The John Deere Chapter of Sigma Xi is pleased to announce its annual induction of new members banquet to be held at 6:30 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2007 in the Faculty and Staff Dining Room of Cosgrove Hall at St. Ambrose University.  Directions are given below.

New members will be inducted in a brief ceremony starting at 6:45 p.m., we will enjoy a delicious meal, and then have the following featured presentation:

Standard Histology.  Follicle within an H&E stained ovary. Blue Histology, University of Western Australia

"Leveraging Telecommunications Technology
for Biomedical Imaging"

Dr. James van Howe
Department of Physics and Astronomy
Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois

Nonlinear microscopy makes use of very short laser pulses, ~100 femtoseconds (10^-15 s), to allow unprecedented imaging of cells and cellular process.  Because high optical intensities are required to excite nonlinearity, a nonlinear imaging signal is generated primarily at the focus of an objective lens (exactly where you want signal and no where else). This significantly reduces background scattering and image distortion. It additionally allows imaging through tissue, thereby giving the biomedical researcher the capability of optical sectioning without having to invasively cut, slice or stain a specimen.

Unfortunately this beautiful technique is encumbered by an impractical, complicated laser system. The typical laser used to generate ultrafast pulses for nonlinear microscopy is approximately six feet long, uses complex free-space optics, and poses difficulties even for the trained physics Ph.D.

One of the aims of my research is to provide simple, compact, turn-key alternatives to these laser systems that a biologist or physician could use in the wetlab or operating room with ease. In this talk, I will share how my research at Cornell University has leveraged the concepts and technology of the seemingly unrelated field of telecommunications to accomplish these goals.

Nonlinear Microscopy (right).  Multiphoton image of a follicle within an unstained, intact mouse ovary. Autofluorescence (green) derives from NAD(P)H and retinol within the tissue. SHG (red) deliniates the bursa. Image was acquired by the Webb Group, School of Applied and Engineering Physics, Cornell University, in collaboration with Alexander Nitikin, Dept. of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University.

6:30 pm, Thursday, November 1, 2007
Faculty and Staff Dining Room, Cosgrove Hall, St. Ambrose University, Davenport, Iowa

The banquet will be a buffet dinner with this menu: Tossed Garden Salad with Ranch, French and Italian Dressings, Pasta Salad, Warm Rolls and Butter, Rutabaga and Turnips Medley, Fresh Green Beans with Garlic, Au Gratin Potatoes, Vegetarian Option, Apple-Maple Marinated Flank Steak with Shitaki Ragout, Cheesecake with Assorted Toppings on the Side.

Banquet reservations must be made no later than Friday, October 26.  Send a check for $20 (made out to "John Deere Chapter of Sigma Xi") to

      Matthew Halfhill
      Biology Department
      St. Ambrose University
      Davenport, Iowa 52803
     
New student members should also make a reservation but they will receive a free meal.  For last minute reservations, send Matthew an e-mail (halfhillmatthewd@sau.edu) or call him at (563) 333-6381.