Neural circuits in the brain fire on the millisecond time scale. Although two-photon calcium imaging can image this in vivo, its temporal resolution isn’t as high as electrical recordings. Now, researchers from the Brain Research Institute at the University of Zurich have designed a two-photon microscope that makes use of an acousto-optic deflector (AOD) to image at rates up to 500 Hz.
Standard two-photon setups use galvanometric mirrors for scanning and can typically sample at up to 10 to 15 Hz. Using an AOD instead allows movement of the laser focus between any two positions in a field of view in milliseconds and also lets the imaging be concentrated on the structures of interest. However, AODs require correction of spatial and temporal laser beam distortions, which the researchers accomplished by modifying a single-prism compensation method to improve transmission and dispersion compensation over a large field of view.
Using this setup they were able to measure fluorescence from neurons in the mouse neocortex at a 180 to 490 Hz sampling rate, detect single action potential evoked calcium transients with signal-to-noise ratios of 2 to 5, and calculate spike times with near-millisecond precision.
More Microscopy events - April to July
April 30
M3S Hosts M3B: Microscopy and Microanalysis for Materials and Biology
Midwest Microscopy and Microanalysis Society
Madison, Wisconsin
The meeting will be held at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and an excellent program has been arranged, including a morning plenary session followed by parallel afternoon sessions for physical and biological sciences. Details and registration information can be found under "Meetings"at www.midwestmicroscopy.org
Microscopy Society of Northeastern Ohio (MSNO) spring dinner meeting
Independence, Ohio USA
Speakers will include Mike Mallamaci, Director of PolyInsight, LLC and MSA Presidential Scholar, Karen McGuire. http://www.msneo.org
May 18-21
Advanced Light Microscopy Techniques and Their Applications-
10th International ELMI Meeting
Heidelberg, Germany
This workshop will bring together leading scientists and engineers from academia and industry working on the development and application of advanced light microscopy techniques with researchers working in life sciences with a strong interest in applying cutting edge light microscopy to their scientific topics. Specific themes that will be addressed include image analysis, high throughput microscopy, ultra high resolution microscopy (e.g. STED, STORM, PALM), correlative light and electron microscopy, design of fluorescent probes for functional imaging. Two session of the workshop will be on high-end biological applications of light microscopy.
June 23-24
Cellular Imaging and Analysis 2010-
Strategies Methodologies and Technologies in Cancer Biology
Institute of Molecular Medicine
Trinity College, Dublin
Strategies Methodologies and Technologies in Cancer Biology
Institute of Molecular Medicine
Trinity College, Dublin
Through this event the Publishers of European Pharmaceutical Review will offer state of the art lectures from scientific researchers involved in the study of cancer biology using the latest techniques in cellular imaging and analysis.
Hands-on course in Practical Stereology
University of Vermont
University of Vermont
Burlington, VT USA
This 3 day practical course is designed for advanced students, Post-Doctoral fellows, technicians, and Principal Investigators seeking to understand the principles of stereology as applied to microscopy and other imaging modalities. The course will be limited to 20 participants. Faculty include Jens Nyengaard and Johnnie Andersen from the Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark; Matthias Ochs from Hannover Medical School, Germany; and Douglas J. Taatjes from the University of Vermont, USA. http://www.med.uvm.edu/microscopyimaging/
This 3 day practical course is designed for advanced students, Post-Doctoral fellows, technicians, and Principal Investigators seeking to understand the principles of stereology as applied to microscopy and other imaging modalities. The course will be limited to 20 participants. Faculty include Jens Nyengaard and Johnnie Andersen from the Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark; Matthias Ochs from Hannover Medical School, Germany; and Douglas J. Taatjes from the University of Vermont, USA. http://www.med.uvm.edu/microscopyimaging/
Industrial microscope for large samples
Carl Zeiss has released its Axio Imager Vario microscope, which is designed for examining large samples such as solar cells, wafers or flat panel displays. It is ideal for research, development, quality control, material analysis and development.The stable construction of the column and its precise guidance allows easy adjustment of the sample area dimension and sample space. The company offers a variety of stages and sample holders for use with the microscope, including a manual stage with 200 mm travel range for reflected and transmitted light, a manual stage with 300 mm travel range for reflected light, a scanning stage with 200 mm travel range for reflected and transmitted light, and a scanning stage with 300 mm travel range for reflected light and 200 mm travel range for transmitted light. In addition there are several types of insert plates and sample holders available.
The microscope's reflected-light illuminator with apochromatically corrected field lens provides homogeneous illumination of the field of view and reduction of stray light. This results in improved contrast with all contrasting techniques.
More information at http://www.zeiss.de/axioimagervario.
Microscope Automation System
Prior Scientific has introduced the ProScan III Microscope Automation System. The modular system can control up to 16 axes including a motorized stage, focus drive, three filter wheels and three shutters with speed, accuracy and precision. It features a small footprint and a faster stage speed thanks to an improved processor.
Communication to the controller uses a true USB with a direct HID connection available, making the unit both Windows and Mac compatible. The Interactive Control Center (ICC) provides centralized manual control of all equipment. The screen provides positional feedback while the joystick, buttons and digipots control accessories such as a stage, focus drive, filter wheels, and shutters. New features in the center allow the user to measure distances, label filter wheel positions with dye names (e.g., DAPI, FITC, etc.) and take fine control of the stage for intricate movements.
More information at www.prior.com.
Three new upright microscopes for clinical/research laboratories
The microscopes allow users to record and share microscope magnification and setting information automatically for comparing, measuring and scaling images. An exposure button lets researchers capture digital images without taking their hands off the microscope.
The BX43 and BX46 are designed for efficiency and comfort in clinical applications. They feature a bright LED lamp with halogen-like color fidelity that uses less energy and lasts approximately 20,000 hours. A Light Intensity Manager eliminates the need to make manual adjustments when changing magnifications. Users can select either left- or right-handed microscope operation. New to both instruments is an optional tilting, telescoping and lifting observation tube, which allows users to adjust the height, front-to-back position and tilt angle of the eyepieces independently. The BX46 features a stage height just three inches above the tabletop, which reduces fatigue, and a fixed stage that provides stability and accuracy in specimen positioning.
The BX53 research/clinical system offers new fluorescence optics and filters, including improved hard-coating technology and a unique fly’s eye array that delivers higher-quality images by providing more even illumination. It offers a unique motion sensor that detects when the user steps away from the instrument, automatically turning off the lamp after approximately 30 minutes, thus saving energy and providing longer lamp life. Both the BX43 and BX53 offer an optional new condenser that accommodates magnifications from 2x to 100x without requiring a swing-top lens.
April through September Microscopy Events
April 29–May 2
New England Society for Microscopy 27th Annual Spring Symposium
MBL in Woodshole, MA
A CryoSEM Workshop, sponsored by Leica Microsystems and Zeiss SNT will be held on April 29.
August 1-5
Microscopy & Microanalysis 2010
Oregon Convention Center, Portland, Oregon
The meeting will include an exhibit and symposia that cover the latest microscopic and microanalytical advances in fields such as nanotechnology, biological sciences, materials science, clinical diagnoses, and metallurgy. "Back to the Basics" tutorials and workshops will be held during the meeting in addition to the traditional Sunday Short Courses.
http://www.microscopy.org/MandM/2010/index.cfm
August 21-27
20th General Meeting of the International Mineralogical Association
Center for Electron Nanoscopy Technical University of Denmark
Budapest, Hungary
Abstract submission deadline: April 6, 2010
Bonds and Bridges: Mineral Sciences and Their Applications will cover natural and analogous solid matter and its interactions. Techniques are discussed, including a session on advanced transmission electron microscopy methods.
http://www.ima2010.hu/?my_view=nice&p=index
New England Society for Microscopy 27th Annual Spring Symposium
MBL in Woodshole, MA
A CryoSEM Workshop, sponsored by Leica Microsystems and Zeiss SNT will be held on April 29.
http://nesm.cims.harvard.edu/NESM_04.htm
April 28-30
AFM in Biology Class
Asylum Research, Santa Barbara, CA
This 3-day class will cover a variety of AFM, biophysics and life sciences topics and will be tailored to the skill level of the participants. The class includes morning lectures that are complementary to the afternoon hands-on experiments.
http://www.asylumresearch.com/News/BioClassRegistration.pdf
May 1, 8, 15 & 22
Advanced course on polarized light microscopy
New York Microscopical Society, Clifton, NJ
The workshop will consist of four consecutive Saturdays of lectures and hands on labs to cover the theoretical and practical aspects of polarized light microscopy. It will cover the nature of polarized light, the origin and interpretation of interference colors, birefringence and crystal orientation, the Indicatrix compensation and variable compensators, as well as interference figures and their interpretation.
http://www.nyms.org/
May 31-June 4
Workshop on Piezoresponse Force Microscopy (PFM)
Montreal, Canada
Part of the Summer School on Advanced AFM Techniques and International Workshop on Piezoresponse and Conductive AFM. A combination of tutorial lectures by the advanced practitioners of PFM, topical lectures by leading scientists in the field, industrial lectures from PFM manufacturers, and poster sessions for attendees. It also includes extensive lab demos for participants to gain hand-on experience in PFM on various commercial systems, for which the attendees can bring their own samples for testing and examinations.
June 14-18
6th Annual Workshop on Basic Confocal Microscopy
University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC
Instrumentation Resource Facility
The workshop is directed towards beginning and intermediate users of confocal microscopes and involves a series of lectures (specimen preparation, labeling strategies, proper set-up of instrument operating parameters, proper handling of 2D and 3D confocal images in programs such as Adobe Photoshop and AMIRA), hands-on specimen preparation, and time on a number of different point scanning and spinning disk confocal microscopes. Microscope companies will be on-site with instruments and applications experts.
http://dba.med.sc.edu/price/irf/irf.htm
April 28-30
AFM in Biology Class
Asylum Research, Santa Barbara, CA
This 3-day class will cover a variety of AFM, biophysics and life sciences topics and will be tailored to the skill level of the participants. The class includes morning lectures that are complementary to the afternoon hands-on experiments.
http://www.asylumresearch.com/News/BioClassRegistration.pdf
May 1, 8, 15 & 22
Advanced course on polarized light microscopy
New York Microscopical Society, Clifton, NJ
The workshop will consist of four consecutive Saturdays of lectures and hands on labs to cover the theoretical and practical aspects of polarized light microscopy. It will cover the nature of polarized light, the origin and interpretation of interference colors, birefringence and crystal orientation, the Indicatrix compensation and variable compensators, as well as interference figures and their interpretation.
http://www.nyms.org/
May 31-June 4
Workshop on Piezoresponse Force Microscopy (PFM)
Montreal, Canada
Part of the Summer School on Advanced AFM Techniques and International Workshop on Piezoresponse and Conductive AFM. A combination of tutorial lectures by the advanced practitioners of PFM, topical lectures by leading scientists in the field, industrial lectures from PFM manufacturers, and poster sessions for attendees. It also includes extensive lab demos for participants to gain hand-on experience in PFM on various commercial systems, for which the attendees can bring their own samples for testing and examinations.
June 14-18
6th Annual Workshop on Basic Confocal Microscopy
University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC
Instrumentation Resource Facility
The workshop is directed towards beginning and intermediate users of confocal microscopes and involves a series of lectures (specimen preparation, labeling strategies, proper set-up of instrument operating parameters, proper handling of 2D and 3D confocal images in programs such as Adobe Photoshop and AMIRA), hands-on specimen preparation, and time on a number of different point scanning and spinning disk confocal microscopes. Microscope companies will be on-site with instruments and applications experts.
http://dba.med.sc.edu/price/irf/irf.htm
August 1-5
Microscopy & Microanalysis 2010
Oregon Convention Center, Portland, Oregon
The meeting will include an exhibit and symposia that cover the latest microscopic and microanalytical advances in fields such as nanotechnology, biological sciences, materials science, clinical diagnoses, and metallurgy. "Back to the Basics" tutorials and workshops will be held during the meeting in addition to the traditional Sunday Short Courses.
http://www.microscopy.org/MandM/2010/index.cfm
August 21-27
20th General Meeting of the International Mineralogical Association
Center for Electron Nanoscopy Technical University of Denmark
Budapest, Hungary
Abstract submission deadline: April 6, 2010
Bonds and Bridges: Mineral Sciences and Their Applications will cover natural and analogous solid matter and its interactions. Techniques are discussed, including a session on advanced transmission electron microscopy methods.
http://www.ima2010.hu/?my_view=nice&p=index
August 25–27
Workshop on Piezoresponse Force Microscopy
Beijing, China
September 22-24
Workshop on Piezoresponse Force Microscopy
Prague, Czech Republic
In conjunction with the International Symposium on Ferroic Domains and Micro- to Nanoscopic structures. A combination of tutorial lectures by the advanced practitioners of PFM, topical lectures by leading scientists in the field, industrial lectures from PFM manufacturers, and poster sessions for attendees. It also includes extensive lab demos for participants to gain hand-on experience in PFM on various commercial systems, for which the attendees can bring their own samples for testing and examinations. It will also feature a series of invited and contributed talks by the attendees.
http://palata.fzu.cz/isfd10/index.php?item=pfm
Workshop on Piezoresponse Force Microscopy
Beijing, China
A combination of tutorial lectures by the advanced practitioners of PFM, topical lectures by leading scientists in the field, industrial lectures from PFM manufacturers, and poster sessions for attendees. It also includes extensive lab demos for participants to gain hand-on experience in PFM on various commercial systems, for which the attendees can bring their own samples for testing and examinations.
http://www.ustb.edu.cn/materials/files/pfm/International_Workshop.html. September 22-24
Workshop on Piezoresponse Force Microscopy
Prague, Czech Republic
In conjunction with the International Symposium on Ferroic Domains and Micro- to Nanoscopic structures. A combination of tutorial lectures by the advanced practitioners of PFM, topical lectures by leading scientists in the field, industrial lectures from PFM manufacturers, and poster sessions for attendees. It also includes extensive lab demos for participants to gain hand-on experience in PFM on various commercial systems, for which the attendees can bring their own samples for testing and examinations. It will also feature a series of invited and contributed talks by the attendees.
http://palata.fzu.cz/isfd10/index.php?item=pfm
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