EM Stuff - the final analysis

1)The microscopes
- pumping the full film cassettes for a few hours before putting them in the microscope helps the vacuum to recover quicker - it is suggested that you begin the day by turning on the pump and turn it off when you're ready to take pictures; this is normally 1-2 hours and will save leaving the pump on overnight.
- put the microscope on cryo and remove the dewar last thing in the day (if nobody else wants to use it).
- make sure there is always one full N2 tank attached to each of the microscopes (order from Airgas) - watch out for the wires at the back of the CM200 when you change the tanks over.
2)Microscope dark room
THE DESICCATORS
- P205: - check P205 every time in BOTH desiccators; take petri dishes to dark room, put under snorkel, allow to hydrate; NB the dish now contains phosphoric acid - do not add water - pour contents into pots in right-hand sink to be removed by waste disposal; wash petri dish with water and leave to dry; return dry petri dishes to microscope dark rooms
- the N2 bursts don't really work in the tanks (but the tanks don't leak) and the parts are expensive to replace. As long as the developer and fixer are changed regularly (400-500 pictures and ~1000 pictures respectively) this isn't really a problem. Use the heavy gloves to agitate the racks and avoid getting photochemicals on everything else.
- there'll be a log sheet in the CM200 room, as in the CM120 room, to check that the films/P205/whatever is changed regularly (NB changing films means getting fresh film from MB209 coldroom and allowing it to warm up on shelf - if there are spare yellow film boxes in the dark room at the beginning of the day, then get fresh film before you start.
- when will the water be back on after flood? - still don't know
- replace em racks in darkroom
3)The dark room
- follow Cara's instructions for using the print processor; - replace developer (dektol) and fixer when you finish it (payment to be organised equally between all labs); - don't allow print processor to run dry; - print processor works best with lid off; - the floor is pretty dirty - should we have a rota for cleaning?;
4)Laser
- it's OK to leave the laser on for a few hours but not longer: check camera is in cupboard at the end of day so it doesn't get stolen and turn off laser (Anchi is looking after the laser). Do not adjust anything on the laser.
5)Scanners
- the PDS is pretty much OK at the moment
- the Zeiss is also pretty much OK (except for Brian) - the main problem seems to be SCSI errors between the scanner and the computer. These might be overcome by replacing SGI with PC but could result in more problems at the outset so perhaps is best to stick with the setup we have for time being.
- Zeiss owes us more light bulbs for the SCAI
- on catalase crystals, the PDS and SCAI give equivalent qualities of maps (Mark Daniels, pers. comm.)
- see Kelly for information/lessons
6)General
- abide by sign up rules:
microscope
- 1 "high priority" and 1 "night time" slot per person per week, booked not more than one week in advance. Slots run from 9am - 5pm and from 5pm - 2am. The 9-5 slot counts as high priority on any day (including the weekend). If the microscope is not in use by 9:30am then it is free for anyone to use. If you don't plan on using the microscope or are unavoidably detained, then please email everybody/ call in to let everybody know. A list of phone numbers will be put down in MB32. scanner
- 1 day at a time per person per week
- use the general email system (em-group@scripps.edu) to let people know about broken things/free microscope slots etc
- should we assign people to be responsible/to blame for specific pieces of equipment?
- is journal club frequency OK - it is once every 2 weeks at the moment but perhaps more people would come if it was once a month?
- it would be useful to have these general business meetings (at lunchtime) more regularly, perhaps once every 3 months. So expect the next one in the new year.