This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Objectives We work continually to improve the flexibility and reliability of our software systems. The Mail-in operation and the increasing use of the automounters place new and interesting demands, particularly on a distinct need for automatic and reliable logging of the experiment. Incorporation of methods and software from the European dna automated data-collection project (www.dna.ac.uk/) is an important focus. We are putting enhanced effort into this. Results The Python-based beam-line-control system, known as cbass (crystallography at Brookhaven: automated software system), has been running smoothly at all of our stations. This makes everything extremely flexible; new features are easily incorporated. Our experiment-tracking data-base system, named PXDB, has been in operation since July 2004. We are within a few months work of being hooked up to the lab-wide Guest-Information System, which will mean that our users will need to enter their personal contact information only once for all contact with the NSLS. Within the PXDB we index every user and project to the Group leader or Principal Investigator on the project. All features of the system are being refined and expanded. Users define the scientific content of their projects, request beam time for a visit, or propose a mail-in project. They can define the contents of a shipping dewar, whether they are sending cryo-canes or automounter cassettes, monitor the course of their experiment, and record an overview of the data they have collected. The focus is to provide investigators with very rapid access when it s required, and a new feature is the ID Quick Project. Users often can move to X29 within a few hours if they find there is a project that would benefit. There is a discussion board system for convenient and automatically recorded communication with local staff, especially useful for the mail-in program. PXDB provides a means for efficient production of our Annual Progress Report, in that the scientific content mentioned above provides the gist of the subproject reports. The PXDB and cbass have been knitted together, in that database entries are used to coordinate the naming of directory trees to match the project ID, and information describing the contents of the shipping dewars or automount cassettes can be retrieved directly at the experimental station. When using the automounters, the connections among the user, the robot, and the data are seamless. Plans We will continue to refine every aspect of the integrated software environment. Automounter use has increased the demand for remote control and monitoring, and we are addressing that need; a rudimentary system is being tested by our FedEx scientists. It seems possible that the users portal for access to our beam lines will shift to the NSLS PASS system (https://pass.nsls.bnl.gov/) within this next grant year. Significance Our agile software staff are employing modern programming methods to keep our software at the cutting edge of experimental control. The large number of users we see helps us to debug and improve these programs continually. The PXDB provides important support for our Mail-in data-collection system, and complete experimental logging for ordinary beam line users, as was intended. It is ready for heavy use with the automounters. It will provide a direct link to the NSLS user database (PASS) and the eventual Rapid Access route that will be maintained there, and will provide a facility for harvesting of intermediate data prior to a PDB submission.
Showing the most recent 10 out of 167 publications
