Opening reception, M&M 2005 Golf Tournament, attractions on Oahu military historical sites, downtown historical/cultural, Waikiki area, other museums, north shore/windward side, and east Oahu.

Special Events: Presidential happenings; IMS Henry Clifton Sorby award and lecture; and Art Exhibit.

Educational Venues: Microscopic explorations: A workshop; and It's a Family Affair!

Date Change: Microscopy and Microanalysis 2006: July 30–August 3, 2006, Chicago, Illinois, USA, Sponsor: Microscopy Society of America (MSA), Microbeam Analysis Society (MAS), International Metallographic Society (IMS), URL: www.msa.microscopy.com

Following is a list of microscopy-related meetings and courses. The editors would greatly appreciate input to this list via the electronic submission form found in the MSA World-Wide Web page at http://www.msa.microscopy.com. We will gladly add hypertext links to the notice on the web and insert a listing of the meeting in the next issue of the Journal. Send comments and questions to JoAn Hudson, [email protected] or Nestor Zaluzec, [email protected].

A conventional scanning electron microscope equipped with a LaB6 source has been modified to operate in a scanning transmission mode. Two detection strategies have been considered, one based on the direct collection of transmitted electrons, the other on the collection of secondary electrons resulting from the conversion of the transmitted ones. Two types of specimens have been mainly investigated: semiconductor multilayers and dopant profiles in As-implanted Si. The results show that the contrast obeys the rules of mass–thickness contrast whereas the resolution is always defined by the probe size independently of specimen thickness and beam broadening. The detection strategy may affect the bright field (light regions look brighter) or dark field (heavy regions look brighter) appearance of the image. Using a direct collection of the transmitted electrons, the contrast can be deduced from the angular distribution of transmitted electrons and their collection angles. When collecting the secondary electrons to explain the image contrast, it is also necessary to take into account the secondary yield dependence on the incidence angle of the transmitted electrons.

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

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

Microscopy and Microanalysis 2005 promises to be a dynamic meeting proving that good science can transcend national boundaries. In addition to the usual sponsoring societies, the Microscopy Society of America (MSA) and the Microbeam Analysis Society (MAS), the International Metallographic Society (IMS) will again be a co-sponsoring society of the meeting. We are also fortunate that with the prime location of the meeting in Hawaii, many of the Pacific Rim Microscopy Societies will be joining us for the meeting. These include the Committee of Asia-Pacific Societies for Microscopy (CAPSM), the Australian Microscopy and Microanalysis Society (AMMS, Inc.), the Australian Microbeam Analysis Society (AMAS), and Microscopy New Zealand (MNZ). This truly international representation will provide attendees with the opportunity to observe how microscopy and microanalysis are advancing multiple fields of science in much of the world. The M&M 2005 Executive Program Committee, comprised of co-chairs from each of the participating societies, has put together a comprehensive scientific program that will address a variety of cutting-edge topics in the applications of microscopy in the biological and physical sciences and in the development of new instrumentation and techniques.

Following is a list of microscopy-related meetings and courses. The editors would greatly appreciate input to this list via the electronic submission form found in the MSA World-Wide Web page at http://www.msa.microscopy.com. We will gladly add hypertext links to the notice on the web and insert a listing of the meeting in the next issue of the Journal. Send comments and questions to JoAn Hudson, [email protected] or Nestor Zaluzec, [email protected].

Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) have generated increasing attention as an alternative carrier system, particularly for lipophilic drugs [1-2]. The system consists of lipid nanoparticles, which are solid at room temperature. The solid matrix offers the possibility to improve the stability against coalescence and the reduced mobility of incorporated drug molecules is a pre requisite for controlled drug release [3]. Dexamethasone acetate was used as a model drug because of its wide application in the pharmaceutical field and lipophilic properties.

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

Executive Program Group, committee members and session chairs, and 2005 Local Arrangements Committee.

Protein adsorption plays a major role in a variety of important technological and biological processes [1-2] and the understanding of the fundamental factors that determine protein adsorption are imperative to the development of biocompatible materials and biotechnological devices [3-4] as for example biosensors [5]. The adsorption of proteins on surfaces is a complex process. Due to the large size and different shapes of these adsorbing particles, the interactions between the adsorbed proteins on the surface can be strongly influentiated by the fact that the particles may undergo conformational changes upon adsorption [6-7]. In a previous work the adsorption behaviour of creatine phosphokinase (CPK) onto hydrophilic (silicon wafers and amino-terminated surfaces) and hydrophobic (Polystyrene, PS, coated wafers) substrates was investigated by means of null-ellipsometry and contact angle measurements [8]. This previous ellipsometric study led to a model, where CPK adsorption takes place in four stages: (i) a diffusive one, where all the arriving biomolecules are immediately adsorbed; (ii) the arriving biomolecules might stick on the latter and afterward diffuse to the free sites on the substrate, followed by conformational changes [6-7], (iii) formation of a monolayer and (iv) continuous and irreversible adsorption. A multilayer system might be formed, as well as aggregation processes might play a role at this stage. In this work Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) measurements under water were done in order to confirm this four steps model and to observe changes in the film topography and homogeneity along the adsorption process. The thickness of the adsorbed CPK biofilm obtained by ellipsometry was also compared with that obtained by the wet AFM method.

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

Welcome from the Local Arrangements Committee and the Technologists' Forum.

Actinic Kerarosis (AK) are hyperqueratotic cutaneous lesions, in which an abnormal proliferation of keratinocytes of the epidermis is present [1]. Since 1960s, topical 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), a hydrophilic antimetabolite drug, has been widely used as an effective treatment for many pre-cancerous conditions and certain malignant tumors. However, the severe inflammatory reaction, clinically characterized by erosion and ulceration, which occurs in the skin following topical therapy, is still a major treatment disadvantage. Topical delivery of hydrophilic drugs through intact skin usually creates problems due to the inability of the drugs to penetrate into stratum corneum. Liposomal formulations have demonstrated capacity to increase penetration across and into skin of these drugs when compared to conventional formulations [2]. Besides, when applied on the stripped skin, in absence of barrier for drug permeation, liposomes were found to provide targeted and sustained topical delivery [3]. Thus, we hypothesized that liposomal formulation containing entrapped 5-FU could be an interesting alternative for topical treatment of AK. 5-FU encapsulation efficiency (EE) and retention in liposomes are usually low (EE less than 10%). 5-FU does not associate with the lipid bilayer [4] and EE depends mainly on the internal aqueous volume of vesicles [5]. Therefore, EE has been greater in large unilamellar vesicles (LUV) when compared to multilamellar vesicles (MLV) and the physical state of the bilayer determines the retention capacity of the vesicles [6]. Recently, MLV liposomes containing 5-FU were prepared with high EE, but with an average vesicle diameter of 5 m [7].

Aloha! On behalf of the Microscopy Society of America (MSA), the Microbeam Analysis Society (MAS), the International Metallographic Society (IMS), the Australian Microscopy and Microanalysis Society (AMMS, Inc.), the Australian Microbeam Analysis Society (AMAS), Microscopy New Zealand (MNZ), and the Committee of Asia-Pacific Societies for Microscopy (CAPSM), we welcome members of microscopy and microanalysis societies throughout the world, and particularly those in the Pacific Rim, to our jointly-sponsored international Microscopy and Microanalysis 2005 meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii, scheduled for July 31–August 4, 2005. The Program Committee, chaired by Bob Price, has already arranged an interesting series of symposia and tutorials, including sessions on pathology, microorganisms, macromolecules, nanotechnology, instrumentation, materials characterization, microanalytical techniques, focused ion beam, and advances in microscopy. There will also be a special Presidential Symposium, “The Golden Anniversary of Imaging Atoms,” to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first images of atoms obtained using field-ion microscopy by Müller and Bahadur. Of course, an essential aspect of the technical program is your vital contributed paper! There are great reasons to arrive early for M&M 2005. Besides the outstanding technical programming for M&M 2005, there will be an excellent Pre-Meeting Congress and a series of topical one-day courses providing a perfect way to acclimatize to the local time zone! Our venue in Honolulu will be all the more enjoyable thanks to the dedication and hard work of the M&M 2005 local arrangements committee, co-chaired by Tina Carvalho and Marilyn Dunlap. A fabulous opening reception on the lawn of the Sheraton Waikiki will be held on July 31, 2005 to welcome you. The Hawaii Convention Center will be our venue for technical symposia, short courses, and the commercial exhibition, with plenty of space for meeting new colleagues and renewing acquaintances. Our Sustaining Members and Exhibitors are committed to making the Commercial Exhibition a must-see event, and a great opportunity to examine new instrumentation in a unique setting. Microscopy and Microanalysis 2005 promises to be an exciting international scientific meeting in a most delightful venue. We look forward to seeing you in Honolulu!

Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) is a recent technique that allows evaluation of features in biological systems that could not be previously observed by other instruments. Red Blood Cells (RBC) have been extensively studied because of their relatively simple membrane structure, convenience of preparation and scanning [1]. As an ancillary way of confirming diagnoses, AFM has mostly been used to determine shape and size of RBCs, which are important indicators of some blood diseases or disordered erythropoiesis [2]. In Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) hematopoiesis is inefficacious with consequent anemia that may evolve to acute leukemia. Genomic alterations lead to structural defects in the biomolecular network that forms the erythrocyte membrane. The deformation capability of the cells and their lifetime in circulation are diminished [5]. AFM allows us to observe in a controlled way the response of these membrane molecular networks under physical and chemical stimuli in many different physiological conditions, such as in air and liquids [6]. Using this technique, many new characteristics have been found in erythrocyte membranes that are still of undetermined significance [3,4]. The aim of our work is to compare membrane morphology of two groups of blood donors, that is, healthy subjects and patients with MDS. The images yielded by AFM confirm the structure of the erythrocytes and reveal interesting submicron features on the cell, suggesting a way to distinguish between RBCs from healthy donors and RBCs from patients with MDS.

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

Ultrathin films of polysaccharides provide convenient conditions for the immobilization of biomolecules, promoting the development of biosensors supported on renewable sources [1-3]. Specific interactions such as protein-substrate, antigen-antibody and lectin-carbohydrate can be used with advantage for the creation of biotechnological devices.

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

Message from the President and lists of MSA council members, MSA appointed officers, MSA sustaining members, and MSA awards and award winners.