On behalf of the Microbeam Analysis Society (MAS), I welcome you to Richmond and Microscopy and Microanalysis 2009! This year we enter our fourteenth year in the agreement to jointly co-sponsor the annual meeting with the Microscopy Society of America (MSA), and our eighth year of meeting with the International Metallographic Society (IMS). Our technical program remains quite strong and diverse, a testament to what cooperation between the societies can accomplish. This year's program continues to offer a good blend of fundamentals, cutting edge technology and real world applications. I want to thank MSA Program Chair Janet Woodward, MSA Vice-Chair John Mansfield, MAS Co-Chair Luke Brewer, and IMS Co-Chair Fred Schmidt for constructing a program that has appeal to the novice as well as the expert. I would also like to recognize Stuart McKernan and Nestor Zaluzec for maintaining and guarding the program database, and Richard Edelmann, John Shields, and Charlie Lyman for all their efforts to publicize and produce our meeting materials.

Human fibroblasts cell culture is an important technique for the study of cell biology under various conditions, as exposure to apoptotic stimuli such as UV radiation or hydrogen peroxide administration or chemotherapeutic agent derivatives from staurosporine (STP). STP, isolated from Streptomyces staurospores, is a general inhibitor of protein kinases, and is commonly used to induce apoptosis in a variety of cell in cultures as tumor cell lines, lymphocytes, neurons and osteoblasts. The mechanism by which STP induce cell death is still unkown. Some studies refer that STP induced cell death courses with cytochrome c release, caspase-dependent pathway activation, especially caspase-3, and is inhibited by Bcl-2 overexpression. However cell death still occurs after caspase inhibition by z-VAD-fmk suggesting that caspase independent pathway is also activated.

Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2009 in Richmond, Virginia, USA, July 26 – July 30, 2009

A numerical and experimental analysis of the optical beam deflection system used to monitor microcantilevers subjected to simultaneous deflection and twisting such as in lateral or frictional force microscopy was performed. This study focused on two optical beam deflection orientations where in the first case the optical beam and the detector are at a right angle to the length of the cantilever and the second case, which is the more standard orientation, the optical beam is parallel to the length of the lever. This study finds that it is possible to model the twist and the deflection separately and treat each motion independently. Simulations have shown that the above-mentioned systems are equivalent in accuracy and sensitivity for monitoring the simultaneous twist and deflection of cantilevers.

On behalf of the International Metallographic Society, welcome to Richmond for Microscopy & Microanalysis 2009, the premier event in our scientific field. IMS is pleased to again join the Microscopy Society of America and the Microbeam Analysis Society to offer a unique combination of Scientific Content, Exhibitions and, the most fun of all, the gathering of our peers involved in the field of studying the very small. This meeting represents the 42nd Annual Event for IMS, and the eighth year that we have joined in the M&M Event.

The earthworm species belonging to the Lumbricidae family (Annelida, Oligochaeta) posses a complex oesophageal organ known as “calciferous gland” which secretes a concentrated suspension of calcium carbonate. Previous studies have demonstrated the non-crystalline structure of this calcareous fluid representing an interesting example of biomineralisation.

Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2009 in Richmond, Virginia, USA, July 26 – July 30, 2009

The oomycete P. cinnamomi has been described as strong contributing factor to the decline of cork oak and holm oak stands occurring in the Iberian Peninsula. There are no eradication methods available against this pathogen. Molecular mechanisms of oomycete — host interaction are not well understood, but it is known that oomycete species can induce biochemical and physiological processes in their host plants through a diverse array of virulence or avirulence molecules, known as effectors. Several Phytophtora effector molecules, the elicitins, are able to induce cellular defence responses in plants. Among these elicitors the 10- KDa (elicitins) are able to enhance plant defences in a systemic acquired resistance manner, against infection of different pathogens.

Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2009 in Richmond, Virginia, USA, July 26 – July 30, 2009