Bruker Corporation has signed an agreement to acquire the Scanning Probe Microscopy (SPM) and Optical Industrial Metrology (OIM) instruments business from Veeco Instruments, Inc. for $229 million in cash. The transaction has been approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies and is expected to close during the fourth quarter of 2010, pending regulatory review and subject to customary closing conditions.

We have previously investigated the topographic and quantitative changes in the distribution of trace metals in spinal cords from ALS and control patients. X-ray fluorescence microscopy was used to investigate their metallic nature and distribution in single nerve cells. A deeper understanding of the neurodegenerative processes in ALS requires focus on the biochemical changes occurring in nervous tissue of such a disorder. For this purpose, we have undertaken an infrared microspectroscopy study. While metals are suggested to play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of ALS, they typically do not occur in tissues as free ions. This results in the presence of the complex mechanisms of metal ions buffering that protect cells against their toxic effects. Metal homeostasis is regulated by several proteins. Such proteins containing metal cofactor are called metalloproteins.

Microscopy with atomic resolution could be useful in the determining the structure of some unknown organic compounds, such as medicinally important natural products, according to a study online in Nature Chemistry. This method could avoid the lengthy and expensive process of trying to synthesise the compound and then compare its structure with that of the natural one, which is necessary in some cases.

WITec has introduced a line extension of the alpha300 microscope series. Building on the system's inherent modularity, several new microscope versions have been added in order to meet all diverse and multi-faceted customer requirements.

Scientists from Ruhr-Universität Bochum have used Raman micro-spectroscopy to distinguish, within seconds, healthy fertile and infertile sperm cells. The method has the potential for a novel fertility technology and a test scheme which does not only rely on morphological characteristics, but also utilises chemical signatures.

The location of metal complexes within living cancer cells has been accurately determined using Raman microscopy. The researchers have thus gained new insights into the mechanism of action of metal-containing drugs, to which they ascribe great potential capacities, e.g. in the treatment of cancer. These findings are of fundamental significance and are thus featured as a VIP (very important paper) in the current edition of Angewandte Chemie.

Espinosa Alonso, a chemist from Utrecht University, The Netherlands, used four different spectroscopic techniques to study catalysts in the course of their preparation: UV-vis-NIR-microspectroscopy, IR microspectroscopy, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and tomographic energy dispersive diffraction imaging (TEDDI). Whilst MRI and TEDDI are already frequently used in other research fields, but they are not commonly used to study the preparation of catalysts.

Renishaw has enhanced the capabilities of its inVia microscope which now offers remote system diagnosis and control of key system functions such as laser wavelength change, rapid switching between viewing modes, automated system optimisation and validation, the ability to queue multiple measurements and measurement templates that enable non-expert users to apply identical experimental conditions continuously. The microscopes now offer complete automation, remote control, large area imaging and faster operation.

Renishaw Plc Issue: 21/05 RSN: 118 More information via

The National Physical Laboratory (NPL), the UK's National Measurement Institute, is developing equipment and techniques to support the growing use of organic electronics. The market for organic, or plastic, electronics is expected to be worth £15 billion by 2015 (IDTechEx), and NPL is seeking to ensure the infrastructure is in place to allow businesses to achieve commercial success in this emerging area.

WITec has established the WITec Academy as a new forum for advanced instrument and software operation training. It offers a variety of basic and expert level courses covering the entire range of WITec products and potential applications. www.witec.de/en/witecacademy

Jasco Europe have concluded the celebrations of Jasco’s 50th anniversary by moving into new facilities in Cremella, Italy. The 1400 m2 new office includes sales and marketing operations, a service and customer support department, logistics, IT and a manufacturing area. www.jasco-europe.com

The BAC151 video microscope sampling system has been developed by B&Wtek. The video microscope adapter enables portable Raman microscopy, bringing analysis out of the lab to wherever it is needed. It can be used with the company's Precision Raman Probe holder and is compatible with their complete line of laboratory and industrial Raman probes and when coupled with the company's portable Raman spectrometers, it provides the advantages of Raman microscopy at a low cost. The system includes an integrated camera and LED illuminator for precision spot sampling, the platform provides both coarse and fine adjustments in XYZ directions, adding an interchangeable coaxial and off-axis white LED illuminator which enables convenient alignment and viewing of the measurement field. A USB cable is included.Pacer International LtdIssue: 20/06 RSN:

Jasco has announced two new FT-IR microscope accessories, the IRT-5000 and IRT-7000 which can be interfaced easily with their FT/IR-4000 or FT/IR-6000 spectrometers. The IRT-5000 features dual detector capability and multiple objectives with a high signal- to-noise ratio and the IRT-7000 is a multi-channel IR microscope for IR imaging. As well as being easy to use, both microscopes feature a “smart mapping”: function as standard which enables mapping analyses of a limited area without the use of an automated sample stage, while the “smart monitoring” function allows simultaneous viewing of the full sampleJasco Europe srlIssue: 20/04 RSN:

Varian has announced its new 600-IR series of FT-IR spectrometers, microscopes and imaging solutions for both routine analyses and advanced research applications. The design of the instruments focuses on performance and optical throughput, enabling users to run samples faster whilst maintaining accuracy and reproducibility. The spectrometers can be upgraded from a single range, single detector configuration to an instrument that can cover the range from 200 nm to 0.1 cm; the microscopes also provide the capability of full upgradeability as well as diffraction limited performance.Varian Inc.Issue: 20/04 RSN:

PerkinElmer have introduced their ExoAnalytix initiative. This is initially aimed at food and consumer product safety, water quality and sustainable energy development. The initiative will combine application-focussed solutions with information from leading scientists, industry experts and government. www.perkinelmer.com/ecoanalytix

Newport Corporation's Spectra-Physics Laser Division has unveiled a new single frequency laser at 505 nm with available output power at 10 or 20 mW and also announced increased output power for the 100 mW version of its 405 laser, 75 and 100 mW versions of the 561 product and a 60 mW version of the 635 device. The Excelsior platform has been designed for use in applications such as flow cytometry, DNA sequencing micro-array readers, confocal microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, laser-induced fluorescence, interferometry, semiconductor inspection and metrology.Newport Spectra-PhysicsIssue: 20/02 RSN:

Jasco is celebrating its 50th anniversary in the analytical instrument market. It was founded in 1958 by a group of researchers at the Institute of Optics of Tsukuba University. It has now grown to a global corporation located in over 57 countries. www.jascoeurope.com

Witec has introduced the alpha500 and alpha700 microscopy series which combine confocal Raman microscopy for 3-D chemical imaging with atomic force microscopy for high resolution structural imaging in an automated system. A motorised sample stage with a travel range of 150 × 100 mm for the alpha500 and 350 × 300 mm for the alpha700 allow multi-area/multi point measurements or overview scans on an arbitrary, user-defined number of measurement points. Specific automated functions such as an integrated auto-focus and an automatic AFM-tip approach enable standardised routine measurement procedures or manually defined sequences to be performed without any on-going process control by an operator.WITecIssue: 20/01 RSN:

The DCS-120 from Becker & Hickl is a complete confocal laser scanning fluor­escence lifetime imaging system which does not require laser scanning microscopes to facilitate FLIM studies. Instead, only a conventional inverted microscope is required which is converted into a high performance fluorescence lifetime imaging system by the DCS-120 confocal scanner. Applications include biological fluorescence, biomedical imaging, confocal microscopy, FLIM, FRET, anisotropy decay imaging and multi-spectral FLIM. The DCS-120 is distributed in the UK by Photonic Solutions.Photonic Solutions PlcIssue: 19/05 RSN: