Acquisition of an Electron Microscope with Digital Camera and Ultramicrotomes for a Central Research Facility

在约翰·博佐拉博士的指导下，南伊利诺伊大学卡本代尔大学(SIUC)的图像中心获得了一笔赠款，用于部分支持断层扫描透射式电子显微镜(TEM)以及用于制备标本以在TEM中观看的超显微切割机。这项技术对于正在进行的对新发现的生物体的研究，评估与在极端环境中生存有关的分子变化，比较化石和现代植物物种之间的关系，检查用于摩擦和磨损表面的部件的基本特性，如飞机刹车或合成髋关节，调查用于电子纳米设备和纳米催化剂的分子部件的组装，以及研究中枢神经系统正常和异常发育的变化，都是必不可少的。这一仪器将增加一项新技术--电子断层扫描，它将允许在分子水平上进行三维成像，并取代目前生物学家、化学家、物理学家和工程师使用的设备。这一仪器的收购将增加参与生物、化学和材料科学等高优先研究领域多学科研究的研究人员和学生的数量。仪器将被安置在图像中心，这是一个中央设施，大量的研究人员和学生将在这里继续研究各种生物系统的细胞和分子结构，以及研究用于制造纳米设备的磨损表面和部件的基本特性。这些合作研究在声誉良好的期刊上发表了大量论文。对研究人员和学生的培训将大大加快，因为仪器是用户友好的，并且可以在大监视器上查看图像，以便展示样品的特征或仪器的能力。通过加快用户获取和处理数据的速度，捕捉三维数字图像的能力将极大地提高所有瞬变电磁用户的生产力。数据共享将几乎是瞬间的，因为数字图像很容易通过互联网访问。图像中心是最近建造的一个地区性设施，服务于SIU以及半径90英里范围内的大学、学院和行业的研究需求。来自周边大学和研究设施有限的社区学院的研究人员定期使用图像中心。教育工作者和中小学生是形象中心的常客。随着互联网接入新的TEMs，联系当地学校和全国各地学校的能力将大大提高。SIUC的研究人员在吸引少数民族和女性参与研究方面有着令人钦佩的记录。所要求的设备是专门为肢体残疾研究人员设计的，符合SIUC的使命，即增加机会，为包括残疾人在内的所有少数群体提供丰富的教育机会。

A grant has been awarded to the IMAGE Center at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC) under the direction of Dr. John Bozzola for partial support of a tomographic transmission electron microscope (TEM) as well as an ultramicrotome for preparing specimens for viewing in the TEM. This technology is essential for ongoing studies of newly discovered organisms, assessment of molecular changes associated with survival in extreme environments, comparisons of relationships among fossil and modern plant species, examination of the fundamental properties of components for use in friction and wear surfaces such as aircraft brakes or synthetic hip joints, investigation of the assembly of molecular components for use in electronic nano devices and nanocatalysts, and studies of changes in normal versus abnormal development of the central nervous system. This instrumentation will add a new technology, electron tomography, which will permit three-dimensional imaging at the molecular level and replace equipment presently used by biologists, chemists, physicists and engineers.The instrument acquisition will increase the numbers of researchers and students involved in multidisciplinary studies in high-priority research areas of biological, chemical and materials sciences. The instrumentation will be housed in the IMAGE Center, a central facility where large numbers of investigators and students in will continue to pursue studies of the cell and molecular structure of a wide variety of biological systems as well as investigations of fundamental properties of wear surfaces and components used to fabricate nanodevices. These collaborative studies have yielded significant numbers of publications in well-regarded journals. Training of researchers and students will be tremendously expedited since the instrumentation is user friendly and images can be viewed on a large monitor in order to demonstrate features of the specimen or capabilities of the instrument. The ability to capture three-dimensional, digital images will greatly enhance the productivity of all TEM users by accelerating the speed with which they can acquire and process data. Sharing of data will be nearly instantaneous since digital images are readily accessible over the Internet.The IMAGE Center is a recently constructed, regional facility that serves the research needs of SIU as well as universities, colleges and industries within a 90-mile radius. Researchers from surrounding universities and community colleges with limited research facilities use the IMAGE Center on a regular basis. Educators and students from primary and secondary schools are frequent visitors to the IMAGE Center. With Internet access to the new TEM, the capability of reaching out to local schools as well as schools around the nation will be greatly increased. Researchers at SIUC have admirable records in attracting ethnic minorities and women to research. The requested equipment is especially designed for use by researchers with physical disabilities, and is consistent with the SIUC mission to increase access and provide enriching educational opportunities for all minorities, including those with disabilities.