2PB England
Tel. ++44 (0)1752 633249 Tel. ++44 (0)1752 633279 The 279 number has an answering machine
Scott, Try Philips service at 1-800-432-1734. I have a 20+y/o Haskris and Philips has put a new filter on it during a pm on my EM201. Bob Santoianni Emory University Hospital Atlanta, GA
Does this list have a policy (written or otherwise) about vendor postings? I have read the "welcome" message I got way back in the dark ages, and it seems those rules prohibit direct advertisements. Certain postings I've seen would seem to violate that rule (in spirit at least) in that the signature lines identify the sender as an employee of organization X (as required by the guidelines) which provides service Y (the advert). Does this not qualify as an advertisement? Without a doubt, it is free air time for the vendors involved. In certain cases, the violation has been less discrete - when posters have requested information on a product/service, vendor X replies on-list even though the poster's address is there for a discrete reply. I'm just interested in where the line would be drawn (if there is one).
Robert J. Palmer Jr., Ph.D. Natl Inst Dental Craniofacial Res - Natl Insts Health Oral Infection and Immunity Branch Bldg 30, Room 310 30 Convent Drive Bethesda MD 20892 ph 301-496-2088 fax 301-402-0396
You may want to check Haskris itself at www.haskris.com, we have found them to be good. It is also worth mentioning that their coolers are so common that our University Physical Plant knows how to service them.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Laurence Marks Department of Materials Science and Engineering Northwestern University fax: (847) 491-7820 mailto:l-marks-at-nwu.edu http://www.numis.nwu.edu ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I do monitor (but not edit) the submissions. When I see that a posting has crossed that grey line which loosely defines (the spirit) of our rules of conduct then I contact the person(s) involved. Since I do not always read every message I sometimes miss some transgressions, but people are pretty good about this and I get off-line messages when things appear to be, shall we say, in violation of conduct.
As a general rule most vendors are VERY VERY good and do not post advertising. I do get complaints from Company Y about Company X and usually after review a solution is found. The most common problems are experienced with "new" users who do not yet have experience in this forum and a gentile reminder is sufficient. There are also the grudge matches which happen and then I have to play mediator a job which is no fun at all. (Hmm... maybe I should ask for a raise?).
Anyway, to speak to the question which Bob Plamor raised, the rules of conduct (look at the WWW SIte the URL is on EVERY Email message) do permit vendors to say they make a product which can solve a particuliar problem. They are asked to be concise and to the point and then contact the individual off line. Vendors are one of our resources in my mind. Yes they do sell things and as long as the reply answers a question which was posted on the server this is valuable information and totally within the spirit of the server. Sometimes they do get verbose and when I notice this happening I let them know privately.
All in all, the vendors are important to us. They read closely what is going on and the discussions surely influence what they think of the scientific market place and what people need/want to conduct their research. They are not just simply someone to be put up with they are our colleagues abeit with different driving forces. Some do only have only commerical motivations, but I'm sure you will agree that there are those that have a passion for the science as well and are there also to help us.
You should also remember that this is not a closed list and occassionally spam/junk mail gets through the filter. These are completely off topic and very hard to manage unless we change to a completely closed list. That is something which I would like to avoid as it not only means additional work, but makes us less accessible.
The venerable coolwell S100 chiller attached to our TEM responded to a recent move from one building to another by dying. Does anyone have schematics, or even an operator's manual for this thing. The guys from physical plant and I need a starting place..... TIA Julian
Julian P.S. Smith III Dept. of Biology Winthrop University Rock Hill, SC 29733 803-323-2111 x6427 (vox) 803-323-3448 (fax)
Soumitra Ghoshroy Ph.D. Electron Microscope Laboratory Box 3EML New Mexico State University Las Cruces, NM 88003 Phone: 505-646-3600/1531 Fax: 505-646-5665 E-mail:ghoshroy-at-nmsu.edu
Yours is a very insightful question. My question is, are vendors bad guys? Would you prefer to not have easy access to instrumentation and technology?
I have been a member of MSA for about 20 years and now, as a vendor, am delighted to be a sustaining member. Vendors, do not, in my opinion get any "free air time." We pay for everything we get.
Alex Greene SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTATION SERVICES, INC. PMB-499, 1807 West Slaughter Lane, Number 200 Austin, Texas 78748 Phone: 512/282-5507 FAX 512/280-0702
Quality Electron Microscope Repair
-----Original Message----- } From: Robert Palmer {rjpalmer-at-dir.nidcr.nih.gov} To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com {Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com}
Sorry to extend this thread at all, but I just feel compelled to remind any of those who wish to separate/segregate the list - It is your combined presence on this listserver that make it so absolutely functional! Our depth is tremendous. Sure I can choose to ignore *Bio messages, or I could refrain from signing up for the Bio sector of the listserver, if we were to separate. So then I could focus on the work at hand. Not troubled by the problems of those "Bio" guys trying to do that impossible staining or labeling... But, then how would I ever know that some "bio-microscopists" was doing things that may work for me. Or worse yet, how would I know that some "bio-microscopist" could use my help and my recipe for xyz to embed his zyx.
Yes we may have our dysfunctional moments, like any good family unit must, just to maintain good perspective. (by the way, This is one of those dysfunctional moments.) Please do not consider diminishing this powerful resource. And Please Stay Tuned - to the whole picture. Brad Huggins
Thank you to all that replied. The contact information for Haskris is
80 W. Seegers Rd. Arlington Heights, IL 6005 Ph: 847-956-6420 fax: 847-956-6595
The strainers are $13 ea and yes they do take AMEX cards. Minimum order is $35.
-Scott
} -----Original Message----- } From: Walck. Scott D. [mailto:gls4590-at-smtpgate.go.ppg.com] } Sent: Thursday, December 09, 1999 1:18 PM } To: 'Microscopy' } Subject: filters for Haskris water chillers } } } -------------------------------------------------------------- } ---------- } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society } of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to } ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help } http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -------------------------------------------------------------- } ---------. } } } Does anyone know where I can get the filters for a Haskaris } water chiller } where I can use an AMEX card? } -Scott } } } Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. } PPG Industries, Inc. } Glass Technology Center } 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) } } }
For the 50th meeting of EMSA in Boston (1992) Sterling Newberry wrote a wonderful book entitled "EMSA and Its People - The First Fifty Years". It carries the Library of Congress number 92-72571. Sterling, along with his wife Mary Lou, spent hundreds of hours interviewing many of the Charter Members of our organization. Most of these interviews were video taped by Sterling and then compiled into an "oral history" by Maurice Dumais. Both Sterling's book and Maurice's "oral history" may still be available from the MSA business office or borrowed from an attendee of the '92 Boston meeting. In addition, John Reisner's series of "Reflection" columns in many of the MSA Bulletins talk about the early pioneers and their contributions.
/rich shuman
-----Original Message----- } From: "pjrandsjr-at-worldnet.att.net"-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com [mailto:"pjrandsjr-at-worldnet.att.net"-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com] Sent: Thursday, December 09, 1999 9:06 AM To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com
Colleagues... This is a broad enough question that it can have many answers. Would any of you like to help me answer this for this student?
I would think answers to both the list and to this student would be useful since he is not a member of the Server.
Nestor Your Friendly Neighborhood SysOp -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Email: pjrandsjr-at-worldnet.att.net Name: Philip Randolph School: Gonzaga Preparatory School
Question: We are looking into the development of the electron microscope as a turning point in history. What specific information can you provide that will give us a sense of the effect of the advent of the electron microscope on the cultural, social and economic environment of society? Thank you for your time in considering this question.
As one of those vendors (and a former 'non-vendor') on the list, I would like to say a few words to this. I am not speaking for any other vendor on the list, this is my own opinion.
I think, the entire issue of vendors of this list is:
a) a gray area and will always stay that way b) something that is handled very well by Nestor.
Personally, when I read a listing I feel the urge to respond to, I make the following decision: Does the posting I intend to put on the list include information that may interest more people than the person whose message I am replying to?
If the answer is Yes, I go to the list. If the answer is No, I respond through email.
An example:
If somebody posts: "Are there ways to reduce noise in digital TEM images?", I'd post on the list. If the question is: "Why doesn't function X work with software Y on my TEM Z", I'd stick with email. Of course these are judgment calls and some people may have broader or narrower definitions for putting something on the list.
I don't see the point, however, to hide my affiliation. I work for a company and not for a University, but why would that disqualify me from making contributions to the list? If you are concerned about more blatant misuse of the list, I don't think there are many, and I am sure that Nestor would deal with those. On the other hand I might mention my company or one of its products in the posting, but there is not much I can do about it: I cannot speak for other vendors so I have to stick to what I can use, which is my own products. In the example above: I can use examples from our own software, but not from any other as I don't want to misrepresent the other software.
One thing that many vendors put in are disclaimers at the end (I must admit that I have forgotten a few times) to make sure that everybody knows that they are interested in selling something. Whether that is useful I don't know. I guess one could filter for "disclaimer" and throw those out. On the other hand exactly that could be interpreted as an advertising.
But what, for example, about conference announcements. Conferences are a business and if you exclude all commercial listings, you would have to exclude them as well. I think, that would be disservice to the community.
In a nutshell: I don't think this issue is a Yes/No issue but rather an issue of balance between usefulness and abuse. Of course I am biased, but I think Nestor (or perhaps the vendors?) do a good job at keeping this ratio at a good level.
but then again... this is only my opinion. (Does this posting count as covert advertising???)
Michael Bode, Ph.D. Soft Imaging System Corp. 1675 Carr St., #105N Lakewood, CO 80215 =================================== phone: (888) FIND SIS (303) 234-9270 fax: (303) 234-9271 email: mailto:info-at-soft-imaging.com web: http://www.soft-imaging.com ===================================
******************************************************* Disclaimer: Soft Imaging System produces and sells image acquisition and processing systems. We therefore have a vested interest in some of the items mentioned above. *******************************************************
} ---------- } From: Robert Palmer[SMTP:RJPALMER-at-DIR.NIDCR.NIH.GOV] } Sent: Friday, December 10, 1999 5:59:16 AM } To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com } Subject: vendors } Auto forwarded by a Rule } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Does this list have a policy (written or otherwise) about vendor postings? I have read the "welcome" message I got way back in the dark ages, and it seems those rules prohibit direct advertisements. Certain postings I've seen would seem to violate that rule (in spirit at least) in that the signature lines identify the sender as an employee of organization X (as required by the guidelines) which provides service Y (the advert). Does this not qualify as an advertisement? Without a doubt, it is free air time for the vendors involved. In certain cases, the violation has been less discrete - when posters have requested information on a product/service, vendor X replies on-list even though the poster's address is there for a discrete reply. I'm just interested in where the line would be drawn (if there is one).
Robert J. Palmer Jr., Ph.D. Natl Inst Dental Craniofacial Res - Natl Insts Health Oral Infection and Immunity Branch Bldg 30, Room 310 30 Convent Drive Bethesda MD 20892 ph 301-496-2088 fax 301-402-0396
Hello, I have seen a talk by P. K. Hansma on the study they did of abalone shells.
To paraphrase him: Seashells are interesting as they are 97% CaCO3, 3% organic material; and are 3000x more fracture resistant than a single crystal of CaCO3. =20 Industry is currently doing research on using seashell like material to replace plastics and wood since it would be fire resistant and non-toxic. = =20 Since seashells grow slowly, industry needs to grow them faster.
Studies by SEM showed abalone mother of pearl to consist of stacks of plates of CaCO3. (excuse my poor diagram)
Crack energy is dissipated by the layers stacked randomly. Composites of CaCO3 materials manufactured similar to above didn't work. The reason for the strength of the abalone shell was found to be due to a protein binding between the tablets (Lustrin A). Immunogold labeled SEM showed the material to appear as strands between plates: (again, excuse my diagram)
Pulling CaCO3 plates apart in the seashell causes the protein structure to unfold and many intermediate strength protecting bonds are broken slowly. Relaxing the force causes the protein bonds to reform.
Some useful papers may be: Zaremba, CM; Morse, DE; Mann, S; Hansma, PK; and others. Aragonite-hydroxyapatite conversion in gastropod (abalone) nacre. CHEMISTRY OF MATERIALS, 1998 DEC, V10 N12:3813-3824.
10. Schaffer, TE; IonescuZanetti, C; Proksch, R; Fritz, M; and others. Does abalone nacre form heteroepitaxial nucleation or by growth through mineral bridges? (vol 9, pg 1731, 1997) CHEMISTRY OF MATERIALS, 1998 MAR, V10 N3:946-946. Pub type: Correction/Addition.
12. Shen, XY; Belcher, AM; Hansma, PK; Stucky, GD; and others. Molecular cloning and characterization of lustrin A, a matrix protein from shell and pearl nacre of Haliotis rufescens. JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY, 1997 DEC 19, V272 N51:32472-32481.
18. Walters, DA; Smith, BL; Belcher, AM; Paloczi, GT; and others. Modification of calcite crystal growth by abalone shell proteins: An atomic force microscope study. BIOPHYSICAL JOURNAL, 1997 MAR, V72 N3:14= 25-1433.
26. ZAREMBA CM; BELCHER AM; FRITZ M; LI YL; and others. CRITICAL TRANSITIONS IN THE BIOFABRICATION OF ABALONE SHELLS AND FLAT PEARLS. CHEMISTRY OF MATERIALS, 1996 MAR, V8 N3:679-690. =20 1. Shen, XY; Belcher, AM; Hansma, PK; Stucky, GD; and others. Molecular cloning and characterization of lustrin A, a matrix protein= =20 from shell and pearl nacre of Haliotis rufescens. JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY, 1997 DEC 19, V272 N51:32472-32481.
22. Taylor, John David. The shell structure and mineralogy of the Bivalvia, by John David Taylor, William James Kennedy [and] Anthony Hall. London, British Museum (Natural History), 1969-73. Series title: Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). Zoology. Supplement ; 3. Series title: British Museum (Natural History) Bulletin. Zoology, v. 22, no. 9.
I hope this information may be of some use to you. The formation of seashells is very interesting chemically since it involves chemical precipitation aided by an organic biological template. Often crystal forms predicted to be unstable thermodynamically are precipitated due to the effect of the organism and the biological material it produces.
I am interested in researching sea shells myself, but haven't had the opportunity to work with anyone. I have acess to TEM, SEM, and AFM instruments, so if someone is interested in working together, drop me a line.=20
\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\= /\ Gordon Ante Vrdoljak 1 Cyclotron Road ICQ 23243541 http://nature.berkeley.edu/~gvrdolja MS90-1116 GAVrdoljak-at-lbl.gov Ernest Orlando phone (510) 495-2829 Lawrence Berkeley fax (510) 486-7797 National Laboratory cell (510) 290-6793 Berkeley CA 94720
On Fri, 10 Dec 1999, =C0=B1=C1=B8=B5=B5 wrote:
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America= =20 } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } =20 } =20 } Dear members: } =20 } My university runs a Education Center for the Gifted in Science and I = am } involved in a mentorship program of the school. I teach three middle sch= ool } boys and girls in my group. We decided to do a project of studying 'clam } shell' with various analytical tools including SEM, XRD, and XRF. We have } already collected information on the amount of clam and oyster shell } production in my country. } =20 } Now we need some information on the science of clam shell as a referenc= e, } such as the structure, mechanism of formation, function, composition, or } anything. } =20 } Do any of you have been in the field of clam or clam shell? } Do any of you know good references on the clamshell? } Any information would be very helpful to me and youngsters. } =20 } Jondo Yun } Department of Inorganic Materials Engineering } Center for Instrumental Analysis } Kyungnam University } 449 Weolyeong-dong, Masan, 631-701, Korea } 82-551-249-2697 (tel) } 82-551-248-5033 (fax) } jdyun-at-hanma.kyungnam.ac.kr } =20 } =20 } =20 } =20
I notice that you have not included light microscopy in your list. We typically recommend, especially in this sort of case, that your students start with a simple hand lens, then move to a stereo microscope ... both of which will give a lot of information about context and macro structures. They should then move to the compound microscope, looking at both the inner and outer surface of the shell. Polarized light will give some amazing information about the orientation of the calcium carbonate and how it was layed down when the shell was formed. None of this information is available with the other techniques cited.. and I wouldn't want either you or your students to miss out on this part of the "mystery".
Good hunting and best regards,
Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater productivity.
125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} ****************************************************** MME is America's first national consortium providing customized on-site workshops in all areas of microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis.
At 12:21 PM 12/10/99 +0900, =C0=B1=C1=B8=B5=B5W1 wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America=20 school } boys and girls in my group. We decided to do a project of studying 'clam } shell' with various analytical tools including SEM, XRD, and XRF. We have } already collected information on the amount of clam and oyster shell } production in my country. } } Now we need some information on the science of clam shell as a reference, } such as the structure, mechanism of formation, function, composition, or } anything. } } Do any of you have been in the field of clam or clam shell? } Do any of you know good references on the clamshell? } Any information would be very helpful to me and youngsters. } } Jondo Yun } Department of Inorganic Materials Engineering } Center for Instrumental Analysis } Kyungnam University } 449 Weolyeong-dong, Masan, 631-701, Korea } 82-551-249-2697 (tel) } 82-551-248-5033 (fax) } jdyun-at-hanma.kyungnam.ac.kr } } } } }
Just another interesting note on EM in history. The Arts & Entertainment channel on the tube did a "100 greatest achievements of the Century" and Electron Microscopy was #59 (or somewhere close to that). Right up there with tungsten lighting and insulin. Perhaps the student could check with the producers of that program.
} } } } } Keep it to one list { { { { { { { { {
David O'Neil National Research Council of Canada Institute for Marine Biosciences 1411 Oxford Street Halifax, NS B3H 3Z1 ph: (902)426-8258 fax: (902)426-9413 e-mail: david.o'neil-at-nrc.ca
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Hi, I have a researcher who plans to embed developing zebra fish to study development of the inner ear. Samples will be fixed and embedded up to age 30 days. We are not concerned about early stages but did not know when calcification starts and if this would be a problem for the late stages.
Has anyone had experience with fish or other embryos at the early stages of calcification? Did you need to do any decalcification and, if so, what procedure did you use? We are not interested in the bones themselves but the soft tissue and are concerned that calcified skull could cause tearing of the nearby tissues when the block is sectioned. Also any special protocols for optinmum fixation?
Thanks in advance for your help. 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
by amhost4.amcham.com.br (8.8.6/8.8.6) with ESMTP id VAA24102 for {Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com} ; Fri, 10 Dec 1999 21:15:16 -0200 (EDT) Message-ID: {38518AA5.EF6BEE29-at-amcham.com.br}
Dear all
I need to do special staining for giant mitochondria in transplant kidney bx, it's chromotrope aniline blue. The ref. I found was incomplete. I will be very happy if anyone coul send me the formula. If you also have the formula of Sirius red for interstitial fibrosis, my happiness will be complete.
We have had an R75 and an R100 for many years now. I bought them based on Philips' recommendation. We have had to replace the water pump on both units about once a year. According to Haskris, that's too frequent. What happens is that the brass coupling between the pump and the motor wears unevenly. We run it until the pump fails. Haskris suggested installing a new coupling every 6 months as routine p.m. There has been one occasion where the pump has failed in 5 months. The coupling was worn down to 20% of its mass. Has anyone else experienced this?
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Dear All,
Give these guys a break! Where would we be without vendors?
Not only are they the source of ALL our equipment but in many instances = are also a very valuable source of information. They know the equipment = better than most, can identify trends faster, do visit all the labs = working with microscopes so can see new technologies before we do, and can = provide solutions to problems that may seem impossible when viewed up = close. =
I think the moderation of the list is tough enough, both from the = contributors and from Nestor, to ensure that what gets through is tasteful = and concise. I encourage vendors to continue contributing not only = because they are at the front of what is happening, but also because many = are established and experienced microscopists too. When your reps come = through again, try talking with them. You might learn a thing or two.
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 http://www.hei.org/htm/aemi.htm
PS. On the subject of splitting the list - As a biologist I think we have = lots to learn from the materials people, especially when it comes to = sectioning. Having talked with material scientists, I think there are one = or two things we can pass on too. Sorry Lorry, but my vote is to stick = with one list.
Finally: A note to Nestor - I like the idea of you giving out "gentile = reminders" but I need to know if jewish ones are more or less tough?
by srvr5.engin.umich.edu (8.9.1a/8.9.1) with SMTP id UAA17637 for {microscopy-at-microscopy.com} ; Fri, 10 Dec 1999 20:55:37 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: {3.0.5.32.19991210210141.0098e440-at-srvr5.engin.umich.edu} X-Sender: ckuebel-at-srvr5.engin.umich.edu X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Light Version 3.0.5 (32)
I would appriciate it, if you would subscribe me to the microscopy list sever.
Thanks,
Christian Kuebel
------------------------------------------------- Dr. Christian Kuebel University of Michigan Department of Materials Science and Engineering 2125 H. H. Dow Building 2300 Hayward Street Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2136 Phone: (734) 763-4196
I purchased a Nachet 300 tricoular with what appears to be a phase condenser, G.C. 10x eyepieces a P8x in the camera tube, oculars: 60 1.00, 40 .65, 20 .55 and 10 .27. The thing that I don't understand is there are two dove tail sliders abover the oculars that can be inserted or removed from the light path and one has a very fine adjustment in the light path.
I would like a manual in English but I doubt one is available. I will go by the library and find a book on phase scopes to learn the adjustememt procecure.
It seems like a well built scope except the 35 mm camera that came with it looks like it came from a box of cracker jacks. I know that all the camera is is a box that holds film but this is the a sorry excuese for a 35 mm back. That is not much of a concern as I will be replacing it with a video camera.
Can some on tell me what the sliders are above the objectives. If it were a poloriszed scope they would be phase plates. They don't give enough color to be phase plates unless the polorizer is missing.
Thanks Gordon
Gordon Couger gcouger-at-couger.com
Stillwater, OK www.couger.com/gcouger 405 624-2855 GMT -6:00 www.couger.com/gcouger
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
We have had one Haskris R100 with two pumping units for about 30 years. We just replaced the pump on one unit which, I believe, is only the second time it has been replaced. The other one has also been replaced at least once as well. The original motors were on the unit although the compressor was replaced once and the copper piping has been replaced/repaired over the years. Another double pump R100 unit has had similar types and frequency of repairs.
Our compressors have gone out primarily beause they are water cooled and were on hard water. Mineral build-up restricted the cooling water causing failure. Now our maintenance crew runs dilute acid through them yearly to prevent this problem.All work is done by our in-house plumbing and refrigeration crew. 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
Vachik Hacopian wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Rick Felten-at-MACDERMID 12/11/99 12:49 PM I specialise in using the SEM to characterize bulk surfaces, but as a prelude to the analysis of each sample I always preview it w/ a Nikon low mag stereo inspection microscope. This light microscope often gives me the info I seek, and I simple use the SEM to confirm or prove my expectations. I am not knowledgeable about light microscopy, but when I compare the information I get from my Nikon (20-30 years old) to many other stereoscopes, I find that all the others at my company give very poor performance. I want to purchase a stereo microscope for my kids to grow up with. Something that matches our visual world but simply magnified To me this means excellent resolution, brightness, and 3-D. I was wondering who are the "undisputed" quality vendors and who are the vendors that produce a fine product, but don't have a name like Carl Zeise, Nikon and Leica. How much does one have to spend to get the quality that I am used to in my Nikon. How high in magnification can one achieve and still have good stereo information? I am interested in only reflectance mode work. Has anyone recently purchased a good basic stereo microscope that impressed them. I would like to have the ability to ditigize at a later date, so I assume I need a phototube? I see a ad in Cole palmer for a Meiji microscope about $2000. I have also seen prices that ranged from $300 to $7000, where is a good cut off for price/performance ratio? Ric
We have an immediate need to locate and purchase a suitable water chiller/recirculator in good used condition. The unit must be an air-to-air-type with a cooling capacity of approx 15,350 BTU per hour. Likely models include Haskris R100 or Neslab HX 150. Would prefer a unit geographically nearby.
Please respond directly to:
Bob Roberts EM Lab Services, Inc. 2409 S. Rural Rd Tempe, Arizona 85282 (480) 967-3946
This subject comes up now and then, and please allow me to add my commercially oriented view. The original 'Internet' had usage policies that forbade the conveyance of commercial 'advertising', although many of the participants were large commercial concerns. Nearly a decade ago, the Internet was commercialized, leading to the present situation, such as it is, where the usage rules simply don't apply. This was a result of the turnover of the Internet to commercial, rather than governmental control.
Obviously, there are blatant abusers out there in the nasty world of the Internet. IMHO, one of the worst is AOL, the leading ISP. However, there are also relative bastions of calm such as this list. Primarily due to its esoteric nature, and the efforts of Nestor, this list has remained relatively free of blatant commercialism.
I have never started a thread, but have often responded to one. There have been one or two occasions over the years where our friendly sysop (Nestor) has contacted me regarding the suitability of a posting I made. In each case, I believe we have managed to come to a reasonable mindset where I have not been overtly commercial and the list has not been harmed by my postings.
The bottom line is that academic purity is not damaged by the honest presentation of commercial concerns, and commercial purity need not be compromised by academic concerns. On the contrary, a substantive admission of orientation, both on the commercial and academic sides, can only enhance the interchange.
The subject of signature lines is simply specious. A proper signature line merely identifies one as belonging to one organization or another, and, as such, helps the viewer to determine one's affiliations and potential biases. Whether a university, a company or a high school might benefit from a particular signature line is really up the the viewer. If you think that you should be the arbiter of what each viewer reads in those lines, then I suggest that you might consider therapy.
I believe that most viewers, including myself, can come to reasonable conclusions based on the affiliations presented. This is far preferable to a list where no affiliations are presented and one is left not knowing the source of a particular view. No doubt in your view, this represents an unreasonable black vs. white approach, but the truth is that you either allow affiliations or you don't. The only alternative is to allow affiliations only for a chosen few and that doesn't cut it in the modern world.
In regards to your statement that "Without a doubt, it is free air time for the vendors involved", how many academic postings are made with affiliations noted in the signature line with the intention of aggrandizing an individual, department or organization? Let's be honest, a signature line, whether private or public, is an attempt to tie an individual to an organization that may carry some weight to that individual's view or enh ance the organization's stature should that individual's view be accepted. Academic ventures are surely not immune to financial concerns.
The purpose that all of us should follow is the enhancement of the scientific principles that through the centuries have provided the enlightenment we have pursued. Rather than getting caught up in the micro-management of that process, we should be involved in the active management and stewardship of the principals that have brought us so far.
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-sem.com
-----Original Message----- } From: Robert Palmer [SMTP:rjpalmer-at-dir.nidcr.nih.gov] Sent: Friday, December 10, 1999 6:59 AM To: Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
Dear list members,
I may get involved in the installation of a Cambridge Microscan 9 EPMA donated to an institute in Hungary. I would highly appreciate any kind of information about that model.
Clarence A. Miller Department of Chemical Engineering Rice University 6100 S. Main Street Houston, Texas 77005-1892 Telephone: 713-527-4904 FAX: 713-285-5478
I am working with leukemia cells in suspension and spin them down in conical BEEM capsules prior to fixation. All subsequent steps (osmication, dehydration, infiltration with epon 812) are performed in these tubes. Unfortunately the blocks are very difficult to cut. The tips are with holes and inside the blocks there are "craters" and spongy areas that make it very difficult to cut proper sections. The pellets are minute, therefore I like the convenience of the conical tubes but I have to cut "big" chunks away with the razor blade before I get reasonable sections which makes it a quite wasteful job. The absolute EtOH is dried over Cu2SO4 in a dialysis tube and the cells are in filtrated twice within 24 hours.
I know that one way out of this dilemma would be to handle the pellet as a tissue - but the experiment is so time consuming that I still do not want to risk having a crumbling pellet after 2 days work.
Thanks in advance for your kind help.
Claudia
Dr. C. Hayward-Costa School of Life Sciences Kingston University Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames Surrey KT1 2EE, UK ++44(0)181 547 2000 x 2240 Email: c.hayward-at-kingston.ac.uk
} } I recommend Dr. Cheng Huang {chuang-at-ccs.carleton.ca} at Carleton University, } Ottawa, Canada. } } John Catino } } } } } "Tian_Huang-at-gillette.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 } } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } Hi, there, } } Could anybody tell me where I can get cryo-SEM done? Thanks! } } } } } } Tian }
Greetings, I use a PowerPoint presentation to teach farmers, county extension agents and horticulturalists about basic soil science. I need a scanning electron microscope image of kaolinite. Only one or two very good images are all that I need. Can anyone help with this? I thought there might be a national library of SEM images for public access but there doesn't seem to be one. If you can help, please email me privately at: blpprt-at-clemson.edu Thanks! Bob Lippert
********************************************************* Dr. Bob Lippert Dept. Crop and Soil Environmental Science 277 Poole Agricultural Center Box 340359 Clemson University Clemson, SC 29634-0359 Phone 864-656-3502 FAX 864-656-3443 EMAIL blpprt-at-clemson.edu WEB SITE: http://hubcap.clemson.edu/~blpprt/bobweb/bobweb.html
Soumitra Ghoshroy Ph.D. Electron Microscope Laboratory Box 3EML New Mexico State University Las Cruces, NM 88003 Phone: 505-646-3600/1531 Fax: 505-646-5665 E-mail:ghoshroy-at-nmsu.edu
We are in need of an architect to help us design a TEM room in a stand alone structure. The building will be an empty shell, so we can do pretty much as we please. The FETEM is used for high res work which means it has some very special needs. If you know of a firm in this area {NY, NJ, PA, CN} which can handle this please contact me via e-mail.
I have no experience working with JB-4 resin and a graduate student is trying to embed whole fish (trout) eggs for a histological examination. The eggs are about 5 mm in diameter. So far, penetration into the yolk is incomplete or not at all. Vacuum infiltration is not recommended because it may speed up polymerization of the JB-4 resin and the student would like to have the eggs intact during preparation. Does anyone have any suggestions? Or can one point us to a literature source for this type of work?
Many thanks, Susan ************************************** Susan Belfry Electron Microscopy Unit University of New Brunswick, Bag Service #45111, Fredericton, New Brunswick, E3B 6E1, Canada Phone: 506-453-4887 Fax: 506-453-3583 http://www.unb.ca/emunit/ *************************************
Claudia, I have processed many cell pellets in the 0.6ml microcentrifuge tubes (I have never tried to use the BEEM capsules for processing). I have had no problems processing and embedding the cells all in the same tube. It really sounds like the cells are not thoroughly dehydrated. What kind of dehydration series are you using? I have found that if I use a rinse with 100% acetonitrile after the 100% EtOH and then infiltrate with a 2:1, 1:1, 1:2 acetronitrile:eponate 12 series I have absolutely no problems with the finished block. Also, before putting the pure eponate 12 resin in the tube (the final step before polymerization) I remove every last bit of acetonitrile with a small absorbent cotton swab. This way I am satisfied that there is absolutely no water or other liquid around my cells which may prevent the resin from getting all the way down into the tip of the tube. I hope this works for you! Good luck, Jo Dee
Jo Dee Fish Electron Microscopy Assistant The Burnham Institute 10901 N. Torrey Pines Rd. La Jolla, CA 92037 858-646-3100 ext.3620
Claudia Hayward-Costa 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 Experts, } } I am working with leukemia cells in suspension and spin them } down in conical BEEM capsules prior to fixation. All subsequent } steps (osmication, dehydration, infiltration with epon 812) are } performed in these tubes. } Unfortunately the blocks are very difficult to cut. The tips are with } holes and inside the blocks there are "craters" and spongy areas } that make it very difficult to cut proper sections. } The pellets are minute, therefore I like the convenience of the } conical tubes but I have to cut "big" chunks away with the razor } blade before I get reasonable sections which makes it a quite } wasteful job. } The absolute EtOH is dried over Cu2SO4 in a dialysis tube and the } cells are in filtrated twice within 24 hours. } } I know that one way out of this dilemma would be to handle the } pellet as a tissue - but the experiment is so time consuming that I } still do not want to risk having a crumbling pellet after 2 days work. } } Thanks in advance for your kind help. } } Claudia } } Dr. C. Hayward-Costa } School of Life Sciences } Kingston University } Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames } Surrey KT1 2EE, UK } ++44(0)181 547 2000 x 2240 } Email: c.hayward-at-kingston.ac.uk
I am working with HELA and COS7 cells in suspension. I would prefer to fix (GA and OsO4 postfixation) them in suspension in 1.5 ml Eppendorf tubes. Usually I collect cells by centrifugation of the suspension in the standard cell culture 15 ml tubes at the low speed (not more than 1000 rpm on the GLC-2 backet rotor centrifuge, 10-15 min) and resuspend them in the 0.5-1 ml fixer solution. Than I transferred cells suspension into the 1.5 ml Eppendorf tubes and performs all manipulations in those tubes (with some centrifugation between steps to hold precipitate in place if necessary). At such conditions cells do not form a solid precipitate, therefore they are more accessible to the solvents. If it necessary at the last step, I transfer cells into BEEM capsules with pure plastic media, centrifuge it at higher than before speed (say 2000 rpm, 20-30 min) and than polymerize it. I find, BEEM capsules is less suitable for cells processing mostly because a small volume. For approximately 50 um precipitate volume I prefer to use about 500-700 um of the each solvent. It may be important at dehydrating steps when in the small volume it is most likely to "re-hydrate" the solvent (and sample as well) from air's moisture.
Good luck.
Sergey
} Dear Experts, } } I am working with leukemia cells in suspension and spin them } down in conical BEEM capsules prior to fixation. All subsequent } steps (osmication, dehydration, infiltration with epon 812) are } performed in these tubes. } Unfortunately the blocks are very difficult to cut. The tips are with } holes and inside the blocks there are "craters" and spongy areas } that make it very difficult to cut proper sections. } The pellets are minute, therefore I like the convenience of the } conical tubes but I have to cut "big" chunks away with the razor } blade before I get reasonable sections which makes it a quite } wasteful job. } The absolute EtOH is dried over Cu2SO4 in a dialysis tube and the } cells are in filtrated twice within 24 hours. } } I know that one way out of this dilemma would be to handle the } pellet as a tissue - but the experiment is so time consuming that I } still do not want to risk having a crumbling pellet after 2 days work. } } Thanks in advance for your kind help. } } Claudia } } Dr. C. Hayward-Costa } School of Life Sciences } Kingston University } Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames } Surrey KT1 2EE, UK } ++44(0)181 547 2000 x 2240 } Email: c.hayward-at-kingston.ac.uk
--
_________________________________
Sergey Ryazantsev Ph. D. UCLA School of Medicine Department of Biological Chemistry Box 951737 Los Angeles, CA 90095-1737
It sounds like you have a problem with residue of fluids in your beem capsules which could be preventing decent impregnation of your pellets. You do not mention the source of your cells, but a few years ago when I worked at Red Cross Children's Hospital in Cape Town, we had easy techniques for both peripheral blood samples and aspirated cells.
Peripheral blood was centrifuged in capillary tubes to separate the cells (this was done by our haem lab before they sent them to us). A score was made on the glass of the cap tubes just below the buffy coat and then by placing the broken end into a vial of fixative (we used cacodylate buffered 1.5% gluteraldehyde) and tapping gently on the other end, the plug of cells were released. They were fixed for at least 2 hours and then processed (whole, if 2mm long or less) in an automatic tissue processor (Shandon Lynx) with our routine specimens. I would recommend that if you use an auto processor you should line the basket to stop the specimens from being washed out. We used to use a small piece of lens cleaning tissue with all of our small specimens. These blocks are easy to cut although you sometimes had to trim a bit to get through the layer of platelets as it is nearly impossible to orientate the plugs.
For aspirated cells, we received cells in 1.5% glute which we centrifuged in eppendorf tubes and removed all of the supernatant fluid. We then put a drop of 5% - 10% gelatine or agar (just warmed enough to melt) and slightly loosened the pellet slightly with an orange stick so that the cells were concentrated at the base of the agar plug. This was then set in the fridge and the pellets were trimmed and processed in the tissue processor with the routine specimens. These blocks tended to be slightly soft but they still sectioned perfectly.
Rick Felten-at-MACDERMID 12/14/99 08:04 AM Every few months printers are discussed on the listserver. I was wondering if it wouldn't be a bad idea if we had an annual "printoff". We could have two or three categories ( {$500 and } $500 or what ever). We could have a standard image printed to a standard size. The submittor could record the print time. The standard image could be a composite of features testing resolution, nearly full dark regions, and nearly full white regions. Let me know what you think. Ric
Hi I am trying to set for the first time a passive Voltage Contrast analysis for contact 1, metal 1 and metal 2 using a FIB and I want to know how is it done?, beside the FIB do I need any other equipment's? and is there any publications that I can search about the analysis itself? Thank you for your help.
I usually have no problem with fixation/embedding of cell pellets. However sometimes material is lost during the various steps. I find that if you embed the pellet in agar after fixation that the results are often improved and material is not lost. This will also eliminate the air problems you discribe. I hope that this helps and good luck.
Paula Scott Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Florida Marine Research Institute 100 8th Avenue SE St. Petersburg, FL 33701 (727) 896-8626 Fax (727) 823-0166
I am working on the PET/PEN blends and trying to get the microstructure images of this Polymer blends by TEM. However, By Ruthenium staining (Montezinos et al 1985) of ultrathin sections,no phase differences were visible. I espected to obtain the phase seperate of PET phase (domain phase) and PEN phase. I also tried SEM and found no seperation.
Please give any suggestion about "the sample Preparation".
I agree with you that such a side-by-side comparison would be a good idea. Indeed, a few years ago there was such a "Print-Off" that was displayed in the computer lab at the MSA/MAS meeting. Nestor or someone had prepared a test image with several sub-images to test several modes of imaging. I think the image was available via the MSA web server. However, I don't remember seeing one these last couple of years. Maybe it should be an official and permanent part or the annual meeting.
Warren S.
At 08:04 AM 12/14/1999 -0500, you wrote: } Rick Felten-at-MACDERMID } 12/14/99 08:04 AM } Every few months printers are discussed on the listserver. I was wondering } if it wouldn't be a bad idea if we had an annual "printoff". We could have } two or three categories ( {$500 and } $500 or what ever). We could have a } standard image printed to a standard size. The submittor could record the } print time. The standard image could be a composite of features testing } resolution, nearly full dark regions, and nearly full white regions. Let } me know what you think. } Ric
A recent posting reminded me of a problem that infrequently occurs within = our lab. In fully processed specimens, the epon blocks will develop = bubbles as they harden. At times there are so many bubbles that the = specimen will be displaced from an oriented position. To our best = efforts, we have not been able to identify what causes these bubbles. = There does not seem to be a correlation with the age of any one compound = or mold type. However, making up all new components will often (not = always) get rid of the bubbles. We use vacuum, both after mixing epon = components and again before the epon is cured (i.e., with the tissue = embedded in epon). The epon is EMS Embed-812. Processing is on a Lynx, = with glut, cacodylate buffers, osmium, graded alcohols, propylene oxide, = and uncatalyzed epon. Typically, after processing, specimens sit under = vacuum for 2-4 hours in epon with catalyst (BDMA) before being placed in = the oven. Oven temperature is constant (70C), and curing is overnight. I = have always been curious as to what causes these bubbles and how to avoid = their formation.
TIA
P. Steele, Ph.D. Pathology & Lab. Medicine All Children's Hospital
We have recently received a Gatan double tilt heating stage capable of reaching 1000 degC. On our first trial run in the JEOL JEM-3010 a stage mechanical limit alarm started above 550 deg C despite the stage being near to the centre. The stage was free to move in any direction so we do not think it was a real alarm and it slowed down and stopped as the temperature was reduced below 500degC. I was wondering if anyone else out there has had a similar problem?
Secondly someone wants to look at a cross sectional specimen above 500 deg C. Does anyone know of a glue/cement that can be used safely upto 1000 deg C!
Regards
Alan W Nicholls, PhD Manager - Electron Microscopy Service Research Resources Center - East (M/C 337) Room 100 Science and Engineering South Building The University of Illinois at Chicago 845 West Taylor St Chicago, IL 60607-7058
Dear Claudia, I have processed cultured cells successfully by using polypropylene = centrifuge tubes or microcentrifuge tubes (a little bigger than the BEEM = capsules you have used). I spin after each step and infiltrate in either = Spurr or LRWhite. My last steps are to transfer each infiltrated sample = to the BEEM capsules. Then, I place the BEEM capsules in microcentrifuge = tubes piggyback(you may have to cut the microcentrifuge tubes with cutters = to make them fit) and spin them once more before placing them in the oven. = It's a long prep, but I've had very good results.
Contact alarms usually detect current flow between the sample rod and the rest of the microscope. Could you be getting sufficient thermal electron emission (perhaps from the heating wires) to trip the sensor?
Cheers, Henk
At 02:42 PM 12/14/99 -0600, Alan W. Nicholls wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Hendrik O. Colijn colijn.1-at-osu.edu Campus Electron Optics Facility Ohio State University (614) 292-0674 http://web.ceof.ohio-state.edu Murphy's Law: "If anything can go wrong, it will." Commentary: "Murphy was an optimist."
} } Rick Felten-at-MACDERMID } 12/14/99 08:04 AM } Every few months printers are discussed on the listserver. I was wondering } if it wouldn't be a bad idea if we had an annual "printoff". We could have } two or three categories ( {$500 and } $500 or what ever). We could have a } standard image printed to a standard size. The submittor could record the } print time. The standard image could be a composite of features testing } resolution, nearly full dark regions, and nearly full white regions. Let } me know what you think. } Ric
Dee Breger Mgr. SEM/EDX Facility Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory 61 Route 9W Palisades, NY 10964 USA T: 914/365-8640 F: 914/365-8155 E: micro-at-ldeo.columbia.edu
I am looking for a used ion mill for preparation of TEM samples. If anyone has an ion mill that they are looking to get rid or knows of anyone who is please contact me.
Thanks.
Kathryn Schubel - Assistant Professor of Geology Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences Lafayette College Easton, PA 18042 U.S.A.
This is directed in particular at any one using an Olympus or Bio-Rad confocal microscope, which I am told save their images in a multi-image TIFF format. If you would contact me directly by e-mail I would appreciate it. I am trying to get my hands on a couple of representative images, contents not important, to see which of the many possible tiff file variants are in use. If anyone else is using multi-tiffs from some other brand of machine, I'd like to know that as well.
Thanks John Russ John_Russ-at-NCSU.edu or DrJohnRuss-at-AOL.com
We have an HM 505 cryostat that may need parts or need to be sent in for repairs. I recall seeing something recently about Microm-Heidelberg equipment being handled by Richard Allan Scientific. Is this true for all HM equipment? We purchased this cryostat through a Zeiss vendor (who no longer handles Zeiss) and we'd really like to make sure that we deal with the proper company.
Who is actually handling repairs and parts for HM cryostats? I'll be contacting Zeiss soon, but in the meantime, I'd like some warning as to what I'll run into.
Please contact me personally,
Jaclynn M. Lett jmlett-at-cid.wustl.edu
Fay and Carl Simon Center for the Biology of Hearing and Deafness Central Institute for the Deaf 818 S. Euclid Ave. St. Louis, MO 63110
Alan, Check out the MRS TEM prep book I, vol 115, p.126, (1988). Eric Fiore and Rodney Herring have a paper in there that describes a way of going up to 1300C for cross sectional samples. The "glue" that they use is Ceramabond 569 from Aremco Products, Inc.
-Scott
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Glass Technology Center 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." --
} -----Original Message----- } From: Alan W. Nicholls [mailto:nicholls-at-uic.edu] } Sent: Tuesday, December 14, 1999 3:42 PM } To: microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } Subject: 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 } } } -------------------------------------------------------------- } ---------. } } } We have recently received a Gatan double tilt heating stage capable of } reaching 1000 degC. On our first trial run in the JEOL } JEM-3010 a stage } mechanical limit alarm started above 550 deg C despite the } stage being near } to the centre. The stage was free to move in any direction } so we do not } think it was a real alarm and it slowed down and stopped as } the temperature } was reduced below 500degC. I was wondering if anyone else } out there has } had a similar problem? } } Secondly someone wants to look at a cross sectional specimen } above 500 deg } C. Does anyone know of a glue/cement that can be used safely } upto 1000 deg C! } } Regards } } Alan W Nicholls, PhD } Manager - Electron Microscopy Service } Research Resources Center - East (M/C 337) } Room 100 Science and Engineering South Building } The University of Illinois at Chicago } 845 West Taylor St } Chicago, IL 60607-7058 } } Tel: 312 996 1227 } Fax: 312 996 8091 } Office: Room 110 } } Web site www.rrc.uic.edu }
To all Microscopists, does anyone have a complete good alignment procedure for the Jeol 1200. We would very much appreciate a copy. Thank you very much. Peter Stolzenberg, Pesto Inc. 215-699-6160 Fax 215-699-5275
This is a second chance. I surely need the formula for chromotrope aniline blue and syrius red. It's very important to me at the moment, so I will be able to get some improvement in my transplant kidney bx diagnosis. It's Christmas time, a time for giving, please help me!
Don't need to be stressed I will post to Pathol....
Moisture is often caught within the sample, either in an air pocket or as= it exists in the material. During the curing/heating of the Epoxy, the = moisture vaporizes into a gas, forming a bubble. These bubbles do not es= cape the mount because the Epoxy is too thick at that point.
Thoroughly drying the sample is the only way to ensure this does not happ= en.
I hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Gary Liechty
Peter Steele 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------= =2E } } A recent posting reminded me of a problem that infrequently occurs with= in our lab. In fully processed specimens, the epon blocks will develop b= ubbles as they harden. At times there are so many bubbles that the speci= men will be displaced from an oriented position. To our best efforts, we= have not been able to identify what causes these bubbles. There does no= t seem to be a correlation with the age of any one compound or mold type.= However, making up all new components will often (not always) get rid o= f the bubbles. We use vacuum, both after mixing epon components and agai= n before the epon is cured (i.e., with the tissue embedded in epon). The= epon is EMS Embed-812. Processing is on a Lynx, with glut, cacodylate b= uffers, osmium, graded alcohols, propylene oxide, and uncatalyzed epon. = Typically, after processing, specimens sit under vacuum for 2-4 hours in = epon with catalyst (BDMA) before being placed in the oven. Oven temperat= ure is constant (70C), and curing is overnight. I } have always been curious as to what causes these bubbles and how to avo= id their formation. } } TIA } } P. Steele, Ph.D. } Pathology & Lab. Medicine } All Children's Hospital
-- Gary Liechty Product Application Specialist
Allied High Tech Products, Inc. 2376 E. Pacifica Place Rancho Dominguez, CA 90220
310-635-2466 800-675-1118 US Only 310-762-6808 Fax
www.alliedhightech.com
Products and Equipment for Metallurgical Sample Preparation
Moisture often exists within a sample, in an air pocket or as a component= of the sample/material. During the curing/heating of the Epoxy, the moi= sture vaporizes into a gas, forming a bubble. These bubbles do not escap= e the mount because the Epoxy is too thick at that point.
Thoroughly drying the sample is the only way to reduce this effect.
I hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Gary Liechty
Peter Steele 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------= =2E } } A recent posting reminded me of a problem that infrequently occurs with= in our lab. In fully processed specimens, the epon blocks will develop b= ubbles as they harden. At times there are so many bubbles that the speci= men will be displaced from an oriented position. To our best efforts, we= have not been able to identify what causes these bubbles. There does no= t seem to be a correlation with the age of any one compound or mold type.= However, making up all new components will often (not always) get rid o= f the bubbles. We use vacuum, both after mixing epon components and agai= n before the epon is cured (i.e., with the tissue embedded in epon). The= epon is EMS Embed-812. Processing is on a Lynx, with glut, cacodylate b= uffers, osmium, graded alcohols, propylene oxide, and uncatalyzed epon. = Typically, after processing, specimens sit under vacuum for 2-4 hours in = epon with catalyst (BDMA) before being placed in the oven. Oven temperat= ure is constant (70C), and curing is overnight. I } have always been curious as to what causes these bubbles and how to avo= id their formation. } } TIA } } P. Steele, Ph.D. } Pathology & Lab. Medicine } All Children's Hospital
-- Gary Liechty Product Application Specialist
Allied High Tech Products, Inc. 2376 E. Pacifica Place Rancho Dominguez, CA 90220
310-635-2466 800-675-1118 US Only 310-762-6808 Fax
www.alliedhightech.com
Products and Equipment for Metallurgical Sample Preparation
My collaborators would like to know the blood osmolarity of Panaeus vanamei and of Macrobrachium. They are interested in finding good salines for Panaeus and Macrobrachium that will make their dissected parts happy for physiological experiments, and also a favorite buffer for fixation of these happy parts for electron microscopy. Long ago I used to use Dalton's saline for physilogical experiments on crab parts, but I'm wondering if any of you have other opinions. For fixation I generally use 4% glut in 0.1M sodium cacodylate with 0.35M sucrose for the marine stuff, but I'm willing to entertain other recipes as well.
Thanks in advance for any suggestions!
Mele Kalikimaka, 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* ****************************************************************************
At the Molecular Imaging Laboratories at the University of California , San Diego, there is an immediate opening for an ultramicrotomist. A candidate should be definitely hands-on familiar with Reichert and Sorvall microtomes as well as with Epon, Spurr, and Araldite embedments. Experience with sectioning of frozen sucrose infused samples is a big plus, but it can be a subject of training on the site. This is an equal employment opportunity. Minorities are strongly encouraged to apply. Starting salary ~$24000.- Candidates are welcome to contact me with any questions.
Marek Malecki, M.D., Ph.D. Director and Principal Investigator
Molecular Imaging Laboratories University of California at San Diego
address: 1500 Suite Bonner Hall, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0368 phone: 8588223373 fax: 8588223715 pager: 8586161420 e.mail: mmm-at-ucsd.edu e.pager: 1620024619-at-alphapage.airtouch.com www site: http://mil.ucsd.edu/ ftp site: mil.ucsd.edu
Greetings: I recently purchased the Aus-Jena Laboval scope that I Asked your opinion of last month.I am overjoyed with it.It is nearly new and looks and works as if it has been hardly used.I have a few questions some of you may be able to help me with ? The unit is approx.20 years old: 1.) Does anyone have any idea where I can find a factory manual on use & maintenance in English? or a reprint ?
2.) The unit has an accessory polarizer unit between the trinocular eyepiece and the turrent, it is marked 1.25X. I presume this means it increases effective magnification by 1.25.Is this correct ? The Trinocular head has a camera mount and its marked 1X at the camera fitting, and 1.6X at the eyepiece binocular unit.Would I multiply the objective power by both 1.25 and 1.6 to figure the total working magnification ?
3.) Any Idea where I can get an English manual on the polarizer.I have a wooden fitted box full of many different lens plates & sliders etc. but no instructions or anything.Soon I will figure it out however,I would really like to have a manual for this accessory.
4.) I also have a separate darkfield condenser unit,any idea on manuals or instructions ?
Thank you all for taking the time to read this,and special thanks to all who can help point me in the proper direction. Brian Gortney
gortn-at-earthlink.net
PS: I purchased the unit from Mcbain Instruments in Chatsworth Ca. They are a Leica dealer and service facility.I am well pleased with them. I would not hesitate to recommend them. Gerry Burke has been most helpful and knowledgeable.(I have no affiliation with Mcbain)
I find that I can dramatically reduce the chance of bubbles if I pre-dry the empty capsules and their labels in the oven all day or overnight before adding the samples and resin. I got onto this many years ago when I realized I was getting bubbles off the paper labels as well, so I decided they held moisture and/or gas. Works for me!
Good luck, 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* ****************************************************************************
I have a materials background, so I'm sure I do not understand the process of embedding biological samples. That said, the bubbles could be a result of outgassing your specimen directly in the epoxy. Also, outgassing specimens and epoxy for 2 - 4 hours sounds excessive and could drive off much of the typically aromatic catalyst used for free-radical addition polymerization of epoxies. I typically do not outgas my epoxy (Spurrs), I try to mix it very gently so as not to mix air into it.
On occasion, for very porous problem materials, I will put the epoxy and specimen under vacuum for at most 5 minutes. However, I do not place the specimen in the epoxy during this time, as the surface tension of liquids will impede the evacuation process. I place the specimen on a piece of foil attached to the lip of a small beaker of epoxy. After outgassing in a small bell jar for a few minutes, I gently tap the base plate of the bell jar to knock the specimen into the epoxy, and then leak the chamber back up to atmospheric pressure. In this process you more efficiently evacuate the interstitial spaces of the samples and use atmospheric pressure at 14 psi to force epoxy into the evacuated voids. This has worked well for fine sub-micron sized powder, fabric, sponge, paper, and catalysts.
When embedding pre-processed wet tissue, it is important to first outgas the sample in the lowest molecular weight liquid. Infiltration through serial dilutions of solvent to viscous epoxy then occurs primarily by diffusion, minimizing tissue trauma and damage.
The vacuum pulled should not reach pressures so low that active boiling of the epoxy occurs - a gentle release of small bubbles is all the is needed, and then only to indicate outgassing. There's no reason to outgas dissolved gases - leave them dissolved, it's only necessary to evacuate the voids and trapped gas in your sample prior to embedding.
Cheers,
Phil Swab Engineering Development Deposition Sciences Inc. Santa Rosa, CA 707-566-3718 phil.swab-at-depsci.com
-----Original Message----- } From: Peter Steele [SMTP:STEELEP-at-allkids.org] Sent: Tuesday, December 14, 1999 11:27 AM To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com
A recent posting reminded me of a problem that infrequently occurs within our lab. In fully processed specimens, the epon blocks will develop bubbles as they harden. At times there are so many bubbles that the specimen will be displaced from an oriented position. To our best efforts, we have not been able to identify what causes these bubbles. There does not seem to be a correlation with the age of any one compound or mold type. However, making up all new components will often (not always) get rid of the bubbles. We use vacuum, both after mixing epon components and again before the epon is cured (i.e., with the tissue embedded in epon). The epon is EMS Embed-812. Processing is on a Lynx, with glut, cacodylate buffers, osmium, graded alcohols, propylene oxide, and uncatalyzed epon. Typically, after processing, specimens sit under vacuum for 2-4 hours in epon with catalyst (BDMA) before being placed in the oven. Oven temperature is constant (70C), and curing is overnight. I have always been curious as to what causes these bubbles and how to avoid their formation.
TIA
P. Steele, Ph.D. Pathology & Lab. Medicine All Children's Hospital
} I agree with you that such a side-by-side comparison would be a good } idea.
Yes, this is a very good idea.
Another interesting variable is the paper on which the images are printed. At the Microscopy Society of Southern Africa's recent meeting there was a very informative display of images printed (mainly by different HP and Epson inkjets, if I remember correctly) on a wide variety of papers. This also included SEM images of the paper. I don't remember which turned out to be the "best" paper (or "best value for money" paper) but there certainly was a wide difference between the quality of the images and the fine structure of the papers that were examined. Something that was immediately obvious to me was the wide variety of contrast produced by different papers.
Warm regards from us all down here (in the high 30's C this week)!
Robin H Cross Director : EM Unit, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa R.Cross-at-ru.ac.za tel: +27 46 603 8168 - fax: +27 46 622 4377 http://www.ru.ac.za/emu/index.htm
** remember that ICEM-15 in 2002 is in Durban, South Africa **
Hi I have an AN10000 EDX system. The hard disk has gone down. I usually use NEC D3142 20Mb replacements. Sadly my supplier can no longer source this drive. Does anyone have a suggestion for an alternative drive.
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 http://www.empgu.man.ac.uk
have you considered the possibility that you are simply spinning down any hard debris to the bottom of your capsule which can cause holes in sections and general problems with embedding. This seems to be a classic problem with small pellets especially where you have to spin after each solution and the debris may come from a variety of sources: the sample crystals or deposits in solution (maybe your Cu2SO4 is leaking out of the dialysis tube) bits of broken glass from pipettes etc
The simplest answer is just to trim past this layer, but you could try filtering everything before use (0.2um filters on syringes) and avoiding the use of glassware with these difficult pellets (disposable plastic pasteurs etc). Otherwise encapsulate in agar or try pelleting in haematocrit glass capillaries as others have suggested.
Oh and merry Christmas and happy new Millennium to one and all (the above reply was just an excuse for this greeting really).
Malcolm
Malcolm Haswell Electron Microscopy School of Sciences Fleming Building University of Sunderland SUNDERLAND SR1 3SD Tyne and Wear UK
Tel (0191) 515 2872 e-mail: malcolm.haswell-at-sunderland.ac.uk ----------------------------------------------------- Claudia Hayward-Costa 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 Experts, } } I am working with leukemia cells in suspension and spin them } down in conical BEEM capsules prior to fixation. All subsequent } steps (osmication, dehydration, infiltration with epon 812) are } performed in these tubes. } Unfortunately the blocks are very difficult to cut. The tips are with } holes and inside the blocks there are "craters" and spongy areas } that make it very difficult to cut proper sections. } The pellets are minute, therefore I like the convenience of the } conical tubes but I have to cut "big" chunks away with the razor } blade before I get reasonable sections which makes it a quite } wasteful job. } The absolute EtOH is dried over Cu2SO4 in a dialysis tube and the } cells are in filtrated twice within 24 hours. } } I know that one way out of this dilemma would be to handle the } pellet as a tissue - but the experiment is so time consuming that I } still do not want to risk having a crumbling pellet after 2 days work. } } Thanks in advance for your kind help. } } Claudia } } Dr. C. Hayward-Costa } School of Life Sciences } Kingston University } Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames } Surrey KT1 2EE, UK } ++44(0)181 547 2000 x 2240 } Email: c.hayward-at-kingston.ac.uk
Hi Jaclyn, Richard-Allan has purchased Microm. Richard-Allan/Microm will be servicing the equipment in the near future, but for service now please contact Zeiss Service.
Dawn M. Truscott, HT(ASCP) RAS/Microm Instrumentation Team
I am trying to help a student who has been bought a 10-40x stereo zoom microscope with some image recording/analysis equipment. The microscope is totally unbranded - nothing on the body or the eyepieces (except for magnification).
The problem is an apparent mismatch of the lamp intensity in the eyepieces. In the right ocular, the illumination is brighter centrally, and it zooms up concentrically - that's fine. In the left ocular, the brighter central zone zooms up to go out of the field of view, to the left. A centred specimen zooms up concentrically in both oculars. Any suggestions? Is it a phenomenon of the different height of the bulb, which is directly below the stage, and the specimen? The problem is apparently alleviated by putting a piece of velin tissue (thin paper) under the specimen. But this introduces a patterned background.
Keith Ryan Marine Biological Association Plymouth UK
Although established as a tool in materials science and physics, scanning= =20 probe microscopy (SPM) is at the beginning of its application in biomateria= ls=20 science. On 2 April 1998 the first workshop entitled "Scanning Probe Micros= copy=20 in Biomaterials Science, Dentistry and Medicine" was held in Bristol, UK.= =20 What was planned to be a small workshop evolved to be an international conf= erence with high calibre=20 delegates and speakers from all over the world. Encouraged by the success o= f the meeting and supported by international academics and industrial researchers we are organising a 2= nd conference. =20 Since this first conference in 1998 more researchers have applied atomic fo= rce=20 microscopy and related SPM methods in biomaterials science.=20 Therefore a definitive need for a broad scientific exchange between researc= hers involved in these studies exists. This is the purpose of The 2nd International Conference on Scanning Probe = Microscopy in Biomaterials Science,=20 which will be hosted by the University of Bristol and Veeco Instruments Lim= ited.
Contributions should cover, but are not limited to, the following areas:
Imaging of biomaterials surfaces (polymers, metals ceramics etc.)=20 Interfaces between biomaterials and biological materials (e.g. protein-biom= aterial interfaces)=20 Investigation of local properties of biomaterials (mechanical, chemical etc= .)=20 Structural change of biomaterials=20 Aspects of medicine and dentistry relevant for SPM (e.g. SPM on mineralised= tissues or DNA)=20 Instrumental developments in SPM and combination with other methods in the= =20 investigations of biomaterials
Deadlines and dates
1 September 1999: early registration starts 1 January 2000: registration starts 1 April 2000 deadline for abstract submission 1 June 2000 registration closes =96 late registration (at an increased fee = rate) possible until the date of the conference.
Speakers (confirmed):=20 Saul Tendler, Nottingham, UK Roger Marchant, Cleveland, OH, USA Grayson W. Marshall, San Francisco, USA Buddy D Ratner, Seattle, USA Klaus Jandt, Bristol, UK etc.
Poster and presentations sessions: delegates will be able to present poster= s or=20 give 15 min. oral presentations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------= ----- Dr. rer. nat. Klaus D. Jandt Senior Lecturer in Dental Materials Science and Biomaterials University of Bristol, Department of Oral and Dental Science Lower Maudlin Street, Bristol, BS1 2LY, UK Phone: ++ 44 (0) 117 9 28 44 18, Fax: ++ 44 (0) 117 9 28 47 80 Internet: K.Jandt-at-bris.ac.uk WWW: http://www.dent.bris.ac.uk/Biomaterials/kdj.htm "We make Biomaterials Science work!"
I have certainly experienced the problems that Phil mentions. In fact I would only pump down a chamber slowly and bleed air back in if excessive bubbling occurred. Most specimens only needed a few minutes of outgassing with Spurr's. Perhaps part of your problem is due to the higher viscosity of Epon which as it warms becomes less viscous and releases trapped bubbles.
Malcolm
Malcolm Haswell Electron Microscopy School of Sciences Fleming Building University of Sunderland SUNDERLAND SR1 3SD Tyne and Wear UK
Tel (0191) 515 2872 e-mail: malcolm.haswell-at-sunderland.ac.uk
Phil Swab 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } Peter et al, } } I have a materials background, so I'm sure I do not understand the process } of embedding biological samples. That said, the bubbles could be a result } of outgassing your specimen directly in the epoxy. Also, outgassing } specimens and epoxy for 2 - 4 hours sounds excessive and could drive off } much of the typically aromatic catalyst used for free-radical addition } polymerization of epoxies. I typically do not outgas my epoxy (Spurrs), I } try to mix it very gently so as not to mix air into it. } } On occasion, for very porous problem materials, I will put the epoxy and } specimen under vacuum for at most 5 minutes. However, I do not place the } specimen in the epoxy during this time, as the surface tension of liquids } will impede the evacuation process. I place the specimen on a piece of } foil attached to the lip of a small beaker of epoxy. After outgassing in a } small bell jar for a few minutes, I gently tap the base plate of the bell } jar to knock the specimen into the epoxy, and then leak the chamber back up } to atmospheric pressure. In this process you more efficiently evacuate the } interstitial spaces of the samples and use atmospheric pressure at 14 psi } to force epoxy into the evacuated voids. This has worked well for fine } sub-micron sized powder, fabric, sponge, paper, and catalysts. } } When embedding pre-processed wet tissue, it is important to first outgas } the sample in the lowest molecular weight liquid. Infiltration through } serial dilutions of solvent to viscous epoxy then occurs primarily by } diffusion, minimizing tissue trauma and damage. } } The vacuum pulled should not reach pressures so low that active boiling of } the epoxy occurs - a gentle release of small bubbles is all the is needed, } and then only to indicate outgassing. There's no reason to outgas } dissolved gases - leave them dissolved, it's only necessary to evacuate the } voids and trapped gas in your sample prior to embedding. } } Cheers, } } Phil Swab } Engineering Development } Deposition Sciences Inc. } Santa Rosa, CA } 707-566-3718 } phil.swab-at-depsci.com } } -----Original Message----- } } From: Peter Steele [SMTP:STEELEP-at-allkids.org] } Sent: Tuesday, December 14, 1999 11:27 AM } To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } Subject: Epon bubbles } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } A recent posting reminded me of a problem that infrequently occurs within } our lab. In fully processed specimens, the epon blocks will develop } bubbles as they harden. At times there are so many bubbles that the } specimen will be displaced from an oriented position. To our best efforts, } we have not been able to identify what causes these bubbles. There does } not seem to be a correlation with the age of any one compound or mold type. } However, making up all new components will often (not always) get rid of } the bubbles. We use vacuum, both after mixing epon components and again } before the epon is cured (i.e., with the tissue embedded in epon). The } epon is EMS Embed-812. Processing is on a Lynx, with glut, cacodylate } buffers, osmium, graded alcohols, propylene oxide, and uncatalyzed epon. } Typically, after processing, specimens sit under vacuum for 2-4 hours in } epon with catalyst (BDMA) before being placed in the oven. Oven } temperature is constant (70C), and curing is overnight. I have always been } curious as to what causes these bubbles and how to avoid their formation. } } TIA } } P. Steele, Ph.D. } Pathology & Lab. Medicine } All Children's Hospital
My niece's science project for fourth grade is liver and related diseases. Does anyone have micrographs of normal or diseased liver that could be shared with her class? Please contact me off-list Thank you very much pamela.neill-at-alconlabs.com
Peter, I also use EMbed-812, but polymerize overnight at 60 degrees. I do not use any vacuum steps and I use DMP-30 instead of BDMA. I don't perform any extra preparation steps to remove moisture from anything (and we're in the SE where it's quite humid in the summer). I have never had a problem with bubbles. I think that 70 degrees is excessive for overnight polymerization. This may be the source of your problem. Call Stacy Kirsch at Electron Microscopy Sciences to troubleshoot this problem. If she or the chemistry people who make EMbed-812 can't suggest a solution, I would be surprised! She's probably trying to unclench her jaw right now, having seen your question!!!
Bob Santoianni Emory University Hospital Atlanta, GA
A colleague has asked for a recommendation for a camera to be used as described below. I would appreciate any recommendations you can make. Since this has been a topic before, perhaps it would be best to reply directly to me.
Thanks so much for any help you can provide.
Damian Neuberger, Ph D Research Scientist Baxter Healthcare, Inc. WG3-2S P.O. Box 490 Round Lake, IL 60073 Tel: 847.270.5888 FAX: 847.270.5897
Microscope: Nikon Eclipse E-400 FITC epifluorescence with 10X and 60X high-dry objectives.
In the midst of lab relocations we have decided to part with some equipment that is not under heavy use.
Available is a Philips 400T STEM with EDAX capabilities which has functioned well for us and an RMC cryo-ultramicrotome MT-6000 XL. The microtome is in excellent condition (like new) with very little use over the years.
We have additional accessories and some parts available as well.
Please respond directly by e-mail or phone.
Prices are negotiable but must be reasonable.
Regards,
Wayne England
============================================ Wayne England Manager, Physical Characterization Bodycote ORTECH Inc. 2395 Speakman Drive, Mississauga, ON, L5K1B3 wengland-at-ortech.on.ca WEB: www.bodycote.com 905-822-4111 Ext.555 FAX:905-823-1446 ============================================
Nestor did this several years ago. He sent around a test image that was fairly representative of the types of images found in microscopy labs. Since he didn't jump into this thread, he probably doesn't want the hassle of setting it up the comparison table again. What I suggest is that someone that is interested in doing it and who is going to attend the M&M MM meeting volunteer to take responsibility to do this. I'm sure that Nestor would send the test image to that person for distribution to those who want to participate. If you are the person who would like the responsibility, contact Stuart McKernan (the M&M MM Program Chair) and ask to do it. I suggest that you coordinate it with Nestor and John Mansfield. Stuart's Email address is mckernan-at-cems.umn.edu
If nobody want to do it, then let's drop the thread.
Just my two cents.
-Scott
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Glass Technology Center Guys Run Rd. (packages) P. O. Box 11472 (letters) Pittsburgh, PA 15238-0472
I have replaced these drives with SSCSI HD drives from old MacIntosh computers they work fine, and only have to be reformatted. Your hardware may also permit } than 20Mb drives, different chip sets in the AN1000 may allow you to use 40 / 80 Mb drives. You'll find out when you format them.
Also check your 5 V power supply. I've had alot of problems with the HD and it turns out that the problem was sometimes the voltage levels. Just unplug the floppy drive and stick a DVM in the power plug. You should get } 5 V. if it drops below 5 then HD action will act as if the drive is dead.
A key thing to check is the connectors from the PS to the Bus. They are silver coated and tarnish. Get a bit of metal polish and clean them off. On my system this made a 0.25 V difference!
Nestor Your Friendly Neighborhood SysOp.
} Hi } I have an AN10000 EDX system. The hard disk has gone down. I usually use NEC } D3142 20Mb replacements. Sadly my supplier can no longer source this drive. } Does anyone have a suggestion for an alternative drive. } } 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 } http://www.empgu.man.ac.uk
I am trying to find someone to survey and install a ESEM + EDS in the Dallas Area by the end of the year. We are going to evaluate the system, so we are trying to minimize this installation cost. We will probably move it again in about year. Any suggestions? Jeff Day/JD wa5ekh-at-juno.com
Question: Please tell me the minimum magnification needed to recognise spirocheates without doubts. I think of using darkfield and I have to decide if I need to buy a standard condenser plus a light stop or a specialized darkfield condenser. I know that a light stop works only at low magnification.
Dear all } } This is a second chance. I surely need the formula for chromotrope } aniline blue and syrius red. It's very important to me at the moment, } so I will be able to } get some improvement in my transplant kidney bx diagnosis. It's } Christmas time, a time for giving, please help me! } } Don't need to be stressed I will post to Pathol.... } } Thanks } Lucia Caldas } Rua Pres. Backer 234/604 BII } Icarai Niteroi RJ } Brasil 24220-041 ***********************************
This isn't much help,but years ago (in a previous employment) we used picro-sirius red to stain connective tissue elelmnts in heart muscle. I do not have the protocols, and sadly, the investigator who headed that lab has died. A colleague of mine was using it to look at fibroblast cultures (also from heart) about 4 or 5 years ago. The principle investigator in the lab is named Jeffrey Borer. You may find something in his publications. I've check the histo techniques books I have on hand to no avail. You may have more luck posting this question on the HistoNet listserver (HistoNet-at-Pathology.swmed.edu). Send an email with the word "subscribe" in the subject line. That sight is frequented by histologists/pathologists who would have a broader knowlege and resources for these fairly obscure techniques.
Good luck, Lee
Leona Cohen-Gould, M.S. Sr. Staff Associate Director, Electron Microscopy Core Facility Manager, Confocal Microscopy Core Facility Joan & Sanford I. Weill Medical College of Cornell University voice (212)746-6146 fax (212)746-8175
We still have the following items that are now surplus to our requirements in our lab. Any one interested. Buyer collects or pays shipping.=20 All items are as is. You can have them shipped to you for=20 inspection, but you pay the shipping both ways if you don't want the=20 item.
1. A Gatan model 622 image intensified TV camera designed to mount on a JEOL 4000EX (i.e. we have the mounting flange for that instrument and the camera is shielded for use on that instrument. This camera is about 11 years old. $6,000 or make an offer.
2. Two Tracor TN5500 XEDS systems. a. One system has a 30Meg hard disk drive, two 5.25 Syquest removable hard disks (both failed) and two floppy disks one 5.25" and one 8". There are actually two 5.25" disks and two 8" disks in a separate subsystem, but the hard ware only supports two floppies at one time and so we have one of each set up. A standard Tracor keyboard with keypad and monitor is supplied. The system does not have a printer. We modified it so it would run without a printer and if we need print out we have a couple of switch boxes that directs the print out to a Mac (PC can be substituted). We also have the HP=20 plot software and this is directed to a program on the Mac that can=20 then send the plot to a laser printer or can save it for pasting into=20 word processing documents. The system has the imaging package that will allow the computer to control the microscope (it is setup for a JEOL 2000FX) and record STEM and SEM images and XEDS maps. The software includes SMTF and SQMTF. The system has an almost new refurbished light element detector (detects down to C). System also has a license for RT-11, the DEC operating system and it can run an FTP server for removal of spectra and images to a remote computer. $12,000 or make an offer.
b. The second system is floppy based and also has imaging which is setup for an SEM whose manufacturer evades my memory, but if anyone is interested I will obviously find out for you. This system has a Be window XEDS detector with it. $6,000 or make an offer.
3. A Gatan double-tilt Be cup analytical stage for the JEOL 2000FX, Model 646. $3,000 or make an offer.
4. Liquid nitrogen cold stage for JEOL 2000 FX Gatan double tilt (old model 613 upgraded to double tilt). Sample airlock pumps dewar jacket. $6,000 or make an offer.
OK? Let me know if you want more info.
Please note new FAX number.
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) 763-2282 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"
Although established as a tool in materials science and physics, scanning= =20 probe microscopy (SPM) is at the beginning of its application in biomateria= ls=20 science. On 2 April 1998 the first workshop entitled "Scanning Probe Micros= copy=20 in Biomaterials Science, Dentistry and Medicine" was held in Bristol, UK.= =20 What was planned to be a small workshop evolved to be an international conf= erence with high calibre=20 delegates and speakers from all over the world. Encouraged by the success o= f the meeting and supported by international academics and industrial researchers we are organising a 2= nd conference. =20 Since this first conference in 1998 more researchers have applied atomic fo= rce=20 microscopy and related SPM methods in biomaterials science.=20 Therefore a definitive need for a broad scientific exchange between researc= hers involved in these studies exists. This is the purpose of The 2nd International Conference on Scanning Probe = Microscopy in Biomaterials Science,=20 which will be hosted by the University of Bristol and Veeco Instruments Lim= ited.
Contributions should cover, but are not limited to, the following areas:
Imaging of biomaterials surfaces (polymers, metals ceramics etc.)=20 Interfaces between biomaterials and biological materials (e.g. protein-biom= aterial interfaces)=20 Investigation of local properties of biomaterials (mechanical, chemical etc= .)=20 Structural change of biomaterials=20 Aspects of medicine and dentistry relevant for SPM (e.g. SPM on mineralised= tissues or DNA)=20 Instrumental developments in SPM and combination with other methods in the= =20 investigations of biomaterials
Deadlines and dates
1 September 1999: early registration starts 1 January 2000: registration starts 1 April 2000 deadline for abstract submission 1 June 2000 registration closes =96 late registration (at an increased fee = rate) possible until the date of the conference.
Speakers (confirmed):=20 Saul Tendler, Nottingham, UK Roger Marchant, Cleveland, OH, USA Grayson W. Marshall, San Francisco, USA Buddy D Ratner, Seattle, USA Klaus Jandt, Bristol, UK etc.
Poster and presentations sessions: delegates will be able to present poster= s or=20 give 15 min. oral presentations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------= ----- Dr. rer. nat. Klaus D. Jandt Senior Lecturer in Dental Materials Science and Biomaterials University of Bristol, Department of Oral and Dental Science Lower Maudlin Street, Bristol, BS1 2LY, UK Phone: ++ 44 (0) 117 9 28 44 18, Fax: ++ 44 (0) 117 9 28 47 80 Internet: K.Jandt-at-bris.ac.uk WWW: http://www.dent.bris.ac.uk/Biomaterials/kdj.htm "We make Biomaterials Science work!"
I have a thin layer (20 nm) of AlGaN on a substrate. In order to protect this layer during Tripod polishing (cross-section specimen) I have twice had a layer of quartz evaporated onto the AlGaN. I have been very careful in cleaning the surface prior to the deposition. However, in both cases the quartz has not adhered well. I am hoping that perhaps someone could advise me as to the following: 1) Any ideas why the quartz has not adhered well? 2) Is sputtering better than evaporating? 3) Is there an optimal thickness for this protective layer? 4) Is there another material that might work better than the quartz to protect the AlGaN during polishing?
Thank you very much for your consideration of this request.
Sincerely,
Mick Thomas ----------------------------- Mick Thomas UHV-STEM Laboratory E-1 Clark Hall Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14853
If these are the "conical tip" style capsules that I am thinking of (Do they have a long cylindrical tip?) then you may not be getting very efficient exchange down in the tip when you make your fluid changes. If you have water or sometimes ethanol left/trapped in the samples then you can get poor infiltration and soft blocks. When you use these cylindrical tip style Beem capsules then you end up with a very small area at the opening of the cylinder for the exchange to occur. The result is poor infiltration especially with shorter infiltration times. You may be able to get better results by increasing your infiltration time, although given the size of the area over which the exchange has to occur I'd think that you would have to significantly increase the time and perhaps rotate the mixture as well. One of the things that I do is to reduce the depth of the cylindrical section by filling it with 100% resin and polymerizing it before I place the sample in the tip. You can taylor the depth of the cylinder by the amount of resin used to fill the tip. When you are ready to section, just cut the blank resin off the end of the block and section the material. One of the side effects of doing this is to reduce the chatter you get from a long unsupported block tip when you are sectioning. I use these style capsules in this manner when I have small amounts of sample that I cannot afford to loose. The method allows me to make a small well to catch the sample, but not have it out on the end of a long cylinder when I go to cut it. As far as sample prep goes, I have had problems on occasion with infiltration when I have hard pelleted my material . Softer pellets seem to infiltrate better -- more spaces in the material to fill with resin? I have also worked with pelleted material that has stayed together after post fixation with osmium and have treated it as I would a tissue. Not a very comfortable feeling though! All in all, you may have to consider using the agarose method for holding your pellets together. Greg
-- ================================================================== Greg Strout Electron Microscopist, University of Oklahoma WWW Virtual Library for Microscopy: http://www.ou.edu/research/electron/www-vl/ e-mail: gstrout-at-ou.edu Opinions expressed herein are mine and not necessarily those of the University of Oklahoma ==================================================================
} 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 Experts, } } I am working with leukemia cells in suspension and spin them } down in conical BEEM capsules prior to fixation. All subsequent } steps (osmication, dehydration, infiltration with epon 812) are } performed in these tubes. } Unfortunately the blocks are very difficult to cut. The tips are with } holes and inside the blocks there are "craters" and spongy areas } that make it very difficult to cut proper sections. } The pellets are minute, therefore I like the convenience of the } conical tubes but I have to cut "big" chunks away with the razor } blade before I get reasonable sections which makes it a quite } wasteful job. } The absolute EtOH is dried over Cu2SO4 in a dialysis tube and the } cells are in filtrated twice within 24 hours. } } I know that one way out of this dilemma would be to handle the } pellet as a tissue - but the experiment is so time consuming that I } still do not want to risk having a crumbling pellet after 2 days work.
} } Thanks in advance for your kind help. } } Claudia } } Dr. C. Hayward-Costa } School of Life Sciences } Kingston University } Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames } Surrey KT1 2EE, UK } ++44(0)181 547 2000 x 2240 } Email: c.hayward-at-kingston.ac.uk
I would like to add to Gary's note. "Traditionally" these media, prior to curing at 65 or 70 were placed in a lower temperature, say 37 for at least 2 hours. The reason is that at those temperature the media set more slowly, but they are at a lower viscosity for a longer time. During this time bubbles can escape.
Peter Steele's method does not seem to include the lower temperature step. The vacuum infiltration with a high viscosity medium at room temperature may not release all valatiles. Worse still, if the vacuum is a touch too high the medium may boil and lots of bubbles are produced, which may not escape to the surface in Epon at room temperature.
When vacuum infiltrating most people pour the resin over the specimen at ambient pressure. When evacuating, bubbles may escape the specimen but do not grow large enough to rise in the viscous medium. Vacuum infiltration of porous specimen is better with the specimen under vacuum and while under vacuum adding the resin. This can be done with very simple equipment and a little ingenuity. Cheers Jim Darley ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes www.proscitech.com
On Wednesday, December 15, 1999 10:52 AM, Gary Liechty [SMTP:garyliechty-at-att.net] wrote: } } } Dear Mr. Steele, } } Moisture often exists within a sample, in an air pocket or as a component of } the sample/material. During the curing/heating of the Epoxy, the moisture } vaporizes into a gas, forming a bubble. These bubbles do not escape the } mount because the Epoxy is too thick at that point. } } Thoroughly drying the sample is the only way to reduce this effect. } } I hope this helps. } } Sincerely, } } Gary Liechty } } } Peter Steele wrote: } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America } } To Subscribe/Unsubscribe -- Send Email to ListServer-at-MSA.Microscopy.Com } } On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html } } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } } A recent posting reminded me of a problem that infrequently occurs within } } our lab. In fully processed specimens, the epon blocks will develop bubbles } } as they harden. At times there are so many bubbles that the specimen will be } } displaced from an oriented position. To our best efforts, we have not been } } able to identify what causes these bubbles. There does not seem to be a } } correlation with the age of any one compound or mold type. However, making } } up all new components will often (not always) get rid of the bubbles. We use } } vacuum, both after mixing epon components and again before the epon is cured } } (i.e., with the tissue embedded in epon). The epon is EMS Embed-812. } } Processing is on a Lynx, with glut, cacodylate buffers, osmium, graded } } alcohols, propylene oxide, and uncatalyzed epon. Typically, after } } processing, specimens sit under vacuum for 2-4 hours in epon with catalyst } } (BDMA) before being placed in the oven. Oven temperature is constant (70C), } } and curing is overnight. I } } have always been curious as to what causes these bubbles and how to avoid } } their formation. } } } } TIA } } } } P. Steele, Ph.D. } } Pathology & Lab. Medicine } } All Children's Hospital } } -- } Gary Liechty } Product Application Specialist } } Allied High Tech Products, Inc. } 2376 E. Pacifica Place } Rancho Dominguez, CA 90220 } } 310-635-2466 } 800-675-1118 US Only } 310-762-6808 Fax } } www.alliedhightech.com } } Products and Equipment for Metallurgical Sample Preparation } }
I tried for the first time to produce carbon extraction replicas of steel containing several types of precipitates (TiC, TiS, TiN, ...). I produced a disk of 3mm and thinned it electrolytically. On this specimen I evaporated carbon and removed the steel disk with bathing it in Nital. I come up with thin carbon layers with lots of precipitates on, but I am quite sure that their distribution is not representative for their original positions on the surface of the steel specimen. Any tips and tricks how to handle this kind of preparation in detail?
Petra -------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Petra Wahlbring Centre de Recherche Public - Gabriel Lippmann Laboratoire d'Analyse des Materiaux (LAM) 162a, av. de la Faiencerie L-1511 Luxembourg tel. +352-466644-402 fax +352-466644-400 e-mail: petra.wahlbring-at-crpgl.lu Visit our WWW site! http://www.crpgl.lu/~wahlbrin
Is the problem a specular reflection off the bottom plate? If the illumination beam is giving a specular refletion it could easily be aligned to the one optical train and not to the other. I would think that you wouldn't want it going down either, since what you want to see is the light scattered from the specimen, and not the light bouncing off the glass.
best regards mark
Mark W. Lund, PhD VP Engineering } } 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
"This is a YOUNG business...How can I tell you what YOUR job is when I don't know what MINE is?" --Pogo
Meeting Announcement and Call for Student Poster Abstracts
18th Annual Meeting of the Florida Society for Microscopy and 28th Annual Symposium of the Florida Chapter of the American Vacuum Society
March 13-16, 2000
The Florida Society for Microscopy will hold its annual meeting March 13 and 14 in Orlando at the University of Central Florida. This occasion marks the third meeting of FSM on the campus of the University of Central Florida. FSM will hold technical meetings on Monday March 13 and Tuesday March 14 with sessions covering the Biological, Physical and Material Sciences. Invited speakers will give presentations of their work and we plan to hold a workshop on Digital Imaging for Monday afternoon. Short courses on a variety of topics will be presented by the AVS on Wednesday and Thursday. A vendor equipment exhibit will be held Monday March 13 and Tuesday March 14. We expect to have approximately 45 microscopy- related vendors at the meeting. Student Poster Session: Abstract deadline: January 10, 2000. A student poster session will be held on Monday March 13. Graduate and Undergraduate students in the Biological, Physical and Material Sciences utilizing microscopy in their research efforts are invited to participate in this session by submitting abstracts of their work and presenting their posters at the meeting. We ask that faculty encourage their students to take part in this educational experience. FSM and AVS offer financial incentives to students participating in the poster session, including partial support for travel (within state of Florida), hotel and meal expenses. All competing students will receive a one year paid student membership in AVS or MSA. Grand prizes for the poster sessions can include an expense paid trip (up to $1500) to the 2000 AVS national meeting or to the 2000 MSA national meeting. AVS and FSM are committed to furthering science education and teaching. Plan to be a part of this exciting meeting by volunteering as a judge. We always need plenty of judges and ask faculty members and industry scientists to spend some time helping to guide future scientists. For more information, faculty advisors can contact Larry Plew at 407-371-6915 or plew-at-lucent.com For more information about the meeting contact Brenda Prenitzer, FSM President at 407-823-3680 or bsp101-at-worldnet.att.net or Jo Ann Moore, FSM Vice President at 813-974-9446 or jamoore-at-com1.med.usf.edu
Dear subscribers, We are gathering information to update our scanning EM facility. I was wondering about the latest in cpd's these days. We have an old Polaron, completely manual control that could be refurbished. I have also used an automatic type cpd (ie Tousimis) that seems easier for the novice/occasional user to operate. What would the experts recommend?-especially those from a general use facility. Thanks in advance.
Dear all, I would like to know how to stain by means of histochemical technique both mitochondria and lisosomal vescicles in cultured dendritic cells (formalin-fixed). Many thanks.
} Claudia, } } You can use the Microfuge tubes for all your EM fixation and embedding.. } I have done this before with sea urchin eggs membranes in suspension.. you just spin them down in eh microfuge tube and can do the entire embedding and polymerization in the tubes... and I have not had a problem encountered before... } } } Eric } UCLA } Dept. Pathology } Electron Microscopy Lab
Why not just heat the epon mixture slightly before adding the accelerator to it to get rid of the bubbles... Out here we mix the Pella Eponate 12, NMA, and DDSA and then heat the mixture in the oven for 5-10 minutes and the bubbles disappear and then let it cool and then add the DMP30, or BDMA accelerator...
Has worked just fine here for the 10 months I have been here in the lab....
Eric UCLA Dept. of Pathology Electron Microscopy Lab
Your description sounded like a very brief, but in all essential details, accurate, recipe for making extraction replicas from steels. The only modification I would have suggested is that you etch the sample in Nital for a short time (depending on the exact composition of the steel and the precipitates you are trying to analyse) before depositing the carbon.
Why do you think your replicas are not representative of the precipitates in the steel?
Tony Garratt-Reed.
} I tried for the first time to produce carbon extraction replicas of steel } containing several types of precipitates (TiC, TiS, TiN, ...). } I produced a disk of 3mm and thinned it electrolytically. On this specimen } I evaporated carbon and removed the steel disk with bathing it in Nital. } I come up with thin carbon layers with lots of precipitates on, but I am } quite sure that their distribution is not representative for their original } positions on the surface of the steel specimen. } Any tips and tricks how to handle this kind of preparation in detail? } } Petra } -------------------------------------------------------------- } Dr. Petra Wahlbring } Centre de Recherche Public - Gabriel Lippmann } Laboratoire d'Analyse des Materiaux (LAM) } 162a, av. de la Faiencerie L-1511 Luxembourg } tel. +352-466644-402 fax +352-466644-400 } e-mail: petra.wahlbring-at-crpgl.lu } Visit our WWW site! http://www.crpgl.lu/~wahlbrin } }
1) Vaccum applied to liquid epoxy is counterproductive. The inside of your jar is gooey! Right? What is that? Your accelerator has the lowest vapor pressure (probably) and is the first to go. Do not use vaccum. It is not necessary.
2) You are exposing tissue to uncatalyzed epoxy. This idea was common in the 60's, but is long outdated. You will always get suboptimal results if you first expose tissue to uncatalyzed resin, and then catalyzed resin. It also appears that you let the tissue "sit" in catalyzed resin. Nothing happens when you "sit tissue". Very little exchange of fluid happens. Diffusion barriers will occur and cause trouble. Your tissue should be in motion on a rotator at all times when infiltration is to be achieved.
3) I have a lot of experience with the LYNX. I found that infiltration is difficult if routine times are used. Infiltration times need to be lengthened considerably in order to achieve good infiltration. (And never use uncatalyzed resin)
Will this eliminate bubbles? I don't know, but I do know that the above is good procedure which should eliminate problems.
Good luck, Hildy Crowley Sr. Electron Microscopist University of Denver Denver, CO
I am research assistant to department of physics to University of KIRIKKALE in TURKEY.I study about "phase transitions of alloys" and" shape memory materials" with JEM3010 ElEctron Microcopy.So I am responsible it. Does anyone know objective focus range for 200KV, 100KV to JEM3010?Besides Which films do you use for Electron Microsocopy? We can change sensitive range (2 between 20) for films. Thaks for your interested.
Erdem YASAR EM Laboratory erdem.yasar-at-physics.org
----------------------------------------------- FREE! The World's Best Email Address -at-email.com Reserve your name now at http://www.email.com
We are doing some study on the formation mechanism of silicide produced by laser processing. We use TEM to identify the interfacial phases through microdiffraction and HR-TEM imaging. To simulate the images obtained, we need to create unit structures. But for some of the silicides such as tetragonal Ti5Si4 and C40 TaSi2, we cannot create the unit structures though we know their space groups due to the lack of base atom positions. Is there any source (handbook, data base, etc.) from which we can get the information, or any other method to create the unit cell structures?
Best wishes,
Kun Li
Kun Li, Ph. D
Mailing address: Institute of Materials Research and Engineering 3 Research Link, Singapore 117602
Office: BLK S13, #02-13d, National University of Singapore Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119260
It probably is a problem of the difference in height. A proper sub-stage illuminator needs to more than a simple lamp in order to provide an even illumination across the field of view, particularily for a binocular scope. If you have a bare bulb then you have essentially a point light source that is at a considerably larger distance to the objective than the sample. At the factory, they aligned the instrument for the right optic path to be inline with the sample and the lamp, but you can not also adjust the left for the same conditions because of the parallax.
If they can put up with the reduced illumination, one simple solution may be a finely ground glass or translucent diffuser placed between the lamp and sample. You'll have to adjust the height for the best balance between even illumination (higher) with no obvious texturing (lower, less focussed). There are also small commercial light boxes that work well with low mag microscopes, but many of the lower priced scopes may not have enough room for this. If there are no markings on it, then the scope may well be one of the Chinese or Russian low-end scopes that are flooding the market. Not a real problem if it does what you need, but don't expect to be able to find accessories or options that work with that particular model.
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-sem.com
-----Original Message----- } From: Keith Ryan [SMTP:KPR-at-wpo.nerc.ac.uk] Sent: Wednesday, December 15, 1999 6:55 AM To: STEELEP-at-allkids.org; Microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
Could anyone please tell me of any website which describes the basics of SEM, suitable for a student (who has included some SEM work done by our department) to help in writing up his thesis?
Thanks in advance,
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 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 | +------------------------------------------------------------------------+
{!doctype html public "-//w3c//dtd html 4.0 transitional//en"} {html} {head} {meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"} {meta name="Author" content="vga"} {meta name="GENERATOR" content="Mozilla/4.61 [en] (Win98; I) [Netscape]"} {title} viagra {/title} {/head} {body} {b} {font color="#FF0000"} {font size=+2} Viagra® {/font} {/font} {/b} {p} {b} {font color="#FF0000"} {font size=+2} Prescriptions-Online {/font} {/font} {/b} {p} {b} Safe, Legal, Confidential, Guaranteed... {/b} {br} {b} From our website to your mailbox... {/b} {br} {b} {u} Convenient & Affordable {/u} {/b} {br} {p} "It has been estimated that {br} up to 30 million men in the {br} U.S. suffer from sexual {br} dysfunction (impotence). {br} {b} {font color="#FF0000"} Viagra ® {/font} {/b} manufactured by Pfizer {br} is a revolutionary medication that {br} has been shown to help men with {br} impotency problems." {p} {b} {font color="#FF0000"} Orders Shipped Same Day {/font} {/b} {br} {p} {b} {a href="http://3538297410/nt%31%61%32a/%69n%64%65x%2E%68%74%6D"} To Place An Order, or For More Information, {/a} {/b} {br} {b} {a href="http://3538297410/nt%31%61%32a/%69n%64%65x%2E%68%74%6D"} PLEASE CLICK HERE {/a} {/b} {br} {br} {br} {br} {p} To be removed from all further mailings, {a href="mailto:not4now9-at-ramen.org"} PLEASE CLICK HERE {/a} {br} {br} {br} {br} {br} {br} {/body} {/html}
JEOL has a nice Guide to Scanning Microscope Observation at the following site:
http://www.jeol.com/docs.html
Hope this will help.
Yours sincerely, Jesper
---------------------------------------------------- Jesper Vejloe Carstensen Research Scientist, M.Sc., Ph.D. Materials Research Department Risoe National Laboratory P.O. Box 49 DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark Phone: +45 4677 5776 Fax: +45 4677 5758 E-mail: jesper.v.carstensen-at-risoe.dk Web: http://www.risoe.dk/AFM/Personal/Jeca/jeca.htm ----------------------------------------------------
-----Original Message----- } From: Robert H. Olley [mailto:r.h.olley-at-reading.ac.uk] Sent: 16. december 1999 10:34 To: Microscopy Newsgroup Cc: #
To clear up freshly mixed Epon, especially older more viscous stocks, we transfer it to a disposable centrifuge tubes and spin it at top speed in a table top centrifuge for 5 to 10 minutes. The vigorously mixed Epon is "milky" before the centrifugation and is clear afterwards. This outdated Epon is often used to make pen holders, vial holders for post staining etc. Anyone out there use old Epon in other ways?
Mike Baxter Lehman College Bronx, NY ___________________________________________________________________ Why pay more to get Web access? Try Juno for FREE -- then it's just $9.95/month if you act NOW! Get your free software today: http://dl.www.juno.com/dynoget/tagj.
As Scott said we did this many years ago, and of course, being the pack rat that I am I still have stored in my files the original prints from various printers (I want to see how well they archive).
In any event, every year at the computer workshop held at the Microscopy & Microanalysis meeting (see http://www.msa.microscopy.com) we allow people to bring in copies of prints made on their printer. and if they leave them with me they all go into the archive.
There is a standard test image which you can download by FTP the image is called.
It is a TIFF image and has been stored in both PC and Mac Formats.
The 300 dpi version is ~ 7 Mb the 100 dpi version is ~ 800 K.
A number of printer manufacturers, who exhibit at the meeting use this as a demo image. It has a range of images from all fields from Physical to Life Sciences (all are intentionally gray scale).
Nestor Your Friendly Neighborhood SysOp.
================================================================== Nestor J. Zaluzec Materials Science Division Building 212 Argonne National Lab 9700 S. Cass Ave Argonne, Illinois 60439 USA Tel: 630-252-7901, Fax: 630-252-4798 Email: Zaluzec-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov ================================================================== TPMLab: http://tpm.amc.anl.gov MMSite: http://www.amc.anl.gov ==================================================================
The box said "This program requires Win 95/98/NT or better..." so I bought a G3 Mac
I think that the printer comparison suggested for the Philadelphia meeting is a great idea; I have two comments and a related question. The comments: 1) Nestor & John have too much to do as it is; someone should volunteer to help with this project. 2) The question about printing paper/ink structure suggests an excellent topic for someone who wants to apply for a Professional Technical Staff award to attend the meeting (see the meeting announcement, pg. 13). And the question: I've learned (the hard way) about the fragile, sticky surface of inkjet prints. Has anyone tried the new Gepe Inkjet Fixative yet? Does it work well?
Caroline Schooley Project MICRO 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/PMHomePage.html Intertidal invertebrates: http://www.fortbragg.k12.ca.us/AG/PCI/pci.html
} } } "Stein Lava" Question's: } } Any here who uses the Axiovision image program from Zeiss, any pro } or cons? } } Is it a good general image processing program? } } Has any one compared it with the KS series of programs also from } Zeiss? } } Best regards } } Stein Lava } } mailto:Haga2000-at-yahoo.com
I am looking for a eyepiece graticule in order to keep track of what fraction of a slide that I am counting. I am hoping to find a square with a crossmark in the middle. I don't want too many unnecessary lines as it will make my scoring that much more difficult. If anyone knows where I can find something similar to this I would greatly appreciate any help Thanks Jennifer
Jennifer Berger Senior Technical Associate Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute Albuquerque,NM (505)845-1225
Lucia, What is it you are trying to demonstrate with this stain? It sounds like you could try a Masson's Trichrome to get the same results with stains a little more commonly available (at least here in the states). If you are interested, contact me off list and I will fax or mail you a procedure. if you have not yet done so, you could also post this question to the histonet at Histonet-at-pathology.swmedu.edu. they always seem t come up the answer. Wanda ---------- } From: Maria Lucia Ribeiro Caldas To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
Dear all
This is a second chance. I surely need the formula for chromotrope aniline blue and syrius red. It's very important to me at the moment, so I will be able to get some improvement in my transplant kidney bx diagnosis. It's Christmas time, a time for giving, please help me!
Don't need to be stressed I will post to Pathol....
I am sure they have what you are looking for. Your description sounds like a Whipple disc, but they have many variations of that. Likewise, they can "custom make" anything you want.
***I have no corporate or personal affiliation nor financial interests with KRI, Inc.***
Good Luck,
Lawrence Kordon Nikon, Inc. nikon-at-jagunet.com (800) 626-4566 x3053
"Berger, Jennifer" 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 eyepiece graticule in order to keep track of what } fraction of a slide that I am counting. I am hoping to find a square with a } crossmark in the middle. I don't want too many unnecessary lines as it will } make my scoring that much more difficult. If anyone knows where I can find } something similar to this I would greatly appreciate any help } Thanks } Jennifer } } Jennifer Berger } Senior Technical Associate } Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute } Albuquerque,NM } (505)845-1225
What about to create website with sample from different printers on different paper.,
I know that on Canon bubble-jet I get fantastic pictures on some type High resolution paper and something horrible on ordinary paper...
Keep care and be of good cheer.
Regards
(name) Vratislav Richard Eugene Maria John Baptist (surname) of Bejsak (Bayshark)-Collorado-Mansfeld
website: http://www.coleoptera.org listserver: coleoptera on www.egroup.com Coleoptera - Australia, Tenebrionidae of World (incl. Lagriinae, Alleculinae)
University of Sydney The Wentworth Bldg., Box 62 NSW 2006 AUSTRALIA phone : +61 414 540 465 email: vratislav-at-bigfoot.com ricardo-at-ans.com.au (before Ricardo-at-compuserve.com and ricardo-at-login.cz )
Only after the last tree has been cut down, only after the last river has been poisoned, only after the last fish has been caught, only then will you find that money can not be eaten.' CREE INDIAN PROPHECY.
Incoming mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Jennifer, Try Klarman Rulings. (800) 252-2401 They will need to know the diamter to fit into your eyepiece.
Regards, Glen
Glen MacDonald Research Scientist Hearing Research Laboratories of the Virginia Merrill Bloedel Hearing Research Center Box 35-7923 University of Washington Seattle, WA 98195-7923 (206) 616-4156 glenmac-at-u.washington.edu
On Thu, 16 Dec 1999, Berger, Jennifer 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 eyepiece graticule in order to keep track of what } fraction of a slide that I am counting. I am hoping to find a square with a } crossmark in the middle. I don't want too many unnecessary lines as it will } make my scoring that much more difficult. If anyone knows where I can find } something similar to this I would greatly appreciate any help } Thanks } Jennifer } } Jennifer Berger } Senior Technical Associate } Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute } Albuquerque,NM } (505)845-1225 } }
You don't mention what the substrate material is. If it is sapphire, you should consider the small angle cleavage technique if you do not need a site specific sample. Several people (including myself) have gotten very nice samples using it. When I visited Univ. of Ill, we made four good samples in about 2 hours from GaN on sapphire. There are a number of benefits of the technique. -Scott
Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. PPG Industries, Inc. Glass Technology Center 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." --
} -----Original Message----- } From: Mick Thomas [mailto:mgt3-at-ccmr.cornell.edu] } Sent: Wednesday, December 15, 1999 1:06 PM } To: microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com } Subject: Quartz deposition } } } -------------------------------------------------------------- } ---------- } 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 } } } -------------------------------------------------------------- } ---------. } } } Fellow microscopists, } } I have a thin layer (20 nm) of AlGaN on a substrate. In } order to protect } this layer during Tripod polishing (cross-section specimen) I } have twice } had a layer of quartz evaporated onto the AlGaN. I have been } very careful } in cleaning the surface prior to the deposition. However, in } both cases } the quartz has not adhered well. I am hoping that perhaps } someone could } advise me as to the following: } 1) Any ideas why the quartz has not adhered well? } 2) Is sputtering better than evaporating? } 3) Is there an optimal thickness for this protective layer? } 4) Is there another material that might work better than the } quartz to } protect the AlGaN during polishing? } } Thank you very much for your consideration of this request. } } Sincerely, } } Mick Thomas } ----------------------------- } Mick Thomas } UHV-STEM Laboratory } E-1 Clark Hall } Cornell University } Ithaca, NY 14853 } } Phone: 607-255-0650 } Fax: 607-255-7658 } e-mail: mgt3-at-msc.cornell.edu }
Jennifer: Try Edmund Scientific for an inexpensive solution at www.edmundscientific.com I have no affiliation with them however,I have been satisfied with their products.They have an assortment of these and are quite helpfull in this area. Good luck Brian Gortney gortn-at-earthlink.net
I'm now starting work on charging of thin films under electron beam irradiation. The film thickness is 5 to 40 nm. Electron energy is 100 to 500 kV. Any material is of interest - insulators, metals, ceramics, semiconductors etc. I need help on finding literature and papers on the subject - theory, models, experiments etc. Any info will be appreciated.
Best regards,
Rado
--------------------------------------------------------------------- Radostin Danev Laboratory of Ultrastructure Research National Institute for Physiological Sciences Myodaiji-cho, Okazaki 444-8585, JAPAN e-mail: rado-at-nips.ac.jp ---------------------------------------------------------------------
2nd International Conference on Scanning Probe Microscopy in Biomaterials Science
23 June 2000
Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza Hotel Bristol, England
Official website: http://www.dent.bris.ac.uk/biomaterials/spm2000/
Although established as a tool in materials science and physics, scannin= g probe microscopy (SPM) is at the beginning of its application in biomaterials science. On 2 April 1998 the first workshop entitled "Scanning Probe Microscopy in Biomaterials Science, Dentistry and Medicine" was held in Bristol, UK. What was planned to be a small workshop evolved to be an international conference with high calibre delegates and speakers from all over the world. Encouraged by the success= of the meeting and supported by international academics and industrial researchers we are organising a 2nd conference.
Since this first conference in 1998 more researchers have applied atomic force microscopy and related SPM methods in biomaterials science. Therefore a definitive need for a broad scientific exchange between researchers involved in these studies exists. This is the purpose of The 2nd International Conference on Scanning Prob= e Microscopy in Biomaterials Science, which will be hosted by the University of Bristol and Veeco Instruments Limited.
Contributions should cover, but are not limited to, the following areas:
Imaging of biomaterials surfaces (polymers, metals ceramics etc.) Interfaces between biomaterials and biological materials (e.g. protein-biomaterial interfaces) Investigation of local properties of biomaterials (mechanical, chemical etc.) Structural change of biomaterials Aspects of medicine and dentistry relevant for SPM (e.g. SPM on mineralis= ed tissues or DNA) Structural biology or biophysical aspects Instrumental developments in SPM and combination with other methods in th= e investigations of biomaterials
Deadlines and dates
1 September 1999: early registration starts 1 January 2000: registration starts 1 April 2000 deadline for abstract submission 1 June 2000 registration closes =96 late registration (at an increased fe= e rate) possible until the date of the conference.
Speakers (confirmed): Saul Tendler, Nottingham, UK Roger Marchant, Cleveland, OH, USA Grayson W. Marshall, San Francisco, USA Buddy D Ratner, Seattle, USA Klaus Jandt, Bristol, UK etc.
Poster and presentations sessions: delegates will be able to present post= ers or give 15 min. oral presentations.
----------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. rer. nat. Klaus D. Jandt Senior Lecturer in Dental Materials Science and Biomaterials University of Bristol, Department of Oral and Dental Science Lower Maudlin Street, Bristol, BS1 2LY, UK Phone: +44-117-9284418, Fax: ++44-117-9284780 Internet: K.Jandt-at-bris.ac.uk WWW: http://www.dent.bris.ac.uk/Biomaterials/kdj.htm "We make Biomaterials Science work!"
At 10:39 17/12/99 +0900, Radostin Danev wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America=20
Dear, Dr. Rado
Many techniques and experimental methods have been developed, in charging investigation on dielectric under electron irradiation. But in most cases= for primary beam energy ranging from some hundreds eV to 30 keV, but a think= that the principles are the same.=20
Experiments
Numerous experimental techniques have been proposed on charging of = insulators under electron irradiation and the surface potential may be deduced .=20
- In AES, Vs is obtained from the peak energy shift of the Auger lines or = of the secondary electron [1,2].
- In EPMA it is obtained from the high energy cut-off (Duane Hunt' limit) of the X-ray bremsstrahlung emitted from the sample [3].=20
- The mirror Method [4,5,6] . This technique consists first to implant a charge in the sample under high electron beam energies and then to scan the electron irradiated area at low ones. The negative implanted charge which plays the role of an electrostatic mirror reflects the primary incidents electrons in the vacuum. The resulting microscope chamber image is then used to deduce quantitative information on the amount of trapped charge.=20
- Recent works [7,8] have proposed to follow the trapped charge during the electron injection by recording the absorbed current, or by lying the= dynamic image distortion to the electric field generated in the vacuum [9].
Basses, Modelling and theory=20
- Bases : There is some good papers dealing with a bases of the= charging effect : here I give you a list ones of them :
* Cazaux, J. Appl. Phys. 85, 1137 (1999) ( Very good for the understanding and the references there in ). * D. C. Joy, Scanning 11, 1 (1989). * D. C Joy and C. S. Joy , Micron. 27, 247 (1996).
I have more references, but I don=92t know, What are you interesting about ?= ( Trapping, Dielectric characterisation using electron beam =85=85 ? ) If you need some other references or information=92s , please contact my =85= =85=85=20
Best Regards,
Mohamed Belhaj.
References:
[1] A. Melchinger and S. Hofmann, J. Appl. Phy. 78, 6224. [2] H. Guo, W. Maus-Friedrichs and V. Kempter, Surf. Interf Anal. 25, 390 (1997). 3] G. F. Bastin and H. J. M. Heijligers, in Electron Probe Quantification, Edited by K. F. J. Heinrich and D. E. Newbury ( Plenum, New York, 1991), p. 193
[4] J. P. Vigouroux, J. P. Duraud, A. Le moel and C. Le Gressus and D.L. Griscom, J. Appl. Phys. [, 5139 (1985). [5] C Le Gressus, F. Valin, H. Henriot, M. Gautier, J P. Duraud, T. S. Sudarshan, R. G. Bommakanti and D. R Tallent, J. Appl. Phys. 69, 6325= (1991). [6] B. Vallayer, G. Blaise and D. Treheux, Rev Scient Inst, 70, 3102 (1999). [7] J. Bigarr=E9, S. Fayeule, O. Paulhe, D. Treheux, IEEE Annual Report, 101 (1997). [8] A. Berroug, J. Bigarr=E9, S. Fayeule, D. Treheux IEEE Annual Report, 97 (1997). [9] M. Belhaj, S. Odof, K. Msellak, and O. Jbara : To appears in J. Appl. Phys.
I give you the address of professor Kotera in Japan ( he was working on charging effect ) Department of Electronic Engineering, Osaka Institute of Thechnology, Omiya, Asahi-ku, Osaka, Japan =20
An entomologist colleague of mine requires a good quality light microscope = to take with her out to do field work. It has to be simple to use, light = weight, "rugged" and has to withstand travelling as cargo to many = destinations near and far. Her lab microscopes all are equipped with = fibre optic illumination, which, of course, would not be appropriate for = field use, so she would also like to know what her options might be for = illumination.
Thanks in advance for any help you can provide. Please contact me offline = and I will forward the messages to her.
Happy Holidays to all!
Paula.
Paula Allan-Wojtas Research Scientist, Food Microstructure Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Atlantic Food and Horticulture Research Centre Kentville, Nova Scotia, Canada B4N 1J5
Dear JoAnn, I have a Tousimis here and it works like a gem. With all the variables to contend with in EM I find it a help.
Sincerely, Maria
Maria Fazio-Zanakis Bioimaging and Molecular Histology Aventis Pharmaceuticals 1-908-231-3357 Fax: 1-908-231-3962 Email: Maria.Fazio-Zanakis-at-Aventis.com
-----Original Message----- } From: JoAnn Buchanan [mailto:redhair-at-leland.Stanford.EDU] Sent: Wednesday, December 15, 1999 1:54 PM To: microscopy-at-sparc5.microscopy.com
Dear subscribers, We are gathering information to update our scanning EM facility. I was wondering about the latest in cpd's these days. We have an old Polaron, completely manual control that could be refurbished. I have also used an automatic type cpd (ie Tousimis) that seems easier for the novice/occasional user to operate. What would the experts recommend?-especially those from a general use facility. Thanks in advance.
Try http://distans.livstek.lth.se:1080/foodmi.htm and look for foods under = microscope.
Ann Fook Yang EM Unit, Eastern Cereal and Oilseed Research Centre, Rm 2091, K.W. Neatby Bldg., Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0C6
Phone: 613-759-1638 Fax; 613-759-1701
} } } "Robert H. Olley" {r.h.olley-at-reading.ac.uk} 12/16 4:33 AM } } } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America=20
On-Line Help http://www.msa.microscopy.com/MicroscopyListserver/FAQ.html=20=
Could anyone please tell me of any website which describes the basics of SEM, suitable for a student (who has included some SEM work done by our department) to help in writing up his thesis?=20
Try Applied Image: 716-482-0300 (Rochester, NY). They make a variety of reticles and graticules for microscopy.
Good hunting! Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater productivity.
125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education}
At 01:36 PM 12/16/99 -0700, Berger, Jennifer wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Nestor makes a good point re: your voltage....I have two aging An10000 systems and find that even 4.85V is not enough. A few other things to try: 1) the connector ribbon from the drive controller board to the drive will get corroded on both ends. You may hear the HD spinning but the system won't "see" it. 2) As a last-ditch effort, stick your HD in the freezer for about half an hour, do your best to wipe off condensation, and plug it back in. I have an original 20 MB drive that has been revived in this way at least a half dozen times. The lubrication gets "gummy" over time; freezing will free the mechanism and generally once you can get the disk spinning it will run until the next power failure (or someone turns off the computer!) On my original drives, there is also an armature which you can turn by hand to loosen it up...don't worry, it finds "home" position on powerup. The things we will try in desperation....
Matthew J. Lynn, Ph.D. Center for Advanced Microscopy University of Miami (305)284-4736 mlynn-at-miami.edu
On Wednesday, December 15, 1999 9:15 AM, Nestor J. Zaluzec [SMTP:zaluzec-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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } Chris } } I have replaced these drives with SSCSI HD drives from old MacIntosh } computers } they work fine, and only have to be reformatted. Your hardware may also } permit } than 20Mb drives, different chip sets in the AN1000 may allow you to } use 40 / 80 Mb drives. You'll find out when you format them. } } Also check your 5 V power supply. I've had alot of problems with the HD and } it turns out that the problem was sometimes the voltage levels. Just unplug } the floppy drive and stick a DVM in the power plug. You should get } 5 V. } if it drops below 5 then HD action will act as if the drive is dead. } } A key thing to check is the connectors from the PS to the Bus. They are } silver coated and tarnish. Get a bit of metal polish and clean them off. On } my system this made a 0.25 V difference! } } Nestor } Your Friendly Neighborhood SysOp. } } } } } Hi } } I have an AN10000 EDX system. The hard disk has gone down. I usually use NEC } } D3142 20Mb replacements. Sadly my supplier can no longer source this drive. } } Does anyone have a suggestion for an alternative drive. } } } } 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 } } http://www.empgu.man.ac.uk } }
Brian Gortney says: } Jennifer: } Try Edmund Scientific for an inexpensive solution at } www.edmundscientific.com
I seems that Edmund's has only *reticles*, but not *graticules*? I.e. measuring things but not counting ones?
I'd be happy to be proven wrong here - I need a graticule myself (21mm disk, 5mm of squares 10x10). -- Regards, Uri uri-at-watson.ibm.com -=-=-=-=-=-=- {Disclaimer}
I need schematic diagrams for circuit boards in a Balzers SCD 040 sputter coater. Does anyone have the factory service manual, or an address to get me started?
Thank You, Thank You, Thank You. :0)
Paul
Paul Grover Chief Microscopist and Bottle Washer Microvista Laboratory Lafayette, IN
Applications of Scanning Microscopy in Forensic Science
The "Applications of Scanning Microscopy in Forensic Science" symposium (part of SCANNING 2000 - please see below) has been very well attended since it's initiation in 1993. Due to continual growth over the last seven years and the overall success of the forensics symposium, an additional day of forensic papers has been added to the symposium. Combined with the popular one day "Scanning Microscopy in Forensic Science" short course, the forensic scientist/student will be able to attend three consecutive (and full) days of instruction and current research papers all devoted to scanning microscopy applications in forensic science.
You are encouraged to submit an abstract for platform or poster consideration and be a part of the new millennium Forensics Symposium. Outstanding papers will be considered for an invitation to publish in SCANNING, The Journal of Scanning Microscopies.
In addition, if you are involved with or know of forensic students actively engaged in forensic research or having unique forensic case analysis using any type of scanning microscopy, have your student(s) submit an abstract for consideration as a student paper.
Posters (both student and professional) are also encouraged!
Also presented at SCANNING 2000:
****** Scanning Microscopy in Forensic Science Short Course
Tuesday, May 8, 2000, 8:30am-4:30pm Instructors: S.F. Platek, USFDA-Forensic Chemistry Center, Cincinnati, OH; D.C. Ward, USDOJ - FBI, Washington D.C.; M.A.Trimpe, Hamilton Co. Coroner's Office, Cincinnati, OH, USA ;D.J. Ballantyne, RMCP, Ottawa, ONT, Canada
This short course is devoted to scanning microscopy analysis of forensic samples. Some of the specific topics to be covered include gunshot residue (GSR) analysis, particulate trace evidence analysis and food product/pharmaceutical tampering and counterfeiting. An intensive trace evidence section in forensic sample processing will be presented which includes collection, preparation, embedding, polishing, sectioning, mounting and micromanipulation of fine particles. Several atypical and/or new applications of scanning microscopy in forensic analyses including SEM/EDX and AFM will be illustrated. With the increased efforts of many laboratories being certified or moving toward certification by the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors (ASCLD), some discussion will be related to sample/case processing and archiving as well as related laboratory procedures. Each section of the short course will be instructed by forensic scientists/microscopists, each a specialist in his respective area of expertise. Course format will include handouts as well as supplemental case histories as examples and a group question and answer session.
******
SCANNING 2000 http://www.scanning.org
SCANNING 2000, the Twelfth Annual International Scientific Meeting on Scanning Microscopies, will be held May 9-12, 2000, in beautiful San Antonio, Texas at the Four Points Sheraton Riverwalk North. Please make plans to join us for three full days (May 9-11, 2000) of forensic papers as well as other sessions in scanning microscopy including food contaminants and microsctucture, pharmaceuticals, digital imaging and analysis, 3-D microscopy and more..
******
Should you have any questions about the forensic symposium, short course or student papers, please contact.
S. Frank Platek US FDA - Forensic Chemistry Center Chairman, Forensic Symposium and Short Course SCANNING 2000 (513) 679-2700 (513) 679-2761 FAX fplatek-at-ora.fda.gov
******
Should you have any questions about SCANNING 2000, please contact the Foundation for Advances in Medicine and Science, Inc. (FAMS)
-at- FAMS, Inc. P.O. Box 832 Mahwah, NJ 07430-0832, USA
The ST-225 drive, which was extremely common in PC-XT's and clones around 1987-1990 is logically the same as the drive supplied by Link in the AN10000, but is a 5.25" drive rather than 3.5". In my AN10000 there was an unoccupied 5.25" drive bay, so it was the work of moments to install the drive. It formats up just like the Link-supplied drive. Since I discovered this, I don't let any old XT get scrapped without my first removing the ST-225 drive. I'm now on the second ST-225 in the AN10000.
I'm almost sure that *any* MFM hard drive of 20Meg or more would work, but the BIOS in the AN10000 will only recognise the first 20 Megs of it with the standard setup. If you can get an 80 Meg drive, there is a way to make the AN10000 recognise that (you have to change the jumpers on the drive, but it is so long ago I forget the details. It involves the AN10000 recognising the drive as DS0 rather than DS1, I think), but I haven't tried doing it. In fact, I discovered this when I bought a drive from Link and it was configured wrong, and the AN10000 thought it was an 80Meg drive!
I haven't had cause to investigate, but I assume that the original ExL's worked the same, but with an ST-251-1 40Meg MFM drive.
Cheers,
Tony.
} } Hi } I have an AN10000 EDX system. The hard disk has gone down. I usually use NEC } D3142 20Mb replacements. Sadly my supplier can no longer source this drive. } Does anyone have a suggestion for an alternative drive. } } 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 } http://www.empgu.man.ac.uk } } }
Dear Petra, I cannot imagine why you would make a 3 mm. disc first. When I do carbon replicas, I just use the polished and slightly etched (in Nital) surface of a steel block of convenient size. Carbon-coat the block, score the carbon coat with a razor blade or scalple into 3 mm. squares, then immerse in Nital until the little carbon squares float free. Scoop these up with a copper TEM grid. This will provide a nice replica of the etched surface with the precipitates in place. By dissolving the entire specimen you may have collected too many precipitates. At 05:03 PM 12/15/99 +0100, you wrote: } } I tried for the first time to produce carbon extraction replicas of steel } containing several types of precipitates (TiC, TiS, TiN, ...). } I produced a disk of 3mm and thinned it electrolytically. On this specimen } I evaporated carbon and removed the steel disk with bathing it in Nital. } I come up with thin carbon layers with lots of precipitates on, but I am } quite sure that their distribution is not representative for their original } positions on the surface of the steel specimen. } Any tips and tricks how to handle this kind of preparation in detail? } } Petra
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 e-mail: mager-at-interchg.ubc.ca
You can get the Schematics form Technotrade. I believe that they now service all of the Balzers equipment. They have been able to help me with my SCD 030. Give them a call at (603) 622-5011. Good luck with your unit. ______________________________________________ Roberto Garcia Senior Analyst, Metallography NC State University / Analytical Instrumentation Facility Campus Box 7531 Room 318 EGRC 1010 Main Campus Dr. Raleigh, NC 27695-7531 (919) 515-8628 (919) 515-6965 Fax rgarcia-at-unity.ncsu.edu http://spm.aif.ncsu.edu/aif ____________________________________________
} } Dear Microscopopists, } } I'm starting a new histology project for pathogenic invasion of cereal } grains } by fungi using GMA embedding. I've been using safranin & fast green for } lignin, but getting marginal results relative to paraffin. Does anyome } have a } good alternative stain or stain protocol for GMA/lignin demonstration? } } Please reply to: krueg001-at-tc.umn.edu } } Thanks for any help you can give. } } Darryl Krueger } University of Minnesota } Cereal Disease Lab }
Gib Ahlstrand Electron Optical Facility, University of Minnesota, Dept. Plant Pathology 495 Borlaug Hall, St. Paul, MN. USA. 55108 (612)625-8249 612-625-9728 FAX, giba-at-puccini.crl.umn.edu http://biosci.umn.edu/MIC/consortium.html
Uri: Endless suppliers carry graticules/reticles including ProSciTech and I think that we have the one that you are looking for. Its cat. no S8018, check the online. Cheers Jim Darley ProSciTech Microscopy PLUS PO Box 111, Thuringowa QLD 4817 Australia Ph +61 7 4774 0370 Fax:+61 7 4789 2313 service-at-proscitech.com Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes www.proscitech.com
On Saturday, December 18, 1999 1:07 AM, uri [SMTP:uri-at-watson.ibm.com] wrote: } } Brian Gortney says: } } Jennifer: } } Try Edmund Scientific for an inexpensive solution at } } www.edmundscientific.com } } I seems that Edmund's has only *reticles*, but not *graticules*? } I.e. measuring things but not counting ones? } } I'd be happy to be proven wrong here - I need a graticule } myself (21mm disk, 5mm of squares 10x10). } -- } Regards, } Uri uri-at-watson.ibm.com } -=-=-=-=-=-=- } {Disclaimer} }
If you have already responded to the following announcement a few days ago, that means your package is already on its way and it should be arriving soon! If you have not responded to this before, please pay attention to it now. This is very important!!!
Before you know about this 'Important Announcement', you must first read the following 'Editorial Excerpts' from some important publications in the United States:
NEW YORK TIMES: "In concluding our review of Financial organizations to effect change in the 90's, special attention should be called to a California based organization, 'WORLD CURRENCY CARTEL'. Members of this organization are amassing hundred of millions of dollars in the currency market using a very LEGAL method which has NEVER been divulged to the general public. While their purpose is not yet known, their presence has most certainly been felt".
NBC NIGHTLY NEWS: "Members of 'World Currency Cartel', who always keep a low profile, are considered to be some of the most wealthiest people in North America".
More excerpts later, but first let us give you this very "IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT":
We are glad to announce that for the first time and for a very short period of time, WORLD CURRENCY CARTEL will instruct a LIMITED number of people worldwide on 'HOW TO CONVERT $25 INTO ONE HUNDRED OF LEGAL CURRENCY'. We will transact the first conversion for you, after that you can easily and quickly do this on your own hundreds or even thousands of times every month. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS "SECRET FLAW"!
It is even more explosive than we have yet disclosed. While currency does fluctuate daily, we can show you 'HOW TO CONVERT $99 INTO $588 AS MANY TIMES AS YOU WANT'. That means, you will be able to EXCHANGE $99, AMERICAN LEGAL CURRENCY DOLLARS, FOR $580 OF THE SAME. You can do this as many times as you wish, every day, every week, every month. All very LEGAL and effortlessly!
It takes only 5 to 10 minutes each time you do this. You can do this from home, office or even while traveling. All you need is an access to a phone line and an address. Best of all, you can do this from ANY CITY ON THIS EARTH!!!
Again, we must reiterate, anyone can do this and the source is NEVER-ENDING. For as long as the global financial community continues to use different currencies with varying exchange rates, the "SECRET FLAW" will exist.
As we said earlier , we will do the first transaction for you and will show you exactly how to do this on your own, over and over again!
The amount of exchange you would do each time is entirely up to you. Working just 2 to 10 hours a week, you can soon join the list of Millionaires who do this on a daily basis many times a day. The transaction is so simple that even a high school kid can do it!
We at the World Currency Cartel would like to see a uniform global currency backed by Gold. But, until then, we will allow a LIMITED number of individuals worldwide to share in the UNLIMITED PROFITS provided for by the world currency differentials.
We will espouse no more political views nor will we ask you to do so. We can say however, that our parent organization, CILS, benefits greatly by the knowledge being shared, as we ourselves, along with YOU, benefit likewise. Your main concern surely will be, how you will benefit.
As soon as you become a member, you will make transactions from your home, office, by telephone or through the mail. You can conduct these transactions even while traveling.
Unlike anyone else, we will assure you great financial freedom and you will add to our quickly growing base of supporters and join the list of MILLIONAIRES being created using this very "SECRET FLAW" in the world currency market.
There is a one time membership fee of only $195. BUT, if you join within the next 10 days, you can join us for only $25 administrative cost. Your important documents, instructions, contact name/address, phone number and all other pertinent information will be mailed to you immediately. So take advantage of our Anniversary date and join us today.
(If you are replying after the next 10 days, you must pay $195.00 for the membership fee. NO EXCEPTIONS, and no more E-mail inquiries please).
Upon becoming a member, you promise to keep all infos CONFIDENTIAL!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Should you choose to cancel your membership for any reason, you must return all papers/documents for a refund within 30 days.
1...Please write your name & mailing address VERY CLEARLY on a paper 2...Below your mailing address, please write your E-mail address 3...At the top left hand corner, please write the words "NEW MEMBER" 4...Attach a CHECK for $25 + $10 for the shipping and handling of documents (TOTAL = $35.00) PAYABLE TO "NDML" and FAX it to:
212-208-3050
(Note: We are ONLY accepting CHECK-BY-FAX as a form of payment at this time. We WILL be able to cash the check you send us by fax, you do not need to mail us a check. If your check is dark, please PRINT ALL OF THE INFORMATION ON THE CHECK ONTO THE PAPER YOU ARE FAXING US so that it is clearly legible!) Please allow 2-4 weeks for delivery. No shipments will be made until the check has cleared.
WALL STREET: "A discreet group of Americans, operating under the guise of World Currency Cartel have recently begun making rumbles in world finance market. While at this time, their game is not completely known, they certainly will be watched by those making major moves in the currency contracts".
FINANCIAL WEEK: "Watch them, monitor them, extract their knowledge and try to become one of them. That is the soundest financial advice we could give to anyone".
NATIONAL BUSINESS WEEKLY: "While this reporter has been left in the cold as to its method of operation, we have been able to confirm that 'World Currency Cartel' and its members are literally amassing great fortunes overnight".
To be removed from our list, simply click "reply" and put the words "Remove Currency" in the subject line. Warning: If you do not put the words "Remove Currency" in the subject line, you will not be removed. The process is automated.
Postdoctoral Position, Institute of Condensed Matter Physics, University of Lausanne, Switzerland: The Group of Physics of Living Matter under the direction of Prof. G. Dietler is offering a postdoctoral position in the area of cryogenic (low temperature) scanning probe microscopy (SPM). The cryo-SPM is currently under construction and further modifications are needed at the present time. The design of the cryo-SPM will allow it to be used for several applications of research after completion. Candidates with a Ph.D. and experience in the construction of instruments for cryogenics and/or ultra high vacuum (UHV) SPM are preferred. Good candidates with a Ph.D. and a background in construction of other types of instrumentation used for vacuum or microscopy research will also be considered. To apply for the position, please send your CV with a brief description of your research experience, a list of publications, and the names and contact information of at least 3 references to:
Prof. G. Dietler Institut de Physique de la Matiere Condensee (IPMC), BSP Universite de Lausanne CH-1015 Lausanne Switzerland Tel: 41 21 692 3663 (off.) 3682 (off.) 3660 (sec.) Fax: 3635 Email: Giovanni.Dietler-at-ipmc.unil.ch http://www.unil.ch/ipmc/docs/gd/home.html
Applications sent by email are preferred in the interest of time.
************************************************ Robert J. Derby New Mexico Institute of Technology Socorro, N.M. Phone - 505-835-5866 E-mail - rjderby-at-excite.com derby-at-nmt.edu ************************************************ First, Happy Holidays to all, and thanks for all the help in the past. Now my question... We have just gotten a JEOL 6100 SEM, still being setup. I would like to know if anyone has gotten a signal out to a computer (in my case a Mac). I know of a RS-170 out, but I would like it to be a digital signal. Has anyone hooked up a 6100 to a computer and if so what did you do? A cheap fix would be best without spending 5-10K on a Scion framgrabber. Thak you, and everyone have a Happy New Year.
_______________________________________________________ Visit Excite Shopping at http://shopping.excite.com The fastest way to find your Holiday gift this season
At 05:40 PM 11/30/99 , you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I use CDQ-74SZA, 10 pack in jewel cases with no problems for over two years. I still prefer the Memorex silver.
The worst choices are the bulk spindles of green or blue.
I am curious to here about various TEM staining approaches, in particular about vapor staining via OsO4 crystals.
Whatrecommendations can you provide for a OsO4 staining apparatus to stain thin sections or pre-microtome-hardening of polymeric samples?
Whatis the difference between the effectiveness of a 2% aqueous OsO4 solution and OsO4 crystals?
Whatis the best procedure to neutralize the stain after use? Is the recommended procedure for neutralizing an aqueous OsO4 solution as suggested in the EMS catalog (twice the volume of corn oil) also applicable to solid OsO4 crystals?
I am unhappy with our present staining apparatus. I suspect that the OsO4 is leaking. A paper scrap with a fingerprints turns gray after a few month= s in the hood where the staining apparatus is located. Secondly, I am not certain how to =94kill=94 the remaining OsO4 in the vapour-phase after our=
samples have been stained.
Any recommendations addressing my above questions are appreciated. Any additional comments concerning the staining of polymers such as the block copolymers of PS/PB and PS/PI are also welcome.
Qualifications (education, certification, language, etc.) and Experience required: A candidate with a BS or MS or PHD degree in polymer science, material science or chemistry is preferred with some prior experience in electron microscopy. Good written and oral communication skills and the ability to work both independently and in a team environment are extremely important.
Job Overview:
The Surface/Microscopy/X-ray (SMX) Group in Dow's Corporate R&D Analytical Science Laboratory has one professional level full time opening for Polymer Microscopist in Dow's Freeport, Texas, location. The primary responsibilities include working with partners to support research projects involving new and existing products in Dow's polymer businesses.
Key responsibilities will include:
1. Extensive problem solving. 2. Microscopy preparation technique experience including ultramicrotomy and cryo-ultramicrotomy. 3. Operation of light, transmission, and scanning electron microscopes. 4. Interpretation of images. 5. Documentation and communication of work results. 6. Compliance with safety and quality programs. 7. Active member of project and SMX work teams.
Interested: Please e-mail or send your resume and cover letter, with reference to this ad to: Email: R&D-at-Dow.com or The Dow Chemical Company, Workforce Planning 005855, P. O. Box 150, Plaquemine, LA 70765. E-mail respondents must list Job 005855USA and their last name as the first and second items on the Subject line. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Only U.S. citizens or aliens who are authorized to work in the United States will be considered for employment.
We are an equal opportunity employer and offer a competitive compensation and benefits package including 401k, stock purchase, tuition reimbursement and performance incentives. The Dow Chemical Company is the fifth largest chemical company in the world with annual sales of US$20billion. Dow manufactures and supplies chemicals, plastics and agricultural products for customers in 164 countries and employs approx. 43,000 people worldwide. For more news and information about Dow, please visit our web site at www.dow.com.
Robert C. Cieslinski Microscopy & Microanalysis (517) 636-6875 email: rccieslinski-at-dow.com
We are currently soliciting "best offers" on our Hitachi S-800 FEG SEM. It has a GW electronics microchannel plate BSE detector and a Macintosh-based 4pi Analysis digital image acquisition system. Purchased in 1988.
Please contact me with any questions you many have.
Sincerely,
Anne E. Huber
_______________________________________ Anne E. Huber Ph.D., Instrument Analyst Materials Science and Engineering Dept. The University of Michigan 2300 Hayward St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2136 ahuber-at-umich.edu (734)764-3357 _______________________________________
} } I have a glass (leaded glass) tube, about 0.5 cm in diameter. The inside } } wall of the tube has been leached leaving behind a porous silica network } } with pores about 500 nm in size. The thickness of the leached layer is } } estimated to be about 400 nm. We would like to prepare cross sections to } } look at the glass/leached layer interface ... Has anyone tried microtomy } } with this type samples?.
} } Jordi Marti } } Dear Jordi } Conventional microtomy won't work on this kind of hard brittle } friable material.
} Chris Jeffree
Jordi -
Chris is being a bit too negative about microtomy of coatings on glass. It's demanding, but Phil Swab teaches how to do it annually in the Ventana - RMC Materials Microtomy workshop. You can contact him for an opinion at phil.swab-at-depsci.com.
Caroline Schooley Project MICRO 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/PMHomePage.html Intertidal invertebrates: http://www.fortbragg.k12.ca.us/AG/PCI/pci.html
Rick Felten-at-MACDERMID 12/20/99 03:42 PM Has any purchased or demonstrated a RJ Lee PSM-300 and would like to share their opinion about the quality of this scope in a conventional SEM mode? Thanks Ric
I have acquired a (used) Denton DV515 coater. I want to refresh the pump oil and santovac 5 before I reassemble it.
But the manual omits to say what the volume of santovac should be in the diff pump.
Does anyone remember?
Dr. Mel Dickson, Deputy Director, The Electron Microscope Unit, Adjunct Associate Professor, School of Microbiology & Immunology The University of New South Wales Sydney, Australia. Phone +612 9385 6383 Fax +612 9385 6400
You can use the clasicc minerology and materialography techniques;
1. include glas tube in the liquid fluorescence resin in the vacumm chamber,
2. cut this sample on the parts by automatic cut-off machine with diamond disc,
3. grinding and polishing this sample
4. put the sample on the optical microscopy stage and say - yes, it is not a problem,
(ask about this problem friends from materials science department or mineralogy or metallography, or read the book Vander Voort - metalography nad principles,)
best regards
Krzysztof Jan Huebner
{hubner-at-IOd.krakow.pl} :-)
Foundry Research Institute ul Zakopianska 73 telefon (0-12) 2618111 wew 356 30-418 Krakow, PL faks (0-12) 2660870
On Mon, 20 Dec 1999, Caroline Schooley 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 a glass (leaded glass) tube, about 0.5 cm in diameter. The inside } } } wall of the tube has been leached leaving behind a porous silica network } } } with pores about 500 nm in size. The thickness of the leached layer is } } } estimated to be about 400 nm. We would like to prepare cross sections to } } } look at the glass/leached layer interface ... Has anyone tried microtomy } } } with this type samples?. } } } } Jordi Marti } } } } Dear Jordi } } Conventional microtomy won't work on this kind of hard brittle } } friable material. } } } Chris Jeffree } } Jordi - } } Chris is being a bit too negative about microtomy of coatings on glass. } It's demanding, but Phil Swab teaches how to do it annually in the Ventana } - RMC Materials Microtomy workshop. You can contact him for an opinion at } phil.swab-at-depsci.com. } } Caroline Schooley } Project MICRO 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/PMHomePage.html } Intertidal invertebrates: http://www.fortbragg.k12.ca.us/AG/PCI/pci.html } } } }
} Why are you making a 3mm disk and then thinning it? That looks like extra } work.
You were not the only one to ask this question. In the beginning, I did it because I wanted to look first at the original specimen. (This is why I am sure the distribution of the particles on the replica is not representative.) Later on, I did it because it did not come to my mind to change the procedure :)
Offline, I received several protocols how to produce a replica from a bulk piece of steel. They contain a lot of helpful details that will help me certainly to produce a good specimen.
Thanks to all who took the time to answer my question,
Petra
At 17:26 15.12.99 -0500, you wrote: } Why are you making a 3mm disk and then thinning it? That looks like extra } work. } } You can polish a bulk sample of your material, etch it as Tony Garratt-Reed } suggests, and coat the sample with carbon which "grabs" the particles. Now } slightly score small rectangular sections on your sample so that your } etchant can get under the carbon layer and attack the steel. Float them off } after sufficient etching and collect them on grids. For security, you can } put another coating on the top of the exposed particles to "seal them in". } } -Scott } } } Scott D. Walck, Ph.D. } PPG Industries, Inc. } Glass Technology Center } 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)
-------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Petra Wahlbring Centre de Recherche Public - Gabriel Lippmann Laboratoire d'Analyse des Materiaux (LAM) 162a, av. de la Faiencerie L-1511 Luxembourg tel. +352-466644-402 fax +352-466644-400 e-mail: petra.wahlbring-at-crpgl.lu Visit our WWW site! http://www.crpgl.lu/~wahlbrin
Good idea, Caroline. I'll volunteer to coordinate entries if that will be helpful. My experience in product development for Polaroid and in publishing for this company may be useful. I'll put the suggestion on the table and wait to hear what you decide.
Elinor Solit The Cambrex Group, Publishers of The Microscope Book
On Thu, 16 Dec 1999, Caroline Schooley 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 think that the printer comparison suggested for the Philadelphia meeting } is a great idea; I have two comments and a related question. The comments: } 1) Nestor & John have too much to do as it is; someone should volunteer to } help with this project. } 2) The question about printing paper/ink structure suggests an excellent } topic for someone who wants to apply for a Professional Technical Staff } award to attend the meeting (see the meeting announcement, pg. 13). } And the question: I've learned (the hard way) about the fragile, sticky } surface of inkjet prints. Has anyone tried the new Gepe Inkjet Fixative } yet? Does it work well? } } Caroline Schooley } Project MICRO 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/PMHomePage.html } Intertidal invertebrates: http://www.fortbragg.k12.ca.us/AG/PCI/pci.html } } }
I am pleased to bring to your attention the following SEM technician position at Motorola's Process and Materials Characterization Laboratory (PMCL I encourage all persons interested to respond ASAP.
Position: SEM Technician/S9001P Employer: Motorola-Semiconductor Products Sector's Process and Materials Characterization Laboratory (PMCL) Location: Mesa, AZ Employment type: Full-time Employment status: Full-employee (non-contractor) Number of Positions: 1 Shift: N1-compressed (6:00 P.M.-6:00 A.M. E/O Saturday, Sun-Tues) or N2 (6:00 P.M.-6:00 A.M. Wed-Fri, E/O Saturday) Relocation: Available
Duties/Responsibilities: Experience in Scanning Electron Microscopy techniques including basic operation, specimen preparation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of SEM's. Work effectively as a team player in multiple projects providing routine and non-routine SEM analysis in support of semiconductor product manufacturing. Exposure to many different types of processes and technologies, and working knowledge of FIB and EDS are a plus.
Specific knowledge: AA degree preferred. A higher or lower classification will be established depending upon qualification and experience.
Contact info: Send resume or questions via email to Brian_Wajdyk-at-email.mot.com or fax to 480-655-4316 C/O Brian Wajdyk. -- ******************************************************************** Brian Wajdyk Team Leader / Electron Microscopist (FESEM, EDS, SAM) Motorola - Process and Materials Characterization Laboratory (PMCL) 2200 W. Broadway Rd., Mesa AZ 85202 Mail Drop: M360 Tel: 480-655-4337 Fax: 480-655-4316 Email: brian_wajdyk-at-email.mot.com Pager: 1-800-313-5960 ********************************************************************
I'm comfortable with handing everything on a poster board to be located in the Computer Workshop area at the M&M 2000 meeting.
We have done similiar in the past, except that things were layed out on a table. The key is the documentation and using the "standard test image". As we approach the time of the meeting I'll post a call for prints on the Listserver. Interested people can then download the standard image print out the image and bring it to the meeting along with a " information form" which we have used in the past (i.e. type of printer, ink, time to print etc....). For those that want to participate but will not be attending they can just mail the print and the form to me and I'll carry them across.
I've had a few volunteers who said they would help and I'll contact them off line. Basically I would ask them to come by the Computer Workshop and organize the Poster Board to hang all the prints and documentation. It will be a few hours work at most (hanging things up at the start/during the meeting and taking down at the end.)
Nestor Your Friendly Neighborhood SysOp & the M&M Computer Workshop Co Organizer (with John Mansfield).
================================================================== Nestor J. Zaluzec Materials Science Division Building 212 Argonne National Lab 9700 S. Cass Ave Argonne, Illinois 60439 USA Tel: 630-252-7901, Fax: 630-252-4798 Email: Zaluzec-at-aaem.amc.anl.gov ================================================================== TPMLab: http://tpm.amc.anl.gov MMSite: http://www.amc.anl.gov ==================================================================
The box said "This program requires Win 95/98/NT or better..." so I bought a G3 Mac
Since Nestor's got me back able to send messages to the list again, I have a question for you materials people out there. What would be the source of small (0.02mm x .001mm) rods of calcium/silicon/aluminum in plate steel samples? The steel is a little old, made in the Harland & Wolfe Shipyard, Belfast, Northern Ireland in 1910-1912 (yes, it's from R.M.S. Titanic). At first, I thought them to be biological, possibly sponge spicules, but since then I've found some deeply embedded in the steel, not just on the surface, and spicules are normally either siliceous or carbonate, not both, as my trusty EDS detector tells me. The rods themselves are very smooth on the surface, normally perfectly straight, and when you see one "on end" they appear to have a radial kind of internal structure. Would they perhaps be some kind of remnant from the lime used in the smelting? Or some kind of secondary mineralization? Any thoughts would be appreciated. Oh, and Season's Greetings, by the way....
F.C. Thomas MicroAnalysis Facility Geological Survey of Canada (Atlantic) Bedford Institute of Oceanography Dartmouth, Nova Scotia Canada B2Y 4A2
} I have acquired a (used) Denton DV515 coater. I want to refresh the pump } oil and santovac 5 before I reassemble it. } } But the manual omits to say what the volume of santovac should be in the } diff pump. } } Does anyone remember? }
Dear Mel, No, but if there is a dipstick near the bottom, that should at least give you a clue, and in the best of worlds there would be a "full" mark with the volume indicated and an "add oil" mark. Yours, Bill Tivol
the power supply in my 5500 is on the fritz. does anyone know what the replacement # would be? i think its a todd power supply (which is now condor?). also, are there a pots for voltage adjustment on the unit? it may be that simple too....
thanks!
brian
**************************************************************** Brian McIntyre Electron Microscopy Lab Institute of Optics University of Rochester Rochester, NY 14627
716-275-3058 716-244-4936(fax)
"You may get to the top of the ladder of success only to find its been leaning against the wrong wall" A. Raime
I am posting this for a friend who tells me there is a JEOL 100B TEM in working condition on this campus, in a room needed for other purposes. If anyone is interested in having this scope for use or parts, please let me know, and I'll pass the message on to the right people.
Thanks. Randy
Randy Tindall EM Specialist Electron Microscopy Core Facility W122 Veterinary Medicine Bldg. University of Missouri Columbia, MO 65211 (573)882-8304 tindallr-at-missouri.edu http://www.biotech.missouri.edu/emc/
The use of stereo anaglyph (red-green or red-blue) images for visualization of AFM images is reported in a paper in the current (December 1999) isssue of the Journal of Microscopy. A much broader range of possibilities for using stereo for surface imaging exists, and we've just submitted a paper illustrating a variety of modes that combined stereo presentation with rendered surfaces, perspective corrected views, etc. The possibility of recovering surface elevation information from stereo images (e.g., from SEM) is also demonstrated. A preprint of the paper (not yet reviewed) in pdf (acrobat) format can be downloaded by anyone interested from http://members.AOL.com/DrJohnRuss/Stereo.pdf; the paper includes information on the software used to generate the images.
John Russ Materials Science and Engineering Dept. North Carolina State University Raleigh, NC 27606
} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} ListBot "Opt-In" {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} To Unsubscribe your name and email from our Opt-In listserver, see end of message.
Dear Subscriber,
Introducing the HOTTEST selling software of the year.
"NO MORE SECRETS SOFTWARE" JUST RELEASED!
The software they want banned.Why? Because these secrets were never intended
to reach your eyes !!! "NO MORE SECRETS v5.0 now with the latest IP Phone
Make calls anywhere in the world for free.
This is a sophisticated SOFTWARE program DESIGNED that automatically
links to thousands of Public Record databases.
Now with Unclaimed Money Locator, find out if you are owed money or property in your state.
*******************
The NO MORE SECRETS SOFTWARE" is absolutely astounding!
Here's what you can obtain:
Files that the government has on you.
You know who "The F*I and.......
License plate number!
Get anyone's name and address with just a license plate number!
(Find that girl you met in traffic!)
Driving record!
Get anyone's driving record
Social security number!
Trace anyone by social security number!
Free Internet Access
Address!
Get anyone's address with just a name!
Unlisted phone numbers!
Get anyone's phone number with just a name - even unlisted numbers!
Locate!
Long lost friends, relatives, a past lover who broke your heart!
E-mail!
Send anonymous e-mail completely untraceable!
Investigate anyone!
Use the sources that private investigators use (all on the Internet)
secretly!
Ex-spouse!
Learn how to get information on an ex-spouse that will help you
win in court! (Dig up old skeletons)
Criminal search-background check!
Find out about your daughters boyfriend!
(or her husband)
Find out!
If you are being investigated!
Neighbors!
Learn all about your mysterious neighbors! Find out what they
have to hide!
People you work with!
Be astonished by what you'll learn about people you work with!
Education verification!
Did he really graduate college? Find out!
Just insert the floppy disk and Go! ****************************************************
Data Bases Cover the US and Canada.
You will be shocked and amazed by the secrets that can be
discovered about absolutely everyone! Find out the secrets
they don't want you to know! About others, about yourself!
Only $39.95 U.S. (Postage Paid)
(ORDERS OUTSIDE THE USA, ADD $25.00)
DON'T WAIT TO GET STARTED... here's what to do:
STEP 1 - Compose a new message using the order form text below
STEP 2 - Type or print your order information into the order form section
STEP 3 - Print your completed order, then mail to the address below
OPTIONAL, you may choose to place your order on our secure voice mail
system by calling 708-562-1778
Send to: Resource Marketing
PO Box 7463 Westchester IL. 60154-7463
} } } Mail-in Order Form { { {
Name:
Address:
City:
State:
Zip:
E-mail address:
Method of payment:
[ ] Visa [ ] MasterCard [ ] Check
Credit Card#:
Exp Date:
YOUR SIGNATURE HERE:_______________________________
We cannot process your credit card payment without your signature
(SORRY, NO MAC VERSION AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME.)
NOTE: THIS PROGRAM WILL WORK ON WINDOWS 3.11 AND OLDER AND OF COURSE WINDOWS 95 AND 98.
DISCLAIMER: The distributor of this powerful software resource
will be not be held responsible for how the purchaser chooses to use its resources. **************************************************************************************************
To be removed from this listserver,
Please include the word unsubscribe in the subject header to:
} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} ListBot "Opt-In" {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} To Unsubscribe your name and email from our Opt-In listserver, see end of message.
Dear Subscriber,
Introducing the HOTTEST selling software of the year.
"NO MORE SECRETS SOFTWARE" JUST RELEASED!
The software they want banned.Why? Because these secrets were never intended
to reach your eyes !!! "NO MORE SECRETS v5.0 now with the latest IP Phone
Make calls anywhere in the world for free.
This is a sophisticated SOFTWARE program DESIGNED that automatically
links to thousands of Public Record databases.
Now with Unclaimed Money Locator, find out if you are owed money or property in your state.
*******************
The NO MORE SECRETS SOFTWARE" is absolutely astounding!
Here's what you can obtain:
Files that the government has on you.
You know who "The F*I and.......
License plate number!
Get anyone's name and address with just a license plate number!
(Find that girl you met in traffic!)
Driving record!
Get anyone's driving record
Social security number!
Trace anyone by social security number!
Free Internet Access
Address!
Get anyone's address with just a name!
Unlisted phone numbers!
Get anyone's phone number with just a name - even unlisted numbers!
Locate!
Long lost friends, relatives, a past lover who broke your heart!
E-mail!
Send anonymous e-mail completely untraceable!
Investigate anyone!
Use the sources that private investigators use (all on the Internet)
secretly!
Ex-spouse!
Learn how to get information on an ex-spouse that will help you
win in court! (Dig up old skeletons)
Criminal search-background check!
Find out about your daughters boyfriend!
(or her husband)
Find out!
If you are being investigated!
Neighbors!
Learn all about your mysterious neighbors! Find out what they
have to hide!
People you work with!
Be astonished by what you'll learn about people you work with!
Education verification!
Did he really graduate college? Find out!
Just insert the floppy disk and Go! ****************************************************
Data Bases Cover the US and Canada.
You will be shocked and amazed by the secrets that can be
discovered about absolutely everyone! Find out the secrets
they don't want you to know! About others, about yourself!
Only $39.95 U.S. (Postage Paid)
(ORDERS OUTSIDE THE USA, ADD $25.00)
DON'T WAIT TO GET STARTED... here's what to do:
STEP 1 - Compose a new message using the order form text below
STEP 2 - Type or print your order information into the order form section
STEP 3 - Print your completed order, then mail to the address below
OPTIONAL, you may choose to place your order on our secure voice mail
system by calling 708-562-1778
Send to: Resource Marketing
PO Box 7463 Westchester IL. 60154-7463
} } } Mail-in Order Form { { {
Name:
Address:
City:
State:
Zip:
E-mail address:
Method of payment:
[ ] Visa [ ] MasterCard [ ] Check
Credit Card#:
Exp Date:
YOUR SIGNATURE HERE:_______________________________
We cannot process your credit card payment without your signature
(SORRY, NO MAC VERSION AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME.)
NOTE: THIS PROGRAM WILL WORK ON WINDOWS 3.11 AND OLDER AND OF COURSE WINDOWS 95 AND 98.
DISCLAIMER: The distributor of this powerful software resource
will be not be held responsible for how the purchaser chooses to use its resources. **************************************************************************************************
To be removed from this listserver,
Please include the word unsubscribe in the subject header to:
Hello everyone, Since that snow is a hexagonal, positive uniaxial crystal with dendritic and basal tablet habit, and with n (omega) =1.309 (D-line) and n (epsilon) =1.3147 (D-line) and delta n = 0.005, how could you fail to have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New year!
Question: We are using our SEM to image the sphere sample surface and analyse the diamond density ( No. per area) and height on the surface. Is there any software can do this analysis.
AOL's server appears to be case sensitive. The correct URL for John's paper is:
http://members.AOL.com/DrJohnRuss/stereo.pdf
Tony.
At 05:09 PM 12/21/1999 EST, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
We have a lot of data from our mass spec. stored on cdr , would someone email me with the details of cdr manuf. number etc. Since they use several different manuf. they would like to know which ones might be a problem. Terry Ellis email : tellis2-at-hallmark.com this is not a joke Hallmark does have a research lab
I tried to e-mail you directly, but it got kicked back for some reason. I have a Denton DV-502. For my machine, and possibly yours as well, Denton offered 2 different size diffusion pumps: 3-1/4" & 5-3/4" diameters. Mine has the 3-1/4" pump, which is model DP-250. It takes 100cc of fluid - the factory filled it with Dow Corning DC-704, but I also prefer Santovac 5 as the problem of a possible artifact Si peak is eliminated. If you have the larger pump, try contacting Denton. I have 2 numbers for them: 609/424-1012 and 856/439-9100, the latter being for parts & service. Hope this helps.....
The Electron Microcopy Analysis Center (EMAC) at West Chester University in Pennsylvania has an opening for a full-time electron microscopy technician. The EMAC is primarily used by geologists, biologists and chemists. The successful applicant will have a minimum of a Bachelor=B9s degree and 3 years experience in the operation and maintenance of transmission and scanning electron microscopes (including some service experience), the instrumentation routinely used in specimen preparation, and proficiency in photographic and darkroom techniques. The ability to operate an X-ray diffractometer, X-ray fluorescence spectrometer or confocal microscope is desirable. Responsibilities will include daily operation and maintenance of the EMAC including user training. The successful applicant must demonstrate the necessary organizational, management and communication skills to efficiently operate the EMAC. Applicants should submit a cover letter, resume and three letter of recommendation to the Department of Human Resources, 210 Carter Drive, West Chester University, West Chester, PA, 19383. Applications must be received by March 1 2000. Applicants must successfully complete the interview process to be considered a finalist. AA/EOE. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.
Dr. Giovanni Casotti PhD. Department of Biology West Chester University West Chester, PA, 19383 email:giovanni-at-bio.wcupa.edu or: gcasotti-at-mail.wcupa.edu ph: (610) 436-2856 fax: (610) 436-2183
The Electron Microcopy Analysis Center (EMAC) at West Chester University in Pennsylvania has an opening for a full-time electron microscopy technician. The EMAC is primarily used by geologists, biologists and chemists. The successful applicant will have a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree and 3 years experience in the operation and maintenance of transmission and scanning electron microscopes (including some service experience), the instrumentation routinely used in specimen preparation, and proficiency in photographic and darkroom techniques. The ability to operate an X-ray diffractometer, X-ray fluorescence spectrometer or confocal microscope is desirable. Responsibilities will include daily operation and maintenance of the EMAC including user training. The successful applicant must demonstrate the necessary organizational, management and communication skills to efficiently operate the EMAC. Applicants should submit a cover letter, resume and three letter of recommendation to the Department of Human Resources, 210 Carter Drive, West Chester University, West Chester, PA, 19383. Applications must be received by March 1 2000. Applicants must successfully complete the interview process to be considered a finalist. AA/EOE. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.
Dear Frank, If these are oxides or sulfides, they sound like slag inclusions from the original steel-making, although if there are very many of them it would indicate a poor quality steel. Oh well, it wasn't a metallurgical failure. These inclusions can assume a variety of forms, depending on the treatment and manipulation of the steel. If you can ask a failure analysis person to look at the pictures, they can probably tell you. At 02:10 PM 12/21/99 -0400, you wrote: } Since Nestor's got me back able to send messages to the list again, I have } a question for you materials people out there. } What would be the source of small (0.02mm x .001mm) rods of } calcium/silicon/aluminum in plate steel samples? The steel is a little old, } made in the Harland & Wolfe Shipyard, Belfast, Northern Ireland in } 1910-1912 (yes, it's from R.M.S. Titanic). At first, I thought them to be } biological, possibly sponge spicules, but since then I've found some deeply } embedded in the steel, not just on the surface, and spicules are normally } either siliceous or carbonate, not both, as my trusty EDS detector tells } me. } The rods themselves are very smooth on the surface, normally perfectly } straight, and when you see one "on end" they appear to have a radial kind } of internal structure. Would they perhaps be some kind of remnant from the } lime used in the smelting? Or some kind of secondary mineralization? } Any thoughts would be appreciated. } Oh, and Season's Greetings, by the way.... } } F.C. Thomas
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 e-mail: mager-at-interchg.ubc.ca
For 5-.." DP on DV-502 (which is Varian's M-6, actually) 250 ml of oil is fine. I am using Santovac-5. I don't know anything about DV-515. You have to call Denton.
Good luck. Sergey
At 10:29 AM 12/22/99 -0700, you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Sergey Ryazantsev Ph. D. UCLA School of Medicine Department of Biological Chemistry Box 951737 Los Angeles, CA 90095-1737
We recently started using a small tip transfer pipet to process tissue for TEM. Students especially find them a lot easier to use and lose a lot less of their tissue. We ordered them from PGC Scientifics {www.pgcscientifics.com} They are listed under the "Disposable Plastic Transfer Pipets" section and I think the cat.# is 71-5199-73. These have a 1 ml capacity . The tip is about 1 mm diameter. There are larger volume small tip pipets .
The Usual Disclaimer: I have no connection with PGC (in fact they didn't even return an email question!) Other vendors may stock this item.
Mike Baxter Lehman College Bronx, NY mykkb-at-juno.com ___________________________________________________________________ Why pay more to get Web access? Try Juno for FREE -- then it's just $9.95/month if you act NOW! Get your free software today: http://dl.www.juno.com/dynoget/tagj.
Brian McIntyre mailto:mcintyre-at-optics.rochester.edu Sr. Engineer lab: 716-275-3058/4875 River Campus EMLab fax: 716-244-4936 University of Rochester Rochester, NY 14620
"The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother." - Unknown
To clear up a lot of confusion; there is a model DV515 that uses a unique rapid heating diffusion pump. This pump takes only 100cc of oil. This unit takes Santovac 5 ONLY as I recall. There are special considerations for this pump design (types of o-rings, heaters), you should talk with the manufacturer.
The standard 3" pump DV 502 uses DC704 oil, 100cc. The large 6" pump uses 250cc. Santovac 5 can be substituted but pumps slower since it is made for a higher heat.
Contact Mr. Jim Falco at Denton if you want information from the source; phone 865-439-9100, fax 856-439-9111.
I do not have a financial interest in Denton Vacuum (but did for 20+ years).
Steve Miller Ventana Medical Systems, Inc. www.Ventanamed.com Phone: 800-227-2155, ext 2753
Image Pro Plus and MetaMorph, among others will do this. Please note that I have no financial affiliation with either company. Wanda Shotsberger Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth Texas ---------- } From: "feir-at-bsci.com"-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com To: Microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com -----------------------------------------------------------------------.
Email: feir-at-bsci.com Name: Ray Fei
Question: We are using our SEM to image the sphere sample surface and analyse the diamond density ( No. per area) and height on the surface. Is there any software can do this analysis.
Just wanted to thank all of you who made suggestions about field microscope= s for my entomologist friend. The information is now in her hands to deal = with before the next field season starts!
Holiday greetings!
Paula.
Paula Allan-Wojtas Research Scientist, Food Microstructure Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Atlantic Food and Horticulture Research Centre Kentville, Nova Scotia, Canada B4N 1J5
Suggest you contact a long-time friend and colleague, Barry Fookes, now at UCF: 407-823-6205. Tell him I sent you.
While head of the Experimental Techniques Center at Brunel U (just outside of London), he used to analyze all sort of steels and may have some insight. Sorry, but I am on the road and don't have his email with me.
Best of luck .... and Happy Holidays to all! Barbara Foster Microscopy/Microscopy Education 125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com
At 04:13 PM 12/22/99 -0800, Mary Mager wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
JobsOnline is the Internet's leading employment and career resources site. Job Seekers can post resumes to a database that contains over 200,000 current job postings, review salary information and take a job aptitude test. JobsOnline provides these services absolutely FREE. Register now with JobsOnline and receive 30 FREE minutes of long distance!! Click here to register. www.jobsonline.com/sales/sales_web45.asp
************************* You are currently subscribed as: Microscopy-at-AAEM.AMC.ANL.GOV
To unsubscribe select the link below. mailto:WEBFORTYFIVE-signoff-request-at-mlm.jobsonline.com?subject=signoff
Email: guru-at-biosci.umn.edu Name: Guru R Thuduppathy School: University of minnesota Question: Hi
I would like to know what a capillary microscope is. What I know about it is that it is used in diagnosis for arthritic ailments. Could you provide me scientific details, probably a description of it, whether it looks like a standard microscope or rather like an opthalmoscope.
------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Does anyone know where to but tacky wax or a similar substitute. I've heard glue from tape will also aid in serial sectioning, but I was looking for this alternative in particular. Any help is much appreciated. Thanks. Linda Chicoine
Linda, We got our Tackiwax about 5 years ago from one of the major scientific supply houses, probably Fisher. But it is (or was) made by a firm called Boekel Industries, who are (or were) at Philadelphia, PA. Hope this helps, Tobias Baskin
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
Once again, a question on behalf of a colleague. Does anyone know of a stain that's is specific (or at least moderately so) for cellulose? Cellulose microfibrils, to be exact. We have located references for cellulose stains, but the specificity information hasn't been there.
Thanks, as usual, and best wishes.
Randy
Randy Tindall EM Specialist Electron Microscopy Core Facility W122 Veterinary Medicine Bldg. University of Missouri Columbia, MO 65211 (573)882-8304 tindallr-at-missouri.edu http://www.biotech.missouri.edu/emc/
Greetings, The usual stains in the LM are calcofluor white (also known by other names such as citifluor) and congo red. These stains definitely stain other polysaccharides. THey cannot be used to identify cellulose in an unknown sample. What can be done with both stains is to take advantage of dichroism with congo red, or polarized florescence with calcofluor. Becuase the stains bind in an oriented way to the microfibrils, the absorption or emission properties of the dyes become sensitive to the polarization state of the incident light.
Much more specific is to use a probe make from the cellulose binding site of a cellulase. I have seen this done at the EM level with conjugation to gold, but in principle one should be able to prepare say CY-3 conjugated cellulase.
Hope this helps, Tobias
} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
I do not know of a cellulose specific stain, but ..........Graffs "C" stain could work depending on your objective. It is an informal paper industry standard for differentiating chemical treatments. It can be purchased from Integrated Paper Services, Inc. (Madison Wisconsin). They are listed at http://www.mwrn.com. You could also purchase it from Aldrich-Sigma. It is light sensitive and has a limited shelf life. Ask for Mr. Rantanen....he might know of a cellulose specific stain if there is one. -----Original Message----- } From: Tobias Baskin {BaskinT-at-missouri.edu} To: microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com {microscopy-at-Sparc5.Microscopy.Com}
We have a Hitachi S-800 FESEM that is mostly used for biological specimens. However, recently we have had a number of planetary geologists looking at sections of meteorites mounted on epoxy resin. About the time they started using the scope, we started having a number of problems that suggest that we are getting some outgassing and contamination. I'm not surprised; this happened before when looking at fish ear bones in similar resin, despite the resin manufacturer's clain their product was completely stable in the high vacuum and under the beam.
My question is for those of you who routinely look at such samples: What do you do to minimize the potential problems? Hold the samples in a vacuum for some period of time before putting them into the scope? Paint the exposed epoxy areas with carbon paint or similar? For the biological samples we only require that the specimens be held over dessicant overnight, but I suspect that more heroic measures must be taken for these samples.
Happy New Year to all!
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* ****************************************************************************
The problem of dealing with the evolution of contaminating materials from plastics used to mount metallurgical, ceramic and mineralogical specimens is discussed on pp.75 & 76 of my book, 'Vacuum Methods in Electron Microscopy' (see http://www.2spi.com/catalog/books/book48.html for a description).Related topics also discussed are gas evolution from leaks, construction materials, specimen materials, and from cleaning reagents and procedures.
Contamination from mounting polymers can indeed be a very vexing problem, especially for SEMs that have FEGs and must operate with a relatively good vacuum in the specimen chamber.
Basically, what we found, after a number of episodes of very serious contamination, was that it is necessary to be sure that the mounting polymers are mixed carefully and thoroughly, so that the correct relative amounts of polymer and hardener are used, and so that these components are thoroughly intermingled. Then we found it to be necessary to be sure that after they are mounted the specimens are allowed to stand for a long enough period (at least 24 to 48 hours) to ensure that the mounting polymer is completely polymerized (moderate heating can sometimes be used to accelerate the polymerization reaction - even 15 or 20 degree increase can have a significant effect). Finally we ended up requiring that after curing all such samples had to be pumped overnight in a chamber of the type that is used to evacuate photographic film before it is placed into an electron microscope.
Such procedures did not totally eliminate the problen, but reduced it to a level where we could operate for a month or more before contmination built up to the point where cleaning of the chamber and apertures became necessary.
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
(BTW, Nestor, the first post of this got kicked back because I used Y2K in the subject. There are times we may need to discuss it, as described below.)
Although I do not currently use a PDP-11 in my EDS system, I do still have our old PDP-based Kevex system around, and I notice that it does not accept dates beyond 1999. It will roll over into 2000, but if a date has to be entered afresh, it will not be accepted by my version of RT-11.
Checking some old PDP documentation, I see that the PDP is only setup to handle a span of 32 years under the versions of RT-11 and TSX that I have. They allocate five bits to the year part of the date and start with 1972. They must thus end with 2003. They will roll from 2003 back to 1972 if you try to push them. There are more recent versions of RT that will support later dates;however, I don't know how easy they are to come by. I also don't know if there would be any trouble in incorporating them into these EDS systems - hopefully not, but it is hard to say for sure.
I have messed around a little with writing a program that would set the date beyond 1999. Dates, as in directories, will show up in the form of 01-JAN-100, but it would probably be adequate. The program is in crude form now and I would like to refine it a bit more. I could then provide a copy to you or anyone else that needs one.
Of course, if someone else has already tackled this issue, or if no one is still using a PDP-based system (hard to believe), then I can better spend my time on other tasks. Please contact me if you would be interested in such a program.
---------------------- Warren E. Straszheim Materials Analysis and Research Lab Iowa State University 23 Town Engineering Ames IA, 50011-3232
I just received this notification from the Society for Analytical Chemists of Pittsburgh. Perhaps it will provide an important start for a new chem prof who has an interest in expanding the use of microscopy and/or in walking across the new bridge between microscopy and spectroscopy:
"Twenty-first annual Analytical Chemistry Starter Grant Award" The society for Analytical Chemists of Pittsburgh will award one grant of $20,000 to an assistant professor in the field of analytical chemistry. The purpose of this grant is to encourage high-quality, innovative research by a new analytical chemistry professor and to promote the training and development of graduate students in this field. Assistant professors who have accepted a US college or university appoint since December 31, 1996 are eligible. Application forms available from: James Chadwick, Chairman Starter Grant Committee Society for Analytical Chemists of Pittsburgh 200 Penn Center Blvd., Suite 332 Pittsburgh, PA 15235 Ph: 1-800-825-3221, Xt. 208 Fx: 412-825-3224
Deadline for application receipt: February 29, 2000 Award winner announced: May 1, 2000
Best regards and welcome to the new millennium! Barbara Foster Consortium President Microscopy/Microscopy Education ...Educating microscopists for greater productivity.
125 Paridon Street Suite 102 Springfield, MA 01118 PH: (413)746-6931 FX: (413)746-9311 email: mme-at-map.com Visit our web site {http://www.MME-Microscopy.com/education} ****************************************************** MME is America's first national consortium providing customized on-site workshops in all areas of microscopy, sample preparation, and image analysis.
At 08:44 PM 12/30/99 , 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 } -----------------------------------------------------------------------. } } } (BTW, Nestor, the first post of this got kicked back because I used Y2K in the subject. There are times we may need to discuss it, as described below.) } } Although I do not currently use a PDP-11 in my EDS system, I do still have our old PDP-based Kevex system around, and I notice that it does not accept dates beyond 1999. It will roll over into 2000, but if a date has to be entered afresh, it will not be accepted by my version of RT-11. } } Checking some old PDP documentation, I see that the PDP is only setup to handle a span of 32 years under the versions of RT-11 and TSX that I have. They allocate five bits to the year part of the date and start with 1972. They must thus end with 2003. They will roll from 2003 back to 1972 if you try to push them. There are more recent versions of RT that will support later dates;however, I don't know how easy they are to come by. I also don't know if there would be any trouble in incorporating them into these EDS systems - hopefully not, but it is hard to say for sure. } } I have messed around a little with writing a program that would set the date beyond 1999. Dates, as in directories, will show up in the form of 01-JAN-100, but it would probably be adequate. The program is in crude form now and I would like to refine it a bit more. I could then provide a copy to you or anyone else that needs one. } } Of course, if someone else has already tackled this issue, or if no one is still using a PDP-based system (hard to believe), then I can better spend my time on other tasks. Please contact me if you would be interested in such a program. } } } ---------------------- } Warren E. Straszheim
I cannot imagine why anyone would still use a PDP or LSI-11 system. Even the VAX has been discontinued. I can appreciate the cost arguments surrounding changing a system. Is there a way to keep a detector yet add a new pulse processor and a standard PC? Imagine what can be done with more than 60KW of memory?
I still have some LSI-11 boards here but even the dog won't fetch them anymore.
In the 70's and early 80's I worked on RT-11 and TSX. I had the source code for RT-11 on an RK-05 (wow....2.5MB on a 12" diameter platter) and later on an RL-01 and 02. Yes, the date is biased in octal. I changed the bias rather easily and did a rebuild. Same for RSX-11 (not as easy). If you can get the source, try a re-build and edit. The other option is to use the disk editor and locate the bias and change it. If I recall, the date is created by adding the set bias value, which as you point out, is not 4 digits worth.
Hum....so for a 2000 hour year, this works out to be $10 per hour. What a gift. And they probably want $30/hour of work in return.
No matter how you package it, all of this babble does not measure up to today's standards. Unless SEM, etc. is a obscure and diminutive endeavor, I simply do not understand the cost-benefit ratio. Maybe this is not an annual salary. OK. Is this in addition to an existing income stream? Geeze, I hope it is the latter. But it sounds like the position is on-site. So, the candidate gets a full time job at McDonald's as well?
All I can say is that I am glad and relieved that I do not have to work and try to survive in this type of environment. Welcome to H-2 visas.
gary g.
At 08:14 AM 12/31/99 , you wrote: } ------------------------------------------------------------------------ } The Microscopy ListServer -- Sponsor: The Microscopy Society of America
MicroscopyListserver Archive Email Extraction Software Version NJZ07060908