Tufts Imaging Facility Updates
Hi! This blog is to inform you about the status of the Tufts Imaging Facility, and will be available in addition to the Imaging Facility website http://www.neurosci.tufts.edu/Imaging.html
Please contact me by phone (617-636-3795) or email Alenka.Lovy_Wheeler@tufts.edu if you have any questions.
As of June 25, 2008, the confocal exhibits significant background noise fluctuations and therefore variation in the signal intensities within the detectors. Please save all images that exhibit malfuntions so we can present them to the Leica service technicians.
The z-galvo stage is sometimes UNSTABLE and shakes during image acquisition, if you experience this, please shutdown and restart, or use a different stage. If the z-stage is connected and needs to be removed, exit the software, turn off the "scanner" button on the main power panel, and unplug the stage from the scanhead. Please do not remove the z-stage insert.
Be advised that software glitches will still occur from time to time, and the only way to fix these are to restart the system. When restarting, it is important to turn off all components including the computer, microscope, scanner, and PC button. The argon laser (488nm) and mercury arc lamp can and should be kept "ON" while restarting.
Microscope configuration
The scanhead will be switched between the upright and inverted microscopes on a weekly basis. Sometimes, when the demand for the inverted configuration is very high, if the upright is not requested, the inverted set-up may be prolonged. Please be informed that only the inverted configuration can accept light from the multiphoton laser.
DAPI users: for your convenience, please consider using alternate dyes as nuclear stains.
If you are using two dyes (e.g. Alexa 488 and Alexa 596), you can get ToPro 3 (633nm excitation) to use as a nuclear stain, and image all dyes simultaneously (rather than scanning your DAPI separately).
In addition to signing up to use the instrument on WebEvent http://tufts.hosted.webevent.com/cgi-bin/webevent.cgi?cmd=opencal&cal=cal2
please log your actual usage time in the blue notebook behind the instrument.
Remember to wipe off any excess oil to prevent it from running down the sides of the lens. Use lens paper only, and only wipe the metal piece around the objective lens without touching the center.
Data Storage
Data will be saved on D:\users\(appropriate day of week). As before, your files will be stored for two weeks and then erased - please be sure to back them up. The new computer has both a CD and a DVD writer.