NetNotes
Edited by Thomas E. Phillips University of Missouri
phillipst@missouri.edu
Selected postings from the Microscopy Listserver from October 27, 2016 to December 31, 2016. Complete listings and subscription information can be obtained at
http://www.microscopy.com . Postings may have been edited to conserve space or for clarity.
Specimen Preparation: embedding blood clots
Has anyone embedded a vein or artery with a blood clot attached successfully? The blood clot seems to disappear. I am guessing the embedding is dissolving it. Susan Van Horn
susan.vanhorn@stonybrook. edu T u Oct 27
Generally, I guess the treatment may have been too harsh with regard to perhaps the dissection procedure. How was the vessel razor-blade trimmed prior to fi xation? “Full” fi xation and perhaps conservative / mild dehydration? I would not believe ‘your’ blood clot would simply disappear. Long ago I did TEM and SEM studies / specimen preparations on (small and big) vessels (Arteria thoracica interna) which had to be evaluated for blood clot / thrombus formation after use of an ultrasonic aspirator/dissector device. (cf: https://
www.researchgate.net/publication/200468940 Eff ects of ultrasound treatment of the arteria thoracica (
A.mammaria) interna (ATI) during preparation for coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG): a correlative light microscopic, scanning and transmission electron microscopic study.) I don’t know if you are processing in a tissue processor where you will have problems fi nding the smallest pieces of tissue or substrate. If you process manually in small snap-cap vials made from glass, you perhaps will see such disrupted tissue material more easily. Blood clots aren’t easily/rapidly fi xed by the usual procedure, so you might prolong your primary fixation (use buffered formaldehyde- glutaraldehyde fi xative) at least twice as long as usual or longer (use of a specimen rotator recommended!). You can also use (low molecular weight; e.g. 4%, 8%) tannic acid (sometimes called gallic acid) in combination either with the primary fixative. You could also use acrolein if that is available for you (Caution: Hazard) in combination with the primary fi xative. Cf. also perhaps
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih. gov/pubmed/7013112 (just as only one special literature reference) Wolfgang Muss
wij.muss@
aon.at Fri Oct 28
Specimen Preparation: gas-fi lled storage container
I’m looking for a smallish storage container for SEM tubes and mounted specimens that I can fill/purge with gas. This is opposite of a vacuum container. Something less than a cubic foot would be a good size. Any ideas or sources? Gary Gaugler
gary@microtechnics.com Sat Dec 3
A small gas-purged box is very easy and quick to make. Pick an “airtight” or “weather resistant” storage box of your liking in your local hardware store or online. Make sure the box has a breather valve to discharge excess pressure. Pick a fi tting or quick-disconnect and some 1/4” or 6mm tubing at the same place. Drill a hole in the box, attach the tube through the fi tting or quick-disconnect, and connect to the purge gas supply. Most airtight boxes would come with a breather valve already installed, but, if not then you can get a valve on E-Bay or order here:
http://www.agmcontainer.com/breather_valves Valery Ray
vray@partbeamsystech.com Sat Dec 3
64
I repurposed an old glass desiccator that had a pump-out port in the lid as a low-O 2 storage unit. Basically, I stuck a Styrofoam coff ee cup inside and fi lled it with LN 2 and leſt the pumping port open to vent the boil-off . I fi gure that the N 2 is generally going to be colder than the residual atmosphere and force the warmer air out the port. When the LN 2 has evaporated, I just close the valve. We had some people put SEM mounts that were in the air-tight storage tubes in the desiccator. I’m not sure how much good that did! Henk Colijn
colijn.1@osu.edu Sat Dec 3
supplier.
Take a look at a gas-ported desiccator. I have no affi liation with any
https://www.belart.com/suggested-search/product/desiccators/
gas-ported.html Richard Ross
richard.ross@
allisontransmission.com Mon Dec 5
Lab Management: electronic lab notebooks
Anyone using electronic lab notebooks? Any comments/remarks on
pros/cons? Jon Krupp
jkrupp@deltacollege.edu Mon Nov 28 Aſt er 40+ years of paper notebooks I converted to a full electronic notebook about 4 years ago. I use an iPad Pro with a program called NotesPlus (Apple Store). You can type via keyboard, draw or write using a stylus, as well as capture photos and store them all in the notebook. It can import PDFs, and for me, importantly, it can export the notebook or pages to a PDF fi le on a server where you then archive and/or share with colleagues. Fits my operation mode beautifully as I can store the experimental note with the data all in an archive. T e program is extremely cheap < $20, but it only runs on an iPad. Disclaimer: I have no commercial connections with either companies, but wish I did. Nestor Zaluzec
anl.nestor.zaluzec@
gmail.com Tue Nov 29
LM: resolution calculator for Android devices
I’d like to draw your attention to a new tool for microscopists I’ve developed for Android devices, “Resolution”. Aſt er entering magnifi - cation, immersion medium, lambda, and NA the App will calculate resolution (actual and theoretical), axial resolution and fl uorescence brightness of your objective. Each objective entered can be easily saved and restored. You can select your camera, binning and additional magnifi cation to determine if you’re sampling at Nyquist frequency. All information generated can be easily shared via e-mail or MMS with the share button. T e App is free to download and compatible with phones or tablets running Android 4.0 or above. I hope you fi nd it useful! Please use the link below on your Android device to install: https://play.
google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.Barlowax.resolutionfragments Andrew L. Barlow
andybarlow100@hotmail.com T u Dec 8
Instrumentation: Pirani gauge
On our Edwards Scancoat Six (now about 16 years old), the Pirani gauge is faulty and needs to be replaced. Or does anybody know how to
doi: 10.1017/S1551929516001243
www.microscopy-today.com • 2017 March
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