Acquisition of a Low-Vacuum Scanning Electron Microscope for Biological, Physical, Chemical, and Engineering Research and Training

摘要本项目涉及低真空、高分辨率扫描电子显微镜（SEM）的获取、安装和使用，该扫描电子显微镜具有低温级和x射线微分析功能。目前，在堪萨斯州立大学的校园里，有30多名科学家和相当数量的学生和博士后使用sem进行生物、物理、化学和工程样本的研究。目前可用的sem都不是最先进的，其中一些已经过时，非常难以使用和维护，并且提供相对较差的图像质量。新的扫描电镜将重振这些研究项目，为他们提供现代成像能力，以及在低真空、低温条件下成像和x射线微分析的能力。该显微镜将用于广泛领域的研究，包括昆虫遗传调控机制；飞蛾和蝴蝶产卵的感觉受体和线索；岩土/ geoenvironmental工程;软体动物的生物矿化;挤压食品分析；水凝胶的合成、性质及应用昆虫血细胞的功能；拟南芥花器官突变体的表型；以及植物的防御反应和调节分泌。

9977715Abstract This project involves the acquisition, installation and use of a low vacuum, high resolution scanning electron microscope (SEM) with cryostage and x-ray microanalysis capabilities. There are currently over 30 scientists and a significant number of students and post-doctoral fellows on the campus of Kansas State University using SEMs for research in biological, physical, chemical and engineering specimens. None of the SEMs currently available is state-of-the-art and several of them are outdated, very difficult to use and maintain and provide relatively poor image quality. The new SEM will revitalize these research programs providing them with modern imaging capabilities and the ability to image in low vacuum, cryo-conditions and with x-ray microanalysis. This microscope will be used for research in a broad range of areas including insect genetic regulatory mechanisms; sensory receptors and cues for oviposition by moths and butterflies; geotechnical/geoenvironmental engineering; molluscan biomineralization; analysis of extruded food products; synthesis, properties and applications of hydrogels; function of insect blood cells; phenotypes of mutant Arabidopsis floral organs; and plant defense response and regulated secretions.