Stroboscopic ultrafast imaging using RF strip-lines in a commercial transmission electron microscope.

The development of ultrafast electron microscopy (UEM), specifically stroboscopic imaging, has brought the study of structural dynamics to a new level by overcoming the spatial limitations of ultrafast spectroscopy and the temporal restrictions of traditional TEM simultaneously. Combining the concepts governing both techniques has enabled direct visualization of dynamics with spatiotemporal resolutions in the picosecond-nanometer regime. Here, we push the limits of imaging using a pulsed electron beam via RF induced transverse deflection based on the newly developed 200 keV frequency-tunable strip-line pulser.

NexusLIMS: A Laboratory Information Management System for Shared-Use Electron Microscopy Facilities.

This work introduces NexusLIMS, an electron microscopy laboratory information management system designed and implemented by the Office of Data and Informatics and the Materials Science and Engineering Division at NIST for a multi-user electron microscopy co-op facility. NexusLIMS comprises network infrastructure, shared information technology resources, a custom software package to harvest and extract experimental information and construct experimental metadata records, and an intuitive web-based user-facing interface for searching, browsing, and examining research data. These metadata records conform to the Nexus Experiment schema, which is introduced in this work.

Endogenous zinc nanoparticles in the rat olfactory epithelium are functionally significant.

The role of zinc in neurobiology is rapidly expanding. Zinc is especially essential in olfactory neurobiology. Naturally occurring zinc nanoparticles were detected in olfactory and nasal respiratory epithelia and cilia in animals.

Direct visualization of electromagnetic wave dynamics by laser-free ultrafast electron microscopy.

Integrating femtosecond lasers with electron microscopies has enabled direct imaging of transient structures and morphologies of materials in real time and space. Here, we report the development of a laser-free ultrafast electron microscopy (UEM) offering the same capability but without requiring femtosecond lasers and intricate instrumental modifications. We create picosecond electron pulses for probing dynamic events by chopping a continuous beam with a radio frequency (RF)-driven pulser with the pulse repetition rate tunable from 100 MHz to 12 GHz.

Laser-free GHz stroboscopic transmission electron microscope: Components, system integration, and practical considerations for pump-probe measurements.

A 300 keV transmission electron microscope was modified to produce broadband pulsed beams that can be, in principle, between 40 MHz and 12 GHz, corresponding to temporal resolution in the nanosecond to picosecond range without an excitation laser. The key enabling technology is a pair of phase-matched modulating and de-modulating traveling wave metallic comb striplines (pulsers). An initial temporal resolution of 30 ps was achieved with a strobe frequency of 6.

Laboratory Information Management Systems for Electron Microscopy: Evaluation of the 4CeeD Data Curation Platform.

An evaluation of the feasibility and the requirements associated with a facility-wide deployment of a laboratory information management system (LIMS) at an electron microscopy facility was conducted. 4CeeD, an open-source LIMS, was selected for the focus study. This report summarizes data infrastructure prerequisites, critical and desirable features, and lessons learned from using and interacting with 4CeeD, and broader LIMS adoption recommendations for this facility.

PEGylation of zinc nanoparticles amplifies their ability to enhance olfactory responses to odorant.

Olfactory responses are intensely enhanced with the addition of endogenous and engineered primarily-elemental small zinc nanoparticles (NPs). With aging, oxidation of these Zn nanoparticles eliminated the observed enhancement. The design of a polyethylene glycol coating to meet storage requirements of engineered zinc nanoparticles is evaluated to achieve maximal olfactory benefit.

After oxidation, zinc nanoparticles lose their ability to enhance responses to odorants.

Electrical responses of olfactory sensory neurons to odorants were examined in the presence of zinc nanoparticles of various sizes and degrees of oxidation. The zinc nanoparticles were prepared by the underwater electrical discharge method and analyzed by atomic force microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Small (1.

GHz laser-free time-resolved transmission electron microscopy: A stroboscopic high-duty-cycle method.

A device and a method for producing ultrashort electron pulses with GHz repetition rates via pulsing an input direct current (dc) electron beam are provided. The device and the method are based on an electromagnetic-mechanical pulser (EMMP) that consists of a series of transverse deflecting cavities and magnetic quadrupoles. The EMMP modulates and chops the incoming dc electron beam and converts it into pico- and sub-pico-second electron pulse sequences (pulse trains) at >1GHz repetition rates, as well as controllably manipulates the resulting pulses.