What's On at UWA

The ZEISS Xradia Versa family and ZEISS Xradia Ultra lab platforms offer a multi-lengthscale solution. State of the art X-ray computed tomography (CT) scanning technology combined with highly specialized, proprietary X-ray optics deliver the highest performance lab-based 3D X-ray microscopes, providing a range of imaging modes from ~30 micron resolution all the way down to 50nm spatial resolution. The Xradia Versa uses patented X-ray detectors and a microscope turret of magnifying objective detectors for easy zooming. Scan mode from 30 micron resolution all the way down to 700 nm spatial resolution. The Xradia Ultra nanoscale X-ray microscope is the only commercially available X-ray microscope that utilizes synchrotron quality X-ray optics and provides true spatial resolution down to <50nm

ZEISS Xradia 520 Versa: The flagship product of the award-winning Xradia Versa family provides the most advanced and highest performing non-destructive, 3D imaging and analysis capabilities. Xradia 520 Versa extends the boundaries of non-destructive 3D imaging with advanced contrast tuning capabilities, extensive filtering options, and enhancements delivering greater accuracy and workflow. Xradia 520 Versa frees researchers to push the boundaries of lab-based imaging. With prominent facilities worldwide using non-destructive X-ray microscopy (XRM) to extend the use of valuable samples, the ZEISS Xradia Versa family proves a powerful component of a correlative microscopy solution. Xradia 520 Versa adds a host of innovations to ZEISS Xradia's industry-leading resolution, contrast and powerful advantages for conducting in situ studies under native or controlled conditions. The instrument delivers compositional contrast for better discernment between materials appearing nearly identical, faster time-to-results for time-sensitive applications, and superior ease-of-use for multi-user environments. Xradia Versa solutions are ideal for highly skilled users as well as busy imaging labs with diverse user needs and skillsets. Breakthrough applications for Xradia 520 Versa include compositional contrast in materials science, high aspect ratio tomography for semiconductor failure analysis and 4D studies of material evolution over time. Highlights include advanced contrast tuning capabilities, extensive filtering options, and faster time to results with higher throughput.

Knowledge about the morphology and chemical composition of heterogeneous materials on a sub-micrometer scale is crucial for the development of new material properties for highly specified applications. However, each analytical measuring technique has limitations, which may be overcome by their combination. Confocal microscopy has been used to reconstruct three-dimensional images of micro-objects by using a spatial pinhole to eliminate out-of focus light in specimens thicker than the focal plane. Raman spectroscopy on the other hand is able to determine the chemical compositions of materials. The confocal Raman microscope combines Raman spectroscopy with high resolution confocal microscopy. The discrimination of out of focus information used in confocal microscopy is particularly beneficial for confocal Raman imaging since it reduces the volume from which the Raman spectrum is collected. Due to the confocal principle, depth information from transparent materials can be easily obtained, leading to full three dimensional chemical reconstructions of the material’s composition. The combination of confocal Raman microscopy with SPM and true surface microscopy permits characterization of materials at submicron resolution, as well as on mm-rough surfaces across large areas. Examples from various fields of applications will be presented.

The Centre for Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine is holding its Annual Research Symposium on Tuesday 15 April 2014 at the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research from 8.45 am – 4.30 pm. The theme for the meeting is “At the cutting edge: New Developments in Regenerative Medicine” Professor Ed Stanley from Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne will deliver the keynote presentation entitled: "Pluripotent stem cell models of human development and disease.” For a copy of the programme and to RSVP please contact Barbara Telfer at [email protected] Please RSVP by 5pm on Tuesday the 1 April 2014.

Many animals possess a magnetic sense, which they use as a type of biological GPS to navigate short or long distances. Despite a wealth of behavioural evidence for magnetoreception, the cellular mechanisms that must underlie such a sense await discovery. Dr Jeremy Shaw focuses on the use of cutting-edge optical, electron and X-ray microscopy techniques to explore the magnetoreception question and has contributed to new discoveries in this field with publications in the journals Nature and Current Biology. Dr Shaw’s research is now centred on the use of the honeybee Apis mellifera as a model system to search for this new sensory system and hopefully solve what is one of the great unsolved mysteries in biology.

To understand large-scale phenomena, such as ecosystem health or ore mineral deposition, researchers are increasingly looking at the chemical processes occurring at the nano-scale. Mass spectrometry traditionally requires material to be extracted in bulk from samples, at the expense of information about the complex spatial relationships of the individual components.

Nano-scale Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (NanoSIMS), however, allows chemical imaging and analysis to be performed at the sub-micron scale, in situ. NanoSIMS is a highly versatile technique, able to turn its hand to a broad range of applications. This seminar will highlight several novel applications, including mineral-fluid interactions, nutrient transport in terrestrial and marine ecosystems, and how evidence of early life might be preserved in the rock record.

Biography

Matt Kilburn is a Professor in the Centre for Microscopy, Characterisation and Analysis at UWA, He read Planetary Science at University College London, gained a PhD from the University of Bristol in geochemistry, and then went on to postdoc positions at the Max Planck Society in Germany, and Oxford.

In 2006, Matt moved to UWA to lead the Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS) group and head the Ion Probe Facility, which currently houses a CAMECA NanoSIMS 50 and an IMS 1280 large-radius ion microprobe. In 2014, the Facility will take delivery of a new $4M NanoSIMS 50L. Matt’s research revolves around developing SIMS applications across a wide range of disciplines, from biomedical research to nuclear safeguards.

PS* This seminar is free and open to the public & no RSVP required.

****All Welcome****

Viruses are the most abundant biological agents in the global oceans, with numbers typically averaging ten billion per litre. The ability of viruses to infect all organisms indicates they most likely play a central role in marine ecosystems. Corals form an obligate symbiotic relationship with the dinoflagellate genus Symbiodinium, upon which the coral relies heavily for nutrition and calcification. Disruption of this symbiosis can lead to loss of the symbiotic algae from their host and if the symbiosis cannot re-establish, death of the coral colony. Viruses that target the algal symbiont have been reported and we examined whether Symbiodinium in culture is host to virus(es) that switches to a lytic infection under stress, such as UV exposure or elevated temperature. Analysis using techniques including flow cytometry and TEM, revealed prevalent viral activity. This talk will present recent results and potential for future development of probes for rapid detection of viruses in field samples to help monitor and assess the role of viruses in coral and reef health.

The 8th meeting of WA Flow – the Western Australian Flow Cytometry Interest Group - will be held on Tuesday 1st July in the Centre for Microscopy, Characterisation and Analysis. We have a couple of really interesting talks lined up! Assoc Prof Kathy Heel will show us how she and her team are using their exciting imaging flow cytometer to clinically translate laboratory cancer research. Then Dr Kara Yopak will present a fascinating application of flow and imaging cytometry for measuring the brain cells of fishes and sharks! WA Flow is a diverse, open and inclusive group of scientists and scientists-in-training who share in interest in measuring cells. Scientists from core facilities, academic research groups and clinical diagnostic facilies meet every second month for presentations of applications, protocols, results, information and general discussion of current cytometry. All current CMCA flow cytometry users should attend. ALL welcome - refreshments provided.

This will be the 9th International Conference on the Applications of Stable Isotope Techniques to Ecological Studies (IsoEcol 9). The conference will be held 3-8 August 2014 at The University Club, on the campus of The University of Western Australia, adjacent to the beautiful Swan River.



IsoEcol 9 will bring together an exciting mix of researchers from universities, industry and government with interests in the development and application of stable isotope techniques to the ecological sciences. IsoEcol traditionally includes a mid-conference field trip day and is generally run as a single common session facilitating cross-disciplinary discussion. In addition to great science, Western Australia offers you a memorable array of pre- and post- conference touring options to excite and replenish your ecological spirit in a must see global biodiversity hotspot!

Come and find out about UWA’s undergraduate and postgraduate courses, scholarship opportunities, outstanding career options and explore our community programs and facilities.

This year there will be campus tram tours, hands-on activities, live music and entertainment, as well as plenty of fun activities for the whole family to enjoy.

Join us for Open Day 2014 from 10.00am to 4.00pm on Sunday 10 August.

Surface science underpins all modern technology from Gore-Tex to the iPhone. We need to think about surfaces for catalysis, corrosion, coatings, growth of thin films, chemical/biological functionalization and nanotechnology just to name a few. Over the last few months Curtin has established a surface analysis facility based around a brand new x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) system. Using XPS one can determine the elemental and chemical composition of the first few nanometres of a sample surface. The XPS can also take images for chemical mapping and has a number of other electron, ion and photon-based techniques for surface analysis. The lab was established in partnership with UWA and can be accessed by all UWA researchers.

This talk will introduce the techniques available with a focus on XPS, and give some examples of how they can be used for materials science. The surface analysis facility is now available for users and a brief explanation will be given on how people can get training and access.

CBSM aims to promote biological science in Western Australia by encouraging the interaction of scientists, students and industry representatives from all aspects of life science. The meeting is designed to provide a platform for the exchange of ideas and expertise to keep the life sciences in WA at the cutting edge. This annual meeting includes plenary presentations by national and international scientists and in 2014 will incorporate concurrent specialist symposia each with its own keynote speaker and session of local senior scientists. CBSM is also geared toward honours and postgraduate students and their development among their peers. Several sessions are set aside for student presentations and for many, it represents their first chance to present their work in a conference setting. In this way, CBSM offers a unique “snapshot” of what is happening in local biological science and now attracts more than 300 delegates every year, with more than 40 oral presentations, over 70 scientific posters and 30 trade booths.

Check us out at www.cbsmwa.org.au. Join us at the University Club, The University of Western Australia for CBSM 2014 on the 29th of August 2014.

Tracey Lee-Pullen from SJOG will provide an overview of the process of designing and optomising polychromatic immunophenotyping panels for clinical cancer research, followed by Dr Scott Fisher from UWA/HPI who will show us how targeting regulatory immune cell subsets can improve cancer therapy.

Established by WA core facility, research and clinical cytometrists in 2012, WA Flow is a vibrant, free, open and inclusive group of scientists in WA with an interest in cytometry. It’s a great opportunity to geek out over the latest tech, learn about new applications and share tips and data within your colleagues. Whether you are new to cytometry, or a veteran of the field, please do come along, and bring a friend along with you. All CMCA flow cytometry users should attend.

This seminar will outline some of our recent research in Selective Laser Melting at The University of Western Australia in two main areas: Titanium - this work includes the development, production and testing of high strength to weight ratio structures: Aluminium - here recent results on the effect of processing atmosphere on the SLM of Al-12Si, heat treatment and properties of Al-Si based alloys, the formation of cracking and the production of aluminium matrix composites will be discussed. The rapid cooling of the SLM process results in non-equilibrium microstructures, which can be easily manipulated into novel structures with high ductility via simple heat treatment.

Living cells possess an exquisite ability to sense and respond to physical information in their microenvironment. This ability plays a key role in many fundamentally important physiological and pathological processes. I will describe our work utilizing a variety of biophysical tools to investigate the dynamic responses of cells to mechanical stimuli, and how physical cues can be employed to re-purpose and manipulate biological processes. Moreover, examining the responses of cells to highly artificial physical cues, that are unlikely to exist in vivo, can also reveal novel cellular behaviours. These responses to physical cues are not simply a side-product of biology but are key components of biological and physical feedback loops that govern the life of a cell.

Andrew E. Pelling is an Associate Professor in the Departments of Physics and Biology at the University of Ottawa. He was named a Canada Research Chair in 2008, received an NSERC Discovery Accelerator Supplement Award in 2009 and an Ontario Early Researcher in 2010. In 2013, Andrew was also elected a member of the Global Young Academy. Andrew completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Toronto (1997-2001), his PhD under the supervision of James K. Gimzewski at the University of California, Los Angeles (2001-2005) and his post-doctoral research as a Senior Research Fellow at the London Centre for Nanotechnology, University College London with Michael A. Horton (2005-2008).

Living cells possess an exquisite ability to sense and respond to physical information in their microenvironment. This ability plays a key role in many fundamentally important physiological and pathological processes. I will describe our work utilizing a variety of strategies to use physical cues to guide and direct cell biology. These include exposing to mechanical stimuli, altering the geometric shape of the microenvironment and even growing mammalian cells inside of fruits and vegetables. Our work has demonstrated how physical cues can be employed to re-purpose and manipulate numerous biological processes. Examining the responses of cells to highly artificial physical cues that are unlikely to exist in vivo, reveal novel cellular behaviours. These responses to physical cues are not simply a side- product of biology but are key components of evolutionary biological and physical feedback loops that govern the life of a cell.

Critical aspects of structure and function of the cell nucleus are often inaccessible to wide field and confocal imaging. Higher order chromatin structures, subnuclear bodies, repair foci etc., cannot be imaged in detail without applying 'super-resolution' techniques. A new approach to imaging chromatin in situ has become possible by exploiting photoconversion of UV-excited DNA dyes Hoechst 33258, DAPI, and Vybrant® DyeCycle™ Violet. Single Molecule Localization Microscopy (SMLM) is based on using two wavelengths of light - one for regeneration of the pool of the blinking form of the dye, and the other for excitation, or just one high intensity excitation light to transfer the dye between the emitting and non-emitting states. SMLM enables optical isolation and localization of high numbers of DNA-bound molecules, usually in excess of 106 in one cell nucleus. This approach yields images of DNA density with the resolution several times better than conventional optical microscopy, reaching 40 - 50 nm in the specimen plane, and offers several important advantages over the previously described imaging methods, including an ability to record images using a single wavelength excitation of a relatively low intensity, and a higher density of single molecule signals than in previous studies. High resolution images (SMLM, dSTORM, SIM) of chromatin based on phototonversion of UV-excited DNA dyes were combined with images representing scheduled and unscheduled DNA replication (EdU, click reaction), histone H2AX phosphorylation (marking DNA double strand breaks), and XRCC1 repair factor (single strand breaks) in order to study the mechanisms of induction of DNA damage and repair.

Considerable effort has been focused on the development of high entropy alloys (HEA) or alternatively, compositionally complex alloys (CCA). These alloys are usually made up of four or more elements, all with similar, or at least significant, elemental compositions. Some of these CCAs exhibit microstructures that are single phase, but most have two or more constituent phases. In the case of these latter alloys, often the microstructure consists of a disordered bcc phase and an ordered B2 compound (i.e., the ordered bcc CsCl crystal structure). The first part of the talk describes the application of STEM/XEDS tomography to 3D characterization of the microstructure. To develop an understanding of the behavior of these alloys, it is necessary to understand the ordering scheme of the B2 phase, e.g., how are the alloying elements distributed over the two sub-lattices, and to what degree is the phase ordered (i.e., what is the value of its long-range ordering parameter). The second part of the talk describes the application of x-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy in an aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscope to determine the actual compositions of the individual sub-lattices. This task requires measurements of elemental compositions on the atomic scale, i.e., atomically resolved XEDS.

Prof Rama Bansil is visiting UWA and presenting a seminar titled 'How Helicobacter pylori moves in stomach mucus: Motility of H. pylori in mucin gels'. All are welcome to attend her morning seminar on Friday 30th January. Snacks and refreshments will be served from 9.45am.

A recent meta-study concluded that the use of computer-aided detection/diagnosis (CAD) "in breast MRI has little influence on the sensitivity and specificity of experienced radiologists and therefore their interpretation remains essential". In this talk I describe ongoing collaborative research to improve the sensitivity and specificity of breast MRI, and concomitantly its clinical utility, by combining multi-modal MRI with novel multi-parametric and multi-dimensional image analysis techniques. In particular we are developing methods to quantitatively characterise tissue morphology, microvasculature, and microstructure from spatially aligned multi-modal MR images including anatomical T1- and T2-weighted images, as well as images acquired using dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI, and diffusion-weighted imaging. We are also developing image analysis methods to automatically extract these features, segment (delineate) suspicious tissue, and classify the tissue as benign or malignant. Results to date include a novel registration evaluation framework based on a biomechanical breast model that permits realistic simulation of tissue deformation, new spatiotemporal features for improved discrimination of benign and malignant lesions in DCE-MRI, and most recently the first fully automatic method for breast lesion detection and delineation.

Professor Giles Plant obtained his PhD degree from The University of Western Australia and is now Basic Science Director of the Stanford Partnership for Spinal Cord Injury and Repair in the Department of Neurosurgery at Stanford University. The aim of Giles' research is to elucidate new cellular and molecular repair strategies to improve functional and anatomical outcomes following spinal cord injury (SCI). Current research areas include examining the efficacy of human neural stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cell (iPS) lines to improve functional outcomes in cervical SCI and assessing the capacity of adult and embryonic olfactory glia to induce axonal regeneration and myelination in the injured and demyelinated CNS. This research utilises spinal cord contusion injury modeling and behavioral assessments using forelimb and hindlimb tests as well as a variety of molecular and cellular techniques to assess the results of stem and glial cell spinal transplantation.