MRI: Acquisition of a Scanning Electron Microscope for Multi-Disciplinary Research and Training at Northern Arizona University

这项主要研究仪器（MRI）计划的资金将用于为北亚利桑那大学（NAU）的成像和组织学核心设施（IHCF）购买一台新的场发射扫描电子显微镜（FE-SEM）。该仪器将包括一个热场发射（FE）电子源，二次电子成像（SEI），背散射电子成像（BSE），电子背散射衍射（EBSD），波长分散探测器（WDS），扫描透射电子显微镜（STEM），可变真空（VP），一个交互式软件系统，用于实时输出信息到其他地点（包括校园和其他机构的合作者），图像存档与数据库管理，以及协作软件。该FE-SEM将支持NAU多个部门的研究和培训，包括化学与生物化学、林业、机械工程、生物科学、环境科学和物理与天文学。该仪器将支持的正在进行的研究包括：(1)氧化铀颗粒的性质及其在活细胞中的吸收和定位；(2)严重干旱时期小松（Pinus edulis）的变化；(3)受环境污染的饮用水对小鼠组织中铀的积累；(4)巨titin蛋白在小鼠活动肌中的作用研究；(5)植物根系、真菌和细菌之间的共生相互作用；(6)现有的和新型的生物材料用于人弹性蛋白血管移植的表征；(7)用于储能的纳米颗粒薄膜的表征。收购新的FE-SEM将加强NAU在基础研究，培训代表性不足的学生，商业发展以及与亚利桑那州和其他地区的学术机构的合作方面的持续努力。该仪器将提高NAU在生命科学/生物科学、可再生能源、景观保护/地理空间技术和气候-生态系统相互作用这四个研究领域的研究质量，这些领域是我们目前加强NAU研究和奖学金战略计划所针对的。它将大大加强我们在STEM领域的本科生和研究生的实践培训，包括女性、美洲原住民和西班牙裔学生。它将加强IHCF目前开展或促进的许多社区外展项目，并将促进NAU与地区企业之间的联系。

Funds from this Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program grant will support the purchase of a new field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) for the Imaging and Histology Core Facility (IHCF) at Northern Arizona University (NAU). This instrument will include a thermal field emission (FE) electron source, secondary electron imaging (SEI), backscatter electron imaging (BSE), electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD), wavelength disperse detector (WDS), scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), variable vacuum (VP), an interactive software system for live export of information to other locations (including across campus and to collaborators at other institutions), image archiving with database management, and collaborative software. This FE-SEM will support research and training across a number of departments at NAU including Chemistry & Biochemistry, Forestry, Mechanical Engineering, Biological Sciences, Environmental Sciences, and Physics & Astronomy. Ongoing research that will be supported by this instrument includes (1) properties of uranium oxide particulates and their uptake and localization in living cells; (2) changes occurring in pinyon pine (Pinus edulis) during severe drought; (3) accumulation of uranium is tissues of mice exposed to environmentally contaminated drinking water; (4) investigation of the role of giant titin protein in active muscle of mice; (5) symbiotic interactions among plant roots, fungi, and bacteria; (6) characterization of existing and novel biomaterials used for vascular grafts with human elastin; and (7) characterization of nanoparticle thin films used for energy storage. Acquisition of a new FE-SEM will strengthen NAU's ongoing efforts in basic research, training of underrepresented students, business development, and collaborative work with academic institutions in Arizona and beyond. This instrument will improve the quality of research at NAU in the four areas of research targeted by our current Strategic Plan for Enhancing Research and Scholarship at NAU, namely life sciences/biosciences, renewable energy, landscape conservation/geospatial technologies, and climate-ecosystem interactions. It will significantly enhance the hands-on training of our undergraduate and graduate students in STEM fields, including women, Native American and Hispanic students. It will strengthen the many community outreach programs currently conducted or facilitated by the IHCF, and will foster connections between NAU and regional businesses.