General Update: Network Outage, FV1000 decommissioned, VS120 New features
Hello MNI users,
Here are a few updates.
GENERAL FACILITY ANNOUCEMENTS
Due to the diesel fuel spill, the network switches in the basement of ERB will need to be replaced. This replacement is scheduled for May 23rd, 2020 to May 27th, 2022, at which time, THERE WILL BE NO NETWORK ACCESS. FV3000 and VS120 users may still use the system but will need to use the local windows account to log in. This information is posted on the base or the back of the computer screen.
OLYMPUS FV1000 CONFOCAL
Due to the age of the system, the system is now unrepairable and has been decommissioned after 12 years of service to the BU CRC community. Access to this instrument’s reservation calendar will be restricted and all objectives will be migrated to the Olympus FV3000 confocal.
OLYMPUS FV3000 CONFOCAL
- The 561nm laser on the FV3000 has been replaced. Please remember to report any warning or error indicators to the MNI administration ASAP.
- The LUCPLFLN20X, 20x, 0.45NA objective on the FV3000 is irreparably damaged. Mounting media or some corrosive liquid has permanently etched the glass on the objective. IT IS CRITICAL THAT YOU CHECK ALL OBJECTIVES AFTER USE AND CLEAN ANYTHING THAT YOU MAY HAVE POTENTIALLY SPILLED ONTO THE OBJECTIVES.
- Due to the decommissioning of the FV1000 confocal, we now have additional objectives that can be used on this system. Please contact MNI administration for more information.
OLYMPUS VS120 SLIDE SCANNER
- We are happy to announce that the Olympus VS120 slide scanner can now support two new imaging modalities
- Birefringence microscopy: Birefringence is the optical property of a material having a refractive index that depends on the polarization and propagation direction of light. Birefringence microscopy utilizes biological features which exhibits birefringence to provide label-free contrast in visualize biological features at the micron scale. Myelin is a typical biological feature that exhibits a high degree of birefringence and has been used for histopathological studies of myelin degradation in brain sections of humans and other model organisms. Visit https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7984970/ or contact MNI staff for more information on how this can help you with your research.
- Metallurgical microscopy: While pathology is typically performed using transmitted light because biological specimens are nominally transparent, focused ion beam microscopy and electron microscopy require slides with conductive surfaces which are often opaque. With new hardware, the VS120 has expanded its capabilities to include pathological imaging using metallurgical microscopy, which means the system can now image biological samples mounted on opaque microscope slides. For more information, please contact us and we will be happy to help you.
- MNI now offers slide scanning services so you can focus on your science! Visit https://www.bu.edu/becf/files/2021/10/MNI-Core-Services.pdf or contact the MNI staff for assistance.