Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2013 in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, August 4 – August 8, 2013.

Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2010 in Portland, Oregon, USA, August 1 – August 5, 2010.

Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2010 in Portland, Oregon, USA, August 1 – August 5, 2010.

Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2005 in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, July 31--August 4, 2005

The larvae of the two distantly related nonsocial bees Ericrocis lata (Apidae) and Hesperapis (Carinapis) rhodocerata (Melittidae), which develop mostly under arid desert areas of North America, and that differ in that they either spin (E. lata) or do not spin (H. rhodocerata) protective cocoons before entering diapause, produce transparent films that cover the larval integument. To understand the nature of these films, their responses to topochemical tests and their characteristics when examined with fluorescence and high-performance polarization microscopy and microspectroscopy were studied. A positive staining by Sudan black B, birefringence of negative sign, and a Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectrum typical of lipids were detected for the integument covering of both species. The FT-IR signature, particularly, suggests a wax chemical composition for these lipid coverings, resembling the waxes that are used as construction materials in the honey cells produced by social bees. Considering the arid environmental conditions under which these larvae develop, we hypothesize that their covering films may have evolved as protection against water depletion. This hypothesis seems especially appropriate for H. rhodocerata larvae, which are capable of undergoing a long diapause period in the absence of a protective cocoon.

Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2008 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA, August 3 – August 7, 2008

Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2012 in Phoenix, Arizona, USA, July 29 – August 2, 2012.

The M&M 2006 meeting will begin on Sunday, July 30, with a pre-meeting congress entitled “Materials Research in an Aberration-Free Environment.” The pre-meeting congress will share Sunday with a number of topical Short Courses addressing image processing and analysis, live cell imaging with fluorescence methods, scanning cathodoluminescence microscopy and spectroscopy, variable pressure and environmental SEM, and electron tomography. Examples of biological topics that will be addressed during the week of the meeting include: Cell Biology; Pathology; Microbiology; Microscopic molecular machines; Immunolabeling; and Photosynthetic organisms. Topical symposia in the physical sciences are: Nanoscience and nanotechnology; Catalysis; Quantitative X-ray microanalysis; Visualizing mechanical behavior; and Magnetic materials. In joint sessions for biological and materials scientists, symposia will address TEM automation, cryo-approaches for TEM, SEM and FIB/SEM, and surface microscopy. We honor the passing of Hans Ris with a special symposium on Cell Biology and Microscopy, and Art Chodos with a special symposium on Quantitative X-ray Microanalysis. Of special interest will be two 50th anniversaries: The first observation of dislocations, and the first experiments in elemental mapping by X-rays. Supplementing the topical sessions will be a number of tutorials and ask-the-experts sessions that will provide the opportunity to learn the basics behind several popular techniques. As always, the commercial exhibits will provide a unique opportunity for hands-on learning with the largest variety of state-of-the-art instrumentation found at any microscopy meeting worldwide.

Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2012 in Phoenix, Arizona, USA, July 29 – August 2, 2012.