The rule for using OIF Microscopes
General
Please contact us in advance for the first time using the equipment of OIF.
If you use the equipment of OIF improperly or do not follow the following rule1~8, we will prohibit your use of them.
1. Reservation
(1) Online reservation
Please reserve the equipment you want to use through our online reservation system.
(2) Reservation limits
We have the following reservation limits. If you want to reserve more than them, please contact us.
The same equipment for up to 3 times a week
The same equipment for up to 8 hours a day
20 days ahead
(3) Long-term time-lapse
Please schedule a long-term time-lapse experiment between 17:00 to 9:00 the next morning or on the weekend as far as possible, especially for crowded microscopes.
2. Usage
(1) Available time
You can use the equipment of OIF at any time, but we can support you only during the daytime on weekdays.
(2) Logbook
Please fill in the logbook after you use any equipment of OIF.
(3) Trouble
If there is something wrong with the equipment, please contact us and record it in the logbook.
3. Laser and Mercury Lamp
(1) Laser safety
The laser for microscopes is high-powered, especially the laser for two-photon microscopes and IR-LEGO are classified the class 4 which is the most dangerous category in the laser safety guide. In order to use them safely, you should take safety training from OIF staff before using them.
(2) Gas laser and mercury lamp
Gas laser and mercury lamp should be turned off for 1 hour before turning on again. Once you turn the mercury lamp on, it must remain on for at least 30 minutes before turning off.
(3) Request to contact the next user
If the next user is scheduled within 1 hour after you finish, please leave the gas laser and mercury lamp on and make a phone call to ascertain that the person will actually use the microscope. This is especially important on Friday evenings.
4. Objective Lens
(1) Cleaning
After using an immersion lens, especially an oil immersion one, please clean it with special lens paper and lens cleaner.
How to clean objectives:
Use a fresh piece of lens paper, fold it several times and gently wipe off the oil from the lens with a spiral movement. Repeat again with a new piece of lens tissue until the oil has been removed completely. Soak a new piece of lens paper with lens cleaner, and wipe it again gently.
(2) Amount of Immersion oil
Please do not use too much immersion oil. In the case of an inverted microscope, too much oil can drip down and allow oil to enter the revolver and contaminate the inside of the microscope.
(3) Precaution when changing objective
When changing to a lower magnification lens after using an oil immersion one, please wipe off the oil before turning the revolver.
(4) Selection of objective
Using the proper objective for your purpose is very important. If you are not sure which one is suitable, please feel free to contact us.
5. Data copy and storage
(1) Virus check
When you connect a device such as a USB to the computer which controls the microscope, please check it with anti-virus software on your own computer before connecting it to the microscope computer.
We change the rule for using removable media for data copying (Jan 17th, 2023) :
(1) Restrictions on the use of removable media
Use removable media only our facility provides
Save only the data acquired on the machine of our facility in the removable media
If you must use your own removable media, make sure that it has security features and is also virus-free with the latest updated antivirus software before using it.
(2) Temporary data storage
If you save your data temporarily (within 2 weeks) on the local hard disk of the SBI computer, please make a folder with your name in your laboratory folder and store it in the “user” folder on the desktop.
(3) Caution about data deletion
In case of local memory shortage or some other trouble, SBI staff may delete any data stored on the SBI computer that is more than two weeks old.
6. Usage of genetically modified organisms
If you want to use genetically modified organisms in the OIF microscope room, please check our website in advance to confirm that the species has been approved as a recombinant organism that can be handled in the room.
Available Genetic Modified Organisms in SBI
7. Usage of animals*
If you want to use an animal in the SBI microscope room, please check our website in advance to confirm that the species has been approved as an animal that can be handled in the room.
*The term “animal “ here means all vertebrates.
8. Request for Acknowledgements
Please acknowledge our facility in your publications. It helps us secure the funding to maintain and upgrade equipment in our facility. The following statement can be used to acknowledge our facility
・Confocal imaging was performed at Optics and Imaging facility, NIBB Trans-Scale Biology Center.
・This work was supported by Optics and Imaging facility, NIBB Trans-Scale Biology Center.
・We thank Optics and Imaging facility, NIBB Trans-Scale Biology Center for technical support.