CCD Digital Imaging System for Core EM Facility

描述（由申请人提供）：本申请是为马萨诸塞州大学医学院（UMMS）核心电子显微镜设施的11名主要和5名次要TEM用户提供CCD数字成像能力的资金请求。超微结构项目的范围从组织到分子水平，包括低剂量，断层扫描，冷冻电镜，连续切片，免疫标记和广泛的生物医学重要系统的形态学研究。 直接数字图像采集的主要好处是它以即时图像和成像参数和样本特性的即时知识的形式提供即时反馈。这些优势对cryo-EM和断层扫描等专业应用至关重要，可以节省数百小时的工作。在某些情况下，首次使用CCD技术进行研究成为可能。CCD成像的优势也是提高常规应用生产力的关键。数字采集不仅增加了便利性并节省了时间（通过消除分析和出版图像所需的胶片处理，打印和扫描），而且还节省了大量成本。在过去的一年里，UMMS的研究人员花费了大约40，000美元的用品和人员费用，用于开发，打印和扫描大约10，000张显微照片，所有照片都在胶片上。数字成像几乎可以消除所有这些成本。最后，数字成像是重要的教学，促进指导新手显微镜和提供刺激的图像为来访的医学，研究生和高中学生。 为了满足专业和常规TEM用户的需求，我们正在申请资金，以获得两台显微镜的数字成像能力。这些显微镜执行互补的任务：一个专门用于专业应用，包括低剂量显微镜，冷冻EM和断层扫描，而另一个用于常规显微镜。这种分工避免了对专业显微镜功能的任何损害，其中最佳的光学，真空和机械性能至关重要。这两台显微镜都配备了慢扫描CCD摄像机，这将使这项技术的优势扩大到所有需要它的研究人员。第三台TEM将继续为喜欢这种介质的研究人员使用胶片。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This application is a request for funds to provide CCD digital imaging capability for 11 major and 5 minor users of TEMs in the Core Electron Microscopy Facility of the University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS). Ultrastructural projects range from the tissue to the molecular level, and include low dose, tomographic, cryo-EM, serial section, immunolabeling, and morphological studies of a wide range of biomedically important systems. The major benefit of direct digital image acquisition is the instantaneous feedback that it provides, in the form of immediate images and instant knowledge of imaging parameters and specimen characteristics. These benefits make a critical difference to specialist applications, such as cryo-EM and tomography, where they can save hundreds of hours of work. In some cases studies become possible for the first time using CCD technology. The benefits of CCD imaging are also key to enhancing productivity in more routine applications. Digital acquisition not only adds convenience and saves time (by eliminating the film processing, printing, and scanning necessary for analysis and publication of images), but also results in major cost savings. In the past year, UMMS researchers spent approximately $40,000 in supplies and personnel costs for developing, printing and scanning the approximately 10,000 micrographs that were taken, all on film. Digital imaging would have eliminated almost all of these costs. Finally, digital imaging is important in teaching, facilitating instruction of novice microscopists and providing stimulating images for visiting medical, graduate and high school students. To provide for the needs of both specialist and routine TEM users alike, we are requesting funds to acquire digital imaging capability for two microscopes. These microscopes perform complementary tasks: one is reserved specifically for specialist applications, including low dose microscopy, cryo-EM and tomography, while the other is used for routine microscopy. This division of labor avoids any compromise to the functioning of the specialist microscope, where optimal optical, vacuum and mechanical performance are crucial. Equipping both microscopes with slow scan CCD cameras will extend the advantages of this technology to all researchers who require it. A third TEM will continue to operate with film for researchers who prefer this medium.